PrP: T&T&T

It a simple little note at the Guildhouse that brings you to a small apartment near the old docks. 'Experienced spelunkers needed. Good money. Visit (Address) at noon.' And here you are. It's a ratty tenament on the top floor of a small apartment complex, apparently made for smaller races, mostly inhabited by goblins and the occasional halfling and kobold. An elderly gnome with white hair and bushy eyebrows answers the small door and waves you inside. A tea kettle is whistling, and he goes to fetch it while you make yourselves at home. "I suppose you're the adventurers I made that note for. I'm Gerjon Dunwick. I'm wanting to discuss a business venture with you, if you'll listen."

Drakha is not terribly small really, quite the contrary, he is rather huge by normal standards, so it is likely a bit difficult for him to fit in there. He isn't really terribly experienced spelunker either, but well, he could use the gold still, and usually the actual level of expertise needed is exaggerated anyway, so here he is.

Arissa stands as someone mindful of the different dimensions here; she's careful not to trip over anything in what is, to her, basically akin to an early child's room in size. As the gnome returns, she smiles and offers a curtsy to him. "Of course. We have already come to visit you and really there is no reason to simply march off now. Please, share with us what you are considering?"

One may as well be a spelunker, grinding through rooms and halls smaller than reasonable. (ie-- tall) "Unless one becomes hungry," Zarr chimes in at the end of Arissa's words. Half-crouched at one side of the room, the (other) scarlet Makar leans against the wall, crochety and grouchy as is usual for the ill-tempered warrior.

A spelunker? Well, Karl has been in caves before, and he could use the money, so he shows up with the others. "That's why we're here, sir," he offers to the bushy-browed fellow; looking around the cramped little place and crouching down a bit to settle in, "Something to do with caverns and the like, I imagine?"

Teppus, on the other hand, is not what you'd call an experienced spelunker, but he does have the look of a veteran to him as he arrives. He gives a nod of his head towards the old gnome, adding, "Here *and* listening."

Gerjon pushes a rickety tea trolley out with a copper tea set that has seen better days. In fact, the whole apartment looks ratty, but that's in keeping with the rest of this whole place. He pours out a tiny cup of tea for each of you and takes a seat himself, hands resting on his walking stick, "Well, do you folks know what a tontine is?"

"Forgive me," Arissa responds after tilting her head down in momentary thought. Matters of finance or betting schemes elude her. "But I haven't the faintest." She takes to what little tea is offered, then, "Could you tell us more?"

Zarr eyes the gnome, and leaves the tea set alone. Tea is for the weak!

Karl reaches out for the teacup, admitting, "No idea."

Drakha stays silent for now as he just watches the gnome and waits for him to continue, the human girl is doing all the questioning needed for the moment, anyway.

"Not me," says Teppus with a snort. "Not in the slightest, actually."

"A tontine is this sort of financial type deal. Everybody in a group puts in money and gets interest off it, with the capital going toward the survivors when a fella dies, until one guy is left and he's rich. Back when I was a soldier, ages back. Me and my unit we was stationed at New Rosalia, the Myrrish Colonies. These savage upstarts started unifying tribes and making a huge fuss, butchering folk. So they sent our unit. Me, Stinky, Artamek, Willem, Uther, Kirlav, and Captain Greeves. I don't want to waste your time with old war stories but we were the unit that cleared out their temple....And it was loaded to the gills with enough gold and gems to make a man a fortune. We was supposed to turn over what we found to our superiors, but Captain Greeves said we should keep it. Well, we decided to start a tontine. We hid until our tour was over and we came back. We got a lockbox so strong it'd take a dozen ogres to break it open, a lock that's unpickable, and hid it. The key went to a safety deposit box with instructions it only be opened with proof of all but one death. Set it up nice secret like with one of the dwarven banking clans. We all got a big handful of loot to tide us over. That was 70 years ago. After Greeves died, he was a half-elf mind you....It was just down to Kirlav and me. What with him being a dwarf. But he died in a cave-in, Reos bless his soul last month. Word finally got to me, and I went and got the key and headed to our hiding place. Old cave about 50 miles northeast of here. Only when I got there, I saw a giant troll climbing out of the cave. So here we are. You go in there and get rid of the troll, get the box out, we'll go 60%/40%. 40% will last me well on to the grave, and what's left ought to be a pretty penny, even split 5 ways. So what do you say?" The old gnome smiles feebly and sips his tea.

Drakha stays silent as he listens to what the gnome is saying, long winded fellow it seems, but after all that blabbering he does finally get to the point it seems. "So, you want us to get a box that is guarded by a troll?" he summarizes the relevant part of the gnomes tale, before glancing around the others to see what they think.

"And recover his treasure," Zarr adds, steel-tipped tail curving slowly. "Hsssk. I did not think gnomes had sense, but thisss... Keeping treasure, hidden away for ages?" He snorts briefly, eyes closing as he stretches with a low rattle. "It seems almost civilized. I approve."

Karl's lips purse in a slight frown as he listens to the man's words--leaning back just a bit in his seat, the tea-cup set down once more, as if perhaps he'd been put off his tea. "Alright," he allows then with a sudden, crooked smile, "Sounds simple enough."

"Sounds fine to me," replies Teppus, firmly, "A troll's a dangerous creature. Real dangerous." He shakes his head. "If there is on there, dealing with it something that ought to be done regardless. Such creatures can not be permitted to threaten the locals, that's for sure." He adjusts his helm.

Arissa looks sedate and unenthused by this tale... just a trail of deaths linked to betting. "I did not enter my contract to pursue so much profit... nonetheless, the troll may yet be a matter of some concern." She makes a slight nod to the gnome, "I can only speak for myself but I will go forth and look into this." She then looks to Teppus with a faint smile, "You speak rightly enough."

"Well, I ain't saying it was right. Or even proper. But we fought and died for Rosalia, gave em everything damn near 15 years of blood soaked misery, and see where it got me?" Gerjon gestures at his ratty apartment. "I'm glad ya'll are up for it. Meet me at the gates tomorrow at dawn and I'll have a proper sized wagon and some mules."

