Dwarf Fortress Part 3

Log Info

• Title: Dwarf Fortress Part 3
• Emitter: Subduction
• Characters: Khepri, Schara, Yaretzi, Jay, Sable, Crik
• Place: Subduction's Trench
• Time: Sunday, November 20, 2022, 1:00 PM
• Summary: The adventurers find themselves locked in combat - amidst the dwarven ruins they have been tasked with clearing. They have encountered a group of Troglodytes squatting in the Khazadi edifice. With no recourse but to fight - they clash in the smoky confines of the ruins' central chamber. The battle continues, fighting in the smoke and stinking cloud. Only the pair of egalrin are able to function, the others frequently missing from the obscuring. All struggle, even the troglodytes, but they fall and the last to do so is their warpriest, cursing as he goes down. They take a moment to secure the room.

Our party of adventurers find themselves locked in combat- amidst the dwarven ruins they have been tasked with clearing for the archaeological team behind, they have encountered a group of Troglodytes squatting in the Khazadi edifice. Met immediately with hostility, the group have found themselves with no recourse but to fight- and so steel clashes in the smoky confines of the ruins' central chamber.

<OOC> Khepri says, "Khepri heals 2 HP thanks to judgement (healing)."
<OOC> Khepri says, "He will take a 5' step to dispose of troglodyte 3. Pinging location."
GAME: Khepri rolls weapon6: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Khepri says, "..."
<OOC> Subduction says, "Off to a good start."

The melee is confusing, but not insurmountable. Indeed, the smoke impedes the troglodytes as much as the heroes. Khepri stalks through the stink and the cloud, unfazed by one and mostly undeterred by the other. Its khopesh rises, as a soft grey light shines from its frame, the damage starting to knit back together spontaneously as the golem swings -- at nothing, evidently fooled by a heavy whorl of smoke. "Unfortunate."

<OOC> Subduction says, "Yar, I believe you were raging."
GAME: Yaretzi RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 6 temporary HP
<OOC> Yaretzi says, "I was! I will continue my assault on 3? So, Accurate Stance +1, Power Attack -1, +2 Flanking with Jhor!"
GAME: Yaretzi rolls weapon1+1-1+2: (2)+9+1+-1+2: 13
GAME: Yaretzi rolls 1d100: (53): 53 (under 20 is miss - Hit)
GAME: Yaretzi rolls damage1+3: aliased to 2d4+6+3: (4)+6+3: 13

With the assist from Jhor, Yaretzi is able to finally pin her foe in combat. The smoke makes it hard to see, but when a giant insect is holding your prey, it makes it a whole lot easier! She scores a heavy blow with a swipe of her giant cleaver-like blade, putting an end to one of the threats. Once that's done, she takes stumbling step to try an place herself in the way of the foes that still remain.

<OOC> Subduction says, "You're just outside of the smoke, and no longer nauseated. What will you do?"
<OOC> Jay says, "move up on the troglodyte and attack"
<OOC> Jay says, "okay so +2 for flanking, -2 for sickened, no other bonuses?"
GAME: Jay rolls weapon2+2-2: (12)+8+2+-2: 20
<OOC> Subduction says, "Beats his AC. Roll 1d100"
<OOC> Jay says, "mist sight, do I need to do that?"
GAME: Jay rolls 1d100: (1): 1
<OOC> Subduction says, "Oh, right, you can see normally adjacent, concealment at 10' and total concealment beyond that"
GAME: Jay rolls damage2+3d6: aliased to 1d6+1+3d6: (3)+1+(5): 9
<OOC> Subduction says, "Alrighty, you hurt him. Go ahead and pose it."

The bluejay is doubled over, dry heaving and supporting himself against the opposite wall. The worst of the nausea has passed; his allies are still in trouble. Panting heavily he tightens his grip on his estock and dives back into the smoke.

A pillar looms hazily in front of him and he swoops around it. On the other side, there is the troglodyte from before. He thrusts, his thin mithril blade strikes between two scales and stabs into his side, drawing blood, but not going deep.

