Don't Go Down the Well! - Rappan Athuk [IC]

[Farmerbink]

Kern looks on nearby, amused by Vance's almost childlike curiosity. "Acting like that might well get you killed, down here." As the gambler invariably shrugs off the warning, Kern returns the gesture. "Suit yourself."

Pointing to the skeleton, he turns to the scholar. "What can you tell us about those ants, Corvus? Plain as day, they aren't normal..."

[KevSaund]

Kern begins walking down the steps following the all clear, but as he places his weight on the second to last step there is a cracking sound and the stair collapses under his foot. Beneath the false breakaway stair are several downward-pointing spikes on the side wall of the false stair which are coated with a slick substance.

Kern has sustained no immediate damage, but those spikes will make it very difficult to remove his foot.

[MuffinMan]

"Whoah! Look out!" Vance lets his spear fall and dashes forward to pull Kern back by the shoulders, only to halt at the sight of the spikes. He lets out a low whistle. "Chadali favors you today, my friend - this could have gotten very messy! Here, take my hand while you release your foot... I have something that will help..." He does his best to assist the larger man in extricating his leg from the dangerous spikes.

Spoiler: OOC

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If a d20 roll is needed, Vance will contribute a use of Bit of Luck (2/7) to allow rolling twice and taking the highest.

[Farmerbink]

Kern starts, more than a bit surprised by the false floor. "What in the hells?" As he catches himself, as much on the wall as with his other foot, he notes the obvious barbs and almost-as-obvious coating. "You can say that again, Vance." As carefully as he can, using the smaller man's hand and divine assistance, he tries to extricate his leg from the pit without touching any of the barbs.

Spoiler: OOC

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(1d20+3)[11] dex check
(1d20+3)[21] bit of luck- Thanks, Vance!

Scowling, almost more angry at the hole in the ground than anything else, he blurts out, "Didn't we already establish that we're far from the first people to come climbing into this hellhole? How is this still undisturbed after all this time?"

[DarkOne-Rob]

From behind him in the stairs Oghash sees Kern's misstep and stops, suddenly unsure of her footing. When he is finally clear she carefully descends, lightly jumping over the last couple of steps to the floor. She then silently glowers at the stairs behind her and waits for the others to move forward.

[MuffinMan]

Scowling, almost more angry at the hole in the ground than anything else, he blurts out, "Didn't we already establish that we're far from the first people to come climbing into this hellhole? How is this still undisturbed after all this time?"

"On the bright side, it might mean that we're the first group to make it this far down the right path - perhaps we have already ventured farther and more successfully than any before us!!!" Vance replies cheerily. "Or it might be, you know, black magicks most foul. I prefer to dwell on the positive. Right, Professor?" With a wink at Corvus, the half-elf retrieves his spear and follows carefully down the stairway after Domino and Kern establish its safety. "Huh, so far our lives were in more danger strolling through the forest - so much for the legendary dungeon!" He chuckles, but it quickly falls flat in the enclosed surroundings - you get the sense that the cleric is chattering only to keep the oppressive silence at bay.

[KevSaund]

With a careful (and lucky) manipulation of his foot, Kern manages to extract his foot from the trap.

Domino continues searching, and can tell that the tapping noise is coming from the hallway beyond. As she reaches the archway to the hallway, the floor beneath her drops out.

Spoiler: It's a Trap!

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Roll a DC20 reflex save, or fall in the pit that opens under your feet, taking (2d6)[8] falling damage.

[Untarr]

Spoiler: Reflex

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DC 20 Reflex - (1d20+8)[27]

Note: Domino is very much female.

"Either we are the first to reach this level or..." The ground underneath her suddenly less steady, the nimble rogue jumps back onto solid ground without too much fuss.

"Or someone is resetting them for our enjoyment. Either way, we should expect more. I'll keep my eyes looking, but obviously I will not be 100%"

[KevSaund]

Domino deftly dodges the trap, however now there is a 10 foot wide hole in the floor between this room and the hallway beyond. A quick investigation reveals that there is nothing of interest in the bottom, but it is quite deep, 20 feet at a rough estimate.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Oghash watches the traps before her with growing frustration. At the pit's opening she growls and pushes forward to look down inside. "Just a pit? Move out of the way and let me go first - I will help catch everyone leaping across," she says as she pushes her way to the front of the party. Then, pushing the others back so she has room to run she backs up to get a running start and charges towards the hole, leaping at the last moment towards the other side!

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Acrobatics (1d20+4)[21] vs DC 10 (assumed based on looking at the chart).

Should she miss and roll low: Climb (1d20+7)[23] to catch the ledge and haul herself up the other side.