Sure enough, at dawn Gerjon is there with a rent wagon and a few old mules, along with a few coils of hemp rope. You set travel for two and a half days, the last day going off an old logging trail that is long since abandoned to the east. Finally the road dries up and you set out on foot in the morning, taking a drag the loot back to the wagon. About two or three hours, in the freshest part of morning, you find an old rock outcropping. Gerjon puts a finger to his lips and points, "It's in there. I think it sleeps during the day. It was night when I got here last time." he whispers.

Drakha looks over towards the outcropping, and then back towards the others, holding his spear at one hand, resting it against the ground. "Anyone good in scouting?" he inquires.

As far as Karl goes, he's remarkably quiet during the trip; just riding along, keeping an eye out, and directing some rather bloody glares at the wizened gnome when he's certain the old man isn't looking. Apparently, he doesn't care for their employer. Not. One. Bit. Still, he doesn't shoot him in the back of the head or anything. Yet. As they reach the outcropping, he hefts his rifle, glancing to the others and asking quietly, "Anyone have any acid... or acid spells? Fire, too."

Teppus shakes his head as the old gnome's comments and then goes to prepare to meet them the dawn. Which he does, incidentally, dressed all nicely in his chain armor, along with his bladed stick. That really is the best way to descibe it -- a stick with what appears to be a sword blade attached to the end. It's long enough. At any rate, he pauses and asks, "Acid? What do we need acid for?" Someone does not know anything at all about trolls.

Arissa is on-time, and easy to travel with; she has few serious demands or requirements and mostly keeps quiet though she does favor either staying alone or with Karl. As they reach the cave, Karl is in fact the first one she has questions for as she looks to him: "I have little that you just described. However, tell me... you are expecting nothing but a battle? The troll within must be put to the sword as quickly as possible?"

A grunt comes as Zarr's answer, to either question or both as he holds himself still at Drakha's outcrop, glaring down intently towards the cavern. "What need to scout?" he asks, rumbling as he glances back. "Set flame within, smoke the creature out. Cut him to pieces. Burn the rest." The long red tail rattles once, briefly with its attached blades. "Hssk. Bloody butchery."

"I can scout it out," Karl allows, hopping off the wagon, "If nobody else can. Trolls're sturdy bastards - if you don't burn or sear their wounds, they'll grow back and get right up to bite your face off. It might be willing to listen to reason, but trolls aren't generally

known for their desire to parlay..."

"It's not that easy, and be quiet now! It might come out." Gerjon hisses. "Can't smoke it out. The mouth goes near straight down about 30 feet. What the rope is for."

Drakha gives a glance over towards Zarr at his question. "Well, for one to make sure that there actually is a troll in the cave at the moment." he offers in reply, then gives a look towards Karl. "I am the blood of red dragons, fire is my element, its in the blood." he then replies to the hunters questions, subject to intepretation as that answer might be.

Zarr's bladed tail rattles with malice as the Makar glances back, eyes gleaming. "Then wait to night!" he hisses, breath smoldering on the cool air. "The Blooded have no fear of battle in the night; we can strike as the creature comes, and light the evening with moon's beams, or with our own thrown flames!" He grins eagerly, that horrible, sharp-toothed grin that says everything about how bloody this should be. "Let him come to us, and enter after he has been properly.... chastised."

Arissa looks to the cave-mouth, then the group. "A rope would do little good if he is upon you within moments, I would believe. 

Would whoever goes down wish to receive wings? They would be small, and your flight under my control, but they would suffice I believe."

"The day is the best time," Karl says with a shake of his head, stretching a hand out towards Zarr, "If this is a rock troll - I've fought them before, just a couple moons ago. They've got a weakness to the sun. If worst comes to worst, this way we can try and lure the monstrous thing under Daeus's light..." The rifle's shouldered, and he looks towards the cavern, "So if it goes straight down... how does the troll get in and out, old man?"

"Indeed, good sir gnome, you've seen this thing come and go, you say?" Teppus' attention is now on the gnome as well, glancing back and forth admist the others as he awaits an answer. He peers down towards the mouth, somewhat worriedly.

Gerjon eyes Karl, "Boy, I don't like your tone. I imagine he climbs up. It ain't like he's gonna break his neck and die if he falls." He huffs, looking to Teppus, "I didn't see him go in the cave, but he was standing right next to it. I didn't stick around to see if he made himself at home, exactly. But that cave goes on for a bit before it stops, you should be able to get down there without catching his attention if you aren't terribly loud sliding down a rope."

"Ahh!?" Arissa looks to Karl, surprised by his implication... then realizes where he's going with it. "What would you have us do?" She's not asking Gerjon; she's asking Karl.

"Mhm." Karl regards the gnome for a moment... and then he shakes his head, slinging the rifle on his back. "Alright. I'll go first. Save your magics, Arissa..." A sidelong look suggests that he thinks they may need them later.

Zarr spares a glance over and back towards Karl. Metal rattles briefly as the Makar moves, and Zarr stops with a growl. "Be quieter than I," he warns, glaring at the cavern again. As though it were responsible for his lack of stealth.

Drakha offers a nod in agreement with Karl. "Yes, you are probably the best suited for scouting." he agrees before turning his attention back towards the cave entrance.

"All right. How far behind you do you want us?" asks Teppus, slinging his staff across his back for the moment, since he wants both hands to grab a rope. You know.

Arissa makes a curtsy to Karl. "Your words mirror my own mind, and I am ready to begin when you are." She takes a few steps toward the cave, but waits for the others to go ahead and make the preparations for entry... especially since they'll be going first.

"Give me a good.. thirty feet or so," suggests Karl, before heading towards the cave.

"Sounds good," says Teppus with a nod towards Karl, "I'll be right down behind you. Thirty feet, of course." And with that, he'll descend at the thirty feet mark.

As you look upon the rock outcropping and climb up, you see the cave entrace. A jagged thing roughly 12 feet diameter. The shaft does go down quite a bit, like Gerjon described, with rough walls with plenty of handholds and ledges. There is a distinctive stink. The faint smell of death and a musky odor that is obvious as being trollish to anybody that is familiar with them. A rope thrown down allows easy descent. With Karl scouting out, he goes first and sees a large tunnel that slopes downwards, going on for twenty feet before it twists off. It is utterly silently. Slowly, surely, and as silently as you can, the rest of you make your way down with varying degrees of effort, but don't seem to wake the beast within the cave.

