Session Start: Fri Jun 01 18:49:07 2001

*** Now talking in #Nightbelow

<Nikki> it was getting difficult

<Saif> ok, there it worked

<Ari> he doesn't like me anymore

<Saif> go figure

<Nikki> anymore?

<Ari> I'm crushed

* #Nightbelow is being logged

<Nikki> that implies i once liked you. <eg>

<Thengal> Good morning everyone

<Saif> Hey Ted

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<Diana> hihi

<Ari> <G> rotten mage

<Nikki> pbbt

<Saif> Hi Seth

<Nikki> db

<db> Nikki rolled 1d20: [9]

<Nikki> 9 PC deaths tonight

<Nikki> do we have that many?

<Saif> 11 counting cohorts/familiars/companions

<Saif> so which two get to survive?

<Nikki> me and db

<Saif> db d11

<db> Saif rolled 1d11: [11]

<Saif> that's Thengal

<Saif> db d11

<db> Saif rolled 1d11: [11]

<Thengal> db

<db> Thengal rolled 1d20: [14]

<Saif> and Thengal gets to survive twice. Must be some cloning magic in the game tonight

<Castinar> LoL

<Castinar> Must be a surge <G>

<Thengal> Just my lucky day

<Castinar> By the way, the FR rulebook keeps wild magic (and dead magic) in

<Diana> saw that :)

<Saif> cool, I'll have to look at the rules and see how they do it

<Castinar> not much different from the original hardcover

<Castinar> I <think> they took that level changing stuff out though --- it's the zones, not the wild mages that were kept

<Nikki> well there's the part about being able to cast any spell up to your level for free, level times per day

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<Saif> Hey George - I need your updated Matar sheet/list of updates if you have them

<Thengal> Be a while before I can get some new books, Otherworld Games closed down, or moved of something

<Castinar> huh?

<Matar> i cant find it

<Matar> bugging the hell outta me to cause i know i put some time into it

<Saif> Do you need the most current copy that I have? It's the last 8th level sheet I've got you.

<Saif> I looked all through my e-mail and HD. I must have received it when I was deployed.

<Castinar> Must've moved --- send email to him (he's lurker on TOEE) and ask

<Thengal> Yeah, It's not open anymore where it was.

<Matar> ya go ahead and send me that

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<Diana> hi amber :)

<Thengal> Hi Amber

<Amber> happy first of June..and no 100+ temps!!! :)

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<Matar> barely broke 60 here

<Kat> hello

<Diana> lol chicago has been cold the last two weeks

<Matar> hmm that dont seem to be workin saif

<Amber> 106 yesterday, 93 today

<Saif> George - just e-mailed it

<Matar> ok

<Thengal> BTW for all of you who used to be in UK, Air Fete had over 400,000 visitors this year!

<Kat> Saif, how many people gave you the answer you were looking for?

<Saif> BTW, I've got the kids tonight. They are fighting in the sandbox right now. BRB

<Castinar> eh, all one of me Ted?

<Matar> im gonna run in to work - back in 10 mins

<Thengal> Saif was there briefly too

<Castinar> Stationed or TDY? Didn't realize he was there at all

<Saif> back

<Thengal> I'll have to ask, I thought he came up to UK when we all left Athens

<Saif> Me where?

<Saif> No, I went back to the 94th at Ft. Meade

<Saif> I've been through Mildy multiple times, but never stationed there

<Thengal> Ahh blame it on my old age then, I'm going senile

<Castinar> going? <VBG>

<Amber> hey! That's my excuse for not remembering things! :)

* Castinar can't talk --- getting old this weekend

<Saif> OK, looks like we've got a quorum here. Ready to do some business?

<Kat> How old, Galen?

<Castinar> 35 Sunday

<Saif> Any questions about what has happened/been talked about so far?

<Thengal> Oh yeah, Happy Birthday Galen (3 Jun)

<Amber> youngster!

<Saif> Galen - you've got me beat by a couple months.

<Kat> Happy Birthday, Galen

<Castinar> I just said <getting> old --- I've still a ways to go :-)

<Castinar> I can still win football (soccer) games, so I'm not old yet :-)

<Saif> ### So I'm assuming there are no questions?

<Castinar> trying to pull up maps again

<Saif> Crap, my daughter just rebooted my server.

<Diana> no questions no

<Castinar> btw, we've refreshed our spell since the grid, right?

<Amber> Oh, I'll be signing off at 9pm my time, expecting long distance call.

<Castinar> Question: Is the trap manned? Can it be triggered by someone other than the trappee?

<Castinar> And do the bolts fire from floor? Ceiling? Both?

<Castinar> *walls too?

<Saif> back - had to set up Brittany's program. Hopefully that keeps her busy for a while.

<Castinar> hehe

<Saif> Castinar - yes, the trap is manned at all times

<Saif> it must be triggered from its location

<Castinar> So, they cannot trigger it if we avoid the trigger, right?

<Saif> they have a contraption that fires multiple bolts at the same time (If you've seen Joan of Arc (recent one, not the Messenger) they use one in that.

<Saif> So fires from the machine which sits on the floor

<Saif> so straight down the tunnel

* Castinar nods

<Saif> no, they have a trigger and they pull it to fire the bolts

<Kat> If someone is invisible and they disarm a trap, does she become visible?

