The Rise of Tiamat

Duncan:

Feeling a burning desire to slaughter the whole tribe of orcs single-handedly so they can never kidnap and enslave women again, Duncan realizes that such a feat, while glorious, would be suicidal.  He moves to join the others and asks, “Do we need to all be touching, or just close to each other in a particular area?”

If everyone agrees then Torman nods and, in response to Duncan, suggests that they maintain contact with each other and the slaves.

"It is a magic with which I am unfamiliar, so it is best to be ... cautious," he says. "Gather round and stand close."

(( Assuming all are in agreement, he unfurls the scroll ))

While Torman works out the complicated magic, which goes way over Gryrig's head, he realises that he now has an audience - albeit of only two ladies, and starts strumming his latest composition.

"In the dark of night, we set out on our quest,
To rescue the ladies from the orcs' evil nest.
We travelled through the dark and danger,
Battling monsters who grew ever stranger.

We fought the orcs, we won the day,
We rescued the ladies from far away.
Released from the foul orcs' lair,
To return to the city fair!"

If any of the ladies are awake, he gives them a cheeky smiles and a wink.

Performance: 27

Waiting on everyone to agree.

Azzure says “Hold just a moment.  Shouldn’t we check any other cells for survivors?  Let’s make sure we have everyone that we can.”  He moves from cell to cell, making sure no sign of movement.  

Torman pauses reluctantly. He trusts the words of the fallen women, but would not forgive himself if they left anyone behind. He sends Trevor with Azzure, but even that makes his mood even more sombre: He and Trevor might be parting ways soon. He sighs, looking around the room again.

So much change and so much carnage. Who else but a barbarian would killl all their slaves? Evil, done casually. No regard for life or suffering.

"The sooner we leave, the better."

I see no activity in R20. I'll give you control of the two female tokens since they need to be carried. Do you just leave the weak, and maybe dying humans there in the mud? They look very malnourished, perhaps dehydrated. 

(Duncan is unwilling to leave anyone behind, but his player does not have access to Roll20 to move him accordingly just now.)

(can't get the Roll20 map on my phone. How many are there in total. Can we teleport everyone on the one scroll?)

((Is it two women each with a child?))

(Moved on Roll 20, going to other doors to check them, to the east and to the south.)

”I know, I know.  But I can’t knowingly leave anyone here that we could potentially rescue.  Hrrmff.”  He looks at the other doors and tests the locks.  “Is anyone here?”  he calls, listening for sounds of others that need to be saved.  

As Azzure explores, Torman explains the little he knows of the magic. "The scroll will activate as soon as I open it. It's only my fast reflexes that meant that it did not activate before." He looks a little smug, then spends a few moments considers the way he and his companions are arranged and staring at the unconscious slaves.

"We will need to gather close and hold the women and babies. A normal spell can only transport a few, and all must be within ten feet of the caster, but this..." he shakes his head, "...this is not a normal scroll. So it may be able to bring us all, but if we find more, it is unclear if we could save them."

He looks anxiously in at Duncan and Azzure, "I suspect that whoever gave us the scroll will be able to help us get back by similar means, to rescue any others." His words are reassuring but, to the insightful among his friends, they do not carry with them the certainty that might be hoped for.

(On the Roll20 map, it looks like there is another locked door to the south. If we're still looking for more survivors, Gryrig will try to open that using his thieves tools. If there are no survivors, or it looks like this is the entrance/exit to the prison, he will not explore further this way - he would rather teleport out at this point.)

Pick lock: Trying to pick the lock:  14  (As before, Dex + proficiency (for the tools) + Psi Bolstered Knack)

(Did Gryrig manage to pick the lock? In any case, if there's nothing there, Gryrig would be in favour of using the scroll to teleport them and the recued civilians out of here)

When you look in the chamber to the northeast you find numerus bones, skeletons once undead now destroyed.

The cage door, slides downwards with Gryrig's efforts, plus the sound of sliding bars screech further away from the door. 

(Will get to R20 later)

If the party seems to be exploring further, Kat will slip into the dark shadows and try to get visual into whatever room is beyond. 

I see someone already passed thru, as Kat reaches the room 4 rather beefy looking skeletal warriors dressed in half plate step into view. No light is seen but one does have a lantern that glows from its door hinges. They cant see you but roll stealth Kat to see if they hear you.

Quote from Stormbringer4729 >>

The passage continues in a gentle grade downwards for a half a-mile then ends in a huge chamber. Large ogre sized skeletons patrol the cave. You come in at C12 There is a crevasse that starts at H6 Mummified Knights line the walls standing at attention. 

( We don't think "4 rather beefy looking skeletal warriors dressed in half plate" might be the same as the four "Ogre-sized skeletons we met earlier"? )

(I'm starting to wonder if this is the other end of that passage [see quote above] which we never bothered to explore)

(Kat knows they're human sized.)

Quote from Stormbringer4729 >>

(Kat knows they're human sized.)

 (Ok. Nevermind my crazy rambling then)