"And how do you enter? Is there a signal? Do they expect you? The truth now, or Zashier will squeeze you until you pop, and you'll never see your beloved dragon again."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Yokini mentions off-hand as they walk, "I don't understand why if this dragon is so important to you, you didn't overwhelm the human and free it. It doesn't sound like you care that much about its safety." Once at the trapdoor, the gnome puts an ear to it to listen.
Zashier resists being drawn aside by Lem, having become invested by then in his conversation with the Kobold. "Now you just putting words in my mouth, which I don't rightly approve of, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. That said, only aching there is from me is the same one any decent folk feels when someone done good by them. The one that tells ya to return the favor, if not spread the good around so that everyone can experience the nice feelings." He states firmly, narrowing his eyes at the kobold.
"Secondly, while I cannot claim to be of a particularly cerberol sort, as you have rightly ascertained, it don't mean I don't understand what that look like. And you are, in fact, being bullys. The worst kind, in fact, because you're justifying harming others the way you do is good. That "buying" friendship and loyalty through cruelty will gain you something in the end. When in reality, all your doing is digging yourself into a hole that you won't be able to climb out of before the end of your days." He states firmly. "And while you may be small, you kobolds ain't weak by a long shot. Your strength might not be like everyone's else strength, but that's just the envy talking, I do dare say. You don't need to be like everyone else to be strong, and you can have a powerful ally, if that truly is the end goal here, and not have to hurt people like you do to keep'em. And keep the light strong within you."
"Real, lasting loyalty is earned when there's mutual respect given and taken freely... When it becomes truly big and strong... The fact that it hasn't stopped you folk from doing harm is proof enough, I do believe, that it'll treat you the some as you've done your victims. The only difference is, it won't need no cage or shackles to do it. Not with a people that lacks the self-confidence and self-awareness of their own strength... I just... I just wish I could help you see it..." Zashier trails off there, shaking his head. He grows quiet for the rest of the journey on that final note, feeling close to as he did back when the swolbold and sorcebold had their final farewells. While his ears might perk up now and then from overheard conversations, the elephantine man is out of it until the group reaches the trapdoor and talk turns to approaches.
Most of which go in one ear and out the other, though he did furrows his brows at Thistle and says, "I wouldn't do something like that, Ms. Thistle. Why would you lie to him like that?"
Thistle rolls her eyes. "Zashier..." She looks at the kobold, then draws one of her scimitars. "Fine, I'll do the deed myself if it needs done, kobold. How do we enter safely?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
We will say Zashier's conversation happens before you get to the gate, but for sure Thistles eyes have been rolling.
The kobold seems to ponder Zashier's words (Persuasion, with advantage: 18) and he says to Zashier "Your words have the ring of truth, of a man, or elephant, who has understanding - though perhaps beyond your cerebral means, as you say - It will take time, but I have spent my whole life in worship to dragons...I will not change overnight, but you can be sure I will give your words...due consideration."
To Thistle, once you are at the trapdoor, the kobold responds "Armos does not like to be surprised. If we ever wanted to come visit the dragon, or bring a shipment to the hoarde, we would haul it here, knock, and wait. He has it locked from the other side, usually. How you enter is up to you."
Yokini, you hear the conversation behind you and are a bit distracted; you cant make out anything from the other side of the trapdoor.
Thistle growls are the kobold and goes to the trapdoor. To Yokini she says, “Apparently it is locked from the other side, can we see if we can get it undone from this side?” She would like to Help Yokini with an Investigation roll, since she is not great at that sort of detail work.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Yokini you have advantage on your next investigation roll, or Lem you can have advantage if you want to do it with Stone cunning. That will at least let you know how its locked, then we can see if Thistle is able to disengage the lock...stealthily...
Zashier's shoulders sag from tension he had not fully realized been there the whole time. "No changes overnight, my friend, unless you count the time I became this--" He gestures to himself. "But that's an exception, and not a rule."He smiled at that. "But thank you from hearing me out. And if it ever gets hard for you, or you have more questions, you just let me know."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Lem tries to figure out if he sees any traps or odd forms of construction with regard to the door. (Here's a generic d20 roll, feel free to add whichever modifier: 18)
He's ready to help unlock the door quietly with his mage hand.
Thistle, Yokini, and Lem gather around the trapdoor. The stairs leading up to the door are cut out of stone, as is the door in front of them. Its obviously built very well into the wall, and likely cannot be discerned from the other side of the wall.
