Tests and Trials

[The Lost]

Slight of hand for staff: 1D20+4 = [13]+4 = 17


”Er ya, middle un.” Joe will hold action eldrich blast forany drow willing to show thier face.

[Rodgeir]

((@Lost, you successfully manage to hold on to the staff but can't you summon the staff and ready an action the same turn. Sorry I wasn't clear that things are still in combat and I was just taking everyone's actions at once.

I am just waiting to see if Lurn passes the dex save and follows down the middle tunnel. I'll post the turn order and you can roll an initiative for Joe, though everyone got their action before the pursuit gets theirs.))

Initiative:
Lurn 13 HP remaining (Dex save)
Mikram Down 2 HP
Kroshav 20 HP remaining
Pursuit <----
Joe ???

[NotStickFigures]

► Show Spoiler

"No, I don't travel with a Duergar, but Joe was all bloody, dirty, and hurt and has a magic item that causes her to grow a big old beard, they might think she looks like a deep dwarf.
I implore to you let them in. and we will quickly heal up and then we will end this dark elf threat for good. We can be a formidable foursome, and this information from you, we will end these drow. They stole a family heirloom from me, and I vow to get it back and that isn't going to happen with them, unless they are gone."

[The Lost]

init: 1D20+4 = [18]+4 = 22


Anyways as her action she'll hold an eldrich blast as Kroshav carries her away.

[spiderwrangler]

Kroshav will tuck her under his arm so she's got cover from his body, but can see to blast if needed, while sprinting for the middle tunnel with Lurn.

[Rodgeir]

Jaq

► Show Spoiler

She gets another distant look,
"No. There is clearly a legless duergar with them."

She listens impassively to Jaq's entreaty then asks,

"You intend to kill all the drow from these drows' city? Those here are merely what they left behind, or have sent since defeating a contingent of duergar, Jaq. I get involved in this and I fear all of this-" she looks expansively to all the books, "will be lost in the ensuing conflict. I simply cannot afford that. I am sorry."

((Persuasion roll and maybe a counter argument? Roll with advantage and based on the argument I'll decide if it's deserved!))

Initiative
Initiative:
Joe 1 HP remaining
Lurn 13 HP remaining (Dex save please)
Mikram Down 2 HP
Kroshav 20 HP remaining
Pursuit <----

[Dlover]

Dex save: 1D20+1 = [13]+1 = 14

If he's not collapsing, Lurn will be following after Kroshav.

[Rodgeir]

Lurn scampers nimbly behind Kroshav into the middle tunnel, out of the mud he manages to make it another 20ft up the tunnel and the upward tilt becomes more apparent. The tunnel is much rougher than anything else they have encountered in the archives, the walls are unfinished and rough but the floor is more smoothly worked. The ceiling is also much lower, for the most part only 10ft but occasionally a bit more. It is, at least, still 10' wide.

Behind Lurn the mud room falls into shadows and the stairs into darkness but Lurn can still hear the pursuit and understands,

"What do we do? If they get away she'll flay us."

And a response,

"If we go in there the snake will tear us apart."

Mikram says to Lurn,

"Aye see the legs of four drow standing up the stairs an'-"

This is suddenly punctuated by the whizzing of arrows that clatter around Lurn's legs and then burning pain in his left leg.

"Aye, there is the drider. Ye okay? He pressed himself down low in an odd way for a spider. Aye guess he could see yer legs."

Without her darkvision Joe can't make out any targets in the darkness behind Lurn's light.

The tunnel continues on well past the light from Lurn's shield. Lurn can very faintly hear an odd, stone on stone clanking coming from somewhere in that darkness.

► Show Spoiler

Drider at disadvantage against Lurn with 3/4 cover: 1D20.LOW(1)+6 = [17]+6 = 23
1D8+3 = [4]+3 = 7
1D8 = [3] = 3
1D20.LOW(1)+6 = [1]+6 = Miss
1D8+3 = [1]+3 = 4
1D8 = [3] = 3
1D20.LOW(1)+6 = [9]+6 = Miss
1D8+3 = [4]+3 = 7
1D8 = [8] = 8

(Health update:
Joe 1 HP remaining
Lurn 3 HP remaining
Mikram Down 2 HP
Kroshav 20 HP remaining)

((Okay, you're out of combat so long as you don't decide to head back.))

[spiderwrangler]

Kroshav will set Joe down and scoot up the corridor to make sure he's clear of any other shots from the drow.

"Good to see you Cap'n! We think they took Jaq back the other way, we were gonna go for him, but we were all hurt and running straight down a hallway is a good way to get full of arrows. There's something down here they don't like, I think they called her the Snake, you didn't hear or see anything like that did you? Hope we can get her on our side, but I think we need to rest up a bit first."

((Would we be able to find a place to plop down and take a short rest?))

In case the resident of this layer is sneaking up and listening, Kroshav will occasionally remark something along the lines of "Wow, I'm really not a fan of those drow upstairs." "They are really mean." "There's got to be a way we can get back at them..."

