There is a feeling of change and disorentation as you climb the stairs. Old avatars are left behind in triumph, new flesh cloaking your souls. Sturdy and agreeable strength, minds also fitting to new highs and lows of intellect.
As you climb the stairs, reality reshapes around you. Gone are the cold steel walls of doom. Instead glossy metallic walls are about, gleaming silver and bright. Red diamond shape dintends are regularly placed, giving the rooms a carnival feel. Eerie red light comes from them, giving much of the luminence of this area.
A very small room - there is a pillar freestanding with a blue field around it. Inside that field is a vicious looking scythe, dripping blood off it's edge that hisses into nothingness when it touches the blue barrier.
Past that is a door, cut in the middle and with handles to pull it to the sides. However, a long sheet of parchment with colorful writing has been plastered on it.
Tchaener marches foward, now clad all in black armour and a tattered cloak. A large quiver sits on his back, and his eyes are slanted, with verticle pupils.
He goes to read the parchment...
Tchaener reads the parchment!
Come one, come all! Poindexter's speakeasy awaits the intelligent. Special discounts on all Eischenloss magic! Odds go way up when you have a friend in your corner! Look past the heat of the moment!
aesop scans the pillar and door for any perceivable traps, as well as listening for anything at the door.
---
[11:41] <Dracos> roll 1d100 versus 20 detect noise
[11:41] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d100 versus 20 detect noise and gets 43." [1d100=43]
[11:41] <Dracos> roll 1d100 versus 35 detect traps
[11:41] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d100 versus 35 detect traps and gets 99." [1d100=99]
Nodding to himself, Tchaener turns around, carefully checking the walls for a potential secret door!
[01:42] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d6 and gets 3." [1d6=3] Pass
Tchaener: You find no secret doors.
Aesop: You fail to find any traps, and the only noise you here is the hissing of another blooddrop as it falls to the blue barrier.
Tchaener carefull walks around the strange scythe-and-barrier in the middle of the room, checking it out for remarkable features beyond the obvious.
The scythe is very well made - of black steel with blood coming from a source unknown from it. The barrier is a softly glowing blue and the blood droplets vanish when they touch it. The pillar is a plain tan stone pillar.
Maintaining a deadly serious expression, Tchaener produces an egg, and flings it at the pillar!
Aesop checks to see if the door is locked, tapping the handle with a dagger first as he dislikes his hand getting cut.
Dracos
The egg vanishes into utter nothingness when it touches the barrier.
The door does not seem to be locked.
"Corwin. Door," states Tchaener, speaking in a grim monotone, as he turns and stands a few metres back from it.
Corwin, clad in white armor identical to Tchaener's, though he lacks the cloak, nods. He draws his sword, holding it in one hand, and stands to the side as he attempts to force the door open with the other one.
Aesop slid to the side of the door and nodded, waiting and letting his bigger companions open it, ready to toss a dagger through if it was dangerous.
Dracos
With this effort the door opens! It's dark in it and you'd have to pass through to see more, but you can distantly hear children laughing.
"Children...here? What a strange contrast," Aesop remarked in surprise.
"Children, My Brother?" Corwin asks, blinking at the sounds.
"Creatures with the guise of Children, perhaps," replies Tchaener, approaching the door and peering closer inside.
Ahead of you in a large, starsharped room is a carnival front! A tent at the far side looms into the depths and in front of that is a carosel. Children giggle and laugh as they spin on it, a clown clapping and running around as they play.
As the heroes enter in, the clown turns and honks his nose. "Welcome the carnival!" he says, a picture of cheery, creepy clownhood. As he pads over in his oversized feet, "You'll come and stay with us! It claps it's hands together, dancing about and making it's entire round body jiggle.
"Corwin, the clown is worrisome. This is unnatural," states Tchaener, softly.
"What a...very creepy fellow," Aesop commented, unfamiliar with this 'clown' notion.
Dracos
"Creepy?" A frothy laugh follows this, as if it's throat is filled with snot and bile. "My children are having a wonderful time!" Behind you the children on the carosel laugh, a discordant and shaking laugh that isn't quite -right-.
