Jason was unavailable for this session, so Karnak was left out of play.
<Bruce> If memory serves, we have leveling-up stuff to take care of, though we can postpone that if folks would prefer.
<iChris> Meridius is already leveled up and ready to go.
<Bruce> Chris be de man.
<BAgame> I honestly can't remember anything about what we were doing last time.
<Bruce> Chris also be de not-spellcaster man. :)
<iChris> BA, we'd reentered the Citadel, and had some encounters. When we were done, Bruce had us all level up to level 3 regardless of XP still needed.
<Bruce> And as you can see at http://www.baugh.info/citadel1.jpg , you'd been exploring along the southern edge of the map. There's room 10, with the big pit in the floor at the left, and the little secret passageway at 11.
<iChris> http://www.q7.com/~carter/rpg/ has the game logs so you can look at the previous session.
<iChris> http://members.shaw.ca/ogier/dandd.htm ought to be Jason's page.
<iChris> Jason's page is a bit out of date.
<Bruce> We left the PCs in a small chamber looking at a draconic inscription saying "A dragonpriest entombed alive for transgressions of the Law still retains the honor of his position." and contemplating the trapdoor in the floor.
*** Bruce is now known as DM.
*** iChris is now known as Meridius.
*** BAgame is now known as Liatus.
<Liatus> I don't think my leveling up's been done yet, but I'm willing to do that later to get things moving.
<DM> You all got the XP boost to 3000 XP because Joe thinks you deserve it, and who am I to argue? :)
* Liatus meant all of the "this goes up to this" and so forth
<Liatus> Has anyone heard from Jason?
<Meridius> Not me.
<11: Silana> Okay, and I just finished doing mine. I hadn't picked where to spend skill points until just now. I raised Knowledge (arcana) and Spellcraft by 1 each, and spent the other two points on a rank in Search.
<DM> BA, you get another d8 of hit points, add +1 base attack bonus, add +1 to your Reflex save, and add 3 2nd level spells, one from your clerical domain. Also 4 skill points.
<DM> Not me, either.
<11: DM> Sounds good, Dan. Useful stuff.
<11: Silana> And trying to stay with stuff I've actually been using.
* 11: DM nods. :)
<Liatus> According to the log, I rolled 3 for my new hps.
<DM> For the time being, Karnak remains back in Roburcollis mending from his touch of whatever-it-is.
<DM> Oh, okay.
<Liatus> Karnak's bought with sugar poisoning.
<11: Silana> I have a new L1 spell coming to me, but I'm going to have to learn that from somewhere before I get it, anyway.
<DM> Make a note of the increases on your character sheet, BA, and then if you send Chris e-mail with the updates he can have HeroForge make you a nice handsome character sheet (and a copy for me).
<DM> Note, by the way, that you can now destroy 1st and 2nd level undead when you turn them.
<DM> And your healing spells are +1 point more effective than at 2nd level.
<DM> You can consider spells as you wish, and if you want to manifest them for the first time when it's time to use htem, that's cool with me.
<DM> While BA considers, I will remind folks that in room 10 there are alcoves, most of which have statues of of tall armored figured. One of the alcoves doesn't, but you spotted footprints in the dust leading from it to the pit. Down in the pit there are spikes, but no signs of whatever made the footprints.
<Liatus> If I haven't picked any by the time I need them, Ill do so.
<Meridius> The figures are quasits, right?
<DM> Right.
<Meridius> What's on the far side of the pit?
<Liatus> I'm human, so I get an extra one.
<DM> On the far site of the pit is another chamber; you can make out purple marble tiles, and see that it goes out of sight north and south. The lighting doesn't give a better view.
<Meridius> So I take it we'll examine the alcove before having a crack at the far side of the pit...
<11: DM> Dan and BA, you also each get a new feat.
<DM> That's what I figured, yes. You found a secret door in the back of the empty alcove, and the passageway behind it, ending with the trapdoor in the floor.
<Meridius> Anything on the far side of the trapdoor?
<DM> Had you gotten as far as actually opening it? :)
* Meridius roots around with purpose while the other party members compose themselves. :)
<11: Silana> I already took Point Blank Shot as my new feat.
<11: DM> Ah ha. Handy
<Meridius> I'm assuming we opened the secret door, found the passageway, and are now wondering what to do next.
<Meridius> We could try to move beyond the trapdoor, or examine the trapdoor itself.
<DM> You can check the trapdoor for, um, traps, or go ahead and open it.
<Meridius> Search roll to look for traps, right?
<DM> Yup.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+2 = 19 (17).
<DM> No traps come to light.
<Meridius> I'll Listen at the trapdoor as well.
## Meridius rolled 1d20-1 = 5 (6).
<DM> All quiet on the other side.
* Liatus is adding 2 to his heal skill (presuming I learned from the gnome) and one each to diplomacy (dealing with the kobolds), knowledge: arcana and knowledge: religion (looking at all these ancient artifacts).
* Meridius sets down his gladius and scutum, though keeping them within easy reach, and attempts to open the trapdoor.
<DM> Very good choices, BA.
<Meridius> (Presumably I'm kneeling at this point.)
<DM> The trapdoor opens, after a bit of tugging, to reveal a small crawl space running off to the west. You can't see how far it goes, but it's obviously well beyond the western edge of the pit.
<Meridius> Now I'll check what's on the far side of the trapdoor.
<DM> The crawl space is about 3 x 3 feet square, and as dusty as the rest of this part of the citadel. Its roof is a foot or so below the level of the floor.
* 11: Liatus is going to go with Toughness (justified by my new rugged manly existance) and take advantage of the 3 extra HPs.
<11: DM> Sounds good. :)
<Meridius> For the moment I'm going to close the trapdoor and examine the rest of the hidden area for other stuff. If I don't find anything, I'll reopen the trapdoor and consider using the crawlspace.
<DM> I'll use the same search roll as above. The only other thing in here is the draconic inscription mentioned earlier.
* 11: Silana prints out an updated character sheet. It's nice to have duplexing. :)
* Meridius shows the trapdoor and crawlspace to Liatus and Silana. "Shall we?"
* 11: DM is mildly envious. :)
<11: Meridius> I should be able to get a used duplexer for my HP LaserJet 4MP for about $150.
<11: Silana> I'm just loving how much better my new HP is than the printer it replaced.
<DM> I'll bet Gnaea is just ecstatic at the thought of crawling in a tunnel. :)
<Gnaea> . o O ( Well, at least /I/ can stand up in there. ) [Silana]
* DM laughs.
* DM likes the image of the owl waddling along.
