Swallowed Up

NAME: Swallowed Up TYPE: Standard PREREQUISITE: None MISSION LEVEL: 2 SLOTS: 6 DESCRIPTION: When we were preparing the land for using it for growing crops, the earth opened up and swallowed our cow and plow. It came out of nowhere! Please send someone to investigate what on earth happened. Or in this case .. what under the earth.

"Whoa, yeah, a mysterious sinkhole!" Radid eagerly pulled the job posting off of the community board. "I bet it's dark, and flooded, and infested with monsters, and connects through a series of previously uncharted tunnels to ancient ruins that still pulse with palpable evil. Anybody else want to come check it out?"

Sign ups are in on the tabletop in the journal for the mission under upcoming missions .. I put you in there

The directions you find on the job posting are rather vague.  Only describing the direction and approximate distance from the outpost.  Your request is to find out what happened and why.  Report back to Agela when you return.

Issachar looks at the direction.   Unngh.  Hopefully we can use this to find a big hole in the ground, Kizzak.   Issachar begins walking in the direction the map indicates.

Kizzak grunts, motions Harsk to his side, and follows behind Issachar.   I hope I have the right spells ready for this big bleedin' hole.  It's prob'ly an old gobbo lair or sum'tn like that.

Radid casually fell into stride next to the man with the map. " So, you're Issachar right? I'm Radid. I'm blue because of some water genie blood in the family. Have you been on this island long? Are there a lot of goblins here? "

Well met Radid.  Does that mean you can swim?   Issachar grins.   Yep, I'm Issachar, and this is my friend Kizzak.  We fought some water goblins on the boat ride.  Can't say as I've seen any others since we made landfall.

" I'm not as fast as a merfolk, but sure, I swim. " Radid walked a few paces in silence before he continued chatting. " Water goblins, you mean like grindylow, with tentacles? Whatever you did to them worked, because they didn't give us any trouble when we sailed out here. There's only the one ship that sails out here, The Iron Kelpie, right? Do you know if anybody's making plans to build a new ship here? If they are, I want to meet them, because that's what I do when I'm not busy being a wandering martial artist. How about you? Are you a hunter full-time, or do you and Kizzak do something else here too? "

Azariah, the huge coal skinned tiefling was following along behind them, the tiefling largely quiet as he listened to the conversation. When he heard Sam comment that however, he looked up and commented. "My apprentice and I just finished a rowboat, it's for sale if you want it." "No leaks this time Uncle?" Asked Aliiszha, Azariah did not reply Behind Azariah in turn trailed Aliiszha, his niece, standing substantially shorter than her uncle, the young mage walked in heavy robes to hide her deformities. Her large wizard hat showing only a cute black skinned face beneath, red hair spilling out from around a pair of curled ram horns, both as dark as her skin. Her right arm swayed uselessly as she walked. Beside the girl came her bodyguard, dressed in what was once likely fineries, now matted by dust, the tiefling's zombie ward kept pace with the group without complaint. 

As the party moves along, they easily locate the area that was being prepared for farming.  Several crude farming implements have been arranged by a small pile of wood near a felled tree.  The ground is still rocky but has been turned up by the plowing and preparation of several workers, none of whom are presently working or accounted for.  It is not immediately evident where a sinkhole might be with all the turned up land around and piles of rock and lumber scattered around in the field.   Perception Checks, Knowledge Geography // I'm not sure if Todd was able to get on yesterday so I'm posting to help this story along a bit.  

(Azariah rolled 14) (Aliiszha rolled 22) (Both perception checks, neither have kn. geography) Arriving, Azariah fell silent as he went to work, scouting around. Sensing a fight may be coming soon, the tiefling activated his claws. Fur rolled up and down his shoulders, as his arms grew bulkier, hands turning into brutal claws. His head became that of a wolf in turn, and the tiefling had finally completed his transformation, becoming a wolf on two legs, his entire bare torso covered in fur, along with that long, stinger tipped tail. He stood like that for a moment, eyes searching, before letting both abilities fall into their passive state again, turning back into his normal, massive tiefling self. Aliiszha tried not to show it, but all around could see she was rather intimidated by the sight of her uncles transformation. "Veeery scary uncle, if I had a red hood I'd be quivering in my boots." She joked, as she pointed for her zombie to search, sending it to and fro like a quartermaster. If it disappeared she'd know she'd found the sink hole (Azariah's claws will last 2 hours, his bite will last 2 minutes)