"By Eric's bearded balls, this clown is evil and must be stopped!" Corwin proclaims, grabbing his shield from where it is strapped to his back and holding it before him, as if to ward off the foul creature!
"So be it," states Tchaener, readying his bow, arrow notched and prepared to inflict harm!
Aesop stands ready, not attacking, but prepared to disrupt anything the clown does.
---
Intent: Go on clowns init if it is equal or later than mine.
.
[12:23] <Dracos> roll 1d10-1 init
[12:23] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d10-1 init and gets 8." [1d10=9]
[12:23] <Dracos> Anyhow that goes well with intent
[02:26] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d10+5 init and gets 11." [1d10=6]
Oh boy, here we go.
"Oh you're...bad boys and girls!" The clown chitters to itself, rocking like a balloon! "Then..." In a flash of light and whiff of sulphur?
> roll 1d4+2
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4+2 and gets 5." [1d4=3]
Five creatures appear around the clown! Little winged humanoids, only a few feet tall. Gremlin like creatures, with silver spoons the size of their bodies lugged, overflowing with flames! The children on the carosel stop, whimpering as the go back to hide!
> roll 1d10+3 group
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10+3 group and gets 5." [1d10=2]
That clown must perish!
[19:30] <Maz> roll 1d10+2 init
[19:30] * Hatbot --> "Maz rolls 1d10+2 init and gets 4." [1d10=2]
Corwin>Baddies>Drac>Rat. Go.
"Die, you flaming abomination!" Corwin roars, attacking the only enemy not yet on fire with his longsword!
[19:34] <Maz> roll 1d20 vs 13 to stabbitize the clown
[19:34] * Hatbot --> "Maz rolls 1d20 vs 13 to stabbitize the clown and gets 7." [1d20=7]
The blow is wide and ineffective! The clown just laughs at Corwin! "Oh ho ho! NAUGHTY!" This lastw ord is in a hell like rasp, as if the entire clown is a hell sized balloon!
The clown is chanting in a bone chillling tongue!
Meanwhile the five nasty little humanoids go! Three lean back, a ball of fire tossed at each hero, while two others take to the high air and position themselves!
> roll 1d20 Corwin
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Corwin and gets 1." [1d20=1]
> roll 1d20 Drac
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Drac and gets 20." [1d20=20]
> roll 1d20 Rat
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Rat and gets 5." [1d20=5]
* Maz snorts
> You have got to be fucking...
> roll 1d20 critfail
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 critfail and gets 20." [1d20=20]
> ...-_-
> roll 1d20 critical check
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 critical check and gets 3." [1d20=3]
> ...-_-
* Carthrat snorts
* Maz laughs
> roll 1d6+1
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+1 and gets 3." [1d6=2]
The little glob of fire thrown at Aesop is effective! It scorches his hand, lingering in the air as a little near willowisp!
Go ahead and act, Aesop, while the clown chants.
Aesop acts quickly, his blades flying out from his hands at the chanting clown.
---
[12:49] <Dracos> roll 1d20 versus thac0 15, throw dagger 1
[12:49] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d20 versus thac0 15, throw dagger 1 and gets 13." [1d20=13]
[12:49] <Dracos> roll 1d20 versus thac0 15, throw dagger 2
[12:49] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d20 versus thac0 15, throw dagger 2 and gets 19." [1d20=19]
[12:49] <Dracos> Hits AC 2, and -4
[12:49] <Dracos> On the clown
[12:50] <@Kotono> What type of damage is a thrown dagger? Piercing or slashing?
[12:50] <@Carthrat> Piercing, surely
[12:50] <@Kotono> Two hits regardless.
[12:50] <@Kotono> CHeck.
[12:50] <Dracos> roll 1d4
[12:50] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d4 and gets 2." [1d4=2]
[12:50] <Dracos> roll 1d4
[12:50] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d4 and gets 4." [1d4=4]
[12:50] <@Kotono> Note the damage type with the post.
[12:50] <Dracos> Six damage! Spell interrupt go! @_@
The twin daggers pucture the puffy clown! From his stomach the two daggers leak a bit of a pink gas! It smells good at first, like sweet candy - no sweet candy left out in the sun too long, rotten and foul.