The rifle on Karl's back is unslung; the magicite crystals embedded in the barrel casting a soft cerulean illumination around him. It isn't the stealthiest thing in the world, but it's better than walking into the troll in the dark. He moves down into the cave as swiftly - and quietly - as he can manage, moving ahead of the group.

GAME: Karl rolls Stealth: (9)+14: 23

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+12: (9)+12: 21

After Karl's passing, the scarlet Zarr follows behind. Nowhere near as stealthy, the lizard nevertheless manages surprisingly better than most in full plate-- dark hues help hide the glittering shine, and slow whispering movements of his tail keep the gleaming blades their from rattling. And beneath the earth, aided by ambient light, Zarr's eyes can see as easily, as surely as if the night were day.

Arissa follows the group, very cautious; she's having trouble seeing within the cave since she isn't producing any magical lights, and keeping silent... but that changes when Karl readies his rifle. She invokes her own magical light, a gloved hand now glowing as she brings her rod in-hand...

As the ranger creeps forward under the glow of his rifle deeper into the cave with the rest of the party follows behind roughly ten paces, he goes downward at a gentle slope. The floor is wet with a few trickles of water running across the floor. The tunnel continues on after it's first bed for fourty feet, before hanging a right, then goes on for another fifty feet before abruptly turning left. Creeping forward, Karl hears a soft grunt and looks around to see a large troll squatting in front of him....doing his business while reading a tiny book. Caught with his pants down (if he wore any), Karl was not expecting to see a monster taking a dump in front of him.

Surprise Round!

GAME: Teppus rolls initiative: Roll: 12 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 13 GAME: Drakha rolls initiative: Roll: 9 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 11 GAME: Arissa rolls initiative: Roll: 20 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 22 GAME: Zarr rolls initiative: Roll: 2 + Bonus: 3 = Total: 5 GAME: Karl rolls initiative: Roll: 11 + Bonus: 5 = Total: 16 GAME: You roll initiative for Trollface: Roll: 9 + Bonus: +4 = Total: 13

Current Initiative Order ====

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22                  Arissa

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16                  Karl

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13                  Trollface

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13                  Teppus

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11                  Drakha

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5                   Zarr

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===================

Oh dear. Karl just stares for a moment at the rather disgusted sight, taking a step back. He brings the rifle up to rest against his shoulder, clearing his throat briefly before offering, "Ah. Evening, Mister Troll. My apologies for the intrusion, but by any chance have you seen a lockbox in this cavern? We're hoping to pick it up and leave you in peace, if that's possible, I'd rather keep things generally affable." Hey, he's reading a book. He must know common!

GAME: Karl rolls Diplomacy: (15)+9: 24

GAME: Owen rolls 1d6+7: (1)+7: 8

GAME: Owen damaged Karl for 8 points. 41 remaining.

Troll just likes the pretty pictures. It stares blankly at Karl for the briefest of moments before it roars and drops the book, lurching forward and swiping the hunter with a claw. Then it totally makes a trollface.

GAME: Arissa casts Grease.

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+6: (15)+6: 21

Arissa can't see all of what is going on, but she can hear it and is hopeful at first... ...then there's a roar and she watches the claw-swipe; so much for the peaceful approach. Her eyes glow 'glazed gold', smiling as she jogs toward the battle... and begins twirling around, one hand held overhead as she chants in Celestial. A few seconds later, a mix of sky-blue and white gel forms under the troll's feet. It slips for a moment, then stabilizes, leaving Arissa staring at a nearby large, aggressive creature indeed...

As blood splatters to the cavern floor, Karl drops back a step. "Taara's bloody tits--" A turn on his heel, and he books it down the cavern, rifle cradled in his arms as he shouts back down towards the others, "--I don't think he's willing to talk, guys! Take him down!"

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+4: (9)+4: 13

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+10: (14)+10: 24

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+10: (4)+10: 14

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+10: (13)+10: 23

Faced with another interloper when it's first retreats, the troll lurches forward. It's feet slide at first, but it grabs the edge of the corner and launches itself forward, leaving Arissa with a grevious claw and bite wound, respectively.

GAME: Teppus rolls 1d20+11: (20)+11: 31

GAME: Teppus rolls 1d20+11: (4)+11: 15

GAME: Teppus rolls 2d4+10: (7)+10: 17

Seeing Arissa's bloodied form and Karl's retreat, Teppus races past him, sliding to a halt near Arissa and shoving her behind him while he brings the sword-staff to bear. He jabs it right at the thing's face in a powerful blow, attempting to put a quick end to the creature. He is quite nearly succesful, but it falls back just slightly and thus the wound is only awful. And healing, of course.

GAME: Drakha casts shield.

Zarr blnks as Karl all but *zips* by, hissing a breath as he shakes his head. "Too many kobolds," he rumbles to himself, steel-sheathed hands rising before him in a deadly array. "They are bad influence." A snap sets the four glittering points of the tailblade to life; the scarlet Makar curves into a hunting crouch as he snakes forward, sliding into place near Arissa. Poised like a cobra for her move back (surely it will come!), to take her place with all his deadly delight.

GAME: Arissa casts Magic Missile.

Arissa shrieks as she's torn into; that got rid of her smile in a hurry as she's knocked to her knees, eyes wide with fright... fright that her 'glazed' eyes conceals somewhat, but the rest of her body language makes plain. Scrambling back up, she feints at the troll with a brief burst of holy flame; just something to make it back off as Teppus rushes by. "Thank you," she manages before she lunges backward, retreating to the rest of the group with a limp and a hand clutched to a wound. But once some distance from the troll, she falls to her knees once more and begins more Celestial chanting, thrusting a palm at the ground...

...And an 'explosion' of gold-white light follows, engulfing everyone. When it fades, they'll feel a rush of righteous courage inspiring them to fight just that bit harder.

