<El-Cideon> -------------------------
<El-Cideon> You walk. Although you were sure you could see the shape of the castle looming in the mists on a cliff face just above the town, after several minutes of walking it grows in size only ever so slightly. The sound of water sloshing against bridge supports, initially right next to you as the bridge thrust out right from the shore, grows more and more distant until it's just a barely noticeable murmur in the foggy depths below, though the bridge itself proceeds at an even keel and there's no sense of ascending.
<El-Cideon> Finally, you reach a wall. Forty feet high, fitted stone, crenellated at the top and stretching north and south just to the edge of vision. Below the brickwork is uneven, unworked stone, disappearing down and out of sight. The mist slicks everything here in a wet sheen. Set in the wall before you is a set of doors, ten feet tall and as much wide, wood heavily reinforced with metal bands, black iron rings in at shoulder height.
<Eliaphas> "Trust nothing in this place," Eliaphas cautions gravely, not even taking the very first door here for granted and carefully making sure he can perceive no foulness or traps placed upon it before daring to touch it...
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+21 perception
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+21 perception and gets 23."12 [1d20=2]
<Corben> The doors are an obstacle! How dare they stand in his way?! Fearlessly grabbing onto the rings of iron despite any such warnings, Corben tries to pull the doors open!
<Madeline> "We have no need to use the door when we can simply scale the wall," replies Madeline, advancing towards the edge of the wall.
<El-Cideon> The door proves to be unlocked. It's heavy but will certainly move to the barbarian's might if he wishes. The wall looks climbable to Madeline. Might be a little tricky due to the moisture, but the brickword allows handholds enough.
<Corben> Putting his back into it, Corben pulls the door open with one great heave!
<El-Cideon> The doors swing open with a great groan! An open hall lies before you, sixty feet across and fifty wide, floored with heavy flagstones. An emblem marks the center of the room, a two-headed dragon on a shield, worked in silver. Most of the light comes from a large chandelier loaded with candles, hanging thirty feet above the emblem. In the far corners of the room stairs sweep up to a second floor balcony that encircles the room. Trophies--a stag's head, shields of various styles--decorate the second-floor walls along with banners. Prominent is one with fields of purple and blue split by a narrow silver band that encompasses a rearing bear, which all should recognize as the Brislovian flag. Elsewhere can be seen a black and gold banner sporting a fist which clutches a bundle of arrows, tattered as if captured in battle. You can see several doors from where you stand: at the northeast and southeast of the room on both floors, and a set of double doors directly across from you. Windowed galleries bracket the foyer to the north and south, looking into narrow corridors that should be accessible from the first-floor doors. (more)
<El-Cideon> The foyer is also presently occupied. Several figures turn to face you at the sound of the opening door: two armor-clad figures--or rather simply armor itself, mobile suits of heavy mail with dull flames of sentience burning behind visored helms--bearing axes and shields, two more with loaded crossbows visible in the galleries; two small, winged humanoids with skin of leathery red, presently on the ground near the double doors magicking away dents and bloodstains on the floor; and a lean man with an unhealthy pallor, long black nails at the tips of his fingers, slicked-back ebon hair and wearing a pristine black butler's outfit. This latter figure addresses you in a bored drawl: "Really, more of you already? We've only just finished cleaning up after the last batch."
<Madeline> "And thus we are discovered in moments," murmurs Madeline, shaking her head. "There is not even a psychological reward."
* Corben draws his falcion with a snarl! "You would stand before Crom? Then you die, all of you!"
<Eliaphas> "It matters not," Eliaphas murmurs, raising his crossbow. "All within this castle's walls are to be purged, in the name of the Lord."
<Madeline> "That is not a practical approach to our task."
<El-Cideon> "Oh my, that's an original greeting," the man says. (OOC: pretty much fighting words from Corben there, so init)
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+9 and gets 10."12 [1d20=1]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+9 and gets 16."12 [1d20=7]
<Corben> roll 1d20+12 die, villain!
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+12 die, villain! and gets 16."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+7 Reeves
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+7 Reeves and gets 18."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3 imps
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 imps and gets 20."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 axe guards
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 axe guards and gets 4."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 bow guards
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 bow guards and gets 8."12 [1d20=6]
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 137/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 96/96 | Imp x2 > Reeves > Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards > axe guards'
<El-Cideon> "The big one sounds mean!" one of the imps squeaks in a helium voice. "Let's kill him first!" With a following squeak of concentration, each looses a bolt of energy at the barbarian!