<OOC> Subduction says, "Berserker is going to full attack, two claws for Jay and a bite for Yar."
GAME: Subduction rolls 8: (16)+8: 24
GAME: Subduction rolls 8: (2)+8: 10
GAME: Subduction rolls 11d100: (634): 634
<OOC> Subduction says, "Whooops"
GAME: Subduction rolls 1d100: (50): 50
<OOC> Subduction says, "One claw hits Jay, other wiffs."
GAME: Subduction rolls 1d6+5: (4)+5: 9
GAME: Subduction damaged you for 9 points. 33 HP remaining.
GAME: Subduction rolls 8: (9)+8: 17
GAME: Subduction rolls 1d100: (4): 4
<OOC> Subduction says, "And wiffs Yar"

The Berserker roars in anger as he suddenly finds Yar and Jay emerging from the mist either side of him. He rears back with two wickedly clawed hands and lashes out for Jay in retaliation for the stab he just received from the mist. Hearing Yar's footsteps behind, he spins on a heel and snaps at her with jagged, yellowed teeth, but his jaw snaps noisily on nothing but smoke.

<OOC> Sable says, "k can I fire at the red guy?"
<OOC> Subduction says, "You can, you'll have a 50/50 miss chance because of the smoke."
<OOC> Subduction says, "You can still shoot without, it'll be at -4 but you're close enough that it'll be against his Touch AC"
<OOC> Subduction says, "Melee will be against full AC, with 20% miss chance."
<OOC> Subduction says, "Ranged would be at -4 vs Touch AC with 50% miss chance."
GAME: Sable rolls 1-4: (17)+1+-4: 14
GAME: Sable rolls 1d100: (22): 22, "That hits his AC, +roll 1d100 you want to hit or beat a 50" (Miss)
<OOC> Subduction says, "Misses I'm afraid :( Jor will eat? He's still in melee range of another baddie."
GAME: Sable rolls 1d20+2: (11)+2: 13
GAME: Sable rolls 1d20+2: (11)+2: 13<OOC> Sable says, "can I offer combat advice as well this round or no?"
<OOC> Khepri helps. https://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/combat-advice/
<OOC> Subduction says, "It's a move action, so you can since you haven't moved. But what action is reloading your gun?"
<OOC> Schara says, "dragonspitter is a standard, thunderbelcher is a full round, before feats"
<OOC> Subduction nods, "I think you need Firearm Mastery to get it down to a free."
<OOC> Subduction says, "So, it's a standard action. You can give combat advice and shoot, you'll have to reload next round."
<OOC> Subduction says, "You pick 1 ally and 1 enemy, and that ally will gain +2 vs that enemy."

Sable orders Jhor back after seeing his attack miss and she frowns feeling the link between them "come back!" she says to her bug, "Now!"

<OOC> Subduction says, "Alright, I'll work on Warpriest's turn in the mean time."
<OOC> Subduction says, "He will Channel Negative Energy, everyone but Crik- Will save."
GAME: Yaretzi rolls will: (19)+5: 24
GAME: Sable rolls will+2: (13)+1+2: 16
GAME: Sable rolls 2: (7)+2: 9 (Jhor Will Save)
GAME: Crik rolls will: (10)+2: 12
GAME: Jay rolls will: (3)+5: 8
GAME: Khepri rolls Will: (1)+7: 8 (EPIC FAIL)
GAME: Subduction rolls 4: (18)+4: 22 (Trog Beserk Will Save)
GAME: Subduction rolls 0: (1)+0: 1 (EPIC FAIL) (Trog 1 Will save)
GAME: Subduction rolls 2d6: (8): 8
GAME: Subduction damaged you for 8 points. 25 HP remaining.

The troglodyte who so far has been hanging back, watching from the edge of the smoke lets out a frustrated growl- unable to see any of the adventurers, he resorts to a... less subtle approach. He hefts a symbol, made of tarnished brass, into the air and issues a guttural prayer in Draconic. A wave of cloying cold springs forth from the symbol, washing over the room- affecting friend and foe alike, sapping the strength from their veins and the warmth from their skin as their very life-force is eroded by the negative energy.

<OOC> Crik says, "Also, just going to hit him with non-lethal attack - again - for great justice."
GAME: Crik rolls weapon1-4: (18)+3+-4: 17
GAME: Crik rolls damage1: aliased to 1d4+1: (4)+1: 5

Crik was watching through the smoke shadows moving and fighting - but more importantly, he just had a massive splitting headache. "CAW-" He lets out in a loud, shrill cry of death. Or at least a cry fit for an omen of such.

