Urn Your Pay (Rae judging)

The swamp at night is a lively place, you are beginning to find. Again, the watchers are kept alert by a constant clamor of nighttime noises, some familiar and some new, and some eerily reminiscent of screams. There are also ghostly lights that flicker on and off, though none near enough your campsite to make out clearly. But while no one would call it uneventful, the night passes peacefully enough. Morning comes at last, and the familiar murky green of the greets you with a foul-smelling wet gurgle.

[sblock=ooc]Now that the judges have released Erf from their fiendish clutches, this seems as good a time as any to award XP. It's hard to believe this adventure has been going for less than two months, but the post dates don't lie. I'll hold off on awarding time xp for the moment, since it won't level anyone up. Without further ado:

Erf, Gildrim, Ter-raen, and Cyian:
* Defeating Carlos and his three goons (EL 4): 263 xp
* Negotiating a peaceful way through the swamp: 100 xp
* rp: 25 xp

Erf, Gildrim, Ter-raen:
* Defeating 2 Ghouls (EL 2): 150 xp
* "Dealing with" the trap on the front door (EL 1): 100 xp
* Roleplaying: 25 xp

Totals:
E, G, and T: 663
Cyian, if he ever comes back: 388
[/sblock]

As the sun rises Erf watches a dragon fly spiral lazily over the water petting a still slumbering Fenenn absently as he does so. Again he reflects upon the glory of nature and draws it all into himself.

When the others awake Erf approaches Apikotoa,

"Hey Apikotoa so is that normal? All them flashin' lights 'n such, or is that just this part of the swamp? Either way I guess we'll be headin' in fer another crack soon as we're all set up. Consider me 'n Fenenn ready te roll. So ye ready lads?"

Ter-raen stretches his arms wide, yawning as he gets up. He looks at the sun shining down, and instantly regrets it as the rays make his eyes uncomfortable. He gets up, and does a quick check of his equipment, patting himself and looking through his backpack. Everything here, house of bad omen is waiting. He signals his readiness to Erf, "Ter-raen ready."

"Well lookes like we're set. Lets get this 'ere show on the road 'n such! Catch ye later Apikotoa!"


So saying Erf sets off up towards the house.

"I reckon we try the front door again, unless anyone objects. Can't imagine anything too bright'd be livin' out here is a mouldrin' mansion 'n at least we know about one trap that way. Same plan as before Ter-raen?"

[sblock=OOC] Were we able to discern last time if the darts struck at two different 5ft. squares - the one with Ter-raen and the one with Fenenn or if they seemed targeted at particular individuals? I.E could we tell if it was a case of 1d4 darts per target available or if had Fenenn not been there Ter-raen would have taken a double helping of darts? Depending upon this answer Erf will either send or not send Fenenn up to the door again. If he doesn't know he'll send Fenenn up on the basis that should the trap go off again it might save Ter-raen. Sadly I think this was a waste of time since I am assuming it won't reset (we got XP afterall) but Erf is more cautious...[/sblock]

Apikotoa shrugs. "I see lights een the night sometimes. Never go look, though. Dangerous to wander in the dark."

Making your way back to the house's front entrance, you look more closely at the entranceway. In the clear morning light, the holes where the darts tore through the surface of the wall are clearly visible to each side of the double doors. From their placement, as well as from the bloodstains that now darken the stone floor, you can see that anyone standing in front of either door would likely have been hit when the trap went off.

ooc: yes, it targeted two squares. Ter-raen would not have gotten a double helping of darts.

"Well I'm sorry te say this Ter-raen, but it looks like our best bets to 'ave ye open the door 'n me stand by with healin' just in case. I don't think any of us has a bitte skill with traps - right Gildrim?"


Erf stands nearby out of the area the darts seem to target with a readying himself to step forward and cast cure light wounds.

[sblock=OOC] So I'm curious any plans to run more adventures once this ones over Covaithe? I would definetly be interested and would love to have Erf continue on in your games - though Erf does intend to buy weapons and cart them back to the lizardfolk after getting back to Orusssus - albeit with some extra backup maybe given Cyian's absense.[/sblock]

"Mmm, house of bad omen's traps are nasty, Ter-raen agree with idea. Best to be ready too." Saying this, Ter-raen brings out his shield and places it in front of him, scimitar in his other arm but close to his body. Ter-raen thinks back about the events of yesterday, when he tried to open the door nicely but it wouldn't. So now I open it not nicely. Ter-raen puts some weight on one leg and gives good kick to the door with the other.

[sblock=OOC]Don't know if this is possible, but just try.
Move action: kick the door.
Standard action: ready action to take a step back and leave my square if anything comes at me
[/sblock]

Ter-raen kicks the door, but the sturdy metal-bound door withstands his kick with ease. On the plus side, though, his kick is not answered by sharp projectiles, only moldy dust.

[sblock=ooc]Breaking down a door requires a strength check, which I'm happy to interpret as a move action, so Ter-raen may ready an action, and readying a move action is fine. However, I rolled a 1d20+4=13, which is a long way from this door's break DC. [/sblock]

Erf moves forwad and attempts to open the door. Ready to back away if it opens and let the heavy hitters go forward.

OOC: Just in the interest of swiftness.

Hmm. Ter-raen looks at the unyielding door for a moment, before turning to the others. "No traps. Ter-raen try to open it then."

[sblock=OOC]If everyone is willing, Ter-raen will spend a minute or two with the door, essentially taking 20 on the Strength check to open it, final check 24.[/sblock]