Rescue at Rivenroar (Game Thread)

[VennDygrem]

"This isn't good. Is it safe to go over there, or is there magic in that circle? We can't just leave her there..."

[Nanshork]

Dalanath snorts.  "Probably some sort of demon trapped trying to look helpless so we will free it.  That's how it works in all the stories..."

[Melblen_Cairn]

Closing his eyes and concentrating on perceiving the magical energies flowing around Soff'a attempts to answer Dunor's question. I cannot tell if the circle is magical in nature or not." the swordmage finally says a moment later admitting defeat. Turning to Dalanth, "You do have a point, you and I have heard the same stories then."

Andronsus follows the group into the entry of the room. Seeing the woman in the circle, "Argh, leave that crone where she be. Yer witchery finally landed ye in trouble Zerriksa?"

Ignoring the dwarf, "It took them long enough to send someone after us. Get me out, this damp room is making my bones ache."

"Dalanath and Atanos, do you make out any traps between us and the circle?" Soff'a asks.

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Arcana Check [Detect Magic] (1d20+10=17)

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Perception Check [Searching] (1d20+6=21)

[Nanshork]

Currently having nothing better to do, Dalanath looks for traps.

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Perception 1d20+5 : 3 + 5, total 8

[VennDygrem]

Dunor also searches the room, though he has little experience with the magical; he would rather not get taken by surprise again, however.

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1d20(14)+6=20

[Melblen_Cairn]

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You do not discern anything unusual between the entry and the circle but the numerous flickering shadows in the torchlight could be tricking your eyes.

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You both are certain that nothing nefarious lies between the entrance to the room and the circle containing the old woman. You do notice there does appear to be a slight shimmer or flicker that periodically occurs around the edge of the circle  as if the barrier flutters out of existence briefly.

"Are you all going to stand there gawking at me or are you going to get me out of here?"

"I am already growing tired of her complaining, I think we let her stay" Atanos says as he approaches the circle for a closer look.

[Shadowhunter]

"You know this woman Andronsus?"

The halfling tries to remember anything he knows about circles such as these, but absolutely nothing comes to mind.

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http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/4516587/

[Melblen_Cairn]

"Me been seein' her around town every now an then. She be livin' just outside the town. Whole town be knowin' she cavorts with Demons." the dwarf answers. "better to be leavin' her there, she might be in league with the gobo's."

[Shadowhunter]

"If she's in league with the gobbo's, why would they trap her? Besides, master dwarf, being a recluse, magical powers or not, does not necessitate that you are consorting with demons. You might just appreciate not smelling all the excrement when the wrong wind comes in every noon as you're trying to have a meal. While I appreciate the finer points of a community, there are downsides."

[Melblen_Cairn]

"May bein' she made them angry over sumthin'. If'in yer goin' to let her go, then be keeping a close watch on her at least."

[VennDygrem]

"Regardless, we can not afford to bring everyone we come across down her with us as we delve deeper into this place. Madam, if we release you, can you make it back on your own? I don't see our paths following one another once we leave this room."

[Melblen_Cairn]

"You would leave an old woman to her own devices? Some rescuers you turned out to be. If they're paying you to come her for us, then it's too much." the woman's muffled voice complains yet again.

"Leaving her here then will spare us her complaints, and she is where they expect her to be. You all can return for her later if you wish, after we have had a bit more revenge on these goblin scum." Dalanath chimes in.

Atanos nods in agreement to the assessment but Soff'a shakes his head, "We should not leave any that are imperiled. Even if we could find a way to remove her from the circle, if we left these folk on their own in the wilds to return they would surely perish. Remember what we lost Everyn to on our journey to this place?"

Angered, Dalanath turns on Soff'a "You forget those we lost to goblin's blades just a short two nights ago. I care not for these people my brother died defending, I am here for one purpose."

[VennDygrem]

Dunor was hesitant to take a side. Both had valid points.

"I do not ask this lightly. We came here for a purpose, but that purpose has grown, and to a dangerous degree. We can not leave any innocent people here, but if we are to delve deeper and confront more dangers, it would put them right in harm's  way. I don't want to save people only to get them killed because the goblins see them as easy targets."

