The Ones [IC]

[Goonthegoof]

I have been inside for two posts now. I use two power points to cast vigor on myself and shout Hello, anybody home?

[Koury]

Corretha casts Mage Armor on herself as she passes through the gate.

Stat Block:

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Corretha Caelara Female CG Fire Elf
Level 2, Init +4, Speed 30ft
HP 10/10
AC 14 (+4 Dex), Touch 14, Flat-footed 10
Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +3
Base Attack Bonus +1
Masterwork Longbow +6 Attack (+4 Dex; +1 BAB; +1 MW) 1d8 (x3)
No Armor
No Shield
Abilities Str 10, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 8
Condition/Effects
Senses Spot: +1; Listen: +1; Search: +6
Location Sudor

Spells Memorized

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Level 0
Acid Splash
Acid Splash
Acid Splash
Caltrops - Specialist
Caltrops - Specialist
Caltrops - Specialist

Level 1
Color Spray
Enlarge Person - Bonus
Grease - Specialist
Hail of Stone - Specialist
Mage Armor - Specialist

[Goonthegoof]

Armed with 10 temporary hit points Mallias heads towards the part of the town that is built on the water.

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Mallias Sennin
Male L Human Psion, Level 2, Init +2, HP 22/22, DR --, Speed 30'
AC 12, Touch 12, Flat-footed 10, Fort +2, Ref +2, Will +7, Base Attack Bonus 1 /4
Masterwork Light Crossbow (20 bolts) 4 (1d6, 19-20/x2)
(+2 Dex)
Abilities Str 8, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 8
Condition None

[Koury]

Seeing Mallias heading off, Corretha follows.

Stat Block:

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Corretha Caelara Female CG Fire Elf
Level 2, Init +4, Speed 30ft
HP 10/10
AC 18 (+4 Dex; +4 Armor), Touch 14, Flat-footed 14
Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +3
Base Attack Bonus +1
Masterwork Longbow +6 Attack (+4 Dex; +1 BAB; +1 MW) 1d8 (x3)
No Armor
No Shield
Abilities Str 10, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 8
Condition/Effects Mage Armor (2 hrs)
Senses Spot: +1; Listen: +1; Search: +6
Location Sudor

Spells Memorized

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Level 0
Acid Splash
Acid Splash
Acid Splash
Caltrops - Specialist
Caltrops - Specialist
Caltrops - Specialist

Level 1
Color Spray
Enlarge Person - Bonus
Grease - Specialist
Hail of Stone - Specialist
Mage Armor - Specialist

[XiaoTie]

As you enter the town proper, you notice that it is rather empty, not a single soul was seen from the gates to the quarter above the sea level. As you walk by several scorched spots are to be seen everywhere; from rooftops, to windows, to doors, walls and even the ground bares a faint trail of ash which ends ways before you even reach the floating quarter.

However, the trail, sort of speak, is literally cold by now. No pirates, no bandits; nothing.

The docks, much like the rest of the town, are as empty as a goblin’s head, as the old Ellinakan saying goes.

[OOC]

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Checks results sent through PMs. And keep OOC to the [OOC] spoilered tags or the OOC thread.

[Koury]

Corretha, getting frustrated at finding nothing at all in the town, heads to the center of town and casts Silent Image, creating the brightest light she possibly can and sending it straight up in the air to the very limit of the spells range (480 ft).

She maintains this light for a minute or two and then changes it into words 30 ft wide. The words read in common as "You are safe now. Come to the center of town."

She cycles the message for another few minutes before letting the spell end.

[OOC]

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To be more clear, after I am done with the bright light I create the words one by one, each 30 ft wide (the max width I can do at this level).

[Goonthegoof]

Mallias heads back to the town center and bums around.

[Seth1221]

The scorchings aren't random. Said Lafean to the party after he returned to the town centre.

Indeed it turned out that the scorchings all end up on a small hole near the southern gate. It looked like a track and it was enough for the scout to lead the party to that point. The bandits didn't clean up after themselfs properly - and that should work in party's favor.

Lafean carefully came closer to the hole, knelt before it and started the examination.

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search - (1d20+9)[22]

Stats:

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Lafean Kaenndar Male CG Human
Level 2, Init +4, Speed 30ft
HP 20/20
AC 18 (+4 Armor; +4 Dex), Touch 14, Flat-footed 14
Saves Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +2
Base Attack Bonus +1
Composite Longbow (+2 Str) +7 [SIZE"1"](+4 Dex; +1 BAB; +1 MW)[/size] 1d8+2 (x3)
Masterwork Chain Shirt +4 Armor
No Shield
Abilities Str 14, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 4
Condition/Effects None
Senses Spot: +7; Listen: +7; Search: +9
Location Sudor

[XiaoTie]

The message left by Corretha doesn’t seem to attract anyone except for Mallias, who returns to the town square area after inspecting the tracks. There he meets Corretha and Urlandro, while Lafean heads towards the southern gate to inspect the scorching marks.

