Chapter 4: Quenching the Burning Plague, Pt.1

Curiosity turns into terror as a flying ball of fur comes flying out and starts terrorizing the centaur. Squin yells in a mixture of surprise and pain while frantically twisting and turning with his arms swinging wildly trying to smack the thing away from his face. Failing, the centaur steps back and rears up on his hind legs curling his front hooves up in front of his lower torso. Pausing for a moment at the apex, with nostrils flaring Squin stares down in fury at the furball. Soon, the centaur begins his descent. As he comes back down, he angrily unleashes his coiled hooves.

Attack: 9 + 5 = 14
Damage: 2 + 4 = 6

Krytox snorts in amusement at the dire weasel. It really wasn't a laughing matter, but seeing the look of terror on Squin's face was still a little funny. The lizardman lets Alterith and Squin deal with the creature and turns his attention to the sounds coming from the other room. It did sound like there were reinforcements, so they were probably in for more fighting. The chains are better for dealing with a group... he thinks idly as he switches weapons from the morning star to the spiked chains. He takes position near the plants taking care not to stray too close. Despite the moment of humor, he was still anxious to be out of this room, and hopefully out of the cave.

"I'm sorry about the plants," Philo apologizes, "when I cast the spell, I didn't quite realize they'd be so...persistent. My mother always has to remind me not to forget about the endgame. Ooops." She sighs. "Let me see if I can try to get rid of them...if only I didn't feel so dizzy..." She is attempting to concentrate when a wriggling ball of fur barrels onto the scene. She glances at her riding cat. "Tex, this seems like a job for you," she says, directing him to attack. But the cat is way ahead of her, already in position to pounce.

OOC: Tex attacks the direweasel. Should I roll attack/damage or will you?

ooc: Laurie, go ahead and roll Initiative and atk/dmg for Tex. No visual yet but not too important at the moment. Reinforcements still out of sight range. Everyone, please roll Initiative and make Listen checks.

Fast post this time.

Surprise rd: Squin misses dire weasel, dire weasel bites Squin (Squin takes 5 dmg) and latches on!

Rd1: Alterith's dagger hits dire weasel (seriously wounded); Dire weasel immediately starts drawing blood with its teeth (Squin takes 5 Con dmg). (Laurie, here is where Tex's actions will be included.)

Rd2: This is where we are. Thanks!

Alterith is somewhat limited by the centaurs thrashing, the giant cat and the size of the weasel. If the weasel is still standing after the panther is done mangling it, Alterith takes his time and throws a 2nd dagger in an attempt to finish off the creature before it can do more damage to the rapidly ailing centaur. Turning to the elf he gestures to the furious wounds that squin has suffered from the weasel. "Is there anything you can do for him? I'm no combat medic but I might be able to slow the bleeding."

Initiative: +4

Random number (1,20) :

9

Listen: +8

Random number (1,20) :

14

Attack: +9

Random number (1,20) :

17

Damage: +3

Random number (1,4) :

4

ooc: Hey Ben, thanks for re-rolling Initiative but I had meant it for the others. Alterith will stay at initiative 19 (your first roll).

Krytox, Rasa, Philo (and Tex) and Squin all lose their turn this round due to inaction.

The halfling's blade whittles away almost all of the dire weasel's life. It is almost dead! But alas, the creature, even on the verge of passing over into death, still lives, and it continues draining Squin's blood.

Squin takes 4 Con

Whatever reinforcements set up beyond Alterith's limited field of vision have finished doing so, and there is a sudden whistle through the air as a stream of bolts and arrows fly toward them through the doorway. Rasa and Krytox are struck.

Rasa takes 2 dmg; Krytox takes 5 dmg

"Krytox":

[i]ooc: Rasa, Krytox, Philo, Squin - please roll Initiative and declare actions.
All - please make Spot checks

Squin tries to shake the weasel off his leg, but screams in more pain as it only results in more tearing and blood loss. Already feeling a bit weak from whatever it was that passed through him earlier, the centaur is starting to feel very weak and faint. As bad of a shape the weasel looks, Squin realizes that the tearing the weasel has caused has left him in a worse shape. The others can kill the weasel, but it looks like the weasel is taking him down with it. Desperate, the centaur stands still, pulls out his falchion and swings downward in an arc dangerously close to his leg. As this is not the time to err on the side of caution, the centaur throws as much strength behind the swing as he can before his strength saps away.