* Silana looks at the opening a little dubiously, and her familiar looks particularly uncheered by the prospect. "I suppose, if we're going to get anywhere."
<DM> Well, there is the pit. It's about 10 feet deep and 10 feet wide; you could probably climb down and back up without huge effort.
<Gnaea> . o O ( Why is a pit such an obstac-- Oh, right. ) [Silana]
<DM> :)
<Meridius> Doesn't the pit have spikes at the bottom?
<DM> Yes, it does. You'd have to maneuver around them.
* Meridius would rather bypass them entirely.
<DM> Or jump across - anyone with a base speed of 30 can do it with moderate DC, or rather hard if your base speed is 20.
<Meridius> No jumping for me, if I can avoid it.
<DM> Well, this is certainly the less-spikes way to go.
<11: Meridius> "Throw me the idol, I throw you the whip!"
<DM> Okay, into the crawl space, then...
* Meridius takes the lead in the crawlspace, slinging his shield on his back.
<DM> The little shaft runs due west for about 40 feet, then turns a corner to the north.
<11: Liatus> My updated spell list: 0: Detect Poison, Guidence, Light, Purify Food and Water; 1: Bless, Doom, Command, and Magic Weapon; 2: Bull's Strength, Hold Person and Spiritual Weapon.
<11: DM> Ooh, good list.
<11: DM> Feel free to pick a good form for your Spiritual Weapon.
<11: Silana> Attack Slinky!
* 11: DM underlines _good_.
* Liatus lets Silana go before him.
<11: Liatus> That would be the gladius/short sword.
<DM> Around the corner, the passage goes north for about 10' before opening into a small chamber. The ceiling's a little higher here - you can't quite stand upright, but it's better - and there's a trapdoor mounted in the ceiling, with footholds carved in the wall leading up to it.
<11: Liatus> Admitedly not the most damage doing weapon there is, but it fits the faith and is in keeping with my having short sword as my martial weapon proficency feat gained by being a cleric of war.
<11: DM> And since the spiritual weapon does the same damage regardless, it's a matter of symbolism.
* Silana nods, and follows Meridius into the tunnel. She's got her crossbow unslung so she can keep it in front of her as she crawls along. Gnaea peers into the opening after her mistress for a moment, then hops in and grabs onto one of Silana's boots with her claws to hitch a ride that way.
* Liatus follows behind, enjoying the fragrent scent of owl.
<DM> :)
<Meridius> When I reach the chamber I'll conduct a Search of it, including the trapdoor.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+2 = 19 (17).
<11: Silana> Owl'd Spice?
<11: Meridius> Boot Poopy.
<DM> The trapdoor is, like the one at the other end, trapfree, and the chamber itself seems pretty bare.
<Meridius> Okay, with shield still slung on my back to keep my hands free, I'll go up the handholds and Listen at the trapdoor.
## Meridius rolled 1d20-1 = 10 (11).
<DM> Sounds quiet on the other end.
<Meridius> "Silana, could you send Gnaea up here to check this trapdoor? Perhaps she'll be able to sense something I cannot."
* Silana nods. "Good idea." She looks back oer her shoulder at the bird, unnecessary as it might be, and says, "Go listen, sweetie." The owl obeys, flutter-waddling past Silana to move forward.
## Silana rolled 1d20+14 = 28 (14).
<DM> Holy cow.
<DM> Er, owl. Y'know.
* Silana grins at her feathered listening device. :)
<11: Silana> Parabolic Owl.
<11: Silana> The bird's head swivels in that disconcerting owl fashion to look back toward Silana. "She's hearing something," the sorceress says. "Claws, maybe. Somewhere beyond the door, not sure how close."
<11: Silana> Wrong channel. :P
<Silana> The bird's head swivels in that disconcerting owl fashion to look back toward Silana. "She's hearing something," the sorceress says. "Claws, maybe. Somewhere beyond the door, not sure how close."
<DM> Anyone who has Move Silently can use it to try to open the trapdoor quietly, by the way. Likewise with a raw Dex check.
<Meridius> My Move Silently stinks.
<11: Liatus> Figures. Where's Karnak when we need him
<Liatus> As does mine.
<11: Liatus> Silana's the only one besides Karnak who can move silently worth a damn.
<DM> There's also banging the trapdoor open and fragging anything that moves, of course.
<11: Silana> Gnaea's Move Silently is amazing, but she's not gonna be opening any doors 10 times her mass. :)
<11: DM> Bull's Strength on the owl, and then...
* 11: Silana cackles.
<11: Voiceover> "Faster than a speeding arrow. More powerful than a..." [Silana]
<11: Meridius> If there are no objections, I'm thinking I'll just bust on through the trapdoor and take on whatever's on the other side.
<11: DM> Probably best, under the circumstances. Any preparatory magic?
<11: Silana> Speaking of which, I believe I still have Mage Armor running from last session. I don't recall what else I've already cast, if anything.
* 11: Liatus is good to go
<11: DM> The Mage Armor is still running, yes.
<Silana> "Do we want to be loud or sneaky about this?"
<Meridius> "I'm for loud." ;~)
<Liatus> "I agree with Meridius. Whatever is on the other side of the trap door can't be that big."
<Meridius> (Famous Last Words.) :)
* DM laughs.
* Silana nods, recalling Gnaea to get her out of Meridius' way and checking her crossbow.
<DM> Meridius then gives the trapdoor a mighty shove...
<Liatus> (Hey, I'm young, good looking and swave. The worst that could happen is a leave a pretty corpse.)
<Meridius> My shield is still slung on my back, but my gladius is drawn. Once I bust through the trapdoor and get topside I'll try for an opportunity to bring my shield to bear.
<Liatus> "I can try to boost Silana through the door so she can back you up quickly."
<DM> I've updated http://www.baugh.info/citadel1.jpg to show this room. You emerge in the southwest corner of a big square chamber. Violet marble tiles cover the floor and walls, but they're cracked, revealing rather roughly hewn stone underneath. There's a wall sconce in each corner, but only the one in the northeast corner is light, burning with a faint green flame.
<11: Silana> No, the worst that could happen is to be eaten and leave NO corpse, but...
<DM> There's a 9-foot-long marble sarcophagus in the middle of the room, carved to look like a dragon spreading its wings over the coffin.
<DM> And lurking just inside the room, south of the archway, is a living quasit: a small humanoid figure with spiky horns and batlike wings, and fingers that end in long claws. It twists in surprise as Meridius comes up.
<DM> You, of course, are not surprised, thanks to Gnaea's warning.
<Meridius> Do I have time to get fully topside and ready my shield before it attacks?
<DM> Yes, you do.
<DM> Your half-move in the opening round gives you time to get up through the trapdoor and ready your shield. Likewise for the others.
