The Search Continues

Continued from Jelly & Stair

The DM: In.

The DM: Welcome back Vafrandir.

Vafrandir: Good to be back! Always hate to have to leave.

The DM: So, what’s the plan?

Vafrandir: Let's get the loot so far moved to the surface. I'll ask Bjarni if the bats came out to the surface. If not, we may run into them later.

Lexent: "Well, Vafrandir, we've been exploring this upper floor, but the sappers seem somewhat interested in the area down the stairwell, and it doesn't seem to have the same dreadful feeling as some of the rest of this place. After we move the treasure, I'm somewhat more inclined to at least explore the rest of these doors up here. What do you think we should do?"

Lexent: I begin consolidating the treasure from the satchels, including collecting up to five empty flasks or bottles if I find any.

The DM: Bjarni saw no bats. The silence and air movement of the lower chambers suggest to the sappers that there’s nothing down there ... though there might be more bats or jellies, as there’s evidence of those creatures everywhere. Judging from a few quick sorties done by Helga, this seems to be where the main number of goblins lived and nothing more.

The DM: There are 37 ceramic cups and about 21 ceramic plates, 18 combs and 43 eating “forks,” with two long three-inch tines attached to a two-inch handle.

Lexent: When you say "combs" is that like a hair comb?

The DM: You can’t possibly count all the gems at this point, but for your records:

of the cairngorm gems, there are 85 cherry-sized, 635 almond-sized, 85 walnut-sized, 14 plum-sized and 1 apple-sized.

of the hematite, there are 27 cherry-sized, 475 almond-sized, 53 walnut-sized, 4 plum-sized and 3 peach-sized.

Yep, a hair comb.

The DM: Bjarni has completed the work and arrives in time to help you gather up the valuables.

Helga: This Grond fellow doesn’t care much about treasure, does he?

Lexent: I help move the consolidated valuables, including the chest full of raw metal and leather from the kennel, to the surface.

Marcule: in

Lexent: (To Helga) "No. I find his motives difficult to fathom, although he certainly seems threatening and unpleasant."

The DM: It takes about an hour to hoist all this stuff out; you are not disturbed during this time.

Vafrandir: Dishes are probably good for a few silver.

Vafrandir: Doesn't sound like there's much more here on this level. Let's try for another door out of the hall.

Lexent: The great hall or the hallway from the barracks?

Vafrandir: Barracks.

The DM: Do you wish to give a share of the treasure to the hirelings?

The DM: Let me finish managing the treasure.

Vafrandir: Yes. Let's split it later though once the day is done.

The DM: I’d like to point out that they get 1/8th share of the bonus experience ... which you can use as a touchpoint for calculating any treasure you might want to give. But you should balance your desire to be generous with the realistic fact that the more you give away, the less experience you’ll get.

Lexent: Would it be customary to provide shares to those still at camp as well?

The DM: I need to know your intentions now, or I can’t award you any experience at this time (and you might want that experience). I also need to add that the gems are all of fine quality, much more so than the first set of gems you found.

Nothing is "customary."

Lexent: We also have those two potions that were never allocated as treasure. Do we have the ability to just assign them 1/8th of a share of the treasure each, not knowing the precise value of the gems?

The DM: Items like the potions can’t be divided. X.P. is given to whomever drinks the potion.

Lexent: Huh. Good to know.

The DM: The gems, on the other hand, can be divided fairly evenly, there being so many, and the sappers have a fair understanding of how much each is worth.

Marcule: there will always be more treasure, I think it is important to share the wealth

The DM: Anybody want to suck back a potion and get some free x.p.?

Lexent: I think they can be better put to use after identifying them, or at least when we are in a situation when a hail Mary might do us some good.

Vafrandir: Here is my suggestion: we divide treasure into 26 shares as evenly as possible. Odds, as a man-at-arms, receives 2 shares. As funders of the venture, we receive 4. And all sappers receive 1 share. How does that sound?

Lexent: What about Ole?

The DM: Lexent has come out as the voice of reason. Anybody else feel differently? (Odds has no combat training and isn't a man-at-arms; the sappers are, however)

The DM: Ole is a man at arms also, as is Anders.

The DM: I’m assuming this conversation is happening apart from all the hirelings, so none of them can hear you just now.

Vafrandir: Let us assume so.

Lexent: Correct. Anders or Arvid?

Vafrandir: I agree with Lexent about the potion. Yes, I was counting all 8 of our hires in the above calculation.

Marcule: I also agree

The DM: Arvid, pardon me.

Vafrandir: Does what I'm saying make sense, to divide by shares? I'm open to flexibility on the exact distribution. Just seems the easiest way to do it.

The DM: Vafrandir, I’m pointing out that you’re giving 2 shares to Oddsdrakken BECAUSE he’s a man-at-arms, which he ISN’T, and that you’re giving 1 share to the sappers and the cook because they aren’t, when they ARE. Please respond.