And as he does that, he swings the dull end of his dagger at his friend troglodyte with a resounding crack, who remains standing. Thick skulls don't listen to impending doom.

"Oh, goodness, that stench is horrible." The artificer gags, trying their best not to lose their stomach. Adding some way for their armor to deal with vomiting would need to be a priority in the future. Stumbling through the fog and stepping on a trap to get someone else killed wasn't high on their list of things they wanted to do, but the sounds going on, they would have no choice but to enter soon enough.

GAME: Subduction rolls 1d2: (1): 1, "He attacks Crik"
GAME: Subduction rolls 2: (7)+2: 9

The Troglodyte locked in not-so-deadly combat, consisting mostly of getting bonked with the hilt of a dagger, getting angry, and swinging at the smoke with his club, hacks up a gout of blood as the wave of negative energy washes over him. Something which is taken advantage ov by Crik to deliver one more bash to the noggin. He growls, enraged, blinking slowly as he tries to figure out which Crik is the real one. He swings. Chooses incorrectly, and then falls over in a heap on the ground.

<OOC> Khepri says, "OK, so Khepri heals 2 HP from fast healing."
<OOC> Khepri says, "He will cast Cure Light Wounds on Jhor, and then move to threaten the warpriest."
GAME: Khepri casts Cure Light Wounds. Caster Level: 4 DC: 14
GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+4: (7)+4: 11

Khepri staggers as the wave of negative energy washes over it, its frame corroding and rusting... but then the grey light brightens around it once again and the damage begins to self repair, startlingly quickly. "Beast, your burdens are not to be laid down just yet," it intones, and it reaches out with a hand to touch the cracked, battered chitin of Jhor's shell. A similar light glows, mending the mantis's wounds, and then the inquisitor is moving again.

Out of the smoke it seems to come, the khopesh glowing dimly in its fist as it stalks towards the troglodyte warpriest. "There is no escape," it rumbles.

<OOC> Yaretzi nods! I will do the same song and dance. Accurate stance +1, Power Attack -1, and +2 flank on the Red-Trog.
GAME: Yaretzi rolls weapon1+2+1-1: (6)+9+2+1+-1: 17
GAME: Yaretzi rolls 1d100: (83): 83
GAME: Yaretzi rolls damage1+3: aliased to 2d4+6+3: (7)+6+3: 16
<OOC> Subduction says, "A mighty hit, he's badly hurt. Go ahead and pose it."

Yaretzi isn't shocked at that 'wave' of magic and stench as some of the others. She feels it, but not as keenly as most the party. It's a good thing. For it? She snarls, her weapon brought over her head and then promptly brought down with a twist and arching swing that uses hips and legs to guide her strike. "They are not NICE!" she hollers, her cleaver weapon scoring and goring her foe. A gash left torn into its chest and armors as the Barbarian seems to not hold back.

GAME: Jay rolls weapon2+2-2: (8)+8+2+-2: 16

Jay staggers, the draining sensation weakening his stance. He's felt it before, too often. He CAWS! Because he heard Crik do so, and adds to the impulse.

Raising his estoc, Integrity thursts! This time his point is off. The thin blade slides along unyielding scales. No effect.

<OOC> Subduction says, "Berserker's turn. He's going to turn and full attack Yar, With power attack."
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (11)+7: 18
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (6)+7: 13
GAME: Subduction rolls 7: (7)+7: 14
GAME: Subduction rolls 1d100: (100): 100
GAME: Subduction rolls 1d6+7: (5)+7: 12

The Berserker staggers back, dropping almost to a knee after the strike from Yar. Winded and wounded, but not quite out of the fight he grits his teeth- ducking to the side to avoid a blow from Jay as he stands again, and launches at Yar- jaws gnashing and claws swiping. Most fail to find their mark, but one claw does find her, tearing four parralel rents in her flesh from clavicle to opposing armpit.

