Action thread: Group 3

[MetroMagic]

Action thread: Group 3

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{THE NUMBERED BRAL MAP}

{Janis} OK! Now here are my notes on the map, it’s the same map with the same places Halfaz marked, plus some extra info.



{Janis} Star, honey, you’ll make a copy of the map image for everybody, right? Magical for all of you originals, except Sable, he gets a non-Magical paper copy. We don’t want the copies of you walking around with a copy of our battle plans and drop locations, and if the map is Magical, it won’t copy, so says Ror. Good.

I numbered each group at its exact drop location – that’s exactly where you are going! – and added a line to show where group 8 and group 9 are going to blow their tunnel and bridge respectively.

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{Janis} These are the lettered places on the map:

AA is the Auction Block.

This is the public area of the compound; she says it’s the only place that the buyers see.  The river enters here from the surface, and buyers are brought down the river by a nice, swanky ferry.  The ferry stops at the dock and the buyers are offloaded; they can browse the pens to check out the stock which is on sale that particular day.  The large central area there is the small amphitheater where the auction takes place.

Janis points at an area at the top left corner of the map. {Janis}For the most privileged guests, this island of highly carved and polished rock in the center of the river is supposed to give a scenic, formal area for an elegant dignitaries' reception to admire the glorious Dwarven handiwork throughout this part of the caverns. Even the areas that have been left naturally rough are artistically positioned, framed by ornately carved surroundings. She says negotiations with big buyers for larger groups of slaves are often conducted there, after inspections in the pens are finished.

From what intelligence I’ve heard, the Illithids are neither interested in, nor affected by, the Dwarven artistry, but they do not hesitate to use the business advantage of having some of their customers be awestruck by their surroundings, and consider the advantage to be a fringe benefit of this site for their operations. I’ve done the same with my own business negotiations. Always negotiate from a place of seeming strength if you can, that shows off your power.

Once everyone has their purchases finalized, the buyers reboard the ferry and are taken back up the river to the surface.  Most buyers are completely ignorant even of the existence of the rest of the compound.

BB. That’s where the Slave Pens are.

The Illithids keep the hundreds or tens of hundreds of slaves here, in open-barred pens which are inset a few feet into the floor. Remember that there are Umber Hulk guards circulating all through these areas.

CC, over there, is supposedly living quarters.

It’s this island in one of the lakes. The buildings there are larger, and furnished as barracks.  When the Illithids are in the Compound, they have rooms there as well as any non-Illithid help they have. They practically stack the Umber Hulks up in close quarters when they have to rest, which isn’t often. Umber Hulks can go for a long time without rest.

DD. The Warrens.

You can sort of picture it, Star thinks this area used to be one enormous room.  However, the roof collapsed some time in the past, and what's left is a maze of twisty, rubble-filled passages wrapping around the bases of massive, ornately carved columns that disappear into low, uneven remains of a tumbled-down ceiling.  The roof doesn't look too stable, though Star says the Illithids have no record of further collapses in the time they have used this area and believe it’s safe to walk through. It looks like the only reason the Illithids use this area at all is that it provides the fastest access from the Pens to the Auction Block.

EE, this back area, is storage.

This area has a lot of small buildings and cages with supplies and other various and sundry items.  Only part of it is being used -- the sections further from the Pens is still mostly rubble.

[ieatfood7]

Vir3 and Sheerak3 look around, staying invisible.

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Vir3
Spot

Rolled 1d20+20 : 20 + 20, total 40

listen

Rolled 1d20+10 : 6 + 10, total 16

Search
[roll]1d20+31[roll]


Sheerak3
spot

Rolled 1d20+20 : 12 + 20, total 32

listen

Rolled 1d20+25 : 17 + 25, total 42

[MetroMagic]

Group 3

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I’m only posting this once per group thread, but it’s true unless I specifically post otherwise:

All status information from all groups is flowing on the Link; everyone knows what is happening everywhere and can share, and act on, everyone else’s information.

And Star’s combat map is giving current locations and status, but she cautions they are a little approximate unless she can actually see you.

