Iron Gods : Double Characters (IC)

[Continental Op]

Yarro steps to her left to get a clear view, draws one of her daggers and throws it at the slime. Kallak tries to defend himself from the slime with his blade until he can effective attack the creature. Then he tries to sweep his greatsword along the ground and sever the slime in half.

Spoiler

Show

Yarro 5' steps to the east and throws a dagger. Kallak is using combat expertise to get a +1 to AC but a -1 to his attack roll, assuming the slime is still alive when it is Kallak's turn to attack.

[u-b]

"What? They are..." Sarina apparently has trouble accepting the fact that the fire spell did nothing good. She does not finish saying aloud just what she thinks about that, instead quickly casting a spell while clutching to a sturdy flask carrien in a bandolier. She shoots a small globe of liquid that misses the slime by no small amount. Thony tears down a paper cartridge to reload the musket and shoots at the one remaining slime, aiming hastly, but hoping that'd be good enough.

[Sleepy Shade]

The slime takes another swipe at Kallak hoping to get a taste of the rangers blood but it only hits his armor. Sarina tries to finish off the slime but misses completely the acid ball hitting the wall. Yarro tries to strike the slime by drawing her dagger and throwing it but miss judges the distance and the dagger only hits the rocky shore.Thony loads and fires a shot at the creature but missjudges the angle and misses the shot taking a bit of the rocky shore instead. Kallak tries to bring the sword down on the lucky slime but it dodges out of the way and trys to strike him again. The slimes psudopod only hits air however.
(EVERYONE MISSES)

[Continental Op]

Kallak exclaims, as he narrowly avoids getting hit by the slime, "By the gods, this one is slippery!"

Yarro furrows her brow in concentration, draws her second (and last) dagger, aims at the acrobatic slime, and releases.

Once Kallak recovers his balance, he brings his greatsword around in a full arc, aiming for the center of the slime.

[u-b]

Sarina mumbles some magic again and throws another small ball of liquid at the thing. Not willing to waste more alchemical cartriges on what seems not to be a major threat, Thony draws the rapier and moves closer to stab it.

Spoiler

Show

Sorry. I kind of figured we have won and forgot it's still my turn to post. And the rapier is not touch, of course, it's just an error left from editing an earlier roll.

[Sleepy Shade]

Sarina again attemps to hit the slime but it doges only to be pinned by Yarro's thrown knife the slime disintigrates into a foul soup.

With the slimes vanquished you finally get a good look at the corpses that they covered. Three halfling corpses rest on the rocky beach covered still in molds and fungus. The river continues on but the path ahead is much more narrow you'll need to walk single file.

Combat END
Everyone gets 105XP

SKill propt
Perception:DC20
Heal: DC15

[u-b]

Thony takes some time to reload the musket, then proceeds to examine the dead halflings. Of particular interest are questions of what they have died from and whether they have been looted alteady by the following groups. "The fate of the halflings was still listed as unknown, despite them being the very first group, so maybe Khonnir did not go through here. Shall we return to the bugs now or continue on?"

[Continental Op]

"Nice shot, Yarro!" Kallak remarks, belatedly trying to hide his surprise. He cleans his blade of the slime in the river, and looks around at Thorny's comment. "Yes, I see your point, Thorny. Yarro, you don't think Khonnir would have left them here to mold, do you?"

Yarro finds her two daggers - the one in the slime, and the one that went astray. As she also cleans her blade, she ponders the questions asked by the men. "Perhaps Khonnir did not report his findings to the temple, but I doubt he would have left these beings here. Of course, maybe he meant to bring them back on his second trip, but of course he did not return. I do not believe we have enough evidence to know either way, except that either route is dangerous. I propose we keep going in this direction, at least for now. But if any disagree, please speak. I can see arguments for both ways."

[Sleepy Shade]

Their is something Thony notices about the bodies the way the bodies are positioned it looks like they did not meet their end in this chamber. The bodies are in unnatural positions and look as if they were dumped here. A cursory glance of the bodies also reveal everything of value has been stripped. The bodies have neither weapons or armor. The slimes make it difficult to tell anything about the bodies condition most of the torso and limbs are badly degraded though Thony notices what looks like something besides the slimes were eating the bodies from the nibble marks you can find.You'll probably need a sack or something to carry the remains back to the surface if you choose to do so. Do you forge on ahead through the tunnel or return to the entrance to confront the beetles?

