Bryan was unavailable this session, so the part of Liatus was played by Bruce.
*** Bruce has changed the topic on channel 10 to Saturday D&D: Descent Into The Depths
*** Bruce has changed the topic on channel 11 to Saturday D&D: Chatter
<11: Jason> I updated the webpage, Chris. Meridius is sure lugging around a lot of equipment. :)
<11: iChris> He can handle it. :)
<11: Bruce> Meridius is a manly man!
<11: Jason> So how're we going to handle treasure division?
<11: Bruce> Simply, would be my preference. :)
<11: Jason> The PHB way?
<11: Jason> Or do we go with some of the old fashioned methods.
<11: Bruce> I think so, yes, unless on re-reading some alternative deeply and profoundly calls itself to my attention.
* 11: Jason will have to see if he can dig up his party treasure division spreadsheet, then.
<11: Jason> I was also wondering about xp. Are you going to hand them out on a session basis, on a "when we go back to camp to rest" basis, or ...
<11: Bruce> Well, I'm keeping track. I'm inclined to let folks apply level bonuses when they get them, at least for 1st to 2nd.
* 11: iChris has two questions, one relating to the XP question just asked.
<11: Bruce> Sure.
<11: iChris> Yeah, if we can level up in the midst of play, that'd be cool.
<11: iChris> That's the answer to the first question...
<11: Bruce> When big complex benefits are involved, then I'd be inclined to say "you need some rest/study/etc time". But 1st to 2nd is just a matter of butching up. :)
<11: iChris> The other question: If I spend a skill point on a skill but don't actually go up a rank (as with early purchases of cross-class skills) can I still count those skills as trained and use them?
<11: Bruce> I better check on that one.
<11: iChris> If the answer isn't 'yes' I'm going to need to find the authors of D&D and beat them up.
<11: Jason> I believe no.
<11: Jason> Since you need to have a rank in the skill to use it.
<11: Jason> And .5 ranks =/= a rank.
<11: Bruce> The language of the PHB seems to be "if you don't have any ranks, you can't use it". Half a rank seems like GURPS competency - enough to remove the penalty, even though it doesn't give you a bonus.
* 11: iChris thinks expenditure of skill points should represent training for purposes of skill usability regardless of actual ranks possessed, but that's just him...
<11: Bruce> Pending further review, Chris, I agree.
<11: Jason> The problem being that all fractions round down in D&D.
<11: Jason> So .5 = 0 ranks.
<11: Bruce> But I'll check on it to be sure.
<11: iChris> From a math angle, I understand that, Jason.
<11: Jason> It's how the rules approach it, so 1 skill point in a cross-class skill gets you nothing.
<11: Jason> It's part of the frustration of being a fighter, for sure, that nearly every good skill is cross class and you get zippo for skill points.
<11: iChris> Okay. I rather virulently disagree with that approach, but if that's what's ruled, I'll suffer with it and wait to level up and buy some more of my cross-class skills up to usable level.
<11: Bruce> Chris, I'm going to need to look it over and say for sure.
<11: Jason> Nothing to say Bruce can't house rule the other way.
<11: iChris> Aye.
<11: Bruce> For the record, y'all have 300 xp to divide four ways. 2nd level requires 1000 xp each. Just so you know where you stand.
<11: Jason> That's for the 3 Dire Rats?
<11: Bruce> Yup.
<11: Silana> What was the skill-points issue I missed?
<11: Jason> If you have 1 skill point in a cross-class skill that can only be used trained, do you count as trained?
<10: Bruce> Now then, when we last saw our heroes, you'd just defeated the dire rats. There's this glowing rock with most of ten minutes left on its timer :).
*** Bruce is now known as DM.
<10: iChris> Should we be starting yet? I don't think BA is here.
<11: Jason> By the rules, no, since 1 skill point in a cross-class skill is .5 ranks, which is 0 ranks, and therefore you have no ranks in the trained skill and can't use it.
<10: DM> Oh, yeah, just so.
<11: Jason> Which means Meridius can't use his Intuit Direction skill yet.
*** Jason is now known as Karnak.
*** Karnak has left channel 1 [Open Discussion and Sick Ward].
*** iChris is now known as Meridius.
*** Meridius has left channel 1 [Open Discussion and Sick Ward].
*** Your default channel is now 10.
* 11: Gnaea's feathers turn bright pink for a split second. [Silana]
* 11: DM laughs.
<11: Karnak> So let's see. 300/4 = 75 xp.
<11: Karnak> Woot!
*** Mikki has joined channel 10 [Saturday D&D: Descent Into The Depths].
*** Mikki has joined channel 11 [Saturday D&D: Chatter].
<11: Mikki> I observe.
<11: DM> You do. :)
<11: Meridius> Mikki is like Indifferent Sinistar. :)
* 11: DM laughs again.
<11: DM> That's how we'll have to describe him to newcomers. "The Indifferent Sinistar."
* 11: Mikki grins.
<11: Mikki> I've been called worse things. =)
<11: Meridius> Mikki, if you want to read the log of the first session, go to http://www.q7.com/~carter/rpg/dnd3e/meridius-and-co_session-01.html. Jason posted a report on his D&D page: http://members.shaw.ca/ogier/dandd.htm as well.
<11: Karnak> So we're going to use the 'divide treasure equally' method from the PHB.
<11: DM> Right.
<11: Mikki> Danke!
<11: DM> Assuming BA actually does wake up :), by the way, my impulse is to proceed until Jason needs to leave. I'd rather have a short session than none. But does anyone have counter-considerations I should have in mind?
<11: Meridius> None for me.
<11: Silana> I'd rather play a little than not at all.
<11: Mikki> Not that it's any of my business, since I'm just looking on and not participating, but in my experience, it's often better to have a short session than nothing at all, since it keeps people in the correct mindset until the next session.
* 11: Meridius corrects the other characters' mindsets... with his sword!
<11: DM> :)
<11: Mikki> Yeah, okay, I'll shut up, then. =)
<11: Karnak> I'm back.
<11: DM> :)
<11: Silana> Your updated PDF is on its way, Chris.
<11: Silana> Sorry I didn't get to it before this, but I was busy being sick.
<11: Mikki> Some people always have excuses.
<11: Meridius> Thanks very much, Dan. No sweat on the delay.
<11: Mikki> "I would've done it but I was busy bleeding and trying to keep that insane man from killing me." Yeah, right. If you'd _really_ wanted to do it, it would be done.
<11: Karnak> We can leave the Cleric on the ledge for now.
* 11: Silana's player has many, many skill points invested in PDF Fu. :)
<DM> I'm inclined to move things on a little bit and have someone catch BA up in whisper when he arrives.
<DM> Since there are things we can do without helpfully screwing his character for him.
<Karnak> So when we left our heroes, we were on the 2nd ledge, surrounded by dead rats.
<11: Silana> With this already going to be a short session, we probably should get moving, yes.
<Karnak> Everyone had gotten down safely.
<DM> Right.
<DM> Liatus' glowing rock is available as a light source, and folks can light up more if they wish - it'll be full dark down at the bottom of the ravine.
