Kneecap listens to the interaction between the two humans but is unclear what they are discussing. It seems to be related to blacksmithing. That aside, they seem intent on examining the sink hole also, and the one with the mustache bears the symbol of Tyr, so perhaps he can be trusted.
He walks up next to the pair, nodding at them as they look at him, and peers into the hole, hoping his innate dwarven darkvision will show him something.
The group of heroes cautiously advanced upon the yawning sinkhole. The sound of chanting was definitely growing louder and the intonation of the eerie chanting could be heard a little clearer.
The chant itself is in Undercommon. A cacophony of guttural sounds, interspersed with sinister whispers and haunting melodies. It echoes through the cavernous depths of the sinkhole, reverberating off the walls with an unsettling intensity.
The language of the chant is filled with words of power that resonate with dark magic. The voices rise and fall in a macabre chorus, their words weaving together in a twisted symphony of corruption and despair.
Getting closer to the edge, the group can hear that the voices - and the accompanying flickering of torchlight - are still quite distant. With the sinkhole developing in the midst of a cavern system ... the sound and light emanating from the hole is not directly below the group but coming from deeper tunnels within the earth ttha the sinkhole fed into.
VV For those who speak Undercommon, they understand the following dialog VV
"Rise, O Lord! From the primordial depths, we call upon Thee. Rise, Ancient One! Rise from the earth and unleash Thy putrescence upon the surface world."
Init
22 - Dorn. Move 20'. Dodge. (Technically, you said Ready a Dodge, which is Dodge's poor country cousin. Dodge is not really an action that benefits from being readied, so I had Dorn Dodge for this round)
Folks may make a Intelligence (Religion) and/or Intelligence (Arcana) roll if they have those skills marked. (For intel-gathering rolls of this nature, I usually do a 'floating DC.' That is, info at DC10, more info at DC15, even more info at DC20, etc ...)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"I hear a collection of vile guttural voices in the caverns below... a call to the primordial depths; a summoning perhaps... of one they call lord, and ancient one." As Dorn walks closer to the peak of where the sinkhole descends, he takes a few whiffs of the disturbed air and peers closer into the sinkhole to find a safe route, for how one might navigate in or out of the hole. "Escudera, I will not subject you to the unknown depths of the underground here. return to Grimbold, and report to him what you have seen here. Go!" as he dismisses his squire, he will dash to the edge of the sinkhole to look closer. his concerns and thoughts are on what he hears in the chant. he attempts to recall any information he may have pertaining to these words...
He will use his passive perception (12) to view the sinkhole closer, and a religion check to recall information from the chant. 11
Volneer is also going to get as close to the hole as possible and he wants to figure out what the chanting is about/who it's trying to summon (he speaks undercommon)
If that's not his action, ready chill touch if he sees any undead.
Kneecap moves 20 feet to the edge of the sinkhole and peers down. While he is unable to understand the language being chanted, he leans into knowledge of religion to see what he can make of it.
Kneecap looks at the man to his right, the one who bears the mark of Tyr and nods, then takes a quick look at the other human and half-elf, all seemingly as interested in what is going on as he is, turns back to the sinkhole and whispers to them, “Name’s Kneecap, I’m new in town. So, shall we see what’s going on down there?”
OOC: If I’m able to walk or climb into the sinkhole, I will move in, I have 5 feet of movement left. If it requires a more complex way down, I’ll start looking for a place to tie a rope.
"Peculiar... I am Dorn. I am interested to know the story behind your name, kneecap. at a more convenient time, perhaps." Dorn then begins speaking in Dwarvish :
Do you know the tongue of your people? and, if you did not hear me before, the chanting loosely translates to"Rise, O Lord! From the primordial depths, we call upon Thee. Rise, Ancient One! Rise from the earth and unleash Thy putrescence upon the surface world." I fear the workings of a cult or some ritual ahead.
Cultists you say. Hmm. “How ‘bouts we go see what their up to before this ancient one shows up, yeah? After that I’d be glad to share ‘me tale! Perhaps over some more of that elven wine!”
