Little Trouble in Big Absalom; Game Thread

[sandmote]

[OOC thread, Rolling thread]

The Hookclaw burrow buzzes the curiosity and excitement from the descriptions of better quality items and mysterious crates found in a new passageway, dropping their work to watch as Jzarko, Smoke, Wugga, Takdra, and Yup-Tik pass on their way to the hidden entrance of the tunnel, each chosen for the very important mission.

As you duck into the uncompleted tunnel leading to the treasure hoard, Tunnelmaster Miknik looks up, his usually stern and fearsome face crossed with uncharacteristic concern. He gives a cue to the waiting workers to unseal the tunnel. The miners who discovered the passage immediately hid it from the prying eyes of any dangerous creatures that might lurk there, and as the wooden boards and securing stones are removed, you first lay eyes on the exquisite vases, fabrics hanging by fine rings, and crates filled with unknown prizes that lay on the other side. Any one of the items you see could have raised the clan's wealth above anything it has seen during your lifetimes.

It looks to good to be true-- and that's why the Hookclaws have selected you to check inside.

Tunnelmaster Miknik turns to you. "Secure the chamber," he barks in his usual manner. "Standard Hookclaw hazard pay: first pick of anything you find, up to what you can carry! Proceed with Caution!"

With the order given, he and the workers file out of the unfinished tunnel, each each giving a last worried glance to you, some as they pass and others at the lost spot from the last spot they expect to be able to see you. The tunnelmaster allows everyone else to pass at the intersection with the main tunnel here, only taking such a glance at a moment he's sure no one else will be able to see him.

And with this, you are allowed one last second to prepare before diving into the unknown.

[dariathalon]

Yup-Tik - Kobold Cleric

Yup-Tik is on the smaller side for a kobold, standing at 2 feet 10 inches. He has silver-grey scales, and a few white horn protrusions from his skull. He has icy blue eyes that constantly shift around, looking for danger. He wears whatever rags he has found recently that seem to be in reasonable condition, saying they are indifferently clean would be giving him more credit than is due. The only possession that seems to be in good condition is a silver holy symbol of Apsu, which hangs from a leather thong around his neck.

Yup-Tik sets his staff in the wheelbarrow before him and stretches his hands into the air. "Come, we should beg the great sky dragon Apsu for safety as we step into the unknown." He waves his arms in exaggerated gestures over his head, "Great Apsu, bless us in this journey. See us there and back safely, and help us find stuff to bring back for the improvement of the hookclaws."

After finishing his prayer, Yup-Tik moves back to pick up the handles of his wheelbarrow, nodding he was ready to move in when the others were.

[Skya]

Jzarko

Jzarko follow his new team into the opening. Watching behind him, he bumb into the smaller kobold in from of him. The tall and lean kobold immediately grab his pouch, to be sure his prized possession is still there.

" Oh..so...sorry friend, i wasn't looking. May the Waybringer bless you as well."

The crimson-scaled kobold smile to Yup-Tik, but he seems focus on something else. He follow as the others enter the unknown, both excited and nervous for what they will discover in this new chamber.

[Triskavanski]

Smoke

The ash grey kobold followed after the others silently. She always was a bit of a quiet one, but slightly odd, as she walked more along the walls of the tunnel than the actual floor of the tunnel itself. Quietly she scanned the area ahead of them keeping her crossbow aimed above the other's heads ready to shoot any beasty that sprung out in front of them. Her eyes glancing this way and that as she looked over the items they approached.

[sandmote]

As you start to peer out into the chamber, you notice more of the room beyond. In contrast to the unfinished mining tunnel, the room is tall enough that three kobolds standing on top of each other still wouldn't be able to reach the ceiling. Furniture (sturdy and and of well preserved wood) is pushed into the walls on every side of the room. The first person to step into the room notices three sets of shelves facing into the room from next to the mining tunnel and piles of books heaped on each shelf. There's also large piles of clothing that should be easy to use as scrap cloth for the clan, and some of the old shoes piled around are even small enough for a kobold.