Initiative: 4 + 4 = 8
Spot: 11 + 7 = 18
Attack: 13 + 5 + 1 = 19
Damage: 5 + 3 = 8

Krytox catches himself just staring at the action around him. The arrows lodged in his shoulder and abdomen did too. The pain strikes immediately after, but the lizardman is still in a daze. The second arrow made a little poof of red smoke which dissipated as quickly as it appeared. Suddenly feeling fatigued, he reels back and lurches toward the wall, looking for something to brace himself against. He trips over himself, but his hands find a hold on the shelf that was mercifully nearby. He attempts to regain his composure, fighting off the effects of whatever magic or poison was overtaking him. Luckily he found himself behind the corner of the hallway, out of the way of another direct shot. Despite everything that had happened in the last few moments, he was still at the mercy of the plants which were becoming so antagonizing it was almost laughable.

ooc: move to H6.

Init: 11 + 3 = 14
Fort: 18 + 6 = 24
Spot: 16 + 3 = 19

[OOC: Tex from Rd 1 - Attack: 18 + 3 = 21; Damage: 2 + 3 = 5; Initiative: 10 + 3 = 13]

As Tex leaps to attack the dying weasel, Philo rushes behind the cat over to Squin, dodging the arrows that have suddenly started to whiz through the room. "You're right, the bleeding is heavy," she says to Alterith, her eyes scanning Squin's wounds. "I have some healing training - I'll see what I can do." She waits for Tex to wrench the weasel away from the centaur before she kneels next to Squin, healing energy focused in her fingertips.

Initiative: 5 + 1 = 6
Spot: 15 + 8 = 23
Casts (if direweasel dead/removed from Squin): Cure light wounds 6 + 3 = 9

2 daggers on the ground, and the dire weasel pieces on the ground and in Tex's mouth, Alterith retrieves his weapons then moves over to place another barrel in their barricade attempting to use it for additional cover from the bolts/arrows zipping through the air. Thus far he has been lucky, but unless he can get enough barrels in position before the spell ends his luck might not be enough.

Str: +3

Random number (1,20) :

16

Spot: +0

Random number (1,20) :

9

Knowing that his allies can handle the badger, and him helping would probably just get in the way, Rasa continues to stare down the tunnel ready for any threats. First fool that pokes his head around the corner was going to get a dart right between the eyes.

INIT: 10+4 = 14
SPOT: 16 + 10 = 26

Rasa looks down the passage but the dracen is too far from the doorway to make out anything beyond the limits of his darkvision. (ooc: move forward - you only have a 60' range and you're still in the back of the room.) Alterith continues to wrestle with the barrels, unsure of their potential effectiveness. Squin slices the dire weasel carcass in half as Tex tears it away from the centaur's body, violently shaking its lifeless body in his jaws. Philo tends to some of Squin's wounds but the centaur's current state of health is still somewhat dire.

Suddenly, the group feels a billowing vapor cloud flowing lazily over them, coming from the corridor. It carries a sickly yellow-greenish hue, and reeks of rotten eggs and disgusting spoiled cabbage - almost enough to make everyone retch. Despite their attempts at waving the vapors away or holding their breath, the disgustingness of the vapor cloud clings to them.

"Philo":

ooc: Everyone make Fort saves.

"Krytox":

Gagging and choking on the noxious cloud Alterith is reminded of the Plains of Dergoth on his native shell. The constant volcanic sulfur in the air was very similar to this and escape was nearly as impossible even given the expansive heavens. With a cough and a retch Alterith pushes his body through the cloud. Using a dagger he quickly cuts a strip of cloth off the base of his shirt and dumping water on it from his canteen he wraps it around his face cutting back a lot of the smell. He looks around at the others to see how they fare but decides that while this cloud is certainly annoying it is unlikely to prove lethal, unlike those down the passage. He attempts to continue building the barricade of barrels up.