<DM> Folks can also make search checks to examine the area after the rats stop twitching. (Would someone roll for BA for this stuff?)
* Silana retrieves the crossbow bolt stuck in the Rat Onna Stick, and (with Gnaea's help) tries to locate the one that missed. By the rules, they're both now broken, but that's what Mending spells are for, no?
<Karnak> "Hey, do you think these rats maybe killed Targen and Sharwyn?"
<DM> Silana is wise in the ways of fixing things, obviously.
<Silana> "Maybe. Is there any sign of them? Clothing scraps, or anything else?"
* Karnak is going to head up to the first ledge, if that's possible, and try and search up there for the remains.
<DM> Certainly. Karnak will have no trouble doing that. The stairs are unsafe to run on, but not to walk on.
* Karnak lights the hooded lantern, first, though. "Hey, since I have no weapons, I'll carry the lantern, okay?"
<Meridius> Can we climb down the rest of the way on ledges/stairs without using rope?
<DM> Yes, no further climbing is necessary.
<Meridius> "Good idea, Karnak."
<DM> There are rough-hewn steps from here all the way down, switchbacking several times.
## Karnak rolled 1d20+1 = 6 (5).
<Karnak> "Ick, rat poo. I'm not sure I want to look to closely around here."
<11: Karnak> Not a particularly good Search roll from Karnak.
<DM> Karnak has searched better in his day. :)
<Silana> "Go and help him look, Gnaea."
* The owl flies up to join Karnak in his search. [Silana]
<DM> Not that Gnaea's very good on searching, but hey, every bit helps.
<11: Silana> Does she get any bonus from her low light vision in this case?
<11: Karnak> Low light just lets her see 60' in the lantern light, instead of the 30' the rest of us get.
## Silana rolled 1d20-2 = 14 (16).
<11: Silana> Good owl. :)
<DM> Hey, Gnaea spots something. Let's see if the others do.
<Karnak> Rolling for Liatus:
## Karnak rolled 1d20+2 = 6 (4).
* Meridius has the glowing rock in his sword hand for the time being.
<Meridius> Is there room enough in the rats' lair for all of us to be rooting around?
<DM> Yes, these ledges range from 5 to 10 feet wide, and up to 20 feet or so long.
<Meridius> Then I'll go take a look through the rats' lair.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+1 = 2 (1).
<Meridius> blar
<DM> So far you find dirt. :)
<DM> Okay, I whispered the discovery to Dan.
* Silana cocks her head a little to one side, looking a bit owl-like herself for just a moment... "Gnaea's seen some footprints, looks like they went down from here..."
<DM> The others can see at least some of the traces once the head-cockers put them out.
<DM> Human-sized booted feet went down these steps but not back up.
<Karnak> "I guess they managed to avoid the rats."
<Meridius> "Aye."
* Karnak peers down, "Well, whatever's down there probably knows we're coming now."
<Meridius> "Then lets not disappoint them by failing to show up."
* Meridius follows the footprints, glowing rock in hand...
<Karnak> "Should we set up a camp here? I'd ... Oh, well, I guess we can set up further down."
* Karnak follows Meridius, holding the lantern high.
* Silana follows the first two, sending Gnaea aloft to circle and keep watch for surprises.
<DM> You make your way down the stairs without incident. As you come out of the last switchback, the floor of the ravine comes into view. There's a castle here, mostly sunk into the ground, its top story or few still sticking up.
<11: Meridius> Swamp Castle?
<11: Silana> Isn't this supposed to be in a swump?
<DM> The whole thing is in terrible shape - it looks like it was dropped from a height and then partially buried. You can hear little critters stirring in the rubble from time to time.
<11: DM> Ash plain. :)
<Karnak> "Oh, wow. A =castle= under ground!"
* Karnak coughs, and lowers his voice, "Sorry."
<Silana> "Or what's left of one. And it doesn't look like the groundskeepers have been doing their jobs lately. Or the chambermaids."
<Meridius> "I doubt they'd be able to keep up." :)
<DM> The architecture is largely unfamiliar. Meridius can make a Knowledge (architecture) roll if he'd like to identify it, and would someone make a +4 roll for Liatus and his Knowledge (religion)?
## Karnak rolled 1d20+4 = 14 (10).
## Meridius rolled 1d20+2 = 22 (20).
<Meridius> BAM!
<DM> Geez. Meridius knows his stuff.
* Karnak scratches at his head, "I guess this is where the treasure must be."
*DM* The style of the castle is that of a cult of dragon worshippers that various legions, including yours, fought over the centuries. They dropped out of sight some time ago and have been presumed all extinct. There's heavy use of dragon imagery throughout.
* Silana frowns. "I wasn't thinking treasure, myself." She checks her crossbow, making sure that she's reloaded it properly.
* Karnak jams the 10' pole with the lantern into the ground. "How about we set up a camp here, so we don't have to lug around all this gear."
<DM> The stairs end in one of the few relatively open spots of ground anywhere in sight: a roughly square courtyard that looks like it was once the top of a battlement and gateway. Through chinks in the paving stones you can see it's all filled up with silt and dirt.
<Meridius> "The castle is of a style built by a cult of dragon worshippers that the Empire has fought over the centuries. The cult is thought to be extinct nowadays."
<Meridius> What time is it in game?
<DM> Mid-afternoon.
<Karnak> "Dragon worshippers?"
<Meridius> "Aye."
*DM* The cult had human and humanoid adherents, by the way. They were pretty inclusive of everyone willing to treat dragons as the true rulers of the world.
<Karnak> "So this castle is really old, then."
* Karnak shrugs out of the spare backpack, and sets down his iron pot.
* Silana rolls her eyes. "/Just/ where /I/ want to camp." Sarcasm was evidently not neglected among the charming young sorceress' studies.
<Meridius> "Aye."
<Meridius> "I don't think we'll be camping quite yet. Good time to take a break, though."
* Meridius shrugs off his pack.
* Karnak rolls his shoulders and does a bit of a kata to loosen up. "Well, we could leave the heavy stuff here."
<DM> The stairs come down onto the east side of the courtyard. On the west side, a tower stretches up another 30' or so from ground level, with a stone door at courtyard level. On the other sides there's lots of debris, stretching off into the distance.
* Meridius pretends he didn't hear Karnak's last remark.
* Silana nods, with a bit of a smile. "A break I can certainly go for."
<Meridius> "The rest of you remain here and relax a moment. I'm going to reconnoiter the immediate area."
<Karnak> "Is that wise?"
<Karnak> "I don't think we should split up down here."
<Meridius> "I'll be fine. Wait here."
* Karnak sighs.
<Karnak> "Okay."
<DM> Search rolls, those of you who are poking around in any deliberate fashion. It takes no serious effort to see that most of the broken stuff here is all of the same age and that nobody's really tried to move most of it. Poke around in it, yes.
<11: Karnak> Just a game note -- its very dangerous to ever seperate in a D&D dungeon, cause most of the encounters are balanced for 4 people... and you're just one. :)
* Meridius works his way around the area.
<11: Meridius> I don't think we're in the dungeon yet.