<OOC> Subduction says, "Sable, you're up again. Jhor is back to full health. You're not feeling too hot, yourself, though."
<OOC> Sable says, "i am going to call jhor into the corner under me. and fire on the beserker"
<OOC> Khepri says, "You have to spend a standard to reload, unless you have feats to speed it up."
<OOC> Sable says, "i will switch to my bow?"
<OOC> Subduction says, "You can drop your gun and draw your bow as a move, then fire it as a standard, yes."
[SubChan] Khepri says, "Targets have concealment (50 percent miss chance) unless you're adjacent, then it's 20 percent."
[SubChan] Schara says, "I'm asking in case egalrin sight would come into effect"
[SubChan] Khepri says, "The egalrin actually do not have that problem."
[SubChan] Subduction says, "It does. Elgarin can see fine adjacent, 20%% at 10' and 50%% beyond that"

Sable crumples under the magic that leaches the life out of her, she gags a little swaying a little uneasily she drops her gun and draws her crossbow

<OOC> Sable says, "and I would like to use the Aid Allies +3 against bezurker"
<OOC> Subduction says, "Putting your gun away in its holster is a move action, so you won't be able to fire your bow this round unless you drop it."
<OOC> Subduction says, "Since that will be both of your move actions."
<OOC> Sable says, "alright i guess i drop it then didnt want to but will"
<OOC> Sable says, "ok lets drop the gun and draw the bow. Aid allies on the bezurker"
<OOC> Subduction says, "Aid Aother in combat is an attack roll vs AC 10."
<OOC> Subduction says, "And it applies to only a single ally, not all allies."
<OOC> Subduction says, "Your cavalier ability increases the bonus to +3 rather than +2."
<OOC> Sable says, "right aiding Jay"
<OOC> Subduction says, "Great, just make an attack roll with your crossbow vs AC 10"
<OOC> Subduction says, "technically it says you can only do it with melee weapons, but I don't see why buzzing someone with a bolt can';t count as a distraction so I'll allow it"
GAME: Sable rolls 3: (6)+3: 9 (vs AC10 - Miss)
<OOC> Khepri says, "I'd house rule so that you can only aid-another with a ranged attack within 30'. That brings it into line with other abilities."

Sable tries to aid her friends, shes not feeling all to well as she staggers a little dropping her gun.. she pulls her bow and fires at the trog. Wavering feet dose not make for a steady aim and her bolt misses. Jhor moves to support her

<OOC> Subduction says, "Warpriest has Khepri up in his grill. He decides to smake Khepri with his heavy flail."
<OOC> Subduction says, "He cast BUll's Strength on himself last session so..."
GAME: Subduction rolls 9: (1)+9: 10 (EPIC FAIL)

The Warpriest balks as Khepri emerges from the smoke quite unexpectedly- he hadn't seen the war golem yet, obscured by the smoke. And coming face to face with an automaton is clearly not what the Troglodyte expected. He lets go of his unholy symbol, and hefts his flail in both hangs swinging it for Khepri. But one of its three heads catches on the tile as he lifts it, and it throws his aim entirely- so much so that he almost overbalances with the weight of his missed swing.

<OOC> Subduction says, "You have concealment, so you could attempt to re-establish stealth while moving."
<OOC> Subduction says, "If you wanted to try and get a sneak attack on one of the two remaining baddies."
<OOC> Crik says, "Can I stealth up next to him and stealth attack with the dull end of life?"
GAME: Crik rolls stealth: (15)+10: 25
GAME: Subduction rolls 0: (3)+0: 3
GAME: Crik rolls weapon1-4: (14)+3+-4: 13 (-4 Non Lethal)
<OOC> Subduction says, "Wiffs."
<OOC> Schara says, "take out the titan grip as part of the move"

Crik looks at his companion that just fell to the ground. He looks back up into the smoke - then back down at the troglodyte that just tried to swing at his imaginary brethren. Peering back, he then quietly makes his way over the berserker, with all the vile intentions. And nobody every notices the swing of a blade until it misses. Probably especially when it misses.

Schara finally manages to steady themselves to the point they aren't at risk of throwing up from the stench, and they're able to peer into the thick fog of the room. Finding an idea of where the threats where, they pick their way carefully through the center of the room until they're face to face with one of the troglodytes. The underside of their right gauntlet flips out and turns in on itself, turning into a giant pair of plier like grips. "There's a pattern, isn't there? The traps are close to the doors, be careful, even if no one has found any there yet!" She shouts through the fog, before their attention is taken fully by the rather hostile foe.

GAME: Khepri rolls weapon6: (18)+7: 25
GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+4: (8)+4: 12

Khepri is completely unimpressed with the priest's wild swing, leaning aside so the flail goes past. "Surrender. You cannot win." The khopesh comes up like an axe, and then swings downward, humming as it bites into the troglodyte's flesh, drawing a deep wound and a splatter of blood. The golem shakes its blade free, spattering droplets on the floor as its yellow eyes glare at the priest. "Submit."