GAME: Karl rolls 1d20+10: (8)+10: 18

GAME: Karl rolls 1d10+1d6+7: (6)+(2)+7: 15

Once Karl's gotten a safe distance, he twists around; the rifle swept back up, jaw tightening as he takes aim at the troll's hulking form. His finger tightens on the trigger, and he takes the shot, the bullet piercing through that skin of rough flesh and passing between two ribs. Still, they're pretty big ribs, although the blood that spurts out and over its hide says that he's certainly done some damage to it.

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+10: (1)+10: 11

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

The troll, faced with bullets and polearms piercing it's flesh, nearly deafens the lot of you as it's roar of pain echoes down the tunnel. It begins to slash and bite, but between sheer back luck, the cover of the cave wall, and divine intervention, it's teeth and claws find no flesh to rend.

GAME: Teppus rolls 1d20+7: (9)+7: 16

Staggering back away from the claws directed at him, Teppus gives another go with his stick-sword-thing this time. It doesn't go quite so well for him, but then, he's no longer quite burning with righteous fire, either. Still, he glances briefly back towards Arissa, seeing that she's all right for the moment.

GAME: Drakha rolls 1d20: (17): 17

GAME: Drakha rolls 1d3: (3): 3

GAME: Drakha casts acid splash.

Drakha studies the fight and can't really see any good opening for him to join the melee without opening himself for an attack, so instead he does something else, moving the grip of his spear to one hand only, he lifts the other up front of him, palm up, eyes narrowing some in focus as a small orb of greenish liquid forms on his palm, then he turns his hand to thrust his palm towards the troll, sending the orb flying towards it and hitting its chest, splattering all over its wounds with a sizzling sound, the acidic liquid not doing that much damage on its own, but at least it burns the wounds, preventing them from regenerating, for now.

GAME: Arissa casts Summon Monster I.

Arissa gasps to Karl, "Forgive me... I had thought only to shield you from this wretch's fury..." And she did, just nearly at the cost 

of her own life. Still, her efforts had some good success; everyone is now in position due in part to her magic, and delivering significant blows.

Nonetheless, she remains on her knees. hand pressed to the ground as she chants softly... a glowing white circle forms nearby, magical runes swirling within it. She looks to Teppus as she continues to chant, acknowledging his gaze and watching his moves in the battle at hand...

GAME: Karl rolls 1d20+10: (10)+10: 20 GAME: Karl rolls 1d10+7: (3)+7: 10

"Daeus's scowl, woman, you didn't have to rush up into its claws! You aren't exactly armoured, you know," Karl replies tightly as he reloads his rifle; bringing it back up, another shot pierces into the thick hide of the disgusting giant that stands against them, "Angoron, I hate these damnable things..."

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+10: (3)+10: 13

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+10: (15)+10: 25

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+10: (5)+10: 15

Taking another blast in it's hide, the wound starts to close up, along with the polearm gut wound. But with only one warrior in easy 

reach, the troll continues to slash and bite at the paladin. Only one claw meets its mark, but it digs into Teppus' side deeply, blood pouring out of the wound.

GAME: Zarr rolls 1d20+8: (17)+8: 25

GAME: Zarr rolls 1d20+8: (14)+8: 22

GAME: Zarr rolls 1d6+5: (1)+5: 6

GAME: Zarr rolls 1d6+5: (5)+5: 10

Zarr waits for the polearm-warrior to move, stepping from beyond the wall with glittering teeth agleam. "The Greylady sends her greetings," the crimson Makar purrs, mouth hanging open in a silent hiss of teakettle laughter. And then, two clawed hands lash out in a storm of rakes, quick-cutting strokes to rend grey-green flesh into bloody ooze.

Teppus is wounded, pretty severely, when a claw slips through his defenses. He immediately cedes ground to the waiting Sith-makar 

behind him, allowing it to take his place. THis is followed by him lookin down at his shoe and saying, "Did.. did I just step in troll shit?"

GAME: Drakha rolls 1d20+6: (2)+6: 8

GAME: Drakha casts burning hands.

Drakha manuevers to an empty spot next to the troll, using his spear to keep it at bay as he focuses on manifesting his draconic heritage directly, but unfortunately an attempted attack from the troll distracts him too much that he cannot finish it, even though he avoids the attack.

GAME: Arissa rolls 1d4+2: (3)+2: 5

GAME: Arissa rolls 1d20+5: (17)+5: 22

GAME: Arissa rolls 1d20+5: (4)+5: 9

GAME: Arissa rolls 1d20+5: (2)+5: 7

Arissa responds to Karl with little more than a soft, demure noise; either too hurt and embarrassed to say much or too focused. The circle suddenly glides along the floor to be next to the troll, and an eagle with gold head-feathers emerges! It lets out an avian screech, hopping aside to be truly behind the monster, lashing out with talons and beak that glow gold.

As for the summoner, she looks up to Teppus. "Your weapon bore the mark of justice and I would see you made whole... please use this!" She retrieves a wand and hands it over to him, then that same hand glows in gold-white flame that washes over the Paladin... fire that turns into sparkles of positive energy, judging his kind heart and rewarding it by closing some of his wounds. She allows a soft smile at that result, nodding up to Teppus.

GAME: Karl rolls 1d20+10: (14)+10: 24

GAME: Karl rolls 1d10+7: (7)+7: 14

Another shot rings out, and this time Karl's bullet takes the troll right through the eye--and the troll goes down with a ground-shaking thump, blood spilling down its face. "Torch it," he shouts--too late, as the horrible giant heaves into motion a moment later!

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+6: (7)+6: 13

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+6: (18)+6: 24

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+6: (5)+6: 11

GAME: Owen rolls 1d6+7: (5)+7: 12

The troll falls to the group, but it's unconsciousness is short lives as it lurches to lay on it's side, clawing at whatever happens to be handy. The draconic sorcerer happens to be the first thing it lays eyes on. Luckily, it's half-dead state keeps it from landing any blows. Until a claw uppercut lays a nasty slash from abdomen all the up the torso.

GAME: Teppus rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25

GAME: Teppus rolls 2d4+6: (5)+6: 11

So Teppus, bleeding, peers past them as the troll falls. He quickly moves back up, at the sight of its regeneration, and drives his guisarme into it's chest. He jabs it in and twists it savagely, aiming to keep it down until it can be -dealt- with.