"Oh oh ho! Horrible little children," it rasps, eyes burning fiery green as he stares at Aesop!
Rat.
Tchaener's eyes flash the colour of blood, as he swiftly sends two arrows flying towards the clown! His arm moves almost mechnically, a routine action sending forth unerring shafts!
[02:53] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20 vs thac0 11 how can I miss and gets 14." [1d20=14]
[02:53] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20 vs thac0 11 how can I miss and gets 18." [1d20=18]
[02:54] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 2d8+8 and gets 16." [2d8=3, 5] Piercing, duh
An arrow in it's leg and and arrow into it's chest! Both leak pink gas as the clown wobbles back, hissing! But as you do?
It's wounds are sealing rapidly!
> roll 2d4+4
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 2d4+4 and gets 10." [2d4=2, 4]
Much of the damage repairs, it's body recovering at a pace you wouldn't believe to be human! Magic of the most foul kind, negating much of the arrow's impact!
React/initiative.
[19:59] <Maz> roll 1d10+2 init that clown will die
[19:59] * Hatbot --> "Maz rolls 1d10+2 init that clown will die and gets 9." [1d10=7]
Tchaener's face does not change. Indeed, it is like a mask that cannot change, even if he wanted it to.
[02:57] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d10+5 init again~ and gets 14." [1d10=9]
Aesop doesn't let up, swiftly continuing a dagger assault!
---
[13:00] <Dracos> roll 1d10-1 throwing daggers!
[13:00] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d10-1 throwing daggers! and gets 6." [1d10=7]
> roll 1d10+3
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d10+3 and gets 6." [1d10=3]
Baddies=Aesop>Corwin>Tch
Go ahead and go first, Drac.
Aesop's daggers swift through the air next to his arms as he flings, the creepy creature missed.
---
[13:03] <Dracos> roll 1d20 versus thac0 15, throw dagger 1
[13:03] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d20 versus thac0 15, throw dagger 1 and gets 6." [1d20=6]
[13:03] <Dracos> roll 1d20 versus thac0 15, throw dagger 2
[13:03] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d20 versus thac0 15, throw dagger 2 and gets 10." [1d20=10]
[13:03] <Dracos> Hits ac 9 and ac 5
[13:03] <Dracos> against the clown.
[13:03] <@Kotono> Two whiffs, ow, post'em.
[13:03] <Dracos> fuu *nods*
Indeed! As it dances and sucks in air, the gremlins attack - two dive bomb down to strike with their flaming spoons - one at each 'twin!'
> roll 1d20 Corwin
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Corwin and gets 9." [1d20=9]
> roll 1d20 Rat
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Rat and gets 20." [1d20=20]
> roll 1d20 Rat critcheck
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Rat critcheck and gets 9." [1d20=9]
> ACs?
> roll 1d4
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d4 and gets 4." [1d4=4]
A firm strike to Tch's noggin! The flaming spoon doesn't do a ton of relative damage, but the dive bombing leaves him rattled and dazed! (-1 to attack/damage rolls this round.)
Meanwhile the other three keep it up, floating loosely around the carosel as they chuck flames from afar!
> roll 1d20 Drac
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Drac and gets 13." [1d20=13]
> roll 1d20 Cor
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Cor and gets 9." [1d20=9]
> roll 1d20 Rat
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20 Rat and gets 5." [1d20=5]
> roll 1d6+1
* Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d6+1 and gets 4." [1d6=3]
One of the flames gets Aesop again! A rain of balls of burning pain, singing the halfling's leg! As the combat rages, the clown rears it's head back!
The clown is exhaling sweet breath! Sweet pink gas fills the room, coming from a great gap - not it's mouth, but nearly it's entire body split apart to shed otu a dosage of this foulness!
Elven spell resistance vs sleep applies with a -20 modifier. Saving throws are at -2 otherwise. This applies to all three PCs.
[03:13] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d100 and gets 88." [1d100=88]
[03:14] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20-2 and gets 17." [1d20=19]
Aesop held his breath as the sweat fragrance ran through the room.