Lexent: I was about to propose we allocate 1/8th of a share of the gems to each of the party's hirelings, allowing them to choose the gems they like best within those parameters. That would be more akin to 42 equal portions 1 per party hireling, 2 for Oddsdraken, and 8 for each of us. But I'm happy either way.

Vafrandir: Is Oddsdraken a follower? I understand my mistake. My thought was *if* he's at a higher "rank" then he would merit more shares. But I think I may be mistaken on that. What is his share of bonus XP?

Vafrandir: Yes, Lexent, that's more or less the shape of my thinking.

Marcule: I will quaff an potion "never to late to make myself a new colour"

Vafrandir: Oh, I'm also counting Valda and Nadia as hires. Their work makes ours possible.

Lexent: I do have concerns that providing double the shares of treasure to a pack-bearer than those of man-at-arms might cause some ill feelings.

Vafrandir: I see that. I think I may have not understood Odds' exact relationship to Pandred here. Perhaps Pandred can weigh in? In that case, how about 1 share for all hirelings, and 4 for each of us.

Lexent: Pandred hired Oddsdraken on the 3rd of May to be her packbearer.

Lexent: I can accept that.

The DM: As far as I know, Oddsdrakken is still being paid; but he’s been around long enough, he’s nearly a follower. Give him an extra share because he’s loyal and he’s been with you a long time, but NOT because he’s a man-at-arms, as he isn’t.

Vafrandir: I see. Thank you for clarifying! Let's do that: 2 for Odds because of his history with us; 1 each for the men-at-arms; 4 each for us. That's more generous than the XP distribution and I believe it to be fair.

The DM: Odds gets 1/8th share; but he hardly ever fights.

Lexent: It sounds like everyone here is in agreement. We divide the treasure into 26 equal portions granting 1 portion to each hireling, an extra portion for Odds due to his loyalty, and 4 portions to each party member.

The Potion

The DM: It’s a heroism potion, bumping Marcule up to 4th level, with an additional 39 hit points. Your THAC0 is 18. This does not adjust your illusionist abilities.

Lexent: Do any of us have an idea of how long that will last?

The DM: Nope.

The DM: As you’re an assassin and not a fighter class, you don’t get 5 attacks/4 rounds like Pandred does (that comes at 5th level for you).

The DM: Marcule, add 300 x.p.

Lexent: Okay, now that the treasure allocation has been decided, I strap on my shield. That accomplished and once everyone is positioned, I open the door in 0824.

The DM: Still jumping the gun, Lexent.

The DM: Marcule gets 205 experience from treasure. That’s 226 for Lexent, Vafrandir and Pandred. Oddsdrakken gets 102 and the men-at-arms get 51 each. Please record that.

Vafrandir: Recorded, except for Odds. I'll remind Pandred to update him if she comes in today.

The DM: Marcule, you go up a level naturally (I knew you were close. This does not change the level-effect of the potion, but you ALSO roll a d8 & a d4 for your hit points – that is added to your total present hit points. You choose a 1st level spell. And your random cantrip is person-affecting.

The DM: Apart from Lexent, whose hand is itching to open the door in 0824, does anyone else want to drink the other potion?

Marcule: Super ready for more death. "overconfidence surely a side effect of the potion" (ooc: working on my lvl now)

Pandred: Sorry, been watching, just couldn't post. I got Odds and me. No potion for me for now.

Vafrandir: Before we open the door, I'll recommend that the sappers fashion clubs for themselves from the broken furniture. A lot of the stuff in here is resistant to edged weapons. I am hesitant about the potion so I'll pass.

Door

The DM: Okay. Where is everyone standing when Lexent opens 0824?

Pandred: 0825, with Helga behind me in 0826 and Odds hanging off in the barracks, watching our rear.

A well

The DM: The sappers all have effective clubs.

Vafrandir: 0724

Lexent: Marit in 0624.

Marcule: 7 hp

The DM: Oops, sorry, forgot about the adamatium.

Marcule, an additional 125 x.p.; 138 for Lexent, Pandred and Vafrandir; 63 for Odds and 31 each for the men-at-arms.

Everyone have those written down?

Vafrandir: Got them.

The DM: If we're good, Lexent opens the door.

Pandred: Hroagh!

Lexent: Well, well, well.

Lexent: I circle around the well and then peer inside.

Vafrandir: HA!

Vafrandir: Good place for more bats, methinks. How far down can we see?

The DM: the water level is about 25 feet down, which is ABOVE the chamber below the stairs, just 40 feet away. The water surface is roiling, in a direction away from the door; this is the sound of water that Helga heard earlier.

Lexent: "Moving on?"

Vafrandir: Seems to be an active stream. Good to know. Yes, I'll trade places with Marit and prepare to open the door at the end of the hall.

Pandred: Think so. Weird that they'd dig under an underground river like that for those stairs. They have more confidence in their ability to detect aquifers than I would, that's for sure.

Marit: “the water must be an aquifer, naturally occurring. And it must rise up under our feet.”