<11: Karnak> Famous last words. :)
<11: Meridius> If I get killed playing in character, I'll at least died knowing I roleplayed reasonably well. :)
* Karnak isn't poking around. Instead, he's sniffing at the trail rations and tasting them.
* 11: Karnak laughs, "Yeah, and doomed the rest of us. :)"
<Meridius> Has the Light spell gone out?
<DM> The light spell is good for a few more minutes yet.
<DM> Meridius should make his search roll.
<Meridius> I'll try to get back before it goes out.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+1 = 8 (7).
* Silana uses her staff to clear a small spot to sit, then slips out of her pack and sits down to have lunch.
<Meridius> What don't I see? ;~)
<11: Karnak> Note too that we can cover about 200' in a minute, Bruce, for time purposes. :)
<DM> Meridius makes his way systematically from the stairs up along one edge of rubble, across it, and over to the tower wall. There he moves carefully along the tower wall, and he finds something!
<11: Karnak> Uh oh.
<DM> Specifically, Meridius discovers a trap door, more or less right in front of the tower entrance. He can make a Reflex save to avoid falling in.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+2 = 12 (10).
<11: Silana> Or not. :)
<DM> Good, but not quite good enough. He falls down ten feet, landing on a fairly recent goblin body and a couple of skeletons. He takes...
## DM rolled 1d6 = 1 (1).
<DM> ...1 point of damage. It's knocked the wind out of him and rattled him up a bit.
<Meridius> "Stercus!"
<DM> The others of you can quite clearly see Meridius shout and fall into a suddenly opened pit.
* Karnak looks up at the sudden noise, dropping his food and reaching for the 10' pole & lantern. "Meridius!"
<Meridius> Do I see any way to get back up?
<DM> There's no obvious way out except climbing. However, make a Spot check. (Meridius, that is, and also Gnaea.)
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 6 (3).
## Meridius rolled 1d20-1 = 12 (13).
* Silana is in the midst of taking a swig from her waterskin when she sees Meridius vanish. *Splut* "Meridius!" She leaps to her feet and starts running that way.
* Karnak tugs the lantern pole free, and follows after Silana.
## Silana rolled 1d20+6 = 20 (14).
<DM> Hey, Meridius isn't alone in here. There's another big rat, plump - probably having fed recently on that goblin - and dozing at the moment. It's roused up very confusedly; Meridius has surprise on it.
<11: Silana> That was Gnaea's roll.
<11: Karnak> So we need initiatives?
* Meridius drops the glowing rock, draws his gladius, and sets to killing the rat.
<DM> Meridius should roll Initiative; Gnaea, too, if she's going to try to get in on the fun. The others next turn, I think.
## DM rolled 1d20 = 5 (5).
<11: Karnak> And drawing the sword is a partial action.
## Meridius rolled 1d20 = 18 (18).
<DM> The rat is no kidding slow off the mark.
<DM> Meridius, on the other hand, has his mojo working.
* Gnaea isn't fond of fighting in close quarters. She'll stay out for the moment, at least. [Silana]
<11: Karnak> So no init from the rest of us yet?
<DM> Righto.
<11: DM> Correct.
<11: DM> You really don't have any chance to know what's going on down in the pit right now unless you're there, like Meridius, or up overhead, like Gnaea.
<11: Karnak> Okay, so then it's Meridius again in Round 1. And the rat's still flat footed.
<DM> Meridius, do your thing!
<11: Karnak> (so no Dex bonus to AC)
* Meridius thrusts at the rat.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+3 = 17 (14).
<DM> That's a good solid hit.
## Meridius rolled 1d6+2 = 6 (4).
<Meridius> And there's damage.
<DM> You've split the rat from stem to stern; it's quite dead.
<11: Karnak> So the rat doesn't get to go. :)
<DM> By the time anyone else can look down into the pit, there is again just one thing living in it. :)
* Karnak thumps down at the edge of the trap door, and peers down, holding the lamp for light.
* Meridius looks around the pit.
<Karnak> "Are you okay?"
<Silana> "Meridius, are you all right?"
<Meridius> "I'm fine."
<DM> The goblin body with rat bites on it is about a day dead. Beneath it are a couple of goblin skeletons, which look to have been there quite a while.
<Meridius> Is there any way out of the pit other than up?
* Karnak peers around, "What are those things?"
<Karnak> "Children?"
<DM> Just up.
<Meridius> "They were once goblins. Now they're dead."
<Meridius> "Someone please fetch a rope and I'll climb out of here."
* Karnak slides the 10' pole down, "Here, climb up." He braces himself for the effort.
<DM> If anyone needs goblin-sized armor, there's a suit of it currently with a goblin inside. :)
<Meridius> Can I make a Search roll before leaving?
<DM> Certainly.
* Silana whews, looking much relieved, and backs away from the edge a little to let Karnak help Meridius up.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+1 = 19 (18).
<Meridius> If there's something to be found, I ought to be able to find it. :)
<DM> I must say. The gods are clearly liking Meridius today.
<DM> The goblin isn't just wearing a suit of leather armor. It's got a belt pouch. With money it!
<DM> Meridius finds 23 silver pieces and 4 gold pieces inside.
<11: Karnak> Should I keep an active list of the treasure we find?
<11: DM> Probably wise.
* Meridius retrieves the belt pouch and tosses it topside.
<DM> Also a broken short sword and the aforementioned goblin-sized armor, accessorized with rat bites. Nothing else of note.
* Meridius climbs up the pole.
<Meridius> Can I take 10 and just go slow?
<DM> Sure.
<DM> Taking 10 doesn't even slow you down, really; I had that muddled up with taking 20, which does.
<Meridius> Okay.
<Meridius> I left the lit rock in the pit, BTW. I'm sure it's gone out by now.
<DM> It soon will, likely, yes.
* Meridius finishes his interrupted recon and then heads back to where the party is taking a break.
<11: Karnak> Okay, list is up on the website now.
<DM> There's a ledge about a foot wide between the trap door and the tower entrance, by the way. Now the trap door's edges are clearly marked and you can avoid them without further trouble.
* And says to Karnak and Silana, "Thanks for the hand, folks." [Meridius]
<DM> There's nothing much else to see in the courtyard; the evidence of many rats coming and going, mostly, and some more old fire pits like the ones up above.
<Silana> "You're welcome. I'm just glad you weren't hurt."
* Karnak returns and tidies up the rest area.
<DM> Some rest. :)
* Karnak mumbles around a hard biscuit, "So I guess we'll go in through that tower entrance?"
<Meridius> Are there any ways in other than the tower entrance?
<DM> Unless there's other business to attend to...
<DM> Oh, I'm assuming that Silana has let Gnaea go looking around some more, yes?
* Silana offers around some small bits from her dwindling stock of rations she brought from home: A chewy, boiled-down currant-based stuff. Very tasty, compared to dry biscuits. Also a bit more expensive.
<Silana> Gnaea is doing some nearby recon, yes. Not going very far.
* Karnak seems happy with his hard tack, "This is softer than the bread we had at temple. How do they get it so nice and chewy?"
<DM> Gnaea sees, then, that the bulk of the sunken castle is relatively intact, once you get a story or two below the old roof line. There are intact floors, and whatever openings there may have been are filled in with crumbled bits from above.
