(IC) Starbuck's Core-ish Sunless Citadel

[NiveanDauphin]

Centipete follows the others. Impatient Fom...

[Starbuck_II]

The stairs don't seem the best maintained as they spiral around the ledge, after the first junction those with darkvision or low -light vision notice an image:

At the edge of sight, a fortress top emerges from the darkness. The subterranean Citadel, though impressive, seems long forgotten, if lightless windows, cracked crenellations, and leaning tower are any indication.
All is quiet, though a cold breeze blows up from below, bringing with it a scent of dust and taint trace of rot.”


For those without (darkvision or Low-light) either, you are traveling blind from here on in.
Do keep going?

[Iceseer]

I keep on going though a bit nervous. Telling those that are unable to see At the edge of my line of sight, a fortress top emerges from the darkness. The subterranean Citadel is impressive and seems long forgotten, if lightless windows, cracked crenellations, and leaning tower are any indication.

[King Tius]

Merbyl twists around on Spud and looks at the group. "Who all can't see that well in the dark? Just you two humans, right? Anyone got a lantern or a torch we can light? We're not the sneakiest bundle of apples, so we might as well be able to see where we are going."

[Saint Jimmy]

"I do'" Orindun shouts. He digs in his pack for a little, before pulling out a torch and hands it to whichever human wants it. Once they have a solid grip on it he lights it with his flint and steel. As he does that he adds "I also have a sunrod we could tie to someone's arm if the torch gets too clunky."

[Alabenson]

I'll take the it, Faustus says as he takes the torch from Orodin. my buckler leaves my hand free anyway.

[Starbuck_II]

The Narrow stairs empty into a small courtyard, apparently the top of what was once crenellated battlement. The buried citadel has sunk so far into the earth that the battlement is now level with surrounding cavern floor. The floor stretches way from the north and south, and is apparently composed of a layer of treachery, crumbled masonry, which reachs an unknown depth. To the west looms the surviving structure of what must be the Sunless Citadel. A tower stands on the west side of the courtyard with a wooden door.

Map: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...gD8/edit#gid=0

Do you cross to it?

[Iceseer]

I walk cautiously to the courtyard and prepare for anything that might come out of that doorway. I then say It might be trapped so if anyone has trap disabling skills please check it.

[Saint Jimmy]

Orindun looks ahead, trying to locate areas of stone that appear safe to cross, as well as ones to defenitely avoid.

Spoiler: Ooc

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I think the skill for this is search, so that's what I'm using. Pretty sure that the racial ability Stonecutting applies to this, but I'm not sure, so just subtract 2 from the result if it actually doesn't apply.
(d20+1)[15]

[King Tius]

Merbyl will wait and watch the other two cross. Assuming nothing disastrous happens, he'll goad Spud to cross.

[Alabenson]

Faustus turns to Merbyl. Well, does Spud smell anything, or should we assume that tripping on broken masonry represents the primary danger here?

[Starbuck_II]

The courtyard is 25 ft to the door
Samuel make a DC 15 Balance check for first 10 feet he traveled, failure he falls 5 ft into a hole (easy to climb out if medium, but not if small).
Due to Stonecunning, Orindun can choose the right stone granting himself a +2 to his check if he later tells the others, they can also benefit (not retroactive for Samuel). Orindun realizes that the stones hold small creatures easily if they move at 1/2 speed.


Map: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...gD8/edit#gid=0

[NiveanDauphin]

Okay, here we are. I really don't want to go first. But, if you big folks need me to help get to the other side, I am willing to do what I can. If you need another light, I can help with that, too.

[Jopustopin]

Bishop

The Elf is the last one to begin descending and remains quiet the entire time. Peering into the darkness with an arrow cocked she occasionally turns to peer behind her to make sure they are not being followed. She does look at the human with a raised eyebrow when he starts describing the citadel in detail despite not having a light source; although she says nothing about it.

As the rest of the group discusses travelling across the courtyard, she remains in the rear at the base of the stairs. Her bow still out, she watches for anyone coming down the stairs.

[Saint Jimmy]

Orindun tosses Centipete his rope, saying
"look at that big chunk of stone over there. You want to make it to that, not the smaller ones by it. After that if you just go straight it should be easy to get across. The rope is so you can hopefully pull someone up if they fall, they need to tie it around themselves after you get across and throw it back."

Spoiler: Ooc

Show

Orindun is giving him the +2 bonus.

