The Lost Vault of Tsathzar Rho (IC)

[UserClone]

The blue grasses on the Urkallan Hills glowed brightly in the east as the sun rose behind them. Unfortunately, that was the brightest part of your day as the sun quickly hid behind a heavy cloud cover that began spitting rain by mindmorning. The mountain among the hills looms before you and darkens your path. While the rest of the sky is the neutral slate gray of rain, the clouds over the hills, and especially around the mountain, hold a dark purplish tint. They seem to swirl and eddy against the direction of the wind.

Along the way, farmers, villagers, and other locals thank you for braving the dangers of the hills and ridding them of the ogre and kobolds raiding their farms and trade ways. Their thanks and promises of reward urge you eastward into the hills, as do their fearful glances at the skies above. You're excited and ready for adventure, but a few of you sense that something is definitely not normal in the hills around you...

[[Insert Neat Username Here]]

Tramlaw

Tramlaw, an elf cleric of Sarenrae clad in scale mail, looks around nervously.

"Does something feel kind of . . . off . . . to you guys? I can't quite put my finger on it . . . maybe I'm just letting the anticipation make me nervous. I hope so, at any rate.

[GimliFett]

Gimli Fett

With a heavy sigh, Gimli looks up at Tramlaw. "Laddie! Sumthin' al'ays seems off ta ye!" He deftly twirls the waraxe in his right hand as he resets the shield in his left. "Boot Ah s'pose yer right. Sumthin's stirrin' oop tha locals. Good fer us. Bad fer th'm!" The dwarf grins broadly, eager for a fight. As the weather dragged his attitude down, the prospect of battle lifted it right back.

[seekerofshadowl]

Flynn

Looking about him with an easy smile on his face Tramlaw Gimli is right you always worry...besides trouble for others line the pockets right nice ya know

[storyteller]

Gate shrugs. "We better keep an eye out for trouble. Let's move on. Elf, did the villagers give you a map?"

[[Insert Neat Username Here]]

No, but they gave fairly detailed directions. They said to go East until we find a high hill, or low mountain, with a cave on the side that faces West.

((And thanks for PMing that to me, FlWiPig. It's a lot better than saying "I don't know" and looking like an idiot.))

[GimliFett]

Gimli Fett

The dwarf snorts. "Bah! Call it a high hill. Ah'll nae be party ta insultin' a mountain like tha'!"

He pauses a moment, almost midstep. "Which reminds me. Whot d'ye make o' th' black-skinned ogre an' kob'lds wit' red patches of scales? 'S a bit odd, nae?" Gimli asks as he squints, trying to better see the hill that they approached.

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Indeed, thanks for the bit of detail! It's a nice touch to get the party talking!

[seekerofshadowl]

"Hill ,mountain,big pile o dirt long as we know where were going ." Looking over at gimli his smile slipping from his face."Come to think of it that was an odd thing"
his smile slips back onto his face"that can mean 1 of 2 thing, gold or a horrible death"Looking to the rest of the party "Lets hope for gold shall we"

[[Insert Neat Username Here]]

Tramlaw nods. I suppose in this line of work you always have to hope for the gold.

[storyteller]

"Gold... and fame?" Gate says in a slightly sarcastic tone. "Do we have a plan then, how we are going to get our hands on that gold?" Gate says, looking at the elf, the most level-headed member of the bunch.

"Maybe send Flynn to scout ahead again? I'll go with him if necessary."

[GimliFett]

Gimli Fett

The dwarf stops walking. "Whot's tha' s'posed ta mean? Don' think Ah can keep up?" He glares at Gate for just a moment before allowing a broad grin to split his face. "Ye make me laugh laddie. Also, it'd be 'Fortune and Glory', better tha' gold and fame..." Gimli winks, then continues onward. "Anyway, it's pro'lly best ta send Flynn off alone. He stinks. Tha' stuff ye got inta ne'er comes oot ye ken?"

[seekerofshadowl]

flynn looks to the drawf "I'll have ya know o' short and round one that I took a bath when last we was in town.Ah that was a fun wench to i'll tell ya that." sniffing there air around him he smiles'And the oder o' he who fears water would be the smell of unwashed darwf ars i reacken" starting off ahead of the party he chuckles and says'Just stay back there lest they smell ye from here as he takes to lead to go sout.

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stealth check here (1d20+6)[24]

[GimliFett]

Gimli Fett

Chuckling to himself quietly, Gimli shakes his head at the game the two are constantly playing. "Wotchit, manlin'!" he growls.

[seekerofshadowl]

Flynn

Hearing the noise flynn makes his way toward the cave keeping to the shadows and out of sight

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stealth (1d20+6)[25]

[UserClone]

Flynn:

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As you approach the cave mouth, a loud howl of pain erupts from the opening, startling you. Instinctively ducking low even as you become aware of the sound, you don't think you are in a position to be seen, behind a low hillock on the west side of the high hill in which the cave sits.

