Agents of the Decemvirate (IC)

[Truwar]

Uori sighs as Jade speaks, seeming to deflate a little as the elven woman describes the fate of the pilgrims. He drops from a standing position to sit on the edge of the pool, staring into its clear depths. “Thank you for what you have done. While it pains me to have lost my friends, I am heartened to know that no more pilgrims will suffer their fate and that this holy site can go back to being a place of enlightenment instead of a den of horrors.”

He looks over his shoulder at the party. “You have done as I requested and now I shall give you what I promised in return.” He gestures around the cavern. “This place was once a holy site of the dead god Aroden. The carvings you saw in the cavern you passed through before entering this were representations of the twelve guises that Aroden used when passing unnoticed among his followers. When Aroden died his followers abandoned this place and a wandering oracle of my people discovered it.” He points to the water in front of him. “The purity of this pool was seen as a sacred sign and my people now come here to meditate on its clear waters. As we travel the sacred 3,234 steps from the entrance of the cavern to this holy pool, we often are struck by divine inspiration and decorate the cavern walls to reflect the spiritual awakening we undergo. After we have found peace at this sacred site, when then retrace our steps and return to our homes.”

“I share this information with you but ask when you pass this on too others that you make sure they understand that this place is holy to us and we would not see it defiled.” His eyes go back to the pool. “I must make peace with my brethren now and ask that I be left alone.”

Spoiler: Orientation

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You are currently in the pool-cavern. North: The carving cavern and the way you originally came from. East: Undead-end where you discovered the fate of the gillman pilgrims. West: Unexplored cavern.

[Farmerbink]

Shaun nods solemnly as the Gilman describes his people's reverence for the site. He deigns not to speak, as he knows that his personality can be upsetting to some, and the man specifically wished for solitude.

To his allies, he whispers, "Shall we see what's down that hallway?" pointing towards the unexplored hall.

[Yawielas]

Jade bows to the gillman ,respecting his wish to be let alone, then nods to Shaun. She quietly makes her way towards the other unexplored cave.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Geoffe nods at his brother's whispered words and turns to follow the scouts in that direction.

[Truwar]

The party respectfully leaves Uori to his sorrowful preparations and head deeper into the Western tunnels. These caves show none of the petroglyphs they previously encountered but are still festooned with bioluminescent fungi. Jade encounters several side passages as she scouts ahead but all of them end in dead-ends or quickly become too narrow for any of the party members to explore further. After twenty minutes of this Jade can hear the faint roaring of water from up ahead and soon she can see the tunnel opening up into a larger chamber.

Spoiler: Scouting actions

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Jade and anyone else scouting ahead go ahead and make a stealth (if you are being sneaky) and a perception check.

[Yawielas]

Jade moves carefully through the tunnel, listening for any sound out of the ordinary.

Stealthy: (1d20+8)[11] Percepty (1d20+6)[25]

[Smileybastard]

Denjan

Denjan moves with Jade.

Spoiler: Crunch

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Stealth (1d20+6)[11]
Perception(1d20+6)[25]

[Truwar]

As Jade and Denjan creep forward the tunnels broaden to reveal a shallow river that bisects an immense tunnel stretching to the north and south. To the east a small passage exits the chamber at a steep incline. Directly in front of them are several kobolds jabbering at each other over the pieces of what appears to be some sort of trap. Before either of the two scouting adventurers can duck for cover, one of the twitchy little dragon-men looks up and hisses in surprise at the sight of the brawny human and lithe elf stalking towards them.

Spoiler: Initiative

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Jade: 22
Shaun: 20
Geoffe: 16
Kobolds: 14
Denjan: 12+
Hoppholderim: 12-

Spoiler: Orientation

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Party entering from tunnel on western side of cavern. Shallow river running through middle of the cavern. Tunnel exiting cavern on eastern side of the cavern. Kobolds on eastern side of the river working on what appears to be some sort of trap. Geoffe, Shaun and Hoppholderim are 40’ back from the rest of the party

[Yawielas]

Jade draws her blade, readying herself if the kobolds should attack. (Holding action). She calls back to the others: "Get ready, kobolds ahead!"