----
[13:14] <Dracos> roll 1d20 vs 12 for spell
[13:14] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d20 vs 12 for spell and gets 15." [1d20=15]
[13:15] <Dracos> wait...-2? so it's 13.
[13:15] <Dracos> still beat
[20:14] <Elle> roll 1d100
[20:14] * Hatbot --> "Elle rolls 1d100 and gets 21." [1d100=21]
Through their will and their power, the heroes resist the drowsy, sweet breath!
Corwin then Tch go.
"You smell of overdue garbage, douchebag," Corwin says, snorting, as he hefts his longsword, ready to strike.
[20:19] <Elle> roll 1d20 vs 12 let's own this clown pretty please
[20:19] * Hatbot --> "Elle rolls 1d20 vs 12 let's own this clown pretty please and gets 3." [1d20=3]
[20:20] <Elle> roll 1d20 vs 12 let's own this clown pretty please #2
[20:20] * Hatbot --> "Elle rolls 1d20 vs 12 let's own this clown pretty please #2 and gets 4." [1d20=4]
Barely showing any sign of being injured, Tchaener counterattacks, a pair of arrows, one for each spoon-wielding gremlin!
[03:22] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20 thac0 12 lamers lamers lamers and gets 11." [1d20=11]
[03:22] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20 thac0 12 lamers lamers lamers and gets 12." [1d20=12]
[03:23] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d8+3 and gets 10." [1d8=7]
[03:23] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d8+3 and gets 11." [1d8=8]
The two dive bombing green gremlins are impaled, arrows through most of their body! They're fluttering weakly but still up, impaled but alive!
Initiative
[20:50] <Dracos> roll 1d10-1
[20:50] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d10-1 and gets 9." [1d10=10]
[20:50] <Dracos> ;_;
[20:50] <Merc> You fail at initiative?
[20:51] <Dracos> what's the point of a less than zero init weapon build with rolls like that?
[12:22] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d10+5 can I outinit SPOONS? and gets 10." [1d10=5]
[08:23] <Maz> Lame
[08:24] <Maz> Okay, lameness, did that roll go through?
[08:24] <Maz> roll 1d10+2 init
[08:24] * Hatbot --> "Maz rolls 1d10+2 init and gets 5." [1d10=3]
[08:25] <Maz> Cool. Rat, mind posting that for me in Avatars?
> roll 1d10+3
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 1d10+3 and gets 13." [1d10=10]
Corwin>Drac>Rat>Baddies
Go Corwin!
Retrieving his potion of firebreath, Corwin drinks a portion, before breathing fiery doom at his laughing adversary!
The fiery burst of breath consumes the two wounded and arrowed gremlins in front of you! All that is left is a half charred skeletal set, and the main thrust of the flames gets the clown! As a gremlin near it is critically scored...
It appears completely unaffected!
"Ho ho ho! Boys and girls, it's naughty to play with fire!" The clown is beginning to chant in a chilling tongue!
Drac
The fiery burst of breath consumes the two wounded and arrowed gremlins in front of you! All that is left is a half charred skeletal set, and the main thrust of the flames gets the clown! As a gremlin near it is critically scored...
It appears completely unaffected!
"Ho ho ho! Boys and girls, it's naughty to play with fire!" The clown is beginning to chant in a chilling tongue!
Drac
Aesop scoots back into the previous room, getting behind the wall and quaffing his healing potion.
---
[11:24] <Corwin> Don't die, Drac!
[11:24] <Dracos> I dislike dying.
[11:24] <Dracos> roll 1d8+1
[11:24] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d8+1 and gets 2." [1d8=1]
[11:25] <Dracos> ...
[11:25] <Corwin> SAUL
[11:25] <Dracos> and apparently healing
Aesop's wounds mend somewhat, but he still has vicious burns all over!
Carthratticus.
Tchaener growls, his hands flickering, firing arrow after arrow at the difficult-to-harm balloon-clown-thing!
[01:27] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20 and gets 16." [1d20=16]
[01:27] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20 and gets 18." [1d20=18]
[01:28] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 2d8+8 and gets 16." [2d8=3, 5]
The sword wounds have struggles with his skin. It's like trying to cut a balloon with a paperknife's dull edge, the slashes only somewhat effective! But it does work, making him slowly leak more gas! His words stop as the surviving gremlins attack - this time all three focus on Tchaener, flingling flames!