GAME: Yaretzi rolls weapon1+1-1+2: (10)+9+1+-1+2: 21
GAME: Yaretzi rolls 1d100: (100): 100
GAME: Yaretzi rolls damage1+3: aliased to 2d4+6+3: (8)+6+3: 17
GAME: Yaretzi rolls perception: (6)+8: 14
GAME: Subduction rolls 6: (18)+6: 24
GAME: Subduction rolls 2d6+4: (8)+4: 12
<OOC> Subduction says, "You step on a pressure plate. A spear springs out of the ground, skewering you through the thigh."

Yaretzi is not having a good day. She's already been clipped and clawed, her arms always feeling the bite of her foes. At least mithral protects the trunk of her body beneath. After that heavy wound she recieves, she deals a more deadly blow to her foe, finishing the troglodyte before her with a sweep of blade and flare of nostril. It's a mess she leaves, turning to storm towards the last foe. That was her folly, triggering a trap that springs up through her thigh, her yelp coming as she witnesses that device snap out, wound her, and then tear back through her leg. "Yar /HATES/ Troglodytes! No talking, funny smelling jerks!" her words the only thing keeping her from crying out and hissing in pain. Have to channel that hurt somewhere. Good thing she's raged.

<OOC> Jay says, "okay, move over to the priest and attack"
GAME: Jay rolls weapon2-2: (1)+8+-2: 7 (EPIC FAIL)
<OOC> Subduction says, "He can, but he'll have to attempt an Acrobatics check for the last 5' or he'll provoke an AoO"

After a flurry of attacks, other peoples' attacks, the berserk troglodyte falls. Jay leaps to the attack, moving to surround the warpriest that is pressed in the corner, flicking his estoc towards the trog. At the last moment he catches a talon on a flagstone, and stumbles. He even misses the ground.

<OOC> Sable says, "can Jhorm move to the small corner NE of priest?"
[SubChan] Yaretzi says, "What a crazy little fight. XD"
[SubChan] Subduction says, "The smoke definitely made it/// interesting"
<OOC> Subduction says, "You can get clear of the smoke if you want, If you move 30' due east"
<OOC> Subduction says, "You'll be out of the smoke, and he's jsut outside of it too."
GAME: Sable rolls 3: (20)+3: 23 (THREAT)
GAME: Sable rolls 3: (18)+3: 21 (Confirmed)Sable rolls damage3+damage3: aliased to 1d8+0+1d8+0: (2)+0+(1)+0: 3

Sable moves and the knight of peace calls out "Back down"! she says as her arrows strike one after another at his body. One of her arrows sticks out of an arm but its a surface prik

<OOC> Subduction says, "Warpriest is gonna swing for Khepri again."
GAME: Subduction rolls 9: (17)+9: 26
GAME: Subduction rolls 1d100: (85): 85 (> 20% - success)
GAME: Subduction rolls 1d10+6: (10)+6: 16

"Futillee is it?" The Warpriest hisses in Khepri's face, looking left and right as he's surrounded. And in the common tongue, no less. So they DO speak it, or at least this one. Even if they've chosen not to until now. "We ssshall ssee." it hisses and brings the flail up- the three stolen Khazad heads come crashing down around Khepri's head and shoulders, flanged and spiked heads crushing and puncturing metal as the Troglodyte lands a thundering blow.

<OOC> Crik says, "Oh, can I still (nonlethally) attack?"
<OOC> Subduction says, "If you drop your dagger to do it, you can shoot this round as well."
<OOC> Subduction says, "If you stow your dagger, that'll be your turn."
<OOC> Crik says, "I'll stow my dagger."

Crik looks around the smoke, seeing everybody else heading out. He quietly puts his dagger away and grabs his crossbow, also moving outside the smoke to get into good firing position. His tail bobs up and down as he moves in the smoke.

GAME: Schara activates her Titan Armor, gaining: +4 Str
GAME: Schara rolls 1d20+4-5: (13)+4+-5: 12 (-5 Non Lethal and Sickened)
<OOC> Subduction says, "Why -5?"

