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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 3, 2012 16:25:02 GMT -6
Freed from the muddy pit, and more hungry for revenge than mere sustenance, The Herald leads whatever members of the rag-tag company are willing to follow him toward the opposite end of the dark chamber.
The chamber is much longer than imagined, however, and soon your perception of it changes from "chamber" to "avenue" -- for the lizard camp vanishes into darkness behind you long before you encounter anything noteworthy.
The uneven, muddy flagstone floor continues flanked by the daunting arched walls -- these just visible to either side as the company traverses the route. Fortunately, Malaveque is able to exact confirmation from his lizard companion that this is the right way, else you would begin to have doubts.
After traversing some two-score paces a broad stair (covering the full 60ft width of the avenue) descends a dozen steps before the wide passage continues on for a like distance. Only then do you spy a great arch ahead, and a dim ivory illumination behind it... it could be that shafts of dusk-light from the outside world penetrate even here?
A faintly unpleasant odour carries up the passage.
"Motherrrr," hisses the lizardman reverently, in the reptilian tongue.
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Post by mgtremaine on Oct 3, 2012 16:48:20 GMT -6
Tirandir would follow The Herald a pace or two back with arrow ready. By the time the party gets down the short stairs and can see the archway he would be ready to take a look. If the others seem unwilling to go on, Tirandir would happily sneak forward quietly......
-Mike
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Post by sulldawga on Oct 3, 2012 19:57:39 GMT -6
Tirandir would follow The Herald a pace or two back with arrow ready. By the time the party gets down the short stairs and can see the archway he would be ready to take a look. If the others seem unwilling to go on, Tirandir would happily sneak forward quietly...... -Mike The Herald hasn't yet entered into any battle fury, so he's willing to let Tirandir scout ahead and identify their foes, while the rest of the party forms up behind him.
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Post by alcyone on Oct 3, 2012 21:52:02 GMT -6
Vangelis will wait for Tirandir to go a reasonable distance, at least starting down the stairs, before going down himself, trying to step wherever Tirandir has already safely stepped, mace and shield at the ready. He has no problem being behind The Herald, but gives The Herald a bit of extra space, given his recent situation and possibility of revenge taking over.
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rleduc
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 75
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Post by rleduc on Oct 5, 2012 17:36:05 GMT -6
Malaveque makes his way towards the back third but not the rear. He needs to keep a fighter or two near enough to the lizardman. When fighting breaks out, he'll make haste for the rear and ready his staff.
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Oct 5, 2012 17:41:52 GMT -6
[ooc] Has Jaras recovered any hit points thus far?
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 9, 2012 3:03:04 GMT -6
[ooc] Has Jaras recovered any hit points thus far? Let us assume that while everyone else rescued The Herald from his plight, and sorted through the captured gear, and donned armour and so on, Jaras caught just enough rest to restore 1 hit point (this requires the consumption of refreshments and the best part of a full hour of rest).
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 9, 2012 3:15:45 GMT -6
Tirandir leaves his fellows and the enchanted lizardman a dozen paces back in the dim avenue as he creeps ahead toward the arch.
The lizardman hisses and snorts in irritation at the delay, grunting "Mothhherrr, motthhhherrrr," in its slithering tongue.
Ahead, Tirandir reaches the arches where he notes the acrid tang on the air is distinctly sharper. Beyond the pair of archways is a misty chamber, illuminated eerily by the last reach of dusk which filters down from a great swampy breach in the ceiling, high overhead. Long tendrils of the vegetation hang low into the muggy chamber like a curtain, and a carpet of mist clings about the ground.
Despite all this Tirandir does not fail to note the glitter of many silver coins, nor the glamour of sparkling gems and precious things wrought of metals. Nor does he fail to see the winged reptile sprawled atop the misty hoard...
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Post by sulldawga on Oct 9, 2012 6:32:44 GMT -6
The Herald grows tired of waiting and moves forward after the scout. He takes care to be as quiet as he can, though.
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Post by alcyone on Oct 9, 2012 9:30:22 GMT -6
Vangelis is happy to wait for the scout!
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Oct 9, 2012 10:15:31 GMT -6
Jaras shares in the happiness to wait for recon.
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Post by mgtremaine on Oct 9, 2012 12:51:53 GMT -6
OCC: I'm reading "Note does he fail" as "Nor does he fail"..... I also resist the urge to meta game on color of the reptile.
