After a short while, among your deliberations and tinkering, you hear a loud clang, followed by clanking that makes you jump as you were focusing so hard on being as quiet as possible. Clearly the portcullis had been activated and it was currently being wrenched up. You presume the guard is about to return. You can’t make out the words, but you hear that he is speaking to himself.
Suddenly Ellis heard a loud clang and even more clanging that made him jump a bit, the portcullis being wrenched up and hearing the guard speaking to himself. Oh no, the guard is coming back! "G-Guys, the guard is coming back!" he quietly called out to them all, his heart racing and extremely nervous right now. If they get caught like this, they all will really be punished.
Suddenly Ellis heard a loud clang and even more clanging that made him jump a bit, the portcullis being wrenched up and hearing the guard speaking to himself. Oh no, the guard is coming back! "G-Guys, the guard is coming back!" he quietly called out to them all, his heart racing and extremely nervous right now. If they get caught like this, they all will really be punished.
(How large is the rock we found and are there any more? I don't mind looking through the water for more potentially.)
Tempest will climb down from the grate and shift out of his ape form. “If he’s here to take one of us I’ll go as soon as I’m out I’ll transform into a bear and kill him then get each of you out.” Tempest whispers
I've got a few ideas, two for the rock and one other.
Tie the rock onto the end of the rope and tie a loop knot onto the other end then attempt to throw it over the hook of the chain and drag it closer.
Second idea is that I can climb up and use the rocks to periodically wedge the grate open and slowly move rocks along the side of the grate towards the hinge so that the grate will be raised more and more each time like a lever. Potentially to the point where one person could slide under or enough to give a better foot hold to lift from.
If neither rock idea is good Tempest will climb down and point up to the grate, then flex and make the universal push gesture. Then he'll point to Daner and Darion and point to two locations in the pit side by side and stand with his feet separated and hold up his arms similar to how he picked each of them up. He'll point to himself making a climbing gesture then points to Daner and Darion and make the standing lift pose. (Basically Daner and Darion as the base of a three person triangle that would give me better leverage to lift the grate.)
The portcullis is raised and the Yuan-ti guard from earlier walks back into the room. You can hear him muttering to himself, “Fenthaza... jusssst who does shhhhe thinksss she isss? Orderings me around like shhhheeee’s in charge around here... ssssometimes I wish Slithotep would jussssst accidentally feeds her to his pet...”
(Players may roll perception here)
A familiar snake head pops over the edge of the hole looking down at you. “Ohhhh haaaariesss, it issss time to stretch your legssess. Our great high priesssstess mussst inspect the new sssssaaaacri, I mean, ssssslaaaaves. Don’t worry; I won’t give your pit away”
He walks over and begins cranking the chain pulley system, and ever so slowly, the lid of the cell begins to lift up.
Ellis had heard Tempest, shocked as he nodded. Would it be possible for him to kill that guard quickly as a bear? Then he could hear the guard muttering to himself before seeing him look down at them. He gulped as the guard said that their high priestess must inspect them and then was lifting up the lid of the cell. At least they'll all be lifted up, though what if Tempest gets out last? What if there are more guards up there? Ellis felt so anxious right now, hoping that Tempest's plan works.
Ellis was on edge, and his senses were heightened. He could hear a familiar sound. A sound that was seared into his conscientious, and that was the slithering of a huge snake body... just like the one that carried him away in the night. Ellis was certain that he could hear slithering, which meant that there was probably more than one guard.
Ellis's eyes went wide as he heard that all too familiar sound like from that night, the slithering of a huge snake body. There is definitely more than one guard up there. "That isn't the only guard up there, it sounds like there are more.." he had quickly whispered back to Tempest, now scared.
"If there are then we'll see how it plays out. I won't do anything unless y'all are okay with it first. Just give me the nod when you want the bear." Tempest whispers back. His muscles tense as he listens closely to the approaching threat. His thoughts of what to do distract him and he finds himself peering into the stone wall.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Darion had wearily picked himself up initially, about to move forward as Tempest had requested to help lever him up. Distracted, he didn't particularly notice the guard until later than the others, registering Ellis suddenly stiffening in fear. Involuntarily he took a few fearful steps back as the Snake-man leered into the pit but then checked himself a little shamefully. Rather than focusing on what was going on up above, he took the opportunity to scan his cell-mates reaction. Did they seem on the level?
