With a few modifications, the caverns provide an excellent home for the refugees.
The biggest issue to the new residents is the fungus that emits the odoriferous gas.
Fortunately, the fungus is delicate and easy to tear out of the tunnels, though it requires a total of 20 days worth of effort (20 people working for one day, or one person working for 20 days, or any combination). The fungus is edible once cooked, and each day spent clearing mushrooms from the caves yields 2 provision points.
The artesian well provides plenty of fresh, clean water for drinking and bathing. The numerous small caverns also offer defensible positions for the inhabitants.
While the caverns are easy to defend from surface threats, the Darklands tunnel is also a potential weakness.
Though it takes several days to properly clean and outfit the caverns and the refugees constantly joke and comment about the smell, the survivors are ultimately happy with their new home.
TREASURE
Four lidless stone coffers placed around the dais contain 115 copper pieces, 730 silver pieces, 335 crowns, 10 gold sovereigns, 14 amethysts (worth 30 crowns each), a buckler +1, two steadfast gutstones (ue), a a belt made of interlocking jade plates (a hefty belt of mighty constitution +2).
Beyond the strange metal door lies the tomb of the Vault Builders referred to by both the troglodytes and the derros before them as the Excavator.
Though ignominiously interred on the Material Plane, it was nonetheless buried with great riches and magical tools--many of which have been plundered by worshippers over the years.
A three-stepped riser fills most of the room, atop which lies a stone sarcophagus depicting a vaguely insectoid creature similar to the ones depicted in statuary in previous chambers.
Within the coffin lie the partially crystallized remains of an ancient, four-armed, insectoid creature, which crumbles at the slightest touch.
It is difficult to decipher the code, but the pictographs you saw on the way in provide enough in the way of clues for you to work it out.
First you turn it to the rock, then to the metal bar, then to the crying face, creating a simplistic biography for the xiomorn entombed within.
With a rustic grinding, they metal door squeaks open.
Kelden Sunblade he called out to his goddess to heal their wounds... with selective channel no bad guys get healed, all my friends gain 13 hp
Alorah shudders, focusing deep within to shrug off the worst of the vile effect. Swiftly retaliating, she conjures a blinding flash of holy light in the midst of the pack of enemies.
Burst of Radiance: 5d4 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 2, 2) = 13
blinded for: 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds, or dazzled for: 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds on a successful DC 19 Reflex
Ref save #5 DC19:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Ref save #7 DC19:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 Ref save #8 DC19:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 Ref save #9 DC19:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Grey, the Lady's dog
Seeing a solitary foe off from the others, Grey seeks to make quicker work of it.
Grey slicked in real close, then
(Sickened) Cold Iron Kukri Titan's Bane sneak attack!: Critical Hit! 35 damage and Bewildered.
Taedric shakes off the waves of evil thrown at him, then releases the holy power inside him, filling him with strength as Knave tries to pull the beast down before his two-footed companion can swing his holy blade.
Knave (bite): hits but does not trip for 18 damage.
Radiance critical hit!
Radiance second critical hit!
43 damage all told.
Sapphiria Paix
Sapphiria uses a quick charm to overcome the nausea of the unholy blight spells. (Remove sickness.)
(npc) Kyra
Kyra shoots number 5, killing him.
(npc) Thrall
Thrall lashed out at #6
He hit twice for 27 each, total 54 damage. Executing him.
Number seven stepped over towards Taedric and Knave and attacked.
greataxe:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30 for a possible 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 1, 1) + 9 = 13 slashing damage.
greataxe:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 for a possible 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 2, 3) + 9 = 20 slashing damage.
Number eight stepped over towards Taedric and Knave and attacked.
greataxe:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15 for a possible 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 5, 4) + 9 = 23 slashing damage.
greataxe:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 for a possible 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 4, 1) + 9 = 17 slashing damage.
Number nine stepped over towards Grey and attacked.
greataxe:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24 for a possible 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 5, 5) + 9 = 21 slashing damage.
greataxe:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 for a possible 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 4, 6) + 9 = 25 slashing damage.