<Ealu, did you and Charlie make it out? Lurn and I found Cap'n Joe, and Lurn made friends with a dwarf too. We haven't found Jaq yet, but hopefully can get some help to find him.>

"Oh, Lurn, can you ask Mikram if there are other prisoners here? Folks we can free, maybe who can help us out?"

[Rodgeir]

((Moving another 10 or so feet forward would put you out of the sight of the drow on the stairs, even if they laid on their stomachs!))

From what you can see in the hall after you move is more hall. It doesn't widen and, from what you can see and what Mikram relays through Lurn, it doesn't have any side passages or turns. It does level out a short distance ahead though.

Mikram will relay, again through Lurn,

"Aye don't know. Maybe one or two of my squad are still alive. Aye haven't heard any screams in a while so maybe aye was the last one. They don't keep guests for long."

From Ealu Kroshav gets a long pause then,

<Uh, hi Kroshav! Good you found the big one and the little one and a whatever? You'll find Jaq for sure! Out, out...still working on it. You know that smells kinda move around? Yep, but for sure going to get out soon!>

As you sit there everyone starts to hear a rhythmic clicking of stone on stone. It is definitely getting louder, or maybe closer? Or maybe both?

((It has only been maybe 15 minutes since they started so they haven't been wandering around too much!

Let me know if anyone is going any where.))

[NotStickFigures]

► Show Spoiler

Persuasion, possibly with advantage: 2D20.HIGH(1)+1 = [13, 7]+1 = 14

"When the drow were torturing me, they already thought I was working for you. They kept asking why I was working for the snake. I told them I had no idea what they were talking about, but they did not believe me. I fear they already think you are working some plot against them by sending me and my friends against them. Drow are inherently untrusting and hateful. They only lie an backstab in their lives and because of that, believe that everyone else is just like them, its sad actually.

Well, I already owe you for saving my life by letting me down here, and I will do whatever I can to make sure that your library of books and knowledge stay safe. My friends are strong and capable, Kroshav is a paladin; Joe a sorcerer and an archeologist ; and Lurn a Cleric. They will certainly assist me with my mission of fighting back at ridding this place of the drow. Together and with a plan we can be formidable. Is there a specific entry to the underdark they used to get up into the library? We could use magics and brute force to work on sealing and collapsing whatever they used.
You say they have a duergar with them? Well, they seem to have made a bond with them already, so hopefully we can forge an alliance with them too, and their dwarven skill can even help more with the sealing off of the drow's entry path from below.
All of us working together can be a force that the drow will have no chance against! And even if it takes a while, well, that's ok with me. And would not some company other than just the golems down here be welcome? And I know we would also love to learn some of the knowledge in the many types of books and history you have preserved for so long."

(He at the end is playing up to what might be her loneliness from being down here alone for so long and maybe being lonely, and he also hopes she is yearning for others to read and learn from her lost library of knowledge.)

[spiderwrangler]

((Move up to where it's level, and rest?))

<Okay, be careful!>

"How long have you been down here, Mikram?"

"Hey, listen... is that coming from up ahead?"

Kroshav will move towards the sound so he's in the front of the party, shield out, but Sword sheathed.

<Sword, you able to see... or... tell what's coming?>

[Dlover]

Lurn suppresses a grunt as the arrow hits his leg, and he limps further into safety. Grunting, he works on tearing a strip from the armour he's snagged, then grits his teeth and snaps the head of the arrow before pulling the shaft free, using the torn strip to bandage himself.
"Whatever's coming, it's been coming for a little bit now. Stone on stone, so not alive. Let's hope it's not hostile."

((So, each of those arrow shots was "1d20.Low(1)," so one die was rolled and the lowest of that one roll was taken. I'm guessing that was meant to be 2d20, considering 3/4 cover?))

[spiderwrangler]

"Oh, maybe one of the library golems!"

((The 3/4ths should give you +5 to AC, I think the disadvantage was because it got prone to take the shot, but yeah, looks like only one dice was rolled.))

[The Lost]

"Good to see you Cap'n! We think they took Jaq back the other way, we were gonna go for him, but we were all hurt and running straight down a hallway is a good way to get full of arrows. There's something down here they don't like, I think they called her the Snake, you didn't hear or see anything like that did you? Hope we can get her on our side, but I think we need to rest up a bit first."

”It be good ta see ye too. Donnae worry we will get Jaq n we will kill tha bast’rds. Ah nev’r heard nothin’ about a snake. Ah think restin’ would be good.”


Joe looks around when she hears the noises ”Ahoy? Anyun thar? If ye be tha libary gol’ms can ye help us?”

[Rodgeir]

To Kroshav from Ealu,

<Yep, you too!>

From Mikram to Kroshav,

"What do ye mean, down here? In this place? Maybe a month."

Sword to Kroshav,

<No...?>

Mikram doesn't see anything either but will add if asked by Lurn,

"Golems. Snake has an army of'm. Nasty. Aye think we're about to find out if we get to stay."

It definitely sounds like more than one set of clicks coming now.

