Demons and Doors 4.0? [DM Jerry] Wednesday May 21st, 2008 6:12:41 PM
Our heroes, reaching a consensus move for the 3rd door. Rosario moves towards the door, when Calvierius passes him by....but is it bravery or impatience that drives him?
The secret door as if wanting to be found opens when it recognizes Calvierius' intent to enter through it. Calvierius finds another tube leading off at a right angle to the downward tube heading further into the mountain, parallel to the original tube.
Looking down, Rosario sees the downward passage. Another Demon's face with a huge open maw ends the passage 100' further ahead (down).
----------- That's 3 Test Completed. Time for xp!
132 for Test 1 260 for Test 2 500 for Test 3
Total of 892xp
I don't think that puts anyone to 3rd level. ;) So no need to turn in sheets. As to whether you update your online sheet at this time, that's up to you.
Let's start a nomination process for hero points from Test 1 until now (from before that if you want). After your post, draw a line and you may type out of character under the line as I'm doing now and nominate anyone for a hero point that you feel deserves one. The Posting Guidelines online cover Hero Points if you need a refresher.
Thanks for the return to great posting folks!
Julien Thursday May 22nd, 2008 1:30:50 AM
"Bendis, I think you're right," says Julien, eager to keep him talking, as it was obviously doing some good. He'll help with the rope and make sure Rosario and Zita are through before entering the tunnel.
Bendis Thursday May 22nd, 2008 6:10:18 PM
Bendis is lost in contemplation of magical effects, and nods absentmindedly at Julien's comments.
"Setting up a permenant effect like this must have taken an enormous amount of arcane skill. Who could have constructed such a magical marvel?"
Mystery [DM Jerry] Thursday May 22nd, 2008 7:40:36 PM
Everyone stares at the secret door that has opened for Calvierius. Bendis in awe of the tubes, Julien concerned for his friend Bendis. The others just staring unable to speak.
And far below, looms the Demon's Portal.
Why did Elizabetta hide things here? What would require such a place to hold such secrets? Was this built for the Montdidier family?
It is evident that the earring and signet have been here before. For what purpose?
What is in the other two secret doors? Traps? Knowledge? More Secrets? Is this new tubeway what the cleft glyphs spoke of when they said "Hide in Unknown Places?"
Heh, who would believe that Grandmamma had ever been here! Amazing!
----------------
Zita (By Anthony) Thursday May 22nd, 2008 8:25:43 PM
Zita, confident that this is a trap, and having vivid visions of being flushed down a cities sewage tunnels makes every movement carefully and slowly. Zita keeps low in the tunnel, maneuvering to the places with the best hand holds or places to brace against ... well whatever may come. Zita says "I wish I remembered to bring a piton and more rope" more to herself than anyone else.
Picci Thursday May 22nd, 2008 8:46:13 PM
Picci is really just hoping for a chance to rest and recover healing energy...and praying that nobody will need more of that soon.
GiGiHp 23/23, AC 17 Thursday May 22nd, 2008 10:19:49 PM
Following behind, Gigi keeps muttering to himself sure that he and his friends are all going to come to a bad end.
"Zita do you want I should keep the door open or let it close behind us?"
Rosario Sheet Friday May 23rd, 2008 9:52:09 AM
Rosario movves ahead of Cal and enters through the door he opened. "Standing and admiring the way it sits on the frame won't get us anywhere people." Roy answers Gigi, "Let it close, better yet, close it."
Rosario then begins looking around thier newest surroundings
Calvierius Friday May 23rd, 2008 9:54:38 AM
Hearing Zita's muttering, Calvierius says, "Don't worry there, Zita. What's the worst that could happen? The magic could fail and fling us all to our deaths? That's not so bad, I'm thinking."0
Staring down the new tube that has appeared behind the secret door, says to the rest of the group, "Well, I can stand here for a bit if you all would like to check out those other doors up there. Or we can just continue onwards this way. Personally, I think we should keep on moving on. Life's too short for ropes and plans."