The door to the east is otherworldly in the largely stone chamber, being made of polished, blue steel.
It is decorated with a ring of pictograms, and at the center is a depiction of an unusual head with bulging eyes and wisps of hair radiating in every direction.
The head--which looks at once like an insect and and old woman--spins freely, and the wheel of pictograms depicts a beetle, a rock, a wedge, a hammer, a crying face, a flame, a claw, a door, a metal bar, a figure standing in triumph, and a bottle.
Int DC12:
You're pretty sure this is a combination lock, and several of the pictograms figure in the carvings you saw earlier in the cave.
You can take a crack at the combination hard mode by rolling a Disable Device DC30.
Each of the Troglodytes had a basic spear, fifteen silver crowns and one stench-gas bladder.
The Stone Blooded Acolyte had two oils of magic weapon, one potion of owl's wisdom. Also had a heavy crossbow with 9 bolts, a masterwork spear and one geode periapt (25 crowns).
The oracle, Ighiz, had a:
feather token (bird)
feather token (tree)
potion of cure moderate wounds x2
potion of shield of faith x2
wand of hold person (7 charges)
masterwork morningstar
bandages of rapid recovery
bracers of armor +1
aquamarine necklace (150 crowns)
There is also a small hide pouch containing 2 doses of dust of appearance.
The combined attacks split the Oracle's attention enough that Moragul is able to land the finishing blow with his axe, and the oracle falls; finally dead.
Moragul stepped into flank with the Oracle, wound up and made a tremendous chop into the oracle for serious damage.
Faerieth steps up, swinging her staff at the troglodyte Oracle, but her swing bounced off the oracle’s armor.
Antoni directs the wand back to the oracle, sending a dart of energy into it for modest damage.
Caleb snaps his jaws again at the oracle, trying to crush its leg, but missed.
Yaron stops his mockery, and fired a shot that hit, dealing modest damage.
(npc) Darry lashed out with his battleaxe, which bounced off the oracle’s armor.
(npc) Sebastion tried to bite the oracle, but missed.
The oracle screams into the air. A rain of dirt, gravel, and small pebbles fills the area, dealing 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4 points of bludgeoning damage to every creature in the 40ft radius area. This damage only occurs once, when the spell is cast.
For the remaining five rounds, this debris covers the ground, making the entire area difficult terrain. At the end of the duration, the rocks disappear, leaving no aftereffects (other than the damage dealt).
I wasn't sure where everyone was, so I expanded the map to the right and put everyone on the map. You are on the NE corner, just inside the jungle cover and outside the palisaide near the heavy gate.
The clear area is the limit of your sight with the heavy downpour going on.
There is something niggling at the back of your mind as you see Sasha prepare to go out. Something as she sheathed her sawtooth saber... But you cannot bring it to mind.
The afternoon rolls around, and finally the skies darken and the warm refreshing afternoon rains start to fall, then come down in a torrential downpour.
If you're going now, I'll need climb checks if you're going over the palisade wall, or Disable Device checks if you're going through the sally port doorway.
You approached the walls under rainfall, but it's clear and burning bright when you get up to the jungle edge nearest the palisaide walls.
I'm just going to assume you wait until the afternoon downpour
While you swelter in the noon/afternoon heat and humidity, you watch as you hear sounds of a celebration inside; the sound of drums, cheering and the smell of cooking ham. (No screaming that you can tell.)
It seemed like every two hours a party of eight cannibal warriors leave and walk down the trail to the island interior, and another two hours a different party of eight returns to the fort, claps twice at the entrance and is let in.
Grey, the Lady's dog My plan is to stay where I am, then when one of them comes to me, I will move inside his space & slashy-slash him!
Thrall advances to press a bit on them and cut their maneuvers. Calling for divine aid, he blesses his allies and curse the event beasts. Casts Prayer.
Kelden Sunblade Followed his allies and strode after there, a spell on his lips to grant probably their hardest hitter that much more strength.