The whole group Earthglides down out of the ceiling into the location marked with a 3 on the map, and emerges in battle ready positions in the air, flying as planned, except the parrots, who Vir has put back in the Bag.

The location looks about as expected from the map. You are in a corridor. The floor is blocks of polished stone. The walls have carved designs. The ceiling is carved as well, about thirty feet high.

To the northwest, the corridor opens out into the auction area.

Ror3’s demolitions target is a few feet along the corridor to the southeast according to the combat map; you’re almost exactly at the point to place the explosive charge.

There is a slight damp breeze from the northwest, and the sound of the river echoes faintly from that direction.

Vir3 senses Magic all around in the 30ft of corridors and open space visible. Ror3 senses the same, for 60ft to the extent that much corridor is visible. Their senses do not penetrate the corridor walls. Both sense that a Spell just triggered. The Detect info on the Link allows Ror3 and Halt3 to recognize an Alarm Spell, via Spellcraft.

They also see two different Glyphs painted Magically on the floor, ceiling, and walls that are not otherwise visible: Ghoul Glyph, and Glyph of Warding with Shivering Touch. Explosive Runes are loaded onto the Glyph of Warding so that someone who tries to Read the Glyph will set them off. However, they have not Read the Glyph; they simply recognized it, via Spellcraft, and did not have to Read it to bypass it – the normal procedure – because absolutely everyone, including parrots, has Nondetection from the ScryBubblegum, which foils both Glyphs – they realize this through their Spellcraft. Neither one triggers, so Reading them is not necessary. Also Ror3 senses the proper way to pass the Glyph with Find The Path; it’s not necessary to Read it. There isn’t a password, but he senses that his Alignment shifts to LE. Tanatou3 also senses this shift in Ror3.

There is also a lot of pain.

Via Spellcraft they recognize a Forbiddance in place, and Ror3 knows for sure via Find The Path that it has no password, instead his Alignment presents LE to the Forbiddance as well, as the correct way to pass the Forbiddance. At almost the same time a warning from Star on the Link comes just too late.

Ror3 takes no damage. Everyone else takes damage as follows; no one has enough SR to matter. WILL Save DC 22 for half (and remember you roll twice, take the better +2, plus whatever other bonuses including +2 Luck bonus from Janis).

Vir3, Sheerak3, Halt3: 34
Tanatou3, Halfaz3: 20

[Scout89]

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Will save 1:

Rolled 1d20+8 : 11 + 8, total 19

Will save 2:

Rolled 1d20+8 : 8 + 8, total 16

[ieatfood7]

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Sheerak

Rolled 1d20+21 : 1 + 21, total 22

Rolled 1d20+21 : 18 + 21, total 39

   

Vir

Rolled 1d20+16 : 8 + 16, total 24

Rolled 1d20+16 : 18 + 16, total 34

   

[FireInTheSky]

On the Link: Good idea Ror4.  Ror3 discharges some of the rituals he has stored: Lesser Ritual of Deflection, Spell Ritual: Invisibility Purge, Spell Ritual: Ectoplasmic Feedback, Spell Ritual: Wraithstrike.  He takes a quick look around to see if the Invisibility Purge revealed anything besides the party, and then immediately dismisses it, so that the group becomes invisible again.  Then he charges a quickened Lesser Ritual of Healing, which takes 1 round.  Upon completing the Lesser Ritual of Healing, he discharges it, coupled with a Lesser Circle of Good Hope.  Everyone, make sure you're within 30' of me.  I'm giving all of us healing.  Everyone within 30' of Ror3 gains Fast Healing 5 for the next 33 rounds.

Once the Ritual of Healing is Discharged, Ror3 begins placing the explosives.  Once you're all healed up, while I'm placing the demolitions, I suggest we scout a bit.  Halt3 and Vir3, why don't you head a little ways down the tunnel towards the Auction Block - not too far, but just enough to give us a little warning when someone comes our way.  Halt3, I suggest you Earthglide in the wall next to Vir3.  Vir3, if you have any trouble, Earthglide.  Sheerak3 and Halfaz3, you two scout up the tunnel into the Warrens a little bit, to watch our backs.  Same advice for you about Earthgliding.  Everyone make sure to put everything on the link.  Tanatou, watch my back while I'm placing the demolitions.