Zarr snarls as the troll lashes out, ravaging the crimson Makar... Unfortunately, it has chosen the wrong Makar for its cruelties, and metal claws glitter as Zarr pounces on the prone creature. A howl erupts into the air as Zarr drives the first brutal edges down into the creature's ribs; the second joins the fray hearbteats later, cracking bone and rending flesh, smashing an iron-clad blow against the sternum before using the hardened talons to split the bone, tearing it slowly open to bare the heart within.

"Burn it!" Zarr snarls, holding the regenerative ribcage open with quivering strength.

GAME: Drakha casts burning hands.

Drakha growls out as one of the creatures claws manages to strike through both the magical barrier and his thick scales, then the others knock it out again and he takes in a deep breath, then exhaling it out in a cone of fire, charring the remains of the troll, and making sure that it doesn't get back up anymore.

"Angoron's hammer, I hate those things," Karl mutters under his breath as he lowers the rifle from where he was lining up his next shot; stepping forward to see how everyone's fairing, lips pursing in a tight frown, "Let's get everyone in fighting shape, I've got a bad feeling about this whole mission... everyone still breathing?"

Zarr holds the blackening ribcage open until he is certain the vile heart within is stopped. Hissing a sullen snarl, the Makar finally releasess the charred bones, none the worse for wear from the flaming burst from his cousin. "Let us find this chest," he growls, "And depart. The stcneh of this matter sickens me."

GAME: Arissa rolls 1d4+2: (3)+2: 5

Drakha gives a slight nod to Karl as the healing is applied. "Thank you." then he walks further into the cave where the troll was, looking around. "Well, lets find what we came here for. Hopefully there wont be any other nasty surprises left."

After healing yourselves, a preliminary scan of the Troll's lair doesn't turn up any chests. Several piles of bones, humanoid and animal, along with a haunch of some humanoid calf and foot, but nothing else. There is a small 4 foot diameter hole that continues downward. A tight squeeze for a human, but impossible for the troll to crawl through.

Karl makes certain that the wand's energies are used to good effect--on Arissa, as well--and then he returns it to her, one hand clapping on her shoulder. "Don't scare me like that," he mutters, stepping back to search through the lair. The hole is considered with a frown. "...that's probably it, there."

"That must be where the gnome hid the box," suggests Teppus, looking down the hole. He's scraped his boot off on a convenient rock. "Gods above," he mutters, though he does take a moment to thank Arissa for the usage of her wand.

Arissa gives a Celestial "(Thank you,)" to the eagle, though it doesn't really understand the words so much as her tone as it vanishes back to its home plane. She then directs her divine flames upon herself and dissipates the gel on the ground. A relieved gasp follows as she stands up, rejoining the group as healing is tended to. She answers Karl in a soft voice, "Then please do not linger so far ahead of us when you have been spotted..." Teppus gets a nod, then she looks to the hole ahead. "I wonder if we might dig to it, rather than placing ourselves within or other such ways...?"

"I don't exactly have a shovel," Karl admits--crouching down beside the small tunnel, he thrusts his rifle into it, shining the cobalt light around as he tries to see if there's anything that can be seen in its blackish depths.

Sticking one's head in the hole and peering inside shows the hole veers off sharply to the right after a few feet, but then continues on for 30 feet or so with the same 4ft diameter dimensions roughly, before it appears to open up into a larger chamber. A dark sheen of cast iron and brown rust stands out against the dim shadowy edges of the rifles light. Looking with darkvision reveals a 3' x 2' x 4' a solid lockbox.

"So what do you see? Do we need to just go through?" asks Teppus, eyeing the hole with some trepidation. Okay, so he might be a fearless paladin, but that doesn't mean he's not allowed to be a little claustrophobic.

Drakha peers into the hole and looks around for a few moments, before straightening up again and looking to the others. "The lockbox is there in some kind of chamber at the end of the tunnel, didn't see anything else there." he informs the others. "So I think whoever can best fit into the tunnel can just go and get it."

With a grimace at Karl's expression, Teppus sighs. "Go in first. I'll come in after you. If there's any traps that the gnome decided not to tell us about, I'd rather someone who might have some idea how to deal with them find them.. you, uh.. you *do* know a thing or two about traps, don't you?" He sounds hopeful.

"You might say that," Karl replies with a low chuckle... and he slings his rifle, dropping down to his hands and knees and starting to crawl into the tunnel. Slowly, and keeping an eye out for wires, half-buried pressure plates, and other possible traps left behind.

With all the paranoia of a seasoned adventurer, Karl creeps down the tunnel on hands and knees as it drops to a 3 foot diameter at a few points. It looks like all natural limestone cave, as evidenced by yet more gentle downward slope and more more trickling water on the floor. A nerve-wracking several minutes later, the rifleman reaches the larger chamber, again...all natural. The lockbox sits there in all it's glory, the iron rusted over in large patches, save the alchemically treated lock built into it. Hinges on the inside, so no breaking them off. No handles. But a tedius 2 minutes of checking it later reveals it to be free of traps. But very very heavy. At least 300 pounds, if not more.

"I've some rope in my backpack. We can tie one end around it and haul it, then tie it off to the top we used to climb down here, climb up, then haul it up. It'll be hard work, but nothing we can't do. Assuming the chest doesn't fall to pieces when it bangs against the rocks or whatever. It's either that or unlock the chest and take everything up in loads," suggests Teppus, cheerily.

Arissa steps forward as Karl finishes probing for traps, and smiles to him, then the others. "You may leave that to me. I am able to make it fly in a sense... you will have to push it, but the actual lifting is easy enough?"

ZarrProxy suggests using the mule to haul it up. He volunteers to go get the mules and rope. Exit stage left.

GAME: Arissa casts Levitate.

        Arissa steps over to view the chest, hands glowing white as she chants in Celestial once more... and then something weird 

happens; the box grows wings! Small ones, white and feathery... miniature angel wings, in effect. She focuses on it, and the wings begin to flap and let the box fly upward slowly...

And once it's on eye level with the party, she spins to smile at them and steps aside. "You may proceed now."