[u-b]

"They have not died here and have been already looted. So, likely some other team also went this way, maybe intending to pick them up on their way back. I doubt local inhabitants would have bothered. Not Khonnir's first trip, but maybe his second. Let's go and see what has happened to them?" After seeing the bodies, Thony is somewhat inclined to continue along the stream, if only to retreat at slightest provocation. Assuming everyone agrees, Sarina makes the following remark. "But if we don't come back, would it be useful to the following party to know where we went?" To which Thony just comes closer to a wall next to the nearest body and, on about the eye level, scratches "Thony ==>" using his spiked gauntlet.

[Continental Op]

Kallak grunts at Thorny leaving a message for others. "Well that's a grim thought, but not a bad one." Once Thorny is finished and ready to go, Kallak again takes the lead following the stream further into the cave. Yarro continues behind him with the torch.

[Sleepy Shade]

The narrow cavern takes time to traverse and it's slow going but it finally seems to open up into a cavern. You can see the shore nearby and think how great it will be to get out of the water. However your still in darkness and can only see about 20 feet out thanks to the torch.

Skill prompts
Percption check DC?

Battle map here

[Continental Op]

Kallak pauses a beat, but after (presumably) hearing nothing, starts to lead the way up to the shore...

[Sleepy Shade]

The large cavern seems to echo with the sloshing water as you make your way to the shore drops of water falling from the ceiling. Yarro does not catch it but Kallak Sarina and Thony hear something scraping around on shore but it is only Sarina that initially spots the beast. A small child sized creature moves toward the group. It's body resembling something of a hairless scaled monkey and the face of a frog with two white seemingly blind eyes looking forward. It's eyes start to glow.

Battle Begin!

Spoiler: Initative order

Show

1. Sarina
2. Monster
3. Kallak
4. Thony
5. Yarro

Skillpropts
FORT SAVE: DC13
Know Arcana: DC13 Specify what you want to know

Battle Map here

[u-b]

Sarina moves south-east until she's close enough, then mumbles something and gestures with her hand towards the creature. A vivid cone of clashing colors springs forth from her hand hitting the hairless scaled monkey and everything around it.

Spoiler

Show

Three squares SE, than color spray.

[Sleepy Shade]

Sensing something wrong Sarina leaps into action running towards the creature. As she closes in on the beast it reflexively illuminates it's eyes. Sarina is caught by the blinding light but manages to get the color spray off stunning the beast with a blinding array of colors. The creature shakes it's head stunned by the multitude of colors it just witnessed.

The Blindhiem is now stunned for 4 rounds. Sarina is now blind for 1 hour. The creatures gaze is active.

Battle map here

[Continental Op]

Yarro shouts, "Don't get too close or look directly at its eyes! It can blind you!"

Taking Yarro's advice, Kallak pulls his bow and circles to the south to get a clear shot around Sarina, trying not to look a the creature directly. However, when he takes aim he must look in the creature's direction.

Yarro does the same as Kallak, but circles around the other way, moving east until she can clear line of sight around Sarina to throw a bomb.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

So Kallak would need to move at least 10' south, I think, to have a clear shot at the frog creature. The question is whether he would also move 5' away from the creature or not, since Kallak doesn't know the creature's gaze range (which I assume is the lighter cone area). Yarro did say to not get close to the creature, but I don't think Kallak would necessarily take that to mean "stay as far away as possible." I leave it to you, Sleepy. I will make the attack rolls, just in case Kallak is not blinded.

As for Yarro, if the water is difficult terrain she would move 15' east, and also still be in the creature's gaze attack. If it isn't, she would move 25' east to be slightly behind the creature before she throws a bomb.

[u-b]

Thony moves just enough to the east to avoid hitting Sarina. He is too busy not looking at the creature he targets to keep his aim straight, but this is of no consequence as the weapon misfires. Meanwhile Sarina, somethat aimlessly, tries to withdraw to north-west. "I can't see! Can't see!"

Spoiler

Show

Two squares to the east. A misfire.

[Sleepy Shade]

Kallak decides to keep away from the beast whose eyes now shine like bulleye lanterns and takes the shot with his bow, The arrow grazes the creature but it dosn't cry out. Thony steps to the side but his gun jams. Yarro quickly moves around to the side of creature the slow moving water hardly impeading her gait and tosses a Bomb hitting the Blindhiem but while the flesh sizzles from the acid the creature still dosn't utter a sound. Sarina however finds she can't see anything and finds moving around blind disorienting.


Count down 2/4 turns left on the stun.
Battle map Here

Hope I got Yarro's postioning right.

[Continental Op]

Kallak shouts in consternation, "Are we even hurting this thing?! And someone needs to help Sarina!"

Yarro responds, "I think Sarina's spell paralyzed the blindhiem. And we need to neutralize it as soon as we can. Sarina, can you duck down? The blindness is temporary, and we will get you as soon as we can."