<11: Karnak> I think we're getting told that there tower entrance is the main enterance. :)
<DM> There doesn't seem to be any other way in, unless you were to try prying through somewhat accessible walls. No other actual doors, and little clear space to stand on.
<Meridius> Okay, cool.
* Meridius settles down to relax, sitting and leaning back on his pack.
<Karnak> "I'm going to leave some of my stuff here, since we'll have to come back this way to get out. I don't think we'll need my pot."
* Karnak starts stuffing stuff into his pot, like spare rations, a couple torches, the extra backpack...
<Karnak> "There." He plucks the lantern pole out of the ground, and turns towards the tower entrance. "Shall we?"
* Meridius is a bit slow to react.
* Silana stands, brushing the crumbs off her hands and reaching for her pack and her crossbow. "I am ready," she says, taking up her staff after her pack and her bow are slung in place.
<DM> Liatus makes an inspiring speech and invokes the blessings of the empire on this venture, but doesn't actually cast a spell at this time.
<DM> The door in is a well-made piece of work, stone carved with emblems of dragons. It's not locked.
<11: Karnak> He could spontaneously convert that purify food & water into a cure minor wounds, and heal the 1 hp on Meridius.
* Karnak leans up against the door and puts his ear to it, to listen.
<11: DM> Oh, that's true, he could. Chris, do you want Meridius up at tip-top?
## Karnak rolled 1d20+4 = 13 (9).
<11: Karnak> Note, +5 difficulty to hear stuff through a door. :)
<DM> Karnak doesn't hear anything inside.
<11: DM> I actually remembered that! :)
* Karnak does a shoulder check with Meridius, to see if its okay to open the door?
* Silana recalls Gnaea, who takes up a perch atop her mistress' pack.
<11: Meridius> I'm fine the way I am for the time being.
<11: DM> Let's save the healing for later, then.
* Meridius will listen at the door as well.
## Meridius rolled 1d20-1 = 14 (15).
<DM> Meridius doesn't hear anything, either.
<11: Karnak> Do we have a SOP? Meridius in front, followed by Silana and Karnak, with Liatus in the rear?
<11: Karnak> And do we assume we're walking slow and searching the area ahead of us, or are we just going to walk in?
<11: Meridius> Marching order is Meridius, Karnak, Silana, Liatus.
<11: DM> I can assume you're taking 10 on searches, or have you roll as you enter new areas, as you'd prefer.
<11: Karnak> I think assuming a take 10 on Search works, with rolls if we specify we're looking closer.
<11: Karnak> It's not like a Search result of 11 is going to find anything, as it is. :)
<11: DM> Righto.
<11: Meridius> Just to note for folks, I'm a bit fuzzy right now and I'm distracted because my brother's here. Apologies in advance if I seem to be failing to pay attention.
<11: DM> No problem, Chris.
* Karnak opens the door, and lets Merdidius enter first, following close behind.
* Meridius proceeds on through the door.
<DM> The door opens with a minimum of tugging. Inside it's a round room, one floor of a tower. The levels below are filled in with debris; up above the floors fell in a long time ago.
<DM> There are four dead goblins in the room, one of them nailed to the wall opposite the door by a spear; he's still there, neatly skewered.
<11: Karnak> How fresh are these goblins?
<DM> Since the room is round, I'll describe it in clock terms. :) You're coming in at 3 o'clock, with the goblins running from you over to 9 o'clock. There are doors at 7 o'clock and 11 o'clock, both wood reinforced with iron bands.
<11: DM> Turning them over to look for the freshness date? :)
<11: Karnak> Well, are they smelly, or dessicated or rotting?
<11: Silana> Best if used by MCXXVII.
<DM> The bodies have, assuming they're decaying normally, been there about a month. Search rolls would not be amiss here.
<11: Mikki> Ahh, the sweet smell of impending violence.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+1 = 17 (16).
* Karnak wrinkles his nose, and goes "Phew. Sure a lot of these goblins around here."
## Karnak rolled 1d20+1 = 5 (4).
<Silana> "Pyooo. And they /stink/."
<DM> And someone please roll Liatus' +2.
* Karnak avoids touching the bodies, or moving them, and gingerly makes his way across the tower to the 7 o'clock door.
## Karnak rolled 1d20+2 = 8 (6).
## Silana rolled 1d20+1 = 6 (5).
<11: Karnak> Damn Meridius and his bionic legionairre eyes!
<11: Silana> We're professional obliviates. Don't try this at home.
<DM> Okay, Meridius, who remains on a roll, sees that the haft of the spear running through that one goblin bears the mark of the Hucrele trading business.
<11: Karnak> And I'm going to attempt to map this at home, so this could be funny.:)
* Karnak puts his ear against the 7:00 door, and listens.
## Karnak rolled 1d20+4 = 16 (12).
<DM> Once again,you hear nothing. But even more clearly!
<Karnak> "I think this door is safe. I'll check the other one."
* Karnak head to the 11:00 door, and repeats the process.
## Karnak rolled 1d20+4 = 22 (18).
<DM> It's quiet there, too.
* Silana tsks. "An awful waste of a perfectly good spear, leaving it here like that. I wonder if they were in a hurry?"
<Karnak> "Nothing moving here. I bet Targen and Sharwyn already cleared these places out."
* Karnak wanders back over to look at the spear. "Maybe it's stuck in the wall?"
* Karnak will try to tug on the spear, to see if it'll come out easily.
<DM> It can be pulled loose, but it'll take some effort. Someone had a really good throw there.
<Karnak> "See, it's really stuck in there. Must have been a really strong person who jammed it into this poor creature."
<Karnak> "Let's take that door," and he points to the 11:00 door.
<11: Karnak> Assume, the same process -- Meridius through first, the rest in marching order.
<11: Karnak> And I assume Meridius would have his pilum at hand.
<11: DM> Just out of curiosity, any reason to pick that door over the other one? Not that I mind, I'm just wondering about the decision-making.
* 11: Karnak laughs, "When in doubt, go the route that has more space open on my map sheet?"
* 11: DM chuckles.
* 11: Karnak put the tower in the bottom corner, see...
* Meridius readies a pilum.
<Meridius> ...and takes the lead through the door Karnak opened.
<11: Karnak> Note, too, that Meridius can combine drawing his sword with movement (with that +1 BAB) so can move, draw a sword, and still get in an attack in a round.
<11: DM> Slaves to Jason's notions of mapping, we are. Okay. :)
* Silana shrugs, and follows Meridius' lead.
<11: Karnak> A side concern is that I rolled a 22 listen on that door, so I'm more willing to trust my result.
<11: DM> Fair enough.
<11: Mikki> You're all going to die.
<11: Mikki> Painfully.
<11: Karnak> Well, I'm worried now, cause usually the DM doesn't ask "Why?"...
* 11: Mikki grins.
<11: Karnak> So I'm waiting for the dragon breath.
<DM> The door opens into the tower room. On the other side is a hallway running off to the west - about ten feet wide, its north side level with the northernmost point of the tower room. 45 feet or so from this end, it ends in a flat wall with a door over yonder.