Beyond the nearest pile of crates as an area about twice the size of what you could see before, filled with more of the same. To the far right of the entrance are a pair of large beds piled with pillow and blankets. Just to the left of the beds is a pile of crates reaching almost to the ceiling, by itself the largest pile of potential treasure you'd seen before entering the room. It looks possible to continue in that direction, but there are no passages visible anywhere in the other three walls of the room.

Spoiler: Map

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Image shows up for me; let me know if it doesn't show up for anyone else.

There's no danger apparent at the moment, so it might be a good moment to take whatever precautions occurs to you while you have the chance.

Spoiler: OOC options list

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• Everyone can make one check to search for any hazard. Some for the sake of speed, some suggestions are made below. In the worst case scenario, you can make a Perception check instead.
• Attempting to Decipher Writing for any of the books in the room is your choice of a Society or Occultism check.
• A Crafting Check can be made to looks for items of particularly good quality.
• A Lore (Underworld check can be made to look for items.
• If you have another idea you can justify, that can be made as well.
• Whether or not you have any other ideas, you can default to a perception check.
  
  Alternatively, you can make a beeline for the area behind the beds and the larger pile of crates.

[Triskavanski]

Smoke

Smoke moves through the various objects, looking for the fastest, but stealthiest way through. Occasionally pausing to look around with her crossbow, but on more than one occasion, stopping when she finds something interesting that could be made into a trap or other device, sometimes to even touch it or examine more closely. At least until until she gets to the big horde and goes over it.

[dariathalon]

Yup-Tik - Kobold Cleric

"Ah-yes, we were not mislead. Lots of good stuffs here. More than I've ever seen in one place. Stuffs, stuffs, and more stuffs," Yup-Tik says with an eager grin as he scans the room. Yup-Tik has learned the lesson of caution on his previous forays in search of supplies for the clan. He steps up to the edge of the room, but before leaving the tunnel, he mutters a quiet prayer while rubbing at his eyes with his clawed fingers. When he opens them again, his eyes pulse with a dim white light for just a moment as magical auras are revealed to him.

Spoiler

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Yup-Tik has cast Detect Magic here. The rest of this post assumes the spell revealed nothing. If he sees something in this initial casting or in subsequent castings, he will stop and deal with it somehow (depending on what it is) before proceeding.

Yup-Tik picks up the handles of his small cart, and begins to move into the room, hugging along the eastern(?) wall. He pauses at semi-regular intervals, repeating the his spell. As he moves, his eyes are are on the lookout for dangers first, and treasures second.

Spoiler

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It seems to me that Yup-Tik's Lore (Caverns) is probably close enough to Lore (Underworld) to allow a roll, so if that applies, here it is Lore - (1d20+3)[12]. Otherwise, his perception is higher anyway, so here's a roll on that Perception - (1d20+7)[14].

[Skya]

Jzarko

Jzarko mouth open in awe when finaly enter the room, forgetting about his apprehension for moment.

" This is...really incredible. "

Noticing the books in the shelf, the red kobold head there first, sure to find something interesting.

" So many books! Complete and in good condition even!"

Spoiler

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Jzarko try to decipher some of the books
Society check: (1d20+3)[22]
(mythweaver is down right now, but this should be the right modifier)

[sandmote]

Tup-Tik doesn't see anything magical here. Maybe if he were more used to items that are so valuable he'd be able to appraise them better, but none of what he can see seems much better or worse than the items around it. As he's further through his walk about the room though, he notices an odd glow coming from the two beds in the northwest corner of the room. The air is much fresher than in most of the tunnels, so there doesn't seem to be anything burning, but there's some light peeking out from beneath the cloth nonetheless.

Jzarko isn't sure what he's looking for, but there's a shelf with some strange tokens lying on top of the books. There's a green one shaped like a spade with a droplet of water on the tip, a bright violet moth with foreword facing wings, and one of a golden bow where the top and bottom branch off into multiple points. The first book he pulls down from near these tokens is broken into parts, each one with a short verse written in fancy text; they sort pf like the usual prayers you'd say to Apsu or Dahak, but for gods and activities he isn't familiar with. Maybe one of these books will have some mention of Shelyn?