Nothing changes, so far. The houses, now clearly empty, had most of the furniture taken away, as well as any food supply. Not a single person or body is to be seen around the town.

[Seth1221]

Lafean called the rest of the party to the hole in the southern part of town. He then pointed at the few teeth laying on the ground nearby. Lafean suspected what creature could have left these teeth but he had to be sure. He lifted one of them and examined it.

Careful, the hole is deep. He warned the rest when they came to him.

Lafean smelled the tooth - he was almost sure that it smelled like sulfur.

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knowledge nature - (1d20+6)[11]

[Koury]

We could be getting a mountain of gold right now, Corretha thought to herself.

Corretha, frustrated by the lack of... anything, follows Lefean. Maybe he'd find something finally. Hes pretty good at that, after all.

[Koury]

"Whats that you got there, Lefean?"

Corretha waits for Lefean to hand the tooth to her and then examines it herself. She then focuses her attention on the hole.

"What is this from, you think?"

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I'll roll all applicable Knowledges. (Yes, I have ranks in all of them )

Knowledge: Arcana - (1d20+10)[29]
Knowledge: Architecture - (1d20+6)[17]
Knowledge: Dungeoneering - (1d20+6)[18]
Knowledge: Geography - (1d20+6)[21]
Knowledge: History - (1d20+6)[10]
Knowledge: Local - (1d20+6)[19]
Knowledge: Nature - (1d20+6)[20]
Knowledge: Nobility - (1d20+6)[26]
Knowledge: Religion - (1d20+6)[19]
Knowledge: The Planes - (1d20+6)[22]

[Seth1221]

I'm not sure...The size of the hole and teeth matches an adult hound though...

Lafean didn't want to make any statement before he was 100% sure.

The animal is not natural - that's for sure
Lafean looked at the wizard silently asking if he learnt anything more.

[Koury]

After examining the tooth, Corretha said "Well, Lefean, you're right about it not being natural. I can't quite put my finger on exactly what it's from though."

Corretha pockets the tooth and points to the hole. "I say we send Mallias in first," she said, trying to get a rise out of their too-solemn scout.

[Goonthegoof]

Not sure how much time has passed, so vigor may have run out. If its still on Mallias agrees to go down the hole.

Anyone got a rope?

[Seth1221]

Lafean took his rope and tied up himself around his waist. This way Mallias will be secured and the party will be able to pull him up easily.

Lafean stepped at the edge of the hole grabbed the rope and nodded to Mallias. He was ready.

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First of all - Goon keep the OOC banter in the OOC (or at least around spoilers)

@Xiao: I'm not sure if you'll require it but in any case - use rope - (1d20+4)[8]

[Goonthegoof]

Mallias holds on to the rope and begins to go down

If this rope doesn't hold, someone smack Lafean for me

[Hack Writer]

Urlandro stayed the young ranger's advance with a gentle touch on his shoulder. "No. I should go, I think." He discarded his heavy flail and dropped his shield. Rummaging in his backpack for a moment, he withdrew an arm-length piece of withered wood, etched in enigmatic runes of a mildly magical nature - an ever burning torch. "There, that should be enough."

He waited for the others in interject.

OOC:

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I'll leave all my gear except the following: Ever burning Torch, Thunderstones [2], half plate, morning star because of the potential limitations of the hole. That is, of course, if I even fit!

[Seth1221]

Lafean nodded slowly - Urlando will turn out to be a bigger weight but the scout should hold him either way.
Anyway the hole wasn't vertical per se so the paladin should be able to crawl in it on his own strength.
Lafean changed the ties and they were ready to go.

[XiaoTie]

Slowly, but surely, Urlando was able to crawl through the tunnel. Fortunately, whatever made that hole made it big enough so that even on his full set of half-plate Urlando was able to crawl through without much difficulty other than crawling through a sandy hole littered with scorched earth and even some scorched roots at some points.

For a good while the paladin crawled, and crawled, and crawled, until, eventually, the rope tightened and the crawling stopped.

[OOC]

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Your character's Vigor has been gone for a while now, Goon.

A little pause during the weeked because I needed me sum rest to do sum stuff.

Game on

[Goonthegoof]

Mallias begins to go down after Urlandro

OOC

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I said 4 posts ago that I was going down the rope, not sure why Urlando is, but oh well

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I guess losing vigor's not a big deal, Urlandro is the only person in the party with more health than me.

[Koury]

Corretha waited for a second after Mallias headed in then followed.

A mysterious hole in the ground, seemingly made by some sort of fire creature large enough that I can crawl through the hole myself with relative ease. Nope, nothing could go wrong by going in here, Corretha thought to herself. Nothing at all.