[MuffinMan]

"Easy for you to say..." Vance mutters as the half-orc clears the pit with ease. "I can call upon Desna's favor for the rest of us - does anyone have a rope if this doesn't work out?" He waits for the rest of the party to make it across before attempting his own running leap, first flinging his spear and pack across the gap.

Spoiler: OOC

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Vance has 5 uses left of Bit of Luck, so feel free to claim one if you want some insurance on the DC 10 Acrobatics check.

Assuming everyone else is on board with the plan, Vance will wait until everyone else has jumped (to provide BoL) and then attempt his own leap vs DC 10:
Acrobatics (1d20+1)[11], Bit of Luck (3/7) (1d20+1)[18]

[Farmerbink]

Kern snorts, and watches as Oghash clears the pit- his expression rapidly shifting into a frown of surprise and appreciation. "Huh. All sorts of interesting talents coming to display this morning." With a shrug, he gets a running start to attempt the same.

Spoiler: OOC

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Lol, here's hoping! (1d20+1)[15] vs DC 10
If failed by less than 5: (1d20+3)[10] reflex save vs DC 20 to catch
If Kern falls, (1d20+1)[14] vs DC 15 to ignore the first 10 feet.
(1d6)[1] for 10' fall damage
(1d6)[5] additional for 20' fall damage

So many contingencies. So little significance

On the other side of the pit, Kern stretches. "That wasn't so bad. Come on, now. Between Oghash and I, you don't even need to stick the landing!" With a low chuckle, he takes up a ready stance at the far edge of the pit, to offer a strong hand to anyone else following the burly pair.

[Untarr]

"While I certainly appreciate the offer..."
Domino leaps across the pit with practiced ease.

Spoiler: Jump

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She can't fail the DC.

"That will not be necessary"
She scoots by the orc looking further down the hallway.

"A rope left behind may be useful if we need a hasty retreat."

Spoiler: Perception/Stealth

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Perception - (1d20+9)[19]
Stealth - (1d20+12)[26]

[KevSaund]

Those that manage to traverse the pit find themselves in a long hallway. The taping sound is quickly identified, coming from a shallow bowl made of silver, which water is steadily dripping into from a crack on the ceiling.

The hallway extends north and south. Even those with less sensitive noses, can quickly identify that the smell becomes stronger to the north.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Oghash looks back at the dark doctor. "Are you coming, or do you need help?" she asks, a hint of scorn in her voice. "Here, catch!" she grunts as she throws a length of rope at the man and sets herself to help pull him across the divide.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Getting set to Aid Another using Acrobatics: (1d20+4)[22] vs DC 10

[MuffinMan]

Vance chuckles at the sight of the dropping water. "See, nothing dangerous after all! I'm starting to think this place is well and truly abandoned - it's nothing like the stories of mayhem and terrors, at any rate!" He consults with Domino while Oghash and Kern assist Doctor Corvus with getting across the pit. "I'm no expert, but it seems the smell is coming from that way," he points north. "Should we investigate? Whatever's causing it, I'd rather not have the unknown at our backs."

[Untarr]

Domino nods at Vance's suggestion. "Stay here and get everyone across..."

The rogue slinks forward into the dark, searching for the smell.

Spoiler: Actions and Rolls

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Stealth - (1d20+12)[15]
Perception - (1d20+9)[20]

Go north towards the smell

[Farmerbink]

Kern waits with Oghash, only quietly noting Domino's disappearance further down the hall. Once the pit is dealt with, he turns his attention towards the bowl. He inspects it with only the focus that extreme distrust can generate.

Spoiler: OOC

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Is the bowl overflowing, having long-since filled with the slowly dripping water? Is it apparently magically emptying itself? Some awkward combination thereof?

(1d20+1)[16] spellcraft

[KevSaund]

Kern inspects the bowl and it does seem to be magically infused. It is a wide shallow bowl about 18 inches across, made of a shiny deep yellow metal. The water drips onto the outer rim, then slides into the center, creating the noise you've heard before Despite water continually dripping into it, it does not over flow or even reach halfway full. Surprisingly, the water is crystal clear and has left absolutely no mineral build up on the bowl itself.

Domino heads to the north and enters what appears to be a rather large latrine. Three holes in the ground are regularly spaced in a line along one side of this room. They are latrines, as is obvious from the smell. The center hole has a toilet seat of white stone, which appears to be very clean, installed over the hole. The other two holes have no seat, requiring a more traditional "field squat" for one to go about their business.