If you want a check, insight I presume? 17 (I know that, OOC of character, this seems a little pointless, but Darion does not trust readily and his mind would be more on sussing his companions out at that moment)
He hoped Tempest would not take on the Yuan-ti all on his own; perhaps they could try something when they were all up? He stiffened at Ellis' whisper that there was more than one. That would complicate things a little more. Reluctantly, he positions himself to go up (though will give way to Tempest if Tempest wishes to go first). His plan is to try and get to that magic-suppressing plinth and get his magic up and running. It has been a number of years since he did not have magic to fall back on, and it being taken away has left Darion feeling more vulnerable than he would care to admit. He decides it would be to risky to communicate this to his companions, but tries to give an encouraging smile and nod to the other three.
He also desperately tries to think if Yuan-ti still have enough humanity in them for the one spell he might be able to cast to work.
Would this be Arcana knowledge? OOC, I am aiming to find out if a Yuan-ti is considered 'humanoid' or not so whether a Charm Person may work.
(I’ll let the individual players list their reactions.) At the least, Darion does not detect any artificial reactions, as if one had been bewitched by a Suggestion spell.
Darion recalls the information that he needs- that he learned from some book so long ago- that yes, Charm Person would work on a Yuan-ti, though some varieties of Yuan-ti boasted innate magic resistance to spells in general.
Darion realizes that he could certainly physically tamper with the tablet by moving beads this way and that, but at this point he had little information to surmise which bead represented what. If he had time to tinker with the device a bit he could probably glean all that he needed to.
Now, with the lid suspended, you see your caretaker start lowering the chain with the large hook on the end down into the pit. He looks down and gestures you to hold your manacled hands upwards so that the hook can grab onto the chain and lift you out by the wrists.
Said in a manner as if he were beckoning a pet, your guard says “whooooooooo’ssssss firssssst?”
The hook arrives at the bottom, waiting for someone to affix their chains to be hoisted out.
Tempest will raise his hands and respond, “Ready” then turning back to the others whisper. “If we get a chance I’ll distract them while someone turns off that tablet.”
Tempest seems to genuinely care for the well being of the others within the pit and while he seems blood thirsty a slight tremble is noticeable in his frame from fear. He is afraid but is not going to die without a fight.
Darion nods in reply to Tempest "I'll try" he whispers back.
Darion looks with concern at Ellis, noting that he seems to have been worse effected by this experience than the rest of them and whispers to him "You're not holding us back or being a hindrance, I found your little song earlier really helped clear my mind, gave me some focus"
Darion will wait for Tempest to be hauled up, then (taking every scrap of courage he can muster) raise his hands to go up.
Daner, hearing the presence of extra guards (23 perception check), realises that it is probably not the best time to act, especially as it sounds like they will be returning to the pit soon. He whispers to the others, "Ellis said he did the spell? Can you do stuff like that? What if they have some way of checking?"
Daner is going to wait for Ellis to be hauled out and will come last.
(The characters will be hoisted out one by one, in the order that you specified. I’ll post assuming all are hoisted out before anyone takes an action, but if anyone wants to before all are out of the pit, just post as so and it will supersede everyone being lifted out)
Tempest first affixes his chain to the hook with a clink, and he is excruciatingly slowly lifted out of the pit. The others follow in the same fashion.
(Carrying over the perception check) On the surface, the air is not much less stagnant and humid, but you are thankful to be out of the water. (Though Tempest may not mind!) You see your barrel-chested guard, and you also see two more Yuan-ti in the room with you. Both with the lower half of a snake. One has humanoid arms and a snake’s head, and he holds a scimitar. The other, a strange sight, has two snakes for arms that rise and hiss at you when you emerge. He has a bald human head with slitted eyes and a flickering tongue
You also see one more Yuan-ti who is looking on from the next room, his arm holding something out of sight, at the ready. Daner figures that he likely has his hand on the lever of the portcullis, ready to drop it at the sign of trouble.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Daner makes it to the surface he goes over to assist Ellis. He scopes him up to carry him, saying loudly as he does so, "He's injured. Look at his foot, it's all black and blue. There's no way he can walk on it at the moment." As he talks he tries to show concern and deference in his voice. Daner carries Ellis toward the front of the group, hoping to jostle and distract, allowing the others to get a better look at the device.