Nothing responds from the darkness to Joe's call but the sound stops.

((Oops! Figured it seemed right since he missed twice... Ah well, glad you are keeping me honest. Spider has the right idea, prone and plus 5 ac.

Drider messed up roll: 1D20+6 = [13]+6 = 19


Still just hits.))

Jaq

► Show Spoiler

She ponders your words for several long, silent moments before swinging her head around to look to the way Jaq came in. A still golem moves into action and steps forward.

Swinging her head back to Jaw she lowers her eyes to the elf's.

"I will speak with them and decide. I agree that sending them to the drow would be no better than simply killing them, and that I will not do without knowing the character of those I sacrifice. Go with this one Jaq and bring them to me."

[NotStickFigures]

► Show Spoiler

"Yes, I will do that. You will find they are honorable persons."

[Dlover]

"A few golems coming, it sounds like. Mikram says they serve the snake, so we should avoid being the first to fight. Even if they look like spiders, Joe."

[The Lost]

"Ah hope thay donnae look like spid'r eith'r. Most likely be snake thou it sound like? It be a good thing me gran na be here." Joe waits with the others, somewhat interesting in the golems.

[Rodgeir]

For a long while there is no sound beyond a the breathing of the group and an occasional dripping sound from behind them that only really Lurn can hear. Lurn hears it first, another clicking of stone on stone, albeit very faintly. After another 30 seconds it is apparent to everyone as it grows nearer. Mikram is the first to see it and curses,

"Aye don't know how but the drow made it down here. Knife it. One is coming this way with one of the snake's golems."

A quarter minute later one of the library golems enters the edge of Lurn's light and stops, impassive and silent. From behind it comes a very drow like figure that resolves into an even more familiar figure once they enter the light.

The party is, after what feels like months but could have only been a day at most, reunited!

[Dlover]

Lurn laughs at the sight of Jaq, waving his hand tiredly, "All gods be thanked, you are a sight for sorry eyes, Jaq." Swapping to dwarvish briefly, he relays to Mikram, "This one's no drow. He's the last missing one of our group."

Pushing himself to his feet, the large man sighs, "You're with a golem, so I'm hoping you've managed to strike an accord with the ruler of this domain? Do we have at least temporary safety?"

[NotStickFigures]

Moving up to the area right next golem with a huge, huge grin, "You are all here, and alive! And with a friend you picked up, too. Good cause I hadn't yet figured out how I alone was gonna rescue you all from the drow." He puts up his right hand, palm forward as if it say stop or wait, and then with a much more grim face he continues to talk. "I've been granted safety down here by the Librarian herself, she is a Naga that has been here a very long time. She is worried about breaking a truce/ceasefire with the drow so she wishes to speak with all of you and learn about your moral and character before deciding if she can grant you safety and if it will be worth doing if it endangers the library and the books she holds dear." He puts his hand down again, and with a bit more of a smile he asks, "How did you escape? and did you kill a lot of those bent-spoon drow?"
To answer Lurn's question more specifically he says, "Yes, I don't think the drow will follow now, but we are going to have to go meet and speak with the librarian now."

[Dlover]

After briefly explaining their situation to Mikram, Lurn replies with his own story, "Kroshav managed to get out of our cell first, but we weren't even aware of each other at that point. With the help of Mikram here, I managed to get ungagged and talk with him, and we decided to attempt an escape. It was just a matter of pulling my chain from the wall and walking out, with my new dwarven friend as my eyes in the dark. I found Kroshav where they were intending to torture him, and we killed a pair of drow. From there we managed to find the armoury - Kroshav seemed to walk straight there as if he knew where it was - and we reclaimed his sword and my shield. From there, we encountered the drider and a few more drow, and decided to run for this floor, per Mikram's advice. A few more drow were on the staircase with Joe, and we were lucky enough to finish them off before the drider caught up, and we escaped to here. Barely, but it would seem my Lord is not ready to claim us quite yet."

"As for speaking with the naga, I'll hold no gripes against it. I've always been good at making friends, and few have ever doubted my moral integrity."

[The Lost]

”Jaq! Ah was worri’d thay got ye! Ah was goin’ ta try ta help ye in battle but ye be gone by tha time Ah got thar.

Tha drow bast’rd willnae know what hit em. Tha furth’r away from tha drow tha bett’r. Ah hope tha she be reason’ble n let us in so tha we can kick drow arses lat’r.”

“Ah used misty step while ye were fightin’ but when Ah went ta help ye were gone. Tha drow got me aft’r but Ah woke up with Kroshav carryin’ me.”

Joe follows Jaq, glad that he is alive and well. She hopes that at least one book is a spellbook since hers is missing.

[spiderwrangler]

"Jaq? JAQ!"

Kroshav scrambles to his feet and runs over, lifting Jaq in a bear hug.

"Sword said they'd taken you the other way, I was worried what they'd do to you while we rested up, the three, sorry, four of us are running on next to nothing. We'll come see your Naga friend."

What is a Naga?: 1D20-2 = [19]-2 = 17