Fort:+6

Random number (1,20) :

11

"Five more. Two goblins, three kobolds," the lizardman calls back toward the others, before a strange odor hits his nose.

As the vapors flow into the room, Krytox takes a few quick breaths followed by a long inhale. The cloud made him want to cough, but he was used to holding his breath. The blackscale young would always compete for who could hold their breath the longest. Krytox never could beat some of the others, but still managed to be competitive. It had only really ever paid off while swimming, but now all that time playing at something seemingly useless was paying off.

He picks up the crossbow he had carelessly dropped to the ground earlier, along with the bolts he had been using to reload.

ooc: not sure if I can pick up a weapon, reload, and shoot this round... but I'll roll attack/dmg just in case.

Fort: 14 + 6 = 20
Attack: 12 + 6 = 18
Damage: 5

As he was slicing into the weasel, Squin sees Tex rip away the weasel, or more accurately, a large chunk of the weasel. Taking a deep breath after narrowing averting a disaster, the centaur smiles weakly at Tex and says "thanks". As Philo rushes up to treat him, the centaur cleans and puts his falchion away. "Thanks Philo" Squin says as Philo finishes.

Suddenly, Squin is aware of the ominous cloud approaching. Oh great! Nervously the centaur looks for a way to get away from the cloud, but the cloud fills the room. Squin takes a deep breath just before the cloud envelops him. A nasty, icky, dirty feeling encompasses the centaur as the cloud clings to him. The smell sneaks pass his defenses and unable to resist, Squin gags. Losing his breath, he is forced to take a breath and immediately leans over to the side and loses his lunch (or whatever he ate last). Feeling even weaker, Squin slouches over the barrel in front of him alternating between ragged breathing and gagging. Looking like someone dying (and quite possibly is), the centaur has engaged upon a new battle, a battle to stay conscious.

Fortitude: 1 + (-2) = -1
Unless there is a minimum value (of 0? 1?)

From her position at Squin's side [move to O4], Philo begins to cough as a noxious cloud settles heavily around them. Although a tingle in the back of her neck tells her the vapor must have been created by magic, its horrendous odor is unfamiliar to her. She takes a deep breath through the collar of her shirt and turns her attention again to Squin, who still appears very weak.

Spellcraft: 4 + 3 = 7
Knowledge arcana check: 2 + 2 = 2
Fort save: 17 + 6 = 23

RaSa tries to choke back the fumes as best he can and quickly tightens his cloth around his mouth in hopes that it'll block out whatever the fumes are. then, he hears Krytox: "Five more, Two #&$@ and three @(#$&$," He didn't understand what on earth Krytox said was coming, but he understood 5. He just hoped that the two and the three of something weren't something they couldn't handle. RaSa quickly moves forward to assist his allies, (and if he sees anything, FIRES!)

RaSa moves to I4
Fort: 19 + 1 = 20
Attack: 6 + 4 = 10
If I have options, Goblin first, Kobald second..... everyone knows Goblins are easier to pick on
Damage? i still don't know what kind of crossbow we picked up......

and Jerry, come on, you saw my signature before it somehow disappeared, you KNOW RaSa has a mask covering his nose and mouth, so he should be immune to gasses :-P

The only way to not be affected by the gas is to erase your character's nose and mouth. Y'know, pull an anime thing.

Moving up to position, Rasa peers down the corridor and sees the enemies Krytox reported. He takes the light crossbow and fires, but the bolt sails wide. Krytox and Alterith switch places so the halfling can continue putting up barrels grabbed from the side areas underneath the wall shelves as a underlost begins reloading an acquired crossbow. It will be ready to fire then. (ooc: I assume you two would be ok with the movement.)

Philo moves in to support Squin, who is hacking his lungs out. Tex is severely distracted by the disgusting odor but seems to be functioning alright.

One of the enemy creatures lets loose another arrow, and it misses. Then the other beasts in the corridor open fire with their own crossbows, but all miss.

The odor doesn't intensify, but suddenly the group feels like retching again.

ooc: Everyone make new Fort saves please. There is now 2 enemy crossbows left on the ground.