A bark of laughter as those little wings flutter on the chest's sides. "That's one way to do it," Karl exhales a low chuckle, glancing to Teppus, "Let's wrap that rope around it and wrangle this... fluttery little box, eh?"

Pushing the hovering iron lockbox back up the tunnel and to the bottom of the shaft leading out is little to no problem at all. At the top stands Gerjon, smoking a thin cigar with a smile on his face. "So you found it...That old thief bastard wasn't lying after all, god rest his troll-chewed bones." Gerjon's crotchety old Rosalian accent is gone, replaced with something more...Charnese. "No use for this old ruse anymore, I suppose." The 'elderly gnome' peels off his white wig and fake prosthetic nose, and wipes off the age spots. they get tossed down in the shaft. It's a devilishly handsome young halfling with a sharkish grin on his face, "Reginald Gallowgate, Master Thespian at your service. Well, not your service now, but no matter. Go ahead and float that little box up here and back up and I won't use these babies." The halfling pulls out two classic bombs with extremely short fuses. "I don't know if they'll cause a cave in, but is it really worth the chance? You float the box up and hang tight long enough for me to bring the wagon around and I'll leave you and my new extra special charmed buddy Zarr alive and unharmed. No shame in beating bested by Old Reggie. It's not an exclusive club, mind you, thousands of members, but consider it an honor! What shall it be, old friends?"

"You're fucking kidding me, right?"

That's what Teppus says as he looks up at him. He just *looks* at him with hsi face screwing up into the kind of expression 

someone makes when the guy nexts to them farts. In church.

The light of Karl's rifle was plenty of warning as he led the way out of the darksome cavern... and he stops dead staring up at the gnome for a long moment. "Well," he drawls out finally, "It seems that we're at an impasse here, Master Gallowgate. You've got our friend up there, and the second you twitch that hand of yours or take a step back, I've put a bullet through that bomb and you're out a hand. If not a head."

        Arissa looks up to Reginald, unimpressed. "Really you give yourself too much credit. You spoke of so much craft and profit 

even when we first met, and gave us no reason to trust you. Further there is a bounty upon my head and I do not travel without friends behind me, the least of which is the church of Althea that has granted me sanctuary. There was time enough to inform them where I was going and they may arrive soon. You do not think yourself able to best all of them, do you?"

It's a mix of truth and lie... more lie than truth, but enough of both that she's hoping to unnerve the halfling looming above them. "Perhaps you would see reason and deal with us more honestly."

"I'll burn that bridge when I get to it sweetheart." Reggie says with a grin. He still has this arrogant belief he's won. He mutters something to himself in halfling, shaking his head, turning his attention to Karl, "You could do that, friend, but I'm pretty quick with my hands. Is it worth the risk? Just throw your rifle up here, and we all walk away alive."

Drakha looks up to the gnome turned out to be a halfling, narrowing his eyes some, giving a glance towards Arissa at her words, he isn't sure if it was wise to give that kind of information to an obviously greedy individual, that he then looks back up to. He is not that much afraid of the bombs, fire does not hurt him... too much, but cave in might be... uncomfortable. "A greedy thief... who would have guessed." he offers, rising to his full height as he glares up to the halfling. "You would do well to listen to the soft skin, and settle on the split that was agreed upon. Because otherwise your options are not nearly as good, either your bombs do not collapse the cave, and we will tear you apart, or they do, and your precious chest will be buried along with it, either way, you will get nothing." he states in a firm voice.

And up goes the rifle, tossed up to the edge of the pit as Karl decides to 'play along' with the halfling's little intimidation game. As it clatters up there, he slants a look to Arissa--then nods up a bit. There's a reason that he suggested she keep her spells safe, after all.

Teppus puts his hands together behind his back, weapon still stashed. "You've got us at a disadvantage here. A big one." He squints at him. "But I need to point something out that you might not know. In fact, I'm pretty sure you don't know it. Y'see.. I'm this thing called a paladin." Oh no.

The halfling eyes Drakha. He might not show it, being all socially adept and stuff, but the Sith'makar creeps him out. Alot. "Well, if it caves in, I can just camp out getting unseen servants to clear the rubble. The box looks like it'll survive. You won't. And if it doesn't cave in....well, I'm a Tarienite. I takes my chances...but I think the odds are in my favor right now. But I like the stones you got, you got moxie. Tell you what, float that box up here and I'll pop it up and I'll leave you a little something something. Mule's saddlebags can't cart that much anyway." He looks at Teppus incredously and grins, "Bullshit, throw your symbol up here." That seems to be rattling him a little more. A single bead of sweat trickles down his forehead.

"Well, the plan was you get all dead or knackered up killing the troll and beat up. I didn't know you were gonna fix yourselves up. But hmm. Paladin...Tell you what, if we get to scrappin and I start losing, I'll surrender and you can take me prisoner instead of killing me on the spot. It's nice fighting upstanding guys with honor, y'know?" Reggie snaps back.

Drakha starts to climb up up the slope towards the halfing, deliberately slowly like he would not be worried at all, and keeping the gaze of those creepy reptilian eyes focused on the halfling, speaking in that same calm and self assured tone like he would have nothing to be concerned of. "I am of the blood of red dragons you fool, fire is my element, you really think your bombs are going to do hurt me? My patience is starting to wear thin, this is your last chance to be reasonable, fourty percent of whatever is in that chest is much better than nothing, don't you agree?"

"Oh. I was just thinking a fitting punishment would be throwing you down here and leaving you to rot with the troll corpse. I'm nothing if not fair," says Teppus, briefly, in response to Reggie.

GAME: Arissa rolls Dexterity: (1)+2: 3

GAME: Karl rolls initiative: Roll: 19 + Bonus: 5 = Total: 24

GAME: Arissa rolls initiative: Roll: 9 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 11

GAME: Drakha rolls initiative: Roll: 12 + Bonus: 2 = Total: 14

GAME: You roll initiative for Reggie: Roll: 19 + Bonus: +4 = Total: 23

GAME: Teppus rolls initiative: Roll: 10 + Bonus: 1 = Total: 11

GAME: Karl rolls 1d20+7: (16)+7: 23

GAME: Karl rolls 1d8: (6): 6

A whirl back towards the front, the pistol in Karl's hand leaping as if of its own accord to aim--a dead-on line with that bomb as the halfling touches the cigar to the fuse. The sharp echo of a gunshot rings through the pit as he snaps off the shot on the spur of the moment at a perfect shot for the explosive threatening to bury them. "Take him down," he shouts.