<Saif> it is a "trap" in the sense that you don't know it is there and then it fires at you. You can't disarm it like a normal trap. Now that you know about it, consider it more like a very large weapon.

<Saif> But Kat, in general disarming a trap would not cause somebody invisible to become visible

<Castinar> *FYI, Invis is not cancelled when you affect an inanimate object

<Saif> Any other questions for the derro?

<Castinar> checking something

<Thengal> So if Nikki fireballs it, that'd be like disarming it right?

<Saif> about the map, situation, whatever

<Castinar> Is the crossbow "trap" made of wooden material? If so, where did the wood come from?

<Saif> Thengal - as long as nobody was hurt, she would remain invisible

<Saif> Cast - you would know that there are fungi down here that grow to the size of trees and, when harvested and treated, are as strong as wood.

<Castinar> *Actually, I think that's as long as nothing is in AoE --- SR might mean something not hurt, but would still cancel

<Castinar> *Do I know if warp wood would affect that? Or do I need warp fungus <VBG>?

<Saif> Warp Wood would affect it

<Saif> Maybe we should call it "Distort fibrous celulose-based material"

<Castinar> rough scale on the map?

<Castinar> Hehe

<Saif> oh...

<Saif> crap, I just realized I haven't done the map up for this

<Castinar> Also, how big an area is it where they poor oil from? Just a small "room" above the murder holes? How many guards might be stationed there?

* Castinar pulls the cowl further over his head

<Saif> The area where the holes are is about 20' across

<Saif> maybe a little more (I'll have to see how much fits on the map)

<Saif> Yes, a fairly small room, about 20' to 30' across

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<Saif> Anything else? Matar - still talking with the derro. Do you try/ask/do anything else?

<Armatage> ah there it is - forgot to rename it

<Armatage> hmm gimme a sec - if anyone else had questions they should toss em out at this time

<Armatage> have we gotten a map of the actual layout of the trap and other defenses?

<Thengal> Matar, I think Saif is working on that now

<Armatage> ah keen

<Saif> no, just what you have been given with the drawing. (I'm working on what we'll be using as the combat.gif, with the grid and everything)

<Saif> The trap is a large machine that fires multiple crossbows at the same time. It is set across the tunnel.

<Castinar> It is triggered by them, not by us, btw

<Armatage> is there a way around it? is it just set off manually?

<Armatage> nod

<Thengal> OH, now I remember that scen in Joan of Arc, nasty thing that it

<Castinar> I think I can take care of the trap (warp wood should do a number on it)

<Castinar> There are still the murder holes (maybe 2 or 3 guards I would guess)

<Armatage> that's what nikki is for

<Castinar> *Any idea of the slaves that are kept here? Their condition? Where they work?

<Kat> to warp wood?

<Ari> Ari has the spiritual weapon spell..maybe can fight with it long range?

<Armatage> nah to stuff in the murder holes

<Saif> You can walk by it (it doesn't fill the entire width of the tunnel) and it is set of manually.

<Thengal> Cast, can ye mebbe stone shape da murder holes closed?

<Kat> Fireball the murder holes warp wood the machine

<Kat> Can you undo the warp wood?

<Saif> The derro don't seem to care much about the slaves or what condition they are in.

<Kat> Can we move the machine if we don't destroy it?

<Castinar> lost that spell (level) in the conversion --- someone else (amber?) has stone shape though

<Saif> Kat - it's not designed to be mobile. You could move it out of the way, but it's not something you're going to be taking home

<Armatage> what can Castinar tell us of these mage things they have?

<Thengal> I was thinking along those lines too Nikki, it'd be unwieldy though

<Thengal> Sorri, Kat

<Castinar> The Savants?

<Armatage> aye

<Kat> Does Nikki have item?

<Kat> With item, we could move it

<Castinar> Sorcerors --- but they can combine to cast higher level spells than any single can cast (I think that's the principle)

<Castinar> Sometimes Fighter/sorcerors

<Saif> No, with the derro sorcerers they can combine several lower level spells to cast one higher level spell, but more efficiently than most others can.

<Saif> I was trying to figure out how to convert them while TDY. Nasty process, especially after I put several hours into it and realized I was working with the wrong group of derro.

<Saif> anything else?

<Kat> ARe there other tunnels that go into the place?

<Castinar> Suggestions: They are affected more than other races by sunlight, so artifical sunlight type spells will be <very> handy

<Saif> Not that they know of

<Castinar> Also, keep anti-poison spells handy as well, as they are known to use the stuff from time to time

<Saif> brb, checking on kids

<Kat> About how many derro are in there?

<Armatage> do they have buildings and stuff or is it basically a dead end passage?

<Diana> whats Saif's web page again?

<Castinar> And, like any other Underdark race, they are proficient at fighting in a lightless environment

<Castinar> saif@bluearch.net

<Diana> thanks

<Thengal> www.bluearch.net/night

<Kat> http://www.bluearch.net/night/i/ph19.gif

<Castinar> those too <G>

<Saif> back

<Saif> how many derro - good question, checking

<Diana> working on revised spell list, let me know if you want it

<Saif> D - e-mail it to me when you're ready

<Diana> ok

<Saif> to Kat "Around 40 or so, although that number varies as patrols go in and out"

<Castinar> Do they have any animal "guardians" or any other than the Derro?