Smoke spots a particularly fancy case lying in the horde forming a barrier from heading further west. Unlike most of the crates, the case is carved with a fancy inlay, and there's no visible cracks along the outside. It might even be waterproof. Whatever is inside is likely very valuable, but he'll have to get it out of the pile to see. Trying to remove the case reveals the entire wall to be highly unstable; crates sit on bottles and jugs are balanced precariously on cloth bags filled with unknown materials. It'll certainly take a moment to reinforce before it can take anyone's weight, much less withstand anything being removed.

Spoiler: OOC

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We'll do "up is north" to keep the map clear.

Once everyone is ready to continue west, there's the issues of the unstable wall and the glow under the beds to investigate. Alternatively, anyone can continue looking around in this room.

[Skya]

Jzarko

Jzarko stood there in silence for a moment, his big eyes fixed on his finding. Snapping out of it, he take off his backpack and put the trinkets and the book in it. He open a few more book, and take any that seem interesting. He then proceed west toward the big pile of box where Smoke is, replacing the backpack on his shoulder.

"Want me to help with that?" Jzarko says to Smoke, pointing at the unstable wall.

[Triskavanski]

Smoke

The grey kobold sat pondering the structure of the boxes. "Iz trap. Take from zee bottom, vole zing collapse." She said out loud when Jzarko talked to her. Pointing to the case "Zat, I vant. Ve need poles. More Boxes, stop zee hole zing from falling ven take zee case." She begins looking around for other things that could be used to untrap the unstable pile of boxes and other dodads.

[dariathalon]

Yup-Tik - Kobold Cleric

Hearing Smoke's predicament, Yup-Tik moves over and parks his wheelbarrow nearby. He unslings his pack and sets it open in the nearly empty cart. "I have a crowbar and some rope and things, if you think it will help." The crowbar sticks out from under an empty burlap sack in the bottom of the wheelbarrow, and a climbing kit with ropes, pitons, and other useful items sits on top of the open pack. "I will see if I can find any stuffs for holding up the pile around. Let me know before you are ready to try to get it, and I will pray for the Sky Dragon's blessings upon you." Yup-Tik scampers away, looking for poles or other useful items that could be useful in reinforcing the pile.

Spoiler

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I'm guessing its another Perception - (1d20+7)[11] check to try to find supplies appropriate for the task. And I'll cast guidance on Smoke just before she tries to get the case, which will give her a +1 to whatever check is needed.

[sandmote]

Much of the room is more crates, boxes, and furniture, most of which could use to reinforce the pile without much difficulty. The harder part is likely to be reinforcing the objects without anything causing the pile to collapse. Luckily, one unstable wall is much like another, and you are all well familiar with reinforcing the walls of underground tunnels.

Spoiler: OOC

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You can make a Thievery check to try to maneuver items around the wall without it collapsing, or an Athletics check to hold up the wall on your own. A Lore (Cavern) or Lore (Underground) check can allow you to figure out where to add an object from around the room to reinforce the wall without collapsing it, which reduces the DC to succeed on any of the other tasks.

If the DCs to slip an item out of the wall falls below 8 or the DC to hold up the wall falls below 5, a I'll have a PC who can't roll lower on the related check deal with it automatically.

[Skya]

Jzarko

The crimson kobold look around, but finding stuff to secure cave wall was never his strong point. Instead, he prepare himself to aid Smoke if he ever decide to pull out the box he got his attention on.

" Let's do it together, i'll wait for you call."

Spoiler

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Jzarko prepare himself to use the aid action with thievery, if that's ok.

(1d20+7)[21]

[Triskavanski]

Smoke

Smoke didn't have much knowledge in the ways of mining or caves like other kobolds did. She was more trap oriented, and sometimes the best way to deal with a trap is to just go so quickly it doesn't have time to go off. Not this time. This time it was all about getting the piece slipped out like a mighty jenga tower of doom.

Spoiler: Rolls

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(1d20+7)[17]

[dariathalon]

Yup-Tik - Kobold Cleric

After only a minute, Yup-Tik returns with a pile of books from the shelf. His eyes scan over the crate stack looking for weak points. "Just like a cave wall, shore up the weak spots," he mutters and moves to the stack. He takes a few books at a time, adding them under the corners of a few loose looking crates as he hums a happy little tune to himself.

