010: Tripping Hazards

[Merc]

[19:55] <Kotono> ------------
[19:56] <Luther> [21:56] <Kotono> Gah! Rhayser's not fast enough, but Kevamros is. He reaches out, heavily grabbingLuther's hand, just barely managing to get him before he plummets into the flames.
[19:56] <Luther> [21:58] <Luther> "...thanks."
[19:56] <Luther> [21:58] * Kevamros tries his best to drag Luther up.
[19:56] <Luther> [21:59] <Rhayser> Being stronger, Rhayser grabs Luther's hand and hauls him up.



[19:58] <Kotono> Rhayser is pulled back up to safety. Whew!
[20:03] * Luther looks around to examine what else is across the gate, hopefully no other unsafe steps!
[20:04] * Kevamros likewise surveys the area.
[20:05] <Kotono> The party is past the gate and onto the platforms above the flames. Higher up, you can now see it ends at one platform further on. You can't quite see if anything's on there form here.
[20:05] <Kevamros> OOC: Does it require climbing?
[20:06] <Luther> ooc: what are the distances?
[20:07] <Rhayser> OOC: Are there muffins?
[20:07] <Luther> ooc: are the platforms all 5ft jumps apart?
[20:08] <Luther> ooc: there are devil eggs.
[20:09] <Kotono> OOC: More jumping and the like, yes.
[20:09] <Kotono> OOC: About the same distances as before - 5ft, generally.
[20:09] * Kevamros moves to jump to the next platform!
[20:11] <Luther> "I don't suppose you'd be willing to carry me for the remainder of those platforms, given my ability to jump past the first one?" Luther asks Rhayser
[20:12] <Rhayser> "We can give it a shot!"
[20:12] <Rhayser> "And if we fail, we both die! It'll be fun!"
[20:14] * Luther climbs Rhayser's back. "Don't fail then!"
[20:15] <Kotono> OOC: So Luther's riding Rhayer and the other two are hopping along?
[20:15] <Luther> ooc: yes
[20:16] <Kotono> OOC: Jump checks, you two.
[20:16] <Luther> ooc: they can do the jump checks. I only will if I need to pull the Mario/Yoshi manuever.
[20:16] <Kotono> OOC: You gain +1 evil points.
[20:16] <Rhayser> roll 1d20+18 JAHMP
[20:16] <Serith> Rhayser roll for Serith < 19 > [d20=1]
[20:17] <Luther> ooc: yoshi manuever coming right up
[20:17] <Kevamros> roll 1d20+0 Jump
[20:17] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 16 > [d20=16]
[20:18] <Kotono> The two hop along and reach the top platform. You find it is unremarkable - until it begins to rise up, higher and higher and leaving the flames below behind. It's perhaps a circle 15ft wide or so, the floor of it smooth stone.
[20:18] <Kevamros> "Lead the way, Rhayser."
[20:18] * Luther looks up as he gets off Rhayser's back!
[20:18] * Rhayser looks up to see if there are any spikes or deviously devilish fun surprises above.
[20:19] <Luther> roll d20+1 spot upwards?
[20:19] <Serith> Luther roll for Serith < 6 > [d20=5]
[20:20] <Kotono> What is above is a sickly green sky. The scent of smog chokes you as the odor of brimstone overwhelms your nose. The air is heavy with poison, each breath degenerating into a pant as you crave clean air. Thin, stringy purple clouds are farther above, like bruises sunken into the flesh of the sky.
[20:21] <Rhayser> "We should probably not go up there."
[20:21] * Rhayser is helpful.
[20:22] <Kotono> Unforuntately, the platform has other ideas. It continues to rise, coming closer and closer to that sky.
[20:23] * Kevamros readies himself.'
[20:24] <Luther> "Not sure that we have much choice with this rising up. Thankfully, I am rather good at resisting poisons. I can summon some zombies to cover us as best as they can and we hopefully won't have issues with any contact poisons, and maybe their stench will guard against the poisons?