<Armatage> ok saif its on its way

<Saif> to Cast "Recently they have begun to patrol with spiders. They may keep them in the lair, although we don't know that for sure."

<Castinar> *like the huge flying posionous spiders on the map? <VBG>

<Saif> oh, they know that? :-)

<Castinar> Hey, I do have stoneshape, Thengal --- will have that memmed, Meilikki granting

<Saif> oh yeah, "And watch out for those huge poisonous flying spiders that they have. Sometimes they ride them."

<Castinar> oOOH --- i smell a new UD proficiency <G>

<Saif> ### Spellcasters should be working on spell lists while we're talking

<Castinar> I sent a couple changes --- good for just this battle. That okay?

<Thengal> "Mebbe between you and K'harn, ye ken close up all da holes, an leave dem standin' in a puddle o' dere own boilin' oil. Heh heh

<Kat> "Flying spiders? wow" Kat mumbles.

<Saif> BTW - slight change on the boiling oil bit. The holes are rather wide (a couple feet across) so they drop rocks and flaming bundles of rags/fungus down them, not hot oil.

<Thengal> Cast, you gonna teach Amber how fa ride one o' those flying spiders?

<Castinar> Um --- I don't know about that... You remember.......

<Amber> *not sure she wants to learn, can they fly the same as she does now? sides, no spider fear now. :)

<Amber> *Although she may get it back...giggle

<Castinar> what I'm afraid of <G>

<Armatage> where is the base battle grid?

<Saif> http://www.bluearch.net/night/basegrid.htm

<Saif> note it doesn't show the updates on Matar

<Armatage> righto

<Saif> ### I'm going to go work on the updates to Matar on his sheet and on the grid. Please talk amongst yourselves and make plans for the fight.

<Saif> I'll pop back in every couple minutes to see if there are any questions.

<Diana> er... shouldnt I be 9th level? :)

<Castinar> Okay, we have two traps, which we can isolate quietly with spells

<Amber> *Amber has 3 delay poison potions but she needs the spells she has already 'prayed' for. Too low level for cure poison.

<Castinar> I think we can return the Derro's favor by the way --- those crossbow bolts we picked up will come in handy

<Armatage> mage armor doesnt stack with bracers of armor right?

<Thengal> Hmm, good thought, Any spare crossbows around? I still need a ranged weapon

<Kat> I thought you couldn't use one

<Castinar> correct, Matar -- both same types of bonus

<Thengal> That was pre-3e, I can use one now, but with a penalty for having only 1 eye

<Kat> So, did he have one on him, now that he can use it?

<Castinar> We picked some up in that fight with the Derro

<Thengal> No, I forgot to pick one up

<Saif> Diana - check on the 9th level on the grid. Changed.

<Kat> If not, does Castinar, Ari, or someone else, have an extra one in the house?

<Diana> keen

<Kat> Kat has extra bows

<Ari> Ari should have a crossbow around

<Thengal> Thanks Ari

<Armatage> Bohica has a x-bow that he doesnt necessarily need

<Diana> Ari and I should swap some spells for Neutralize poisons, as we know the Derro use them

<Ari> I took one Neutralize and 2 delay poison

<Diana> koo

<Diana> kool

<Ari> let me know if you want more and i'll see what I can swap out

<Diana> ill drop a spell and pick up one myself

<Castinar> can't get them

<Castinar> Dropped my CMW to get a stoneshape

<Ari> anyone have a problem with me dropping Freedom of Movement for a second Neutralize?

<Saif> ### The Basegrid has been updated with Matar's stats. Matar, please double check it

<Armatage> sounds good

<Saif> wait a sec

<Saif> still uploading

<Armatage> lesser restorations will come in handy too

<Saif> OK, now it's there

<Armatage> hmm if we're gonna put 2h0 as my primary we should probably put my shieldless ac up there

<Ari> lesser restorations.. sheesh do I LOOK like a cleric?

<Diana> oook.. lets see

<Saif> Cast - your spell changes are made (not on version on web)

<Diana> anything else? :)

<Castinar> thanx

<Armatage> hmm and shouldnt it be 21/16?

<Ari> ok George, picked up 1 lesser restoration. anything else?

<Saif> Matar - Bohica's spells done

<Armatage> hmm create candy cane spell?

<Ari> no taking candy from strange drow

<Saif> Matar -check on the AC and 21

<Kat> Can Bohica, Diana, Nikki or someone else, make the flaming sphere and guide it up into the hole? There should be a lot of oil to burn there.

<Diana> no :( dont have that spell

<Castinar> flaming sphere won't work (can't direct it up)

<Castinar> Fire arrows?

<Armatage> fireball?

<Castinar> rock with flaming rag tied to it?

<Diana> i do have a fireball memeorized

<Castinar> *Hmm nother question for the Derro

<Kat> How close to the holes does one haveto get to fire an arrow up there?

<Thengal> besides, look at saif's earlier note, they don't throw oil, but rocks and other things

<Kat> How big is that crossbow machine? How much fire damage can it take?