Bendis d20+10=14 ; Friday May 23rd, 2008 10:31:12 AM
Bendis blinks up at Cal. "Um, don't you mean life's too short when you don't have rope and plans?"
He peers at the demon portal, trying to establish if a similar magical effect is in place on this one (Spellcraft 14).
Julien Friday May 23rd, 2008 4:17:41 PM
Julien's eyes move between Calv and Gigi. "That's what I like to hear," he says with a smile. "I mean it's being so cheerful that keeps us all alive, right?"
To Rosario - "The last part of the poem, riddle, or whatever it was - it just said 'Hide.' Whatever that is likely to mean."
he looks around to see if, collectively they have 100 ft of rope.
Pop Music [DM Jerry] Friday May 23rd, 2008 7:29:49 PM
When the final person enters the tubeway beyond the secret door, there is a popping sound as if a bunch of giant sized bubble wrap had been popped.
This popping causes several things to happen at once!
First, the secret door closes. Instinct causes those who entered last to whip around to look. The back side of the door is blackened and scorched! Something very hot has punished the back of this door!
Second, the popping sounds come from the tube itself as medium-sized (man-sizes?) and bubble-shaped alcoves appear all over the tubeway on the top, bottom, sides, etc. The "pimple" covered tube continues forward as far as the eye can see!
Third, a few seconds after the bubble-popping sounds, there is a sound you'd always heard about in tales, but had never expected to hear for real...the sound of something breathing in. A
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG
inward breath.
Picci Friday May 23rd, 2008 8:22:07 PM
Picci's obsidian eyes widen as she more or less guesses what may happen next.
"HIDE!!!" she yelps, diving into the nearest "man-sized" alcove. "Or you're gonna FRY!!!"
Bendis Saturday May 24th, 2008 4:31:52 AM
Bendis doesn't need telling twice. "Eeek!" he squeals as he scampers to one of the alcoves. "Suh-so that's what the final clue meant!"
He hunkers down, throws his cloak over his head, and shoves his hands inside his pack.
"Stay hidden, Shaff" he whispers to his familiar, tucked in a pocket of his pack. "Stay safe."
GiGiHp 23/23, AC 17 Saturday May 24th, 2008 7:48:16 AM
"Awww, Marteus' mucus!!!! I knew I should have spiked that door," Gigi explains as he dives for what little cover he can find in an alcove nearest the floor.
Rosario Sheet Saturday May 24th, 2008 8:43:00 AM
Rosario takes several quick steps forward and then buries his back as far as he can into one of the newly created alcoves and tries to flatten himself as much as possible
Calvierius Saturday May 24th, 2008 5:44:59 PM
Even normally brash, devil-may-care Calverius dives toward an alcove at top speed. Those with keen ears may hear him start to curse in a harsh and guttural tongue. Like Bendis, Calverius also moves to cover a creature in a pocket of his cloak.
---
OOC: the language is Orcish, in case anyone speaks it, but it's just typical cursing. Also, Picci just earned my vote for a hero point.
Zita (By Anthony) d20+1=16 ; Sunday May 25th, 2008 10:31:37 PM
Zita follows suit with everyone else, diving to hide before the seemingly inevitable fiame appears. (spot to see where it comes from: 16)
Betheas Monday May 26th, 2008 9:00:35 PM
Upon entering the secret tube, Betheas stands aside and watches as the others enter and move inside.
Upon hearing the series of popping, the elf's head searches left and right, trying to make sense of what is going on. Then another completely foreign sound can be heard, although Betheas has no idea what that sound might be. All he knows is that everyone is ducking for cover, fast.
The elf then follows suit, taking cover in Zita's alcove, protecting her from whatever is coming; It is unclear if Betheas is completely protected. Then again he is too unwise in the ways of the world to absolutely know what kind of danger he was really in.
Julien Tuesday May 27th, 2008 11:35:52 AM
Julien joins the others in diving for cover, pulling his robe tight and pushing his belongings against the wall of the alcove. He takes a couple of really deep breaths and shuts his eyes before whatever tickled the back of that door arrives. This couldn't be any worse than any accidents back in the alchemy lab, though, could it?
