View source for What's Down There?

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== Log Info ==
*'''Title''': What's Down There?
*'''Emitter''': [[Aenyn]]
*'''Characters''': [[Brolin]] Level 4, [[Lash]] Level 2, [[Nadara]] Level 5, [[Raja]] Level 2, [[Zalara]] Level 5, [[Zarr]] Level 5
*'''NPCs''': Geoffrey Vawdrey, Human Brewer
*'''Place''': Alexandria - Geoffrey Vawdrey's Basement
*'''Time''': Jan 11, 2013
*'''Summary''': A local brewer is having trouble with something in his basement and has hired members of the Explorer's Guild to help out.
*'''APL''': 5
*'''Encounter 1''': 2 giant scorpions, '''CR 3'''
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The party finds itself outside the home of Geoffrey Vawdrey, a local brewer. While not as well-known as Fleaworth's brews, they are still rather respectable. You are greeted at the door by Vawdrey himself who ushers you inside quickly. Once the door is closed, he begins to lead you through the house towards the back yard, "Thank you for coming so quickly. I don't know what I'll do if you can't help. There's…something in my cellar. I sent my dogs in after it, but they never came back. If I can't get it out of there, I'm ruined. All my brews are stored down there."

"All of them?" Brolin asks hopefully. Thankfully his more clothed than he was on his last adventure, otherwise there might be other signs of his anticipation showing. D: "We'll be sure to kill anything down there real good like."

Brewed ales and fresh hound-- two of Zarr's favorite things. The clink of metal as he moves after betrays the eager nature of the saurial warrior, the rumble in his chest a teakettle hiss. "How long ago did they go down?" he asks, casting the brewer a glance. "The hounds. Could be useful to know. Incase of survivors. Or such. Yessss...."

Zalara comes in and she bows politely, "Hello Master Vawdrey. I'm sorry that we had to meet in such a way. Did some dwarves get down into your basement to sample your brews?" She asks with a smile and nods to Brolin, "Good to see you dressed."

Lash follows her companions inside in silence, the oruch woman casting her gaze about the brewer's home, more interested in what story the house offers than in the man's concern for his brews.

Raja enters the home alongside the others, silent and generally brooding in thought for the time being with her arms folded over her chest. There's look around the abode before she returns to listening. "I'd enjoy sampling them, too," is muttered dryly to herself, offering a half-smile at her try with levity.

Vawdrey wrings his hands nervously as he nods to the party, "Indeed. All of them. They have to age a suitable period before their flavor comes out properly. The dogs went down there last night. I appealed to the Guild this morning when my dogs wouldn't come out of the cellar when I called them. The sounds I heard..." He shudders visibly as he continues, "Certainly *not* dwarves." He turns once again to continue leading the party through the house. By the back door, he picks up an iron prybar.

"I was dressed last time. Stupid fat ghost." He grumbles, "Togas are comfortable, people should wear 'em more often." Brolin repsonds to Zalara, looking slightly indignant. His canvas golf bag of weapons clangs about as the hafts bunch into each other, but his primary weapon, which appears to be a small boat anchor and a length of chain, is slung around his waist, ready to be drawn. "Any idea what kind of critters we'll be killing?"

NAdara, of course, is pleased. "One must always help brewers," she murmurs. "That's an important thing to know too. I like to know what I'm supposed to be killin'." The goblin is grinning from ear to ear.

The Makar nods dryly, though with a glance back towards the Giantborn. And a snort. Humans and their questionable practices.	
	
"Not dwarves," Zarr answers his compaions, shrugging simply. Clawed hands move to his sides; each rises with a flicker of steel in the light, long blades unsubtle and menacing as hen straps them on, each in turn. "They may scream. Perhaps they shall bleed." He pauses, grinning toothily. "We must find out which."

"What sounds -did- you hear?" Lash's voice, deep for a woman, prompts the brewer to details. "Be specific, be clear. Any information we have now may improve our chances."