<Saif> Pretty much directly under them - ie if you are firing up at them, they can be dropping down at you

<Castinar> How do they get up there? (Ie where will they be exiting the cubbyhole when we flush them out)

<Ari> if it helps K'harn can soften stone

<Saif> Kat - pretty big, lots of wood, so "several rounds" of fire to destroy it

<Saif> brb, kids crying outside

<Nikki> sorry. back. am i dead yet?

<Armatage> twice

<Nikki> cool

<Armatage> we had ari raise ya the first time

<Kat> Not yet. Just one more stomp by the giants.

<Armatage> need to memorize before she can do it again

<Saif> back

<Nikki> VP dropped in for a chat

<Armatage> think im all set

<Kat> Nice chat?

<Nikki> i still have a job. must've been

<Armatage> where do the savants usually hang out? do they stand watches?

<Kat> Is a work force reduction going on?

<Castinar> They've got their own cavern in the back

<Nikki> work force reduction? yeah a bunch of people got axed.

<Armatage> do we have a wall of force or fire or something that will separate them from the peons and let us divide and conquor?

<Saif> ### Katrina - the party has time to swap out some of the spells in your ring, if you want to do that. Let me know yea or nay.

<Kat> If Nikki puts a fireball into Katrina's ring, we could have many fireballs attack them in the same round.

<Kat> Like, 4

<Ari> I dont have afire walls and such but I have sound blast that may stun one or two for a bit

<Armatage> boh doesnt have any memorized

<Saif> Matar - they hang out togehter in that back room. They rotate on patrols with the derro warriors, so if a patrol has recently returned or is about to go out they may be with the warriors somewhere. Otherwise they'll be in their cavern.

<Armatage> do they know where and when they patrol?

<Nikki> time for me to head home. dont get me killed a third time. ill login from home in a hour or so.

<Saif> Kat - let me know one way or the other. That's the last update I need then I'll put up the grid for the upcoming battle.

*** Nikki has quit IRC (Leaving)

-> *Ari* did you only change one or two spells with the second revision? If so, just let me know what they are. That will be faster.

<Kat> Does anyone have Shrink Item? We could put it into Kat's ring. She can sneak up to the machine. Shrink it and take it back to the group.

<Thengal> Sorry, I don't have that spell memorized

<Kat> Kat suggests that the MM's are removed and replace with something that will aid a party member, like a slow poison or CMW.

<Thengal> Though Protection from normal missiles should render it useless against one or two people

<Amber> didn't Saif say we had time to swap spells in the ring? I'd assume that would mean you could do the spell and then mem. the ones you need??

<Castinar> don't see prot/missiles anymore --- what's it called now?

<Ari> ***need to put Christopher to bed. brb

<Armatage> dodge

<Saif> So Kat - what do you have done?

<Castinar> did someone have Ag's scorcher pre-3E?

<Armatage> diana i think

<Castinar> Thought so --- you still have it Diana? It's in FR book now, if now

<Kat> Does the group have MI to replace the MM?

<Castinar> not

<Thengal> Prot. from Arrows now, pg 239 ph

<Kat> It might make them think that Kat is a mage with a bow

<Kat> If she has MI on

<Saif> * Anybody else find it strange that clerics don't get a domain spell for 0 level spells? Just wondering.

<Kat> Any suggestions from the group?

<Saif> MI yes

<Diana> no, dont currently have it

<Amber> yes, I found it strange.

<Castinar> I find it strange Druids don't get Domain spells at all <VBG>

<Saif> Diana - you have it in your spell book, don't you? That's all that's needed. the other lair is a day or two away, easy to refill Kat's ring with whatever she wants/

<Armatage> ya boh can give kat a MI

<Kat> If not, Nikki has it

<Armatage> or a haste for that matter

<Castinar> blur is a nice one --- % miss chance is nice

<Saif> Kat - let me know

<Kat> MI - Haste is 3 levels. Blur doesn't make her look like a mage

<Diana> oh, my spellbook got smaller in the conversion

<Kat> Kat would like to look more like a target than the mages.

<Saif> So you swap the two MMs for a MI?

<Diana> I do have haste, but didnt get Ag's cause it wasnt in the base book. I can pick it up tho

<Kat> Saif, yes

<Saif> So is AG in the FR supplement?

<Saif> Kat, check, updating and posting grid now

<Castinar> yup

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<Kat> brb

<Saif> Grid is up on the web, brb

<Saif> So I'm assuming from the silence that the grid looks good so far?

* Castinar nods

<Castinar> Other than the fact I could use another 30 or 40 hp <G>

<Saif> Note that it is grid.htm now, not basegrid.htm

-> *Ari* try grid.htm, not basegrid

<Thengal> I thought Ari was going to cast Bull's Strength on me but otherwise looks ok

<Ari> she was..I forgot. sorry

<Saif> Ari - is this Bulls' Strength an extended version, or normal duration?

<Ari> normal

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<Kat> Saif, what page are you updating? Which grid?

<Castinar> resources page, current battle grid

<Kat> got it

<Saif> OK, I only want to put the extended durations (essentially active whenever the party is moving) on the grid in blue. All other augmentation spells (including those that increase ability scores but only for a normal duration) will be in purple.

<Thengal> ok

<Armatage> well ari almost counts - its 10 hrs normal

<Saif> what the heck, 10 hours is close

<Saif> Ari, you want to roll the number on that?