Then in common, he says...
“Dorn you say. That is a good human name, like Henry.”
As Calim cautiously approaches the edge of the yawning sinkhole, his footsteps echo softly against the rocky ground. His senses are alert, every muscle poised for action as he takes in the eerie scene unfolding before him. The sound of chanting grows louder, sending a shiver down his spine as he listens intently to the guttural language of Undercommon echoing from the depths below. He understands not one word. But he knows, intuitively, the dire situation for the town.
Peering into the darkness of the chasm, Calim can see flickering torchlight dancing along the walls of the cavern system. The voices seem to be emanating from deeper tunnels within the earth, beyond the immediate reach of the sinkhole. With a furrowed brow, he assesses the situation, weighing his options carefully.
Despite his urge to charge headlong into battle, Calim knows better than to rush blindly into danger. He takes a step back, his mind racing with strategic possibilities. He is loud and clumsy by nature, he may be strong...but is far from surefooted and hasn't swung his sword at anything but a tree in years. Still, he has other value to this time. He has experience and knows the value of caution and subtlety in the face of uncertainty.
With a silent nod (to himself this time) Calim repositions his stance, shifting his readiness action to better protect the man he deduces to be a spellcaster. He positions himself strategically, ready to leap into action at a moment's notice to defend his arcane comrade and confront whatever dark forces lurk within the depths of the sinkhole. He was once the lead to every charge. But now, he is waiting for someone younger and more agile to take lead.
Though he stomach is churning, a sense of determination washes over him. He may not know the name of the spellcaster he seeks to protect, but he knows that in this moment, they are united in purpose. With a silent prayer to the gods for strength and guidance, Calim stands ready to face whatever horrors may come, his resolve unwavering in the face of the unknown.
He speaks to the man now, in a low tone, "Keep position with me and I'll cover you if things get dicey. My name is Calim, I am grateful that you have stood up to defend my town. I have seen the wild wonders of folks like you before. Glad to be able to offer my mail and sword to give you a chance to work."
Calim falls in behind Dorn and Kneecap, third in line, and shifts his ready position to specifically be ready to defend Kneecap. Action is still readied, but with slightly different trigger. Should someone lunge at Volneer or Calim, Calim will place himself in harms way.
After Dorn dismissed her, Aria's expression flashed momentarily with confusion and hurt. Furrowed brows and parted lips betrayed her disbelief. Her eagerness to prove herself to her mentor. Determination flickered in her eyes, a testament to her loyalty. With a tight swallow, she nodded, masking her turmoil behind a stern mask of obedience.
"I won't let you down." She promised, nodding once, before falling back.
The four heroes stood at the edge of the yawning sinkhole, getting their first — and best — look at what had happened at the edge of town. The sinkhole appeared to have opened up atop a cavern system that, at one point, had been an underground temple of some point. The chamber below was large and more or less circular. Beneath a layer of fallen dirt and debris from the forest above, the heroes caught glimpses of mosaic floors that once had adorned the temple floor. Ancient, faded and fragmented, the green and purple patterns and designs told a story of bygone days, when this place was alive with the footsteps of apparently not-quite-human worshippers and other pilgrims of the underdark. Ringing the edge of the ruined chamber, the silhouettes of a number statues lined the walls of the cavern, their features so worn and damaged now as to be unrecognizable. Despite their age and poor condition, the statues exuded an air of solemnity and reverence, as if guarding over the sacred space they inhabited.
Of the many offshoot tunnels that branched off from the main chamber, one of them flickered with dim torchlight that cast dancing shadows across the walls of the cavern. All the while, the eerie chanting — now reaching a crescendo — could be heard.