Radid glanced back at the girl's zombie and laughed nervously. " Haha well, I'll be up front with you—I don't have a lot of cash to put down. But I am looking for partners to explore some of the coastal waters. I have this plan where ... hey, is that the hole we're looking for? " Perception rolling 1d20+7 (6)+7 = 13 Knowledge(geography) rolling 1d20 (12) = 12 (Untrained) = 10

Issachar and Kizzak begin searching the area in a gridlike pattern, always moving across each others line of search.  Harsk jumps around and rolls in the fresh turned dirt almost like a Puppy.  After a few minutes, Issachar looks up.   I think I found it, boys.  Looks like a sinkhole. (OOC: Issachar Knowledge (Geo) 9, Perception 19, Kizzak Knowledge (Geo) 12, Perception 10, Harsk Perception 7)

Hey guys sorry I havn't been able to get on. The party looks around .. although no-one really knows about the landscape they are able to spot a hole in the middle of the field .. it is 15 feet wide by 10 feet wide and leads down into darkness.  You approach cautiously.  Place your figures on the map where you would like to be.

Issachar's warning was a second too slow for Kizzak, who stumbled and almost fell into the hole.   Ho Kizzak, I said I found it and you almost walked right into it!   Harsk nimbly jumped down after his master with a wolfish grin on his face.   Is that wolf...chuckling? (OOC: Issachar Reflex 19 Kizzak Reflex 7 Harsk Reflex 25)

TIMEOUT

Once this is set up on the VTT you can place your tokens and then proceed. Please change your posts from above .. you have NOT fallen in a hole ... YET anyhow. TIME- IN

Issachar begins looking for a safe way down into the hole.   Kizz, can you see anything down there? (OOC: Darkvision 60ft Perception 16)

Azariah, why don't you and Radid grap some of them earth moving tools from the pile yonder.   Issachar said, waving towards the farm tools.   You look like healthy, strapping young men.  We might need to dig down there.  

Radid leaned his monk spade against the fallen tree and took up a digging spade. " Good idea. I'll bring one of these. " He approached the sinkhole less than cautiously, Perception rolling 1d20+7 (1)+7=8 (Also Darkvision 60 ft.) instead relying on his quick reflexes to avoid injury. Reflex rolling 1d20+5 ( 17)+5 = 22

The grounds rumbles under your feet as you approach the hole in the ground .  Everyone with in 5ft of the hole roll reflex save DC  16  and everyone within 10 ft its DC 14 If you have knowledge geography and hit dc 12 you get a +2 bonus to your reflex save. If you fail you fall in the hole.  I will tell you what happens after i see everyones rolls.

Issachar and Kizzak approach the hole carefully with Harsk close behind.  Well, at least Issachar approaches carefully.  Kizzak feels the ground rumble and immediately trips over a loose stone and tumbles unceremoniously to the ground... OOC: Issachar Reflex 21, Kizzak Reflex 4, Harks Reflex 21

Azariah had been far back from the hole, watching the area around them and grabbing a shovel. Seeing Kizzax fall into the hole. He turns, and lets out a shout. "Back up!" Meanwhile, his young niece was simply watching in the back, with a crippled arm, she'd be no use digging and would probably need her uncles help getting down there in the first place. Though she did give a worried frown as Kizzax fell

Kizzak has to take 2d6 falling damage as the hole is 20ft deep.  When he survives I will post the rest of what happens ;)

Kizzak twists around frantically, reaching for anything to slow his fall.  A big root passes by just out of reach.  He lands with a thud, not moving... Harsk lets out a mournful howl... //OOC Acrobatics 12 to slow his fall, 2d6 damage = 10.  Kizzak is unconscious at -1 HP.