Vawdrey frowns a bit, shaking his head, "Inhuman sounds. Screeching, claws on stone or something like it." His eyes widen as he adds in a panic, "It's probably a demon!" He turns to the back door and opens it, "Oh, I hope you can get rid of it..." He steps out into the back yard.

The back yard is decently sized for this part of the city, though the ground has been trampled free of grass over most of its area. A shed in one corner appears to contain the man's still, currently inert. Another corner reveals a gazebo lurking in the shadows. The door to the cellar adjoins the back of the house and the doors have been hastily boarded shut. Using the prybar he retrieved earlier, Vawdrey begins to pry the boards loose, "Sorry about this. When my dogs didn't come back, I had to make sure whatever it was couldn't come after me next." He wipes away the sweat beading on his forehead with a sleeve.

Zalara looks at Brolin, "And thank goodness for that." She follows Vawdrey out and she gets her death ray ready. She hmmms as she looks around, "So what sort of noises were coming from down there? Loud noises? High pitched noises?"

Brolin manages to wait all of a minute before his patience gives out and he starts to help by grabbing some of the boards and tearing them free by hand. "Enough questions, the sooner we finish the job, the sooner we can hit the tavern."

Zarr stalks over to stand behind Vawdrey as the old mug tugs at the bar, nostrils quivering with the touch of scent. He stares at doorway with a detatched interest, an excitement in his veins. "Demons..." murmurs the Makar thoughtfully. And with a toothsome grin. He grates the metal claws of his weapons together with care, gazing more intently.

"Your dogs," says Nadara with a bit of a sigh. "Well, we'll do what we gotta do. All manner o' critter can get where you don't want 'em to be. We'll take care of it sir, don't you worry. It's what they pay us for. 'Course, you do understand you need to sign the traditional guild contract and collateral damage arrangement, yeah? Just making sure."

The bard snorts. "Probably rats. Large rats maybe. Enough to take out a few hounds." She draws her bow so it is to hand, as Vawdrey begins to prise apart the entrance.

Raja tries to think of a witty side comment, but has nothing. Anything said would pale in comparison to the others', so she's left glancing around at their surroundings as they move along. She's sure to think of something, though. Eventually. The young woman comes to stand near to Vawdrey. "No more questions? Well, I'm under the impression this is going to be fun."

The boards come away quickly with Brolin's help. Vawdrey then produces a key from a vest pocket and unlocks the doors to the cellar. He quickly steps back until his back is pressed against the door into his home, "I'll...um...be inside if you need me. Do take care. Oh dear..." The last is muttered more to himself as he practically scurries inside the house and slams the door behind him.

Zalara smiles, "Maybe all good adventurers start with large rats." She keeps her death ray ready as the board comes loose and she makes sure to keep Brolin between her and the door.

The Scarlet Makar snorts, a sneeze bursting from his lungs as he takes a long, lean look inside the cellar. "....it is dark," he pronounces in even tone, to all appearances quite serious as he states the obvious. "Perhaps I should go first, to keep the softer ones safe." He grins again, a wicked smirk from ear to ear. (Had he ears) "If anyone finds hound trace..." he adds, trailing off with a glance back at the cellar depths. Licking his lips absently.

Brolin says, "Pretty mousey for a man that makes liquid courage." Brolin opines, throwing the last of the nail-studded boards behind him so he can stumble over them later haphazardly. He drops his bag of murder-sticks and goes through them, "Gonna be tight, better find something that won't take yalls heads off in a wild swing.""

"Pretty mousey for a man that makes liquid courage." Brolin opines, throwing the last of the nail-studded boards behind him so he can stumble over them later haphazardly. He drops his bag of murder-sticks and goes through them, "Gonna be tight, better find something that won't take yalls heads off in a wild swing....Eh...forgot the pitchfork." He pulls out a canvass sheathed machete and straps it to his back. "Just try to duck, I guess."

