Cauldron, Part 19
8/1/08
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Tillandor struggles to drag his hobgoblin toward the chasm.
Jiona continues trying to drag her slightly-lightened burden of Kazmojen, and the beast-thing, over towards the chasm that Calico had pointed out.
Tass says, "What about these two?" He gestures to the two bound hobgoblins.
Tass asks, "Shall I slit their throats?"
Calico, as she tugs the spiny dog beast towards the chasm, checks her memory for any distinctive features on Pyllrak's clothing.
Ethkin grimaces at Tass, "Not exactly chivalrous. Though they did try to kill us... they also surrendered to us."
Jiona seems distinctly uncomfortable with Tass's suggestion as well. "I'd prefer to find an alternative," she says as she continues dragging.
Calico pulls out another clutch of spines, and stuffs it in her pack.
Kristof nods and says, "I see no honor in killing a surrendered foe."
Tillandor heaves the corpse over the rail, and watches it fall.
Tass eyes Kristof, as if not believing, then shrugs, "Well, what do you suggest? I'd wager as soon as we set foot across that bridge, they'll shout for friends."
Kristof exclaims, "Lets go after the other slave handler and find those kids!"
* The hobgoblin tumbles into the darkness, then splooshes into the inky water.
Calico pulls the dog beast onto the bridge, and leaves it as too heavy for her to lift.
Kristof ponders that for a moment, then looks to Tillandor and asks with a wink, "Tillandor, would you mind putting a 'spell' on them so that if they try to say anything they will implode?"
Tillandor asks, "Better just to have done with, don't you think?"
Jiona lifts and dumps the body of the so-called Prickles over the side as well, then considers Tass's comment, "We can also just gag them. Not ideal, but preferable to dragging them with us."
Calico crosses the bridge, focuses her mind on Pyllrak's robes, and makes a brief chant.
Jiona wonders, "Ethkin, could you possibly make them sleep?"
Calico dashes to the north door and pauses.
Calico says, "this way, quickly. He's running."
Calico opens the door and peaks through.
The door next to Calico opens, and a large hobgoblin stands there, "Where are you going, sweet?"
Jiona concludes that Ethkin isn't going to answer, and follows after Calico.
Calico slams the door and runs back to the bridge.
The room is a small barracks, another hobgoblin is seated at a table, but gets up to see what is going on.
Ethkin hms, looking up, "Ummm. Yeah, I can try that."
Calico says, "more goblins."
Calico wields a spine, expecting a goblin to chase her.
Ethkin gestures at the one that is still concious, and suddenly both hobgoblins are unconcious.
Jiona looks unhappy, but not surprised at this news. "I hope we don't have to fight through many of them to get to the children," she murmurs, aware that everyone in the party is running near empty, and braces herself for combat.
The hobgoblin opens the door to see you all there. He rushes forward, the other not far behind, "I asked you a question, kitty."
Tillandor says, "Great. Now we can throw them all over the bridge."
Calico answers, in cat.
The hobgoblin chuckles, "Impudence. We'll have to take you to Kaz. He can show you manners." The other hobgoblin menaces near.
The hobgoblin makes a grab for Calico (roll vs. grapple)
Tillandor says, "Oh, that's actually not a bad idea."
* DM rolls 1f20+4: 10,4 = 14.
* Calico manages to dodge out of the way.
* Calico rolls 1f20-2: 8,-2 = 6.
The says, "Roll initiative."
* Kristof rolls 1f20+9: 19,9 = 28.
* Calico rolls 1f20+5: -10,5 = -5.
* Tillandor rolls 1f20+2: 15,2 = 17.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+3: 30,3 = 33.
DM says, "Heh. Good thing I rolled for ya, Calico."
* DM rolls 1f20+1: 14,1 = 15.
DM says, "Go Jiona"
Jiona shows a slightly sinister grin as the tactical arrangement of this encounter opens a new possibility. She concentrates for a moment, then makes a sweeping gesture. Instead of another arc of lightning, though, something new happens - a moderately strong draft starts blowing from west to east, safely in front of Calico, but covering both menacing hobgoblins.