  As you look over the side of the hole you see a pitiful  site.  The broken mangled body of Kizzak laying on top of the farmers plow.  Next to it you see the rotting carcass of what is left of the ox that pulled the plow.  The smell rising up from the hole is one of putrid rotting meat.  The smell of decaying flesh is almost over whelming in its distinctiveness.  From what you can see from the top of the hole the ox has been torn apart and its innards scattered across the bottom of the hole.   From all of you I need Fortitude saves. DC 16 or you are overcome with the smell and are at -2 to all rolls as you try to keep from hurling up the remains of your last meal. Also you need to roll Init now.  And how are you guys going to get down into the hole?

Oh Apsu!  The stench!   Issachar turned and vomited up his breakfast (Fort 7).   I need to get down to Kizzak.  I've got to fight through this.   Issachar ran to the pile of tools, grabbed a pick and wedged it into the ground between some rocks.  He pulled the rope from his pack, tossed one end down the hole, tied the other off to the pick, and climbed down to his friend (Climb 19).   Kizz, are you ok?   He immediately assesses the damage and goes to work to stabilize Kizzak (Heal 18). //Initiative 21.04

Azariah and his niece alike struggle to keep down their dinner, and whilst she takes a few steps back, Azariah wipes tears from the acrid stench out of his eyes before scaling the rope Issachar had left behind. (Climb 17), Azariah stood over the pair, keeping watch for anything that might attack (Azariah, fort save 8, Init 13) (Aliiszha, fort save 9, Init 16)

Time Out .. Time In When Todd Posts Again

Fortitude rolling 1d20+4 (8)+4=12 " Ugh, I'm not gonna lie, that is some serious rank odor... but here I come anyway!" Sickened Climb rolling 1d20+2 (3)+2 = 5 (just enough for a rope with a wall to brace against) Sickened Initiative rolling 1d20+1 (7)+1 =  8 Sickened perception rolling 1d20+5 (16)+5 = 21 (darkvision 60 ft.) " Whoa, here comes a... "

The darkness at the bottom of the hole is oppressive.  You find the ground to be uneven and broken. You can barely see the remains of the ox and the broken plow.  Dirt, grass and small stone occasionally still fall down from the top of the hole.   Radid thanks to your darkvision you see 2 tunnels father in the hole that lead to somewhere......

In the darkness, a change comes over Issachar.  His face elongates into, almost, a snout.  His beard grows thicker, and his eyes gleam a wolfish yellow.   I have Kizzak stabilized.  I'm going to hide him behind this rock and go see what we need to eradicate from this lair.  That ox didn't eat itself... //OOC: Issachar uses Shape Change and takes on the Darkvision 60' aspect of a wolf.

Azariah and his niece alike both have dark vision. Azariah holds out his arms, and his niece lowers herself to the edge of the hole as best she can, letting out a squeak as she falls only to be caught by her much larger uncle. Their usual teasing forgotten for a moment, Aliiszha gives Azariah a grateful smile before both begin looking down the tunnels.

So all of you down here have dark vision? Just want to make sure. What are you guys going to do now?  and if the 3 of you want we can ignore time restrictions and keep posting in Init order if you like.

After making sure Kizzak is secure, Issachar begins to search the cavern for signs of passage,  casting about in a systematic fashion. //OOC: Perception 14, Survival 24

//ooc you may already be doing this but make sure you move your tokens around on the map each turn where you want them to be for that round.  You can talk as much as you want and coordiante but you only get one token turn with move and standard each posting slot.  

Issachar stalks through the caverns, sword drawn, ready to defend himself against whatever killed the oxen. //OOC: Attack readied against anything that looks to be attacking (Att: 9, Miss)

Thursday Slot 2 Moving this along ..  So you are exploring the cave .. the walls are covered in a thick black material .. This probably has to do with the great fertility of this place which also makes it good for farming (Knowledge Dungeoneering[12] reveals this information)  You can see that the oxen has clearly been eaten by something and, not wanting to be near the smell are on guard and begin looking for an appropriate exit.  you notice that smaller caves lead further in.  Issachar begins to explore a passage looking deeper into the cave revealing a second smaller cavity within.  This could be naturally made .. or possibly something else.   Suddenly, what appears to be a giant insectoid-like creature burst into the room.  It raises its mouth and arms and skitters towards the party.  It looks like some kind of overgrown cockroach.  This ugly beast drools green ichor from its clacking mandibles as it approaches, hissing loudly. Take your turns against this creature! Next Thursday Slot 3  you guys can post again up until 5PM EST in this slot if you did not and then again after 5PM.

