Test Of Spite Dungeon Direct, Special edition [3.5]

[Sir Giacomo]

When everyone is ready to go, Gladiator smashes through the wall. He then remains close to Jaya and Doc (guessing that Tina occasionally scouts ahead). Closest to Jaya, though, since Doc has Dog ...

[Saph]

Cool. Tell me where you're going.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

That route appears to lead out of the castle. That means it probably ends up in a Dragon's gullet or something. Anyone have any preference on the other routes, or indeed, any idea where we should be trying to go?

[Pharaoh's Fist]

"I must admit, I want to know what lies behind that undamaged door..."

[Saph]

Want to open it? :P

[Pharaoh's Fist]

I think I will convince the rogue to do that. Failing that, a Lightening Bolt.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Jaya, there is no reason we cannot do both. Tina, if you would be so kind as to search for traps, I would be...appreciative.

Also, I have Dog Scent if there's anything behind the door. If there is, I'll burn a Speak With Animals to find out what it is.

[Saph]

Smells dead. The whole place looks like it's been abandoned for a pretty long time, actually.

[mostlyharmful]

Take a twenty on the search for 41.
If it's trapped I'll disable for (d20+21)[28]
If it looks clear I'll pick the lock, taking a 20 for 40

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Take a twenty on the search for 41.
If it's trapped I'll disable for [roll0]
If it looks clear I'll pick the lock, taking a 20 for 40

While this happens, Dok and Dog are both at least 20' back, neither of us is in a direct line with the door.

[mostlyharmful]

While this happens, Dok and Dog are both at least 20' back, neither of us is in a direct line with the door.

You're my new hero.

[Saph]

No traps. You unlock the door and enter.

The room inside is covered with dust and broken rubble. It looks like it might have been a library a long time ago, but most of the books have been removed and the bookshelves are decaying. A window looks out over the forest. Various odds and ends are scattered around.

There are two other exits, but both have collapsed into piles of stone.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

You're my new hero.

Search/Disarm should all be done with the minimum of the party at risk. In the future, we should actually open the door using any means other than a party member(Summon Dead Monkey>Remote device involving ropes and 10' poles>Lightning Bolt>Monk). Tidesinger created this dungeon, don't forget.

Also, Detect Magic on the room. Might as well check for spellbooks.

[Saph]

No spellbooks, but a couple of scrolls and a skeletal hand ping as magic.

[Sstoopidtallkid]

Tina, that and that appear to be scrolls, if you would be so kind.

Also, everyone? See that skeleton over there? The hand is magic. That may be a problem.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

"I item or what? Well, there's only one way to find out!"

Jaya clears her throat.

"Onward Pelorian soldiers, marching as to war
With the sun of Pelor going on before!
Pelor, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle see His banners go!"

"Ok, so it doesn't respond to religious hymns, or our presence. It is either a trap or an item by my guess."

[Saph]

The hand sits there. It doesn't do anything.

[Pharaoh's Fist]

"Tina, would you be so nice as to gather the scrolls and hand? I'd do it myself, but I have a bad habit of dodging in the wrong direction when in trouble.

[mostlyharmful]

Search the rest of the room (d20+21)[40]

Tina takes out an arrow and pokes the hand while on the defensive, if nothing happens she uses the arrow to flick the hand into her open Handy Haversack, then she collects up the random scrolls and such.

[Saph]

You take the hand and the scrolls.

You don't find anything else in the room.

It is dark. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

Sorry, old joke. Continue.

[mostlyharmful]

I'll go scout the left hand passage, you lot stay here and try not to attract attention.

I'll take a look at what behind rubble strewn passage 1 please Saph,

while doing so in a scared little rabbit hiding type way

Search (d20+21)[31]
Hide(d20+30)[35]
Move Silently (d20+25)[32]
Listen (d20+17)[27]
Spot(d20+17)[32]

[mostlyharmful]

Just reread Saph's post, are the doorways still functional or do we have to clear them first?

[Saph]

The doorways are collapsed, and currently resemble a big pile of broken stone.

There's enough of a hole in the left-hand passage for you to fit through, maybe. It looks like it goes into a short corridor, also mostly collapsed.

[mostlyharmful]

well, even if I could wriggle down it there doesn't seem much point in a party, lets go back to the other fork and have a look there.

Edit:

Oh, Dok I forgot. This hand that I've got... did it seem strongly magical? I've got a scroll of identify in my pack if you think it's powerful enough to be useful.

[Saph]

I don't know what fork you mean, but the other doorway in the room is just a pile of rubble with no way through.

[mostlyharmful]

The fork that leads out of the castle into your crossfire killing ground.

[Saph]

Ah, okay.

You head out of the room and go forward to the crossroads. From the right you can see the murky daylight, and you head towards it.

The corridor ends in a broken gatehouse. Stepping over the rubble, you find yourself standing at an exit to the castle, a slight breeze ruffling your hair. The castle seems to be built on a slight rise, and the ground slopes down and almost immediately turns into thick forest. Despite the fact that it's daytime, the sky is so heavily overcast that you can't see very well. From your height, you can see that the forest goes on for at least a couple of hundred feet, but beyond that a mist or haze makes it hard to see.

From where you're standing, a path leads down into the trees. The forest is shadowed and dark.

What do you do?

[mostlyharmful]

This looks like a job for the naturist... sorry, naturalist. And the big scarey tiger.

[Sir Giacomo]

(after Tina comes back from scouting):
I'd suggest the following:
We move through that forest. Maybe we find someone who tells us where we are and how we can get back to where we came from. I have a feeling that Tina could be a good person to talk to strangers. ...
Those that stay close to me I can protect - and I hope that I will notice in time any possible monsters hidden or other ambushes.
Tina and the tiger Dog [ooc: lacking knowledge-nature, Dog may well be a tiger from Gladiator's point of view]can maybe scout ahead and/or remain hidden nearby.
But - as Tina said: this is a forest. Maybe you, Doc, as a druid can tell us a better way to advance? Or do you maybe only know the ways of the mountains and underground wilderness?

[Pharaoh's Fist]

Oh, Dok I forgot. This hand that I've got... did it seem strongly magical? I've got a scroll of identify in my pack if you think it's powerful enough to be useful.

"Wait, you have a scroll? Let me learn it, then I can cast it for all the items we obtained. Well, we'll need a few pearls too, but I figure they might be a little easier to acquire than more scrolls..."

Also, going to attempt Spellcraft on the scrolls we found.