[20:24] * Luther suggests even as he starts casting a spell.
[20:25] <Luther> ooc: would eight zombie kobolds be sufficient to cover us all?
[20:25] <Luther> ooc: or four bugbear zombies?
[20:25] <Kotono> OOC: Latter would be, those are pretty big.
[20:26] * Luther summons four bugbear zombies to act as a literal meatshield for the three of them!
[20:28] * Luther also casts Eagle's Splendor on himself to look more amazing (and improve his ability to resist poisons, fireballs and what-have-you).
[20:31] <Kotono> Thus with a shield of undead, the party rises up. Unfortunately, the undead aren't airtight. Fortunately, it's still better than breathing in things unchecked. The foulness passes - the air now smells just of the dead. The platform also stops rising.
[20:32] * Rhayser offers one of the zombies a ration.
[20:32] * Rhayser is as neighborly as he is helpful.
[20:32] <Luther> The zombies ignore Rhayser and simply await more commands until they vanish or are unsummoned.
[20:33] * Luther looks around as he pushes the zombies aside, watching to see if there's something to toss the zombies at while they're around.
[20:34] <Kotono> Ahead is more green sky. But attached to the platform is a narrow catwalk, a little less than a foot long. It goes on for 30ft, connecting to something covered in thick fog. It's massive - the outline of a castle can be seen.
[20:35] <Kevamros> "Oh joy. I wonder which lord of hell lives there."
[20:37] <Rhayser> "He's probably not nice. We should go kill him and knock his castle over!"
[20:38] <Luther> "None. Keep in mind that this is still Limbo," Luther points out. He pauses then adds, "Well, probably. I doubt the slaad would actually connect his dungeons to a literal hell. At worst, it'll be some devil stronger than those bearded devils. Like, I dunno...a bone devil?"
[20:39] <Luther> "Anyway, can anyone get rid of the fog or see through it?"
[20:40] <Kevamros> "Not I.
[20:40] <Rhayser> "Nope!"
[20:40] <Luther> "I guess we're going through that catwalk blind then. I'll have the zombies go in front of us to test the route out, while they're still around."
[20:41] * Luther commands the zombies to do just that!
[20:41] <Kotono> OOC: Have the zombies make a balance check. Since I doub they have ranks, dex check.
[20:41] <Luther> ooc: they do not.
[20:41] <Luther> roll d20+0 dex
[20:42] <Serith> Luther roll for Serith < 15 > [d20=15]
[20:42] <Kotono> Somehow the zombies shamblea cross. It's a narrow passage, but they cross over. They're half obscured by the mists on the other side now, though.
[20:43] <Luther> "Seems safe enough."
[20:43] * Luther attempts to navigate it next!
[20:43] <Kotono> OOC: Balance check.
[20:43] <Luther> roll d20+3-3
[20:43] <Serith> Luther roll for Serith < 4 > [d20=4]
[20:43] <Luther> ooc: yay~
[20:43] * Kevamros will follow!
[20:44] <Kotono> Unfortunately for Luther, he makes it a half dozen steps before mis-stepping. The narrow catwalk proves his undoing, as he slips and tumbles down into the sky below. OOC: You can try one quick action, like trying to grab on or a relevant spell, Luther. The other two can help, but going to reach him will require balancechecks since you'll need to go onto the catwalk.
[20:45] <Kevamros> OOC: I'll balance check then.
[20:45] <Kevamros> roll 1d20+1 Dex/balance
[20:45] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 15 > [d20=14]
[20:45] * Luther attempts to grab on even as Kevamros follows!
[20:46] <Kotono> OOC: Dex check, Luther. Make a dex check as well, Kev. You made the balance check so yo uaren't falling, Kev.
[20:46] <Kevamros> roll 1d20+1 Dex
[20:46] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 3 > [d20=2]
[20:46] <Kevamros> OOC: Ouchies.