[Farmerbink]

Spoiler: Shaun, Round 1

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Shaun Turnisson
M N Human Witch (Hedge Witch), Level 1, Init 8, HP 9/9, Speed 30
AC 12, Touch 12, Flat-footed 10, CMD 10, Fort 2, Ref 3*, Will 2, CMB -2, Base Attack Bonus 0
Dagger -2/+2 (1d4-2, 19-20/x2)
Quarterstaff -2 (1d6-2, x2)
(+2 Dex)
Abilities Str 7, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 20, Wis 11, Cha 7
[B]Condition[/BCondition Obscuring Mist: 1/1
Summon monster I: 1/2
Master of Pentacles: 0/1

Shaun wastes no time, and quickly dashes up behind Jade. He looks at the kobolds with an appraising glance. "We should expect trouble."

Spoiler: Actions

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Double move to get behind Jade.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Spoiler: Round 1, Geoffe's Status

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Geoffe Turnisson
Male Neutral Human Wizard, Level 1, Init 5, HP 9/9, Speed 30 ft
AC 11, Touch 11, Flat-footed 10, CMD 11, Fort 2, Ref 1, Will 2, CMB 0, Base Attack Bonus 0
Dagger +0 Melee, +1 Ranged (1d4, 19-20/x2)
(No Armor, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 10, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 7
Condition None

A moment after he sees the kobolds, Geoffe invokes the magic of his tattoo and conjures four glowing orbs of light to highlight the reptilian humanoids.

Spoiler: Draconic

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"You there - be still and state your purpose here! Otherwise my allies and I will kill you where you stand!"

Spoiler: Combat Mechanics

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Invoke the first of his 3/day Dancing Lights SLA and hail the kobolds.

[Truwar]

The kobolds look at each other in confusion for just a moment as Geoffe addresses them.
One of them hisses a response, then they dive for their crossbows, unleashing a hail of bolts on the party.

Spoiler: Draconic response

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“If you don’t want to kill us, you must be afraid of usss!”

Spoiler: When kobolds attack

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Kobold #1 fires at Jade: Miss
Kobold #2 fires at Jade: Miss
Kobold #3 fires at Denjan: Hit 2 dmg
Kobold #4 fires at Denjan: Miss
Kobold #5 fires at Shaun: Miss
Kobold #6 fires at Shaun: Hit 4 dmg
Kobold #7 fires at Geoffe: Miss

[DarkOne-Rob]

Spoiler: Round 2, Geoffe's Status

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Geoffe Turnisson
Male Neutral Human Wizard, Level 1, Init 5, HP 9/9, Speed 30 ft
AC 11, Touch 11, Flat-footed 10, CMD 11, Fort 2, Ref 1, Will 2, CMB 0, Base Attack Bonus 0
Dagger +0 Melee, +1 Ranged (1d4, 19-20/x2)
(No Armor, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 10, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 7
Condition None

"They think we fear them - best show them otherwise!" Geoffe shouts as he moves to cast his last spell of the day, fire springing from his fingers in the now familiar arc.

Spoiler: Combat Mechanics

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Free action to direct the light orbs to keep the kobolds well in their nimbus of light
Move action to get into a good spot to cast Burning Hands
Standard action to cast Burning Hands, dealing (4d4+2)[10] fire damage, DC 17 Reflex save for half damage
Concentration check to cast only if absolutely necessary (1d20+9)[12] vs DC 17 or lose the spell with no effect

[Yawielas]

Jade springs into action at the first sign of hostility from the kobolds, swinging her elven sabre at the closest one after ducking their attacks.

melee (1d20+4)[12] damage (1d6+4)[6]

[Truwar]

Upon noting they had been detected, Jade draws her sabre, and calls a warning back to her companions, waiting to see how the diminutive creatures would react. Shaun and Geoffe move up to join Jade and Denjan and the elder Turnisson brother summons a small globe of light as he addresses the kobolds in draconic.

Apparently not impressed by Shaun’s verbal offer, the kobolds hiss something back and dive for their crossbows, unleashing a hail of small bolts on the party and injuring Denjan and Shaun. In response to the unprovoked attack Jade springs forward, engaging one of the creatures but unable to get a solid blow in it scrambles away from her. Following Jade’s lead, Denjan launches a flying kick at a kobold, his foot caving in the creature’s spindly chest with a sickening crunch. Not wanting to be left out of the action, Hoppholderim moves forward, the heavily armored dwarf hustling forward and flinging a javelin at one of the kobolds, but missing as the creature dives out of the way.