<Meridius> Initiative?
<DM> That'd be good.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 20 (16).
<11: Liatus> Don't interfer with my being cool.
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 14 (11).
* 11: Liatus combs his hair.
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 15 (13).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 17 (16).
<DM> Okay, all three of you get in attacks on it while it's flatfooted.
<Meridius> Can I move to a flanking position before attacking?
<DM> Yes, you can.
<Meridius> Since it's flatfooted I'm thinking it won't get an Attack of Opportunity.
<Silana> And can I get in a shot before it's regarded as 'in melee'?
<Meridius> I'm move to a flanking position and thrust at the quasit with my gladius.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+7 = 13 (6).
<DM> No, Dan, since Meridius goes first.
<DM> That's a hit, since it's flat-footed.
## Meridius rolled 1d6+2 = 4 (2).
<Silana> That's what I thought, but wasn't sure how it being flat-footed affected things (other than its defenses).
<DM> Not the mightiest blow there ever was, but you've drawn green ichor, Meridius.
<DM> Liatus, your turn. If you want to close, you get a flanking bonus thanks to Meridius being on the job.
* Liatus does so and moves in to attack with his morning star.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+3 = 16 (13).
<DM> That is also a hit.
## Liatus rolled 1d8+1 = 6 (5).
<DM> 10 points so far, and there's a lotta green oozing goo coming out of this thing.
<DM> Silana?
<11: Silana> How far away from the trapdoor is it?
<DM> 20 feet or so.
* Silana crouches by the trapdoor where she'd moved aside to let Liatus pass, taking careful aim with her crossbow, waiting for her best shot... and fires, trusting in her skill to counter the difficulty of shooting into melee.
<11: Silana> -4 for into melee, right?
<11: DM> Correct.
<11: Silana> But it's within 30 feet, so...
<11: DM> It is. :)
## Silana rolled 1d20 = 4 (4).
<11: Silana> Fuck.
<DM> The bolt goes wide, unfortunately, as does Silana's unladylike comment.
<11: Silana> That was on 11. :P
* Silana scowls, as she fails to anticipate the creature's motions correctly.
<DM> The quasit teeters on the brink of the pit, then laughs in a voice like rusty nails on brick. "You broke the binding! My watch is over!" It leaps into the air over the pit and flies off toward the east and the citadel's entrance.
<DM> And it's fast enough to be out of view before the next round.
<Liatus> "Uh oh."
<11: DM> That's 900 XP to divide amongst yourself. (It's a tough bastard when you don't get the drop on it.)
<Liatus> "Well, that was unexpected."
<DM> Now it's just you and the dragon-carved sarcophagus.
* Silana looks in the direction the thing left in, worriedly. "That can't be good. I'm sorry, it's my fault it got away. I should've just used a spell."
<11: Liatus> Can I make an arcana roll to figure out why it was here?
<11: DM> Sure!
<Meridius> "I don't think it was referring just to you when it mentioned the binding being broken, Silana. Don't give it another thought."
## 11: Liatus rolled 1d20+7 = 18 (11).
* Silana looks at Meridius. "I know that. But what if it comes back, with more of them?"
<Meridius> "Then we'll deal with them."
* Meridius wipes green ichor off his gladius.
<Liatus> "I don't think it will be back. It sounds as though it was bound here to guard the tomb. Likely as not it has no more desire to return here that we have for it to."
* Silana looks at Liatus. "I hope you're right."
* Liatus sets about investigating the tomb.
*** Maya has joined channel 10 [Saturday D&D].
*** Maya has joined channel 11 [Saturday D&D Chatter].
<11: DM> Hey, Maya.
* Meridius looks back out over the pit into the other room to see if any quasit statues are coming to life.
<11: Liatus> Ah! I was wrong!@ It came back!
<DM> The other quasit statues are staying stone and inert.
<11: Liatus> Oh, wait, that's just Maya.
<11: Silana> Maya != quasit.
<DM> The sarcophagus is another one of these impressive pieces of dragon-worshipper craftsmanship. The stone head of a dragon looms over one end of it, with stone wings wrapped protectively around the lid. Little dragons facing outward support it all. Six massive iron latches, three on each side, hold the lid closed.
* Liatus investigates the coffin for warnings or traps.
* 11: Maya grins.
* 11: Maya flicks her little tail.
<DM> Search rolls are in order, then.
* Meridius returns to the sarcophagus and has a look over it with the rest of the party.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+2 = 22 (20).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 21 (19).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 14 (12).
<DM> Hot damn, if there were traps to find, you'd be finding them.
<DM> As it is, you see that the hinges are rusty and would require a bit of shoving if you want to open them. But after much poking and peering, you see no sign of traps or lurking perils in the sarcophagus.
<11: Liatus> Just making sure. I don't want to be involved in a repeat of the Mummy scene from Waxworks.
* Liatus looks to Meridius. "Shall we open it?"
* Silana peers at the sarcophagus. "It doesn't look like it's been opened in a really long time. The people we're looking for aren't in there, at least."
<DM> The characters would remember the enscription in the passgeway about how a priest entombed alive for violations of the law retains the honor of his position; I bring it up in case players do not. :)
<Meridius> "Liatus, I would recommend preparing your holy symbol. Silana, stand back a bit with your crossbow ready. I'll open the latches and remove the cover."
* Liatus nods and readies his imperial seal.
<Silana> "Um, is there a reason we're disturbing it?"
<11: Meridius> Because that's what adventurers do! :)
<Liatus> "Perhaps we should leave this for later?"
<Meridius> "Much the same reason we've disturbed many other things in this place, I'd expect."
* Gnaea hootles nervously, and nods in agreement with Liatus. [Silana]
<Meridius> "If you'd both prefer we leave this alone for the time being, that's fine."
<Liatus> "The hell with it. Lets get this done and be on our way."
<Silana> "This is someone's grave. Someone buried alive, by that inscription back there. I can't see much good coming from bothering it."
* Liatus pauses for a moment of thought.
<Meridius> "Perhaps there is something of value in the sarcophagus..."
<Liatus> "Meridius, I have a theory."
<Meridius> "Please expound."
<Liatus> "The quasit was quite eager to leave here, and put up no fight at all. I find it odd that a something bound as a guardian would be so eager to leave, and even more odd that the spells that bound him would be broken by someone entering the tomb. Unless..."
<Liatus> (emphasis on "entering" there)
<Liatus> "I dont think the quasit was put here to keep people out."
<Liatus> "I think it was put here to keep something *in*."
## Silana rolled 1d20 = 7 (7).
* Liatus looks pointedly at the coffin.