Or could it?
Diving for Cover! [DM Jerry] Tuesday May 27th, 2008 7:04:31 PM
As the party dives for cover, the hallway is filled with fire!!!
Hot! Flaming! Searing! Fire!
It seems to last for a long time, but truly was only a few seconds. Then it is gone! The tubeway is noticeably hotter than before.
The hallway now is clear. The alcoves remain. Several are singed, but none are burnt thanks to the quick reactions of the group led by Picci! Wherever this secret tubeway leads, it is not in sight yet.
The secret door at the end of the hallway sizzles.
Calvierius Tuesday May 27th, 2008 8:06:59 PM
"Well folks, I think we oughta hustle ourselves down thataway right quick. We're wasting time here, and I don't want to get caught in those flames again, if I can help it."
With that, Calvierius is off at a hustle down the hall.
----
OOC: What kind of light sources do we have?
Picci Tuesday May 27th, 2008 8:52:41 PM
The petite cleric emerges from her alcove, rummaging through her pack for a hairband which she belatedly casts Light upon before putting it on so that the band runs horizontally across her forehead.
"This should last us a bit." Picci tells the others as her Light illuminates the hallway.
Zita (By Anthony) Tuesday May 27th, 2008 10:10:33 PM
"Thanks for the heads up Picci, and the quick thinking to jump into this alcoves." says Zita, as she brushes her hand against the warm wall.
"Let's move down this hall, quickly as Calvierius suggests. Keep the closest alcove in mind should we feel the intake of breath again." Zita adds as she begins to move down the hall, looking at the demon face. Now what, no more clues. We can't advance to far without confirmation we are still on the right track
Betheas Tuesday May 27th, 2008 10:57:47 PM
After the fire stops, the elf pokes his head up and looks around like a ground hog looking for danger.
For once Calvierius is dead on. Let's move forward.
Pointing, "Did the fire come from the Demon's mouth?"
GiGiHp 23/23, AC 17 Tuesday May 27th, 2008 11:04:42 PM
Gigi picks himself up and looks to the others.
"Anyone hurt and need healing now, speak. Otherwise I say we find some relative safety before we heal up."
Rosario Sheet Wednesday May 28th, 2008 8:08:28 AM
Rosario agrees with Pici, let's move quickly and orderly and make sure you know where the closest alcove is. The demon face was outside of the secret door and at the bottom of the tube. We're not heading for it." Rosario has a lamp in his left hand and his weapon in his right.
Bendis Wednesday May 28th, 2008 10:15:52 AM
Bendis peeks out from under his cloak, and checks himself for signs of scorching. Deciding he has emerged relatively unscathed he hops to his feet, checks Shaffbafum is OK, then sets off after the others.
"Cuh-closest alcove, good idea" he mumbles, pushing his glasses up his nose with one hand as he tries to get his pack on with the other. He ends up managing neither. He drops his glasses, turns on the spot a couple of times chasing after his pack, finaly gets himself sorted, and then races off along the passageway after the others.
"Wuh-wait for me!"
Julien Wednesday May 28th, 2008 4:40:00 PM
"Well, that was something!" exclaims Julien. "I wonder if it was a spell, or something mechanical, or what?"
He hurries after the others. One day in the not too distant future, he's going to be able to handle a spell of that magnitude or better. Ha, ha! Oh yes! And going off their adventures so far, it won't be a moment too soon. How much study? Lots probably. And lots of practice.
He tries to move lightly, so as to not get the soles of his boots singed.
Betheas Wednesday May 28th, 2008 4:58:57 PM
Betheas grabs Bendis' back-pack and manually urges him forward, leaving Betheas in the rear. He turns one last time, looking back up the tube in wonder. He then follows the others downwards.