<El-Cideon> roll 2#1d4+1 (wait, you immune MM, don't you?)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 2#1d4+1 (wait, you immune MM, don't you?) and gets 7."12 [2#1d4+1 = 2, 5]
<Corben> OOC: Force effects, yes
<El-Cideon> The magic impacts inches away from Corben's skin, absorbed harmlessly! "He's invincible!" one of the creatures shrieks. "Run away!" Each flies up to the second floor in despair. The man in black sighs, backs to the double doors across from you, and makes an arcane gesture. Suddenly a fog of sickly green erupts from the ground all around you!
<El-Cideon> OOC: fort saves, all
<Madeline> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+12 and gets 13."12 [1d20=1]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+11 and gets 17."12 [1d20=6]
<Corben> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+11 and gets 19."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d4 CON damage, Corben halves this
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d4 CON damage, Corben halves this and gets 2."12 [1d4=2]
* Madeline changes topic to '6Corben: 137/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 84/84 (-2con)| Imp x2 > Reeves > Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards > axe guards'
* Madeline changes topic to '6Corben: 125/137(-1con), Eliaphas: 90/102(-2con), Madeline: 84/84 (-2con)| Imp x2 > Reeves > Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards > axe guards'
* Madeline changes topic to '6Corben: 125/125(-1con), Eliaphas: 90/90(-2con), Madeline: 84/84 (-2con)| Imp x2 > Reeves > Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards > axe guards'
<El-Cideon> The toxic clouds seeps into lungs and flesh, weakening you where you stand! OOC: M/C, you're up
<Madeline> Such an inauspicious beginning does not bode well for the rest of Madeline's quest, but there is nothing to do but bear it. Madeline backs away rather than towards the door, out of the cloud- the extra distance will surely not prevent her from scoring a mark on the fog-casting magus opposite her!
<Madeline> roll 1d20+20 deadly aim-3
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+20 deadly aim-3 and gets 23."12 [1d20=3]
<Corben> "Petty tricks, wizard!" Corben challenges. Falcion held high above his head, he charges out of the unnatural fog to take the butler's head!
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit, Madeline
<Madeline> roll 1d8+12+1d6+1d6+1d6 physical/fire/frost/shock
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+12+1d6+1d6+1d6 physical/fire/frost/shock and gets 26."12 [1d8=6][1d6=3][1d6=2][1d6=3]
<Corben> roll 1d20+26 rage, charge~
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+26 rage, charge~ and gets 41."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> OOC: very hit
<Corben> roll 1d20+26 this actually crits!
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+26 this actually crits! and gets 46."12 [1d20=20]
<Corben> roll 4d4+32+3+2d6
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 4d4+32+3+2d6 and gets 46."12 [4d4=1, 2, 2, 1][2d6=4, 1]
* Corben changes topic to '6Corben: 151/151(-1con), Eliaphas: 90/90(-2con), Madeline: 84/84 (-2con)| Imp x2 > Reeves > Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards > axe guards'
<El-Cideon> A savage slash ruins his uniform and tears open his abdomen, letting loose a stream of foul black ichor as an arrow takes him in the shoulder! Yet he still stands. (OOC: Eliaphas)
* Eliaphas echoes the archer's movements, backing out of the foul vapours and raising his own weapon to fire a bolt at the spellcasting butler, aiming to defeat him in detail so he falls quickly and weakens the force arrayed against them! His eyes narrow with determination, sighting and letting fly!
<Eliaphas> OOC: (purity and justice judgements, +3 to hit and all saves, doubled on crit confirmations and saves vs curses/poisons/diseases)
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+17
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+17 and gets 27."12 [1d20=10]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Eliaphas> roll 2d10+1+1d6+1d6 fire/shock also damn I forgot to declare vital strike but you can assume I use it every time I don't full attack since it doubles the base weapon damage when attacking as a standard action
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 2d10+1+1d6+1d6 fire/shock also damn I forgot to declare vital strike but you can assume I use it every time I don't full attack since it doubles the base weapon damage when attacking as a standard action and gets 15."12 [2d10=2, 4][1d6=6][1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> The bolt takes him in the head, which promptly catches fire and begins to crumble to ashes. "'There are more dead adventurers in the foyer,' she said, 'go clean it up,' she said," the butler mutters as he slumps to the ground. "Dammit all. Look what you did to my suit."
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 151/151(-1con), Eliaphas: 90/90(-2con), Madeline: 84/84 (-2con)| Imp x2 > Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards > axe guards'
<El-Cideon> Both of the bowmen train their sights on Corben to avenge their fallen boss, the axemen closing in shortly thereafter!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13 xbow
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 xbow and gets 26."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13 xbow
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 xbow and gets 27."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+1 and gets 9."12 [1d8=8]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+1 and gets 5."12 [1d8=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17 axe
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17 axe and gets 22."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+17 axe
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+17 axe and gets 19."12 [1d20=2]
<Corben> "Begone, monstrosity!" Corben command, backhanding the first animated suit of armor to approach.