Spoiler

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Lore (Caverns) in an attempt to find places to support the crate pile. (1d20+3)[8]

[sandmote]

Yup-tik isn't able to make heads or tales of the pule of rubble--rocks aren't usually quite as oblong.

Jzarko is able to make himself useful, and Smoke is able to quickly assemble a kobold-sized path through the pile without collapse, and with Jzarko giving a hand is able to get the fancy case out as well. The case isn't locked but has the excellent security feature of squeaking as it opens. Inside is a fancy cape that comes off easily, and a set of large claws no one recognizes but which look like they could be nasty if attached to a small weapon.

Wugga finally manages to tear his eyes off the loot around the room to notice the obstacle the other kobolds have removed.

[Starbin]

Wugga the Dog

Wugga followed the group into the new room, but lingered back for a moment to reach down and clean off one foot, while cautiously glancing back at the Tunnelmaster. A life of looking over his shoulder had conditioned him to rarely trust anyone ... and trust the people in charge even less. Once he was certain the kobold wasn't immediately stabbing them in the backs, he followed the group into the new room, careful not to step on anything that looked like a part of a trap. While the others spread out quickly, he took a few minutes to just gaze across the room, study it's layout, look for the tell-tale signs of traps (both obvious and not), and then figure out where the really good stuff might be.

After a bit, he realized this looked like someone's room, so he slipped into the chamber and headed for what looked like a desk in the middle of the room. He figured he'd look for some key loot or information while the others struggled with something on the far side.

---

Sorry for the delayed IC post. In it to win it now! Forgot my sheet, so I'll add die rolls into the Rolling post later. Also, description is below.

EDIT: Rolls are here.
Perception - 17 (looking for traps)
Occultism - 21 (Deciphering books at the desk)
Craft or Lore (Underground) - 19 (checking for any goodies)

Spoiler: Status

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AC 18 HP 16 Class DC 17 Move 25'
Abilities Str 12 Dex 18 Con 12 Int 14 Wis 10 Cha 12
Saves Fort +4 Ref +9 Will +5 Per +5
Skills Athletics +4, Acrobatics +7, Arcana +5, Crafting +5, Deception +4, Lore (Underworld) +5, Medicine +3, Nature +3, Occultism +5, Religion +3, Stealth +7, Survival +3, Thievery +7
Class/Ancestral Mage Hand (1st lvl, at will), Snare Crafting, Trick Magic Item, Rogues Racket (dex to damage), Trap Finder (+1 Perception/AC/Saves vs traps), Detect magic (1st lvl, at will)
Languages Common, Draconic, Undercommon
Weapons Shortsword (+7 / 1d6P+4); Sling (+7 / 1d6B+4)
Effects: Darkvision

Spoiler: Description

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Wugga has glowing emerald eyes and black scales with hints of green. He often wears a cloak over his modest clothes, only occasionally wearing any leathers. He carries a pack with all of his belongings, and rarely leaves anything behind. On his hip he carries a short blade, and tied to his pack is a small bow.

Spoiler: Picture

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[sandmote]

With the stable path cleared through the largest pile, the only other protentional hazard Wugga spots is the soft light emitted from beneath the covers of the beds; the same light Yup-Tik noticed earlier.

The book on the desk in the center of the room appears to be a record of some sort: there's lots of row and columns. Some of the headers list things like "herb sales," "manure expense," and "transmutation reparations." The boxes in the middle look like they represent numbers, but they aren't draconic numerals so Wugga can't read them.

Most of the items on the desk seem more or less as valuable as anything else around, except for the little silver object shaped like a curled up dragon. A large feather rests in the dragon's jaws, and it appears to be filled with dried ink: a rare and valuable resource in the underground tunnels, even when it isn't guarded by a symbol of draconic might.

[dariathalon]

Yup-Tik - Kobold Cleric

Yup-Tik glances over Smoke's shoulder at the contents of the box she has retrieved. "Interesting... Good stuff," he says before wandering away a few paces. He says over his shoulder, "I'm going to go look at those beds. There's some glowing over there I want to take a closer look at."

Yup-Tik approaches the beds carefully, first making sure there are no people shapes lumps in the covers. He doesn't yet, pull back the covers though, instead he kneels down on claws and knees laying his head down close to the ground to look under each bed. His staff is in hand, in case there is something underneath to fish out.