[20:47] <Luther> roll d20+3 dex check (-3 if ACP applies)
[20:47] <Serith> Luther roll for Serith < 4 > [d20=1]
[20:47] <Luther> ooc: whelp, time to reroll I guess.
[20:48] <Rhayser> OOC You guys.
[20:48] <Rhayser> OOC: Seriously.
[20:48] <Kotono> OOC: Going to try anything, Rhayser?
[20:48] <Rhayser> OOC: Are they both falling now?
[20:48] <Kotono> OOC: No, just Luther.
[20:49] * Rhayser leaps into action, jumping out behind Kevamros and off to the side that Luther is falling down. He reaches out with one hand to wrap his arm around the catwalk while his other reaches out to grab Luther's nearest limb!
[20:50] <Rhayser> roll jump 1d20+18
[20:50] <Rhayser> roll 1d20+18
[20:50] <Serith> Rhayser roll for Serith < 23 > [d20=5]
[20:50] <Rhayser> roll 1d20+17 climb to hold on
[20:50] <Serith> Rhayser roll for Serith < 22 > [d20=5]
[20:50] <Rhayser> roll 1d20 Dex to catch
[20:50] <Serith> Rhayser roll for Serith < 10 > [d20=10]
[20:50] <Rhayser> OOC: Sorry dude
[20:51] <Kotono> Gah! Rhayser makes an insane jump - managing to nail it and hang from the platform by one hand. He's just barely in time, hanging on by his fingertips while his other hand nabs Luther by the hand! Got him! But he's about to fall, in a position to do -nothing-! OOC: Kev, you can try something, since it's plainly obvious Rhayser's grip is toast.
[20:52] * Kevamros dives to grab Rhayser to try and steady him long enough for him to recover!
[20:53] <Kotono> OOC: Str check. You're already in position, it's just a matter if you can muster the oomph to save them fast enough.
[20:53] <Kevamros> roll 1d20+0 Str helpmejesus
[20:53] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 4 > [d20=4]
[20:53] <Rhayser> "ROPE. IN MY BAG ON MY BACK."
[20:54] <Kotono> Kevamros gets a grip for a few moments, but it's not enough. His muscles give as Rhayser and Luther plummet into the sky below, soon out of Kev's sight. OOC: Okay. You two are plummeting. Is there anything relevant you can do here?
[20:54] <Rhayser> roll 1d20+6 strength to throw Luther upward.
[20:54] <Serith> Rhayser roll for Serith < 15 > [d20=9]
[20:54] <Kotono> With his last vestige of strength as they fall, Rhayser throws Luther up! He rises up, just enough to come near Kevamros. OOC: Dex check, DC 10, Kev. If you make that, Str.
[20:55] * Kotono sets mode: +o Rhayser
[20:55] <Kevamros> roll 1d20+1 Dex
[20:55] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 19 > [d20=18]
[20:55] <Kevamros> roll 1d20+0 Str
[20:55] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 14 > [d20=14]
[20:55] * Rhayser manifests Damp Power on the way down and shouts, "I'M A DRAGON AND I CAN FLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY"
[20:55] <Kotono> Got him! As Rhayser plummets, Luther's wrist is grabbed. He's pulled up, the two stumbling back to the circular platform and safety. OOC: Does damp power do anything meaningful?
[20:56] <Kevamros> OOC: I don't think any of my spells can help... Divine Favor? Resistance?
[20:57] <Kotono> OOC: No, and he's outta range since he used his chance ot save Luther.
[20:57] <Luther> "...you don't have wings, Rhayser!" Luther calls down in shock.
[20:57] <Rhayser> OOC: All variable numeric effects of the next power, psi-like ability, spell, or spell-like ability that affects you before
[20:57] <Rhayser> the end of your next turn is decreased to its minimum possible value. Just gonna blow everything and hope I survive the splatter. Here's hoping I land in lava or something and that affects it. Also, blowing all remaining points on Vigor.