<Meridius> "Hmm..."
<Meridius> "I'm afraid matters such as this are beyond the scope of my understanding. I will defer to your judgment in this, whatever you think is best."
* Gnaea nods emphatically and hootles, her owlish wisdom agreeing with Liatus. [Silana]
<Liatus> "While there may be something of value in there, I feel it would be best to leave it and return when we have Karnak, and perhaps a number of expendable hirelings."
<DM> :)
* Silana reaches up and back to stroke a fingertip along Gnaea's side to calm her. "Let's leave it alone and move on. Quickly."
<11: Silana> Yes, if we have Karnak he can confuse it while we attack. :)
* Liatus mutters to himself a little. "Expendable hirelings with spears, crossbows and torches."
<Meridius> "Well then, back out the way we came."
* 11: DM laughs!
<11: Liatus> And stakes and axes and chainsaws.
* Liatus drops down into the hole.
<11: Meridius> Don't forget the ASMD Shock Rifles set to Instagib!
<DM> I'm going to presume here that on your way out of this wing, you take due care to look for lurking quasits and such; you can take 10 on those searches or roll as youw ish.
<Meridius> Sounds good.
* Liatus nods
<11: Silana> No quirking closets here!
<DM> As it happens, there isn't anything lurking, which gets you back to the tower room (#4) in short order.
<Liatus> "Well, that was quite a diversion. Now, lets hunt some goblins."
<Liatus> "I still wish to place the chief's head on a sharp stick and strole about with it."
<DM> :)
<DM> Well, you've got that tower room beyond the big room where all the goblin dependents were, and a couple of unopened ways out of the adjacent temple hallway.
<11: Meridius> If we're after goblins, I think what we want is the quickest route to room 40.
<11: DM> Side note for Maya: http://www.baugh.info/citadel1.jpg is a map.
<11: Silana> Also for Maya -- Dramatis Personae: Meridius: L3 Fighter, Legionnaire. Liatus: L3 Cleric of the Imperial Presence. Silana: L3 Sorceress, with her familiar, Gnaea the owl.
<11: Silana> Karnak: Monk Not Appearing In This Episode.
<DM> For quick routes to goblins...you can go to Meepo's chamber and then around the east way, which you depopulated last time around, or through Kobold Central and up the west way. They're about equally quick; it mostly depends on how much you want to deal with the kobolds.
<11: Maya> Oh, nice. :) And thanks.
* Liatus votes for Meppo's chamber, just so that more goblins will be eaten while we're gone.
<Meridius> Minimal kobold encounters would be good at this point.
<DM> Just as a reminder, by the way, area #14 is a doorway in that early corridor with one of the old-school stone doors, carved with a dragonlike fish swimming. You heard sloshing sounds beyond it back when.
<DM> You don't have to do anything about it, just reminding you that it's there.
<11: Karnak> "'Delude'? Why would they mark a door 'Delude'?" <Silana> "No, that's a 'G' -- Con't open i--" *SPLOOSH* [Silana]
<Meridius> Lets head directly for room 40 via the most depopulated route and deal with the goblin chieftain.
* Liatus nods. We can deal with dragonfish later.
<DM> As you come into Meepo's chamber, both he and the dragon look up. One of them is much happier to see you than the other. "You back! Kill more goblins?"
<Meridius> "That's our plan, Meepo."
<11: Liatus> I wonder if we could kill him and let the dragon go free without anyone knowing.
<DM> Meepo smiles broadly. "Good good. You bring bodies, I feed to Calcryx, he grow strong!"
<DM> Calcryx manages a snarl, taking a break from whatever meaty stuff it is he's been chomping on.
* Gnaea looks at Meepo with owlish disbelief. . o O ( And they call US 'bird-brained'... ) [Silana]
* Meridius says to Liatus and Silana, "Lets move on."
<DM> I can continue to assume taking 10 on Listen and Search rolls; you can tell me when you want to actually roll.
<Meridius> If we're not going to encounter anything new prior to reaching room 40, it's likely not worth bothering over.
* Liatus nods
* Silana gives the dragon a guilty glance as she follows Meridius onward. . o O ( By the time we're out of here for good, so will you be. )
<DM> You aren't. The place is quiet and dark, and looks to have mostly been left to lie where it fell.
<Meridius> I take it we reach room 40 without incident?
<DM> Yup.
<DM> You can tell that someone's been rooting through the piles of personal gear in room 40 but they're gone now.
* Liatus readies his weapons.
<Silana> "The ones we're looking for have been here. They must know we captured their people."
<Liatus> "I knew we should have set fire to this refuse."
* Silana checks her crossbow, making certain it's ready.
<DM> Any preparatory spells or other effort?
* Liatus doesn't think so.
<Meridius> "I think that would've stirred up more trouble than we could've handled at the time."
* Meridius moves toward the tower door in the northwestern wall and Listens at it.
<11: Silana> Mage Armor should still be up -- It's got two hours from casting (it was before we leveled up).
<11: DM> It is indeed still up.
## Meridius rolled 1d20-1 = 15 (16).
<DM> Meridius, on the other side you hear multiple voices arguing about something in goblin voices.
## DM rolled 1d20 = 5 (5).
* Meridius whispers to his companions, "Goblins on the other side of this door."
* Silana whispers back, "Any idea how many?"
<DM> At least three, since that many were arguing.
<Meridius> "Three. Perhaps a bit more than three."
* Silana nods. "The leaders, probably."
* Silana decides to replace the bolt currently loaded in her crossbow with one of the magical ones found earlier.
<DM> Not a bad idea. :)
* Meridius has a plan.
* Goblin spies take careful notes. [DM]
* Liatus considers the idea of casting Bull's Strength on both himself and Meridius.
<11: Silana> Hah! Now that we've convinced them we have a plan, we can rush in blindly like we always do and catch them by surprise!
<Meridius> "I'll take up a position about 15 feet from the door, facing it directly. Silana, take up a firing position behind me, using me and my shield for cover. Liatus, throw open the door on my order and then back off. We'll try to draw the goblins out into the open."
<Meridius> "Silana, get off as many shots as you're able before the goblins get too close, then I'll engage them."
* Silana nods. "Let me get at least one clear shot in before you engage them."
<Liatus> (It would last for 3 hrs, and would therefor last the whole session)
* Silana grins. "Great minds thik alike."
<Liatus> "Meridius, hold still a moment."
* Meridius preps himself such that his shield is leaning on him but otherwise free-standing, and readies his shortbow so as to also get a shot off at the onrushing goblins before melee engagement.
* Liatus asks the Imperial Presence to grace its loyal servant with the strength to smite the foes of the empire.