[Triskavanski]

Smoke

Smoke hummed, setting aside the case for now. "Best to save zeeze till ve find somezing to make knives vith." she says setting them aside. "Zee cape iz interesting, but not my colour." she goes about looking around for something more. The first stuff found is hardly ever the 'best stuff'

[sandmote]

As Yup-Tik takes his last few steps toward the beds, the light begins to move beneath covers. As he pauses, wary of danger, a pair of beetles, each the size of a kobold erupts from beneath the covers of the bed. Sensing the motion, an additional pair of beetles burst from the other bed. No longer dimmed by the covers, bright light fills that corner of the room and draws the attention of the rest of the party.

These beetles are familiar to everyone present: flash beetles, which can be used as living torches underground. Their bite isn't too nasty, but they can unleash a burst of brighter light if they get too upset, one that hurts the eyes. They don't seem domesticated but even wild ones can probably be calmed down, even if its likely a bit harder.

Spoiler: Initiative order

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To keep things moving, I've rolled initiative in the rolling thread. Results as follows:

1. Jzarko
2. two of the beetles
3. Yup-Tik
4: the other two beetles
5. Smoke and Wugga

Also, a party member can spend two action making a Nature check to try to sooth the beetles out of attacking. Fleeing is also an option. As far as I can tell, everyone is within 1 stride of the beds the beetles are on, and Yup-Tik is in melee range with one of the beasts.

[Skya]

Jzarko

Jzarko was still looking at the "loot" inside the box when the four flash beetles jumped out of the bed.

His eyes and limb reacted by instinct, as he took out his bow, planted his feet in position, and fire at a beetle next to Yup-tik.

Spoiler

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1st action: draw his shortbow
2nd action: enter point-blank shot stance
3rd action: shoot a beetle next to Yup-Tik

Attack roll: (1d20+9)[23]
Damage roll: (1d6+2)[4]

[sandmote]

Jzarko's arrow finds a chink the beetle's exoskeleton, wobbling it as it seeks to escape the sheets. If its blood weren't clear it might be easier to tell the severity of the injury.

The first beetle to have emerged from the beds takes another moment to steady itself before trying to shear Yup-Tik with its jaws, missing widely.

Spoiler: Actions

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1 action to step from the sheets; to to attack:
(1d20+8)[11] for (1d4+1)[3] and (1d20+4)[7] for (1d24+1)[6]

The beetle Jzarko struck is still too far inside the sheets to move freely, but one of the others flies past Yup-Tik and toward Jzarko and Smoke before its photophores flash brightly before going out.

Spoiler: Actions

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2 actions to stride over to the pile and Smoke/Jzarko; 1 action to use its Light Flash.
For the purpose of keeping things moving: [roll]roll20+5[/roll] 10 for Smoke and (1d20+5)[8] for Jzarko.

Failing to protect themselves from the gleam, Smoke and Jzarko are dazzled by the brightness of the light.

[Starbin]

Wugga the Dog

Wugga peered at the books, but most of the details seemed beyond him. However, the small silver dragon and vials of ink were interesting, so he placed both in his pace, wrapping his blanket around them to keep anything from breaking. As he started to rummage through other areas, he heard strange clacking sounds and notice flashing lights. Glancing towards the beds, Wugga saw several flash beetles swarming towards the others.

Frowning, Wugga reached down to pull out his sling and stone, taking aim at one of the small creatures. After firing, he moved to the desk to avoid any return attacks.

---

So draw, attack, move ...