Volneer, who was a student of the arcane, discerned that the chant was indeed summoning magic [DC10], and that the ritual was nearly complete! [DC15]
Dorn and Kneecap, both of them familiar with the various rites and rituals of many different religions knew that the chanting was designed as a plea to the inner planes [DC10], that it was nearly complete [DC15], and the paladin alone recognized that the rite was a supplication to That Which Lurks, The Elder Eye and Lord of Slime ... Ghaunadaur! [DC20]
At the top of the sinkhole, several trees were sprawled at odd angles, their gnarled trunks jutting out over the edge and reaching down like skeletal fingers. The fallen trees formed a makeshift bridge of sorts, their broad trunks providing a precarious path down into the chasm below.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, and a sense of unease hung heavy in the stillness of the cavern. Above, the night sky stretched out in a tapestry of twinkling stars ... a stark contrast to the darkness, damp and rot that lurked below.
You all are standing at the edge of the sinkhole. The trees provide a ramp/bridge of sorts into the level below you. It will take 20' of movement and you must make a DC10 Dexterity [Acrobatics] roll to do so (or risk falling the 20'). Alternatively, you could use ropes and such to lower one another. This option is safer, but it will be more time consuming (taking two full rounds of actions/movement to accomplish, but there is no risk of failure).
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
While Kneecap would love to give his guidance to the weak looking man-elf, he feels a growing sense of urgency, and doesn’t want to waste time moving to him.
Knowing he has walked much narrower planks during his time on the sea, he approaches the nearest tree, and heads down, into the sinkhole.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"I believe those below are attempting a summoning." Dorn exclaims with a heightened voice. "A call to the inner planes, to bring forth something foul... that which lurks. he is called Ghaunadaur. their rite is almost complete... if we are to intervene, now is the time". Dorn looks into the eyes of his new companions, and assesses the situation they find themselves in, in this brief moment of silence.
"If one could light a torch, I can lead the way down"
whether or not a torch is lit, Dorn will navigate down along the fallen trees, making an acrobatics roll of 4. If that is not an action, he'll use his action to help whoever is following this path directly behind him, making callouts as to where to step, and any precarious areas that he may have avoided or accidentally hit (depending on the roll lol).
Those that aren't in direct eyesight of Dorn just hear clamor, a thud, then a slow high pitched groan as he lays flat on his back trying to recover his breath. 😂 He faces the humiliation by just giving in to his prone state, staring at the stars above and wondering where it all went wrong.
Dorn notices volneer approaching. Still laying completely still, and moving only his eyes he looks over to him. “Eeeeerrhggghh…. Was my squire gone before I fell? She didn’t see? Eeighhhh” and will slowly get up with volneers help, either this round if he still has movement, or next round.
The heroes all climbed down — or fell from — the precarious bridge of fallen trees to access the sunken temple.
The area was dimly lit, but between the starlight filtering in past the collapsed dome above them and the torchlight spilling into the room from an adjoining hallway, they had enough light to make out their surroundings. The room was more or less circular, and ringed with statues — sinister and ancient — whose details were lost to the ages. The floor was tiled in a green, black and purple mosaic pattern ... and the heroes could get a better look at the figures in the art.
The mosaic depicted more or less human worshippers. The pilgrims and petitioners in the profane art were covered in slime and creeping fungi, and were genuflecting themselves toward a amorphous, glistening, slug-like god. The glistening effect of the mosaic tiling was created by precious stones set periodically into the floor.
To the north, a stone door.
To the west, a solid looking wooden door.
And to the south, an archway.
It was from this archway that the torchlight spilled into the circular chamber. From their vantage point, the heroes could not see the whole room, but it appeared to be much smaller, and rectangular in shape. The floor of the southern edge of this room sloped away rapidly into a pit of some kind.
There were robed figures in the next room, directing their chants and prayers toward the pit. At least three were in sight, but gauging by the volume of the chanting, more cultists were likely.
The one in the back turned and saw the party and called out a warning to his comrades!
Init 22 - Dorn. Fell, landed prone. Stood up. 19 - Calim. Move. Dodge. (in the interest of keeping things moving, I had Calim join the others down in the pit. Acrobatics [DC10]19) 12 - Kneecap. Move. 7 - Volneer. Move. Chill Touch Readied vs Undead.