"Just give up already, no one else needs to get hurt!" Schara shouts at the troglodyte, realizing it is capable of talking back. The lunge with their arm as the armor steams from the joints, but the large grip snaps shut just shy of the troglodyte's neck.

<OOC> Khepri says, "Khepri regenerates 2 HP..."
GAME: Khepri rolls weapon6+2: (1)+7+2: 10 (EPIC FAIL)
[SubChan] Subduction says, "This is getting kinda ridiculous."

Khepri actually staggers to one knee, the blow cracking one of the lenses in its plague-doctor faceplate and denting the side of its head. Then... the crack simply mends, the dent popping back out, though the Executor is still a bit dazed from the impact. "If that was your best," it intones, "I would have left half of them at home." Suddenly, Khepri shifts left, jabbing with its khopesh -- not connecting, but it causes the priest to step just -wrong-... just in time for Yaretzi to swing.

<OOC> Yaretzi nods. "Yar smash. Accurate Stance, and Power Attack -1"
GAME: Yaretzi rolls weapon1+2-1+1: (19)+9+2+-1+1: 30 (THREAT)
GAME: Yaretzi rolls weapon1+2-1+1: (9)+9+2+-1+1: 20 (Confirmed)
GAME: Yaretzi rolls 2d8+6+3: (10)+6+3: 19
GAME: Yaretzi rolls 4d4+6+3: (13)+6+3: 22, "So he takes... 31, I think?"
<OOC> Yaretzi says, "13+12+6=31 Yes."

Yaretzi growls, her irritation focused on the one that's left. Everyone trying to be nice about it something she now ignores. She just looms over her foe, a shift of foot coming with a twist of body and sweep of blade. It's quick, it's ruthless, and it is done without further noise. Just a huff and grunt as the Troglodyte crumples after the blow. At least that's over.

It's what's next that has Yaretzi already swooning on her feet. It's not a happy kind either, her wobbling the result of letting go of her rage, and with it a flood of pain, and clarity soon follow. "Yar still hates this place." her exhausted voice ringing a bit childishly.

Sable watches the warpriest go down and she falls against her murderbug. Tired and hurt the Knight tries to regather herself a moment. "How long will the fog last? I dropped my gun"

<OOC> Subduction also notes, "I have an hour left. We could work towards wrapping up shortly-"
<OOC> Subduction also notes, "I figure the party probably wants to take a long rest either here or retreating to the camp maybe?"
<OOC> Khepri says, "Well, I could spend my level 2 slot on a CLW as well. Dole one out to Crik, Sable, and Yaretzi."
<OOC> Khepri votes for 'mark traps and then retreat to camp'.
<OOC> Crik approves of this plan.
<OOC> Yaretzi has potions, but would suggest a long rest. XD
<OOC> Khepri says, "Khepri's gonna need to buy some pots, I think."
<OOC> Crik needs more bombs.
<OOC> Subduction says, "Roll your spells for now, incase anyone takes damage while marking the traps."
GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+4: (3)+4: 7, "Crik gets..."
<OOC> Sable says, "we can rest in the secrete hall"
GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+4: (6)+4: 10, "Sable gets..."
GAME: Khepri rolls 1d8+4: (2)+4: 6, "Yaretzi gets..."
<OOC> Schara says, "a long rest sounds good"
<OOC> Jay says, "there's a dwarf ale and food tent 200' away,"
<OOC> Jay says, "if we're going to take a long rest Jay will take it in the mining camp"

The smoke takes some time to clear- it's thick and oily, and leaves a faint greasy residue on hair and clothes that were exposed to it. But it does eventually clear from the air, showing the extent of the fight. Blood and bile stains the flagstones, but the day is won. The troglodytes, bar one, lay dead or dieing. One of them is merely unconscious, still breathing.

The room to the north appears to be some kind of grand dining hall- statues flank the walls, and stone tables arrayed around the room, as wlel as the remnants of broken chairs. Somewhat defiled by its former Troglodytes tenants, with discarded remnants of meals and effluence piled in one corner near the throne. A throne upon which still sits the skeletal remains of a Khazad from times long past.

Hanging from the neck of the Troglodyte berserker is what at first appears to be a large pendant. But closer examination reveals that the rune engraved upon its surface matches those of the segmented dais in the center of the room- a dais which has a large circular recess at its center.