<DM> Roll 1d4+1, BA.
## Liatus rolled 1d4+1 = 3 (2).
<DM> Meridius is now at +3 Strength, which is going to improve his attack and damage rolls, I believe.
* Liatus then prays for the same boon for himself.
<Meridius> Yeah, I have STR 18, for the moment.
<Liatus> For the next three hours.
<DM> Remember to factor in the bennies of that, Chris.
<DM> And BA, now roll for yourself.
## Liatus rolled 1d4+1 = 3 (2).
<Meridius> I've made notes. :)
<Liatus> That gives me a plus 1 to all my attack and damage roles.
<Liatus> I think Meridius gets an additional plus two to all his for the next 3 hrs.
<Meridius> Yep.
<DM> That sounds right, BA.
<DM> Okay, so, Liatus throws open the door and backs off?
* 11: Silana cues up the Macross Plus soundtrack.
<Liatus> Yes.
<Liatus> My morning star is ready also.
* Silana is aimed and ready...
* Meridius is ready.
<DM> I've updated http://www.baugh.info/citadel1.jpg to show what's on the other side. It is indeed a tower of the same proportions as the area you entered the citadel through.
<DM> Directly opposite you is a crude massive stone throne, on which sits a big unhappy looking-goblin. There's a withered-looking plant in a pot next to him on one side, and he's resting his feet on an iron chest. A wizened old goblin of indeterminate sex, wearing dark robes, stands next to the goblin on the throne and is caught in the midst of gesturing.
<DM> There's a hole in the middle of the floor. Pale white and gray vines creep up around its edges, and a dim violet light shines up from somewhere down below.
<DM> There are torches in sconces on the walls, on the little protuberances you may or may not make out on the map.
<11: Liatus> I'm laying odds that the old guy/girl is a shaman of some sort, which makes him/her dangerous.
<DM> And ranged around the pit are four goblins and three hobgoblins, who were attending to an argument and swivel around to stare at you. They are all quite surprised.
<Meridius> Initiative?
<11: Liatus> Can I make a religion role to try and recognize what the old dude was doing?
<11: Liatus> Or should that wait?
<11: DM> You can make a roll, certainly.
<DM> Initiative time, yes.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+4 = 9 (5).
## 11: Liatus rolled 1d20+7 = 23 (16).
## Silana rolled 1d20+2 = 16 (14).
## Liatus rolled 1d20+1 = 3 (2).
<Liatus> Crap.
<11: Liatus> I guess I'm too busy looking at the old guy.
<DM> The gesture isn't anything Liatus' religious training prepares him to recognize, and he susspects it wasn't religious at all.
<DM> All right, Silana, you're first.
<Meridius> BA, if you take no action this round other than to reset, you're initiative will go up to the maximum possible for your character.
<Liatus> OK.
<DM> And the resetting would put him well aheadd of anything I'm likely to roll for the goblins, so that he still gets in an attac while they're off-guard.
<Silana> Okay, the old one and the one on the throne are further away, but the ones by the pit are within 30 feet, it looks like?
<DM> Correct.
<Meridius> But no attack in the surprise round, right?
<Meridius> BA would be at the top of the order in round 1, next round.
* DM nods to Chris.
* Meridius channels false knowledge of D&D rules from the ether. :)
<Meridius> So Silana fires, and then I fire. "Aim for a hobgoblin!"
* Silana selects the nearest hobgoblin as her target of choice, and fires.
## Silana rolled 1d20+5 = 21 (16).
<DM> Shtunk! A solid hit.
## Silana rolled 1d8+2 = 10 (8).
<DM> It looks like he was in the midst of the goblin equivalent of "Hey...", but what it was, he's not going to get a chance to finish it. He's dead on the spot.
<11: Liatus> Boom!
<DM> Meridius?
<11: Meridius> Sweet.
* Meridius fires an arrow.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+3 = 4 (1).
<Meridius> And doesn't hit squat.
<DM> Sproing! The shot goes wide.
* Silana grins tight-lipped, and hurries to reload.
<DM> Okay, time for me to make some initiative rolls.
<Liatus> I guess Meridius isn't used to using a bow with his new manly heman strength.
<Meridius> Having the shield lean against me is throwing off my aim.
<DM> For the goblins...
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 18 (17).
<Meridius> That too, BA. :)
<DM> For the hobgoblins...
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 13 (12).
<DM> For the chief...
<DM> Roll 1d20+2
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 15 (13).
<DM> And for the old fart...
## DM rolled 1d20+1 = 11 (10).
<Meridius> Bruce, will any of the bad guys be able to attack me in round 1?
<Liatus> Where do I fall in that mix?
<DM> So it's Liatus, the goblins, Silana, the chief, the hobgoblins, the old one, and Meridius.
<DM> Chris, yes, the hobgoblins can get to you, though not past you to Silana.
<Meridius> Then I guess I won't try to take a round to reset my initiative. :/
<DM> Actually, hmm.
<DM> You said 15' back from the door...no, they can't reach you this turn. They could throw things at you, of course.
<Meridius> Okay, my action this turn will be to reset my initiative and drop my bow.
<DM> Righto.
<DM> Liatus, you're up first.
<DM> You can move into range and start bonking hobgoblins if you're so inclined.
* Liatus does so.
* Liatus smashes one with his morning star.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+4 = 17 (13).
<DM> That's a good solid hit.
## Liatus rolled 1d8+2 = 3 (1).
<Liatus> Not solid enough I guess.
<DM> Is that with your increased strength figured in?
<Liatus> Yes
<DM> Well, it's a good *crunch* on the head in any event.
<Liatus> It's a +1 for ST and +1 for the weapon.
<DM> The goblins have javelins in hand, and hurl them. Two at Liatus, and two at Silana, or in her general direction,a t least.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 21 (19).
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 17 (15).
<Liatus> Crap.
<DM> Two hits on Liatus
## DM rolled 1d6-2 = 1 (3).
<DM> For a total of 1 hp of damage. Good throws, but...
<DM> And at Silana...
## DM rolled 1d20-2 = 0 (2).
## DM rolled 1d20-2 = 16 (18).
<DM> Wow.
<DM> Dan, what's Silana's armor class right now?
<Meridius> Check that last roll, as Silana may get benefit of cover from my shield (and to some extent, me).
<DM> Oh, that's right.
## DM rolled 1d100 = 67 (67).
<Silana> 16 plus cover.
<DM> Er, wait.
<DM> I did that wrong.
<DM> Okay, so it fails in any event.
* Meridius is gratified to see his cover idea worked. :)
<DM> It did. :)
<DM> Silana, you're up. The goblins are no longer flat-footed. Their king, the old one, and the two remaining hobgoblins still are.