With her dragonspitter pistol drawn, Nadara eyes Brolin and says, "Well, they say you do what you best need to learn. Clearly, he needs to learn to put hair on his chest, am I right?"

Not that Raja is especially scared of dark, dank cellars, but she does happen to be soft-skinned and isn't above taking a step back rather than forward. She looks over to the disappearing Vawdrey before settling on equipping herself with the heavy blade of a falchion. Held low, neutrally, the woman remains silent for now although there is a small, appreciative smile to the current comments.

Bringing up the rear, Lash waits for the more martially inclined ones to enter, her bow in hand with an arrow placed, but the string not yet drawn.

"Welp," says Nadara, "Let's go!" And with that, she does.

The cellar itself is a large open space about the same size as the first floor of the house above and easily tall enough to handle Giantborn occupants. Wooden pillars are interspersed throughout for support. Lining the walls are racks of casks containing the aging Vawdrey brews, likely brandy by the labels. The walls, ceiling and floor are all smooth stone, however the back wall and a small section of floor seem to have collapsed into a large hole leading deeper underground.

The hounds are in evidence here, or what's left of them. Three canine skeletons, nearly picked clean and with many of the bones visibly broken lie in pools of dried blood in the middle of the cellar floor. The party doesn't have much time to examine the remains, however, as a scrabbling sound comes from the direction of the hole preceding the arrival of two large, black scorpions, easily 16 feet long including the stingered tail poised over their backs. They emit a terrible screeching noise as they snap their claws threateningly.

GAME: Zalara rolls initiative: Roll: 9 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 11
GAME: Lash rolls initiative: Roll: 2 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 5
GAME: You roll initiative for Scorpion1: Roll: 13 + Bonus: 0 = Total: 13
GAME: You roll initiative for Scorpion2: Roll: 8 + Bonus: 0 = Total: 8
GAME: Raja rolls initiative: Roll: 12 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 15
GAME: Zarr rolls initiative: Roll: 4 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 7
GAME: Nadara rolls initiative: Roll: 1 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 4
GAME: Brolin rolls initiative: Roll: 17 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 19
===== Current Initiative Order =========
----------------------------------------                     
 19                  Brolin
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 15                  Raja
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 13                  Scorpion1
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 11                  Zalara
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 8                   Scorpion2
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 7                   Zarr
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 5                   Lash
---------------------------------------- 
 4                   Nadara
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========================================

<OOC> Brolin says, "I rage and throw my dran flail at one of them with lesser hurling, kicking in power attack! Yar."

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Roll it!"

GAME: Brolin rolls 1d20+4+2-2: (16)+4+2+-2: 20

<OOC> Brolin says, "Kay, it gets a reflex save (DC 18) for half damage."

GAME: Aenyn rolls 1: (17)+1: 18

GAME: Brolin rolls 2d6+12: (10)+12: 22

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Hit for half damage. Pose away."

<OOC> Aenyn says, "It is still very much alive. And pissed."

Brolin pulls the chain from his waist at the sight of the scorpions, "Dammit, another bug hunt." After quoting Aliens, he lifts the 50 lb weight on a length of chain gives it a few horizontal swings above his head before letting it go in a hammer toss. The weight climbs one of the scorpions across the back, cracking a bit of carapace, but continues on and skitters off to crumple in a small broken copper still in the corner.

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Raja has lost her connection. Will give her a few minutes to try and come back, then move on."

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Okay. Moving on. Scorpion1 is now charging Brolin and trying to jab him with its stinger."

GAME: Aenyn rolls 8: (2)+8: 10

The scorpion that got a taste of Brolin's flail screeches again before scuttling quickly at the Giantborn. Its tail stabs the air near his head, proving that it might have trouble hitting the broadside of a barn.

<OOC> Zalara says, "Activate titan armor +4 to dex, aim at the one attacking brolin and fire my death ray on the frost setting."

GAME: Zalara rolls 1d20+9: (16)+9: 25

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Hit!"