Everyone else: Flynn decides to scout ahead, disappearing behind one of the many mounds surrounding the hill with the cave mouth, the top of whose opening is just barely visible from your position. moments after he is gone from sight, you hear a loud, angry howl erupt from the cave's direction.

[storyteller]

"Let's go! Sounds like Flynn got company!"

Gate recites a few arcane words and makes accompanying hand gestures. A shimmering field of arcane energy envelopes him momentarily, then fades from view, leaving only a faintly glowing aura around him. Gate draws aside his black, silver-trimmed cloak, revealing a longsword strapped to his left hip. As he moves towards Flynn's last known location, his left hand grabs the scabbard and right hand goes to the hilt, ready to draw if there be trouble...

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Gate casts Mage armor.

[GimliFett]

Gimli Fett

The dwarf hefts his axe and follows Gate as he shakes his head. "Whot's tha' fool-boy gone an' got 'imself inta noo?" he mutters to himself.

[[Insert Neat Username Here]]

Tramlaw draws his scimitar, refrains from saying "I told you something was wrong," and follows.

[seekerofshadowl]

Flynn


As he apporches the cave he draws out his sword slowly and sticks to the shadows ans stays low as he nears the cave

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Stealth check [uel=http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1583050/]20+6=26 the dice gods like flynn it seems[/url]

[UserClone]

Flynn:

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You are sure that whatever is in there (you assume it must be Logbrag, because it sounds too deep for a Kobold) doesn't hear or see you; it seems distracted by whatever is causing it pain. Ducking your head briefly into the corner of the cave mouth, you don't see anything, as a very short, but fairly wide tunnel curves to the left 90 degrees before apparently opening into a larger room. Just now, you can hear Gimli say something (though you can't quite make it out) and you hear him and Tramlaw plodding (though "stealthily" for them anyway) towards you.

Everyone Else:
The three of you arrive at the top of the hillock slightly out of breath from rushing uphill, and you see your companion's small form crouched just to the right of the cave mouth, quiet as a churchmouse, peeking inside. You can't see inside from back here yourselves.

[GimliFett]

Gimli Fett

Knowing he is not the stealthiest amongst the group, Gimli looks for a path to arrive near Flynn without alerting whatever is within the cave of the group's presence.

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Perception - (1d20+1)[8]

[UserClone]

It seems to be pretty open ground from here to there. In fact, you're unsure how the sneaky little snark got over there undetected.

[seekerofshadowl]

Flynn

Pulling a dagger from his belt and holding it in a throwing position flynn pushes his luck by sneaking deeper into the cave.

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stealth (1d20+6)[10]

[[Insert Neat Username Here]]

I suppose it's best to stay here rather than risk exposing Flynn.

Tramlaw remains where he is for the moment.

[UserClone]

Flynn:

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Spot - (1d20+2)[16]It would appear that the dice gods have ceased favoring you.

Rounding the corner to the north, the opening does indeed widen into a room of sorts. Something has dwelled in this rough oval cave for many years, as evidenced by the piles of garbage, bones, and scattered items found here. The floor is thick with debris, six inches deep of bones, dirt, and loose rocks along the edges of the room. The chamber's center holds a crudely-dug fire pit, while a thick pile of blankets and furs lies against the eastern wall. An iron spike driven into a crack in the western wall by the cave's entrance serves as a hook for a lantern. Though you had been hoping to keep to the shadows, it appears that the ogre has somehow managed to set up his lantern facing the entrance of the cave so as to eliminate all but the smallest of them in the opening tunnel.

From the eastern corner, next to the pile of furs, a grumble of a voice announces: "Logbrag strong, not weak! He not listen to voices. NOT go with YOU!" It's strange; though the pitch-skinned giant reaches for his greatclub, he seems hesitant to just walk over and smash you with it.

Everyone Else:
Flynn is in trouble for sure. You hear a very deep, grumbling voice muttering in the cave, and then it suddenly shouts, "NOT go with YOU!"

[[Insert Neat Username Here]]

Well, so much for us trying not to call attention to Flynn.

Tramlaw runs to the cave entrance.

[storyteller]

Gate curses under his breath and rushes towards the cave entrance.

[seekerofshadowl]

Flynn

Going on the defensive and seeing he pressed his luck to far flynn puts a smile on his face and speaks to the rather large angry critter in a soothing voice.
Well friend ,logbrag was it what seems to be the problem... let ol flynn help ye out i'm sure we can be friends right ol buddy"

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ok went defensive .....gonna try a few rolls here
diplomacy (1d20+7)[18]
bluff (1d20+9)[13]

if the critter is an orger or other large giant like critter he drops into giant when he says "i'm sure we can be friends right ol buddy"

[GimliFett]

Gimli Fett

Shaking his head Gimli twirls his axe and rushes after the others. "Ah ken sumthin'd happen! It's ne'er smooth wit' that'n!" he rumbles as he runs. "Och, well! Ah was gettin' bored an'way!"

[storyteller]

Hmm they're not fighting... what's going on in there? Gate remains outside and tries to hear what's happening inside the cave. If Gimli or the elf enters the cave, Gate will follow.

Perception: (d20)[15]