Beginning with the next round summary, the cultists will act with the following initiative:15
Drawing upon the training of years past, Calim recalls the teachings of his mentor: "Cover, Flank, Force." He recognizes the archway as a strategic choke point, a perfect opportunity to disrupt the enemy's plans and gain the upper hand.
With a fluid motion, Calim briskly maneuvers to disappear from the sight of the robed cultists, slipping behind the right impost of the archway. His grip tightens on the hilt of his sword, his stance shifting subtly as he prepares for the confrontation ahead.
As he crouches in the shadows, Calim's instincts are razor-sharp. He knows that timing is crucial, that he must wait for the perfect moment to strike. His sword arm remains poised, ready to deliver a swift jab to control the advance of the cultists should they prove to be a threat.
But for now, Calim waits with bated breath, his gaze fixed on the figures in the next room. He will not hesitate to act if the situation demands it, his every move calculated and precise as he prepares to confront the darkness that lurks within the heart of the temple. He watches the other three too, trying to catch their next move in a micro movement or expression.
------
On trigger, Attack Roll on the closest cultist 8 Damage, should I hit 5
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Kneecap listens to the interaction between the two humans but is unclear what they are discussing. It seems to be related to blacksmithing. That aside, they seem intent on examining the sink hole also, and the one with the mustache bears the symbol of Tyr, so perhaps he can be trusted.
He walks up next to the pair, nodding at them as they look at him, and peers into the hole, hoping his innate dwarven darkvision will show him something.
The group of heroes cautiously advanced upon the yawning sinkhole. The sound of chanting was definitely growing louder and the intonation of the eerie chanting could be heard a little clearer.
The chant itself is in Undercommon. A cacophony of guttural sounds, interspersed with sinister whispers and haunting melodies. It echoes through the cavernous depths of the sinkhole, reverberating off the walls with an unsettling intensity.
The language of the chant is filled with words of power that resonate with dark magic. The voices rise and fall in a macabre chorus, their words weaving together in a twisted symphony of corruption and despair.
Getting closer to the edge, the group can hear that the voices - and the accompanying flickering of torchlight - are still quite distant. With the sinkhole developing in the midst of a cavern system ... the sound and light emanating from the hole is not directly below the group but coming from deeper tunnels within the earth ttha the sinkhole fed into.
VV For those who speak Undercommon, they understand the following dialog VV
"Rise, O Lord! From the primordial depths, we call upon Thee. Rise, Ancient One! Rise from the earth and unleash Thy putrescence upon the surface world."
"I hear a collection of vile guttural voices in the caverns below... a call to the primordial depths; a summoning perhaps... of one they call lord, and ancient one." As Dorn walks closer to the peak of where the sinkhole descends, he takes a few whiffs of the disturbed air and peers closer into the sinkhole to find a safe route, for how one might navigate in or out of the hole. "Escudera, I will not subject you to the unknown depths of the underground here. return to Grimbold, and report to him what you have seen here. Go!" as he dismisses his squire, he will dash to the edge of the sinkhole to look closer. his concerns and thoughts are on what he hears in the chant. he attempts to recall any information he may have pertaining to these words...
He will use his passive perception (12) to view the sinkhole closer, and a religion check to recall information from the chant. 11
Arcana 17
Bilyur Ningel - 100 dungeons of the blood Archivist
Thread
Jaren - Campaignless Adventure
Thread
Volneer Smith Bryskin - Norea/Westhaven
OOC thread
IC thread
Bryskin Alleywood - The Scarlet Mist
Thread
Heiberos Ganneva - Tyranny of dragons
Volneer is also going to get as close to the hole as possible and he wants to figure out what the chanting is about/who it's trying to summon (he speaks undercommon)
If that's not his action, ready chill touch if he sees any undead.
Bilyur Ningel - 100 dungeons of the blood Archivist
Thread
Jaren - Campaignless Adventure
Thread
Volneer Smith Bryskin - Norea/Westhaven
OOC thread
IC thread
Bryskin Alleywood - The Scarlet Mist
Thread
Heiberos Ganneva - Tyranny of dragons
Kneecap moves 20 feet to the edge of the sinkhole and peers down. While he is unable to understand the language being chanted, he leans into knowledge of religion to see what he can make of it.