> roll 1d20
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 1d20 and gets 19." [1d20=19]
> roll 1d20
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 1d20 and gets 12." [1d20=12]
> roll 1d20
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 1d20 and gets 9." [1d20=9]
> roll 1d6+1
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 1d6+1 and gets 3." [1d6=2]
One glob does strike him, a burn across his knee!
React/initiative
[01:36] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d10+5 and gets 15." [1d10=10]
"What kind of evil does not burn?!" Corwin exclaims, raising his sword warily.
[18:40] <Corwin> roll 1d10+2 time for hilarious slash!
[18:40] * Hatbot --> "Corwin rolls 1d10+2 time for hilarious slash! and gets 8." [1d10=6]
Aesop slips back out, tossing daggers as he moves to the other side of the doorway, sniping as he switched cover.
---
[11:44] <Dracos> roll 1d10-1 bah, standing out of a fight is no fun.
[11:44] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d10-1 bah, standing out of a fight is no fun. and gets 6." [1d10=7]
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 1d10+3 and gets 4." [1d10=1]
Baddies>Drac>Corwin>Rat.
The three floating gremlins, one charred and two fresh, just keep summoning endless fire to hurl at poor Tchaener!
> roll 1d20
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 1d20 and gets 16." [1d20=16]
> roll 1d20
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 1d20 and gets 4." [1d20=4]
> roll 1d20
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 1d20 and gets 11." [1d20=11]
> roll 1d6+1
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 1d6+1 and gets 3." [1d6=2]
Another fireball grazes his knuckles, burning them red! As this happens the clown again chants in a bonechilling tongue! It seems angry now, as, tiny little glowing meteors appear around it!
"Naughty boy! Playing with things no good child should!" It's voice teers on creepiness, as five flaming spheres are fired, each at Tchaener! "Such pointed things are horrible and need punishment forever!"
> roll 5#d20
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 5#d20 and gets 53." [5#d20 = 15, 14, 1, 7, 16]
> roll 3d4
* Hatbot --> "Anadoctor rolls 3d4 and gets 8." [3d4=1, 4, 3]
Three tiny fiery rocks slam into Tchaener! Charred and burnt, little bursts of flaming hell around him!
You guys are up in order.
Aesop dashes across the doorway, lashing out with two flying daggers at the fat man's body.
---
[11:51] <Dracos> roll 1d20 versus 15
[11:51] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d20 versus 15 and gets 17." [1d20=17]
[11:51] <Dracos> roll 1d20 versus 15
[11:51] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d20 versus 15 and gets 15." [1d20=15]
[11:51] <Dracos> -2 and 0
[11:51] <Dracos> 'gainst the clown
[11:51] <Dracos> hits?
[11:51] <@Kotono> Two hits.
[11:52] <Dracos> roll 2d4 MIGHTY DAMAGE!
[11:52] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 2d4 MIGHTY DAMAGE! and gets 4." [2d4=3, 1]
Two more daggers embed into it's gaping stomach, little jets of pink gas rippling out again! "Ugh...naughty, horrible...CHILDREN!" It glares, dented but not out yet!
Shielding his face with the shield, Corwin approaches the evil clown cautiously. Then, suddenly, his blade springs forward in a nasty upward swing, and returns diagonally, carving up his foul-smelling nemesis!
[18:56] <Corwin> roll 1d20 vs 12 JUSTICE
[18:56] <Corwin> roll 1d20 vs 12 JUSTICE 2
[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Corwin rolls 1d20 vs 12 JUSTICE and gets 8." [1d20=8]
[18:56] * Hatbot --> "Corwin rolls 1d20 vs 12 JUSTICE 2 and gets 14." [1d20=14]
[18:58] <Maz> roll 2d8+16 SLASH
[18:58] * Hatbot --> "Maz rolls 2d8+16 SLASH and gets 22." [2d8=4, 2]
While not fully effective, the two blows are enough! With final rips Corwin gets facefuls of gas as it's body breaks apart like a overfilled balloon! "Nooo...children...!" it screams, as it lets loose a great concussive burst!
