(5.24 PBP) Vault of the Dracolich (IC) Redux

[Kobold Stew]

Urgan nods at her, accepting her detailed directions. "Perhaps I'll see you in two days' time." He says, before turning to the others.

"There's our route, if we want it." Urgan is ready to move to the Trophy vault.

 

[Steve Gorak]

Team Fusion - Aywin

After the rest, Aywin got into position. There was no point him going into the water as he was definitely not as stealthy as Shade 9. Rather, he positioned to help should the Hydra discover the subterfuge, and pounce on the beast.

Svetlana, is hovering invisibly above the hydra, relaying telepathically what she see to Aywin. But unfortunately, she is not able to see much.

OOC: Aywin will position himself at V33, and Svetlana is fine where she is on the map. Svetlana preception check wit disadvantage: 4

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

Spoiler: Merrick- Team CAVES!

Merrick Thorburn Race: Human	HP: 25/53 AC: 15/17(with shield)	Buffs: Slowed (-2 AC, 1/2) Inspiration: 1
Rage: 1/3	Inner Healing:0/4	HD: 0/4
Spoiler: Stats(saves) STR: 16+3(+5) DEX: 14+1(+2) CON: 16+3(+5) INT: 8-1(+-1) WIS: 10+0(+0) CHA:11 +0(+0)	Spoiler: Skills Athletics+5 Intimidate: 2/5 Perception: 2 Performance 2 Stealth: 4 Survival: 2	Spoiler: Spells Daily: JUMP: 1/1 At will Thaumaturgy Message

---

Merrick isn't sure about the look Urgan is giving him but he shrugs. It will all work out fine.

The warrior picks up his glaive and readies to leave. Hopefully someone writes down what Valendra said because Merrick isn't going to remember. He decides to scrawl a map:

Spoiler: Merrick's Map

Merrick's Map

then he takes out the Sending Stones to make sure the others know what is going on.

@Neurotic @Steve Gorak
Truce with Kobolds, Chief Urbone, Truce with Arcane Brotherhood, Valendra and Morrow. Don't attack the alchemist Isaak. Statues of Bhal cursed.

By the time he's done that, he realizes a few of his wounds were mere scratches.

OOC: used the last of my healing to heal 7hp

 

[FitzTheRuke]

OOC: I may not have been clear, but the Vestry is to the right of the Barracks. (On your left as you head into it). Otherwise, that's basically it - though there are other undescribed branches.

 

[Tonguez]

Below the surface, Shade-9 sank cleanly, limbs locked until he felt the soft drag of silt against his boots. Despite the aquatic environment, his sensors remained functional, adapting to the water so he was quickly able to identify the shapes and topography of the cavern floor. He noted the primary northward flow of the pool, the changes in hydrological pressure as the water swirled around objects, or when Bjorn’s giant frog legs stroked forward, particulate density and flow. Sound is Pressure he reflected, Shade-9 was learning to listen to the movement in the water around him.

His own movements were measured and precise, seeking to disturb as little as possible, keeping a low profile, as he stalked forward following an underwater ridge to the edge of the deeper pool and its lurking denizen. He was one used to hunting in shadows and now he looked down upon the hydra's pool

[Operative Status Check: On-Task [Maintain ridge cover.]]
[TOPOGRAPHIC SCANNING: Identify Hydra Lair Features & Egress Points~ Track head movement vectors~ Identify Likely Idol Location ~ Prepare for silent descent]

OOC: Used Lucky for an extra roll Perception check Wis 2 + 4 (Expertise): 1D20+6 = [10]+6 = 16 Quick Stats AC 16 HP 38 Prof +2 Spells 2/3 Luck 1/2 Init +5 HD 4/4 Archery +7 Spell DC 12 PP 14

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Team Fusion

Svetlana's voice snarled in Aywin's head, with her usual unpleasantness, "Yeah, well... I can see the great big lump of the Hydra down there, but if there's a stupid statue, or whatever, he's probably sitting on it."

Which wasn't far from the truth. As Shade-9 pushed forward, finding himself in a deep bowl-shaped basin of silt that covered a veritable plethora of bones - mostly humanoid - upon which sat the hydra, coiled into a ball of scales and fins.

One head kept sweeping back and forth on a long neck, searching for danger or food, while the others tucked under. Shade-9, ducked low and reflecting the gloom so as to be nearly invisible, witnessed a "changing of the guard", as one head uncoiled from the body-knot as the other tucked itself in. The new one was perhaps more vigilant, as it searched with an energy that the other one hadn't shown, but it still failed to spot our stealthy construct.

Shade-9 scanned the area for some time, slowly and methodically, before his sensors discovered it, resting in a pile of bones near a coil of the hydra's tail - a small, black statue of a cloaked figure clutching a dagger. It was so similarly-coloured to the silt of the basin that he would have missed it, were it not for the soft glowing of a red gem embedded in its body.

 

[Lidgar]

Bjorn stayed partially concealed by the underwater ridge as he observed Shade-9 and the hydra, ready to assist Shade-9 should the hydra notice him. However, it was difficult to make out more than vague shapes in the murky waters.

OOC: Perception check: 1D20+6 = [5]+6 = 11 Not great, but Shade-9 has us covered.

 

[Tonguez]

TEAM FUSION - SUBJECT:SHADE-9 - In the Deep end

[STEALTH PROTOCOL: HOLDING
Tactical scanning Initiated]
The basin was broader than expected, and the massive bulk of the hydra loomed large over its bed of silt and bones. Shade-9 remained still and silent, concealed against the ridge, making himself invisible. He watched as the creatures' heads coiled and uncoiled through their activity cycle, one heavy and retiring, the other alert, scanning, listening, the musculature of its neck tense and responsive.
Shade-9 timed the turning of the active head, noting its search parameters and how the sway of its neck from side to side and shifts of its bulk and tail caused ripples in the water flow.

Using the psychic link he relayed the data back to Darius on the surface, and awaited any further data that might come from above. Continuing to scan the Hydra's basin until he spotted the glow of the red gem that marked their target - silt covered, black stone, matte, carved humanoid figurine clutching a dagger, red gem inset.

On his own he might have remained here for hours perhaps days, studying the Hydras activity cycles, but others were waiting above, so again Shade-9 reported back to Darius and the team on shore

"MISSION UPDATE:

• Target Located: Idol of Bhaal inset with glowing red gem - arcane energy signature? -
• Object Location: In Hydra nest, adjacent to the Tail coil.
• RIsk Analysis: Hydra dormancy 80% - 1 Active Head Scanning, activity spiked but stabilizing, Hydra Breathing appears normal
• Environment: deep basin, deep silt, high bone density, potential mobility hazard
• Assessment: Extraction feasible under perfect stealth protocols
• Advise full team alert status in case of stealth failure
  
  We may need multi-vector extraction response. Are You Ready?"

 

[Neurotic]

Lorent comes closer and readies his pushing beam in case hydra comes after the group.