Dr. Si's Curse of the Crimson Throne - Beta Group

[Dr Simon]

[sblock=Dj'hân]
The tunnel to the left leads into a dug chamber full of tables. Along the opposite wall, near the entrance, is a stack of cages with... something flapping inside. About the same size as Dj'hân or Majenko. A lone figure is busy in this room, working on something on top of the table. It is a small, blue-skinned humanoid with three toes on each of its bare feet. It stands on a box to reach the table, its back turned to the entrance, muttering to itself.

Down the other branch, two more of these humanoids are pushing a table towards the entrance. Swords and crossbows hang at their hips.

OOC: From their appearance, these creatures must be derro. Dj'hân has never seen one before, but they are often blamed for mysterious abductions and animal mutilations. Little else is known about these elusive beings.
[/sblock]

 

[Ambrus]

[sblock=Dr Simon]Would any of Dj'hân's various knowledge skills offer up more information about the derro? Do both chambers appear to be dead ends then?[/sblock]

 

[Dr Simon]

[sblock=Ambrus]
The derro are really an unknown quantity - nobody apart from the derro knows anything about them, so all that can be known, even with supernaturally-enhanced knowledge skills, I've already told you.

There is an exit on the opposite side of the left-hand chamber, but you can't see any from the right. Not that you can see the entirety of either side from the door...
[/sblock]

 

[Ambrus]

[sblock=Dr Simon]After a brief silent exchange with Majenko, Dj'hân turns and cautiously pads away from the odd creatures to exit the tunnel back into the ossuary room.[/sblock]
After being left in the dark staircase for few uneventful minutes, the three warriors can distinguish a very faint light emerging out of the darkness of the ossuary room. Arriving at the base of the stairs, the tiny urchin relaxes his grip on his glowing bauble somewhat; giving the quintet a bit more light to see by. Dj'hân raises a forefinger to his lips before offering his report to the three men in subdued whispers. "The tunnel branches to the left and right after a few yards in. The left side open up into a workroom with worktables, small cages, and at least one other way out at the far end. There's this queer little old man with pale blue skin, white hair, large milky eyes and three toes on each foot doing some work in there. I think he's a derro; the snatchers below. People in the Shingles talk about how they snatch people or animals at night, drag em off and torture em..." The urchin shudders in fright. "There are two others, both with swords and crossbows, in the other tunnel; they're moving a table around so I couldn't see what was past em."

 

[Neurotic]

Whispering:
"Let's try it this way: Manachan, you go silently behind the lone one and beat him into submission. The rest of us will follow and engage those armed two on the right. Hopefuly, this will go quickly and silently. On the right, I'll open with color spray trying to drop them immediately. Maybe Majenko could go with Manachan so we don't loose communication and as backup. What say you? Oh, I forgot, I can provide light for all of us once we start."

OOC: dancing lights as four globes once manachan gets into position

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Manachan acknowledges his friend's plan with a nod, gestures to Dj'hân and Majenko and moves into position for attack without verbal reply. His keen vision pierces the gloom easily as he retraces the steps of their tiny companion.

[sblock=Stat Block]

   HP: 33/33     AC: 16   AC(T): 16   AC(FF): 13
 Init: +06    ST(F):+04   ST(R):+05    ST(W):+07

  BAB: 01       CMB:+01     CMD:+13

Weapon                  Attack    Damage      Critical     Special
Empty Hand              +3        1d6            20/x2     +2 Flurry of Blows
Nunchaku                +3        1d6            20/x2     +2 Flurry of Blows
                                                           +2 CMB Disarms
Crossbow (Heavy)        +3        1d10        19-20/x2

Celestial Bloodline Powers:
    * Heavenly Fire: 1d6+3 Ranged Touch Attack (30') (6/7 per Day)
        (Damage vs. Evil, Heal Good 1/Day Each)

Spells:
    Cantrips			First Level (4/4 per Day)
    * Prestidigitation		* Chill Touch
    * Read Magic		* Mage Armor
    * Resistance
    * Touch of Fatigue

[/sblock]

 

[Dr Simon]

OOC: As you move to the junction you see that this plan will mean that Manachan will be out of sight of the others. Do you still want to go ahead with it?

Map attached. When describing it to Ambrus, I used left and right from viewers perspective, not as they appear on the map.

 

[Neurotic]

OOC: that's why Majenko should go with him. With telepathic comm we could know immediately if there are problems...

OOC: I understand I'm rushing it a little, feel free to ignore all actions until HolyMan chimes in.

As Manachan charges, Edmond focuses and four globes of light spring into being two following the monk and two lighting the way for the group. He moves toward the guards enveloping them in clashing colors.

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

OOC: Can Manachan get a line of fire with his crossbow before closing? If so, he'll try to catch the Derro flatfooted with a crossbow bolt, then drop the crossbow and close to melee.

. . . His keen vision pierces the gloom easily . . .

. . . four globes of light spring into being two following the monk . . .

OOC: Manachan sees perfectly well in the dark, and being followed by two globes of light will somewhat spoil the effect of his attempt to sneak up on the critter. Feel free to hog all four globes of light for yourselves.

 

[Ambrus]

Edit: Whoa. Backtracking a bit.

The saurian head cupped in Dj'hân's hands rises out of the liripoop atop a long sinuous neck before the hat disgorges the rest of the pseudodragon's body out onto the stone stairs. Straightening up, the dragon and the urchin regard each other intently for a few moments before turning back to the three grownups. As is becoming their habit, Dj'hân speaks for both of them. "Me and Majenko think that the lone derro is the one we should be worrying about. He thinks he has a better chance of sneaking up, stinging and putting the crafty derro to sleep quiet like."

The pseudodragon folds his wings tight and arcs his long sinuous tail up into the air to display its barbed tip for all to see. Simultaneously, Majenko's scales dull in color and luster until they adopt the mottled texture of the stone floor upon which he stands. The reptile's thoughts cross Manachan's mind "No offense."

Dj'hân continues. "How about we lead the three of you to the tunnel mouth and Majenko will sneak up behind the lone derro and sting him. We'll all be close by if if don't work; we can rush off in both directions to knock out the lot of em as quick as we can if need be. If Majenko does it though then he'll come back to us and we'll go after the other two all together."