OOC - Save vs wands, rods and staves at -5, Corwin.
[19:02] <Maz> roll 1d20
[19:02] * Hatbot --> "Maz rolls 1d20 and gets 4." [1d20=4]
Wow, -1!
[19:03] <Kotono> Make another save vs spell at -2, and post that as well.
[19:03] <Kotono> It's not a freaking instakill. <_<
[19:06] <Maz> Spell resistance? >_>
[19:08] <Kotono> Heh, sure, why not?
[19:09] <Maz> roll 1d100
[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Maz rolls 1d100 and gets 37." [1d100=37]
[19:09] <Maz> roll 1d20-2 spell
[19:09] * Hatbot --> "Maz rolls 1d20-2 spell and gets 0." [1d20=2]
The burst is gigantic and massive! Corwin is tossed back like a rag doll, body mangled horrificly! But as the gas clears? While Corwin is hurt and fast asleep, the room brightens somewhat. More like a real carnival, the walls glowin with red diamonds as before.
From behind the carosel the children begin to peek out. "Is it...gone..." one quails, shaking visibly. "Did you...get it?" Another young girl in a peasant smock whimpers.
30 damage to Corwin and he's asleep. Oooooow.
"The creature is slain," states Tchaener, shouldering his bow, and immediately walking to check on Corwin.
"My brother is hurt. Can you aid us?"
Aesop peeked out, scanning the room for any signs of remaining evil.
Dracos
"We..." One of the dirty children starts to cry, another looking no bravely. "If we could, but it...it didn't even let us eat!" One child does speak up, "It kept saying it went to the hot place and get a blue ball. Said it made it feel stronger," One child adds.
"It was all it talked about when it wasn't..m.aking us...that and Amarylasia."
Corwin is quite out and banged up. He needs some time to recover, clearly.
"Amarylasia?" asks Tchaener, kneeling down to the children's level.
"The Scythe of Amarylasia...." One tired girl points back to the way you came. "Said that someone here had a key for it. The Dark One...said he could come here with us and try to get it, but we've been here since then. It's kinda blurry...he keeps doing the same things, but...we know it and he didn't."
"And do you have such a key?" muses Tchaener, gently shaking Corwin.
The children whimper amid themselves, but, "No. It's somewhere here - a man has it. A real man - the clown couldn't find him! He's hidden here, but he's waiting for the right people! That's what he kept saying when he was angry about it!"[/i]
Tchaener gives the children what he hopes is a reassuring nod.
"What will you do now?" he continues.
"We wanna go..." One of the children is a little taller, surer. Perhaps in his early teens? "We have to go," he says sadly. "I got the clown to talk a little...he said..we were children he killed. But we can't escape here without a powerful means, even if we aren't bound. The Scythe of Amarylasia may be able to?"
"It seems the scythe is the key to this level," affirms Tchaener, taking stock of the room they are in more thoroughly.
It's a large, five pointed star shapred room. At the far end is a tent with a long, dark entrance to whatever lies beyond. There isn't too much of note beyond that and the carosel.
Tchaener walks sluggishly towards the carosel, intent on giving the strange device a thorough inspection.
Horses! Unicorns! Griffons! Metal polls attach these metal rides to the circle, as it goes around over and over and over and over once more. It's very colorful and nicely made, but on close inspection? The horse looks unhappy and pained, the unicorn has gouged out eyes. The Griffon looks murderous, beastial.
"Did the clown actually have any food kept around here?" asks Tchaener, glancing towards the tent.
"My Brother!" Corwin calls out weakly. "Did we win?" he asks, reaching out with a shaky arm towards the ceiling.
A shake of his head. "We...don't get to eat. It hurts, but we don't die, either. But the clown came back with food a lot. Said Talbardin gave it to him."
"We yet live, Corwin," affirms Tchaener, morosely. "In a sorry state, nonetheless.
"Who is this Talbardin?"
"A dwarf," One of the children adds. "He 'lives in the hot place!'"
"It's there we'll have to go, sooner or later.
"I fear, however, that we may perish along the way, and need to start over..."