GAME: Zalara rolls 3d6+5: (10)+5: 15

<OOC> Zalara says, "It has to roll a dc 16 fort save or be staggered"

GAME: Aenyn rolls 7: (15)+7: 22

<OOC> Aenyn says, "It's still up. Pose it."

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Scorpion2 will charge Zalara and stab with the sting."

GAME: Aenyn rolls 8: (6)+8: 14

Zalara activates her titan armor and the metal bands move around from her backpack as the octagon lights up to enclose her. She is protected and enhanced. She aims her death ray at the scorpion attacking Brolin and she sets it on the frost setting. She fires a ray of cold at the scorpion hurting it, but unable to freeze it.

The second scorpion charges forward, targetting the one that just blasted its mate. It's tail darts forward, but glances off her titan armor ineffectually.

<OOC> Zarr says, "Engage the scoprion on Zalara. Double attack, due to two-weapons and a +2 for the scorp charging?"

GAME: Zarr rolls 1d20+10: (17)+10: 27

GAME: Zarr rolls 1d20+10: (10)+10: 20

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Both hit."

GAME: Zarr rolls 2d6+10: (7)+10: 17

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Still up. Pose!"

Zarr's eyes first trace over the ruined bodies of the hounds, snarling in frustration. No fresh hound for the reptile tonight, though the appearance of the scorpions offers some consolation. "Something," he growls, eyes glittering as he raises his claws. "Will die this night. Demon or no, ssssk!" Grinning that malicious grin, the Sith Makar warrior stalks forward, his own tail lashing in a glitter of wicked spikes. Stepping in alongside Zalara, the twin claws lash out in wicked strikes to garner the monster's attention.	
	
"I shall have to ask..." he remarks, grinning wickedly. "Do they taste as lobster does? Sssssk..." Great red rents appear where the two weapons strike, and the insect unleashes a horrible screeching sound.

<OOC> Lash says, "Inspire Courage"

<OOC> Lash says, "+1 saves vs charm and fear, +1 competence to attack and damage."

<OOC> Lash says, "With percussion. :)"

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Pose it!"

Frowning as both scorpions entangle themselves in close combat, Lash takes a moment to set herself up. The drum is placed on the floor, one strap under her left foot, while she kneels beside it, using her free hand to begin beating on it. The rhythm is regular, a timorous warlike sound that spurs the blood to flow, the heart to beat faster, the arm to swing.

<OOC> Nadara says, "I cast bless!"

GAME: Nadara refreshes spells.

GAME: Nadara casts Bless.

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Pose it!"

<OOC> Aenyn says, "And we are back around to Brolin. Round 2. Fight!"

"Hey, Rada?" says Nadara as she just sort of stares at the scorpions. "You're not qutie ready to collect yet, right? Please, bless these people so they don't die. I left Veyshan to get away from this sort of stuff."

<OOC> Brolin says, "I draw my scimitar and hack on the first scorpion."

<OOC> Brolin says, "with power attack, rage, and all the fixings. +2 to hit since they charged?"

GAME: Brolin rolls 1d20+4+6-2+1+1: (1)+4+6+-2+1+1: 11

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Swing and a miss! Pose!"

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Raja's still gone so Scorpion1 will full attack on Brolin. 2 claws and sting."

GAME: Aenyn rolls 6: (4)+6: 10

GAME: Aenyn rolls 6: (14)+6: 20

GAME: Aenyn rolls 6: (17)+6: 23

<OOC> Aenyn says, "One claw and sting hits."

Brolin jerks his machete free of the scabbard on his back, scraping a few knuckles on the ceiling in the process. It's all downhill from there as he takes a wild swing at the tail menacing him. The scorpion sees it coming and lets its poisonous appendage dart out of the way and the giantborn succeeds in slaying only a cask of beer.

<OOC> Brolin says, "kk. Does it do the grapple foo and I suppose I need a fort save?"

GAME: Aenyn rolls 1d6+4: (5)+4: 9

GAME: Aenyn rolls 1d6+4: (5)+4: 9

<OOC> Aenyn says, "No grapple this time, but yes on the save. DC 17."