<Ari> not really

<Ari> db hates me

<db> Ari rolled 1d20: [1]

<Ari> see

<Saif> It's a d4+1

<Armatage> heh

<Diana> lol

<Saif> Or let Thengal roll it

<Armatage> add d20 to yer abil score for 10 hrs

<Ari> Thengal yo need the str you roll

<Armatage> *shudder*

<Thengal> ok

<Thengal> db 1d4+1

<db> Thengal rolled 1d4+1: [2]

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<Thengal> Looks like its about the same

<Armatage> thats an extra +1 anyway

<Saif> OK, I'm going to update Thengal's sheet, the basegrid and current grid. Back in a bit

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<Ari> *brb Ice cream time!!

<Amber> *we taking a break now? I missed stuff when progrm went blooey.

<Kat> Looking for ideas about how to raid the derro stronghold.

<Kat> Do you have any ideas?

<Ari> *back

<Amber> Not really unless we can all go invisible...

<Saif> ### Diana - which of your 5th level spells is the domain spell?

<Saif> just finishing up the grid (again <g>) and we'll press

<Diana> Spell resistance

<Saif> FYI on the grid now domain spells are green and italicized.

<Castinar> where's my green italicized spell? <G>

<Saif> druids are too special to get them

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<Castinar> hehe

<Ari> they automatically float over to any drow in the area

<Kat> Was Thengal's buff going on the grid?

<Saif> yes, it will be there as soon as I get Amber's domain spells resolved and I'll repost the grid

<Ted> Sorry, server kicked me, am I still alive?

<Kat> great, I knew I didn't understand something

<Kat> Ted, you're in the same state as Nikki

<Ted> Ahh I see

<Kat> db roll me a twenty

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [18]

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<Kat> db that was almost a enough try again

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [11]

<Kat> db you blew that one

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [12]

<Kat> db high this is combat

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [3]

<Kat> db I'm not Castinar

<db> Kat rolled 1d20: [13]

<Kat> Say, Mages, how many invis do you have?

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<Kat> Say, Group, should we take out a patrol to lessen their numbers? Or, is it too risky, one might escape?

<Castinar> Depends on where they exit the lair and where they go

<Castinar> If they come out this entrance that we know about, we might be able to do that successfully

<Saif> ### grid.htm is updated again

<Armatage> i was thinking that - never got an answer tho

<Saif> There is only the one known entrance

<Armatage> do the derro know the route and timing of the patrols?

<Castinar> The other thing to consider: will they suspend "normaL" raids now that their little watchpoint has been vandalized?

<Saif> No, they don't know the route or timing. Derro don't work well on fixed schedules.

<Saif> yeah! Jamie's home. brb

<Saif> back

<Saif> OK, so what's the plan/

<Saif> ?

<Kat> fire many arrows

<Thengal> Go in, kill everything, go home

<Ari> there has to be a hot bath in the plan someplace

<Thengal> That's after the go home part

<Kat> kill everything, except the slaves

<Kat> You forgot a phrase in your plan

<Saif> So are you ready to start casting the short-term spells? Or do you want to plan a little more?

<Thengal> OK, I can live with that change

<Kat> It would be bad to kill the ones we came to rescue.

<Armatage> well we cant really plan much more with what info we have

<Castinar> Better not kill Jellenneth <G>

<Kat> Have Castianr and Kat scout the place out.

<Castinar> Should we attempt a spying mission?

<Armatage> sounds good to me

<Ari> who wants the delayed poisions? lasts 10 hours

<Saif> OK, so what do Kat and Cast (or whoever goes) want to do?

<Ari> I have 2

<Thengal> Best to hold on to those until after someone is affected

<Kat> Get invis on and combat empathy on. Sneak up to the entrance. Check things out. Return to group.

<Castinar> Scout objectives: Go in quietly, mark where the guards are, condition of slaves

<Saif> So both K and C go?

<Armatage> boh will invis Kat

<Castinar> I assume you plan on tahking the high road, Katrina?

<Kat> aye

<Saif> Kat - what form? Bipedal?

<Kat> Ari, how long does that last?

<Saif> Cast - your own form?

<Castinar> I'll try to get a look at the Savants quarters

<Castinar> Um I think so, at least until I see one of these flying spiders

<Castinar> Then I might change

<Saif> k

<Saif> so you try to stick together via the combat empathy?

<Kat> A cat riding a flying spider

<Kat> That would be cool

<Kat> bipedal form. Unless, it's completely dark.

<Saif> Any other preparatory/precautionary spells?

<Saif> Kat - not completly

<Castinar> might be best if we went to separate rooms -- cover more area quicker?

<Kat> Let's first worry about getting through with out the bolt machine killing us

<Amber> *no spells here till scouts get back and find out when the battle starts.

<Saif> OK, so ready to do this?

<Castinar> prot/elements

<Saif> what element, Cast?

<Kat> ok, you check the slaves, I can check the mages.

<Kat> Meet back someplace out side.

<Kat> If we get caught, we can get rescue with the group attacks.

<Castinar> last 50 minutes -- element, hmm...

<Castinar> acid I think

<Saif> ok

<Saif> Spells are cast

<Kat> Does anyone have any nondetect spells?

<Saif> How far back does the rest of the party want to be? The tunnels in this area are somewhat smooth, so there aren't many good hiding places for a large party

<Castinar> what are derro doing while we scout?