'Y-you can't..." One poor child looks stricken at that. "That would be horrible! You saved us!"
"Our bodies are wounded, and we cannot rest long enough to recover without a supply of food," replies Tchaener, sighing. "I would prefer it not be this way, but it seems we have little choice."
"Um...sorry," One of the children apologizes meekly.
"It's not your fault," replies Tchaener, sitting down on the floor. "I have some eggs. They will have to do."
Going to rest, and for how long? Doing anything of note past that?
Yes, and probably until my eggs run out. We're keeping a watch, which so doesn't need to be stated. A regular, rotating one. Is that going to screw up HP recovery?
No, it won't.
Each of you will need to eat 4 eggs per day. I'll assume that you manage some means of cooking them, as I think one of you had flint. So 12 eggs per day, and to be fair, the children are going to look on wistfully at the food.
3 HP per day of full rest, not counting any healing checks.
* Elle suggests resting for two days, then poking Drac about exploring if he wants to. If he doesn't, we'll rest four more days.
Well, whatever works for you PCs. Just lemme know when you've decided so we can move on.
Aesop rests for two days... and then, stealthy, goes to explore the rest of the place first scanning the room for other doors and traps, and then checking out the tent.
Dracos
A find traps check and a hidden doors check. Since you aren't an elf, just roll a d20.
[15:58] <Dracos> roll 1d20 secret doors
[15:58] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d20 secret doors and gets 2." [1d20=2]
[15:58] <Dracos> roll 1d100 versus 35 find traps
[15:58] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d100 versus 35 find traps and gets 96." [1d100=96]
Aesop finds no traps or secret doors.
The tent itself looms large - inside you can see a dim passage, the innards going on a goodly ways ahead. The ground starts to slope downward a bit as well, too.
Aesop swiftly travels into the tent, hiding amongst the shadows.
_----
[16:06] <Dracos> roll 1d100 vs 95 move silent
[16:06] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d100 vs 95 move silent and gets 26." [1d100=26]
[16:06] <Dracos> roll 1d100 vs 95 hide
[16:06] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d100 vs 95 hide and gets 12." [1d100=12]
Into the tent Aesop goes! It's a wide tent - a dirt path slopes downward into the ground. There aren't any diamonds on the silver walls of it, but you can see it goes for a bit and then you can see light just at the far end.
Aesop keeps going~
Dracos
Ahead! A small room, four doors on the northw all! Four tents, each colored and decorated, passages deeper in! The first is decorated with roaring flames, a bonfire promised! The second is a snowy wasteland, a single person falling into the endless snow. The third is a great hall of mirrors, the tent material so designed to give the illusion of reflections. The fourth is dark and blank, a wooden sign with a '????' crudely painted on with whitewash added.
Clearly this was made by an insane clown and thus he chose the fourth door, examining it for traps before opening it and looking inside.
--
[09:33] <Dracos> roll 1d100 vs 35
[09:34] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d100 vs 35 and gets 95." [1d100=95
Oh Dracos.
The moment the door is touched, traps detection failing, Aesop feels pulled forward! The door twists into a gigantic mouth, lots of sharp teeth biting out! The suction into the mouth is strong, trying to get him snared in!
Dex check
Aesop tries to escape!
---
[11:06] <Dracos> roll 1d20 dex check
[11:06] <Dracos> pass
[11:06] * Hatbot --> "Dracos rolls 1d20 dex check and gets 4." [1d20=4]
Aesop is able to pull away! Theentire tent and door is one silvery-black mouth now, a dripping tongue darting out! His agility lets him retreat, but the mouth does still get a passing chomp at him!
> roll 1d20
* Hatbot --> "Ana-Ephfails rolls 1d20 and gets 1." [1d20=1]
> roll 1d20 critfail
* Hatbot --> "Ana-Ephfails rolls 1d20 critfail and gets 6." [1d20=6]
But Aesop is safe, staggering back! Once he does entirely, the mouth vanishes, the door reverting into place.
Heading back to let the others know of the death trap, he resumed stealth as he checked the mirror door next.
