[LPF] Tower of Power

[Commander_Fallout]

Samad was speechless. It was beyond him, but he knew a power struggle when he saw one. Such could end tribes if it weren't resolved, such could end lives and families. Still, perhaps there was a chance that it wouldn't hinder their group. Perhaps, but hope could not get you much. But, it was growing late, and he was growing hungry.

He asked, "Are we to eat soon?"

[sblock=Samad's Mini Stats]

Samad Salil
AC: 17 (14 flat-footed, 13 touch)
HP: 9/9
CMB: +1 CMD: 14
Fort: +0 Reflex: +5 Will: +2
Perception: +6, Low Light Vision
Initiative: +5
Current Weapon in Hand: Scimitar (+1, 1d6+1, 18-20 x2)
Current Conditions in Effect: Weapon Finesse
Spells Remaining (1st): 3/3

Used Items:
N/A
[/sblock]

 

[Systole]

"Sure thing, gents," Mallack says. It doesn't take him long to whip up supper: pork chops, potatoes with bacon, greens with ham. And if there's one thing the man knows, it's clearly how to turn smelly pigs into tasty, tasty food.

The night passes mostly uneventfully. There are howls of wolves in the distance, but the torches that Mallack has set up around the pigpens seem to keep them away. When you awake, you are surprised to realize that you've acclimated to the smell somewhat - it's still overpowering when you stop to think of it, but apparently your noses have made the first step in adjusting. When you rise slightly before dawn, you find that Mallack has already made breakfast. This time it's a bit of hard bread and an egg or two, alongside thick slabs of bacon and ham, and plump pork sausages.

It's about dawn when you finish and ready yourselves to set off for the tower, and the sound hits you first, before the smell does. The pigs suddenly start squealing and running around frantically in their pens, digging in the muck for some way to escape. A moment later, the reason for their agitation comes drifting on the wind: an rancid, unnatural stench on a wholly different level from the odor of the pigs. Even with your partially acclimatized sense of smell, it nearly makes you gag. Mallack simply snorts and nods grimly. "Aye, that's it. That's what I've been complain' about. Won't get the pigs to breed with that about."

...... Ivio Mallack ......

 

[omnitricks]

Now that there is no reason to die for no reason, "Wonderful!" The tengu sat down and enjoyed his dinner, the taste definitely a lot more better than the smell of the source and then in the morning, there was more! A really good morning as far as he was concerned as he tried to make some small talk by saying "sounds like the wolves were having a great party out there last night."

But the good morning was ruined for Paskell as with the pig's reaction and the ungodly smell. He gasped and asked "what is that?" which they are supposed to look for. "I'm surprised the pigs actually do anything with that" just as Paskell who was feeling like forgetting about the whole job just to avoid the smell. But business was business. "Should be go now?" he asked waiting to follow everyone else.

[sblock=Paskell's Mini Stats]

Paskell
AC: 18 (14 flat-footed, 14 touch)
HP: 8/8
CMB: +0 CMD: 14
Fort: 0 Reflex: +6 Will: -1
Perception: +5
Initiative: +4
Current Weapon in Hand:
Current Conditions in Effect:

Used Items:
[/sblock]

 

[SinisterRogue]

"No sense in wasting time and daylight now that its here." Aeron hefted his backpack from the ground and slipped his arms through the straps; snugly securing it on his back. With a measured but quick pace, Aeron turned to the direction of the foul stench and began to make his way towards the dwarven tower in the distance but suddenly stopped short as if remembering something. Turning to Mallack, Aeron dipped one hand into the coin pouch at his belt until he felt the touch of cold metal beneath his fingertips. Aeron flicked the silver coin in an arc towards the farmer with practiced ease. "For the lodgings in the night," Aeron said before the farmer could ask. "Don't like owing a debt," Aeron muttered almost as much to himself as to Mallack. With that said and his mind more at ease, Aeron turned back towards the tower and resumed his pace. Over his shoulder, he called to his companions. "Finish your business and catch up, or head out. We are on the Guild's time now." Aeron felt the growing energy within him as he finally began his first adventure and with his back towards the group, he left slip a small smile from his normally stoic mask.


[sblock=Aeron's Mini Stats]

View attachment 56109
Aeron
AC: 17 (14 flat-footed, 13 touch)
HP: 9/9
CMB: +1 CMD: 15
Fort: 3 Reflex: +4 Will: +2
Perception: +0
Initiative: +4
Current Weapon in Hand: Scimitar (+1, 1d6+1, 18-20 x2)
Current Conditions in Effect: Weapon Finesse
Spells Remaining (1st): 2/2

Used Items:
[/sblock]

 

[Commander_Fallout]

He was grateful to be woken before dawn, as he twirled about in the yard, performing his ritual dance for the last light of the moon. He was not satisfied to have slept that night when they could have been working towards a rescue, but he knew that wolves were a formidable threat. They were servants of Yeenu-Thet, and not even Bashu's grace could save him or his allies from that. So he reluctantly settled down that night. Still, this was of little concern now as he meditated, feeling centered and at peace with the world. But such revelatory peace came to an end when the moon finally vanished over the horizon. Now satisfied, he joined the others at their meal. He was glad he had grown accustomed to the stench, but had not been for long, when another, more powerful odor crept up in its place. "That is truly foul," he agreed, "If we accomplish nothing else, we must at least put that to an end."

He gagged a little while longer, before again pulling his keffiyeh tightly over his face. He continued, "I'm ready to leave, I do not believe I shall be eating anymore."