" Yeah, left first makes sense." Radid spoke as he hurried after Issachar. " Obviously you know the basic rules of adventuring . Left for treasure, right for a fight... go up before you go down . Don't split up ." " Look out! " Radid gazed in horror at the giant bug. " I've heard of these things! it's an acorn! " Untrained Knowledge (Nature) rolling 1d20 (1) = 1 Barely gathering his wits, Radid tossed a shuriken towards the monster: Shuriken 1 rolling 1d20+4 (11)+4 = 15 rolling 1d2+2 (2)+2 = 4 If he has a full round to act, he'll flurry to hastily throw a second shuriken, which almost certainly misses: Shuriken 2 rolling 1d20+4 (2)+4 = 6 rolling 1d2+2 (1)+2 = 3

Azariah readies himself for the fight. Claws activated with a 4 power point augmentation. 1 Power point spent to activate wolf's howl as a move action. All abilities are active. Aliiszha activates her teamwork feat with her uncle investing essence into her powers to give the two of them latent awareness of where the other is. ----- Next time slot Azariah growls looking between the party, and the wounded animal and its protector, with a snarl. He directs aliiszha towards the party, and runs towards the animal and its friend, ready to defend them should anything come for them in turn. Aliiszha runs up behind the pair of adventurers, and fires a sliver of magic off at the beast, but distraught at its hideous appearance. She misses miserably.

Issachar charges and attacks, slashing the creature nastily.   //OOC: Charge Attack 25 with Elven Curve Blade, Crit Confirmed on 19, 20 Slashing Damage.

Thursday Slot 3 ok .. issachar kills one of the beasts that comes charging at him from a hidden room .. it takes a massive hit .. and falls back into its chamber .... taking another swing as it retreats .. it falls over in the chamber. In the other chamber Radid tosses shurikens at the beast as it approaches but they narrowly miss. The other hisses at azariah leaping and attacking but misses wildly //ooc .. i have correctly replaced the two ankhegs. Next Friday Slot 1

The creature recoiled in obvious pain, attempting to flee.  Issachar's blade slashed down in an overhead chopping motion, severing it's head from it's body. //OOC AOO Attack 21, Damage 12

Azariah moves to attack the creature in turn. Sprinting for it and releasing a pair of attacks on it (the map refuses to load for me, so could you please manage my token? I'm going to be at a friends house for the next 4 timeslots) Rolls 6 11 Azariahs niece loosed a magic spike at it 4 Turn end

Friday Slot 1: Hearing the sounds of battle from the front cavern, Issachar runs back, drawing his bow as he runs (40ft move).  As he slides to a stop beside a large rock, he nocks an arrow and fires at a 2nd creature attacking Azariah (Point-Blank Shot = 9) but misses badly as his ankle turns on a small rock.

Friday Slot 2:  Catching his balance, Issachar drops his bow and charges, drawing his sword as he runs.  His overhead chop (Charge Attack 21, Damage 12) slashes a large gash in the creatures abdomen, spraying ichor across Azariah's pretty coat...

GM Friday Slot 1 (sorry your GM did not post during slot 1) The ankheg turns on Issachar.  It bites him firmly and holds him securely in his mouth (Grappled = pink) It moves (5ft) and prepares to drag Issachar away from the others. Friday Slot 2 //OOC lets finish this today .. I will stay on top of it as long as my electricity holds up

Friday Slot 2: Issachar screams as the Ankheg sinks it's mandibles into his midsection.  The creature begins trying to drag him back into it's burrow.   Harsk, help.  Attack, attack!!   (Handle Animal 11).   Harsk immediately spring onto the creature, biting though it's chitinous shell (Attack 19, Bite 4, Trip CMB 18 fails).