OOC: Carrying him shouldn't be an issue with a strength of 16, but just in case you need it,
Ellis had heard Tempest, nodding. Ellis's reactions would have been fear and terror of being trapped here and going to be a slave for the Yuan-ti. He would have also been concerned about everyone else and their well-being, wishing them freedom from this. He felt hopelessness as he looked down at his broken ankle, like he had no chance of changing his fate. Ellis saw as the chain with the hook came down and the guard called for who would be going up first. He would watch Tempest go up first when he then heard Darion, surprised. "R-Really? Thank you." he whispered with a little smile before Darion got hauled up next. But soon he heard Daner, thinking. "I can cast spells, but through song or an instrument." he quickly whispered back, looking down at his pocket where his lyre was still hidden inside. Daner wanted to go last, so Ellis would limp to the hook and raise his hands to go up next. Ellis was trying not to look down as he was being lifted up in the air, his ankle in pain when he had been lowered onto the ground once he got to the top. He was right, seeing two other Yuan-ti here along with their guard and everyone else. He shivers, keeping his gaze down when the snakes hissed at them but also noticing another Yuan-ti looking from the next room, holding something at the ready. There is no way they could possibly go against four Yuan-ti right now even with Tempest as a bear. But he was very surprised when Daner came over and picked him up easily, talking about how injured he is and that he can't walk on it at the moment. "Thank you so much" Ellis quietly whispered to Daner with a smile, thankful for such caring people being with him. He would nod in agreement to Daner, showing off his broken ankle and looking like he was in pain, which isn't a lie since he actually is in pain after all.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Seeing they are heavily outnumbered, Darion gives a minute shake of his head at Tempest. Using the potential distraction of Daner and Ellis, Darion tries to get in a position to see the device better, while being as surreptitious as possible. He is trying to work out what bead corresponds with what, and starts off by assuming that the bead on it's own is the abjuration one.
Darion will try and be as subtle as possible with looking at the device, I guess either stealth of sleight of hand? 5
Arcana check if needed: 11
EDIT: I'll burn a luck point on the Stealth / SoH roll 14
After a short while, among your deliberations and tinkering, you hear a loud clang, followed by clanking that makes you jump as you were focusing so hard on being as quiet as possible. Clearly the portcullis had been activated and it was currently being wrenched up. You presume the guard is about to return. You can’t make out the words, but you hear that he is speaking to himself.
Suddenly Ellis heard a loud clang and even more clanging that made him jump a bit, the portcullis being wrenched up and hearing the guard speaking to himself. Oh no, the guard is coming back! "G-Guys, the guard is coming back!" he quietly called out to them all, his heart racing and extremely nervous right now. If they get caught like this, they all will really be punished.
Suddenly Ellis heard a loud clang and even more clanging that made him jump a bit, the portcullis being wrenched up and hearing the guard speaking to himself. Oh no, the guard is coming back! "G-Guys, the guard is coming back!" he quietly called out to them all, his heart racing and extremely nervous right now. If they get caught like this, they all will really be punished.
(OCC: Sorry, somehow got double-posted.)
(How large is the rock we found and are there any more? I don't mind looking through the water for more potentially.)
Tempest will climb down from the grate and shift out of his ape form. “If he’s here to take one of us I’ll go as soon as I’m out I’ll transform into a bear and kill him then get each of you out.” Tempest whispers
I've got a few ideas, two for the rock and one other.
Tie the rock onto the end of the rope and tie a loop knot onto the other end then attempt to throw it over the hook of the chain and drag it closer.
Second idea is that I can climb up and use the rocks to periodically wedge the grate open and slowly move rocks along the side of the grate towards the hinge so that the grate will be raised more and more each time like a lever. Potentially to the point where one person could slide under or enough to give a better foot hold to lift from.
If neither rock idea is good Tempest will climb down and point up to the grate, then flex and make the universal push gesture. Then he'll point to Daner and Darion and point to two locations in the pit side by side and stand with his feet separated and hold up his arms similar to how he picked each of them up. He'll point to himself making a climbing gesture then points to Daner and Darion and make the standing lift pose. (Basically Daner and Darion as the base of a three person triangle that would give me better leverage to lift the grate.)
(So far, there is only this one rock!)
The portcullis is raised and the Yuan-ti guard from earlier walks back into the room. You can hear him muttering to himself, “Fenthaza... jusssst who does shhhhe thinksss she isss? Orderings me around like shhhheeee’s in charge around here... ssssometimes I wish Slithotep would jussssst accidentally feeds her to his pet...”