Khepri dispenses what magical healing it can still muster, the golem showing signs of wear and tear itself. It eyes the unconscious troglodyte balefully, before looking to Crik. "Make sure that is restrained," it states flatly, before regarding the room with a careful eye.

The archaeologists outside asked the group not to disturb any remains. The skeleton could be moved, if someone wanted. Khepri would advise against messing with the skeleton. If the -troglodytes- weren't messing with it (much)....

The bluejay has taken a moment to drink some water, wait for his stomach to settle, and clean off his armour. His thin sword, unfortunately, doesn't need much cleaning. He was far more successful in missing his strikes.

Egalrin eyes have spotted the match between pendant and dais. "Those go together, allegedly." He's also noticed the new rattles and loose panels on Khepri. His head tilts, "Do you need artifice tools to recover, or you repair in another fashion?"

A look at another, Crik, "You feeling up to looking for more traps?"

Crik looks as the last troglodyte gets demolished. A moment later he opens his beak and let's out a quiet set of 'caw-caw's.

The hand crossbow disappears under his robe and he tilts his head towards Khepri. The corvid egalrin bobs his head down a moment, then back up. "The artificer is correct, the doors are heralds of death traps." And yet again, he opens up his beak for a moment, before he fetches out his spidersilk rope.

Jay's question makes him tilt his head sideways - still holding his beak open - and slowly blink dark eyes at Jay. "After the restriction." He holds up his rope and gestures at the troglodyte.

"You did not need to kill them, or, perhaps I am just telling myself that." The artificer sighs as the last body is unceremoniously cut down, and they flick a switch to cease the steaming from their armor joints that shrink down to normal size. "It had to be done before they killed any of us, and I was hesitating. Still, I don't know if we should be finding more traps right now. Everyone is hurt pretty bad except for me, and we should still bury the bodies outside and see to the concious ones."

"Work is work, but this is suck." Yar still grumbles as the healing from Khepri does something to her wounds. What? It's hard to tell. A nod given when the war golem is done.

Yar's eyes are glancing about the room as she carefully moves from her spot, sliding back into the safety of another bit of floor. She's a bit slow, time taken to clean her blade and return it to the leather frog. "They not be wanting to waggle tongue. Not big talkers." seeing as they never replied to her.

"Doors, and death traps. Fitting words for this place." Yar muses to Jay's observation and banter. She lets them handle the prisoner.

Sable goes to get her gun and reloads it, she frowns looking to the device before she looks over to Kepri. "I would like to give last rites to my kin if its allowed at somepoint"

Khepri turns its head to regard Sable, and looks thoughtful. "The archaeologists did ask for none of the remains to be disturbed. However... allow me to inspect the bones first. I wish to ascertain if they will rise if touched. That would be inconvenient." A pause. "If not, we will speak the words, and then we will request the archaeologists come directly here. It is unseemly for any to be left in such a manner overlong."

The bones do not appear animated, and closer inspection seems to reveal that something has in fact disturbed the skeleton at some point. Its neck vertebrae have been roughly treated, and its skull is removed from the body and fallen into its lap as a result. Its ancient robes are barely more than wispy scraps, they look so fragile they might crumble at the lightest touch. But the dull greenish grey metal of its crown looks as though it could have been forged just yesterday.

Integrity is carefully stalking about the room, one step, hesitate, another step. Ostensibly he's looking for more traps, but it functions as a thoughtful pacing. "The proper ceremonies would take time, for a king, or whatever those remains are. They look important, allegedly. We wouldn't want to rush the ceremony, or bring in the archeologists when it isn't safe."

"I think we should check the other rooms, then when the area is secure, get to them." He clacks his beak, "I guess, my biggest concern is the throne will collapse or move if we put the pendant and pedestal together." Jay glances at the damaged skeleton and the troglodyte with the prize. "Well, collapse more."

Resting is the first thing on Yar's mind, letting the others investigate and go about the decision making. "Just point Yar to foe when it is found. The planning, and decisions are best left to others." a grin forming on the woman's features. "Yar's decisions tend to make more trouble for others." this seeming to be a statement of pride.

Khepri cautiously circles the throne, studying it, before stopping. "Integrity is correct," the golem intones. "We do not know this dwarf's name, or ancestry. Worse, we do need to secure the rest of the area." It pauses, then kneels down in front of the bones.

