[DnD] Tomb of Horrors (GFF D&D Adventure X)

I jumped back as the activated secret door nearly ripped my arm off. It was a shame about the ring but I was secretly quite pleased that the temptation to take things that weren't mine had been somewhat forcibly removed.

While I waited for the dust to settle, I pondered as to how anyone living in the depths of this tomb could really poise much of a danger to the city above. With such a convoluted path to get into the place, the chances of raising any sort of undead army and then getting it all to the surface in one piece seemed slim at best. It was with some dismay that I came to the conclusion that there was probably a really simple route down to the bottom, most likely hidden round the back of the mausoleum above ground. Still, it was a bit of a mission to get back up there and if the riddle in the entrance hall was anything to go by, we were about halfway now so going forward might prove easier than going back.

The elemental with the unpronouncable name was investigating the odd cloudy archway. We had avoided all of them so far and I saw no good reason to change that tactic now. Of all my new companions, the wolfman, though quiet seemed to be the most rational and certainly the least self-destructive. Sam's casual acceptance of the massive, talking skull he was merrily desecrating was unnerving to say the least and the little Kobold was quite clearly an entire basket full of food short of a picnic.

Garold rushed past me into the new corridor and I followed close behind him. Maybe he could smell something? I hoped it wasn't a monster, having got this far without encountering anything hostile, I was not relishing our first aggressive encounter and the others finding out just how little use I'd be in a fight.

If I was understanding the riddle right, we were supposed to look out for some pits and check the walls or something so I did just that.

Check the walls for interesting things, tread carefully in case of pitfall traps.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Garold, Beefi and Sam investigate the newly-opened corridor, with the seeker and his lit sunrod leading the way forward. It's only a few feet down the hall when Beefi discovers the pits he's looking out for: two gaping holes sit open in the corridor floor, with no attempt having been made to disguise their presence. How sloppy. The pits are 10 foot square; the nearest pit, at least, is roughly 30 feet deep. The pit lacks the rusty spikes of the pits in the tomb's entrance hall; their absence has been compensated by a vicious-looking swarm of mangy rats milling around in the bottom of the pit. The contents of the next pit (if any) are impossible to determine at this distance.

The corridor continues on for at least another 60 feet to the west; the sunrod provides no illumination past such a distance. There's nothing remarkable about the corridor walls, despite Beefi's suspicions; just the same featureless gray stone that makes up the floors.

The addition of a hat to his rather limited physical form seems to improve Murray's mood considerably, and he freely offers some observations. "Rabid, the lot of them. Rumor is there's a few wererats down there too, but I think they'd be smart enough to climb out somehow. They're roughly people-sized, aren't they? I've never met one personally. I suppose if a wererat bit, say, a pixie, you'd get a pixie-sized wererat. You wouldn't be able to tell, right? Damn, lycanthropy is complicated."

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

That the pit was full of rats suggested to me that there was a way out down there, maybe the riddle meant to check the walls of the pit? Not wishing to climb down and take a look myself, I tied my lantern to my length of chain and lowered it into the pit, swishing it back and forth, hoping to scare the rats into whatever hole they had entered the pit through.

How ya doing, buddy?

Must. Not. Kill.


Must. Not. Kill.


Must. Kill.

Must.

I leapt back from the orange archway, shaking my head. The urge to kill lowered back to the general dislike of anyone who wasn't me, which was fine. Even if they were my friends, it didn't stop them from being ugly. I noticed that someone had managed to open a passageway in the other corner of the room, and headed along that way, taking care to skirt the trapped table. Joining three of my companions at a pit, I looked down. "Rats, eh? Well, let's see if I can do something about that." I toss my sword down into the pit, seeing I can get a reaction or spear anything, then summon it back up into my hand.

Basic ranged attack down into pit.
Swordbond summon back.

How ya doing, buddy?

I pulled a comb from my pocket and used it to smooth back my hair, trailing the implement with a hand before sliding it away.

"We have a guy who is fire. There are rats in the pit. The Skull and I vote for burning, I don't know about the rest of you, mooks."