(Players may roll perception here)
A familiar snake head pops over the edge of the hole looking down at you. “Ohhhh haaaariesss, it issss time to stretch your legssess. Our great high priesssstess mussst inspect the new sssssaaaacri, I mean, ssssslaaaaves. Don’t worry; I won’t give your pit away”
He walks over and begins cranking the chain pulley system, and ever so slowly, the lid of the cell begins to lift up.
((By the way, Daner, I see you are listed as level 1. You actually can be level 3 like the others. Hurray!))
Ellis had heard Tempest, shocked as he nodded. Would it be possible for him to kill that guard quickly as a bear? Then he could hear the guard muttering to himself before seeing him look down at them. He gulped as the guard said that their high priestess must inspect them and then was lifting up the lid of the cell. At least they'll all be lifted up, though what if Tempest gets out last? What if there are more guards up there? Ellis felt so anxious right now, hoping that Tempest's plan works.
Perception: 19
Ellis was on edge, and his senses were heightened. He could hear a familiar sound. A sound that was seared into his conscientious, and that was the slithering of a huge snake body... just like the one that carried him away in the night. Ellis was certain that he could hear slithering, which meant that there was probably more than one guard.
Ellis's eyes went wide as he heard that all too familiar sound like from that night, the slithering of a huge snake body. There is definitely more than one guard up there. "That isn't the only guard up there, it sounds like there are more.." he had quickly whispered back to Tempest, now scared.
(OCC: Will wait for others to post after this)
Perception: 9
"If there are then we'll see how it plays out. I won't do anything unless y'all are okay with it first. Just give me the nod when you want the bear." Tempest whispers back. His muscles tense as he listens closely to the approaching threat. His thoughts of what to do distract him and he finds himself peering into the stone wall.
Darion had wearily picked himself up initially, about to move forward as Tempest had requested to help lever him up. Distracted, he didn't particularly notice the guard until later than the others, registering Ellis suddenly stiffening in fear. Involuntarily he took a few fearful steps back as the Snake-man leered into the pit but then checked himself a little shamefully. Rather than focusing on what was going on up above, he took the opportunity to scan his cell-mates reaction. Did they seem on the level?
If you want a check, insight I presume? 17 (I know that, OOC of character, this seems a little pointless, but Darion does not trust readily and his mind would be more on sussing his companions out at that moment)
He hoped Tempest would not take on the Yuan-ti all on his own; perhaps they could try something when they were all up? He stiffened at Ellis' whisper that there was more than one. That would complicate things a little more. Reluctantly, he positions himself to go up (though will give way to Tempest if Tempest wishes to go first). His plan is to try and get to that magic-suppressing plinth and get his magic up and running. It has been a number of years since he did not have magic to fall back on, and it being taken away has left Darion feeling more vulnerable than he would care to admit. He decides it would be to risky to communicate this to his companions, but tries to give an encouraging smile and nod to the other three.
He also desperately tries to think if Yuan-ti still have enough humanity in them for the one spell he might be able to cast to work.
Would this be Arcana knowledge? OOC, I am aiming to find out if a Yuan-ti is considered 'humanoid' or not so whether a Charm Person may work.
If so, Arcana: 24
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
(I’ll let the individual players list their reactions.) At the least, Darion does not detect any artificial reactions, as if one had been bewitched by a Suggestion spell.
Darion recalls the information that he needs- that he learned from some book so long ago- that yes, Charm Person would work on a Yuan-ti, though some varieties of Yuan-ti boasted innate magic resistance to spells in general.
Darion realizes that he could certainly physically tamper with the tablet by moving beads this way and that, but at this point he had little information to surmise which bead represented what. If he had time to tinker with the device a bit he could probably glean all that he needed to.
Now, with the lid suspended, you see your caretaker start lowering the chain with the large hook on the end down into the pit. He looks down and gestures you to hold your manacled hands upwards so that the hook can grab onto the chain and lift you out by the wrists.
Said in a manner as if he were beckoning a pet, your guard says “whooooooooo’ssssss firssssst?”
The hook arrives at the bottom, waiting for someone to affix their chains to be hoisted out.
OOC: thanks. Corrected. Lvl 3 fighter - champion.
Full post following soon. Just woke up.
Perception: 23
Tempest will raise his hands and respond, “Ready” then turning back to the others whisper. “If we get a chance I’ll distract them while someone turns off that tablet.”