<Corben> roll 1d20+24 unexpected strike
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+24 unexpected strike and gets 42."12 [1d20=18]
<Corben> roll 1d20+24 everything gets critted!
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+24 everything gets critted! and gets 28."12 [1d20=4]
* Madeline changes topic to '6Corben: 141/151(-1con), Eliaphas: 90/90(-2con), Madeline: 84/84 (-2con)| Imp x2 > Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards > axe guards'
<El-Cideon> Bolts feather Corben's back, but he proves too agile for the clumsy armored warriors, easily counterattacking!
<El-Cideon> OOC: yes, very much a crit, also undead
<El-Cideon> OOC: actually, crit-immune this time
<El-Cideon> OOC: but it does autohit!
<Corben> roll 2d4+16+3+2d6
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16+3+2d6 and gets 30."12 [2d4=1, 1][2d6=3, 6]
<El-Cideon> A dent tears through the figure's chestplate, leaving it flailing awkwardly. Eerie blue light flickers within it. Upstairs, there's the sound of doors opening and closing as the small creatures make their escape.
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 141/151(-1con), Eliaphas: 90/90(-2con), Madeline: 84/84 (-2con)| Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards > axe guards'
<Corben> The thing remains standing after his retaliatory strike, and Corben senses the unnatural within it! No longer holding back, he strikes at the armors with all his might!
<Corben> roll 1d20+20 surprise accuracy, 10pa
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+20 surprise accuracy, 10pa and gets 38."12 [1d20=18]
<Corben> roll 2d4+16+3+2d6+20
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+16+3+2d6+20 and gets 54."12 [2d4=4, 1][2d6=4, 6]
<Corben> roll 1d20+15 I'll switch if one dies a final death!
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+15 I'll switch if one dies a final death! and gets 18."12 [1d20=3]
<Corben> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+10 and gets 14."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> This fearsome blow knocks the unlife out of it, dashing it to the floor in a clatter of metal plates! (OOC: first blow kills it, but the other attacks whiff against their AC)
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 141/151(-1con), Eliaphas: 90/90(-2con), Madeline: 84/84 (-2con)| Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards > axe guard'
<Madeline> A rain of feathered death flashes past Eliaphas and towards the remaining armor, sparkling trails of elemental energy dissipating in their wake!
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21 manyshot, rapidshot
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 manyshot, rapidshot and gets 28."12 [1d20=7]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 and gets 37."12 [1d20=16]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+16 and gets 27."12 [1d20=11]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+11 and gets 30."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> OOC: all hit, ow
<Madeline> roll 5#1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 5#1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock and gets 111."12 [5#1d8+6+1d6+1d6+1d6 = 27, 21, 19, 20, 24]
<El-Cideon> OOC: note that they're cold immune. I can't easily pick out which of that was cold, but it doesn't matter anyway, it's still overkill.
<El-Cideon> The array of arrows knocks loose gauntlets, helmet, and finally the undead creature falls to the ground like its companion!
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 141/151(-1con), Eliaphas: 90/90(-2con), Madeline: 84/84 (-2con)| Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards '
<El-Cideon> OOC: Eliaphas
<Eliaphas> Uttering a short prayer for the Lord and then sucking in his breath, Eliaphas runs through the cloud and clear to the other side to join the barbarian warlord!
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+17 fort vs poison
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+17 fort vs poison and gets 36."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d4 halved
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d4 halved and gets 1."12 [1d4=1]
* Madeline changes topic to '6Corben: 141/151(-1con), Eliaphas: 78/78(-3con), Madeline: 84/84 (-2con)| Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards '
<El-Cideon> Both of the remaining guards crank up their bows for another shot, fire again, and hunker down behind their protective partition.
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 29."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+13 and gets 18."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+1
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+1 and gets 2."12 [1d8=1]
<Corben> "Haha! I laugh at your puny arrows!" Corben declares, shaking his falcion at the cowardly guards.
<El-Cideon> OOC: team PC again. Both remaining enemies are behind cover, FYI.
<Madeline> Unwilling to dart through the lethal gas a second time, Madeline steps to the left-hand side of the door and skirts around the cloud's trajectory, trying to get a better view inside the foyer!
<El-Cideon> OOC: should be able to hit one from there
<Madeline> An arrow flies towards the gap soon afterwards; such cover is no match of Madeline's training in absolute, total precision!
<Madeline> roll 1d20+20 deadlyshot-3, improve pres. shot ignores anything less than total cover
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+20 deadlyshot-3, improve pres. shot ignores anything less than total cover and gets 37."12 [1d20=17]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Madeline> roll 1d8+12+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+12+1d6+1d6+1d6 fire/frost/shock and gets 24."12 [1d8=4][1d6=5][1d6=1][1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> The arrow thuds into the guard's helmet and stays there with a metallic twang!