GAME: Brolin rolls Fort+2: (5)+7+2: 14

GAME: Aenyn damaged Brolin for 18 points. 26 remaining.

GAME: Aenyn rolls 1d2: (2): 2

GAME: Aenyn damaged Brolin's strength for 2 points. 2 total damage.

The scorpion seems to take full advantage of Brolin's wild swing. It comes in hard and fast with both claws and its tail. One claw doesn't find purchase, but the other does and the sting digs deep into Brolin's shoulder, injecting him with venom.

<OOC> Zalara says, "Back up 5' and fire at the one that took a swing at me."

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Roll it!"

GAME: Zalara rolls 1d20+11: (11)+11: 22

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Hit!"

GAME: Zalara rolls 3d6+6: (10)+6: 16

GAME: Aenyn rolls 7: (20)+7: 27

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Still up. Pose it!"

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Scorpion2 pursues Zalara and attacks with a claw. Will try to grapple if it hits."

GAME: Aenyn rolls 6: (12)+6: 18

<OOC> Aenyn says, "And that does look like a hit."

GAME: Aenyn rolls 1d6+4: (3)+4: 7

GAME: Aenyn damaged Zalara for 7 points. 32 remaining.

Zalara back up and she aims it at the scorpion in front of her. She fires her death ray at it in hopes of freezing it. She hits and hurts it, but it appears for not to be impervious to the cold energy.

GAME: Aenyn rolls 12: (15)+12: 27

The other scorpion scurries after Zalara, lunging out with a claw that bites into her armor and holds fast. It doesn't appear to be letting go of her either.

<OOC> Zarr says, "Step to flank, continue attacking Zalara's scorpion. Two attacks, same as before: +2 flank, +1 Competence, +1 to bless to hit. +1 damage. Try to break the grapple!"

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Roll it!"

GAME: Zarr rolls 1d20+12: (13)+12: 25

GAME: Zarr rolls 1d20+12: (14)+12: 26

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Two hits!"

GAME: Zarr rolls 2d6+12: (5)+12: 17

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Dead!"

Zarr continues his assault upon the first creature, fangs a never-ending glint as he moves in. A sidestep to try to place himself between the artificer and the insect onslaught, Zarr snarls as eyes glitter with a quick flash of anger. The black insect seizes the artificier as she unleashes a burst of cold power.... A blast that leaves the lizard shivering from *looking* at it. BUt neither stops the lizard man from stepping behind the creature, claws flashing wickedly-- twin strikes, and the monster falls!

<OOC> Lash says, "Moving in behind the meat shields to use CLW on Brolin."

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Go for it, Lash."

GAME: Lash casts Cure Light Wounds.

GAME: Lash rolls 1d8+2: (2)+2: 4

GAME: Aenyn damaged Brolin for -4 points. 30 remaining.

Now lifting the drum, Lash moves in behind Brolin, touching his shoulder once before taking both hands to the instrument. One maintains the faster fighting beat, the other interweaves a slower, heartbeat-paced rhythm to encourage the Giantborn's heart to keep on beating strong.

<OOC> Nadara says, "Do you still want me to go ahead and shoot? I just got back. :P"

GAME: Nadara rolls 1d20+9: (10)+9: 19

GAME: Nadara rolls 1d6: (3): 3

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Scorpion's still up. Pose away!"

<OOC> Brolin says, "2nd verse, same as the first (only slightly weaker)."

GAME: Brolin rolls 1d20+4+5-2+1+1: (13)+4+5+-2+1+1: 22

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Hit!"

GAME: Brolin rolls 1d6+14: (6)+14: 20

<OOC> Aenyn says, "Dead!"

GAME: You clear initiatives.
GAME: Aenyn has cleared initiatives.
<OOC> Aenyn says, "We're now in free pose."

