[LPF] Tower of Power

[SinisterRogue]

The battle itself was invigorating and Aeron could still feel how his nerves were almost electrified throughout, and even after its sudden resolution. Taking a few small and measured breaths, Aeron slowed his pulse back to normal and felt his relaxed calm return once more. Aeron sheathed his scimitar and glanced at his various companions, making sure they all were still capable of carrying out the Guild's task. The sight of Samad fully healed once more after his grievous injury gave Aeron a large amount of relief. He let out a pent out breath, but was careful to mask his concern.

Seeing Dane already geared up once more and Paskell being finished with his thorough investigation of the room, Aeron saw little need to stay complacent any longer. "I'm ready to go."

[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, Darkvision, Spell Combat (-2 Attack Rolls)
Spells Remaining (1st): 2/2

Used Items:
[/sblock]

 

[SpicyWaffle]

With the moment having passed and his own nerves settled, Dane gave another affirmative nod to the allotted crew of adventurous heroes, eager to get back to the important task at hand. They still had a missing man to find -- for good or ill -- and a stench to quell; its pungent odor still present through the dust and mold of the formerly sealed tower, now personally made much worse by the added scent of sundered innards all over his armor and clothing. Time was of the essence, and the sooner they were moving then the sooner they would accomplish their agenda for the poor pig farmer, alleviating his dire straits regarding the rapidly approaching breeding season.

Even through the dim light provided by the torch in his hand, it was clear as crystal that there were no stairs to ascend towards the supposed den of the mysterious stink, nor any sign of the supposed guild agent whom had made the trek inside already -- at least not in this particular crumbling portion of the dwarven ruins. Forward, it seemed, was the most pragmatic decision in finding the way upwards, as well as to wherever Baggio might have scampered off to if he'd come face-to-face with that roach... or some other yet unknown denizen.

"Alright. Let's keep going then," motioned the young warrior as he tread his way towards the closed door poised within the chamber, drawing steel again in-case some other monstrosity awaited them on the other side of the portal. Waving his still gore-stained sword towards the sides of the door, Dane added "Same as last time. Keep a hand on your weapon and your eyes peeled for trouble. If there's something on the other side, get ready to act -- we've gotta be decisive if there's another one of those things in there."

Taking another deep breath, the farmstead-raised human wrapped what fingers he could spare around the handle of the dilapidated door handle, torchlight flickering in his eyes as he stared back over his shoulders. After a slight pause and exhaling quietly, Dane began to open the alien passage cautiously, hardening his spirit for the worst that might lay beyond its rusted visage.

[sblock=OOC]Same deal as last time, unless an objection is made. If no one else has any complaints, Dane'll get ready to open the door; otherwise he'll cease that action promptly. I've learned my lesson from that last fortuitous combat post of yours, Systole, and I think Dane would follow suit: he'll open the door quietly and carefully in lieu of simply kicking it in and startling whatever might be on the other side [/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: Shortsword (+3, 1d6+3, 19-20x2); Torch
Current Conditions in Effect: Piranha Strike, Weapon Finesse

Used Items:
---[/sblock]

 

[Commander_Fallout]

"I thank you for your concern," he stated to the group as a whole. He picked up his blade and wiped it clean, "But, we must continue."

He flanked the door opposite Dane, and peered into the widening crack, holding his torch close.

[sblock]Moves to the SW door. Perception check to hear/see anything inside: 1d20+6=15[/sblock]
[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), Torch
Current Conditions in Effect: Weapon Finesse
Spells Remaining (1st): 2/3

Used Items:
N/A[/sblock]

 

[Systole]

The southwest door opens into the western quarter of the tower. Like the room you just left, there is little here of interest: mostly rubble, bits of rusted and unidentifiable metal, and a few pale mushrooms. Thankfully, there is nothing of the large, hungry, or insectoid variety, however. A door in the southeast wall leads to the southern quarter. More interestingly, a door in the western wall seems to lead to a staircase.

Also, there is a clear bootprint on the threshold of the western door, indicating someone entered. There are no similar tracks indicating anyone returned.