Religion w/Guidance : 6
Kneecap looks at the man to his right, the one who bears the mark of Tyr and nods, then takes a quick look at the other human and half-elf, all seemingly as interested in what is going on as he is, turns back to the sinkhole and whispers to them, “Name’s Kneecap, I’m new in town. So, shall we see what’s going on down there?”
OOC: If I’m able to walk or climb into the sinkhole, I will move in, I have 5 feet of movement left. If it requires a more complex way down, I’ll start looking for a place to tie a rope.
"Peculiar... I am Dorn. I am interested to know the story behind your name, kneecap. at a more convenient time, perhaps." Dorn then begins speaking in Dwarvish :
Do you know the tongue of your people? and, if you did not hear me before, the chanting loosely translates to "Rise, O Lord! From the primordial depths, we call upon Thee. Rise, Ancient One! Rise from the earth and unleash Thy putrescence upon the surface world." I fear the workings of a cult or some ritual ahead.
Kneecap responds in Dwarvish.
Cultists you say. Hmm. “How ‘bouts we go see what their up to before this ancient one shows up, yeah? After that I’d be glad to share ‘me tale! Perhaps over some more of that elven wine!”
Then in common, he says...
“Dorn you say. That is a good human name, like Henry.”
As Calim cautiously approaches the edge of the yawning sinkhole, his footsteps echo softly against the rocky ground. His senses are alert, every muscle poised for action as he takes in the eerie scene unfolding before him. The sound of chanting grows louder, sending a shiver down his spine as he listens intently to the guttural language of Undercommon echoing from the depths below. He understands not one word. But he knows, intuitively, the dire situation for the town.
Peering into the darkness of the chasm, Calim can see flickering torchlight dancing along the walls of the cavern system. The voices seem to be emanating from deeper tunnels within the earth, beyond the immediate reach of the sinkhole. With a furrowed brow, he assesses the situation, weighing his options carefully.
Despite his urge to charge headlong into battle, Calim knows better than to rush blindly into danger. He takes a step back, his mind racing with strategic possibilities. He is loud and clumsy by nature, he may be strong...but is far from surefooted and hasn't swung his sword at anything but a tree in years. Still, he has other value to this time. He has experience and knows the value of caution and subtlety in the face of uncertainty.
With a silent nod (to himself this time) Calim repositions his stance, shifting his readiness action to better protect the man he deduces to be a spellcaster. He positions himself strategically, ready to leap into action at a moment's notice to defend his arcane comrade and confront whatever dark forces lurk within the depths of the sinkhole. He was once the lead to every charge. But now, he is waiting for someone younger and more agile to take lead.
Though he stomach is churning, a sense of determination washes over him. He may not know the name of the spellcaster he seeks to protect, but he knows that in this moment, they are united in purpose. With a silent prayer to the gods for strength and guidance, Calim stands ready to face whatever horrors may come, his resolve unwavering in the face of the unknown.
He speaks to the man now, in a low tone, "Keep position with me and I'll cover you if things get dicey. My name is Calim, I am grateful that you have stood up to defend my town. I have seen the wild wonders of folks like you before. Glad to be able to offer my mail and sword to give you a chance to work."
Calim falls in behind Dorn and Kneecap, third in line, and shifts his ready position to specifically be ready to defend Kneecap. Action is still readied, but with slightly different trigger. Should someone lunge at Volneer or Calim, Calim will place himself in harms way.
After Dorn dismissed her, Aria's expression flashed momentarily with confusion and hurt. Furrowed brows and parted lips betrayed her disbelief. Her eagerness to prove herself to her mentor. Determination flickered in her eyes, a testament to her loyalty. With a tight swallow, she nodded, masking her turmoil behind a stern mask of obedience.
"I won't let you down." She promised, nodding once, before falling back.