[20:58] <Kotono> OOC: Unfortunately, the poison skies, the lava and the fall damage are all not a power, psilike, spell like or spell. Roll a fort save against the poison first.
[20:59] <Rhayser> roll 1d20+12 fort MY ONE GOOD SAVE
[20:59] <Serith> Rhayser roll for Serith < 32 > [d20=20]
[20:59] <Rhayser> OOC: BOOYA
[20:59] <Rhayser> OOC: Fuckin NAILED IT
[20:59] <Rhayser> OOC: I'm saved
[20:59] <Kevamros> OOC: Can I toss a resistance on that?
[20:59] <Rhayser> OOC: Everybody relax, I got this
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: He's way out of range now.
[20:59] <Kotono> OOC: All hea hs to deal with is 20d6 fire damage from lava and 20d6 falling damage. Good luck!
[20:59] <Kotono> roll 20d6+20d6
[20:59] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 152 > [d6=6,3,5,5,4,5,3,3,3,6,4,6,2,6,5,2,1,1,4,1,1,3,6,1,4,5,2,5,1,6,6,3,2,6,5,3,6,5,2,5]
[21:01] <Kotono> Far below the other two, Rhayser meets a fiery and crushing end. At least the two above are safe....for now. OOC: Move Rhayser to the dead PC topic and see my nagging post.
[21:01] <Rhayser> OOC: NOPE
[21:01] <Rhayser> OOC: WAIT, MATHING
[21:04] <Rhayser> OOC: Alas, did not take Diehard
[21:04] <Rhayser> OOC: Will move character
[21:04] <Luther> "Well, that's awkward."
[21:04] * Luther decides to take his time and slowly walk through the catwalk.
[21:04] <Luther> ooc: taking 20.
[21:05] <Luther> "Think the next guy will be in a coffin too?"
[21:05] <Kotono> OOC: You can't take 20 here, since it's a case where failure could mean harm. Taking 20- means you try it until you get it right. Unfortunately, that includes failures, which means falling to your death.
[21:06] <Luther> ooc: Can I take 10?
[21:06] <Kotono> OOC: Sure.
[21:06] <Luther> ooc: I'll do that then.
[21:06] <Kevamros> OOC:
[21:07] <Kevamros> OOC: Can I use the rop to tie a safety line between us first?
[21:10] <Kotono> OOC: Sure.
[21:10] <Kotono> OOC: Roll balance, Kev and we'll get this moving.
[21:10] * Kevamros ties a safety line between them!
[21:11] <Kevamros> roll 1d20+1 Dex/Balance
[21:11] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 11 > [d20=10]
[21:13] <Kotono> The two safely cross over. The mists are easier to see through when you're across. Ahead is a bridge over a thick moat of dull brown water. It leads into a courtyard ahead, shrouded in mist.
[21:14] * Kevamros eyes the courtyard, trying to spot traps, ambushes, and monsters.
[21:15] * Luther drinks a glass of wine in honour of Rhayser, and then dumps out the rest of the wine over the edge. Rhayser won't actually get to drink it, but it's the thought that counts, right?
[21:15] <Luther> ooc: the rest of the wine bottle*
[21:16] <Kotono> OOC: Spot check, Kev.
[21:17] <Kevamros> roll 1d20+14 Spot
[21:17] <Serith> Kevamros roll for Serith < 30 > [d20=16]
[21:17] <Kotono> Huh, that's strange. Every so often you can see that the moat's waters stir. Natural water movement, nothing unusual. Except when it parts a bit, you can see the water beneath the surface is clear, blue and pristine.
[21:18] <Kevamros> "There's something odd about that water..."
[21:18] * Kevamros cautiously approaches it, watching for more unsualness.
[21:18] * Luther puts away his glass and checks for magic
[21:19] * Luther uses detect magic
[21:19] <Luther> roll d20+16 spellcraft
[21:19] <Serith> Luther roll for Serith < 27 > [d20=11]
[21:19] <Kotono> Yep, looking closer shows that past the surface the water is clean. Odder yet, the bottom of it is paved, like a road, instead of a muddy moat bottom. Nothing here radiates magic except for the fog. It's a simple, expanded fog cloud effect.