<El-Cideon> OOC: Corben?
* Corben grabs hold of his chakram and sends it bouncing off the walls towards that very same guard's neck!
<Corben> roll 1d20+19
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+19 and gets 31."12 [1d20=12]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Corben> roll 1d8+8
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d8+8 and gets 9."12 [1d8=1]
<El-Cideon> The flying disc bounces off the guard with the echo of metal on metal! It appears undamaged.
<El-Cideon> OOC: Eliaphas
* Eliaphas turns to aim at the sniper on the other side, aiming his crossbow up between the slit and channelling the Lord's hatred for the undead into his weapon before loosing off two bolts from the automatic weapon!
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+17 rapid shot, greater undead bane
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+17 rapid shot, greater undead bane and gets 19."12 [1d20=2]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+17 rapid shot, greater undead bane
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+17 rapid shot, greater undead bane and gets 32."12 [1d20=15]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+12 rapid shot, greater undead bane
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+12 rapid shot, greater undead bane and gets 28."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> OOC: latter two hit
<Eliaphas> roll 1d10+4+4d6+1d6+1d6 shocking/flaming
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d10+4+4d6+1d6+1d6 shocking/flaming and gets 41."12 [1d10=8][4d6=6, 5, 3, 3][1d6=6][1d6=6]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d10+4+4d6+1d6+1d6 shocking/flaming
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d10+4+4d6+1d6+1d6 shocking/flaming and gets 21."12 [1d10=4][4d6=1, 3, 3, 3][1d6=2][1d6=1]
<El-Cideon> Shards of metal go flying as bolts punch through armor. The creature totters on its feet, barely standing. It does stand though and, along with its companion on the other side, barrels down the gallery towards the east end of the room. (OOC: they're out of sight by this point--stairways get in the way of your vision. We stay in init if you want to pursue, but they're fleeing)
<Eliaphas> "Let them run, the imps have already no doubt raised the alarm," Eliaphas intones, lowering his weapon. "Gather round and I will pray for succor from the Lord."
<Madeline> "I will as soon as the fog runs it's course," murmurs Madeline. "We should take an unexpected route and penetrate the castle from another direction. This is where the greater minions would come to hunt us."
<El-Cideon> The fog cloud slowly works its way past Madeline out onto the bridge, at which point most of its bulk rolls over the edge into the unseen depths.
<Corben> This wizard is on their side, and Corben gives the fleeing cowards one last glare before regrouping with Eliaphas. "Let them come!" he responds to Madeline. "And then, they will fall before us!"
<Eliaphas> In the meantime, Eliaphas works on curing Corben and himself while waiting for Madeline. "It would be better to penetrate deeply into the interior before they have a chance to rally defences at the walls and gates," he suggests instead.
<Eliaphas> roll 1d4 restoring Corben
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d4 restoring Corben and gets 4."12 [1d4=4]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d4 restoring me
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d4 restoring me and gets 4."12 [1d4=4]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d4 restoring Madeline
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d4 restoring Madeline and gets 3."12 [1d4=3]
<Madeline> "We face an army of foes. If the likes of us could crush them all in open combat, Mistvalken would have been scoured decades ago," replies Madeline, making her way towards Eliaphas. "At the least, we must move quickly to evade them."
* Eliaphas changes topic to '6Corben: 153/163, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 96/96| Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards '
* Corben changes topic to '6Corben: 127/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 96/96| Madeline = Corben > Eliaphas > bow guards '
<Madeline> She shakes her head, and reaches out to touch both Eliaphas and Corben. "There. Now we can communicate properly, at least," she states, surveying the room for exits.
<Madeline> (message)
<El-Cideon> There are doors heading north and south, on both floors, at the east edge of the room. There is also a set of double doors at the east wall. (OOC: also roll perception?)
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+21
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+21 and gets 37."12 [1d20=16]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+18 and gets 35."12 [1d20=17]
<Corben> roll 1d20+17
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+17 and gets 33."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> The sharp eyes of priest and elf and barbarian alike spot a loose brick in the eastern wall with a small corner of what looks like parchment barely visible.
<Madeline> Madeline advances upon it, scouring any and all parchment with her magical sight.
<Corben> Suspicious of a wizard's trap, Corben decides to proceed towards the eastern side of the room.
<Madeline> Undaunted by the horrors of the written word, Madeline grasps the parchment in order to view it's contents.
<El-Cideon> It's a single page, looking torn from a journal. Elegant writing, though seemingly written in haste: "To those who follow: resign yourselves to extensive tour. Castle eager to welcome visitors, loathe to release, and greedy besides. Unable to return to meet in person, as my lord bade me do upon scouting the castle grounds, but will make best effort to note hazards while the castle holds me bespelled. Must be brief, lest another patrol happen upon me. Look sharp! Will leave hidden notes when able--cannot rely on visible marks, as the imps scour all signs of human passage. --A.P."