I stayed back a ways and kicked a pebble down after the sword. I wanted to feel like I was participating.

"That riddle talked about checking a wall. And I'm willing to bet in a place like this, they didn't mean to look for an EXIT sign."

Just to be safe, I glanced at the walls to check for an exit sign. Or a hidden switch.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Having given his fishbrother a suitable moment of silence Slim hoists one of the fuel tanks over his head and runs screaming after his companions. Upon coming to the pit he ratchets the screaming up a pitch, lights the fuse and chunks it into the center of the rats. After a moment of panting and catching his breath he speaks.


So uh what's going on here?

FELIPE NO

5 Dice Rolls Garold's save vs disease

Beefi's attempt to scare the rats away with his lantern is unsuccessful, and the group resorts to Plan B Plan A: kill everything with swords and explosions. A column of fire, blood, tiny bones and fur erupts from the pit.

After the gory cloud settles, there's not a single living rat in sight. The mayhem doesn't seen to have provoked anything, and as far as can be seen there aren't any passages in the bottom of the pit (unless they're buried under rat gore, anyway). Converting the filthy rats into an airborne disease vector, however, may have its own unfortunate consequences...

Sam, Uxig and Gra-fa-zut all contract Stage 1 Wererat Filth Fever (-2 to Will).

Sam isn't any more successful at finding something interesting about the wall than Beefi had been.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I recoiled back as Slim tossed the burning fuel tank into the pit, luckily managing to avoid getting any of the exploding viscera in my mouth. The others were less fortunate however and everyone except Garold and me were starting to look a little queasy.

The wanton destruction had quite taken my breath away and as such, rather than volunteer to clamber into the pit to look for more secret doors, I instead opted for being in charge of holding the other end of the rope.

"So, er, well, um, I suppose one of us gents should probably go and have a look around down there, check the walls as it were. I'd offer to do it myself but I don't suppose you fellows would relish the thought of lowering me in there any more than you'd enjoy pulling me back out so if someone wants to volunteer I'd be more than happy to take the strain".

Hold one end of a rope for someone (Preferably someone who already has filth fever) to climb into the pit and look for lewt/doors/more traps.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

2 Dice Rolls what's down there?

Between whoever trapped the rats in the pit and Slim, the desire to build a better mousetrap need no longer be a relevant issue. Garold wasn't too sure about the economic feasibility of such a device, but he had a feeling that anyone with Slim's mindset would be a sure sale.

No one seemed particularly interested in descending into the pit of rat filth, and Garold especially didn't want to risk it after seeing the effects of exposure on his comrades. He didn't want to just stand around though either. After giving the rat cloud a little time to dissipate, he backed up, yelled "Make a path!" and took a running leap at the rat pit.

Garold easily clears the pit, and remains calm enough to remember not to inhale while sailing through the air over it. After a solid landing on the other side he examines the second pit with the help of his sunrod.

perception check

There's nowhere I can't reach.

1 Die Roll lookin

Suddenly struck by how delicious aerosol wererat salad is Slim clambers down the rope to get a second helping.

Anyone want me to bring them up a bowl?

Search the bottom while doing a lazy backstroke through the puddle of gore.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Having made the leap without trouble, Garold peers down into the second pit. The bottom of this pit cannot be seen — it is filled nearly to the top with a opaque green sludge. Large bubbles lazily break the surface of the slime as Garold watches, swelling to nearly the size of his head before silently deflating. Another 75 feet beyond this pit, the light of the sunrod reveals a third one; no more attempt has been made to disguise this one than the others.

Descending down the rope into the smoking heap of rat offal, Slim searches the remains for anything of interest. He finds a small statue of a seahorse, carved of precious jade, as well as a fine tapestry depicting a unicorn at play. No, wait. He doesn't find anything but rat hair and blood. Rolled on the wrong table, sorry.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

1 Die Roll Soar like an eagle

Slim called up with his findings, clearly the way forward was not in the pit and neither in the next, unless some crazed tomb builder had decided that swimming in green sludge was a sensible way to get in and out of a tomb.