 

[Commander_Fallout]

"There's nothing here," Samad proclaimed, which filled him with relief. The warrior didn't think he could handle another fight just yet. He entered the room and glanced around, before continuing, "But I think that there was before us." He gestured to the bootprint, "Do you think that belonged to the other man?"
[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), Torch
Current Conditions in Effect: Weapon Finesse
Spells Remaining (1st): 2/3

Used Items:
N/A[/sblock]

 

[SpicyWaffle]

Striding into the room in anticipation of a fight, Dane was as much relieved as he was surprised that the area was vacant, save for the all too familiar odor and sights of disturbed rubble from the earthquake that had dislodged the entrance. As empty as it was, though, there still remained the telltale signs of life, as Samad so poignantly signified by discovering the latent boot print in the dust-covered floor.

"If Baggio did come through here, then he likely came from the other room," Dane added to Samad's query, gesturing back towards the southern passage with his blade. It was good to have some reassurance that the foolhardy man who'd come into the ruins all by his lonesome might still yet live, provided his stupidity hadn't robbed him of his common sense as well. With the passage leading up to some stairs and thus upwards towards the ominous stink perforating the tower, it seemed Mallack's story might have been right on the money -- Baggio was looking to conclude the contract himself, at great personal risk and endangerment to himself. Whatever his reasoning for doing so, it had to have been important enough for him to warrant such a bold sojourn.

"Looks like we're headed the right way towards the smell, too. If we're lucky we'll run into Baggio along the way. C'mon," the young swordsman motioned again, taking the lead up the stairwell with torch in-hand to light the way.

[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: Shortsword (+3, 1d6+3, 19-20x2); Torch
Current Conditions in Effect: Piranha Strike, Weapon Finesse

Used Items:
---[/sblock]

 

[Systole]

The stairway is crumbled and entirely unsafe-looking. Dane can see that it while it once ascended the entire height of the tower, there's now a huge gap between the second and third floors. Still, you could use it to get up to the second floor from here, assuming you were careful. Or perhaps foolhardy.

And that rank, unnatural stench? There's a definite whiff of it here.

GM: You can choose to ascend the stairway stealthily (with a Stealth check) or quickly (with a Climb check). Either way, you can earn a bonus to that roll with a good K: Engineering check OR a Perception check. In each case (Stealth/Climb and Engineering/Perception), you only get to roll one of the two. And just FYI, the DC for K: Engineering is lower than the DC for Perception.

 

[SinisterRogue]

[sblock=OOC] Question: Aeron has a grappling hook and 50ft of silk rope. Could Aeron throw that up and across to make it an easier/stealthier climb for the group? And if so, what should I roll?[/sblock]

 

[Systole]

[sblock=GM]Hmmm ... interesting question. Throwing it across wouldn't really help you much with getting to the second level, given that the stairs between 1 and 2 are still mostly intact. However, if someone went up ahead and tied the rope off at a few points, then the other three people would get a bonus to their rolls for stealth, as they'd be able to keep at least some of their weight on the rope, which would put less weight on any stairs that might break off and make noise.

The grappling hook would definitely be useful getting from the second floor to the third.[/sblock]

 

[SinisterRogue]

Aeron studied the crumbling stairway with a hint of disdain. Its not like he shouldn't have been expecting something like this within a ruined tower, and that thought in itself fueled Aeron's desire to overcome this new obstacle. Having taken a good measure of the dilemma the stairs presented, Aeron quickly shrugged off his backpack and began to rummage through its contents. "Those stairs might be difficult to quietly get through..." Aeron muttered both to himself and the group as he continued to search through is bag. "But I think I have something to help." After a few moments, Aeron withdrew some fine, silk rope which was neatly coiled together and a grappling hook. Leaving his pack on the ground and still open, Aeron approached the rest of his group with his items in hand. "If one of you wants to try securing this rope along the wall, we can probably save ourselves a bit of trouble and lower the risk of our presence being noticed. I would do it myself, but...I don't claim much expertise in these areas." Having said that, Aeron held the other item, the grappling hook, before him while giving a slight and satisfied grin to the rest of the group. "And this might come in handy for that gap between the levels," Aeron stated while giving a nod in the direction of the huge gap that separated the 2nd and 3rd floor.

[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, Darkvision
Spells Remaining (1st): 2/2

Used Items:
[/sblock]