* One of the hobgoblins loses his footing, and goes tumbling over the balcony into the chasm, screaming. Splash. The other manages to grab the rail and remain upright, though mildly beaten by the wind.
DM says, "Go Kristof."
Kristof moves forward across the bridge, drawings his rapiers and trying to get into a position to help.
DM says, "Go Tillandor"
Tillandor watches the hobgoblin fall, but makes no other move.
* Two hobgoblins pop out of the southern doorway, see you all, then advance. One charges at you.
* The charging hobgoblin strikes Tillandor with a heavy blade. (5 damage)
Tillandor grunts in pain.
* The other hobgoblin steps forward to strike at Rayne, but the swing glances off of Rayne's armor.
DM asks, "Go Calico?"
Kristof says, "Um."
- Kristof.
DM says, "Kristof."
DM says, "Dammit... stupid icon. I need to fix that."
Calico, finding the goblin too close for a proper throw of the spine, makes a swiping attack, pushing towards the chasm.
* Calico rolls 1f20+9: 18,9 = 27.
* Calico rolls 1d3-1: 2,-1 = 1.
Calico scratches the goblin.
* Calico's attack catches the hobgoblin off-guard. He howls in pain as the spine sinks in and sticks. He stumbles and gurgles, then falls over the rail into the water below. Sploosh
DM says, "Go Jinoa"
DM says, "Jiona"
* Tass and Ethkin come out onto the bridge.
Jiona looks quite satisfied as the second hobgoblin is knocked off the walkway, and disregards the wind she set in motion, knowing it will peter itself out shortly. However, the positioning is bad to do that again, and she instead steps up to Tillandor, and fires an electric bolt at the hobgoblin in front of Till.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+8: 19,8 = 27.
* Jiona rolls 1d10+2: 7,2 = 9.
* The hobgoblins turns to ash, his equipment clattering to the floor.
* -s
Kristof rushes towards the remaining hobgoblin, feints high with his blades and cuts low with both simultaneously from opposite directions.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+6: -10,6 = -4.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+6: 19,6 = 25.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+6: 11,6 = 17.
Kristof leads with his left sword catching the hobgoblins blade and the skewers the hobgoblin in the chest with his right. Pulling his sword out Kristof shoves the happless body into the murky water below.
DM says, "Go Tillandor... all the baddies are D.E.D."
Tillandor belatedly raises his staff to a defensive position, then lowers it again as he looks around.
Tillandor asks, "Everyone still alive? Where's the boy?"
* An arched stone bridge crosses this chasm. Thirty feet below is an inky black pool. Across the bridge is a walkway and two nine-foot tall statues carved from white marble standing in alcoves. The statues depict a male and female dwarf clad in armor, each of which brandishes an urgosh.
Jiona starts to check the equipment of the ashed hobgoblin in front of her, then straightens up again. "Um," she says, looking around.
Calico dashes back to the north door and opens it.
Kristof jogs over to Tillandor and Jiona, sees Calico moving at what appears a frantic pace, then rushes to follow.
Jiona will run back across the bridge and check the earlier chamber if the boy isn't with them, or with Ethkin and Tass.
Calico dashes in and peaks through the next door.
* A hellish glow fills this room, emanating from a two-foot-long beetle trapped in an iron cage suspended from the ceiling. Four malachite slabs covered in moss line the east and west walls. A wooden table stands in the middle of the room with three chairs.
* This is a small hall with two doors. To the north is a section of hall covered in frescoes of battling dwarves.
Calico enters and peaks through the next door.
Tass catches up with Tillandor, "Wow. Nicely done."
* The door is locked
Tillandor says, "Agreed, though not for any prowess of mine."
Calico asks, "Tass, a lock pick?"
Kristof catches up to Calico and pulls out a piece of metal, inserts it and begins to work the lock.