The four heroes stood at the edge of the yawning sinkhole, getting their first — and best — look at what had happened at the edge of town. The sinkhole appeared to have opened up atop a cavern system that, at one point, had been an underground temple of some point. The chamber below was large and more or less circular. Beneath a layer of fallen dirt and debris from the forest above, the heroes caught glimpses of mosaic floors that once had adorned the temple floor. Ancient, faded and fragmented, the green and purple patterns and designs told a story of bygone days, when this place was alive with the footsteps of apparently not-quite-human worshippers and other pilgrims of the underdark. Ringing the edge of the ruined chamber, the silhouettes of a number statues lined the walls of the cavern, their features so worn and damaged now as to be unrecognizable. Despite their age and poor condition, the statues exuded an air of solemnity and reverence, as if guarding over the sacred space they inhabited.
Of the many offshoot tunnels that branched off from the main chamber, one of them flickered with dim torchlight that cast dancing shadows across the walls of the cavern. All the while, the eerie chanting — now reaching a crescendo — could be heard.
Volneer, who was a student of the arcane, discerned that the chant was indeed summoning magic [DC10], and that the ritual was nearly complete! [DC15]
Dorn and Kneecap, both of them familiar with the various rites and rituals of many different religions knew that the chanting was designed as a plea to the inner planes [DC10], that it was nearly complete [DC15], and the paladin alone recognized that the rite was a supplication to That Which Lurks, The Elder Eye and Lord of Slime ... Ghaunadaur! [DC20]
At the top of the sinkhole, several trees were sprawled at odd angles, their gnarled trunks jutting out over the edge and reaching down like skeletal fingers. The fallen trees formed a makeshift bridge of sorts, their broad trunks providing a precarious path down into the chasm below.
The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decay, and a sense of unease hung heavy in the stillness of the cavern. Above, the night sky stretched out in a tapestry of twinkling stars ... a stark contrast to the darkness, damp and rot that lurked below.
You all are standing at the edge of the sinkhole. The trees provide a ramp/bridge of sorts into the level below you. It will take 20' of movement and you must make a DC10 Dexterity [Acrobatics] roll to do so (or risk falling the 20'). Alternatively, you could use ropes and such to lower one another. This option is safer, but it will be more time consuming (taking two full rounds of actions/movement to accomplish, but there is no risk of failure).
Init
22 - Dorn. Move 20'. Dash 10'.
19 - Calim. Move 20'. Dash readied.
12 - Kneecap. Move 25. Cast Guidance.
7 - Volneer. Move 15'. Chill Touch Readied vs Undead.
While Kneecap would love to give his guidance to the weak looking man-elf, he feels a growing sense of urgency, and doesn’t want to waste time moving to him.
Knowing he has walked much narrower planks during his time on the sea, he approaches the nearest tree, and heads down, into the sinkhole.
Acrobatics – w/Guidance : 7
OOC: I should just be able to get to the bottom with my 25’ movement.
"I believe those below are attempting a summoning." Dorn exclaims with a heightened voice. "A call to the inner planes, to bring forth something foul... that which lurks. he is called Ghaunadaur. their rite is almost complete... if we are to intervene, now is the time". Dorn looks into the eyes of his new companions, and assesses the situation they find themselves in, in this brief moment of silence.
"If one could light a torch, I can lead the way down"
whether or not a torch is lit, Dorn will navigate down along the fallen trees, making an acrobatics roll of 4. If that is not an action, he'll use his action to help whoever is following this path directly behind him, making callouts as to where to step, and any precarious areas that he may have avoided or accidentally hit (depending on the roll lol).
Dorn attempted to follow Kneecap's descent, taking the time to call out which branches seemed sturdy enough to bear weight.
A slip. A clatter of mail and breaking branches. He fell!
OOC — Dorn takes 6 bludgeoning damage and lands prone.
Those that aren't in direct eyesight of Dorn just hear clamor, a thud, then a slow high pitched groan as he lays flat on his back trying to recover his breath. 😂
He faces the humiliation by just giving in to his prone state, staring at the stars above and wondering where it all went wrong.