<Eliaphas> "Our foes fled to the East," Eliaphas notes, following the elf and waiting to see what she learns about the parchment. "That way would also take us deeper within, but as you noted we may be better off going North or South and then pushing inwards from another angle."
<Madeline> "The knight we were to meet has left us a message," notes Madeline. "We can expect similar findings that mark his course. Leaving is, of course, impossible." She straightens, and quickly moves to the mage's remnants to scour his body. "We should move to avoid confrontations, and lead our opponents on a merry chase. Let's move to the north, and barricade doors we leave behind us when possible."
<El-Cideon> Madeline's arcane sight guides her to a ring on each of the dead butler's hands.
<Madeline> She seizes the rings, inspecting them for their mystical qualities at once!
<Madeline> roll 2#1d20+18 s-craft
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 2#1d20+18 s-craft and gets 45."12 [2#1d20+18 = 22, 23]
* Corben opens the door leading north to see if the path beyond it is viable.
<El-Cideon> Corben sees that the door opens into the narrow archer gallery the guard occupied. Immediately on the other side of him is...another door!
<Madeline> "A ring of protection. I have no need of it," notes Madeline, hustling after Corben. "The other is unknown to me."
* Corben opens the next door as well!
<Eliaphas> "I would not trust any enchantments provided by the inhabitants here," Eliaphas suggests, following the other two. Once into the gallery he closes the door and retrieves both a hammer and spike from his pack, driving the spike through the door and into the frame to secure it.
<El-Cideon> This room is broken up into three distinct areas: at the southern end a series of crude human replicas are set on poles in the floor, simple wooden mockups of soldiers, all with metal flails at the ends of their arm-stubs. Their posture is not uniform--it looks like the figures were meant to rotate. Beyond this area is a ring with a sandy floor, thirty feet wide, depressed into the floor and with low benches encircling it. At the north end of the room is a broad, open area, the floor made of what look like soft mats. There is a door in the east wall adjacent to the ring, along with the one from which you entered.
<Madeline> "I am sure many come from previous visitors," replies Madeline. "It is unlikely anything would be of greater value than what we already hold- ah, the training room." She sticks close to the wall and skirts towards the opposite door, keeping an eye out for any more bits of parchment. She also looks up, having been trained to think in three dimensions!
<Eliaphas> Distrustfully, Eliaphas eyes the training 'dummies' as if expecting them to come alive at any moment. Stowing away his hammer, he holds his crossbow ready and follows, moving towards the door on the East.
<El-Cideon> OOC: feel free to roll perception basically any time you make an "X looks around" line, if you want.
<Madeline> roll 1d20+18 madeline looks around
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+18 madeline looks around and gets 21."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: you too in this case, Eliaphas!
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+21
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+21 and gets 22."12 [1d20=1]
<El-Cideon> The dummies do indeed seem almost alarmingly prescient--you could swear some of them move to watch you as you walk by. Subtly! But fortunately each of you has an eye for subtle details. You can walk by them safely along the eastern edge of the room. Madeline doesn't see anything suspicious about the ceiling, at least!
<Corben> The next door awaits, and Corben is there to open it!
<Eliaphas> While Corben opens the door, Eliaphas keeps the dummies covered under his crossbow.
<El-Cideon> They don't seem able to move from their posts, at least. On the other side of the door...
<El-Cideon> This room is a showcase for finely-honed instruments of death, gleaming metal all around. Swords, axes, maces, and nearly any other personal implement of war one could name line racks across the western half of the room, finer examples of the craft displayed proudly on the walls. Armor stands occupy the eastern half of the room, untended suits from simple chainmail to full plate standing mutely in formation. Most is recognizably Brislovian in style, though one suit is lacquered black and gold and is extensively ornamented. There are two doors in the southeast corner of this room, one at each wall. In the corner to the north of you there is also a heavy wooden trapdoor set in the floor.
<Madeline> Madeline certainly studies the armory for magical traces, though she doubts any of the weapons could hope to match Fallender Stern.
<Eliaphas> Murmuring a prayer for the Lord to watch over him, Eliaphas enters the room and keeps an eye out for any animate suits of armour. "Those carrying the weight of sin are oft to hide beneath the earth as if it would conceal them from the Lord's gaze," he notes of the trapdoor.
<Eliaphas> OOC: casting heroism
* Corben decides to pay attention to the trapdoor as well!
<Corben> roll 1d20+17
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+17 and gets 33."12 [1d20=16]
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+23 for armour undead golems
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+23 for armour undead golems and gets 43."12 [1d20=20]
<Madeline> "Some castles utilize networks of escape tunnels in order to allow more manueverability during a siege, if not outright escape. Or it could be a basement."