Tempest seems to genuinely care for the well being of the others within the pit and while he seems blood thirsty a slight tremble is noticeable in his frame from fear. He is afraid but is not going to die without a fight.
Darion nods in reply to Tempest "I'll try" he whispers back.
Darion looks with concern at Ellis, noting that he seems to have been worse effected by this experience than the rest of them and whispers to him "You're not holding us back or being a hindrance, I found your little song earlier really helped clear my mind, gave me some focus"
Darion will wait for Tempest to be hauled up, then (taking every scrap of courage he can muster) raise his hands to go up.
Do you like my Boots of Flying?
Daner, hearing the presence of extra guards (23 perception check), realises that it is probably not the best time to act, especially as it sounds like they will be returning to the pit soon. He whispers to the others, "Ellis said he did the spell? Can you do stuff like that? What if they have some way of checking?"
Daner is going to wait for Ellis to be hauled out and will come last.
(The characters will be hoisted out one by one, in the order that you specified. I’ll post assuming all are hoisted out before anyone takes an action, but if anyone wants to before all are out of the pit, just post as so and it will supersede everyone being lifted out)
Tempest first affixes his chain to the hook with a clink, and he is excruciatingly slowly lifted out of the pit. The others follow in the same fashion.
(Carrying over the perception check) On the surface, the air is not much less stagnant and humid, but you are thankful to be out of the water. (Though Tempest may not mind!) You see your barrel-chested guard, and you also see two more Yuan-ti in the room with you. Both with the lower half of a snake. One has humanoid arms and a snake’s head, and he holds a scimitar. The other, a strange sight, has two snakes for arms that rise and hiss at you when you emerge. He has a bald human head with slitted eyes and a flickering tongue
You also see one more Yuan-ti who is looking on from the next room, his arm holding something out of sight, at the ready. Daner figures that he likely has his hand on the lever of the portcullis, ready to drop it at the sign of trouble.
As Daner makes it to the surface he goes over to assist Ellis. He scopes him up to carry him, saying loudly as he does so, "He's injured. Look at his foot, it's all black and blue. There's no way he can walk on it at the moment." As he talks he tries to show concern and deference in his voice. Daner carries Ellis toward the front of the group, hoping to jostle and distract, allowing the others to get a better look at the device.
OOC: Carrying him shouldn't be an issue with a strength of 16, but just in case you need it,
Strength: 9
Persuassion: 20
Deception: 15
Ellis had heard Tempest, nodding. Ellis's reactions would have been fear and terror of being trapped here and going to be a slave for the Yuan-ti. He would have also been concerned about everyone else and their well-being, wishing them freedom from this. He felt hopelessness as he looked down at his broken ankle, like he had no chance of changing his fate. Ellis saw as the chain with the hook came down and the guard called for who would be going up first. He would watch Tempest go up first when he then heard Darion, surprised. "R-Really? Thank you." he whispered with a little smile before Darion got hauled up next. But soon he heard Daner, thinking. "I can cast spells, but through song or an instrument." he quickly whispered back, looking down at his pocket where his lyre was still hidden inside. Daner wanted to go last, so Ellis would limp to the hook and raise his hands to go up next. Ellis was trying not to look down as he was being lifted up in the air, his ankle in pain when he had been lowered onto the ground once he got to the top. He was right, seeing two other Yuan-ti here along with their guard and everyone else. He shivers, keeping his gaze down when the snakes hissed at them but also noticing another Yuan-ti looking from the next room, holding something at the ready. There is no way they could possibly go against four Yuan-ti right now even with Tempest as a bear. But he was very surprised when Daner came over and picked him up easily, talking about how injured he is and that he can't walk on it at the moment. "Thank you so much" Ellis quietly whispered to Daner with a smile, thankful for such caring people being with him. He would nod in agreement to Daner, showing off his broken ankle and looking like he was in pain, which isn't a lie since he actually is in pain after all.
Seeing they are heavily outnumbered, Darion gives a minute shake of his head at Tempest. Using the potential distraction of Daner and Ellis, Darion tries to get in a position to see the device better, while being as surreptitious as possible. He is trying to work out what bead corresponds with what, and starts off by assuming that the bead on it's own is the abjuration one.
Darion will try and be as subtle as possible with looking at the device, I guess either stealth of sleight of hand? 5
Arcana check if needed: 11
EDIT: I'll burn a luck point on the Stealth / SoH roll 14
Do you like my Boots of Flying?