[Melblen_Cairn]

"We know not how many were even taken, or how deep others are being held. Adronsus has mentioned two others. Clearly this one is not one of the two women he spoke of earlier. We also know that the Hall of Great Valor's Castellan was taken as well"

"Bah, them greedy bastards be raiding the Hall?" Adronsus blurts.  Soff'a nods in confirmation. "Well then ye be needing him if the gobo scum took anything. He be knowin' more than anyone about the relics kept in the hall."

[Melblen_Cairn]

Rubbing his thumb on his bow absentmindedly asks Zerriksa "Have you seen where any of the others may be at?"

The old woman sneers at the elf, "Release me first. I am tired of being locked up while you debate what to do with us."

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Those that spotted the flickering before could use that momentary lapse in integrity to pull Zerriksa from her cell with an Athletics check. You are still uncertain what the circle is and what any results of a failure would be if any.

[Melblen_Cairn]

"We don't need to be dragging an old woman along with us. If we free her, I say we still leave her here or she is on her own until we are done." Dalanath says.

[Melblen_Cairn]

A spray of blood and a final cry as the remaining goblin in the entry chamber falls to the floor. Dunor ending its burning misery after it had been tossed into one of the braziers moving across the floor. New spatters of  blood cover the ones from just a few short days before where the group upon returning to this entry chamber to explore what was beyond the left door encountered a large group of goblinoids returning to their ruin home.

The confrontation was deadly, outnumbered the chances of survival slim. Most of the group were eventually cut down, sacrificing themselves so that Thespias and Dunor could escape with the two prisoners that had been freed. Haggard and harried most of the journey back, the remaining two returned Zerriksa and Andronsus to Loudwater.

Saddened but determined to complete the task of recovering the missing townsfolk and relics, Theo and Dunor recruited other heroes from the attacks days before, returning to the ruins that now serve as the final resting place of their former companions.

Map of the Ruins

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Starting the group off right at the beginning of the dungeon. Since two of you have been here, I left the explored portions of the map open and covered with a "fog of war". You have just dispatched 3 goblins and 2 hobgoblins guarding the entryway. Feel free to begin posting here.

 

[VennDygrem]

Holding a hand up to the rest of the group, Dunor spoke in a hushed tone. His face remained set in a neutral yet serious visage, though his one good eye seemed tinged in sadness and rage both. The other was hidden behind a simple black eyepatch, hastily cobbled together much like the rest of his current equipment.

In a hushed tone, he says, "Alright, we must be cautious as we head further in. If they had more guards up here, chances are they've filled back in elsewhere. Tanthalus, Galadren, we could use your keen senses to determine if anything lies in ambush past the doorway. We... we hadn't explored that direction, so it seems as good a path as any, unless there are any objections."

Dunor carefully makes his way toward the door to his left; whether he was avoiding the lower level due to his haunting encounter from a few days prior, or if it was truly a tactical decision, no one could be sure.

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Dunor sneaks quietly to the left-most doorway, then tries to listen for any signs of goblinoid opponents.

Stealth: 1d20(8)+9=17
Perception: 1d20(5)+5=10
Add +1 to Perception if Tanthalus or Galadren is within 5 squares, due to Group Awareness. Alternatively, you could treat Dunor's roll as an Aid Another action if someone follows to listen at the door.

[Inspectre]

Standing over the corpse of one goblin that has a bolt lodged through one eye, Galadren reloads his crossbow with surprisingly awkward movements.
In truth, the elf was still getting used to the contraption although he was finding it to be a most effective weapon.

"On it."

The elf whispers in reply to Dunor's request, slipping over to the nearby doorway after he finally manages to get another bolt loaded.  The elf tilts his head this way and that, listening carefully once he is at the doorway.

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Galadren joins Dunor by the left-most doorway, and listens carefully.

Stealth:

Rolled 1d20+9 : 10 + 9, total 19

Perception:

Rolled 1d20+10 : 20 + 10, total 30

[Melblen_Cairn]

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You do not hear anything through the door, now it could be there is nothing on the other side or the quality of the door baffles sound so well it is foiling your attempt to hear anything on the other side.

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You can hear an argument, all be it muted by the doors quality, even in the guttural tones of a language you do not understand; it is clear that whomever is participating in the heated discussion opposite did not likely hear your battle on this side of the door. You count six distinct voices amid the argument.