<El-Cideon> Madeline detects nothing magical in the vicinity, although all the equipment here is of very fine make regardless. Although much of the armor here is of the same make as the guards previously encountered, after careful examination you think none of the armor here is likely to spring into action and try to kill you.
<El-Cideon> Corben detects nothing strange about the trapdoor, save that it's locked.
<Corben> What would win this contest, his muscles or the trapdoor's lock? Corben decides to find out!
<El-Cideon> OOC: trying to break it, or just bashing through? STR check for former.
<Corben> roll 1d20+6 I'll try this first!
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+6 I'll try this first! and gets 8."12 [1d20=2]
<El-Cideon> Alas, despite Corben's prodigious strength, the door remains resolute in its mocking defiance!
<Corben> No door may mock him and remain standing! The falcion comes out, and then goes right through the lock!
<Corben> roll 1d20+22 SUNDER
<El-Cideon> OOC: roll damage? I think you null hardness so largely academic, but still
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+22 SUNDER and gets 30."12 [1d20=8]
<Corben> roll 2d4+10+6
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+10+6 and gets 18."12 [2d4=1, 1]
<El-Cideon> The lock cracks open with a more direct application of violence, however!
<Corben> Now that the way below has been opened, Corben takes a look for those with the weight of sin who are doubtlessly hiding there!
<El-Cideon> Oppressive heat wells up at you as soon as the door opens. A narrow stairway winds out of sight down and to the east. A flickering glow dimly lights the walls.
<Eliaphas> "The flames of Hell itself are nothing to the embrace of the Lord," Eliaphas proclaims, praying for a blessing upon each of them to protect against the heat.
<Eliaphas> OOC: resist energy (fire) 30 points for each of us
<Corben> Trusting in the wizardry, Corben descends below!
<Madeline> "A furnace? A boiler, or a smithy... Elswith will not be here," notes Madeline, but it seems there is nothing for it but to proceed onwards.
* Eliaphas stows his weapon on his back and follows the barbarian.
<El-Cideon> Madeline's third guess proves accurate: the stairway leads you down to a small room--twenty feet square, dominated by a blazing furnace along the north wall, an anvil nearby, blacksmithing tools, finished and unfinished weapons on a table nearby. A window above the table allows some of the heat to dissipate outside. (more)
<El-Cideon> The room is also occupied--guarded, seemingly. Two dogs sitting calmly on the floor rise to their feet and growl upon your appearance! One is merely a semblance of life, dried strips of flesh hanging off it, while the other looks built from a collection of blazing coals. Fire seethes from eyes and mouth as it looks at you. From the forge, a voice pipes out: "Master Vorela, is it time to go to work again?"
<Eliaphas> "Nothing of value," Eliaphas notes dully, readying his weapon.
<Madeline> "Slay the beasts and take the smith hostage. We need not go blindly at all times," replies Madeline, levelling her bow with crisp efficiency.
<El-Cideon> "You're not Master Vorela!" the high voice cries, a hand of fire emerging and wagging a finger at you all. "How dare you set foot in the master's workshop! Guards, to arms! Er, to teeth!" (OOC: that sounds like init again)
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+9 and gets 25."12 [1d20=16]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+9
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+9 and gets 14."12 [1d20=5]
<Corben> Whether the smith is someone to be freed or slain remains to be seen, but for now, their path is clear!
<Corben> roll 1d20+12
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+12 and gets 17."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+1 forge spirit
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+1 forge spirit and gets 12."12 [1d20=11]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+8 coal dog
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+8 coal dog and gets 24."12 [1d20=16]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+2 deadhound
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+2 deadhound and gets 22."12 [1d20=20]
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 127/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 96/96| Eliaphas > coal dog > deadhound> Corben > Madeline > forge spirit'
<El-Cideon> OOC: E
<Eliaphas> They're likely well warded against attacks from the flaming hound, and Redemptio's flames are better suited for purging the undead, hence Eliaphas chooses his target and looses a single bolt into the canine's side before he moves back up the stairs and into cover for reloading.
<Eliaphas> roll 1d20+17
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 1d20+17 and gets 21."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: hit
<Eliaphas> roll 2d10+2+1d6+1d6 shock/flame
* Hatbot --> "Eliaphas rolls 2d10+2+1d6+1d6 shock/flame and gets 18."12 [2d10=1, 10][1d6=3][1d6=2]
<El-Cideon> The bolt has some trouble penetrating the beast's tough hide, but it snarls nonetheless as fire and electricity writhe over it! Its fiery companion strides forward, stretches its mouth wide and lets loose a gout of flame into the stairway!