Kristof says, "I'm not Tass, but this should do."
Tillandor wads a bit of cloth against his most recent wound, and hurries to catch up with Kristof and Calico.
Kristof grimaces and says, "This might take some time...."
Calico sniffs, checking if she can catch a helpful scent.
Tass says, "HOLD"
DM says, "Okay, nevermind. Resume."
- Once she confirms that the boy is with Tass and Ethkin, Jiona hurries to catch up with the others.
Kristof finishes fiddling with the lock and then pushes the door open.
* This room is horridly appointed. The walls are carved with tall, narrow niches piled high with skulls. The skinned hides of various monsters hang on the bare walls between them. A large chair made of monster skins stretched over a framework of bones stands in the middle of the room. A draconic skull surmounts the chair, empty eye sockets staring menacingly. Behind the chair, near the far wall, a bed of soft moss and fungi sprouts from a large heap of carrio. A few scattered bones lie around the bed.
Calico asks the boy, "where did they keep you?"
The boy shrugs, "In the cellblock. Over there." He gestures southward
Tillandor says, "This looks interesting."
Tillandor pokes his head in, and peers around.
Jiona keeps up with Tillandor.
Kristof asks, "Any sign of the dwarf?"
Calico dashes that direction, pausing at the bridge.
Ethkin asks, "Smells rank. What is that putrescence?"
Calico asks, "south or west from here?"
The boy struggles to keep up, then stops panting, "Um..."
Calico points back and forth between the directions.
The boy looks around, then points south, "That way, I think."
Tillandor enters the room, and moves from place to place, muttering to himself. "No, the skull is too big to carry. Some of this though, and... ooh."
Calico dashes to the south door and peaks in.
The boy follows along, looking nervous as the rest of the group is left behind.
The door is wide open...
Tillandor appears to argue with himself, before sitting on the floor and scraping at the skull with his dagger.
Kristof watches Tillandor looking around, then notices Calico gone and runs to catch up.
Jiona debates with herself for a moment as Calico dashes off again, then decides to stick with Till when Kristof follows after. "What'd you find?" she asks him, looking interested.
* Moss pallets cover five malachite slabs that protrude from the walls of this rank chamber. A somewhat mistreated wooden table and four chairs stand in the middle of the room. A rack of javelins occupies the northeast corner.
Calico dashes in, and seeing 2 doors glances at the boy, pointing back and forth between the doors.
The boy ums, looking a little distressed.
The boy points at the western door, backing into the northeast corner while he does so.
Calico looks back out the door towards where the other are, " if you could fetch them?"
Tass inspects the bone throne, "Crazy."
The boy cowers in the corner, not looking like he's inclined to go anywhere.
Kristof enters and asks, "Where to now?"
Calico says, "west, after the rest of us are collected. I think the rest are probably near where he was held."
Kristof asks, "And the dwarf? Doesn't he have 3 of them?"
Calico says, "I think he ran towards the enterance."
Kristof exclaims, "We can't let him leave!"
Kristof exclaims, "If he leaves with the ones he bought, we may never find him!"
Calico says, "if he has them."
Kristof frowns and asks, "Do you have any indication he doesn't?"
Calico dashes towards the door to the auction hall, and pauses to sniff and listen.
Kristof follows.
* Calico rolls 1f20: 30.
* Calico rolls 1f20: 9.
Calico peaks through the door.
* The hallway is as you left it, minus a few guards.
Calico says, "I think he went this way. he definitely went north, and that other way is a dead end."
Tillandor gathers some scrapings from the skull, a bit of the fungus, and a few bits of the hide.
Kristof says, "Let's find him and then we can make him tell us where he put the others."
Kristof jogs forward towards the entrance.
Jiona watches for a little while, then observes, "The others have been gone for a while... we should make sure they haven't run into anything else dangerous. And we still have children to find."
Tillandor looks up. "Hmm. Yes, I suppose that would be prudent."