Rather than pull Slim straight back up, I figured I'd save him the leap across and pull him up from the other side. I took a few steps back before running up and leaping over the pit.

How ya doing, buddy?

3 Dice Rolls what's in this one?

As mesmerizing as the bubbling goo was, it was clearly not an exit. Garold backed up to the edge of the rat pit to get a running start for another leap over the slime.

Athletics check - running long jump

After safely leaping the sludge, Garold proceeded down the hall to see what the third pit held. The sudden large distance of seemingly normal hallway made him nervous though, so he reverted to his previous method of moving slowly and tapping his spear on the floor and walls. Just in case.

Perception check - trap checking hallway

If nothing suspicious discovered en route: Perception check - third pit

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

4 Dice Rolls disease check

Effortlessly leaping the second pit, Garold cautiously makes his way to the third — spotting nothing untoward along the way. The third pit is filled near to the brim with what looks to be ordinary (if stagnant) water. Having sat so long undisturbed, the top of the pool sports several colonies of algae; at least 5 different species had made their home here, by Garold's eye, though none of them are immediately familiar to him.

Through the gaps in the algae, the water is translucent; the bottom of the pool cannot be seen, but the light penetrates to a depth of at least 10 feet.

Only a few feet past the pool, the passage turns the corner and leads abruptly to the north. Very faintly, Garold can overhear the merry sounds of music, song and laughter from that direction. Behind him, the minotaur leaps over the first pit and pulls the kobold up without incident.

FELIPE NO

Sam joins the cow and continues to inspect the walls as he goes. Coughing and glaring at those bastards responsible for making him sick.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

2 Dice Rolls and again

Slim bored of all this standing around looking into holes and not causing any form of destruction proceeds to take running leaps over both pits in his way and peeks around the corner.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

2 Dice Rolls Hop

I jumped over the remaing pits, primarily because the Kobold was still attached to the rope I was holding.

I untied the rope and peered into the water, wondering if GFZ might volunteer to see what was at the bottom.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

2 Dice Rolls Go ahead and jump

Coughing and gagging, I was beset by a strong desire to punch the kobold in the back of the head. After watching the rest of the group hop across the gaps, I followed. In the general nature of my past few tries to do anything, I failed horribly as I attempted to clear the second pit, smacking against the far wall and plummeting down.

"FUCKING OW. DAMMIT! HELP!"

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

3 Dice Rolls gfz's future bluff check =(

With the kobold rushing ahead, Samwise and Gra-fa-zut hustle to keep up. They both clear the now-empty rat's nest without trouble, but Sam splashes into the algae pool and Gra-fa-zut plunges into the slime pit far behind him.

A moment later, the genasi's irritated face breaks the surface of the sludge, not much the worse for wear. The slime is acidic, but a fairly mild concoction as these things go. Muttering darkly, the swordmage wipes the slime from his armor and proceeds toward the algae pool.

13 acid damage to Gra-fa-zut

A meaty hand seizes Sam by the wrist, and Beefi hauls the halfling out of the algae pool. Though wet and bedraggled, the halfling seems unharmed. As Sam spits out a mouthful of colorful algae, however, he becomes aware of a vague sense of nausea and vertigo. Ugh. Just a little water in the lungs. It'd pass.

Sam contracts Tumbledown; -2 to Acrobatics and Athletics until cured. See post #239 for Sam's jump rolls and the disease attack.

Uxig peers up the northern corridor, which terminates in a pair of doors roughly 55 feet ahead. Built of sturdy wood, the doors are bound together with heavy chains. A warning is etched into the door in glowing blue letters:

PRIVATE PARTY
NO ADMITTANCE

Warm, inviting firelight pours under the door, illuminating a few feet of the corridor. The happy sounds of merrymaking beyond the door are unmistakable. There's a band of troubadours playing Uxig's favorite song.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

A party? Down here? How delightful!

I looked around at the rest of the Furious Five. They were dressed almost uniformly in tatty scraps of armour, now for the most part drenched in slimy water or covered in chunks of rat meat, hardly the suitable attire for a party.