[Debatra]

I believe Halt3 has the "Natural 1 is not Autofail" thing, so he automatically makes his save.
 
If I'm wrong:
 

Rolled 2d20 : 20, 13, total 33

[FireInTheSky]

{Ror3 - On the Link} Great idea Ror10! After all, turnabout is fair play.  (Not that anybody is playing fair... Sorry, Tanatou.) ...Anyway...  Everyone who has blindsense/blindsight/tremorsense, make sure to put that on the link.

Ror3 does NOT dismiss the Invisibility Purge, but does continue with the Ritual of Healing and then placing demolitions.

[MetroMagic]

While the description of location3 went onto the Link accurately from several pairs of eyes, that didn’t include Ror3… he has been seeing dense fog and nothing else. On the other hand (eye), Ror3’s multiple Detects have been giving him a lot of information, and others’ group3 visuals on the Link, not impeded by fog, are sufficient to keep him on track. By Spellcraft, Ror3 confirms that the fog here is from Guards and Wards, which is the discussion on the Link.

Group3 stays close in the corridor as they take charge of their tasks and get Healing from Ror3.

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Save bonuses, at a minimum: +2 Morale from Vir, +2 Luck from Janis, +2 Time on the Link from Star, for a total of +6 to all Saves… +whatever you have individually or from Rituals.

Halfaz3, Vir3 and Tanatou3 stand guard while without any difficulty, Ror3 gets his tasks done exactly as planned. After discharging the Rituals, Ror3 feels along the carved stone ceiling for the intersection of the two central support arches in this part of the corridor that he saw on the group3 visuals before the fog became visible, and he sets the charge with gum in it, and in him, ready to blow out the structural supports at his thought.

Trying to keep out of the way in close quarters, Sheerak3 is actively Listening in the corridor, as Halt3 keeps watch toward the auction area for any surprises. There is a slight damp breeze from the northwest, and the sound of the river echoes faintly from that direction.

The Healing from Ror3 takes about 24 seconds to make everyone whole again. During those 24 seconds, Ror3 finishes getting the explosive charge ready and in place, so all in the party are finished at once and ready for whatever they are doing next.

Group3 is now surrounded by a visible fog cloud at least 80 feet across that keeps shifting in size and blocks all vision, and the group is running on non-visual senses on the Link for all to share.

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As you post, please specify what you are using to sense, instead of visual. If you have none, I’m assuming you are relying on what comes to you on the Link from others in your group. All vision is blocked by this fog, so Darkvision and X-Ray Vision do not help.

Tremorsense requires the creature using it to be in contact with the ground, so I am assuming that those creatures using Tremorsense personally either won’t be flying, or will be flying but making sure they are in good contact with a wall or the ceiling. Blindsense and Blindsight do not require contact with the ground.

[Scout89]

While standing guard using blindsense, Halfaz3 says through the link: "I was thinking, if everyone not morally aligned to Illithids are getting hurt, either the slaves are in a non-Forbiddance area or not even here, correct? Because they would simply die a few seconds after this magic is up."

[MetroMagic]

Everyone is healed, and Halfaz3 has commented on the Link about the unlikelihood of the slaves being in an area of Forbiddance. Certainly no one sees any right here, in this corridor. Everyone is together at location3, or within a few feet of it. Ror3 has placed the demolition charge, and he and Halfaz3, Vir3 and Tanatou3 are in a tight cluster next to it while Halt3 and Sheerak3 are very close by, just to the northwest, actively Listening in the corridor. Toward the auction area further northwest they hear the faint sound of splashing, echoing and repeating over and over.

Group3 is surrounded by a visible fog cloud at least 80 feet across that keeps shifting in size and blocks all vision, and the group is running on non-visual senses on the Link for all to share. According to the map, the fog cloud runs from location3 all the way through the corridor to the auction area, and probably partway into it. Everyone with Tremorsense is standing on the rock floor, to use it, while everyone without Tremorsense is hovering just off the floor.