<DM> Halfway down on the south side, there's an elaborately carved stone door like the one at the tower entrance.
<DM> (Okay, I got carried away, you couldn't see the far end from here immediately.)
<DM> (But you could by the time you went very far down the hall, so what do I care? :)
* Karnak follows Meridius down to the south door, which he will then listen at.
## Karnak rolled 1d20+4 = 5 (1).
* 11: Karnak hehs.
<Karnak> "Do we want to open this door? Or continue down the hall?"
<DM> Karnak doesn't hear anything. But you can all see the design, showing dragon-ish fish swimming in the sea. If anyone jiggles the latch, they'll find the door locked. _Now_ you can see the far end clearly.
* Silana hmmms. "This door looks important, but if it's locked, it means the people we're looking for probably didn't go that way..."
<Karnak> "Or locked it behind them."
<Meridius> "We'll leave this door alone for the time being."
* Karnak peers at the lock. "We only had one locked door in the Temple."
* Karnak nods, "Okay."
* Karnak follows Meridius to the door at the end of the hallway, and will try to listen there, as well.
* Gnaea seems just as happy with that, too. [Silana]
<DM> The door at the far end of the hall is wooden, and clearly used fairly regularly. (The hall here, too has little build-up of dust.)
<DM> Dan, I've just realized that you _can_ have Gnaea try to listen, if you want.
<Karnak> "I wonder if the tower still has inhabitants?"
<11: Karnak> Gnaea's just going to embarass me if she listens. :)
* Karnak listens at the door.
## Karnak rolled 1d20+4 = 24 (20).
<DM> Hey, this time you do hear something!
<11: Silana> I was holding back on that. Trying not to have the Swiss Army Owl effect. :)
<11: DM> Fair enough. :)
* Karnak jumps back from the door like he's gotten a shock, "Wow."
<Meridius> "Shh."
* Karnak lowers his voice, "Someone's crying behind the door."
* Silana peers around nervously. So does Gnaea, except she doesn't need to turn her body to do it.
* Karnak reaches to open the door, "They sound like they're hurt."
<DM> Opening the door...
* Meridius nods at Karnak to open the door, and readies a pilum.
* Silana stands to the side a little, and holds her breath.
* Karnak eases the door open.
<DM> The room on the other side is large and somewhat irregularly shaped, like it was stuffed into the space available once other rooms and passages were in place. There's a large bonfire pit in the center of the room, with a few still-glowing coals. Someone's painted fairly inept sigils and glyphs on the walls in bright green die; it takes those who know Draconic a little puzzling to realize that they're supposed to say "Here There Be Dragons" (or perhaps H33R THER B3 DRAG0NZ).
* Meridius steps inside.
<DM> Attached to the southern wall there's a big metal cage, which has been ripped apart from the outside. There's a small bench draped with a green cloth in front of the cage, like a very low-budget altar, and next to that a bedroll. Which is where the whimpering's coming from.
* Meridius moves warily toward the whimpering.
* Karnak follows, holding the lantern high and looking around in wonder.
<DM> The room's about 30 feet wide east-west, and long enough north-south that you can only illuminate it all from right up against the fire pit in the center. Maybe 50 feet or so, though incursions and recesses make the details hard to tally up.
<11: Karnak> Any other exits from the room?
<DM> There's an open hallway in the middle of the west wall.
<11: Meridius> I need a pause for a few minutes.
<DM> There's a door in the east wall north of where you came in, practically right up in the northeast corner; another in the south wall on its western side; and two in the west wall, one down at the south end, one most of the way toward the north end.
<11: DM> Sure thing, Chris.
<DM> In clock terms, allowing for the room being roughly rectangular...
<DM> You came in at 4. Door in the south wall at 7. Door in the west wall at 8. Hallway at 9. Door in the west wall at 11. Door in the east wall at 1.
* 11: Karnak heh, "Terrible map I'm making. I'll have to scan it in later, and put it up on the site. :)"
<DM> The fire pit, by the way, is piled high with small bodies - those who've seen kobolds before will recognize them, those who haven't won't. Half a dozen or more got cremated here, the debris of their gear covered in ashes.
* Karnak makes a low whistle, "Some kind of church here, I bet." He'll then focus on the place where the whimpering is coming from.
<DM> There's a sleeping kobold in the bedroll, apparently locked deep in some nightmare. It hasn't been disturbed by you folks moving around in the room.
* Silana makes a disgusted face at the bodies in the firepit. She doesn't know a kobold from a schauzer, but she recognizes that they must've been something sentient.
<11: Silana> Schnauzer, even.
<11: Karnak> Okay, do we wait for Chris? Cause I'm thinking of having Karnak go to the sleeping fellow and shake him awake. :)
<DM> Karnak would not have seen one of these before, I think: maybe four feet high, rusty black scales, light horns on its head. Something that wishes it could grow up to become a dragon.
<11: DM> Let's wait for Chris. Meridius may have his own concerns.
<11: Karnak> Okay, I'll go finish getting dressed for going to the film then.
<DM> Liatus prepares a word of command and readies the insignia of the Imperial Presence, far mightier than any crying kobold, asleep or awake.
<11: Meridius> I'm back.
<11: Karnak> I'm back, too
* 11: Silana is here.
<DM> Meridius, the kid monk found a kobold.
<DM> he has not yet actually said "Can we keep it?", but I figure it's just a matter of time.
* Meridius preps his pilum so as to be able to easily stab the kobold if it does anything untoward.
* Meridius says to Karnak, "Wake it."
* Karnak reaches out and shakes the kobold. Taking a shot in the dark, he speaks in Draconic, "Hey, wake up. You're having a bad dream."
* Silana steps over closer to where Meridius and Karnak are, still looking around nervously, as is her familiar. A lot of other doors in here.
<DM> It takes rather a lot of shaking, but finally it jolts awake. It takes one look at the earnest human face looking down at it and tries to scramble out of the bedroll. Then it sees the big human soldier with readied weapon, and it just sort of curls up and whimpers some more. In very broken Common, it says, "no kill".
* Karnak says in Draconic, "You speak this language?"
* Karnak is hopeful, since the writing was in draconic...
* Karnak then says in common, "I think its like some kind of dragon baby."
<Kobold> "Oh yes. Meepo--" it points at itself "--speaks very good Draconic. Writes great mottos, you see," with a gesture at the walls. [DM]
* Karnak nods, "Hello, Meepo. You were having a bad dream. I thought it best to wake you."
<Meridius> "Lets stick with Common."
<11: Karnak> Just cause Meridius is the only one who can't understand it. :)
<Meepo, in Common> "I do what big soldier say." He tries to look charmingly at Meridius. "I have terrible dreams, yes. Dream about losing dragon again and again." [DM]
<Karnak> "You had a dragon?"
* Karnak sits on the ground beside Meepo, "What was it like?"
* Silana is looking a bit astonished by this.
<DM> Meepo points at the cage. "Meepo once had greatest dragon in all the land! Mighty Calcryx!"
<DM> The cage is about 15' feet square, by the way.
<11: Karnak> How big is the cage?
<11: Karnak> Ah.
* Meridius remains silent, standing at ready with his pilum, but no longer threatening the kobold.