Faiths reach Bulls strength on Thrall +4 to your strength for the next 8 minutes.
(npc) Alorah, Taedric, Kyra, Sapphiria and the Hound Archon move up to the partial wall, setting up to either attack or defend.
Minotaur 5 moved up and lashed out with it’s great axe at Taedric….
At this point, Grey rolled out, made a perfect strike at Minotaur 5 leaving it disoriented, then rolled back again.
Then the minotaur carried on with it’s attack, wobbling a bit.
Greataxe:1d20 + 11 + 2 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 2 - 1 - 4 = 20 but Taedric's armor struck sparks as it deflected away.
Minotaur 6 bellowed and moved up around to the right, then lashed out at Thrall.
Greataxe:1d20 + 11 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 2 - 1 = 16 but he missed wide.
Minotaur 7 bellowed and moved up to the center, then lashed out at the Hound Archon.
Greataxe:1d20 + 11 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 2 - 1 = 30 for a possible 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 4, 2) + 9 = 21 slashing damage.
Minotaur 8 and 9 roared, waived their hands and both cast Unholy Blight on Taedric, Knave, the Hound Archon, Grey, Alorah Kyra Sapphiria and Thrall.
The damage vs Good is 3d8 ⇒ (7, 1, 6) = 14, half that rounded down to neutrals. The Hound Archon takes 6d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 4, 2, 3, 1) = 18 and derezzes with a howl. Save vs Half DC14.
Remember, you guys get hit by TWO of them.
Unholy Blight:
You call up unholy power to smite your enemies. The power takes the form of a cold, cloying miasma of greasy darkness. Only good and neutral (not evil) creatures are harmed by the spell. The spell deals 3d8 points of damage to a good creature (or 6d6 to a good outsider) and causes it to be sickened for 1d4 rounds. A successful Will save (DC14) reduces damage to half and negates the sickened effect. The effects cannot be negated by remove disease or heal, but remove curse is effective. The spell deals only half damage to creatures who are neither evil nor good, and they are not sickened. Such a creature can reduce the damage by half again (down to one-quarter) with a successful Will save.
Continuing his mockery, Yaron once again fires at the Oracle. But it skipped off his armor.
Moragul can't dodge the shards from the oracle's spell, but he shakes off the paralysis from the previous spell, steps up, and slams his axe into the Oracle. But it’s like hitting a tree, and the Oracle shrugs off much of the damaging hit.
Caleb takes the full force of the Oracle's explosion, snarling and snapping his jaws at the oracle, he advances, attempting to bite him. But he cannot seem to connect.
Antoni, seeing the trog on the flank teetering some, aims the wand there, sending another bolt of magical energy toward it. It slams into the prone form, killing him.
(npc) Farieth, playing conservative, hung back and hurled a dart at the Oracle, but it flew high and missed.
(npc) Darry resorted to his battleaxe, but missed wide.
Sebastion tried to bite/trip and came close, but missed.
Oracle Ighiz begins shouting a prayer and swings his masterwork Morningstar at Darry.
Morningstar vs Darry:1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 = 8 for a possible 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 bludgeoning damage.
(1) How 'tall' are these doors?
A: The double doors are twenty feet tall and very heavy.
(2) Are they held up/on by things like 'Split barrel hinges'?
A: You would have to spend some time examining them, like on a ladder or something, then make a Know:Engineering check.
(3) Are the stairs on the map leading 'Up' or 'Down' into the room?
A: They are steps up, about a foot or so each.
Sunny, your plan would need a lot of time to pull off; do you want to do something else?
Those actually in the chamber can now see that the chains holding up the hostages can be traced up to the ceiling, where they thread through a couple of blocks and thence down again to the shadowy tops of several of the side statues.
Perception DC20:
There's something strange at the top of the statues, like muffled cries and the clinking of chains.
Faerieth shifts her focus, sending a final ball of flame directly at the Oracle as it tries to cast a spell on Moragul. The flame hit it right in the face, scalding it and making it flinch.