* After loading another of the magical bolts, Silana opts for magic this time around, not wanting to chance missing at the greater range as she targets the robed old one, the possible spellcaster. She makes a pointing gesture and speaks an arcane word, and for the first time, /two/ bolts of energy streak from her fingers toward their target. [Silana]
## Silana rolled 2d4+2 = 5 (1 2).
<11: Silana> Crappy damage this time, oh, well.
<11: Liatus> Nice descriptive work though.
<DM> The old goblin looks startled as a hole opens up in its chest, and it begins to slump over. It's still conscious, but very badly wounded.
<DM> The hobgoblins now flank Liatus.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 18 (16).
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 8 (6).
<Liatus> Ask me again how glad I am I took that feat.
<DM> One of them more effectively than the other. Being bonked earlier motivated the first one.
## DM rolled 1d8 = 2 (2).
<DM> 2 points of damage, BA.
<Liatus> That knocks me down to 15.
<DM> The chief goblin shouts something and snatches up a big sword, and charges around the pit toward Liatus. He won't be in range to attack this turn, though.
<DM> The old goblin folds its hands over the hole and chants something.
## DM rolled 1d8+1 = 5 (4).
<DM> And the wound closes over nicely, with a few last drops of blood on the floor.
<DM> Meridius?
<Meridius> We're at the bottom of round 1, right?
<11: Silana> Well, at least that kept him busy healing himself instead of doing anything offensive this round.
* 11: Maya | Arise, O Wiggly Thing Of Our Ancestors!
<DM> Right. So you're resetting.
<Meridius> Which should put me at the top of round 2.
<DM> Indeed. You, then, BA, then the rest.
<Meridius> With a new initiative of 24.
<Meridius> I take up my shield and gladius and look around briefly for likely targets.
<DM> Right now there are four intact goblins, their intact chief, the freshly healed old one, one healthy hobgoblin, and one injured one.
<DM> You can close with the hobgoblins.
<Meridius> Is Liatus still flanked?
<DM> He is.
<Meridius> I'll attack the healthy hobgoblin flanking Liatus.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+7 = 10 (3).
<Meridius> Poop.
<DM> Liatus?
* Liatus wails on the hobgoblin who hit him.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+4 = 23 (19).
<DM> Roll again to check for critical.
## Liatus rolled 1d20+4 = 21 (17).
<DM> Double damage. :)
<Liatus> so 2d8+4?
<11: Silana> Just so you know, SuzyQ's on the evening shift today, so I'm not running up against any 7PM EST limit. :)
<DM> Right.
## Liatus rolled 2d8+4 = 16 (6 6).
<11: Meridius> Sounds cool, Dan.
<Liatus> I think I just took his head off.
<DM> Geez. That's a hobgoblin missing its head down to the breastbone or so. It is _very_ dead.
<DM> The goblins draw their morningstars and rush around the pit, two each on Liatus and Meridius.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 11 (9).
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 10 (8).
* Liatus snarls at the goblins in an intimidating fashion.
<DM> I believe thy're scared of Liatus at this point.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 4 (2).
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 5 (3).
<DM> Maybe they're just not very good.
<DM> Silana?
* Silana chooses to continue her duel with the apparent cleric. If she can take him out, great. If not, she's at least keeping him busy keeping himself alive. Another twin pair of magical bolts sears toward him.
<11: DM> Glad to hear it, Dan.
## Silana rolled 2d4+2 = 7 (4 1).
<DM> Zorch! With a faint cry, the goblin priest falls to the ground.
<11: Maya> Go Silana!
## DM rolled 1d2 = 2 (2).
* 11: Meridius really needs to step up...
<DM> The goblin chief now charges into action, raising his longsword for a strike at Meridius...
* Silana smiles coldly. "That's better." She takes up her crossbow again to ready herself for her next action.
## DM rolled 1d20+3 = 21 (18).
<Meridius> That'll certainly hit me.
<DM> That's a hit, I think.
## DM rolled 1d8+2 = 6 (4).
<DM> And it's a solid blow.
<DM> Not that it's going to kill Meridius immediately, but it's something.
<DM> The surviving hobgoblin swings at Liatus.
## DM rolled 1d20+2 = 14 (12).
<DM> To no avail.
<DM> And we're into the next round. Meridius?
<DM> You've got goblins, chief, and lone hobgoblin all somewhere close at hand.
* Meridius thrusts viciously at the goblin chieftain.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+7 = 26 (19).
<Meridius> Possible critical.
<DM> Roll again to check for critical.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+7 = 25 (18).
<DM> That's a critical. :)
<Liatus> Jeeez
## Meridius rolled 2d6+8 = 19 (6 5).
<Liatus> I think you just cleaved him in half.
<DM> Wow. Meridius just gutted the goblin king with a single blow. And you can cleave to attack either a goblin or a hobgoblin, if you wish.
<Meridius> I'll make a Cleave attempt on the hobgoblin.
## Meridius rolled 1d20+7 = 19 (12).
* 11: Silana kills her pre-typed action and starts over. :)
<DM> That's a hit.
## Meridius rolled 1d6+4 = 6 (2).
<DM> That hobgoblin is also stove through and now dead.
<DM> The four remaining goblins quickly drop their weapons. One of them calls out in a very badly mangled version of the common tongue, "Mercy! Mercy!"
<Meridius> What of the shaman?
<DM> She's dead.
<Silana> I dropped her.
<Meridius> Okay, cool.
<11: Liatus> It's no fun when they surrender!
<11: DM> Nobody says you have to accept it. :)
* Silana steps forward, her bow aimed squarely at one goblin's chest. "What is that?" She's pointing at the vines coming from the pit.
<DM> The goblin who speaks Common says "That grove of Outcast."
<Silana> "Explain."
<11: Liatus> I'm LN. My sense of honor sort of demands it.
<11: Liatus> Killjoy.
<DM> "Outcast. Strange man, grow tree, make things." He points at the twisted plant by the king's throne. "Claim depth for self. We move, not fight."
<Liatus> "Curiouser and curiouser."
<Silana> "What is that plant?"
* Meridius addresses the goblin. "Are you aware of any prisoners the Outcast might've taken recently?"
<DM> "Twig blight. When king say, it attack."
* Liatus takes his sword and begins cutting off the heads of the chief and the shaman.
<DM> The goblin nods. "Month ago. Guards bring three humans. Outcast say, I want. King say, I keep, kill one, take ring." He points at the king's body, and you see a shiny signet ring on his finger. "Others push down hole, Outcast take away."