Yokini and Lem both investigate the door, and they are able to tell where some of the mortar has worn away from the door opening and closing. They can also discern a faint semi-circle on the ground, almost like half of a turntable.
As the group continues to inspect the door, they figure out how it works. There is a lever that can be dismantled with Thistle’s thieves tools, but once she does that, the door will spin in half a circle, creating two openings (one on either side of the rotating door), with the door in the middle, parallel to the tunnel walls.
The problem is that in order to open it from this side, she has to unhook it from the front trigger, which she can’t see but knows it locks in place to keep the door open until the user wants it closed. (She will actually be working in the ground, at the edge of the turntable, not in the wall - the mechanism runs beneath the turntable.)
What that means is Thistle, with her thieves tools, can dismantle the locking mechanism, but the door will open immediately, and then hit its stopping point, then rotate back and close…unless she holds the mechanism to keep the door open while the party enters.
She realizes that means she will be the last one in the tunnel, holding the door open, and will have to quickly jump and tumble (make a DC-12 dex or acrobatics check) to try and get into the room before the door closes on her.
Also, with the three of you gathered there, you do start to hear muffled sounds...seems to be repeated in a steady cadence. Chanting maybe? you cant tell for sure.
Thistle is willing to take the risk, when the group is ready to proceed. Climbing down to the rest of the group, she says, “That sound could be chanting, which means the room is occupied. But it could also mean they are doing something with the captives. I think we should go in now, with Zashier and Radish leading.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he). Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Since Lem's mage hand can move into places he can't see, he'd like to help Thistle with the mechanism. "Would Radish's new immovable rod be of assistance in keeping the door where we want it, for as long as we want it? I assume we'll want this hallway open while we're in there dealing with... whatever's there. Thistle, your plan makes sense. Objective: rescue Yokini's family. Plan: open the door fast and flood in, surprising Kamroth and his friends, prioritizing anyone unfriendly in there over the frost dragon. Ordinarily I would say I'd try this strange wand out on them to add to the surprise, but I'm still not sure of all its properties, and I'll only use it if the targets are far away from the gnomes."
He pauses, looking at the door. "I could also, as soon as it opens, cast aminor illusion just on the other side of the door OF the door, closed. That way if they look over here, they just see a door. I can only make one five feet tall -- does anyone think this door's over five feet tall?"
Zashier just nodded along until the last statement from Thistle warranted a double blink from the guy. After a moment of wide-eyed staring followed by a shared glance to Onzeepzeg, he calms and chuckles softly. "I do believe I need to get my ears check, though not at this exacting moment, as we're still on a mission. Because for a second there I heard 'me' instead of 'this' there."He grinned sheepishly.
"As for the door.... I dunno. It's a bit cramped here, I will admit, but we'd be just better off leaving that there rod in place. Because we're gonna be so thorough, that noone but us will be using this door for the return trip, I do dare say."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
I am loving these ideas. Thistle, yes the rod would definitely work in this scenario. Your tools to open it, and then you or someone else to push the button and hold the door from closing.
Thistle, with Lem's help you can have advantage on your thieves tools roll
Lem, the door is exactly 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide, which means good for your plan, but poor Zashier will have to duck.
Zashier, the benefit of the rod here is so Thistle doesnt accidentally get shut in and left out of whatever happens next while she tries to open it and hop/skip/jump/roll her way in.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
“Okay, let me have the rod,” Thistle holds out her hand to Raddunth.
Then, rod in hand, she goes to the door and pulls out her tools. With Lem watching over her and assisting, and if everyone else is ready, especially Zashier and Raddunth who are going in first, she sets about trying to unlock the door.
Raddunth stares at Thustle’s hand, uncomprehendingly. Then he pulls out the rod and hands it to her.
(OOC: Yeah, I forgot about the magic item.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM) Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy) DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
"And how do you enter? Is there a signal? Do they expect you? The truth now, or Zashier will squeeze you until you pop, and you'll never see your beloved dragon again."
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Yokini mentions off-hand as they walk, "I don't understand why if this dragon is so important to you, you didn't overwhelm the human and free it. It doesn't sound like you care that much about its safety." Once at the trapdoor, the gnome puts an ear to it to listen.