* Kristof barely manages to not fall in a pit that opens before him.
Kristof woas.
Tillandor heads back toward the bridge.
Kristof stops Calico from moving forward as he indicates the pit.
Jiona walks alongside Tillandor.
Calico dashes to the next set of doors, sniffs, and listens
* Calico made it across just fine.
* Calico rolls 1f20: 30.
* Calico rolls 1f20: -10.
Kristof walks over to a lever on the wall and moves it.
Calico dashes back to the pit, "definitely this way, and more guards in the way."
* The trap door closes up.
Kristof says, "Calico - watch out! I think there is another pit over there."
Calico says, "Get the others and the boy."
* The boy meets Till and Jiona at the bridge, looking quite frightened.
Kristof tests putting weight on one foot where the pit is, making sure he can pull himself back should the pit open up.
Tillandor asks, "What's happened?"
Kristof says, "Traps."
Kristof oopses.
* The trap does not go off.
Kristof isn't with Tillandor.
Kristof moves across the pit quickly towards Calico.
Jiona notices the boy approach, and tries to look as nonthreatening as possible. "Are you all right?" she asks him after Tillandor.
Tillandor asks the boy.
Calico holds up a paw to signal quiet.
The boy buries his face in Jiona's cloak, not speaking.
Kristof stops moving quickly, and slowly makes his way over to Calico trying not to make noise.
* Kristof's carefulness is rewarded as another pit appears before him, and he manages to not fall in it.
Kristof shakes his head and whispers, "Calico, can you pull that lever next to you?"
* On the other side of the door, one of the guards says something in goblinoid.
Calico reaches over and pulls the lever.
Jiona looks surprised for a moment, then kneels down again to gently hug the boy, making reassuring sounds. While doing this, she looks up at Tillandor and the others and asks softly, "Maybe you can see if Calico and Kristof are nearby?"
Kristof does the same testing with this pit as he did the last?
* The trap door claps back up into place, nearly indistinguishable from the rest of the stone floor.
Calico backs away from the door and stands ready with a spine.
Tillandor enters the auction room and looks around, wondering which way Calico and Kristof went.
- didn't mean to put a ? there.
* The other guard says something as well, then the door begins to open.
The boy says, "roll initiative"
DM says, "roll initiative =D"
Tillandor asks, "Uh... me?"
* Calico rolls 1f20+5: 5,5 = 10.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+9: 19,9 = 28.
* DM rolls 1f20: 4.
* DM rolls +1: 1.
DM says, "Go Kristof"
Kristof rushes forward with his blades drawn toward his new opponent, striking out with savage fury.
* In the auction room, the doors north are wide open, and Tillandor can see Kristof preparing for battle.
Kristof darkness seems to cover Kristof's body as he moves, obscuring his movements.
Kristof dohs.
Tillandor shrugs a bit, and calls toward the bridge. "There are fell deeds to be done! Kristof and Calico are embattled!"
* Kristof rolls 1f20+6: 5,6 = 11.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+6: 6,6 = 12.
* The hobgoblin deftly dodges both attacks, sneering.
DM says, "Go Calico."
Calico throws a spine...
* Calico rolls 1f20+9: 2,9 = 11.
Jiona straightens up at Tillandor's shout, and she releases the boy, saying, "I have to help my friends. I'll be back," and with that, she sprints over to where Tillandor is.
* The hobgoblin laughs at Calico's attack, then turns to strike Kristof.
Calico and in a fit of bad luck misses, the spine flying past the goblin through the door.
* The first hobgoblin misses with his sword, and the second throws a javelin at Kristof, but it misses and clatters uselessly against the wall.
DM says, "Roll new initiative."
* Jiona rolls 1f20+3: 8,3 = 11.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+9: 15,9 = 24.
* Calico rolls 1f20+5: 3,5 = 8.
* Tillandor rolls 1f20+2: 11,2 = 13.