Attack - (1d20+7)[16], Dam - (1d6)[2]

Spoiler: Status

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AC 18 HP 16 Class DC 17 Move 25'
Abilities Str 12 Dex 18 Con 12 Int 14 Wis 10 Cha 12
Saves Fort +4 Ref +9 Will +5 Per +5
Skills Athletics +4, Acrobatics +7, Arcana +5, Crafting +5, Deception +4, Lore (Underworld) +5, Medicine +3, Nature +3, Occultism +5, Religion +3, Stealth +7, Survival +3, Thievery +7
Class/Ancestral Mage Hand (1st lvl, at will), Snare Crafting, Trick Magic Item, Rogues Racket (dex to damage), Trap Finder (+1 Perception/AC/Saves vs traps), Detect magic (1st lvl, at will)
Languages Common, Draconic, Undercommon
Weapons Shortsword (+7 / 1d6P+4); sling (+7 / 1d6B+4)
Effects: Darkvision

[dariathalon]

Yup-Tik - Kobold Cleric

Yup-Tik lets out a squeek of surprise when the insects crawl of of the bedding to attack him. He already had his staff in hand, as he was preparing to use it to fish things out from beneath the bed, so he was quick to take a retaliation swing straight down toward the bug that had attacked him.

Yup-Tik's cautious nature made him hesitant to press the attack though. Instead he said a quiet prayer for protection and looked away in case another of the things attempted to flash.

Spoiler

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Action 1: Strike - (1d20+3)[7]. If hit, it will take damage - (1d8)[5].
Action 2: Cast Shield. AC is now 16, and Shield Block reaction is available (probably won't use it though).
Action 3: Avert gaze (pg. 472), first time I've used this ability but it seems like it would be useful here.

[sandmote]

Yup-Tik's staff goes wide, failing to hit the beetle same as it failed to hit him.

The beetle injured by Jzarko stabilizes itself on the sheets before trying to flee back into the bed from which it came. The fourth beetle strikes at Tup-Tik as well, getting in close enough to force him to choose between using the protection he beseeched from Apsu or risk a nip from its jaws.

Spoiler: OOC

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Third beetle steps then tries to hide. I will roll the Stealth check if anyone goes looking for it; the beetle thinks it is hidden whether or not it is.

Fourth beetle strides then strikes: (1d20+8)[9] for (1d4+1)[2] and (1d20+4)[22] for (1d4+1)[4].

Wugga's sling bullet strikes true, but it doesn't seem to do much harm to the insect's hard shell.

[Triskavanski]

Smoke

Smoke draws her crossbow, retreating back as she finds something to hide behind in her stride distance and load the crossbow.

Spoiler

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Problem with not having my weapon out.
Gotta draw and load it.

Stealth check - GM rolls in secret it says.
+7 to stealth
For sake of speed, I can roll here as well (1d20+7)[27] stealth

[Skya]

Jzarko

Jzarko hiss from the flash, covering his eyes to late. He blink a few time trying to adjust his vision, but still have trouble seeing for now. Defensively, he try to bite the flash beetle next to him twice, then step back.

Spoiler

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Action1: Bite
Attack roll: (1d20+9)[13]
The beetle is concealed, flat check dc 5: (1d20)[19]
dmg: (1d6+1)[4]

Action2: Bite
Attack roll: (1d20+4)[14]
The beetle is concealed, flat check dc 5: (1d20)[5]
dmg: (1d6+1)[7]

Action3: Step back

[sandmote]

As far as Smoke knows, she's well hidden.

Jzarko is able to tell where the beetle is, but it avoids one of his attempts to bite and the other attempt fails to crunch through its exoskeleton.

The beetles that haven't fled continue their efforts to fight. The one that flashed Smoke and Jzarko tries to follow the latter, returning bite for bite.

Spoiler: OOC

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It steps itself, then attacks twice: (1d20+8)[22] for (1d4+1)[3] and (1d20+4)[9] for (1d4+1)[2] against Jzarko.

Despite Jzarko's efforts, the beetle manages to snag him with its jaws.

The other seems to have gotten tired of being swiped at, attacking and unleashing its own burst of light afterward.

Spoiler: OOC

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On the rolling thread, the beetle rolled 27 and 22, for a total of 7 damage. This is in addition to the other beetle that got in damage earlier. I'll leave the useage of Yup-Tik's shield up to you, but you may want to use it against one of these attacks (highest damage attack deals 5 damage).

(1d20+5)[20] for Yup-Tik, including the bonus from Avert gaze. Honestly, feels like it should be a bit stronger given the way the rest of the rules work, but I guess +2 is standard.

The beetle bears down on Yup-Tik savagely, bypassing the floating shield (at least once). However, Yup-Tik doesn't really even need effort to easily avoid the beetle's flash.