GAME: Zalara rolls strength: (6)+0: 6

Zalara starts to pushes open the claw that has her and she tries to wiggle her way out, "Stupid claw. It's going to scratch my armor."

"Whew," says Nadara, after discharging her dragonspitter with a loud belch of fire and smoke. She twirls the pistol arond, then proceeds to reload it. Just like that. Especially once the creature is sut down entirely by Brolin. "I really... really do not like scorpions," she adds.

Brolin tears his machete free of the cask with a grunt and wastes no time driving the blade down into the 'head' of the remaining scorpion, sending into into a flailing frenzy of limbs. The giantborn catches the tail with a free hand and uses the other to twist the blade a few more times until it finally stops twitching and slumps to the floor. "I hate bugs. They taste horrible." He complains, using a dirty rag from his belt to clean off the ichor before sheathing the machete again.

GAME: Brolin rolls Fort+2: (15)+7+2: 24

Zarr holds the serried blades in the monster's torso, waiting just a few more heartbeats to affirm its death before ripping free. "Iron may be reborn," the Makar intones seriously, wrenching the blades free with a savage gusto. "It is like scale, from the earth. May be remade." He nods sagely as he bends to the beast, a quick slash of blades to remove the tail.

Releasing the war drumming, Lash touches Brolin's shoulder again, still bringing the double rhythm of a heartbeat from her drum.

GAME: Lash casts Cure Light Wounds.

GAME: Lash rolls 1d8+2: (4)+2: 6

GAME: Aenyn damaged Brolin for -6 points. 36 remaining.

Seeing the treatment of the wounded is well underway, Nadara refrains from offering her meager skills just yet. "Anything I can do to help?" she offers, still looking arond. "So. That was it, right? Ha ha. Right?"

GAME: Nadara rolls 3d6: (9): 9

GAME: Aenyn damaged Zalara for -9 points. 39 remaining.

GAME: Aenyn damaged Brolin for -9 points. 44 remaining.

Zalara manages to get free eventually and she hmmms as she moves over to the hole in the wall. She peers in, "I wonder where they came from."

Lash picks up her drum and bow, and approaches the hole in the wall. Apparently, Oruch just can't leave things be. She pokes the end of her bow into the hole and wiggles it about, then crouches to look through if nothing lashes at it.

Zalara deactivates her titan armor to save it for later.

"Rada, please take care of teh r4est of the wounds here," says Nadara, quieotly. Soon, the soothing sensation of water brushes over everyone. It doesn't actually get you *wet* or anything, but there's just that sensation, anyways.

Brolin retrives his flail and slings it over his shoulder, then turns his attention to one of the smaller casks marked brandy. With the flexing of his mighty thews (whatever thews are), he hefts the cask up and sets it on his shoulder. "Anything eggs in there to smash? Brolin don't no job half-assed."

The hole leads into a short, dark tunnel burrowed through the softer earth that leads into an equally dark chamber easily able to hold the two scorpions. Bones and whatnot from past meals are scattered about. Another tunnel leads deeper, towards the city's sewers.

A teakettle sound heralds Zarr's rough chuckle, dark eyes glittering deeply as he peers into the darkness of the wall. "Tunnels towards underlevels," he rumbles. "Sewers. Sssk. Can smell them from here." His glance turns upon the hole, measuring it out thoughtfully. "Perhaps new building maker? Brick layer. Mage to do..." He pauses, waggling his fingers. "--Magethings."

Zalara wrinkles her nose and she waves her hand in front of her face, "Ugh the sewer." She gets out her rebreather and puts it on. "Hmm we better tell Vawdrey so he can close this up."

Once the party returns to the surface and assures Vawdrey that they are, in fact, alive, he opens the door and proceeds to vigorously shake hands with any and all who will accept it. "Oh, dear me! Thank you very much! Scorpions, you say? I'll take care of that hole as soon as I can! You're all welcome to a cask of my finest apple brandy in addition to the pay I negotiated with the Guild. If I ever have a problem again, I know who to ask for!"