<El-Cideon> OOC: ref, all
<Madeline> roll 1d20+13
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+13 and gets 17."12 [1d20=4]
<El-Cideon> OOC: actrually, El should be out of range if he went back up
<Corben> roll 1d20+7
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+7 and gets 26."12 [1d20=19]
<El-Cideon> roll 9d6 Corben halves this (likely totally nerfed by prot/fire, but alas, it's not smart enough to know that)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 9d6 Corben halves this (likely totally nerfed by prot/fire, but alas, it's not smart enough to know that) and gets 31."12 [9d6=3, 6, 3, 3, 2, 1, 6, 5, 2]
* Madeline changes topic to '6Corben: 127/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96| Eliaphas > coal dog > deadhound> Corben > Madeline > forge spirit'
<El-Cideon> The undead hound lumbers forward, bolt jostling around in the side of its neck, and rushes to take a bite out of Corben!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+14 charge
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+14 charge and gets 23."12 [1d20=9]
<Corben> OOC: AC26
<El-Cideon> But its jaws close only on air! OOC: C, then M
<Corben> "Away with you!" Corben calls, swiping his falcion at the undead dog's paws, before moving to decapitate the fell thing altogether!
<Corben> roll 1d20+15 6pa
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+15 6pa and gets 35."12 [1d20=20]
<Corben> roll 1d20+19 crit?
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+19 crit? and gets 27."12 [1d20=8]
<El-Cideon> OOC: ow. Not crit immune this time! So go on.
<Corben> roll 4d4+32+3+2d6
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 4d4+32+3+2d6 and gets 57."12 [4d4=4, 2, 3, 4][2d6=6, 3]
<Corben> OOC: +12
<Corben> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+10 and gets 28."12 [1d20=18]
<Corben> roll 1d20+14 hmm?
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+14 hmm? and gets 34."12 [1d20=20]
<El-Cideon> OOC: man the first crit finished it
<Corben> roll 4d4+32+3+2d6+12
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 4d4+32+3+2d6+12 and gets 71."12 [4d4=4, 4, 3, 2][2d6=6, 5]
<El-Cideon> The beast is cleaved in two, rotted chunks of flesh bursting out to either side and soiling the floor!
<El-Cideon> OOC: M
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 127/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96| Eliaphas > coal dog > Corben > Madeline > forge spirit'
<Madeline> "Dogs... Elswith hated dogs. She preferred cats." Madeline's eyes narrow, and a volley of crackling arrows targets the hated canine without remorse or respite!
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21 manyshot, rapidshot
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 manyshot, rapidshot and gets 27."12 [1d20=6]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21 rshot
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 rshot and gets 24."12 [1d20=3]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+16 rshot
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+16 rshot and gets 26."12 [1d20=10]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+11 rshot
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+11 rshot and gets 18."12 [1d20=7]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first three hit. Note that it nulls fire damage, has cold vulnerability for damage purposes
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 frost, shock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 frost, shock
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 frost, shock and gets 22."12 [1d6=6][1d8=3][1d6=4]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 frost, shock and gets 15.5."12 [1d6=3][1d8=2][1d6=3]
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 frost, shock
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 frost, shock
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 frost, shock and gets 23.5."12 [1d6=3][1d8=8][1d6=5]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 frost, shock and gets 24."12 [1d6=6][1d8=6][1d6=3]
<El-Cideon> Arrows thud into the monster's rocky hide, magic sending shattered chunks of coal flying about, but it stands resolute and growls a challenge!
* Corben growls back at the hound, falcion held above his head in challenge!
<El-Cideon> From the forge: "How rude! How would you like it if I walked into your room and killed your pets, eh? Let's find out!" An arm of flame stretches out from the forge with a sword snatched from the table, and easily takes swipes at Corben from across the room!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+16
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+16 and gets 34."12 [1d20=18]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 and gets 26."12 [1d20=15]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+5 (there'd be fire damage too, but academic given protection)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+5 (there'd be fire damage too, but academic given protection) and gets 9."12 [1d8=4]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d8+5 (there'd be fire damage too, but academic given protection)
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d8+5 (there'd be fire damage too, but academic given protection) and gets 13."12 [1d8=8]
<El-Cideon> Corben gets a couple slashes across the torso in respone! (OOC: El)
* Corben changes topic to '6Corben: 109/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96| Eliaphas > coal dog > Corben > Madeline > forge spirit'
* Madeline changes topic to '6Corben: 109/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96| Eliaphas > coal dog > Corben > Madeline > forge spirit'
* Eliaphas is quite busy swapping for a fresh clip of bolts!
<El-Cideon> The bestial figure of burning coals lunges forward, trying to succeed where its undead companion failed!
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+18
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+18 and gets 21."12 [1d20=3]
<El-Cideon> OOC: C
<Corben> "Your time will come!" Corben promises, catching the lunging hound's teeth on his blade. "You want to guard your master?" he asks, turning his attention to the dog. "Then I will break the forge after I break you!"