GAME: Drakha rolls reflex: (10)+2: 12

GAME: Arissa rolls Reflex: (14)+4: 18

GAME: Karl rolls Reflex: (13)+12: 25

GAME: Teppus rolls Ref: (5)+1: 6

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+10: (13)+10: 23

GAME: Owen rolls 2d6: (10): 10

GAME: Karl rolls 2d6: (7): 7

GAME: Drakha rolls 1d100: (77): 77

Reggie, always one to follow through and not be a quitter, drops his bomb down, letting it clatter down before it explodes, spraying shrapnel and hot fire all over the place. Meanwhile his own bomb goes off and he crouches, getting pepppered with tiny fragments himself. "NICE SHOT!" He calls out as he steps backward, "BUT YOU FACE REGINALD GALLOWGATE, MASTER THESPIAN. THERE IS STILL TIME TO SURRENDER AND WALK AWAY LEST YOU FACE MY WRATH!" The halfling calls out. It sounds more like a pep talk for himself than an actual threat. Or he's just that arrogant.

GAME: Arissa casts Levitate.

Arissa smiles up at Reginald. Her words contradict her demeanor, though. "Did you know? I act under the orders of the heavens, so it is their wrath you should fear and there will be no more of your boasting!" She begins chanting in Celestial... interrupted briefly as she dives away from the bomb, crying out as its blast partially catches her regardless. But she's still standing, and finishes her chant; a white glow leaves her hands and envelops Karl, solidifying into mini-angel wings on his back. "Karl! This is the flight I spoke of, so be ready!" Then she wraps her arms around him, holding on tight as she prepares to control her magic...

So Teppus, on the other hand, still has that faintly azure-glowing want that Arissa gave him earlier. He watches as the pair head up, recovering from the explosion that'd knocked him more or less senseless. Channeling Serriel's will through the wand, he manages to restore some energy to his battered, bruised, and bloodied form. "..can't *hear* a damn thing anymore," he mutters, ears no doubt ringing quite badly after the concussive force lifted him off his feet and left him prone for a moment.

Picking his sword staff back up, he tries to begin looking for a place to wedge it, to use it as a climbing tool.

GAME: Karl rolls 1d20+9: (19)+9: 28

GAME: Karl rolls 1d20+9: (6)+9: 15

GAME: Karl rolls 1d8: (6): 6

A bloody graze cuts across the halfling's shoulder from another bullet, and Karl starts reloading; pausing as he suddenly has ephemeral wings tugging up against him. The shout explains things, and he grins a bit, leaning back against Arissa as the sorceress's arms wrap about him, "Alright, then... bring us up, darlin'."

GAME: Karl rolls Fort: (15)+6: 21

The halfling clutches his wounded shoulder and gasps, "Damn, you're a real pest with that thing. It'd be a damn shame if you went -BLIND-." And with that the ranger's vision begins to fade to black, but being a rough and tough sort, Karl fights the magic off and his sight returns.

GAME: Drakha rolls climb+2: (8)+2+2: 12

GAME: Drakha rolls climb+2: (12)+2+2: 16

Drakha growls in frustration as he glances up along the wall, lifting his hands up, the claws at his fingers grow to vicious looking talons, able to easily rend flesh, and hopefully also cling to the stone better, starting to make his way up along the slope with their help.

GAME: Arissa casts Levitate.

"Right!" Arissa steadies her mind, focusing on the wings... they begin to flap, lifting Karl and Arissa out of the cave. Her hands move oddly within the limited space they have, arms still wrapped around Karl, as she repeats her chant; Teppus too gains the miniature wings...

GAME: Teppus rolls 1d8+1: (4)+1: 5

As he sprouts wings thanks to Arissa's magic, Teppus' face goes from determined to somewhat incredulous. "Really?" he says. Then he shakes his head, moves towards Drakha, and channels healing energy directly into him from the wand. "That ought to help," he mutters.

GAME: Karl rolls 1d20+8: (7)+8: 15

Bang! Uhoh. Karl's aim is off, a little wobbling as he floats, "Crap."

GAME: Arissa rolls Reflex: (6)+4: 10

GAME: Owen rolls 2d6: (5): 5

Reggie dodges the blow as he goes for a tumble roll to stand on Karl's rifle, drawing a dagger as he does so. His other hand goes to pull out a little bit of bacon grease from his spell component pouch and with a few muttered words and a flick of his hands, Karl gets all greasy, and the celestial sorceress plummets to the bottom of the pit.

GAME: Drakha rolls climb+2: (19)+2+2: 23 GAME: Drakha rolls climb+2: (20)+2+2: 24

Drakha seems to indeed have much more progress in the climbing now with the help of those strong claws that can cling to the rough surface of the stone easily, getting his head to almost the level of the edge of the pit already, his eyes focused up to the goal, almost there.

Arissa lands in a hurt, crumpled heap back in the cave. She calls out in a pained voice, "Really you... only delay the inevitable!" Not even bothering to lose time picking herself up, she focuses on two pairs of wings at the same time; Karl's and Teppus'. "It is as I say! Ready yourself..." It's exactly like she claimed: Karl exits the cave, and Teppus begins to rise out as well.

With Arissa's help, Teppus is now rising up. He eyes Drakha, "Uh.. she'll get you in a moment, I think." He readies his bladed stick, then calls out, "We're coming for you, you would be slick bastard!" That's to the halfling, incidnetally.

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

GAME: Karl rolls 1d8+4: (1)+4: 5

"What--" As there's suddenly a sheen of grease on Karl's body, Arissa falls. There's a brief snarl of anger from the gunman, and he grabs hold of the nearby ground--pulling himself onto it, the gun snaps up, and another bullet grazes the halfling's hip. "The next one goes in your head you dog-licking, otyugh-kissing Deimos-loving sonofabitch!"