Kallak takes Yarro's advice, and puts everything he has into firing another arrow at the frog-thing's eyes. Yarro moves a bit closer to the Blindhiem, mixes a bomb and tosses it.

Spoiler

Show

Kallak is using deadly aim this round. Yarro moves 10' south and 5' diagonally southeast before throwing her bomb.

[u-b]

Thony clears the rifle and loads it again, with fresh powder and bullet. Sarina moves a bit away from where the bombs are exploding, enters the water, and does her best to defend herself against things unseen.

Spoiler

Show

Spending a point of grit to quick clear as a move action, then load as a standard. Sarina moves NW and takes a total defense action.

[Sleepy Shade]

With Kallak's comment about whether they were hurting it Yarro remembers Blindhelms are usually very quiet beings even in a fight. It would explain it's quiet reaction to being burned by acid.
Thony quickly clears and reloads the jammed gun while Sarina takes cover. Kallak takes a shot with his bow but misses the creature only by a hair. Yarro however hit's the creature again acid seeping into the creatures skin it's breath starts to become ragged but it is still standing strong.

Count down
1/4 turns left on the stun.

Battle map Here

[u-b]

Thony aims at the creature and shoots, then he moves a bit further away. Sarina just keeps defending herself.

Spoiler

Show

Thony makes two steps north.

[Continental Op]

Kallak grits his teeth and tries again with another arrow. Yarro hesitates, then mixes her second-to-last bomb and throws it at the Blindhiem.

[Sleepy Shade]

Kallak let's loose his arrow and it hit's the Blindhelm in the chest finally knocking the creature down. It's eyes fade and the cavern it thrust back into darkness. Yarro still holds the torch. The creature is dying and after killing it you see some oddities about it. It wears a ragged and shredded hood that might have at one point covered it's eyes. Also something has been burned into it's flesh on the hip. A cursory glance around the room now that its safe you find the half eaten body of a man in the pool in the back you also see a glint from something around his neck.
There are two exit's from the cave one leading back towards the entrance and another that seems to lead deeper into the mountain. And the way you just came.
With Sarina blind what will you do?

Skill prompts
linguistics: DC 20 What's that weird writing?

[Continental Op]

Yarro moves to help Sarina. "I believe the blindness will wear off in one hour. I am sorry I did not recognize the creature and react fast enough. Your spell saved us, Sarina.". Yarro helps Sarina back onto land.

Kallak kicks the frog-thing to make sure it is dead, then looks closely at the hood and the apparent brand on its hip. "Yarro, are these things intelligent? Or do you think it was trained somehow?"

Once Sarina is on shore and resting, Yarro moves to examine the body and the strange writing. "Hmm...I am not sure..."

[u-b]

Sarina sits on the stone floor of the cave not doing anything much. She still seems somewhat shocked by what happened. Having ample time now, Thony proceeds to examine everything that he can see, including the strange writing, which he takes some time to describe to Sarina as best as he can, the thing about the corpse's neck, the corpse itself, and just about everything else that is in the room.

Spoiler

Show

I think Sarina won't say anything definite about the writing unless Yarro helps by providing a more informed insight.

[Continental Op]

Yarro looks over Thorny's shoulder as he describes the writing, and interrupts to correct his description whenever it does not convey the complete picture.

Kallak says in an undertone to Thorny, "Sorry for Yarro, it is just the way she is. She does not seem to understand that interrupting is rude."

Yarro hears him, and responds "I do not interrupt anyone, unless they are incorrect. The truth is more important than manners, is it not?"

Kallak grins, and shakes his head. He takes the torch from Yarro (being the only one who needs the light, apparently), and examines the body and the rest of the cave.

[Sleepy Shade]

Unfortunately neither Sarina nor Yarro knows what the burned word is but Sarina guesses it might be undercommon. With nothing much else in the cave expect a couple of corpses you search the one in the water. Unlike the gnomes this one seems to be untouched. However the Blindhelm seems to have eaten a lot of the flesh. It takes an hour for Sarina's eyesight to return during which you need to light another torch since the first one burns out.

Spoiler: Loot

Show

Belt Pouch
-21GP
A Silver holy symbol: A Pick axe made of a femur, a human skull & a large rib
2 Water tight potions

Skill propts
Know Religion:DC 20 To identify the weird Holy symbol
Identify the potions:DC16
Yarro: Craft (alchemy)
Anyone: Perception

You have about 5 hours and 40 minuets of water breathing left

[u-b]

Sarina and Thony examine the potions. Thony thinks he has encountered something like this in the past. Meanwhile, Sarina comments on the burned word: "I don't know the language, but the writing seems to be not unlike Undercommon. Might be someone has marked their slave or something. I wonder if it has escaped or was put here to guard."