[Yawielas]

Jade takes a light step aside, and brings her blade down towards her foe again.
melee (1d20+4)[9] dmg (1d6+4)[6]

[Farmerbink]

Shaun grunts as the bolt impacts his shoulder. He stands tall, and cries out in a loud voice, "Ná augum óvina minna!" A great billow of fog appears at his feet and rolls outward, encompassing his allies and more in concealment.

Spoiler: Actions

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cast obscuring mist, and move behind where I last saw Jade.

[Truwar]

Three kobolds are reduced to sizzling husks by Geoffe's spell and as Shaun's mystical fog engulfs them their morale seems to be wavering. Nevertheless they gather themselves and seek out party members to attack. Only one kobold is able to find a foe, however. Jade's illusive opponent lashes out at her with what appears to be a large scorpion tied to a stick.

Spoiler: Kobolds in the mist

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20% miss chance [99] no miss.
Attack: [14] miss.

[Truwar]

Geoffe dashes forward, seemingly heedless of his own safety and unleashes a scorching fan of flame, flash frying three unfortunate kobolds. Taking a different tack than his brother, Shaun open his mind to forces mortals were not meant to trifle with and call forth a billowing fog, dampening the noise of the fighting and limiting visibility to a few feet.

Most of the foes lose each other in the dense fog but Jade and her wily foe remain locked in combat her sabre unable to find purchase in scaly kobold flesh just as its scorpion-stick is unable to land a sting on her delicate even skin.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Spoiler: Round 3, Geoffe's Status

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Geoffe Turnisson
Male Neutral Human Wizard, Level 1, Init 5, HP 9/9, Speed 30 ft
AC 11, Touch 11, Flat-footed 10, CMD 11, Fort 2, Ref 1, Will 2, CMB 0, Base Attack Bonus 0
Dagger +0 Melee, +1 Ranged (1d4, 19-20/x2)
(No Armor, +1 Dex)
Abilities Str 10, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 20, Wis 10, Cha 7
Condition None

Silently, Geoffe draws his dagger and readies himself to attack any kobolds that come within reach and making the most out of the obscuring cloud.

Spoiler: Combat Mechanics

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Stealth (1d20+1)[9]
Readied attack - Dagger (1d20)[17] attack, (1d20)[3] (19-20/x2), (1d4)[1] damage, (1d4)[4] critical strike damage

[Farmerbink]

Spoiler: Shaun, Round 3

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Shaun Turnisson
M N Human Witch (Hedge Witch), Level 1, Init 8, HP 5/9, Speed 30
AC 12, Touch 12, Flat-footed 10, CMD 10, Fort 2, Ref 3*, Will 2, CMB -2, Base Attack Bonus 0
Dagger -2/+2 (1d4-2, 19-20/x2)
Quarterstaff -2 (1d6-2, x2)
(+2 Dex)
Abilities Str 7, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 20, Wis 11, Cha 7
[B]Condition[/BCondition Obscuring Mist: 0/1
Summon monster I: 1/2
Master of Pentacles: 0/1

Shaun stays near Jade. "Keep at him! I can help if he hits you!" he whispers in the dense fog. Meanwhile, he focuses on himself for a moment. He draws free the bolt that struck his shoulder, and the wound seems to heal itself behind the arrowhead.

Spoiler: Actions

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I don't know if I have to move or not, but stay within reach of jade, and use my healing hex on myself. (1d8+1)[9] HP

edit: very much full HP.

[Yawielas]

Jade nods, clenching her jaw and swings at the little menace again with her elven blade.
melee (1d20+4)[6] damage(1d6+4)[5]

[Truwar]

Aside from the muffled footwork of Jade and her opponent’s duel the cave has gone silent as foes search for each other in the thick fog. Geoffe nearly stabs Hoppholderim as the dwarf creeps by him. Placing a finger to his lips and scowling sourly, the dwarf disappears back into the swirling mist, his massive axe at the ready.