* DM rolls 1f20+1: 2,1 = 3.
* DM rolls 1f20+4: 6,4 = 10.
DM says, "Go Kristof"
Kristof smiles wickedly at the hobgoblin as the darkness fades. He points briefly behind the hobgoblin's right side and exclaims, "Look a fire elemental!" as one appears right behind the beast. Kristof then swings both rapiers...
* Kristof rolls 1f20+6: 2,6 = 8.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+6: 12,6 = 18.
Kristof forgot an additional +2 for flanking
* Kristof rolls 2d6+4: 2,3,4 = 9.
DM says, "Go Tillandor"
Kristof stabs the distracted hobgoblin through the lungs, leaving him gurgling as the fire elemental disappates.
Tillandor says to the boy, "Stay with me, away from the combat," and takes a fully defensive stance.
DM says, "Jiona go"
Jiona continues sprinting towards the action....
Tass grimaces, "Fighting without me... what's up with that."
Ethkin stays with Tillandor.
Ethkin says, "Go Calico"
DM says, "Heh"
Calico charges the goblin guard, and makes a raking claw attack.
* Calico rolls 1f20+9+2: 7,9,2 = 18.
DM says, "Nice. Hit"
* Calico rolls 1d3-1: 3,-1 = 2.
Calico makes a solid deep scratch on an exposed arm.
* The hobgoblin reels back from the attack, then grimaces, and strikes with a javelin, missing
DM says, "Go Kristof."
Kristof takes a step towards the goblin Calico scratched and moves gracefully into another stance, then swings with both swords...
* Kristof rolls 1f20+8: 7,8 = 15.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+6: 5,6 = 11.
Kristof ers +2 to 2nd attack.
* The guards at the far wall belatedly rush forward.
DM blinks.
DM says, "Nope, not that."
Kristof strikes in a flurry of blades driving the hobgoblin's weapon away from its body, then striking with abandon leaving two deep gashes along the creatures neck and stomach.
Calico calls out, "some help here."
* The mass of chains clinging to the statue lashes out at Calico, missing as she dodges out of the way.
* The guards move around the edge of the room, knocking on the walls and shouting.
DM says, "Go Tillandor"
Tillandor looks around wildly, hearing all the racket from the other room, and maintains his defensive posture.
DM says, "Go Jiona"
Jiona steps up next to Kristof, on the other side of the doorway, and flings a close-range bolt at the guard here, figuring that is what Calico is requesting help with.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+8: 16,8 = 24.
* Jiona rolls 1d10+2: 9,2 = 11.
* The hobgoblin unfortunate enough to be on the end of that lightning bolt is turned to fine ash
Tass rushes forward to see what is going on. He ascertains the situation and two metallic thuds come from the northwestern double doors.
Tass says, "Go Calico"
DM ahems.
Calico backs towards the door, away from the statue, draws a dagger, and lets loose at a guard on the northern wall.
* Calico rolls 1f20+9: 18,9 = 27.
* Calico rolls 1d3-1: 1,-1 = 0.
Calico strikes the guard in the shin, making a decent scratch.
* The chain swipes at Jiona, the spikes on the chain cutting her shoulder and cheek badly. (7)
* The hobgoblins rush forward, the ones in front attacking Jiona and Calico with blades, but missing. The ones in back throw javelins, but at whom we may never know, as the points seem to miss any living mark.
DM says, "Go Kristof"
Kristof moves another step forward, continuing his flurry and targets the next unfortunate victim....
* Kristof rolls 1f20+8: 7,8 = 15.
* Kristof rolls 1f20+8: 5,8 = 13.
Kristof gracefully moves towards the hobgoblins, seemingly dancing past their defenses leaving gashes across both their throats.
DM says, "Go Tillandor, then Jiona."
Tillandor does nothing special.
- Though maintains his defense.
- Having yelped as the statue's chains cut through her fur and into her skin, Jiona backs up through the doorway by five feet, hopefully outside the reach of those cursed chains, and flings a bolt at the hobgoblin closest to her.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+8: 30,8 = 38.