<DM> Meepo sobs again. "Had great dragon until foul goblins took him! Left Meepo, Keeper of Dragons, with no dragon to keep. I weep."
<Karnak> "Wow. The goblins took your dragon?"
<Karnak> "Goblins must be pretty strong to take a dragon like that."
* Karnak gestures to the fire pit, "Did they also do that?"
<DM> Meepo nods vigorously. "Band of goblins come from their territory, catch us by surprise at dinner."
<DM> Meepo turns his head from the fire pit. "After goblins take Calcryx and go, we prepare our dead for fire. Good bodies go to kitchen. Crushed and bad ones go onto fire."
<Karnak> "Kitchen?"
<DM> Meepo looks up at Karnak with a "what else?" expression.
<DM> "Of course kitchen. Honor dead with feast. You not do same, your heroes?"
* Silana sighs. Some 'dragon' if it fit in /there/. Then she looks directly at Meepo in disgust. "You eat your dead friends?!?"
<Meepo> "You want soul to go to _waste_?" [DM]
* Karnak nods, "I suppose not."
<Karnak> "Do the goblins live around here, too?"
* Silana looks vaguely ill, as she backs away a step.
<Karnak> "Because we've lost some people important to us, too, and I'm wondering if maybe the goblins took them, too."
<DM> Meepo points at the 1 o'clock door and then gestures off to the northeast. "Goblins used to live all over here, good rooms. We take some away, but they still hide there, make it hard for great Yusdrayl to beat them more."
<Karnak> "Who is Yusdrayl?"
<DM> Meepo looks a little surprised. "Yusdrayl queen of kobolds, of course. Bring us up out of caves here to good food." He pauses to think for a moment. "I take you to her! She know what to do with you!"
* Karnak rubs the top of his head, "Let me check that with our leader, Meridius here. He's the one who's bringing us down here to find our friends."
* Karnak glances over at Meridius. "Well?"
<DM> Meepo looks over at Meridius. "Yes. Wise follower respect wishes of great queen. Or king, or whatever."
<Meridius> "Perhaps you should interrogate the kobold regarding the people we're trying to find."
<Karnak> "I was getting to that."
* Karnak turns back to Meepo. "Before we go see Yusdrayl, have you seen others like us come through here, Meepo?"
<Meridius> "Good." :)
* 11: Karnak hehs. :)
<DM> Meepo shakes his head. "I not see big people like you before in long time. But I Keeper of Dragons, not Watcher of Big People. Yusdrayl, she hear all reports, she know."
* Karnak turns again to Meridius, "He's got a point. Maybe she'll know more."
* Silana is listening to the conversation, but looking increasingly uncomfortable with being in this room. Something about a pile of dead, burned /things/ and a live cannibalistic one, perhaps.
<DM> Liatus probably isn't too thrilled about it, either. The Imperial Presence is cruel and strong but not cannibalistic.
* Karnak glances at Meepo, "She's not going to want to eat us, is she?"
<DM> Meepo shakes his head. "No no. Not eat guest. Only eat enemies."
* 11: Meridius would make a comment to Silana about tolerating other cultures, but then realizes that would only be appropriate in a Star Trek game. :)
* Karnak nods, "A good rule to have. I think we'll be okay."
* 11: Silana dubs Karnak "Speaker to Kobolds."
<11: Karnak> I'm thinking Karnak's not so much tolerant as possibly clueless.
<11: Karnak> I mean, it does seem reasonable. :)
<11: Silana> 'Possibly'?
<11: Silana> :)
* 11: Karnak grins.
<DM> Meepo nods happily and gets most of the way toward the 10 o'clock door, raising an arm to knock on it. But not so fast that nobody else can say or do anything, just so folks know.
<Karnak> "Whoa, hold up Meepo."
<DM> Meepo stops. "Yes?
* Karnak stands himself, "Can we have a moment to get ready? We'd like to get ourselves sorted out before we meet your Queen."
<DM> Meepo nods. "Okay."
* Karnak lowers his voice, "So we'll see if she's seen Targen or Sharwyn, right?"
<11: Karnak> Mikki was wrong, too! We're not dead yet.
<11: DM> Not _yet_.
<Meridius> "That idea seems sound to me. The kobolds and goblins seem to be enemies, so if we present ourselves as enemies of the goblins as well we should be reasonably save in dealing with the kobolds."
* Karnak nods, "I hadn't thought of that."
<Karnak> "Okay, Meepo... we're ready."
* Silana nods. "Calling myself a 'friend' of these things isn't going to make me happy, but it seems like the other ones are worse."
<DM> Meepo brightens up. "Good, good!" He goes over to the bench, and closes his eyes and reverently touches little dragon figures on it. "We go, with courage of dragon!"
* Meridius says to Silana, "The term you might prefer is 'ally of expedience'."
<DM> Then he knocks on the door he was going to open before.
* Karnak steps over and examines the dragon figures, and touches them too, before following Meepo.
<11: Karnak> Okay, we need to find a language not many people speak that we can all share for secret in party communications. Dwarven?
<11: Mikki> That's only because I'm a lying piece of shit.
* Silana nods to Meridius, resignedly.
<11: Silana> I speak Common and Elvish.
<DM> Three kobolds wearing light armor peer out, though they don't actually go "Hello?" "Hello?" "Hello!" in sequence. They see Meepo and sneer, then turn some more and see the characters. In their irregular way they straighten up for a fight.
<11: Karnak> I speak Common and Draconic, like Liatus.
<11: Meridius> I'm the only one in the party who speaks Dwarven.
<11: Mikki> I'd suggest Finnish, but you'd stab me in the heart with a rusty coat hanger.
<11: Meridius> If you had a heart!
<11: Karnak> Yeah, I think we'll need to invest some points in a language. :)
<DM> Meepo waves his hands at them, saying "No shoot! No shoot! Take to Yusdrayl!" They look skeptical.
<11: Mikki> I do have a heart. It's in my freezer.
* Karnak says in Draconic, "Are we okay, Meepo? These guys look pretty tough."
* 11: Silana suggests Swedish. Then no one will understand us. Not even the Swedes.
* 11: Karnak laughs.
* Meridius addresses the kobold soldiers. "We are in Imperial envoy seeking an audience with your queen regarding Imperial citizens who are missing."
<DM> Does Meridius have Diplomacy? if so, roll it.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+1 = 15 (14).
<11: Karnak> Perhaps Liatus with +8 Diplomacy should do the talking. :)
<DM> That will do, as it happens.
<11: Karnak> If only he were here. :)
<DM> The guards lower their crossbows and look at Meepo. "True?"
<DM> Meepo nods very vigorously. "True!"
<Meridius> "We would be honored if you would escort us to your queen."
<DM> One of the guards steps ahead of the others. "We will take you to Yusdrayl. You follow, go only where we tell you." He's trying to look as fierce as he can.
<Karnak> "That seems reasonable."
<11: Mikki> I would.
<Meridius> "Aye, sir."
<11: Mikki> For such is my linguistic genius that I am actually able to converse in that strange tongue.
* Meridius makes to follow the kobold.