[spoiler="Squin"]

Hacking his lungs out, the centaur cares less about the arrows flying in. They seem insignificant, irrelevant even. After another fit of coughing that sounds more like a dying creature, Squin suddenly stops coughing. Only ragged breathing, extremely ragged. Looking around again, he grabs his bow and shuffles towards the side a bit, out of the incoming line of fire, though still maintaining a visibility of the entryway. The centaur leans heavily against the shelf, waiting, wanting, and hoping for all this to be over and him getting his health and hearing back. He sets his bow down on the shelf within easy reach of either arm. With his arms crossed on the shelf, the centaur rests the side of his head on his arm, his head tilted almost 90 degrees.

Fortitude: 20 +(-2) = 18

ooc: Auto-resolve battle. Made all relevant rolls needed for all characters. Any characters who missed post deadlines were left idle.

The companions put down the reinforcements with a little more trouble, but not too much more. The entangle spell finally fades. Philo breathes a sigh of relief and tries to ignore the deadpan gazes of her companions. They assess their wounds..

ooc: Alterith took 8 dmg, Rasa took 7 dmg, Squin took 2 dmg (from two arrows).

Trudging back along the corridor, they emerge back into the first room with the overturned mine cart where the silver ore once lay (now safely packed away in the adventurer's bags).

Exits from this room are to the West (leading to the entrance of the mine, the way you came in), and South into another part of the mine cave.

Alterith leans against the mine cart and pulls a small blue vile from a sheath on his belt. He quickly quaffs the potion and watches as his wounds begin to close over. Seeing that his blood is no longer flowing he removes his blood soaked bandages. "Well, onward into the teeth of the dragon?"

Assuming no objections, Alterith follows Rasa ( ooc: assuming he is checking for traps) down the new hall, axe held at the ready.

Quaff potion of cure of moderate wounds. Jerry, please roll for this I don't have a reference that tells me how much it is. Thanks.

Krytox is visibly relieved at having the freedom to move about the mine again. The claustrophobia of being enslaved in the work mines had begun to overtake him, but now there was an uneasy sense of calm. He wasn't trapped any more, but a taste of his previous life left him a little on edge.

As they reach the main room, he sees the overturned cart and the trap that had been set off by Squin and Philo when they were straggling behind. He gave each of them a somewhat reproachful stare, then glanced around at the rest of his companions coming to a stop at Rasa. Knowing that there had been at least two traps - and possibly more if the rats and dire weasel had been meant for them - it only made sense for the Dracen to take the lead and check for traps as they progressed. It might take a little longer, but it would be worth it in the end.

"We go?" he asks idly, starting to make his way toward the southern passage.

ooc: I'm assuming we searched the dead bodies, barrels, shelves, etc. in the previous rooms. Did we find anything of note? I'm not so concerned with things like 'old rusty dagger' or 'beat up armor slightly too small for a kobold' heh, but just curious in general. Regardless, I'll take a crossbow (loaded) and a few extra bolts which I will carry for now.

Glad be to gone from that cursed room, the centaur happily follows the others out of there. It seems as if simply leaving the room has made him feel better. When they return to the main room again, the centaur sees Krytox's stare. Squin shrugs his shoulders and points at Philo. The centaur stands around and awaits the groups next movement.

ooc: Alterith heals 9 hp.

Here is the treasure the group recovered from the previous rooms:
From the kobolds and goblins
88 gp
50 sp
x1 amethyst (150 gp)
6 barrels, contents yet unknown

Let me know if any of you plan on prying open the barrels to inspect the contents.


The group begins to move on but is stopped short at the sight of a new visitor in the mines! (this is Kanga's character).

Kanga's character description wrote:

Despite his small and scrawny frame, Nikoli is rather tough. His short teal hair is matted and covered in soot, oil, and grime, as are his clothes - looks like he's made a living doing various construction projects. He is wearing a large brown cloak over his work clothes.

ooc: Ben, you may post now. Welcome!

Using one of the kobolds weapons Alterith pries one lid up on a barrel and looks inside at it's contents to determine if they want to relocate these to their hideout.

Following the potion and the restoration of his body, he looks at this new person. His axe sits before him and he watches him carefully for a sign of hostility. "May I ask who you are and what you are doing in this demon haunted mine?"