Dracos
The door is smooth mirror glass, the door knob the same. It feels slippery to the touch, reflecting Aesop's form in dozens of splintered ways. On opening it he finds a narrow hall full of mirros ahead.
Aesop ties a rope to the door, leaving it open and carefully walking (not tugging the rope), tapping on the mirrors with a dagger.
Dracos
Mmmm. How far in are you going to go, Aesop?[/quote]
Cautiously moving to the end of my rope about of course =D
The hall is about thirty yards long until the end. As you walk you become dizzy; so many mirrors reflecting distorted versions of Aesop! As he walks and taps there is a jarring, the door slams shut behind him! Your rope jostles with this, the room now somewhat dark. Shadowed reflections as you stand in the middle of the room.[/quote]
Aesop follows his rope back to the door and tries to open it.
Dracos
Due to Drac having computer issues Aesop is temporarily taken over by Carthrat. Game on!
The door's locked! Further, there is a rustling, tinkling sound behind Aesop!
Aesop glances over his shoulder, before frantically returning to the door, rapidly attempting to make the damn thing open again!
[13:02] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d100 and gets 44." [1d100=44] Epic pass by 6
As Aesop works, the mirrors twist behind him! Literally, glassy surfaces showing hideously distorted Aesops! There is a click as the lock opens, but...
Save vs death magic, +2 bonus.
[13:05] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d20+5 and gets 18." [1d20=13] Actually 15, but pass!
Nothing happens to Aesop after a stomach twisting moment! The door is open, a path to freedom if he wants it!
Aesop closes the door behind him, breathing his little halfling heart out!
But he shortly gets his bearings. Briefly returning to the dynamic resting duo, he explains what he saw to them, and then returns to the cold door, briefly scouting it for traps.
And while he's at it, he tries the fiery door, too.
[13:18] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d100 and gets 33." [1d100=33]
[13:18] * Hatbot --> "Carthrat rolls 1d100 and gets 95." [1d100=95]
Pass on cold, Fail on Fire.
<->
"Corwin. Perhaps we can smash these mirrors whilst blindfolded," states Tchaener, frowning.
"Is there a need?" Corwin asks, frowning. "You think there is more to that room than a trap?"
"I believe it may be protecting something," states Tchaener. "If there is a way to bypass or disable a device, then I believe, in this place, there is benefit to doing so."
"I prefer to wait and explore the other doors, first," Corwin responds. "There could be something there to help us break it."
Tchaener nods, settling back down to wait.
Aesop finds no traps on either door.
Henceforth, Aesop attempts to open the cold door!
Brr! The first thing Aesop feels is a cold wind, chilling his halfling bones! Ahead of him is a plain of frozen snow, perhaps six inches on the ground and no sign of Eischenloss past this door - just an endless snowy plain?
Aesop lights a torch to warm himself and uses a rope to carefully test out farther into the land.
Dracos
There is a great mass of white ahead. As you go on it's easy to be able to see nothing but that white...
Shivering, Aesop returns back to the door and exits.
"When did we leave sane castles?"
Dracos
The hallway is blessedly warmer than that snowy tundra, at least.
OOOC - Your move.
Aesop checks the final door for traps and opens it.
Dracos
OOC - Detect traps check go, you know de drill.
In here is a narrow hall. Another door is ahead, cracked open. You feel heat and hear what sounds like a smithery - the din of metal on metal.
Upon that he leaves the door open and gets his compatriots.
Dracos
Aesop returns without incident, his allies awaiting him with the children.
"All that's sensible really seems to be the door on the left."
Dracos
"Where does that door lead? The mirror door seems a viable option to me, in particular- simply by breaking the mirrors, we could progress," responds Tchaener.
"Don't know. I heard someone seeming to be at work at the end of the corridor and since opening doors seems to get attention quickly, I think it's better to show a positive face."
Dracos
Tchaener nods. "That somebody may be able to explain things further. Alright, I've no objections."
Aesop lead to the door, and then took the rear.
Dracos
Bow at the ready, Tchaener nudges the door open, and begins walking through, carefully looking around as he does so.
Corwin follows his comrades from a certain distance, preferring to keep to the back until he has healed some more, but ready to assist should he need to.