[OOC]

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Goon, we let Urlandro go in because of his mantle requirement. We talked about it a little in the OOC thread.

[Stats]

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Corretha Caelara Female CG Fire Elf
Level 2, Init +4, Speed 30ft
HP 10/10
AC 18 (+4 Dex; +4 Armor), Touch 14, Flat-footed 14
Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +3
Base Attack Bonus +1
Masterwork Longbow +6 Attack (+4 Dex; +1 BAB; +1 MW) 1d8 (x3)
No Armor
No Shield
Abilities Str 10, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 10, Cha 8
Condition/Effects Mage Armor (2 hrs)
Senses Spot: +1; Listen: +1; Search: +6
Location In a hole, trying to ignore Mallias' large rear end in front of her.

Spells Memorized

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Level 0
Acid Splash
Acid Splash
Acid Splash
Caltrops - Specialist
Caltrops - Specialist
Caltrops - Specialist

Level 1
Color Spray
Enlarge Person - Bonus
Grease - Specialist
Hail of Stone - Specialist
Mage Armor - Specialist

[Hack Writer]

OOC

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@Goon: sorry about that mate, the frenetic nature of the posting sort of overtook things. With Urlandro being the better armoured - and his mantle requiring him to always put himself in danger's way first - it seemed the natural choice,. Sorry for the mix up mate, I guess we're both in a hole now!

With a minor word of power, Urlandro roused the magic of the everburning torch into life. the darkness fled before the wan glow of the torch.

Urlandro toyed with the idea of removing the rope entirely and continuing on down the dank tunnel alone, but erred against it. Wisdom suggested that he should turn back. He silently chided himself for not bringing the spare rope; with both ropes to hand he could lash the tow together and continue on.

He took a moment out to survey his surroundings, pondering his next move.

OOC:

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Spot check, Xiao. Urlandro is looking for the following specific things: scorch marks, claw marks or any signs of how the tunnel was constructed, blood or trails of clothing.

Spot: (1d20+4)[5]

[XiaoTie]

As Urlandro tries to return, after quickly inspecting the area, he meets with Mallias who is followed closely by Corretha, since both Sentinels made their way downwards into the hole after a while.

Now, the scorch-mark filled hole has three of the sentinels lined up just before the turn the tunnel takes towards the southwest (when it stops going diagonally downwards and instead becomes an almost perfect horizontal tunnel), while Lafean, above the hole, holds onto the rope that ties the paladin.

[OOC]

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Check results sent.

[Koury]

Corretha sees the rope go taut for a second. Before too long, she sees Urlandro coming back, despite Mallias' large rear end in front of her.

"You run out of rope, Urlandro? We may as well go get Lefean and press on. That town is empty and this is our only lead."

[Goonthegoof]

OOC

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Is the hole on enough of an angle that I won't fall without a rope?

[Seth1221]

Seeing as rest of the Sentinels wen down the hole Lafean decided to go as well. There were nothing to be done here either way.
He took a second to tie the horses to one of the buildings - they were to be returned to the city watch after all.
Next he took the belongings of Urlando and went down to the rest of the party.
Soon he noticed the light - Urlando's torch.

Your equipment. The Scout said passing it to the paladin.

Lafean rejoined the party and took a look around the tunnel.

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[roll=spot]1d20+7[/roll
listen - (1d20+7)[11]
search - (1d20+9)[23]
Damn I'll roll for spot in the OOC

STATS:

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Lafean Kaenndar Male CG Human
Level 2, Init +4, Speed 30ft
HP 20/20
AC 18 (+4 Armor; +4 Dex), Touch 14, Flat-footed 14
Saves Fort +4, Ref +8, Will +2
Base Attack Bonus +1
Composite Longbow (+2 Str) +7 [SIZE"1"](+4 Dex; +1 BAB; +1 MW)[/size] 1d8+2 (x3)
Masterwork Chain Shirt +4 Armor
No Shield
Abilities Str 14, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 12, Wis 14, Cha 4
Condition/Effects None
Senses Spot: +7; Listen: +7; Search: +9
Location Tunnel under Sudor

[Hack Writer]

With Urlandro at the fore, the party were now all assembled in the tunnel. It seemed an odd situation to be in - the four of them huddled so tightly together like this. But there was nothing else for it; the tenebrous hole beckoned them onwards.
"Perhaps we should trail the rope behind us as we go? If the tunnel branches further ahead, it might help to mark our path."

[Koury]

Don't you worry about that, Urlandro. I've got a bunch of chalk in my pack for just such an occurrence. Let's press on for now.

[Seth1221]

Indeed.
The rope was only 50 feet long either way so it woudn't be of any use in the long run.