Suddenly, Moragul is frozen, his body refusing to follow his commands...
He tried to break out of his rigid paralysis, but he is locked up tight!
Antoni shifts his focus now that Moragul stopped moving, and points the wand at the trog who attacked Moragul (1). Another magical dart flies from the wand, slamming into the trog, while Caleb tears the throat from the downed acolyte, making him very dead.
(npc) Yaron fired at Trog 1, hitting him for serious damage.
(npc)Sepbastion and Darry moved up and attacked Trog 1, their combined attacks tearing it apart.
Oracle Ighiz screams in rage and moved up right to Sebastion and Darry’s faces, then triggered his swift action Shard Explosion.
All in 10 feet, that is Moragul, Sebastion, Darry and Caleb will take 3d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 5) = 11 piercing damage (Ref save DC16 for half).
He then swung on Sebastion with his morningstar 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 for a possible 1d8 ⇒ 6 bludgeoning damage.
No counters are on the map yet; I figure you guys would get a glimpse over the wall furtively then go back and tell the rest. Maybe sketch out a crude map in the dirt, then you pick a way you want to get in and tell me.
You smell the musk of the minotaurs here more strongly.
On the wall in front of you is the stylized icon of Abadar (vandalized of course) with dwarven runic writing on the wall to the south. You think you hear grunts and movement to the south.
OVERVIEW MAP
Sunny, Shaedeen and Reijo sprint across the open ground to the bottom of the palisaide, then are able to climb up and peek over the top without apparent alarm.
They see...:
You see several large wooden huts with palm-frond roofs arranged in a small clearing in the jungle in the shadow of a stone lighthouse.
You see several cannibals milling around the center of the village, sitting at trestle tables and eating their fill. Looks like it might be a celebration. The sound of drums and screams and laughter pierce the air.
Over by the gate, a cannibal slouches, bored out of his skull.
Nearby, chained to a tree is a large bearded lizard; apparently another guardian.
Still somewhat disturbed by the peculiar dream last night, No-Eyes served up a breakfast of typically delicious fare.
Following your plan, you waited until mid morning, when the clouds piled up and unleashed another tropical downpour.
Slipping and sliding, barely able to see, you are nonetheless able to scramble down the cliffside to the shoreline and then follow it around the bay until you reached a cluster of rocks, then climbed up onto the peninsula. There you come across the trail leading up to the fort, and are able to close the distance before the sun dawns and the heat causes you to burst out in a sweat again.
You are able to take concealment where the jungle line ends about twenty yards from the walls of the fort.
While you watch you hear sounds of a celebration inside; the sound of drums, cheering and the smell of cooking ham.
It seemed like every two hours a party of eight cannibal warriors leave and walk down the trail to the island interior, and another two hours a different party of eight returns to the fort, claps twice at the entrance and is let in.
The unfinished lighthouse tower juts above the fort.
You don't see any watchers along the pointed tops of the palisade.
Alorah resisted the Unholy Blight, only taking 5 damage.
Thrall also resisted the Unholy Blight, only taking 5 damage.
Thrall decidedly walks towards the remaining minotaur and lets his sword fall upon it. Powering through the Minotaur’s defenses, he dealt catastrophic damage, but he still stood!
Alorah’s summoned Hound archon steps forward, pressing the attack with an overhand sword strike that was deflected, and a quick attempt an biting the demon which was blocked, before finding a vulnerable spot with a low sword strike as the demon is caught for modest damage.
Taedric directs Knave to move over the felled Minotaur, closing the distance with the last standing beast. Only to find nothing to do, as the last Minotaur crashed to the floor.
Sapphiria finds it unnecessary to hurl her poised javelin.
Kelden healed his wounded friend Gray with the simpliest of spells of healing for 18. . .
Maniacal laughter echoes through the complex.
"HA HA HA HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!" Howled the invisible voice. "Where are you Brysonnnnn? Your friends need your help!"
There is a *clank* and the sound of rattling machinery, and the rattle of chains as your friends descend 5 feet with a jolt!