Tirandir would remain a still as possible taking it all he can see. Getting a general size of the room and position of the horde and guardian. Looking for pillars and other possible areas of cover. Once he has this he would return, if before then any of the party member approach he would quickly raise his hand to warn them to stop, more frantically if they continue. Once back with the group he would let a long sigh and speak in Elven
"Mother is a Dragon I think. Lizardman will be a problem, he will rebel" Then he would quietly describe the room particulars. Finally adding "IF we want the horde Lizardman could draw attention, Jaras and I could hit it at range and flee into this chamber and the rest could lie in wait, perhaps an oil trap....Dangerous for sure."
He then falls silent again. Looking back towards the archway with some unease.
-Mike
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Post by Zenopus on Oct 9, 2012 20:21:06 GMT -6
Mot says he has no magic left, but does have one remaining flask of oil. But if it's a dragon, it might be a fire-breather and immune to fire. Or not...
Mot speaks Lizardman (per his character sheet), so he will tell Malaveque to tell the Lizardman that Mot is friendly, and then Mot will ask the Lizardman if Mother has a "breath like flames"?
If no one searched the three satchels with the equipment of lizardmen's victims, Mot will then backtrack and look in them for scrolls or other useful items. Perhaps someone should accompany him to keep lookout?
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 10, 2012 6:01:23 GMT -6
The lizardman hisses and stamps impatiently, and scowls at Mot like a defensive guarddog even though Maleveque calls him friend.
It shakes it alligator head, "No flamessss, no flaamsssses," it seethes.
The gear at the camp was thoroughly searched during the half hour spent there... alas there were no further scrolls or spell books...
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Post by sulldawga on Oct 10, 2012 6:32:39 GMT -6
The Herald looks agitated by all of this waiting and discussing.
"Wave your hands, do your tricks, lure it back here... and I will crush its skull! Let's be done with this."
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Post by mgtremaine on Oct 10, 2012 10:08:20 GMT -6
Tirandir would give a little snap to fingers and gesture as if "one minute", then move off quickly back to the fallen equipment and double check for oil and or torches. Once that search is done he would head to were he left Dishmab in her silent vigil at the base of the stairs. He would search both bodies quickly for oil and torches, he does remember seeing some on Dishmab. Once these are gathered he would race back to group.
-Mike
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Post by doctorx on Oct 11, 2012 15:23:34 GMT -6
On hearing the word 'dragon' Ædelwynn positively runs to assist Tirandir in his search of the other room. Ever-willing to help as always...
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 12, 2012 22:48:58 GMT -6
Tirandir's quick assessment of Mother's lair is that it is an 80ft square chamber. Around the perimeter of the space is 10ft wide isle loosely separated from the interior 60ft square space only by a series of decorative arches... these could possibly provide a modicum of cover at a pinch. The reptile itself is in the center of the space, and is of mule-like proportions -- albeit long and sinuous in form rather than thick-set -- and its myriad scales are a glistering dark, blue-green, hue.
The referee rolls in secret to determine a number of the dragon's characteristics. Does it speak common [1d10=...]? Is it a spell caster [1d10=...]? Is it asleep [...d6=...]? How many hit points does it have [...d6=...]?
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 12, 2012 22:59:03 GMT -6
Tirandir skirts back from the arches after a look to hastily explain his findings, then indicates his intent to return to the fountain room... Ædelwynn seems rather eager to accompany him, and the pair hasten back into the darkness.
Tirandir and Ædelwynn please proceed to thread [004].
The remainder of the company are left standing a score paces from the perilous archway. Maleveque's enchanted lizardman is confused by the delay, and it growls and threatens anyone who get near to or looks at Maleveque.
Several of you wonder what might have become of the kobolds that were scattered from the lizardman camp..?
What now?
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Post by sulldawga on Oct 14, 2012 21:55:34 GMT -6
The Herald will stand impatiently and wait. Somehow, he will resist the urge to tap his foot in frustration and keep as quiet as possible while waiting to see if the party can summon up some oil.
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Post by alcyone on Oct 15, 2012 14:39:27 GMT -6
OOC: Is this the direction the Kobolds fled?
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 15, 2012 15:08:13 GMT -6
OOC: Is this the direction the Kobolds fled? The kobolds that scattered from the lizard camp fled in all directions. It's impossible to say whether any of them ended up down here or not...