<DM> One of the other guards steps forward and whispers something in his ear. "Oh," says the first. "We remain at post as commanded by Yusdrayl. Meepo takes you, you follow him."
<11: Mikki> (Well, if "converse" means "using simple sentences and saying 'uh' a whole lot", but.)
<11: Meridius> "You stay here, and make sure he doesn't leave."
* Karnak nods, "We will follow Meepo."
<Karnak> "Keeper of the Dragon."
<DM> The guard snickers. "Keeper of No Dragon." Meepo looks crushed.
<11: Karnak> Poor kobolds. They don't know what they're letting in to their lives.
* Karnak pats Meepo's shoulder, "He'll get it back."
* Meridius addresses the guard once more. "Do you have some token which will allow us to pass safely, or is Meepo's presence sufficient?"
<DM> Just a sec, while I get my calculator.
<DM> The guard says "Meepo fine badge. No one forge Meepo."
* 11: Karnak hees.
<11: Silana> "You're under arrest, son, for passing counterfeit kobolds."
<Meridius> "Very good." <turns to Meepo> "Lead on."
<DM> Meepo smiles, while giving the guards plenty of extra space. "We go here," he says and heads through the open hallway. The guards reutrn to stand by the door they came out of.
<DM> The hallway runs off to the west, with doors on both its north and south sides, off beyond the limits of your illumination. Not very far in, it branches, and Meepo takes the turn to the right (north).
<11: Karnak> I assume we'll just follow meepo.
<DM> Pausing to see if there's any prep I should be aware of before moving on.
<11: Karnak> Keeping an eye out for ambush?
<11: Silana> I was just waiting for the guys to go, since I'm behind them.
<11: DM> Spot checks for ambushes, I think.
* Meridius stows his pilum and will keep his weapon hand empty, with shield on left arm.
## Meridius rolled 1d20-1 = 6 (7).
* Silana follows, not looking particularly happy about it, but bravely soldiering on. Gnaea, still perched atop her mistress' pack, sidesteps back and forth and keeps looking around nervously.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 22 (20).
## Silana rolled 1d20+6 = 15 (9).
<DM> I'm amused that Silana is watching better than her owl at this point. :)
<DM> In any event, no sign of lurking ambushes.
<DM> Meepo brings you out into a surprising chamber.
<DM> It's a long hall running east and west, with vaulted ceilings and twin rows of pillars, carved with the twining-dragons motif you've seen before. It's brilliant and careful work, which still looks good even after all that it's apparently been through.
<11: Gnaea> . o O ( Pfeh. I taught her all she knows about it. ) [Silana]
<DM> Notes for Karnak: it's 20' wide north to south, and an indefinite length east to west. You've come out about 10' feet from the east end, which has a door in it. Door directly opposite, and a door on the south wall at the limits of your light, 25' feet or so to the west.
* Karnak will whistle again, "Wow."
<DM> In front of that door opposite is another of these three-kobold patrols like the one you left back in the used-to-have-a-dragon room. They've been mostly keeping an eye on the door, but turn lazily to see Meepo, then spin around _fast_ at the sight of the rest of you. "Who goes!"
<DM> Meepo immediately responds, "I bring guests to Yusdrayl. They come friendly, not like goblins."
* Silana blinks, her eyes slowly sweeping the room's ornamentation. "Wow..." She's no architect, but she's been in the homes of enough of her father's wealthy friends to know high-end work when she sees it.
<DM> The guards look skeptical, and peer for any sign of a knife stuck into Meepo's back or anything of the sort.
<11: Silana> And this stuff is even done in better taste than a lot of theirs. ;)
* Karnak looks around like a tourist, without any apparent concern.
<Meridius> "My companions and I constitute an Imperial envoy sent on a mission to search for missing citizens. We request an audience with your queen to see if she might aid us with information concerning them."
<DM> The guards aren't picking up all of that, but they known the tone of command when they hear it. "Meepo take you to great Yusdrayl, we see that you keep peace."
<DM> Meepo nods. "I take, all is good."
* Meridius nods to the guards and resumes following Meepo.
<DM> Meepo heads down the center of the hall, pulling himself as erect as a dejected kobold can. For brief moments he looks like someone who might actually belong in the company of the worshippers of dragons.
<DM> Notes for Karnak: facing doors in the north and south walls 15' past that one I've already described in the south wall, and 15' beyond that an open hallway in the south wall. And beyond _that_....
<DM> At the far end of the hall is a throne clearly made long after the hall's builders were done. It's assembled from pieces of statues and odds and ends.
<DM> sitting on it is a rather large kobold, dressed in bright red robes and looking at everything with an attitude of condescension. Six guards stand at the bottom of her throne. They've seen the characters approach and are clearly trying to look more than usually sharp for the occasion.
<DM> Meepo bows very low in front of the throne, from ten feet away. "Great Yusdrayl, I bring you guests."
<DM> Yusdrayl looks unimpressed as she examines the characters.
* Meridius approaches no closer than Meepo, kneels and briefly bows his head.
<Yusdrayl> "Who are you?" [DM]
* Silana is also well-experienced in how to behave toward those in superior positions, though she's not that happy to act that way here. She bows respectfully, remaining silent until she is addressed directly.
* Karnak is looking around like a tourist, and moves the lantern to get better looks at various things.
<Meridius> "I am Meridius, an Imperial legionnaire. My companions are Haru Karnak, Quintillia Silana, and Liatus, a priest of the Imperial Presence."
<DM> I'm guessing that Liatus presents himself with rather a lot of confidence but does not actually try to hit on Yusdrayl.
* 11: Silana is very much hoping Liatus has better taste than that. :)
<Yusdrayl> "I am Yusdrayl, great among my race. I welcome you to our home, among the glories of the past and the glories to come." [DM]
<Meridius> "We are honored that you would receive us into your home."
<Yusdrayl> "What brings you to the Sunless Citadel?" [DM]
<Meridius> "We are searching for citizens of the Empire who have gone missing. They were known to be in this area at the time of their disappearance about a month ago."
<Yusdrayl> "I know nothing of people of your empire. Only goblins trouble us, and the Outcast. [DM]
<Meridius> "Forgive me, great queen, but I am unfamiliar with this Outcast. Would you enlighten us?"
<Yusdrayl> "He is one of you," she says with a general gesture at your height. "He lives somewhere below, and has since before I gloriously led my people here. He does strange things to the dead plants below." [DM]
<Meridius> "And he troubles you as the goblins do?"
<Yusdrayl> "He makes the little things with thorns, which hunt us when we venture up the ravine." [DM]
<Meridius> "The things with thorns have troubled the Empire as well."
<Meridius> "Though we did not know their source until now."
* Karnak rubs his head. "Wow."
<Yusdrayl> "Then we have something in common." She smiles briefly. [DM]
<Karnak> "We should do something about that Outcast person."
<Yusdrayl> "What truly matters, though, is what you would do with the goblins." [DM]
<Meridius> "The goblins are enemies of the Empire, and will be slain where they are found."
<Karnak> "Are they working with the Outcast?"
* Meridius isn't sure who Karnak is addressing that question to.