<Saif> Three miles back is the first large side cavern

<Saif> There are a few others closer, but you won't be completly out of sight from the main tunnel

<Saif> unless you use magic

<Saif> Cast - hold that thought

<Saif> Matar - how far back?

<Saif> Is anybody from the party other than Cast and Kat still paying attention?

<Ari> yes

<Diana> yessir

<Saif> OK, Ari, how far back does the party want to be when C and K go in

<Ari> but dont ask me combat questions <G>

<Kat> Cast, what are we going to learn from this?

<Amber> aye

<Armatage> aye

<Armatage> bout .5 mile

<Castinar> Guards readiness, positioning, numbers

<Castinar> Condition of slaves

<Thengal> I'm here too

<Kat> It might be bad to go past the guards

<Saif> K, 1/2 a mile back. If a patrol comes along there is a fairly good chance you'll be seen

<Kat> That crossbow machine may fire.

<Castinar> They have to fire it manually, it's not tripwired

<Armatage> we'll watch to the rear - if cast and kat run into patrol they should come tell us

<Saif> OK, the party is half a mile from the derro lair. Cast and Kat slip forward towards the lair

<Castinar> what are derro doing while we scout?

<Saif> Kat - are you on the ceiling or walls? Near center or edge if ceiling?

<Castinar> *Shadow will keep an eye on them (as will Hunter)

<Kat> Near edge of ceiling and wall.

<Saif> OK

<Amber> *Is there a small ledge above ground where group waiting that Amber could fly up and keep guard from there? if so, she will watch back trail from there.

<Kat> Are we both invisible, or does Castinar's cloak make him invisible?

<Saif> The first thing you guys notice is that you come to the fork before you see the murder holes

<Castinar> Not invis with cloak, but can hide very well

<Saif> Amber - not really, the ceiling is only about 20' high here and mostly smooth.

<Amber> k

<Saif> Cast - check on cloak (and boots, I assume)

<Castinar> Boots?

<Saif> Don't you have elven boots?

<Castinar> Ah, no, Shadow has those

<Amber> *still watching and listening, etc.

<Saif> Oh, I have you still having them

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*** db sets mode: +o Nikki

<Castinar> I'm worng

<Saif> That will make it a little different - you'll have to make some move silent checks to get past guards if you see them

<Castinar> Shadow has something else

<Castinar> Sorry

<Nikki> I kill them all.

<Saif> k, so cloak and boots on Cast

<Nikki> And then I talk to the monsters about splitting the loot.

<Saif> So what do you two do? Split up, look around?

<Castinar> Shadow has the cloak of blending

<Kat> I go right, Castinar to the left. Yes, Castinar?

* Castinar suggest splitting up and getting in and out quicker

* Castinar nods

<Saif> OK, Kat goes right, we'll do her first

* Kat goes right

<Saif> The map is fairly accurate, the small side tunnel slopes up, the doubles back on itself

<Saif> There are stairs carved in the floor as it slopes up steeply

* Kat looks and listens for guards

<Saif> As it goes up, the ceiling height drops until there is only about 5' of room

<Saif> K listens, and soon hears the sounds of conversation ahead of her

* Kat has no plans on touching the floor.

<Saif> go down onto the stairs and sneak forward?

* Kat will listen to the conversation

<Saif> Do you speak dwarven?

<Kat> nope

<Saif> It sounds dwarven to you. You hear at least two distinct voices

* Kat will listen for names and sneak forward to look around

<Saif> BTW, the tunnel curves back a little. If there are holes in the area where you hear the voices from you should have seen the holes.

<Saif> Roll a move silently roll plz

<Saif> db d20+3

<db> Saif rolled 1d20+3: [14]

<Kat> db d20+12

<db> Kat rolled 1d20+12: [20]

<Saif> db d20+3

<db> Saif rolled 1d20+3: [6]

<Saif> db d20+3

<db> Saif rolled 1d20+3: [19]

<Saif> the voices don't change as you approach

<Saif> you get to the top of the stairs and see a short tunnel. Moving down it you see it opens up into a lit room ahead of you.

<Saif> In the room are three derro sitting around a low table playing cards.

<Saif> Stacked around the room are lots of rocks

<Saif> just a sec, brb

<Saif> back, sorry

<Kat> Are they eating or drinking?

<Saif> there are also several basketball sized (not that you know what a basketball is <g>) objects that look kind of fuzzy.

<Saif> And finally a lamp and several torches next to the lamp

<Saif> There are several boards laying across the floor

<Saif> They have cups next to them, but don't look drunk at all

<Saif> roll a spot check please

<Kat> db d20+13

<db> Kat rolled 1d20+13: [24]

<Saif> you notice a small bell on the far wall. A cord runs from it to a crack further up the wall

<Saif> k, now what?

<Nikki> brb. i broke my windows machine network and need to reboot to fix it.

*** Nikki has quit IRC (Leaving)

<Saif> btw, the ceiling height in here is about 5', 4' in some places.

<Kat> Is the cord between me and the derro or can I get to it and cut the cord without them noticing?

<Kat> How tall are the derro?

<Saif> it is on the far side of the room, past the derro

<Saif> Derro are about 4' tall

<Kat> Where is their keg of beer/wine?