End Door

Lexent: Back in 0824. "Ready when you are."

Vafrandir: True. Another piece of the puzzle.

Vafrandir: I open the door.

The DM: Vafrandir, this door opens into the hall, so you have to back away a little as you open it. Additionally, Marit is holding a torch, but your bodies will block the light from it for the most part.

A second guard room

The DM: There is a line of iron bars that block your way forward; and inside the room, there are skeleton parts scattered over the floor (I didn’t take the time to add this colour). You see a stone slab, five feet long, with a goblin skeleton lying prone upon it. The slab is two feet off the floor and from the look of it, the slab looks to have been dragged here from the doorway shown at the top of the room. That is a wooden reinforced door, not a normal door like those you’ve been opening.

Vafrandir: The bars are set into the floor and ceiling?

The DM: Yes.

Pandred: Can I bend the bars, per my Strength?

The DM: oh, how I dislike that rule. I would rather not have the result be random; either you can, or you can’t. And you won’t know if you can if you don’t try.

Pandred: I mostly meant "Do you use that stat at all." But yes, I'll give it a go, using some of my leather straps I've carried around and tying them into a twisty thing, you know. What am I rolling?

Vafrandir: I'll move out of the way to let Pandred have a crack. Otherwise, the sappers can probably get through.

The DM: you’re not. The bars have a “bend strength” established. You’re merely trying. The “twisty-thing” your leather straps are tied into, I don’t understand that. Better to use the leather as padding to save strain on your flesh.

The DM: As Pandred begins to pull the bars apart, and start to feel them give, the thing on the slab sits up and turns its head 90-degrees towards you. In the light streaming over your shoulder, you can see it’s a skeleton.

Vafrandir: Hurry, Pandred!

The DM: I will need a reaction from Pandred here.

Pandred: Honestly, forget what I said, I don't think I can explain it and I don't know enough to know if it would make a difference. I pull some bars like a badass does, with leather-bound hands. This skeleton can come get some.

The DM: Pandred suddenly feels a painful searing of her eyes, and senses without logic that this is being caused by the creature on the slab. Please make a saving throw (d20)

Pandred: 14.

The DM: You save successfully. You stagger back in pain, reaching for your water and splashing some of it on your eyes. For a brief moment you’re blind, but it passes quickly. The creature moves to swing its legs over the side of the slab, towards the door.

Pandred: I'll shut the door and give an angry "HROAGH!". He got some, for sure.

The DM: Vafrandir, you’re closest to the door again.

Vafrandir: Pandred, can you get your crossbow? Unless you think you can get through the bars in less than a round more.

The DM: Pandred, judging by the strength of the bars in your hands, and having compared your strength to Vafrandir’s you feel that he could bend them himself. However, you’ll have to say the words to him, since I’m telling you what you think, not what you say.

The DM: Regarding the crossbow, no one said anything about pre-loading it, and Oddsdrakken didn’t think to do so on his own.

Pandred: "Doesn't look hard Vaf. If you want to get blinded too, give it a go." I'll load the crossbow and get it prepped for firing. "Just gimme a shot first."

The DM: Light crossbow will take two rounds of loading, fire on the third round.

Pandred: It's heavy. But yes, that's fine, assuming the door doesn't explode off it's mounting before then.

The DM: Three rounds of loading.

Pandred: Still good.

Vafrandir: I'll take the chance to wait, hefting my shield and drawing my club in the meantime.

Marcule: Back at 1:20

The DM: The skeleton stands, then remains fixed in place. The crossbow is loaded.

Player's Move

Go ahead, Pandred. You and the party have initiative.

Pandred: I take aim and blast away. 15+1 Hits AC 1 for 5, 5, +1 11 damage.

The DM: Hits the skeleton's skull and the bolt splinters; the skeleton reacts as though a fly has landed upon it.

Pandred: I'll start to reload, making room for someone else to get access to the door. "Lex, can you do anything here?"

Lexent: I attempt to turn undead. To Turn: 17

The DM: For no particular reason, see this recent page I created on the wiki.

The DM: Lexent, it has no effect. You understand inherently that this is not a skeleton. It is something worse, something you can’t affect.

Lexent: As I feared.

Pandred: "Shut the door Vaf. Looks like we'll need more than muscle and metal here."

The DM: The creature makes no effort to stop you from closing the door.

Vafrandir: I do so. "I think these bars are for our benefit."

The DM: Pandred, did you read the “detection” heading on that page?

Pandred: The point here being that my crossbow being ranged means I am still uncertain about this creature? Yes. But that second door gives me hope there's another access point, and we have a lot more we can explore without a magic-possibly-blinding sentry and iron bars in the way.

Marcule: I pick phantom armour. does anyone have a plan?

The DM: {quote} "... However, if a combatant engages in melee with such a creature, and successfully rolls to hit, only to have the hit fail to register on the targeted creature, the contact made by the weapon will reveal instantly to the attacker that no damage was done."

Continued on Backtracking