GAME: Drakha rolls reflex: (8)+2: 10

GAME: Owen rolls 2d6: (8): 8

The halfling bard winces in pain as he takes another bullet, but is still up. Looking over at the pit, he spies another mole to whack, proverbially. "Up. Second verse, same as the first!" And with a little mojo, the wall Drakha was climbing becomes thick and greasy, causing the Sith sorcerer to plummet to the ground. "This is pretty fun!" Reggie cackles.

GAME: Drakha casts acid splash.

GAME: Drakha rolls 1d20+3: (7)+3: 10

Drakha hisses out angrily as the damned midget greases up the wall, as if it hadn't been hard enough to climb anyway. He stands up and points a finger up towards the halfling, while his claws shrink back down to normal size, an orb of greenish liquid flies towards the halfling, but the edge of the pit is in the way and it just hits that instead of him.

Arissa looks up to Reginald. "Wretch! You would delight in bringing pain to kind and worthy people!" She thrusts a palm up at him, creating two gold-white magic orbs that strike him and briefly stagger the halfling... then looking at Teppus' wings and focusing, bringing him out of the cave as well. She remains lying within the cave, wincing and coming to terms with injuries even as Drakha falls nearby...

GAME: Teppus rolls 1d20+3: (19)+3: 22

GAME: Teppus rolls 2d4+6: (6)+6: 12

"Hi," says Teppus as he floats up over the edge of the cave mouth. He then swings the flat side of the blade on the end of his stick right at the halfling's head. CRACK. Right across the temple it goes.

GAME: Karl rolls Acrobatics: (8)+10: 18

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+7: (8)+7: 15

GAME: Karl rolls 1d20+7: (14)+7: 21

GAME: Owen rolls 3d6: (13): 13

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+12: (7)+12: 19

GAME: Owen rolls 1d6: (6): 6

"...oh to hell with it." Karl doesn't even bother reloading the pistol; he breaks into a run along the edge of the pit, taking a brief jump

that takes him over a blind swipe of Reggie's dagger and lands on the other side of him. "Buh-bye now, Reggie," he states cheerfully, 

planting his foot against the halfling's back and punting him into the pit.

"AW BITCHES!" Reggie calls out as he goes sailing through the air and plummets into the pit. He lands on his side and groans, "That was really dirty, Karl. Well played." The halfling calls out, along with a few arcane gestures and words, before he turns invisible.

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+10: (16)+10: 26

GAME: Drakha casts burning hands.

GAME: Drakha rolls 2d4+2: (3)+2: 5

Drakha fixates his gaze on the halfling when he falls down to the pit, at least until he suddenly disappears. He growls, stepping closer as he takes in a deep breath, then leaning orward as he lets it out in a cone of fire engulfing the spot where the halfling just was, along with its vicinity, managing to catch him partly into the fire, but that bastard just refuses to die it seems.

Arissa blinks as the halfling lands nearby. "Perhaps your fortunes have rever... hn!?" He vanishes in the middle of her victory speech, and she responds by rising to her feet, morningstar in hand while looking up out of the cave. "He is among us, albeit unseen! /One/ of you, and only one, jump in and I will control your fall safely!" She watches and waits...

GAME: Teppus rolls intimidate: (3)+7: 10

"Okay, guy. I think you've had about enough," says Teppus as he floats down to the ground with the aid of Arissa's magic. "Wow. That's sort of fun. Anyways, there's no way out of the cave past us and you really should just save us all the trouble of beating you into unconsciousness. Guy like you, I am sure there are plenty of authorities just *loving* the idea of getting a chance to talk to you. Positively salivating."

So that's why Karl threw his rifle up here. So he could pick it up when he got up here! He picks it up off the grass, reloading it carefully, humming a cheerful little hunting song as he does so.

"Wasn't how I planned on using this." Reggie's voice calls out. A moment later, a vial appears as it cast aside, shattering on the cave floor.

Drakha takes out his spear that he had strapped to his back earlier for the climbing, holding it front of him in a ready position as he glares towards the general direction of where the halflings voice came from. "You are trapped now, this is your last chance to get out from here alive. Surrender now, or we will simply take your precious chest with us, and collapse the cave and leave -you- here to rot, decide quickly, my patience is wearing thin."

GAME: Arissa rolls Spellcraft: (2)+7: 9

Arissa looks to the chest, focusing on it and letting it settle to the ground; Reginald can have fun moving all three hundred pounds 

plus of that unaided! She then looks to the spilled remains of the vial, eyes narrowing... then head shaking. "I've no idea what he used."

"You do realize there's no way out past us and that spell is only going to last so long, right?" calls Teppus as he lands on the ground, giving his guisarme a twirl.

KarlBOT takes aim. Also makes a large donation to the Althean Temple Fund for Poor Adventuring Clerics.

Utter silence fills the air. For once, the mouthy bard is silent.

GAME: Drakha rolls perception: (1)+5: 6

Drakha just stays standing there for the moment, holding his spear at the ready, he focuses his attention on the remains of the vial for a moment, trying to figure out what it might have contained, but doesn't have any more luck than the other sorcerer.

Arissa looks around a few more seconds and protests, "I have no means of finding that wretch!" Then she realizes, "/I/ do not, however..." And begins chanting in Celestial, a white glowing circle forming on the ground near her.

So Teppus opens his mouth to say somethying. Then he sighs. "I can't find him either," he says, glancing back and forth. He begins jabbing at the air with his stick, listening and hoping to locate the son of a bitch. Or son of a halfling.

GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+11: (20)+11: 31 GAME: Owen rolls 1d20+11: (20)+31: 51

Reggie's voice finally breaks the silence from behind a boulder. "You guys play rough! Have a fun walk hauling that chest home. Sleep tight!" And with a few quick words and invisible gestures that a spellcraft savvy individual could identify as an Expedious Retreat spell.

With that, Karl takes a snap shot that pings off the boulder and the pitter patter of little feet sound off into the treeline. Reginald might gotten away, but you got the treasure! You haul the chest out and lug it back to the old logging road, only to to find the wagon burned to a char and the mules missing. You bury the chest or hide in a nice spot once Karl is sure the little halfling isn't about and head back to town to get a wagon and horses to haul the box away. And you do. Now just to take the time to get this thing open!'s