<Saif> 3' to 4'

<Saif> Not that you see

<Kat> *hopefully, it's under the table

<Kat> or in a sag

<Saif> the room is sparsely furnished. This is a guard post, not a room they would sleep in

<Kat> sack

<Saif> looking for something, you do see a waterskin hung up on the far wall, but you can't be sure what it contains

* Kat will head back out. Also, try to judge where the cord might go

<Kat> kinda hard to put poison into a waterskin

<Saif> Judging from the distance, if the cord dropped straight down from where it was, it would end up on the left side of the tunnel or just beyond it.

<Saif> OK, let's do Castinar

<Saif> Castinar takes the left hand side

<Saif> he moves down the tunnel another 60' or so

<Saif> as he does so he begins to see the outline of the "trap"

* Castinar marks it's location for later

<Saif> It is not so much a machine as it is a barricade. Cast can see openings with bolts pointing out of them. It is about 15' long and 5' high

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<Saif> Well, that's the crossbow part, the barricade itself extends to the wall on the left hand side, and there is a 5' gap between it and the wall on the right hand side.

<Saif> So, go through the gap?

<Castinar> *Does it look like it could be tipped over to allow more room for maneuver? (for later?)

<Castinar> Yes, through the gap as I examine it

<Saif> Roll a move silent roll plz (with boots)

<Saif> db d20+3

<db> Saif rolled 1d20+3: [7]

<Saif> db d20+3

<db> Saif rolled 1d20+3: [20]

<Saif> db d20+3

<db> Saif rolled 1d20+3: [4]

<Saif> one good one

<Castinar> db d20+16

<db> Castinar rolled 1d20+16: [35]

<Saif> but Cast does his best boomer impression and slips in silently

<Saif> On the far side of the barricade you see four derro.

<Saif> One is up on the barricade on the far side

<Saif> he is watching down the tunnel

<Castinar> *on some sort of ledge?

<Saif> two more are leaning against the barricade next to a large lever and cog mechanism

<Castinar> *reloading mechanism?

<Saif> Yes, standing on a platform on the far side

<Saif> looks like it (the mechanism)

<Castinar> *notes to self <G>

<Castinar> *Can I see spare bolts nearby?

<Saif> the third sits on a stool, apparently reading a book by the wan light of one of the glowing spheres that are found in this area (just like with the watchtower)

* Castinar nods

<Saif> Cast studies the mechanism for a while and comes to the conclusion that derro could have never built this. It would make a tinker gnome proud

<Saif> There are 10 heavy crossbows attached to the barricade

* Castinar makes note of that

<Saif> a complex mechanism connects the cocking mechanism and trigger of each to the large centeral cog and lever

<Saif> There is also (C believes) a mechanism for all the crossbows to be reloaded, since each has a magazine with bolts positioned above it

<Kat> *The more complex the mechanism, the easier it is to stop-up the drain - Scotty.

<Saif> Looking for spare bolts, C sees a small barrel just past the 2 derro that looks about the right size to hold a lot of bolts, although he would have to go over and look into it to be sure

<Saif> so now what?

<Castinar> Quietly pass by and head toward the cavern marked slave holding

<Saif> K, back to Kat for a minute

<Saif> Kat, what do you do?

<Kat> sneak back out

<Amber> *brb

<Saif> back to the party out?

<Saif> or just out of that side tunnel?

<Kat> nay

<Saif> K, you're back in the main tunnel

<Kat> follow behind the wise druid

<Kat> er, Castianr

<Saif> K, you'll pass the same point, roll your move silent roll plz

<Saif> db d20+3

<db> Saif rolled 1d20+3: [9]

<Saif> db d20+3

<db> Saif rolled 1d20+3: [19]

<Saif> db d20+3

<db> Saif rolled 1d20+3: [9]

<Kat> db d20+12

<db> Kat rolled 1d20+12: [21]

* Kat will stay to the right

<Saif> you are premitted to sigh

<Saif> OK, so now where?

<Kat> Is the map correct?

<Kat> It splits again?

<Saif> yes, pretty much (my version on the grid may look a little different)

<Saif> yes, it splits

* Kat will go just to the edge of the guard cave

* Kat would like to get some count. Did Kat see a guard or the cord?

<Saif> The ceiling height in here rises to around 60'

<Kat> *The cord to the bell?

<Saif> No, nothing like that where you expected it to be.

<Saif> The room is also larger than pictured on the derro map, especially in the rear of the cavern

<Saif> There seem to be several small living areas set up here. Right now only one looks occupied.

<Amber> *back

* Kat will go up higher and look around for number of guards

<Saif> You see around a dozen derro. Some are sleeping. Some doing chores, others talking, etc.

<Saif> Without checking blankets a dozen looks about right

<Kat> Other exits?

<Saif> You do spot one that appears to be a leader type. His armor is a little more ornate, and the others do what he says.

<Saif> there are several small tunnels (a derro would have to crawl down them) leading out of this room at different points.

* Kat will get a description of the leader type for the others

<Saif> k

<Kat> After that, head back to the main tunnel and start heading for the savants' tunnel.

<Saif> Oh, one other thing both of you would have notice - all of these derro are wearing that same pin that you found on the derro manning the watch tower.

