Ruby scouts ahead, giving herself a slightly better view of the openings in the rock. Bones and refuse litter the area just outside each opening; so, it seems reasonable to think that these are rudimentary dwellings for the troglodytes. Eerily, the only sound in the place is the constant drip and flow of the water.
Ruby continues her cautious advance and finds more of the same: seemingly unoccupied tunnels with an abundance of bones, refuse, and excrement nearby. The foul odor is now as persistent and clingy as the slimy moisture that lines the walls and floors of this place.
Pressing farther into the troglodyte cavern, the party sees no threats other than the stench and slippery floors. The stream of water that you've been following now seems putrid and, at last, it concludes into an enormous underground lake.
Suddenly a voice breaks the eerie silence of the place. "Greetings again, Riv. You've brought friends with you I see."
"Miznak," responds Riv. "Show yourself."
"Purely precautionary, Riv," answers Miznak. "I must first ascertain your party's intent before I risk standing before you alone."
"Where are the others, Miznak? Darikan, Av, K'zaga, and Imbaranak are missing. I suspect they are here with you," calls Riv.
"I do not know," responds Miznak.
The party stands in an alcove of rock near the edge of the strange lake. The acoustics within this place make it difficult to pinpoint where Miznak might be standing, but you're certain he's no closer than forty or fifty feet.
Copper looks around the dark lake in front of them, trying to pinpoint where Miznak might be but the water distorts the echoes and it’s making it difficult.
He decides instead to just be forthright.
”You know why we’re here. Both our clans have had members murdered. And now we have encountered troglodytes who captured Riv. You, Miznak, do not appear to be a captive so the reasonable assumption is that you have some relationship with the troglodytes. Why don’t you tell us what’s going on and then we will be able to tell you what our intent is.”
Copper's voice echoes around the large, open chamber. Expecting to hear some sort of audible response from Miznak--wherever he might be--each one of you is unnerved to receive a telepathic response instead: Fear not this arrogant duergar, brave heart of Immercleave. He boasts to hide his weakness."
"Whoa!" Exclaims Ruby, a bit too loudly. "Did you guys just have a voice in your head or was that just me? Please tell me it wasn't just me, I don't think I could handle that. I think I would have to leave you all right here and head to the nuthouse. Oh man, just think what my parents would say!" and in a voice she makes sound higher and more pinched "oh that Ruby, we just knew something wasn't right about her. Knew it from the start"
Copper almost opens his mouth to ask the same question Ruby did, but her outburst answers the question and he doesn't want to give away more than already has been.
He wonders for a moment if he can respond the same way the message came through. Instead of speaking, he tries thinking.
"Hello. Who is this I'm communicating with?" Copper thinks. "Are you invisible too?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Copper:
The telepathic response is brief. An ally in this struggle...
If the mysterious voice were about to say anything else it is interrupted by Miznak
Miznak acquiesces and makes himself visible; he stands directly east of the party on the other side of the murky lake. "Yes, the trogs were necessary for a while. This is unfortunate, Riv. I've always appreciated you, but..."
As his voice falls quiet, four more duergars materialize nearby. All of them have shed their invisibility as they carry out their ambush. The deep twang of crossbows can be heard as two duergars (3 and 4) take aim at Riv...
Attack: 20 Damage: 8
Attack: 11 Damage: 4
To the north, a duergar (2) hurls a javelin at Ruby...
Attack: 23 Damage: 7
Initiative
Duergars 7, 14, 6,10
Party members 7, 9, 21,7
Riv is struck twice, and he roars in pain. Curses in Undercommon pour from his mouth as he readies himself for the fight.
All players may act in any order. Douth is invisible. The duergar (1) to the north appears to be a spellcaster of some sort. Riv is the dark grey diamond.
"Take out the spellcaster," Copper yells, as he turns and charges to engage the attackers to the southeast (3 and 4). He plants himself in front of both of them and swings hard at the one to his right (#4).
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(Sorry, Ruby would have heard Copper and since he went first...I deleted my first attempt)
"Damn them druegars! Riv, they have done you wrong and they are going to pay!!" She swiftly dodges the javelin that was hurled at her and then takes aim at the spellcaster with her shortbow.
Attack: 12 Damage: 8
She then attempts to hide along the cavern walls within the crevices, Stealth: 18
“Agreed” Ruby says to Douth. And then adds, “I’ll sneak down along the south here to that first alcove and see what these are all about.”
Stealth 14
Ruby scouts ahead, giving herself a slightly better view of the openings in the rock. Bones and refuse litter the area just outside each opening; so, it seems reasonable to think that these are rudimentary dwellings for the troglodytes. Eerily, the only sound in the place is the constant drip and flow of the water.