Investigation: 18
Zashier resists being drawn aside by Lem, having become invested by then in his conversation with the Kobold. "Now you just putting words in my mouth, which I don't rightly approve of, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. That said, only aching there is from me is the same one any decent folk feels when someone done good by them. The one that tells ya to return the favor, if not spread the good around so that everyone can experience the nice feelings." He states firmly, narrowing his eyes at the kobold.
"Secondly, while I cannot claim to be of a particularly cerberol sort, as you have rightly ascertained, it don't mean I don't understand what that look like. And you are, in fact, being bullys. The worst kind, in fact, because you're justifying harming others the way you do is good. That "buying" friendship and loyalty through cruelty will gain you something in the end. When in reality, all your doing is digging yourself into a hole that you won't be able to climb out of before the end of your days." He states firmly. "And while you may be small, you kobolds ain't weak by a long shot. Your strength might not be like everyone's else strength, but that's just the envy talking, I do dare say. You don't need to be like everyone else to be strong, and you can have a powerful ally, if that truly is the end goal here, and not have to hurt people like you do to keep'em. And keep the light strong within you."
"Real, lasting loyalty is earned when there's mutual respect given and taken freely... When it becomes truly big and strong... The fact that it hasn't stopped you folk from doing harm is proof enough, I do believe, that it'll treat you the some as you've done your victims. The only difference is, it won't need no cage or shackles to do it. Not with a people that lacks the self-confidence and self-awareness of their own strength... I just... I just wish I could help you see it..." Zashier trails off there, shaking his head. He grows quiet for the rest of the journey on that final note, feeling close to as he did back when the swolbold and sorcebold had their final farewells. While his ears might perk up now and then from overheard conversations, the elephantine man is out of it until the group reaches the trapdoor and talk turns to approaches.
Most of which go in one ear and out the other, though he did furrows his brows at Thistle and says, "I wouldn't do something like that, Ms. Thistle. Why would you lie to him like that?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Thistle rolls her eyes. "Zashier..." She looks at the kobold, then draws one of her scimitars. "Fine, I'll do the deed myself if it needs done, kobold. How do we enter safely?"
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
We will say Zashier's conversation happens before you get to the gate, but for sure Thistles eyes have been rolling.
The kobold seems to ponder Zashier's words (Persuasion, with advantage: 18) and he says to Zashier "Your words have the ring of truth, of a man, or elephant, who has understanding - though perhaps beyond your cerebral means, as you say - It will take time, but I have spent my whole life in worship to dragons...I will not change overnight, but you can be sure I will give your words...due consideration."
To Thistle, once you are at the trapdoor, the kobold responds "Armos does not like to be surprised. If we ever wanted to come visit the dragon, or bring a shipment to the hoarde, we would haul it here, knock, and wait. He has it locked from the other side, usually. How you enter is up to you."
Yokini, you hear the conversation behind you and are a bit distracted; you cant make out anything from the other side of the trapdoor.
Thistle growls are the kobold and goes to the trapdoor. To Yokini she says, “Apparently it is locked from the other side, can we see if we can get it undone from this side?” She would like to Help Yokini with an Investigation roll, since she is not great at that sort of detail work.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Yokini you have advantage on your next investigation roll, or Lem you can have advantage if you want to do it with Stone cunning. That will at least let you know how its locked, then we can see if Thistle is able to disengage the lock...stealthily...
Advantage roll for investigation: 6
Zashier's shoulders sag from tension he had not fully realized been there the whole time. "No changes overnight, my friend, unless you count the time I became this--" He gestures to himself. "But that's an exception, and not a rule." He smiled at that. "But thank you from hearing me out. And if it ever gets hard for you, or you have more questions, you just let me know."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Lem tries to figure out if he sees any traps or odd forms of construction with regard to the door. (Here's a generic d20 roll, feel free to add whichever modifier: 18)
He's ready to help unlock the door quietly with his mage hand.
Thistle, Yokini, and Lem gather around the trapdoor. The stairs leading up to the door are cut out of stone, as is the door in front of them. Its obviously built very well into the wall, and likely cannot be discerned from the other side of the wall.
Yokini and Lem both investigate the door, and they are able to tell where some of the mortar has worn away from the door opening and closing. They can also discern a faint semi-circle on the ground, almost like half of a turntable.
As the group continues to inspect the door, they figure out how it works. There is a lever that can be dismantled with Thistle’s thieves tools, but once she does that, the door will spin in half a circle, creating two openings (one on either side of the rotating door), with the door in the middle, parallel to the tunnel walls.