<Saif> OK, back to Castinar for a while then

<Saif> Cast, you move forward to the "slaves" cavern

<Kat> smell fishie too?

<Saif> No, you don't notice the fish smell, but you haven't been real close to any of them yet (within 10')

<Saif> This cavern is lit a little better than the others. The back half is flooded

<Saif> You make out about a dozen derro as well, including a couple in robes (savants)

<Saif> You also make out a little over a dozen slaves.

<Castinar> 1 guard per slave?

<Saif> All are female. Most are human.

<Castinar> Hmmm

<Saif> They are moving around, mostly in or on the edges of the water

<Saif> No, the derro are milling about, but not necessarily watching the slaves closely

<Saif> Some of the slaves wear shackles, while others appear to move freely.

<Saif> what do you do?

<Ari> *slap the DM for enslaving women

<Castinar> Um -- those that aren't shackled -- how do they appear?

<Castinar> Looking for signs of mental control, defeatism, or anthing else differing them form the others

<Saif> all move around slowly, they all look very unkept, you get the impression their spirits were broken long ago

<Saif> You believe those with leg shackles do appear in slightly better shape than those without, once you compare them.

<Castinar> "fresher" so to speak

<Saif> One, in fact, looks rather healthy, and she glares at her captives once and a while, behind their backs, of course

<Castinar> Is.. do any appear to match the description of Jelenneth?

<Nikki> *Any of them look like Castinar's "type"?

<Saif> No, none look like Jelenneth

<Saif> * no, but some of those derro in their robes... <smack!>

<Castinar> Hmmm... okay move slowly toward the pool of water

<Saif> Ok, you move forward

<Saif> As you do so you get a better look at the slaves

<Saif> most are human, but you do see an elf and a dwarf, both with shackles

<Saif> You also become aware of several derro standing around in a corner away from the others. Something is happening between them and the wall, on the ground.

<Saif> The water is rather murky. you recognize a small fungus farm. You also see that a couple of the slaves have simple tridents and appear to be fishing in the water.

* Castinar nods

<Saif> The water does run through the cave and isn't stagnent, except where blocked to form the small garden area

<Castinar> What are the rest of the slaves doing?

<Saif> now what?

<Castinar> *Check, running water

* Castinar check on the gambling briefly <G>

<Saif> Most of the slaves seem to be tending to the fungus farm or trying to catch something in the water. One is washing things in the water. A couple are sharpening weapons (under the close watch of a derro)

<Saif> As you draw close your stomach turns. It's not gambling. There is a derro on the floor laying on top of a slightly struggling female. What really gets your blood burning is when you see pointed ears on the female.

<Castinar> Uh oh

<Ari> *ok.. EW

<Castinar> Self control check here ---

<Castinar> db d20-100

<db> Castinar rolled 1d20--100: [-89]

<Castinar> Oops, failed <VBG>

<Ari> *kill them all

<Thengal> *Slowly

<Castinar> I mark them for special treatment

<Saif> K, anything else?

<Castinar> I take a long look at them so I will recognize them, then quietly leave

<Nikki> * you're all so year 2001 judgemental. this is standard practice for the place and time. have an open mind about it

<Saif> OK. The one raping the elf was another of the command types

<Saif> Back to Kat now

<Ari> *not when its happened to your character. so stuff it mage

<Saif> Kat moves forward towards the "savants" chamber

<Nikki> *im sure no one would tell your character about that part.

<Saif> This chamber is almost as large as the other, and the ceiling is even higher, up to 100' in some spots.

<Thengal> *Shadow Gives the mage a dirty look too

<Nikki> *or the part where the ranger didn't even try to distract them

<Saif> There are actually furnishings in this room, stuffed chairs and a few beds

<Castinar> Trust me, I thought long about it

<Saif> The light is also stronger in here (like in the slave cavern)

<Saif> You see about half a dozen derro in here, all wearing robes

<Saif> most of them are sitting around, apparently arguing over a passage in a book.

<Diana> afk one sec

<Saif> Another is sleeping, and another reading by himself in a corner.

<Saif> what do you do?

<Kat> Any snake faces?

<Saif> no, no illithid in sight

<Kat> any spiders?

<Saif> although there are areas of the room you can't see from where you are

<Saif> roll a spot check

<Kat> db d20+13

<db> Kat rolled 1d20+13: [27]

<Saif> As you look around a glint of something shiny up along a wall catches your eye, watching that location you see a little movement. The spiders must lair up on the walls, you decide.

<Kat> How high up am I and how high up are the spiders?

<Saif> you are about 20' up, the spiders look more around the 60' range and on the other side of the cavern (you are still near the entrance0

* Kat will carefully move around the cave to look into the area she can not see. Also, very watchful for posionous flying spiders.

<Saif> the area you can't see into is sectioned off by a large rock formation. On the far side you see that there are some rather nice furnishings, the ground covered in rugs, etc.

<Diana> back

<Saif> There you also spot another derro, this one wearing silk robes with a very shiny collar. As you feared, he is talking with an illithid.

<Saif> The illithid doesn't look happy. The derro doesn't look very happy either.

<Kat> Can I hear what they are saying?

<Saif> you'll have to get closer to try and make out words, but from this distance you can tell the derro is speaking dwarvish again, and you don't hear the illithid speak at all

<Saif> do you try to get closer?