(Forgot to add investigation, not sure if that’ll make a difference but…)
investigation 14
Copper watches the chamber and more importantly listens to the absence of any sound of inhabitants.
”Either they know we’re here and this is an ambush or they’ve all moved off to some gathering deeper inside.”
He follows along behind Ruby and enters the closest alcove that she already inspected.
A closer inspection of the first alcove seems to reinforce the notion that nobody is home.
While the others follow, Ruby will continue her search to the next two along that wall.
Stealth: 23. Perception: 10
Ruby continues her cautious advance and finds more of the same: seemingly unoccupied tunnels with an abundance of bones, refuse, and excrement nearby. The foul odor is now as persistent and clingy as the slimy moisture that lines the walls and floors of this place.
“Douth! Wait, like Copper said this might be a trap!” But its too late as Douth is already past her. Ruby follows behind and is ready for an attack.
Pressing farther into the troglodyte cavern, the party sees no threats other than the stench and slippery floors. The stream of water that you've been following now seems putrid and, at last, it concludes into an enormous underground lake.
Suddenly a voice breaks the eerie silence of the place. "Greetings again, Riv. You've brought friends with you I see."
"Miznak," responds Riv. "Show yourself."
"Purely precautionary, Riv," answers Miznak. "I must first ascertain your party's intent before I risk standing before you alone."
"Where are the others, Miznak? Darikan, Av, K'zaga, and Imbaranak are missing. I suspect they are here with you," calls Riv.
"I do not know," responds Miznak.
The party stands in an alcove of rock near the edge of the strange lake. The acoustics within this place make it difficult to pinpoint where Miznak might be standing, but you're certain he's no closer than forty or fifty feet.
Map (w/ party's location denoted in yellow):
Copper looks around the dark lake in front of them, trying to pinpoint where Miznak might be but the water distorts the echoes and it’s making it difficult.
He decides instead to just be forthright.
”You know why we’re here. Both our clans have had members murdered. And now we have encountered troglodytes who captured Riv. You, Miznak, do not appear to be a captive so the reasonable assumption is that you have some relationship with the troglodytes. Why don’t you tell us what’s going on and then we will be able to tell you what our intent is.”
Copper's voice echoes around the large, open chamber. Expecting to hear some sort of audible response from Miznak--wherever he might be--each one of you is unnerved to receive a telepathic response instead: Fear not this arrogant duergar, brave heart of Immercleave. He boasts to hide his weakness."
"Whoa!" Exclaims Ruby, a bit too loudly. "Did you guys just have a voice in your head or was that just me? Please tell me it wasn't just me, I don't think I could handle that. I think I would have to leave you all right here and head to the nuthouse. Oh man, just think what my parents would say!" and in a voice she makes sound higher and more pinched "oh that Ruby, we just knew something wasn't right about her. Knew it from the start"
Copper almost opens his mouth to ask the same question Ruby did, but her outburst answers the question and he doesn't want to give away more than already has been.
He wonders for a moment if he can respond the same way the message came through. Instead of speaking, he tries thinking.
"Hello. Who is this I'm communicating with?" Copper thinks. "Are you invisible too?"
Copper:
The telepathic response is brief. An ally in this struggle...
If the mysterious voice were about to say anything else it is interrupted by Miznak
Miznak acquiesces and makes himself visible; he stands directly east of the party on the other side of the murky lake. "Yes, the trogs were necessary for a while. This is unfortunate, Riv. I've always appreciated you, but..."
As his voice falls quiet, four more duergars materialize nearby. All of them have shed their invisibility as they carry out their ambush. The deep twang of crossbows can be heard as two duergars (3 and 4) take aim at Riv...
To the north, a duergar (2) hurls a javelin at Ruby...
Attack: 23 Damage: 7
Initiative
Riv is struck twice, and he roars in pain. Curses in Undercommon pour from his mouth as he readies himself for the fight.
All players may act in any order. Douth is invisible. The duergar (1) to the north appears to be a spellcaster of some sort. Riv is the dark grey diamond.
"Take out the spellcaster," Copper yells, as he turns and charges to engage the attackers to the southeast (3 and 4). He plants himself in front of both of them and swings hard at the one to his right (#4).
Move - 20' to the square in front of 3 and 4
Action - Battle Axe - Attack: 21 Damage: 11
(Sorry, Ruby would have heard Copper and since he went first...I deleted my first attempt)
"Damn them druegars! Riv, they have done you wrong and they are going to pay!!" She swiftly dodges the javelin that was hurled at her and then takes aim at the spellcaster with her shortbow.
Attack: 12 Damage: 8
She then attempts to hide along the cavern walls within the crevices, Stealth: 18
Copper follows through with his axe, swing it hard at the gray dwarf to his left (#3)
Second Attack: Attack: 18 Damage: 7