[21:20] <Kevamros> "I can see a path through the surface scum..."
[21:20] <Luther> "Well, the slaad did say something about not being afraid of getting wet, right?"
[21:20] <Kevamros> OOC: I have no idea if any of my spells can help.
[21:22] <Luther> ooc: don't see anytyhing that would.
[21:22] <Kevamros> "Any ideas on how to clear the scum away?"
[21:22] * Luther decides to trust the slaad's hint and wades into the water. "Just ignore it."
[21:23] * Kevamros shrugs and hops in.
[21:24] <Kotono> The water's deeper than that - you fall through like it isn't water. You can breath safely and land softly, able to move like air. The path extends on and around to a turn - looks like it follows a path around the castle. You'd have to follow it to see more.
[21:24] * Rhayser is now known as Yuthirin
[21:25] * Luther follows it!
[21:26] * Kevamros does as well.
[21:26] <Kotono> The path winds around to the far wall. It comes to a dead end - a dividing wall stops you about halfway around the castle's left side. But at the end are two things. The first is a pair of treasure chests, just sitting there. Set into the divinding wall is an ornate switch in the shape of a frog's head.
[21:27] * Kevamros eyes them, suspecting a trap. OOC: Any knowledges or anything that can help?
[21:28] <Kotono> OOC: Nope.
[21:29] * Luther gestures to both the chests and the switch, as if asking which to pull first.
[21:29] <Kevamros> "Neither? I dunno. I don't trust anything here."
[21:31] <Kotono> The chest and switch awaits as the party considers. Nothing is doing anything, as if waiting for the party to act.
[21:32] <Luther> "Do you see anything that looks like it'd hide a drain? Maybe drains will open as you hit the switch?"
[21:32] <Luther> "Chests might have something that gets destroyed in water too."
[21:32] <Luther> "Or the switch could destroy the chests. Who knows? We could open one chest, see what happens, then pull switch?"
[21:32] <Kevamros> "Well, do you want open one or should I?"
[21:33] * Luther opens it!
[21:33] <Luther> ooc: opening the left one
[21:34] <Kotono> The chest is opened. Within are a stack of gold ingots. They sparkle in the water, like bricks of pure wealth. Which they are. OOC: Loot.
[21:34] * Luther opens the other one too.
[21:35] <Kotono> The chest is opened. Within is a sheathed blade - a shortsword, from the looks of it.
[21:35] * Luther does his best to put away the stuff within his and Kevamros' gear!
[21:36] * Kevamros inspets the switch.
[21:36] <Kevamros> OOC: inspects*
[21:36] <Kotono> It appears to be a switch activated by pulling the frog's tongue that lolls out of its mouth. It looks unremarkable otherwise, if of fine craftsmanship.
[21:37] * Kevamros pulls on it!
[21:38] <Kotono> You hear a loud THUD back the way you came.
[21:38] * Kevamros cautiously heads towards the sound.
[21:39] <Kotono> You go back. There is now a short stairway leading ou tof the moat and back onto the bridge leading into the castle's courtyard.
[21:39] * Luther heads towards it and goes up the stair!
[21:40] * Kevamros follows!
[21:43] <Kotono> The stairs are climbed. Like most stairs, this is an unremarkable trip back up.
[21:43] * Luther looks around the courtyard.
[21:44] <Luther> "Anything here worth doing or just go into the castle and look for our next companion, who will invariably die painfully in a pool of molten something?"
[21:44] <Kevamros> "Inside it is."
[21:44] * Kevamros heads towards the entrance!
[21:45] * Luther follows.
[21:48] <Kotono> Thus the party heads into the mists. Ahead they can see something in the courtyard. A...coffin? As they approach...OOC: Let's pause here so we can get Yuthed up next time.