I brushed myself down as best I could, straightened my collar and sheathed my axe. It had been a while since I had been to a social function and the gods be dammned if I was going to attend this one poorly presented.

I strode up to the door and was about to knock when a thought hit me, what if this was a private party? I'd hate to intrude and cause a scene. I shouted back down to the rest of the team.

"Er, gents, do you think we ought to risk arriving without an invitation? Teribbly bad form really, I don't suppose anyone thought to bring a bottle, wot?"

Move up to the door, try to look presentable.

I was speaking idiomatically.

had a horrible idea thanks to this one party those doomed sailors threw when I was traveling with them. I stepped to the door, and, putting on my best impersonation of a female orc voice, I said, "I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money, do what you want me to do."

bluff check

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

After dawdling at the rat pit for so long, the rest of the party suddenly rushes by Garold. Some with more success than others. After staying out of everyone's way, he too takes a running jump over the algae pit before rounding the corner to see what all the fuss is about.

The glowing letters of the sign indicated that there was probably a magic user on the other side. Well, in addition to indicating Garold wasn't invited, but that was nothing new.

FELIPE NO

1 Die Roll sexy

In an attempt to help with the deception Slim seductively wraps himself around the swordmages leg.


attempt to aid bluff check.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

1 Die Roll THIEVERY CHECK

I spit out some algae water on the ground, the glance down left me happy as I saw, soggy as it was, my hat was still resting comfortably on the skull's, well, skull. I wiped some water out from my eyes and looked up at my old buddy, grape-fra-oot.

"You know, I signed up for wizard murder and tomb robbing. I don't recall anyone talking about algae pits. Always a catch."

I allowed myself a grin, and a bit of a smirk. I glanced around the room, checking for any sort of a trap, or alternative entrance into the place, if none was found, balls to it, I was picking any lock or catch and kicking the door into any oncoming enemy's stupid dry face. It seemed my little swim had woken me up. Up until now, this stupid place was just a place. Now it was a stupid place that ruined my new shoes. Fuck this stupid place. Someone was going to die. A lot.

That's a big 37 with my thieves tool in the mix for the thievery check.

Most amazing jew boots

Samwise busts out his lockpicks, but there's no locks to be found; no clasps, no keyholes, no nothing. On closer inspection all the heavy chains are just built into the door.

Happily, Gra-fa-zut's disturbing ruse is more effective (though he's offering to "do the shimmy again" by the time someone actually responds).

"GUYS! Guys, cut the music, there's somebody at the door."

The lovely music ends abruptly, though there is some quiet conversation. There is a brief clatter from the other side of the doors as the locks are unlocked, and the doors part ever-so-slightly. A visibly inebriated orc pokes his head through the gap, smiling at the Five with some bemusement. He's wearing a human skull as a hat; rather than holding it in place with a strap, the skull seems to be affixed to his head with a liberal dollop of reddish paste. The orc has, evidently, foregone proper party attire; he is clad in what appears to be a particularly voluminous grey linen chemise, though one of the shoulder straps has gone missing.

"Damn, five of you? We only ordered two dancers, man. We're not paying extra. We can sort that shit out later, though. You guys look rough. Did you have some trouble finding the place? Come in and get yourself cleaned up, the guest of honor's gonna be here any minute."

From what little can be seen around the orc's boozy grin, the room on the other side of the door is utterly dark. Neither Garold's sunrod nor Uxig's natural night vision can pierce the unnatural blackness.

"Watch your step, guys!", shouts the orc as he stumbles back into the party (leaving the doors wide open). "We could only afford the one scroll of Utter Darkness, and we're not going to dispel it until Dave gets here. It's like a surprise, you know?"

"This party seems, er, really boring", Murray stammers, his normally sarcastic voice taking on an odd nervousness. "We should probably find something more interesting to do."

The band starts up again, and the Five are left staring into the inky darkness beyond the doorway. Somewhere in the dark, a small clamor breaks out when a man demands to know who a hand belongs to (only to be informed that the offending object was not, in fact, a hand). There is much laughter.

There's nowhere I can't reach.