<DM> Yusdrayl smiles very broadly at that. "Slaying goblins is good." She pauses. "If you bring back our dragon, great would be your reward." Turning to Karnak, she says, "I do not know what the goblins and the Outcast do where we cannot see."
* Karnak mutters to his companions, "I bet Targen and Sharwyn went through the goblin areas, instead."
<DM> I should, just to be on the safe side, get a Diplomacy roll from someone here.
## Meridius rolled 1d20-1 = 10 (11).
<11: Karnak> Damn Liatus for not being here!
<Meridius> Hold it. I'm supposed to roll +1.
<Meridius> Let me reroll.
<DM> It's a good thing you get a hefty bonus from the fact of Meepo's presence and cooperation.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+1 = 5 (4).
<DM> Doubly good, under the circumstances. :)
<11: Mikki> Well, _that_ was a reroll worth the effort it took to make it. =)
<11: Karnak> Why didn't you take the 11 your rolled, and add 1 for a 12?
* 11: Meridius' player facepalms.
<11: Karnak> Picked up the dice too fast, Chris. :)
<DM> The Meepo bonus makes up for Meridius' performance, fortunately. Next time, Meridius, try to hold the farts.
<11: Mikki> I'm in awe of your leet skillz, Chris.
<11: Karnak> It probably didn't help that you weren't speaking Draconic. :)
<11: Mikki> Truly, you're the best player EVER. =)
<11: Meridius> Gah.
<11: DM> Seriously, though, I'd also through in a situational bonus for good roleplaying. I was mostly looking for a fumble.
<11: Meridius> Nice how a pisspoor roll can ruin a bunch of perfectly good roleplaying.
<Karnak> "That sounds like more adventure. I'll do it."
<11: Meridius> Ah, okay.
* Karnak looks back over his shoulder, "The goblins are back that way, right?"
<11: DM> I'm noticing that the time is drawing in for Jason's departure. I'll wrap up this.
<11: Karnak> Yeah. Good place to cut, I think.
<11: Karnak> Low body count for us, though. :)
<Meridius> "Great queen, we will search for your dragon as we search for our missing citizens. If we find the dragon, we will return it to you. While doing so, we will find this Outcast and deal with him. Any goblins who get in the way will be slain."
<DM> Yusdrayl gestures down the hall. "Those three guard one of the entrances to the golbins' filthy dens. The other is in Meepo's hall, where our beloved Calcryx once lived."
<DM> Yusdrayl nods back. "I accept this offer, and will reward you for the return of our Calcryx or news of his fate."
<Meridius> "May we be provided with some token that will allow us to move safely among your people? We would greatly appreciate your protection."
<DM> Yusdrayl unwinds a red scarf from one of her arms. "This is something that all my people will recognize."
<Karnak> "Why don't we take Meepo, too? He can point out the dragon to us."
<11: DM> Figuring XP for this is going to be a touch interesting.
<DM> Meepo cringes, but doesn't say anything.
<Meridius> How do I get the scarf from the queen?
<DM> She hands it to you.
* 11: Karnak needs to scoot, since traffic is apparently bad. Later, and thanks everyone.
<DM> Leaning forward on her throne, and handing it to one of the guards if you don't get within reach.
<11: DM> See you!
*** Signoff: Karnak (EOF from client) at Sat Dec 21 2:55 PM PST.
* Meridius takes the scarf. "You do us a profound honor, great queen."
<Yusdrayl> "I do." [DM]
<DM> And I guess this is our pausing point.
* Meridius inclines his head a second time, then stands, ties the scarf around his neck in legionnaire fashion, and then presses the button to save the game.
<11: DM> Okay, now, let me look at the matter of XP.
<11: DM> You came in with 300 total.
<11: DM> Chris, you get 150 just for Meridius for the combo of the rat and trap. Since it was all over in one round, I can't really see anyone else being involved with it.
<11: Meridius> The initial 300XP is split evenly among the group, correct?
<11: DM> Successfully negotiating with Meepo is worth 50. 150 for the guards, and another 150 for the guards in the big hall. (Each of those is a definite success, as there was a chance for each to become a brawl.) And 900 for successful dealing with Yusdrayl.
<11: DM> Right.
<11: DM> So the total is now 1550 divided four ways, or /
<11: DM> 387.5, plus Chris' additional 150. Chris is more than halfway to 2nd level. :)
<11: Meridius> Does the half-an-XP count, or do we round it off?
<11: DM> It counts.
*** Meridius is now known as iChris.
<11: DM> So there's not enough for anyone to pick up bennies this time, but if we keep this up, I would be unsurprised to see leveling up happen next time.
*** DM is now known as Bruce.
<11: Bruce> Well, for a bunch of sick, tired, and distracted folks, I think we did pretty well.
*** Silana is now known as DanQ.
<11: iChris> I'll feel pretty good about the game. Just took me a bit of time for my mind to focus in on it.
<11: Bruce> Dan, I hope you didn't feel too sidelined this time.
<11: iChris> Though it's a bummer BA wasn't here to handle the negotiations.
<11: Bruce> Yeah.
<11: iChris> Though the chance of getting into a fight would've gone up quite a bit if Liatus hit on Yusdrayl. :)
<11: Bruce> :)
* 11: DanQ looks it up. "Okay, I'll get more spells/day, and my attacks will go up, and my Will save will get a little better. I'll have to wait until we get back to civilization to learn the additional Level 0 spell I get, though."
<11: iChris> Anyway, we seem to be in good order, paused at Yusdrayl's chamber and about to foray into goblin territory.
<11: Bruce> right.
<11: DanQ> And like I said, if Liatus had hit on her, Silana'd be a little upset. She'd taken his interest as a compliment before, but not if he has such horrible taste. ;)
<11: iChris> Aye. :)
<11: Mikki> Well, you guys are fucked. You're going to your deaths.
<11: Bruce> Thank you for these words of encouragement.
<11: DanQ> So long as we get to drag you with us.
<11: Mikki> Bruce will have a ball, though.
* 11: DanQ casts Mikki as Meepo.
<11: Mikki> Shit, I'd love to play Meepo.
<11: iChris> "I can't believe this party talked their way through an entire module!"
* 11: iChris departs from the game channels.
*** iChris has left channel 11 [Saturday D&D: Chatter].
*** iChris has left channel 10 [Saturday D&D: Descent Into The Depths].
*** You now have no default channel.
*** iChris has joined channel 1 [Open Discussion and Sick Ward].
*** Your default channel is now 1.
<iChris> Hi, folks.
<Bruce> Hey there.
*** BA.nap is now known as BA.
<Bruce> This was obviously Meridius' spotlight session.
* BA missed the game, didn't he? :(
<iChris> Creepy. BA wakes up just in time for the game to be over.
<Bruce> You did, BA, but I kept a log, and will send it to you.
* BA grumps
<Ralph> Bruce, did they choose the same door we did?
<iChris> I'll try not to get so much spotlight next time. Gotta share the fun.
<Bruce> No, Ralph. They didn't even -see- that door. :)
<Will> Heh
<Will> Yay us. ;)
<iChris> Sounds like the weekday group is having a bad day playing Lets Make A Deal with Monty Haul. :)
<carter@q7.com>