[sblock=Samad's Mini Stats]

Samad Salil
AC: 17 (14 flat-footed, 13 touch)
HP: 9/9
CMB: +1 CMD: 14
Fort: +0 Reflex: +5 Will: +2
Perception: +6, Low Light Vision
Initiative: +5
Current Weapon in Hand: Scimitar (+1, 1d6+1, 18-20 x2)
Current Conditions in Effect: Weapon Finesse
Spells Remaining (1st): 3/3

Used Items:
N/A
[/sblock]

 

[Systole]

Mallack waves you off as he sets about the morning chores of slopping the pigs. The tower is about a mile away over rough ground that could easily have trapped an ankle in the darkness. For most of the journey, the wind is kind and the tower stench doesn't assault you directly, but the breeze is variable enough that every once in a while, it brings the stench to you again. The experience does not improve with time.

It is not too long before you stand in front of the tower. No doors or windows mar the otherwise smooth expanse of the tower’s walls. The tower is quatrefoil in plan; its eastern wing has largely collapsed, exposing the interior floors to the open air. Only the topmost level seems whole, though its eastern portion hangs precariously over the mountain of rubble left by the collapse. At ground level, the rubble frames a gaping hole in the side of the building that provides access to the tower’s darkened interior.

[sblock=In case you're like me and don't know what 'quatrefoil' means]

[/sblock]

 

[SpicyWaffle]

The dawn felt especially daunting as Dane stirred, woken just prior for another chance to eat and ready himself for the task ahead. Hardly had the young boy procured any sort of solace from the night before, though his disposition even as he strapped his weaponry to his person and checked his supplies had at least improved somewhat from the soured visage the human had been casting. Yet, there still remained some degree of concern; indeed, Dane had gone all but silent over the course of breakfast with not even a sigh or wayward cough at the ominously foul odor that perforated the good farmer's home. No, his mind still remained focused on the mystery of Baggio and whether or not the man yet remained tethered to the material plane, and the foreboding notion of gremlins infesting the ruined tower. Whether it was true or not, Dane's mettle -- and that of his companions -- were no doubt about to be tested.

Now, standing before the ancient ruins and despite their differences, they had a job to do. It was more than clear that Dane was ready to get to the task at hand as he stared into the darkened entryway of the tower, only briefly exchanging a look and a nod with the rest of the assembled crew; after all, Aeron was right. There was no sense in wasting what little daylight they might be able to get, especially if the rest of the underground complex was just as obfuscated in shadow.

"C'mon," motioned Dane after fishing out one of Mallack's torches and lighting it ablaze with his trust flint and steel, trudging to the front crumbling entrance with light source in-hand as he tried not to gag on the stench inside. "Let's get to the bottom of this."

[sblock=OOC]I'm assuming Mallack was still nice enough to give us some torches. If he did, I guess it's safe to assume he gave us one each? In hindsight, I guess I probably should have asked first.[/sblock]

[sblock=Dane's Mini Stats]

Dane Mazelo
AC: 16 (13 flat-footed, 13 touch)
HP: 16/16
CMB: +2 CMD: 15
Fort: +4 Reflex: +3 Will: +2
Perception: +1
Initiative: +3
Current Weapon in Hand: Gauntlet (+4, 1d3+1, 20x2); Torch
Current Conditions in Effect: Weapon Finesse

Used Items:
---[/sblock]

 

[SinisterRogue]

Aeron watched Dane, torch in hand, enter into the tower. Instead of a torch, Aeron drew his scimitar from its sheath since he could rely on his race's natural ability to pierce the through shadows and darkness alike. The scimitar's worn grip was comfortable for his hand, and its cold touch a reassuring companion as Aeron began to follow after the young human.

[sblock=Aeron's Mini Stats]


Aeron
AC: 17 (14 flat-footed, 13 touch)
HP: 9/9
CMB: +1 CMD: 15
Fort: +3 Reflex: +4 Will: +2
Perception: +0
Initiative: +4
Current Weapon in Hand: Scimitar (+1, 1d6+1, 18-20 x2)
Current Conditions in Effect: Weapon Finesse, Darkvision
Spells Remaining (1st): 2/2

Used Items:
[/sblock]

 

[Commander_Fallout]

He stood outside the tower, gazing into the abyss, the defiling stench permeating his very being. "Yes, the sooner we start, the sooner we may finish."
He took a torch in hand and followed the young warrior into the depths.

[sblock=Samad's Mini Stats]

Samad Salil
AC: 17 (14 flat-footed, 13 touch)
HP: 9/9
CMB: +1 CMD: 14
Fort: +0 Reflex: +5 Will: +2
Perception: +6, Low Light Vision
Initiative: +5
Current Weapon in Hand: Scimitar (+1, 1d6+1, 18-20 x2)
Current Conditions in Effect: Weapon Finesse
Spells Remaining (1st): 3/3

Used Items:
N/A
[/sblock]

 

[omnitricks]

Paskell followed the others in but without a torch in hand as his race's natural vision will only need one in the party. Instead he held his weapons in hand ready to fight if it came to that.

[sblock=Paskell's Mini Stats]

Paskell
AC: 18 (14 flat-footed, 14 touch)
HP: 8/8
CMB: +0 CMD: 14
Fort: 0 Reflex: +6 Will: -1
Perception: +5
Initiative: +4
Current Weapon in Hand: Dueling sword, Swordbreaker dagger
Current Conditions in Effect: Low light vision

Used Items:
[/sblock]