[NiveanDauphin]

Centipete tries to looks at the dwarf quizzically....
Even a healthy young gnome couldn't do anything to pull up a dwarf on a rope!
But, he wasn't useless.
I'll see about getting this end tied to something...
Centipete activates his racial Fae lights to give him an even better view, then slowly to where climbs where Orindun indicated, looking for a hold to tie the rope to.

Spoiler: knowledge

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(1d20+5)[24] knowledge engineering to find a good spot to tie off.
Centipete takes a 10 on the roll. Orindun's help counter acts Centipete's -2 strength mofifier,
resulting in a roll of 10

[Iceseer]

Samuel Garrison uses the role and keeping mind the advice given. Crosses the path trying not to fall.

Spoiler: roll

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(1d20+1)[20]

[Starbuck_II]

Centipete finds a good stone sticking out of the ground near end of stairs, he ties it off without difficulty.
Samuel and Centipete makes it across safely pass precarious stones lining the edges of the platform. The rest of ground across seems sturdier. At least far as the two can tell.
Another cold breeze blows by which is followed by a bat flying by away into the darkness.

Spoiler

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It is a balance check not Strength.
But you succeed either way.

[Alabenson]

After listening to Orodin's advice and making some quick mental adjustments to account for the difference in size between himself and Centipete, Faustus carefully makes his way across the rubble.

Spoiler

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Taking 10 on the Balance check for a total of 15 after the extra +2 from Orodin.

[King Tius]

Merbyl turns to Faustus and shrugs. "He hasn't started barking yet, so I think we're ok. If he smells something fishy, he'll let us know, won't you boy?"

Seeing how treacherous things look, he'll change tactics. Once there's a clear enough spot on the other side, he'll back Spud up and have the dog jump the distance instead.

Spoiler: Jump, Spud, Jump!

Show

(1d20+8)[21]

[Saint Jimmy]

Signing and cursing like a true dwarf, Orindun ties the rope (assuming it is now tied to something) to himself, and begins struggling across, trying his best to stay balanced in his heavy armor.

Spoiler: Balance

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(d20+1)[4]
Stupid armor check penalty. I hope that rope holds

[NiveanDauphin]

Centipete stands to one side, using his light to help the taller people see their way more easily. Once they seem secure enough, he darts the light around, flashing reds and blues, hoping to convince any lesser vermin not to commit suicide, and any Gohb in the vicinity to do act rashly. Stupid enemies are not smart enough to hold to planned ambushes when taunted.

Spoiler: roll

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this would be a flat intimitation check, but Centipete is more interested in spooking animals than enraging goblins
(1d20+1)[16]

[Starbuck_II]

OOC: don't forget +2 from stonecunning. Not enough to save you though.

Orindun makes across he thinks, but then slips on the wet ground., The rope strains then breaks on his weight as he steps on a weak stone. The stone floor beneath him starts crumbling and breaks, he falls into a 8 ft hole, a huge "chunk" sound is heard echoing in the area. The half of the rope that broke comes trailing after him into the hole.

Spoiler

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No damage, but DC 15 climb to break out.

[Saint Jimmy]

That was with the+2...

After falling, Orindun begins his climb up.

Spoiler: Climb

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Well with the armor check penalty, I have a -2 to this...would it be better to just spend the time to take armor off, put it in the bag, tie rope to it and have them pull it up, then climb?
(d20-2)[7]

[Alabenson]

Faustus, having grown impatient while waiting for Orodin to pull himself out of the pit, heads over to the doorway into the Citadel and investigates it.

[Iceseer]

Samuel follows behind Faustus knowing that having someone be alone may kill them in this hostile enviroment.

[Saint Jimmy]

Once Orindun manages to climb up, he hurries after them.

[Starbuck_II]

OOC: Is Faustus searching the area/door or just trying to jiggle the handle to see if unlocked?

After a minute of struggle, Orindun manages to stop acting like a turtle on his back and makes it out of the hole.

Spoiler

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Need I remind Orindun that stonecunning lets him get an auto search if walking within 10 ft of a trap, making him a rogue, granted only for stone/metal areas.

[Saint Jimmy]

So should I make that search check myself, or are you going to do that? I'm just asking for clarification.

[Jopustopin]

Spoiler: OOC

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So should I make that search check myself, or are you going to do that? I'm just asking for clarification.

As an elf I get to auto search for secret doors, I'd prefer if you'd roll that in secret for me.