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I’m assuming anyone with Tremorsense is not flying but instead is standing on the floor to get best use out of it. My list says Sheerak3. Anyone else with Tremorsense that I forgot? Anyone with Tremorsense who wants to forego it and hover instead?

[FireInTheSky]

{Ror3 on the link}  Alright, the demolitions are placed.  Let's move out and get this tunnel blown up.  Ror begins moving down the tunnel towards the Auction Block.

[Scout89]

Halfaz3 follows Ror3.

[MetroMagic]

Ror3 and Halfaz3 start down the corridor toward the auction area inside the fog cloud; Halfaz3’s Blindsight serves them perfectly to stay on track. They travel about ten feet and suddenly… pain! …much like Halfaz3 experienced on arrival. Both of them had a sense of going through another, similar barrier to passage, though Ror3 did not experience it as painful.

Sensing here with Ror3’s Detects and Spellcraft shows much the same set of Effects in place here as in location3 ten feet over there: a tube of Glyphs and Runes, filled with an Alarm (which he can tell they triggered), Guards and Wards, and a Forbiddance.

Ror3 takes no damage. Halfaz3, 21 HP damage, a little more intense than right at location3; WILL Save DC 22 for half (and remember you roll twice, take the better +2, plus whatever other bonuses including +2 Luck bonus from Janis). Also remember, Fast Healing 5 still in effect.

All info goes on the Link.

[Debatra]

Halt3 will Polymorph into a Barghest (Lawful Evil Outsider), move through the Forbiddance, and change back to himself.
 
Nothing else under my control will do this until we know it works.

[Scout89]

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Rolled 1d20+14 : 18 + 14, total 32

Rolled 1d20+14 : 7 + 14, total 21

That is Base +8, Black Leather +4 and +2 from Vir through the link. Please add the +2 from Janis to the best result.

[ieatfood7]

Sheerak 3 and Vir 3 try the polymorph trick to LE, returning after eneting the space.

[Debatra]

Seeing Sheerak and Vir do the same, Halt3 doesn't cross the Forbiddance. No particular reason to suspect this one wouldn't be coded to the same things as the rest, but he's never been one to argue when someone else offers themselves up as a guinea pig.

[MetroMagic]

First Halt3 changes to a Barghest and lopes after Ror3 and Halfaz3, then Sheerak3 and Vir3 also Polymorph into Barghests and rush to catch up. Halt3 stops short as Sheerak3 and Vir3 join Ror3 and Halfaz3.

For Tanatou3, a Paladin and a Barghest are rather incompatible!! And he has enough trouble already resisting urges to Feed …even if changing to a Barghest is a clever solution. He stalks into the next area following after the others, at least for now simply steeling his WILL to resist the damage and taking as little as possible. He pushes past the rest of group3 to a point he is sure is far enough away from the blast to avoid damage according to Janis’ instructions… barely… and stops.

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Plusses: +13 WILL, +2 Paladin, +2 Morale (Ror3, Good Hope), +2 Luck (Janis), +2 Time (Star).

With LG Alignment, Tanatou only takes part of the Forbiddance damage anyway, and it is very likely he will make the Save, with two tries not to roll a 1. Net damage will likely be 11HP – 5 Fast Healing = 6HP damage for the round.

Rolled 1d20+21 : 18 + 21, total 39

Rolled 1d20+21 : 14 + 21, total 35

Halt3, Sheerak3, and Vir3 look like they are part wolf, part Goblin, and all vicious, with gaping jaws and razor claws, blue skin with traces of red, and glowing orange eyes... at least, that’s the self-image on the Link, since the fog cloud makes the visuals little more than a misty gray. The delicious aroma of their humanoid companions is at once tantalizing and horrifying. With a little difficulty, they are able to fight off the extremely strong urge to feed on their companions, by far a Barghest’s favorite dinner.

Sheerak3 and Vir3 take no damage from the Forbiddance; it worked!

All this info goes on the Link.

To anticipate the question, at this point the party except for Halt3 is far enough from the blast not to take damage from it… at least, not much. If at all. Really. If you don’t mind a little rock shrapnel in your… we’ll just leave it there.

[Debatra]

At that point, Halt3 will pass the forbiddance and change back to himself.