Picci d20+4=23 ; Wednesday May 28th, 2008 5:50:38 PM
"There is a bit of wisdom that goes: necessity is the mother of invention," quips Picci, smiling at Zita's words of praise. "And it was highly necessary for us to get out of the way of that trap...but I thank you for noticing my small contribution, Your Grace." She casts about, seeing if there is anything she can Spot now that she wears her enchanted headband of Light. (OOC; Voluntary Spot check: 23)
Another OOC: Nice visual image with Betheas as a groundhog checking for danger. LOL
Zita (By Anthony) Wednesday May 28th, 2008 11:26:41 PM
Ztia nods smiling at Picci, again realizing how her life has changed so much so quickly. "Any thing you would care to add or help with?" questions Zita mostly to her mystical ring.
Here We Go Again [DM Jerry] Thursday May 29th, 2008 5:23:18 PM
The group scurries their way down the hallway coving some 70' before they begin to hear the breathing in sound again. It sounds closer! Louder! More angry? Perhaps. Hard to tell. Still out of sight ahead past the limits of sight.
"SSssssssssssssssssssssssuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhh"
Bendis Thursday May 29th, 2008 6:32:13 PM
"Oh cuh-crikey!" cries Bendis, hurling himself into the nearest alcove and curling up. "Here it comes again!"
He prays that increased proximity does not equate to increased temperature. An interesting conundrum; does the flame maintain the same core temperature thoughout its path, or is it hotter closer to the source? Does the flame have a greater spread close in, or start narrow and expand outwards? Or maintain a constant diameter along the full extent of its length? Are they in more or less danger in these new alcoves? Surely there must be a mathematical expression of the flame's behaviour that would provide the answer to those questions.
A part of Bendis' mind is aware that these thoughts are all entirely pointless, meaningless speculation, but they are at least preventing him from contemplating the reality of the situation, and are consequently keeping him from soiling his britches in terror.
Although, it occurs to him, such a course of action might actually have a minor beneficial effect in his current predicament. Would he be better off succumbing to panic, and taking advantage of the limited dampening protection that would provide, or continuing in his course of pondering the mathematical properties of fire? Another variable to add to the equation.
Picci Thursday May 29th, 2008 8:54:27 PM
Hardly having time to do more than advance a bit down the passage before the telltale inhalation whooshes by, Picci spots an alcove and moves into it.
"Hey...I just realized..." she says as she presses back into the indentation, "...we all forgot to bring the marshmallows..."
Zita (By Anthony) Thursday May 29th, 2008 9:45:55 PM
Zita steps into the back of an alcove, and get ready to count. She intends to count the duration of the flame, and the time until the next one.
OOC: Is this a straight hallway? Can we not see the end because of light limits or is it really that long?
Once everyone is in an alcove, Zita asks everyone to stay so she can get a count between blasts. "Seems the time for hiding is over, and now its all about timing, less as we advance."
OOC: 70' is about 3.5 seconds at a full run?
Calvierius Thursday May 29th, 2008 10:49:29 PM
First things first. Calvierius steps into an alcove with all due haste. But then....
"Wait, you want us to stand around here, while the thing up there keeps throwing fire at us? That sounds like the worst plan I've ever heard. Shouldn't we keep moving? These alcoves here might not return for a second blast, you know."
OOC: With the light spell, we have normal vision to 20', and dim illumination to 40'. Low-lighters (elves, etc) have dim illumination to 80', and darkvisioners (gnomes, dwarfs) have darkvision to 60'. Also, I had specified that Calverius was hustling, not running: at a hustle, he (as well as other moves 60' per round. At a dead run, gnomes move 80' a round, and only 40' at a hustle. At a dead run, elves and humans can go 120' a round, but I don't think we should split up. Of course, if there are any full-plate or other heavy armor wearers, they're slower at a run, they only get to run at x3 instead of x4.
Zita (By Anthony)--2nd Thursday May 29th, 2008 11:29:23 PM
OOC: I was under the idea that the alcoves we holes in the side of the tunnel, and not moving or changing in anyway.