The problem is that in order to open it from this side, she has to unhook it from the front trigger, which she can’t see but knows it locks in place to keep the door open until the user wants it closed. (She will actually be working in the ground, at the edge of the turntable, not in the wall - the mechanism runs beneath the turntable.)
What that means is Thistle, with her thieves tools, can dismantle the locking mechanism, but the door will open immediately, and then hit its stopping point, then rotate back and close…unless she holds the mechanism to keep the door open while the party enters.
She realizes that means she will be the last one in the tunnel, holding the door open, and will have to quickly jump and tumble (make a DC-12 dex or acrobatics check) to try and get into the room before the door closes on her.
Also, with the three of you gathered there, you do start to hear muffled sounds...seems to be repeated in a steady cadence. Chanting maybe? you cant tell for sure.
Thistle is willing to take the risk, when the group is ready to proceed. Climbing down to the rest of the group, she says, “That sound could be chanting, which means the room is occupied. But it could also mean they are doing something with the captives. I think we should go in now, with Zashier and Radish leading.”
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
"After the door is open, while Zashier and I hold it in place, could you use your tools to disable the closing mech-thing?"
(Or at the least, have Raddunth do the door-holding / jump-and-tumble for the others.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)
Since Lem's mage hand can move into places he can't see, he'd like to help Thistle with the mechanism. "Would Radish's new immovable rod be of assistance in keeping the door where we want it, for as long as we want it? I assume we'll want this hallway open while we're in there dealing with... whatever's there. Thistle, your plan makes sense. Objective: rescue Yokini's family. Plan: open the door fast and flood in, surprising Kamroth and his friends, prioritizing anyone unfriendly in there over the frost dragon. Ordinarily I would say I'd try this strange wand out on them to add to the surprise, but I'm still not sure of all its properties, and I'll only use it if the targets are far away from the gnomes."
He pauses, looking at the door. "I could also, as soon as it opens, cast a minor illusion just on the other side of the door OF the door, closed. That way if they look over here, they just see a door. I can only make one five feet tall -- does anyone think this door's over five feet tall?"
"That rod is perfect for this!" Thistle exclaims. (OOC > Is it perfect for this, DM?)
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
Zashier just nodded along until the last statement from Thistle warranted a double blink from the guy. After a moment of wide-eyed staring followed by a shared glance to Onzeepzeg, he calms and chuckles softly. "I do believe I need to get my ears check, though not at this exacting moment, as we're still on a mission. Because for a second there I heard 'me' instead of 'this' there." He grinned sheepishly.
"As for the door.... I dunno. It's a bit cramped here, I will admit, but we'd be just better off leaving that there rod in place. Because we're gonna be so thorough, that noone but us will be using this door for the return trip, I do dare say."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
I am loving these ideas. Thistle, yes the rod would definitely work in this scenario. Your tools to open it, and then you or someone else to push the button and hold the door from closing.
Thistle, with Lem's help you can have advantage on your thieves tools roll
Lem, the door is exactly 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide, which means good for your plan, but poor Zashier will have to duck.
Zashier, the benefit of the rod here is so Thistle doesnt accidentally get shut in and left out of whatever happens next while she tries to open it and hop/skip/jump/roll her way in.
“Okay, let me have the rod,” Thistle holds out her hand to Raddunth.
Then, rod in hand, she goes to the door and pulls out her tools. With Lem watching over her and assisting, and if everyone else is ready, especially Zashier and Raddunth who are going in first, she sets about trying to unlock the door.
Thieves’ Tools and Advantage: 19
edit: Ooof.
ey/em/eirs, or they/them works, too (just not he).
Role-playing since that keep on those borderlands. I love it so.
DC10, not a complex lock. You are good to go. Door is swinging open (swiveling turntable)
Raddunth stares at Thustle’s hand, uncomprehendingly. Then he pulls out the rod and hands it to her.
(OOC: Yeah, I forgot about the magic item.)
Beegred Thornpost - Lvl 8 Halfling Ranger - Out of the Abyss by Kerrec
Drusk - Lvl 8 Half-Orc Life Cleric - The Long Road: Dragon Heist by Mingofaust (player & current DM)
Hunferho Aelorothi - Lvl 5 Half-Elf Bard/Rogue - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus (by Pokepaladdy)
DM - Frontier City of Nunkreet (ended)