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 15, 2012 15:18:46 GMT -6
In the avenue behind them, the remaining company observe a far of lantern spring to life -- a dim yellow glow it seems, in a vast chasm of darkness -- and then proceed out of sight.
All is still for a quiet for a time, with the charmed lizardman's breathing a sputtering, irregular hissss that grates upon the nerves of everyone present.
At length there comes, suddenly and most unexpectedly, several sharp and distinct sniffs. Then a voice, quiet plainly audible, ambles over a long gutteral pharse. Those that know the lizard or kobold tongues recongnise it as saying:
"What are you waiting for, thief? Has courage deserted so soon?"
What now?
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Post by sulldawga on Oct 15, 2012 19:22:48 GMT -6
At length, there comes suddenly and most unexpectedly, comes several sharp and distinct sniffs. Then a voice, quiet plainly audible, ambles over a long gutteral pharse. Those that know the lizard or kobold tongues recongnise it as saying:
"What are you waiting for, thief? Has courage deserted so soon?"
"No thief," The Herald loudly declares in his halting Kobold, "but the Herald of Man stands before you. Tremble in fear before the strong arm of the gods." The cleric will quickly whisper back over his shoulder toward the party, "A light, for gods sakes!"
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Post by alcyone on Oct 16, 2012 22:59:55 GMT -6
Vangelis will strike up a torch.
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 17, 2012 15:35:44 GMT -6
Mother's lair is adequately lit by the dusk, so it is only the passageway which is relatively dim.
There is a moment of silence from beyond the arches, in which the only discernable sounds are those of Vangelis striking up a torch, and of the lizardman hissing and snorting in the usual manner of its kind.
Then from beyond comes a sudden flurry of moving air and then -- much nearer -- a leathery flapping. Mother might have alighted just the other side of the arch, still out of view. She gives a nearer and more focused sniff of the air before saying in the common tongue: "Come in then, Heraldofman, and bring your friends. I do smell four of them, I thinks. Let us not speak of fear or war, let us instead hold a civil conversation... I promise I won't hurt you."
All this while, the voice seems to be moving from one side of the arches to the other, but never do you spy the wyrm at all.
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Post by sulldawga on Oct 18, 2012 20:53:27 GMT -6
The Herald boldly replies, "If it's conversation you want, I hear you quite clearly from where I stand. I've had my fill of 'hospitality' from the creatures in this place."
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Post by waysoftheearth on Oct 20, 2012 1:33:42 GMT -6
Before The Herald has delivered his speech, a sinuous reptilian neck slides unexpectedly down from above the arch so that the smallish dragon head attached to it gets a good eye-full of the group in the passage before quickly darting back out of view.
"You keep such raggedy company, Heraldofman," sneers the dragon with amusement, "Little wonder that you sulk in the shadows like a thief."
The lizardman snorts and grunts and is generally agitated -- torn between its usual pattern of behaviour and Malaveque's enchantment.
At this point you are arranged in a loose line with The Herald at the front, and the other in your former marching order. The passage is 20ft wide, and The Herald is some 30ft or so back from entering the lair. The others are farther back at 5ft intervals.
What now people?
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Post by alcyone on Oct 20, 2012 12:45:27 GMT -6
Vangelis moves out of formation and encourage everyone to spread out. Vangelis moves off to the left so as to thwart a breath psattern getting all of us at once.
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Post by sulldawga on Oct 20, 2012 20:55:20 GMT -6
Before The Herald has delivered his speech, a sinuous reptilian neck slides unexpectedly down from above the arch so that the smallish dragon head attached to it gets a good eye-full of the group in the passage before quickly darting back out of view.
"You keep such raggedy company, Heraldofman," sneers the dragon with amusement, "Little wonder that you sulk in the shadows like a thief." The Herald laughs mirthlessly. "Who is skulking in the shadows right now before me? Little wonder that your idea of civil conversation is insults thrown from behind your hiding place. You disappoint me, tho' I must wonder why I expected more from your kind in the first place." Then turning back to the others, again hissing in a low whisper, "If you plan to run, do it now. I'd know who fights at my side before I deliver this worm back to the hells."OOC: How tall is the arch? In the torchlight, can I determine how sturdy it is? Wondering what it would take to bring it down. Anything nearby, other than The Herald's sturdy shoulder, that I could use to barrel into it?
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