* Liatus also looks for the ring.
<DM> The ring proves to have the Hucrele family crest on it. From the size, it's a man's ring - presumably Talgen Hucrele, the missing son.
* Silana gestures. One of the torches lifts free from its sconce, and floats toward the twig blight, aiming to set fire to it.
<DM> The potted plant twists into a more human-like form, its branches forming arms with needle-like fingers, and it tries to twist away from the flame. It's stuck in the pot, so there's a limit to how far it can move.
<Meridius> "Something about this doesn't make sense to me. We found the body of their guide with his signet ring. The goblin chieftain has another signet ring belonging to a Hucrele, but we have no body to go with it. Could it be that the owner of this new ring is still alive?"
<11: Silana> For a level 0 cantrip, Mage Hand is so useful for getting Style Points. ;)
<DM> The goblin shakes his head. "We take body. It feed tribe. Clothes cut up, make patches. Only ring left."
<Meridius> "Damn."
* Silana gestures again, plunging the torch against the base of the plant where it emerges from the soil in the pot.
<11: Liatus> OK, so it was a party of 4. The adventurer/guide and the 3 folks from the town. We found one body with it's signet ring (the guide, yes?) and now one of the 3 missing townfolk?
<DM> The plant emits a brief high shriek as it bursts into flames. It's very quickly consumed.
<11: DM> Right.
<11: Liatus> Am I correct here?
<11: Liatus> OK
<11: Meridius> Was it three Hucreles and the guide?
<11: DM> By the way, 1200 XP for this stuff to divide among yourselves.
<Liatus> Once I've collected the ring and my two heads, I will search the bodies for anything of value.
<11: Liatus> That's 400 each, yes?
<11: DM> It was two Hucreles, a local friend, and an outsider paladin. The paladin and the Hucrele daughter are still unaccounted for.
<11: DM> Correct, BA.
* 11: Liatus nods.
## DM rolled 12d10 = 60 (4 2 1 1 3 5 8 9 10 4 3 10).
## DM rolled 4d4 = 9 (2 3 3 1).
<DM> Seeing the business with severing heads and all, the goblins hastily empty out their pockets. They have a total of 60 sp and 9 gp to hand you with trembling little hands.
* Its work at killing the plant finished, the torch hovers toward the vines around the hole. [Silana]
## DM rolled 12d10 = 74 (6 5 7 10 4 9 2 5 1 9 8 8).
## DM rolled 6d4 = 18 (4 3 4 3 3 1).
<DM> The hobgoblin bodies have 74 sp and 18 gp among them; the goblin priest proves to have 23 sp and 10 gp. The chief apparently did not sully himself with money.
<Liatus> Any items that look out of the ordinary?
<DM> The vines don't respond to the torchlight. Peering down the hole, you can see that it's thirty feet or so down to a big compost heap. Luminous moss provides the glow.
* Meridius wants a look at the goblin chieftain's longsword.
<DM> The goblin king's armor is human-size scale mail, belted to fit him; looks like it came from some previous victim.
<DM> The sword is an average-quality sword, but the bow he has slung on his back is very well-made. (Masterwork, in fact.)
<Meridius> Short, long or composite bow?
<DM> Short.
<Silana> "What's in the chest?"
<Meridius> I think I'll exchange my current shortbow for that one. :)
<DM> The goblins watch you methodically pillaging the bodies and look even more nervous. "King's loot."
<11: DM> Chris, make a note; this bow does x3 critical damage rather than x2.
* Liatus raises an eyebrow. "eh?"
<DM> "Secret loot. Never let any but Priestess Grenl watch when he open. Not know what inside."
<Liatus> "Show us."
<DM> The goblin looks very frightened. "Not know king secrets. Afraid to tamper."
* Liatus investigates the chest for traps and other dangers.
* The torch hovers toward the Common speaker. Silana asks coldly, "Afraid to burn?" [Silana]
<DM> The goblin nods. "I afraid." He sidles toward the chest. "I open."
<11: Meridius> Geez, Silana the hardass... :)
<DM> Liatus, make your search roll.
<11: Silana> Silana the Pissed Off at the Cannibals who killed one of the people we're here to rescue. :P
<11: Silana> Killed and ATE. :P
<11: DM> "I Eat Cannibals" - Total Coelho, 1983
## Liatus rolled 1d20+2 = 13 (11).
<DM> Looks okay to you, Liatus.
<DM> Obviously feeling very much under the gun, the goblin gives it his own quick lookover.
<Liatus> Anyone else want a look?
## DM rolled 1d20 = 13 (13).
<DM> Then, his nerves steeled, he flips it open, unless someone tries to intervene.
* Silana is watching him closely. She's still got spells left.
## DM rolled 1d20 = 14 (14).
<Liatus> Is Meridius going to check it or not?
<DM> He pulls on the lid, and gives a sudden yelp of pain...
## DM rolled 1d4 = 2 (2).
* Meridius is standing guard.
## DM rolled 1d4 = 3 (3).
* Liatus moves away from the chest then before it was opened.
<DM> ...and falls over. The latch of the chest now swings open, but this goblin appears to be in rather a lot of trouble.
* Liatus checks him.
<DM> He's dead.
<Liatus> "Damn it. He was the only one who could answer our questions."
<DM> The remaining three goblins are cringing as far away as they can get.
* Liatus checks to see what killed him.
<11: guy on phone> Yes... yes... please inform me of any change in his condition. <hangs up phone> He's dead. [Meridius]
<DM> You can see a small needle in the latch mechanism of the chest. It now dangles loose; it could be pushed back for resetting.
* 11: DM laughs!
* Liatus uses his sword to try opening the chest.
<Liatus> Standing off to the side of it as i do.
<11: Chevy Chase> "And in other news, Generalissimo Francisco Franco is fighting to remain dead." [Silana]
<DM> The chest swings open. Inside, you can see a pile of coins and a few miscellaneous objects.
* Liatus pokes the pile with his sword to make sure it isn't trapped as well.
<DM> Nothing happens except that coins clank around.
<DM> The three goblins try to come in a little closer to peer at the "king's loot".
* Silana eyes the remaining three goblins as Liatus examines the chest's contents. The torch interposes to discourage them from getting any ideas about getting TOO close. "Maybe one of the others speaks something one of us knows," the sorceress suggests.
* Liatus begins to seriously investigate and catalog its contents.
<DM> The goblins promptly step back.
<DM> Liatus, you find 231 gp, two onyx gems, two vials labeled with a single word in goblin, another vial labeled with a couple of words in goblin, and a scroll.
* Silana tries Arabi-- er, Elven. "Do any of you understand me?"