* Jiona rolls 1f20+8: 3,8 = 11.
* Jiona rolls 1d10+2: 3,2 = 5.
* The poor hobgoblin is totally incinerated.
* Tass throws two blades, one which clatters onto the stones, the other of which imbeds itself firmly in the throat of the hobgoblin. The hobgoblin topples, gurgling.
DM says, "Go Calico"
Calico backs another few feet, draws a dagger, and holds.
* A massive ogre bursts through the secret door. The stench is nearly unbearable, even for an ogre, this creature stinks BAD. He roars incoherently, brandishing his rather large serrated sword and advances on the party.
Calico yells, "RUN!"
DM smashes a heavy cut into Kristof's shoulder. (12)
* The ogre smashes a heavy cut into Kristof's shoulder. (12)
Kristof grimaces in pain and staggers back.
* The chain flails at Kristof, but misses.
DM says, "Go Kristof"
Calico says, "Everyone get across the pit trap. I'll pull the lever and follow."
Kristof tenses, ready to attack, then after hearing Calico's plan, disengages and withdraws back across the pit.
DM says, "Tillandor. Then Jiona."
Tillandor seeing Kristof approach, calls out, "Is all well?"
Kristof yells, "They have an ogre!"
Tillandor acks, and maintains his defensive stance. "We need to go... upstairs now."
Tillandor begins inching toward the south end of the room.
Jiona musters as much of a deterrent as she can, pushing both hands forward and causing another plume of wind to originate just in front of her, pushing the ogre northward, then retreats south as advised.
* Tass stares for a moment, then rushes to catch up with Jiona.
DM says, "Go Calico"
* The ogre barely flinches against the wind.
Calico pulls the lever to activate the trap as she dashes south.
* The ogre pursues angrily, swiping the blade back and forth, spattering Kristof's blood on the walls. A pit opens up beneath him and he falls down into it's depths. You hear a crash and much howling in pain.
* The door to the dining hall opens, and a hobgoblin surveys the room, first looking at Tillandor and Ethkin with the boy, then at the tied up hobgoblins. He pauses a second, the shouts, "Crizzakt!"
DM says, "Go Kristof"
Kristof sighs and continues running into the room where the shout came from.
DM says, "Go Tillandor"
DM says, "Then Jiona."
Tillandor maintains his defensive stance, but shouts in as bold a voice as he can manage, "Your doom is at hand, uncouth beasts. Hide yourselves in the deepest holes to be found, lest you are brought utterly to the end!"
* Tillandor rolls 1f20+1: 9,1 = 10.
* Neither of the hobgoblins appear very impressed.
- Hearing the shout from down south, Jiona abandons her original intention to see just how far down the ogre is trapped, and instead turns and begins sprinting south. She spots the two hobgoblins through the open doorway, but still too far away for her to do much against with, and instead moves up closer to Tillandor, teeth bared at the beasts.
* Tass runs in, then sneaks behind a pillar slyly.
DM says, "Go Calico."
Calico runs towards the shouting.
Calico spots the goblin guards and makes her best intimidation hiss.
* Calico rolls 1f20+1: 7,1 = 8.
* Distantly, you can hear the ogre roaring and thrashing in frustration.
* The two hobgoblins see the others coming in, hear the ogre roaring... and back into the room and close the door.
DM says, "Out of, that is."
Tillandor smiles in a self-satisfied way.
Calico asks, "Shall we finish the ogre before it gets out?"
Kristof asks, "Anyone have some kind of flammable liquid?"
Jiona shakes her head to Kristof.
Calico says, "I think we have a few spare flasks of lamp oil."
Kristof grins with a 'Are you thinking what I am thinking' look.
* In the distance, you hear a loud thump and subsequent roar.
Calico asks, "dump some oil on the ogre and get our fire flinging monk to light it?"
DM slams on the brakes.