Volneer moves over to Dorn.
OOC: Can I use an action to help Dorn to his feet?
Volneer tries to help Dorn to his feet, if he can't, continue readying chill touch
Acrobatics 17
Bilyur Ningel - 100 dungeons of the blood Archivist
Thread
Jaren - Campaignless Adventure
Thread
Volneer Smith Bryskin - Norea/Westhaven
OOC thread
IC thread
Bryskin Alleywood - The Scarlet Mist
Thread
Heiberos Ganneva - Tyranny of dragons
Dorn notices volneer approaching. Still laying completely still, and moving only his eyes he looks over to him. “Eeeeerrhggghh…. Was my squire gone before I fell? She didn’t see? Eeighhhh” and will slowly get up with volneers help, either this round if he still has movement, or next round.
Volneer responds to Dorn's question in Undercommon, with humor in his voice
Don't worry, she was gone, plus she couldn't see down the hole anyway.
Bilyur Ningel - 100 dungeons of the blood Archivist
Thread
Jaren - Campaignless Adventure
Thread
Volneer Smith Bryskin - Norea/Westhaven
OOC thread
IC thread
Bryskin Alleywood - The Scarlet Mist
Thread
Heiberos Ganneva - Tyranny of dragons
The heroes all climbed down — or fell from — the precarious bridge of fallen trees to access the sunken temple.
The area was dimly lit, but between the starlight filtering in past the collapsed dome above them and the torchlight spilling into the room from an adjoining hallway, they had enough light to make out their surroundings. The room was more or less circular, and ringed with statues — sinister and ancient — whose details were lost to the ages. The floor was tiled in a green, black and purple mosaic pattern ... and the heroes could get a better look at the figures in the art.
The mosaic depicted more or less human worshippers. The pilgrims and petitioners in the profane art were covered in slime and creeping fungi, and were genuflecting themselves toward a amorphous, glistening, slug-like god. The glistening effect of the mosaic tiling was created by precious stones set periodically into the floor.
To the north, a stone door.
To the west, a solid looking wooden door.
And to the south, an archway.
It was from this archway that the torchlight spilled into the circular chamber. From their vantage point, the heroes could not see the whole room, but it appeared to be much smaller, and rectangular in shape. The floor of the southern edge of this room sloped away rapidly into a pit of some kind.
There were robed figures in the next room, directing their chants and prayers toward the pit. At least three were in sight, but gauging by the volume of the chanting, more cultists were likely.
The one in the back turned and saw the party and called out a warning to his comrades!
Init
22 - Dorn. Fell, landed prone. Stood up.
19 - Calim. Move. Dodge. (in the interest of keeping things moving, I had Calim join the others down in the pit. Acrobatics [DC10] 19)
12 - Kneecap. Move.
7 - Volneer. Move. Chill Touch Readied vs Undead.
Beginning with the next round summary, the cultists will act with the following initiative: 15
Forgot the map. The area is dimly lit and the trees in the circular chamber provide cover.
Drawing upon the training of years past, Calim recalls the teachings of his mentor: "Cover, Flank, Force." He recognizes the archway as a strategic choke point, a perfect opportunity to disrupt the enemy's plans and gain the upper hand.
With a fluid motion, Calim briskly maneuvers to disappear from the sight of the robed cultists, slipping behind the right impost of the archway. His grip tightens on the hilt of his sword, his stance shifting subtly as he prepares for the confrontation ahead.
As he crouches in the shadows, Calim's instincts are razor-sharp. He knows that timing is crucial, that he must wait for the perfect moment to strike. His sword arm remains poised, ready to deliver a swift jab to control the advance of the cultists should they prove to be a threat.
But for now, Calim waits with bated breath, his gaze fixed on the figures in the next room. He will not hesitate to act if the situation demands it, his every move calculated and precise as he prepares to confront the darkness that lurks within the heart of the temple. He watches the other three too, trying to catch their next move in a micro movement or expression.
------
On trigger, Attack Roll on the closest cultist 8
Damage, should I hit 5