<DM> The scroll is written in Common, by the way, and is a Knock spell.
<DM> The goblins look quizzically at Silana. They'd relaly really like to help...but none of them understand.
* Liatus offers the scroll to Silana.
<Liatus> "Try Draconic."
* Silana takes the scroll, not looking at it too closely yet as her attention is still mostly on the goblins. "I don't speak it, otherwise I would've tried it first."
* Liatus decides to keep the rest of the loot in the chest, and keep the chest, as having your own trapped chest is both useful and neat.
<DM> :)
* Liatus tries seeing if any of them speak Draconic.
<Meridius> "Perhaps we should ask the goblin who speaks Common to translate the words on the potion flasks."
<DM> They apparently don't, Liatus.
<11: Silana> There's a problem with that plan, Meridius. He's dead.
<DM> Meridius, that would be the dead one near the formerly active poisoned trap in the lock.
<Meridius> Then we've made an error. :/
<Liatus> "We can have the crone answer our questions when we return to the kobold lair.'
* Silana nods. "I was expecting that chest to be trapped. I wasn't expecting it to be instantly deadly. Sorry."
<DM> It only did 2d4 damage with a failed Fortitude save, but when you're a goblin, that's enough.
* 11: Meridius notes that I didn't say the bit about the error outloud in-game... (the error being that if the goblin who spoke Common was potentially valuable to us, we should've made a different goblin open the chest).
<Silana> . o O ( Father only uses sleeping or paralysis poisons on his strongboxes... )
<DM> Father is not a goblin king, come to that. :)
* Liatus internally debates pressing the remaining goblins into service to lug the chest and the chief's body back to the kobolds.
<11: Silana> Silana would've realized that if she hadn't been fired by her anger at the time. :)
<11: Silana> About the Common-speaker being valuable, that is.
<DM> By the way, anyone peering down the hole can see that it's a very easy climb down. Scuff marks suggest that the goblins use the vines as handholds.
<11: Meridius> 20/20 hindsight is all it is. Nothing to really worry over.
<11: Silana> Not making excuses. I knew OOCly it was a mistake at the time. But Silana was only seeing 'expendable goblin'.
<11: DM> Cool. :)
<Liatus> Btw, is the throne any value at all?
<11: Meridius> We've been playing for roughly four hours. Would this be a good place to pause or should we press on?
<DM> The throne is a big not-very-well-made block of stone.
<11: DM> I'd like to resolve any outsanding points - a couple more - and then break, I think.
<11: Meridius> Okay.
<DM> There are, by the way, two more doors: one in the southwest, one in the northeast. Anyone who wants to check them out can.
<11: Meridius> My brain is moving a trifle slow just now so I'm not sure what the outstanding points are.
<11: DM> Just put them on 10. :)
<DM> Or we can let that wait.
<Meridius> The southwest door is in 40 and the northeast door is in 41, right?
<DM> Oh, er, yes.
<Liatus> I thought we were in 41
<DM> He said, cleverly misreading the map. You are.
<DM> Make that just the one other entrance.
<Meridius> I was just trying to clarify the locations of the doors Bruce was referring to.
* Liatus goes to investigate the door we didn't enter from.
<DM> The door does not appear trapped to a take-10 examination, and it's quiet beyond.
* Silana returns the torch to its sconce, and says, "Let's take these three to Yusdrayl, and see if anyone there can translate those labels."
* Liatus looks to Liatus. "Shall we check this passage, or investigate the lower levels? Or return to the kobold holdings to secure our spoils and prisoners?"
* 11: Silana watches Liatus get all introspective.
<11: DM> :)
<11: Liatus> If Bruce is ready to break, I vote we take these clownshoes to the kobolds, secure any extraneous gear we have (like last time), let me pause to mock the crone and show off my heads, and break til next time.
<11: DM> Actually, let's pick up with the meeting with the kobolds next time, since that's going to involve some discussion and negotiation and stuff.
* 11: Liatus nods.
<11: Meridius> I'd like to hold off on dealing with the kobolds until next session as I want some time to think about how we might need to deal with them.
<11: Liatus> I just meant as far as settling on our course of action atm
<11: DM> Oh, okay.
<Liatus> (to meridius rather)
<11: Meridius> We are at a good point to go deal with the kobolds, though.
<DM> All right, by the power vested in me, I hereby declare this bridge open. Er, this session concluded. Post-game discussion may now commence.
*** DM is now known as Bruce.
<11: Liatus> We have fresh meat. And tropheys.
*** Meridius is now known as iChris.
<Bruce> Well, that was a busy time. :)
* Liatus got to knock someone's block off. Yay me!
<Silana> That was a satisfying session. Cool combat and some good RP.
<iChris> Aye.
<Bruce> Indeed.
<Bruce> We are in the groove again, I'd say.
<Liatus> Oh, I have a suggestion if Jason is actually able to play next time.
<Bruce> Yes?
<Liatus> (And no, it's not that we all make fun of him for being 2nd level)
<Liatus> My thought was that perhaps Karnak meets a traveling wizard in town and gets him to teleport him to us.
<Silana> Do we know why he didn't show this time?
<Bruce> Something of the sort is possible.
<Liatus> (It sounds like a Karnak thing to do)
<Bruce> I'm assuming just usual busy and fighting sickness; I don't know for sure.
<Liatus> If anyone hears from him, pass along best wishes.
<Bruce> Will do.
<Bruce> That was a fun session for me. I hope you guys had a good time.
<iChris> I had a very good time.
<Silana> Because this is what, four sessions in a row (not counting the two months cumulative or so of weeks we didn't play) where he didn't show up and didn't say he wouldn't beforehand. If he doesn't want to play anymore, should we be looking for someone else to join in?
* Liatus had much fun
<Bruce> I'll talk with him about it and see, Dan.
<Silana> And yes, I had a very good time.
<Liatus> Any game where the main badguy gets cut in twane with a single blow is good :)
<Bruce> Indeed. :) Meridius gets the Baddest Dude award for this session.
<iChris> :)
<Silana> Taking out the enemey spellcaster was also satisfying. :)
<Liatus> Bull's Strength rocks.
<Bruce> If there's anyone you want to critical on, it's surely the arch baddy.
<Silana> (I didn't know how much of a threat their cleric was, but denying them that asset was sure to be useful.) :)
<Bruce> Dan, the cleric can be pretty handy if she gets the chance to heal up the king.
<Silana> Right. And I didn't want to find out what level he was by him letting loose with a Flame Strike. ;)
<Bruce> :)
<Silana> Er, she. Her.
<iChris> Okay, I'm closing my log. See y'all back on ch. 1.
<carter@q7.com>