Shaun finds Jade and quietly encourages her as he calls upon the spirits to honor their pacts with him and heals a deep gash in his side caused by a glancing shot from one of the kobold’s crossbows.

Dancing back and forth with the kobold, Jade cannot help but watch the large scorpion tied to the end of the kobold’s flimsy stick. Visions of what a sting from the nasty looking little vermin being waved erratically in front of her would do dance through her head and distract her from landing a solid blow. Luckily, her fascinated revulsion with her foe’s odd weapon also insure that she dodge’s the kobold’s wild attacks as well.

Somewhere in the mist a squeal of kobold surprise is cut off with a sickening crunch followed by shortly by a grunt of pain by Denjan and a hiss of triumph from a reptilian throat.

As Jade dances back and forth with her wily opponent, Hoppholderim suddenly looms behind the kobold, bringing his axe down with a thunderous strike the shoulder of the small creature and shearing its left arm clean off. The kobold falls to the ground shrieking in pain for a moment before shock and blood loss from the terrible wound finally silence the creature.

By the sound of scampering kobold feet fading into the darkness, this gruesome death proved more than their wavering morale could stand. The party now stands alone in the swirling mist.

[DarkOne-Rob]

"Brother, can you dismiss this cloud?" whispers Geoffe, his weapon still readied and nerves on edge. "It sounds as if we have routed them..."

[Farmerbink]

Shaun does as requested. The mist dissipates quickly as he looks around the area. He searches specifically for Denjan, and approaches the man. "I heard you cry out in the mists, how bad is it?" he asks.

Spoiler: OOC

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if he's taken more than 4 damage, I'll use my healing hex on him for (1d8+1)[4] HP

[Yawielas]

Jade listens carefully for any sound while the mist is evaporating. "Let's just hope they didn't run for reinforcements..."

[Truwar]

As the fog dissolves the carnage wrought by the party on their would-be attackers is put on full display. From scorched to dismembered, the remains of the kobolds firmly underscore the crushing defeat inflicted upon them by their would-be victims.

Denjan’s stands with a look of grim stoicism on his face, his hand clutched to a sucking spear-wound in his side. At Shaun’s direction he removes his hand from the puncture and can barely contain a gasp as the witch lays his hand upon him and heals his rent side in a flash of blue light.

Hoppholderim stomps on the squirming scorpion the kobold was menacing Jade with, grunting at the elf “Jetz brauchst du kein mehr sorgern Mädchen”. As the dwarf finishes his sentence a barely discernable cry echoes up from the direction the party was heading.

Spoiler: Perception Check

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Spoiler: DC:15

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You hear a high pitched voice.

Spoiler: DC:20

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You are fairly sure it sounds like your guide, Janira.

Spoiler: DC:25

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You hear Janira somewhat melodramatically shouting “You vile beast! I know not what drives your black heart, but I shall not fail in my duty. I shall see you driven from this forest, back to the hills from whence you came!”

Spoiler: Orientation

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Party entered from tunnel on western side of cavern. Shallow river running through middle of the cavern. Tunnel exiting cavern on eastern side of the cavern. Cry is echoing from this exit cavern. There are 6 dead kobolds in the cavern for some reason

[Farmerbink]

Shaun snorts at the Dwarf's antics. "Rowdy jerk is what you are," he mumbles under his breath. He chuckles afterwards, though whether in appreciation of the Hopholderin's joke or his own is impossible to guess.

Spoiler: Perception

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(1d20+2)[9]

Shaun looks relieved as the wound begins to knit itself shut. "You're gonna have to be more careful, man! I can only do that so much in a day, you know!" With a few brusque brushes, he moves off to look at the deceased kobolds. "Well this is odd- we only killed one, two. Two of them? What killed the rest?" He begins rooting through their belongings and inspecting wounds to try and piece the situation together.

Spoiler: OOC

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Can't roll again in this post, but if we've got time, I'll take 20 on perception for 22 to figure out what happened to the kobolds.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Perception (1d20+1)[12]

Geoffe looks relieved to see the kobolds dispatched and watches as his brother heals their ally. Once it is clear that the most immediate threats have passed he begins rifling through the reptiles' gear looking for anything of value.

[Yawielas]

Perception check:(1d20+6)[22]