Julien Friday May 30th, 2008 1:48:28 AM
Diving into another alcove. "Well, we certainly can't keep doing this, ad infinitum," adds Julien. "We'll either be toast, or die from lack of air. We have another 30 ft to go? This next time we might have a chance to look for a way out." 40ft of scampering time by his reckoning.
Calvierius Friday May 30th, 2008 11:32:26 AM
OOC: The alcoves appear when the popping noise happens... Jerry's post on Friday May 23rd, 2008 7:29:49 PM. Also, while Eric agrees that this plan might be a good one, Calv is much more impulsive and impatient. :P
Demon's Head Flamethrower [DM Jerry] Friday May 30th, 2008 5:56:15 PM
Whoosh! The Flames pass by again. They are quicker to get to the party this time. Next time may be close if there is a next time and we move on down the hallway.
This process repeats twice more, run and hide, run and hide, and then there is some type of opening ahead. One final time or run and hide and you are 20' from the widening of the way ahead.
The flames seem to be coming from the center of this widening ahead. Peeking until the last moment, you see the source ahead as the flames light it up: A third demon's head and mouth floating in the center of whatever that opening is up ahead.
Picci Friday May 30th, 2008 8:14:56 PM
"At least the next time I'm called upon to make roast wildfen," Picci says, eying the setup ahead, "I'll have an idea of what it's like for the main course to get cooked." She looks to her friends. "Any ideas? I can cast Guidance a couple of times...and I have one Protection from Evil spell...and I can either cast Obscuring Mist or heal somebody up a bit, but that's all I have left."
Betheas Saturday May 31st, 2008 1:41:00 PM
Betheas peering out of an alcove, examines what lies ahead with his keen vision. In repsonse to Picci, Betheas points at Calvierius, "Those spells might help Calvierius stay alive." The elf imagines Cal's next move.
Calvierius Sunday June 1st, 2008 9:15:29 AM
As the flames go by, Calverius mutters about how he never had the time to learn Expeditious Retreat. It's possible that he might just take that time in the near future. Just because he's impulsive doesn't mean he doesn't learn from his mistakes. Actually he learns a lot from his mistakes, and has a lot of opportunities to learn. The wonder is that he's still alive.
"No time for that", shouts Calvierius. True to form, as soon as the flames die down, he sprints up the corridor, trying to get to the side of the demon's mouth. Hopefully, he'll be far enough to the side in the wide area to avoid the next flamejet. Then, he'll examine the demon mouth itself and attempt to find some way to turn it off. Or, if the rest of the group follows his example, he'll just search the tunnel for a hoped-for exit.
---
OOC: and me walking around with a bunch of Charm Person spells. That's useless.
Zita (By Anthony) Sunday June 1st, 2008 11:31:29 PM
Grinding her teeth as Calvierius rushed down the hall, Zita attempts to stay hidden. If the alcove begins to push out, she advances looking for the next alcove and urging others to advance as well should they hesitate.
"We really need a much better plan then run and duck, er, become roasted duck"
Bendis d20+8=27 ; Monday June 2nd, 2008 7:25:14 AM
Knowing that he's not the swiftest on his feet, Bendis inches closer, but makes sure he keeps near to an alcove. As Cal goes sprinting past he gawps after him.
"Um, I duh-don't think that's very safe you know" he opines to no-one in particular.
In between gouts of flame he pops his head out into the corridor, studying the demon head.
"Whoever made this place really were most impressive magical architects. Quite extraordinary."
Arcana 27 to identify what might be triggering the mouth to erupt, or how it might be deactivated.
Rosario Sheet Monday June 2nd, 2008 1:39:11 PM
Rosario, quite for the last few dash and covers finally speaks up at the near end of the hall. "Why can't we? Duck an dcover move from one alcove to the next until you are right at the opening and then wait for one more to go by and slip out. Piece of pasta." Cal dashes by Rosario shrugs. Not his problem concern or charge as far as he was concerned currently
Rosario moves down the hall for a final alcove 20' from the end and waits
LOG ON