With startling gentleness, the Executor bows until the tip of its beak is an inch from the ground. "Do not fear, honored dead. You will not be left behind. You will not be forgotten. We are here. Your kin is here. Soon, you will be borne home, to slumber in peace. The Grey Harpist knows you, and loves you, as she does all things. Only wait a short time, I ask of you."

Once its voice subsides, the Executor rises, creaking a bit. "Let us continue, make sure the side rooms are cleared."

Crik in the meanwhile, busies himself in tying up the troglodyte with the rope. His wings flap and he lets out unbecoming caws as he moves the large body around - but eventually he gets back up to his feet and his half-hunched pose.

"No need to find more corpses tonight, when the morning dew will rise the dead regardless." The corvid egalrin says, before he moves to help Jay to actually find the traps around the room.

<OOC> Jay says, "I'm fine with fast forwarding if it could get us to another potential conflict. Like if it's a few perception, Disable device and sneak rolls to do it safely, I think that works."
<OOC> Crik 's fine with either!
<OOC> Yaretzi is okay with either. :)
<OOC> Subduction says, "Alright, well give me perception checks Crik and Jay."
GAME: Jay rolls perception+2: (13)+15+2: 30
GAME: Crik rolls perception: (18)+11: 29

A though examination of the immediate surroundings reveals not one but two more pressure plates- the first of them immediately after the door headed east, the second further down the corridor into which Jay earlier fled the smoke and stench for the sake of their stomach. Both traps are readily found and marked with chalk, although getting around them will require some athleticism or careful tiptoeing given the narrow confines in which they are installed.

Another secret door is discovered, mirroring the one by which they entered the central chamber- this too leads back towards the muster points on either side of the main entrance, the ones with the murder holes the Troglodytes used to assault them with javelins when first they entered.

"Right! Rain in the morning wakes up the dead." Jay repeats mindlessly, reciting an idiom of sorts, then adding, "Allegedly."

He straddles the most recently marked trap, "Don't step here. Here. Or There, or there."

After the second secret passage, the bluejay egalrin concludes, "It seems symmetrical so far. Very dwarven." He taps thoughtfully away at his beak. "Where to next..."

OOC & Combatty

Map
<OOC> Subduction says, "In the mean time, I have this: http://143.47.248.14:30000/game"
<OOC> Subduction says, "Pick an unoccupied Player and then select your character from the prompt."
<OOC> Subduction says, "No passwords needed, just leave it blank."
<OOC> Subduction says, "I'll handle moving tokens and such around, so don't worry about that- it'll work just like Mipui. But you should be able to see your character's perspective and LoS"
<OOC> Subduction says, "Leave the password blank, just select player 5 as the username"
<OOC> Subduction says, "And the resolution error is just a warning, you should be able to dismiss it. You won't need to interact with the UI, I'll be handling movement and such"

 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 3 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
  >> 22   Khepri           1   <<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     13   Yaretzi          1  Raging (2 rnds active)                       
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     11   Troglodyte 3     1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     10   Jay              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     10   Troglodyte Bers  1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     9    Sable            1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     8    Troglodyte Warp  1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     7    Crik             1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     6    Schara           1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     1    Troglodyte 1     1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Crik..........|    8     |  16  |
 | Jay...........|   25     |  42  |
 | Khepri........|   26     |  37  |
 | Sable.........|    9     |  23  |
 | (C) Jhor......|   13     |  13  |
 | Schara........|   16     |  16  |
 | Yaretzi.......|   24     |  39  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 ===================== Current Initiative Order - Round 4 =====================
 ---Init--Name------------AOO-Notes--------------------------------------------
     22   Khepri           1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     13   Yaretzi          1  Raging (4 rnds active); Raging (3 rnds       
                              active)                                      
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     10   Jay              1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     10   Troglodyte Bers  1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     9    Sable            1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  >> 8    Troglodyte Warp  1   <<
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     7    Crik             1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     6    Schara           1  
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ==============================================================================
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 |     Name      |  CHP (T) |  HP  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 | Crik..........|    8     |  16  |
 | Jay...........|   25     |  42  |
 | Khepri........|   14     |  37  |
 | Sable.........|    9     |  23  |
 | (C) Jhor......|   13     |  13  |
 | Schara........|   16     |  16  |
 | Yaretzi.......|   12     |  39  |
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~