<Corben> roll 1d20+15 4pa
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+15 4pa and gets 24."12 [1d20=9]
<Corben> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+10 and gets 13."12 [1d20=3]
<Corben> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+5 and gets 18."12 [1d20=13]
<El-Cideon> OOC: one hit
<Corben> roll 2d4+10+8
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+10+8 and gets 23."12 [2d4=3, 2]
<El-Cideon> The hound gets a brutal dent in its forehead for its efforts, but this doesn't seem to diminish its anger in the slightest!
<El-Cideon> OOC: M
<Madeline> Madeline drops into a crouch, pulling another five arrows from her beltside quiver and firing them all at once towards the hound and the hand!
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21 manyshot, rapidshot
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 manyshot, rapidshot and gets 32."12 [1d20=11]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+21
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+21 and gets 30."12 [1d20=9]
<Madeline> roll 1d20+16
<Madeline> roll 1d20+11
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+16 and gets 33."12 [1d20=17]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d20+11 and gets 21."12 [1d20=10]
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 if the dog dies, remaining arrows attack the hand
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 if the dog dies, remaining arrows attack the hand and gets 21.5."12 [1d6=1][1d8=8][1d6=6]
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 mshot
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 mshot and gets 20.5."12 [1d6=5][1d8=1][1d6=6]
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 mshot
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 mshot
<Madeline> roll 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 mshot
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 mshot and gets 24."12 [1d6=6][1d8=8][1d6=1]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 mshot and gets 15."12 [1d6=2][1d8=1][1d6=5]
* Hatbot --> "Madeline rolls 1d8+6+(1d6*1.5)+1d6 mshot and gets 28."12 [1d6=6][1d8=7][1d6=6]
<El-Cideon> The barrage of arrows finally sunders the creature's will to live, and it splashes across the floor in an array of fiery coals! The last arrow slashes through the elemental spirit, causing its form to waver slightly. "Ow, that hurt! Barbarians! Breaking-and-enterers!"
* El-Cideon changes topic to '6Corben: 109/137, Eliaphas: 102/102, Madeline: 95/96| Eliaphas > Corben > Madeline > forge spirit'
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+16
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+161
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+16 and gets 23."12 [1d20=7]
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+161 and gets 175."12 [1d20=14]
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+11 er, ignore last roll
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+11 er, ignore last roll and gets 20."12 [1d20=9]
<El-Cideon> Another pair of slashes at Corben proves fruitless, the spirit obviously too upset to focus properly!
<El-Cideon> OOC: E
<Corben> "And now it's your time!" Corben promises, avoiding the wide slashes. "Your death will be quick!"
<Eliaphas> Descending back into the forgeworks, Eliaphas sees only a hand poking out from the furnace itself and decides he should make a better target. Putting the persuasiveness of the most ardent preacher into his words, he gestures at the forge and calls, "Approach!"
<Eliaphas> OOC: Command, DC 17 will
<El-Cideon> roll 1d20+3 not its good save
* Hatbot --> "El-Cideon rolls 1d20+3 not its good save and gets 8."12 [1d20=5]
<El-Cideon> "What--what is this? I can't control my legs! I don't have any legs! What have you done?!"
<El-Cideon> OOC: C
* Corben brings his sword on the spirit's fiery wrist to divest it of its own weapon, and then attacks in earnest!
<Corben> roll 1d20+15 4pa
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+15 4pa and gets 25."12 [1d20=10]
<Corben> roll 1d20+10
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+10 and gets 21."12 [1d20=11]
<Corben> roll 1d20+5
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 1d20+5 and gets 11."12 [1d20=6]
<El-Cideon> OOC: first two hit
<Corben> roll 2d4+10+8
<Corben> roll 2d4+10+8
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+10+8 and gets 22."12 [2d4=3, 1]
* Hatbot --> "Corben rolls 2d4+10+8 and gets 20."12 [2d4=1, 1]
<Corben> "And now you don't have hands!"
<El-Cideon> The hand disolves, the sword clattering to the floor. Although another hand reforms further down the arm, it at least has no weapon now. "Ow ow ow! Ooh, Master Vorela's going to be so upset with you!"
<Madeline> "Will Master Vorela come here?" asks Madeline, levelling her weapon at the burning creature.
<Corben> "Where is your master?" Corben demands to know. "He, too, will fall to this blade!"
<El-Cideon> "Okay, okay! Look, do you actually want something, or did you just come here to kill everyone you meet? He's around somewhere. He doesn't tell me his whole schedule! He's a busy man! Suit of armor! Thing!"
<Madeline> "The Baron will suffice. But what would a mere underling know of him, or of the princess?"
<El-Cideon> --------------------------