[MuffinMan]

Vance raps the bowl with a knuckle and listens appreciatively to the ringing. "Magic or no, that looks like gold and might fetch a fair price from a collector..." he muses, "but it's a shame that it's the only trace of riches we've found..." He leaves the water itself alone, contenting himself with a sip from his own canteen.

The half-elf's ears wilt and his nose wrinkles in distaste at Domino's discovery. "Faugh - these are riches I could do without. Let's press on, away from the stench - unless anyone's dying for a closer look!"

[KevSaund]

Oghash's rope is thrown true, and lands across the way. Her initial thought was that the so-called doctor was just out of sight. However her repeated calls fall on an empty room, and it seems Anton Corvus is nowhere to be found.

[DarkOne-Rob]

After several moments of suspiciously looking across the pit, Oghash calls to the others. "Something is wrong - the necromancer has disappeared!" she cries. Drawing her ax she readies herself for an attack that never materializes as she stares into the darkness behind them.

When it is confirmed that the doctor is truly gone Oghash mutters to herself angrily and follows the others into the room. Eyeing the magical bowl and sniffing at the latrines she shakes her head angrily. "This is a waste of time - we should keep moving before whatever got Corvus gets one of us. Let's go!"

She then gestures for Domino to scout ahead and continues to guard the rear, her nerves even more tightly wound now that the party is one fewer...

[KevSaund]

The part begins moving down the corridor, away from the stench of the latrines. Domino is out ahead tapping and testing with each cautious step. Not 10 feet from the end of the hallway she hears a strange hollow sound on one of her taps. A closer inspection reveals that a particular patch of stone is actually cleverly painted wood. Some initial testing indicates the door seems both easy and safe to open.

At the end of the hall is another door, this one clearly marked.

[Farmerbink]

Kern frowns at Domino's discoveries, equally off-put by both the latrines and the incessant maze of false-doors and trapped floors. "Pah," he gripes. "They speak of this place in awe and wonder, but it's nothing more than some rat-infested labyrinth." His glare turns to the far door.

"Might be more fun if a minotaur would show up," he grumbles ironically. His hands clench and loosen on the haft of his blade, clearly eager for something to strike with it.

[DarkOne-Rob]

"Fun, huh? Perhaps," mutters Oghash from the rear. "I would settle for something I could see to kill - these traps and disappearing allies have me on edge...more than normal, I mean..." She growls angrily before finishing, "You know what I mean! Choose a door and get on with it!"

[MuffinMan]

"Check the hidden door - that's usually where the good stuff is! The most obvious passageway is likely to be a trap." Vance suggests cheerily. "Unless the trap designers were using reverse psychology, and instead decided to trap the hidden door, knowing that we would discover and open it first - this suggests that we ought to proceed down the main hallway, instead... Hmm, but then if they were so clever, they might have anticipated even that decision and so gone back to trapping the most obvious entrance..."

[Untarr]

Domino fawns over the hidden door for a few moments.

"Ok, step back. Its not trapped, but there may be a...minotaur", the rogue says with obvious sarcasm.

Spoiler

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Draw a dagger, open the hidden door.

[KevSaund]

The door slides up and a short narrow hallway opens into a room containing a single occupant. A humanoid shape is before you. It might have been a person once, but now it looks like skin stretched over a frame of bones. Bright eyes take you in over a smile made of incredibly sharp looking teeth. The occupant's fingers seem to taper to points, looking just as sharp as its teeth.

A raspy voice shrieks out "Adventurers! How long has it been? They usually pass me by, onto greater treasures. Maybe I hide to well? I already have a snack lined up, but this will be great!"

The creature sees to be talking to itself as much as to the party.

This is so exciting! Who is up first?"

You can hear a faint thumping from witin the coffin behind the ghoulish creature.

[MuffinMan]

"Hail, -um-, sir!" Vance calls from the middle of the group, craning his next for a better look at the creature. "Technically she is up first as you can see-" he indicates Domino, "- but we are all together. And should you intend us harm, I will have no choice but to smite you down with the unyielding divine fire of Lady Desna herself!" He brandishes his holy symbol as he speaks, still conversational with with an air of menace creeping into his tone.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Knowledge: Religion was 16 in OOC to identify this thing's strengths or weaknesses.

And just for the heck of it, Intimidate (1d20)[18]! Seems to be in-character with the above phrasing.

[DarkOne-Rob]

Oghash freezes at the appearance of the creature. Her quiet hiss of hatred - familiar by now to her companions - matched by the sound of her drawing her heavy flail and placing her ax in its holder. "Kill it! Don't talk with it!" hisses the half-orc woman, her eyes never leaving the undead.