Chat Log - 2022 02 18 - Cosmological Quandaries - Cloak Check - Formatted - Story
Chat log with automatic formatting applied
BOB you are uphill from the Steading about an hour
Indigo: tugs on N'laea's sleeve
Indigo: N’laea? This is the elven afterlife place, right?
Lanek: hm. never been called chunky before.
N'laea: Yes.
Lanek: let alone that I SMELL chunky ..
Craigh: Hopefully stealth implies also not letting them get a whiff of us.
Indigo: So are there rules about killing in the afterlife? I mean, whenever we've run into giants we've had to kill them or get them to run away or we run away
Craigh: Valid question. Is everyone here but us immortal?
Indigo: I don't want to kill something here and get in trouble
N'laea: I... hmm, I do not know. I'd certainly advise it against any Elven spirits, but I do not know if these are Giant spirits or simply giants that found their way here.
Lanek: I don't wanna kill something and like unleash a demon or somethin'
N'laea: Their afterlife is not ours.
Craigh: pretends to write down notes.
Craigh: Step 1: sneak inside. Step 2: Ask giant if it can die.
Youtargim: I can do that
N'laea: Youtargim, do you know anything about Giant religion?
N'laea: I wouldn't care back home, but here.... I do not know.
Youtargim: I think that they believe they will go to their own reward to defeat their enemies
Youtargim: If they are here, where ever here is, then I would think that means they can die
Indigo: So it's okay to fight giants?
N'laea shrugs
N'laea: My gods will not care.
Indigo: Or should we just let the sneaky people try to get it and we fight if the sneaky stuff fails
N'laea: It may be expected.
Youtargim: Lots of giants understand negotiation and lots of giants only believe in using their club
N'laea slight smile
N'laea: Then I hope you know how to dodge when talking to them for us.
Youtargim: I am going to say what you want me to do
Youtargim: then I am going to duck and let the Countess fireball them, that is what Tiberius told me to do
Craigh: I *might* be able to get us past one or two lone sentries, if they don't see us first. But other than that, lurking is about all I'm good for.
Branwyn: looks at Tiberius
N'laea: It would be good to see what we are up against first. Perhaps sneaking would be best, but perhaps not.
N'laea: The Goddess of Moonlight expects the encounter to kill any weak adventurer so a fight is not improbable.
Branwyn: You really want to ruin the fun with me simply lobbing a fireball in their direction?
Craigh: Eh, if sneaking doesn't work, you can always switch to stabbing. Harder to go the other direction with it.
N'laea: True.
Tiberius: Well I am betting if it is a giant fortress you will leave enough for me to take too
Branwyn: laughs
Branwyn: True
N'laea: So we go see what we're up against and then make a plan. I would think a giant settlement would be easier to stakeout and see from not too far.
N'laea: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 12) [SUCCESS by 2] [d20 = 10]
Craigh: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 15) [FAILURE by 5] [d20 = 20]
BOB There is smoke coming up from the kitchens
Craigh: Fascinating rocks back here.
Bixi Fizzlebang: [SKILL] Alertness [MOD:WIS] (vs. Target 14) [SUCCESS by 13] [d20 = 1]
BOB there are no guards out front
N'laea: [SKILL] Ranger Tracking [2] [MOD:WIS] (vs. Target 17) [SUCCESS by 1] [d20 = 16]
Bixi Fizzlebang: [SKILL] Botany [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 14) [FAILURE by 6] [d20 = 20]
Craigh: No, really. Look at this glinty bit here. I don't think I've seen rocks that look like that before.
Craigh: I wonder if any of these might make good spell components?
Branwyn: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 19) [SUCCESS by 4] [d20 = 15]
Licornah : [SKILL] Observation (vs. Target 15) [FAILURE by 2] [d20 = 17]
BOB Branwyn looks at the scene below and thinks, they do not have any worries, they do not expect anyone to come after them
Branwyn: You should take some in case we want to come back here one day
Craigh: Yeah, let me see if I can pry any loose.
Branwyn: The settlement seems peaceful as if they did not have to worry that anyone or anything would disturb them
Licornah : Decides to spend time praying and giving thanks to Lurue. Squints at Giants' encampment but doesn't seem to notice anything interesting
N'laea: Hmm...
Indigo: Maybe they're nice giants
Bixi Fizzlebang: Is that possible, Indigo?
Indigo: Why not? If they have no enemies here, why wouldn't they be nice?
Bixi Fizzlebang: Will they still be nice when tell them we want something of theirs?
Indigo: Probably not
Youtargim: Can they be bribed?
Licornah : Could we take the shiny rocks and trade?
Youtargim: Do you think they really need that chain?
Bixi Fizzlebang: I mean, if it's that powerful, I'm sure they won't want to give it up
Indigo: If there was a chain that could control me, I would want it more than let someone else have it
Bixi Fizzlebang: Maybe we'll get lucky and they will be really stupid?
N'laea: If they know what it does.
Indigo: Nobody's that stupid
Craigh: I'm pretty certain they won't trade a mighty enchanted artifact for some shiny gravel.
Youtargim: Giants are generally not smart but they tend to be crafty
N'laea: Giants are... not my specialty. If you would like to try to talk to them first, I will not stop you. I am not used to traveling with such a big group nor one with diplomacy.
Indigo: Maybe some of us could talk and be a distraction while the sneaky people sneak? We could look for a weakness in the walls to sneak in another way maybe?
Indigo: Do the second first maybe
Craigh: I like that plan, Indigo. Scout it out for weakness before revealing our presence.
Indigo: smiles
N'laea: I agree.
Indigo: So let's go?
N'laea nods
Licornah : :: stands and readies herself ::
Craigh: can we stick to cover until we're close?
Craigh: I was too busy gathering rocks to check.
Indigo: goes to follow the elves
N'laea sneaks
N'laea: [SKILL] Ranger: Move Silently [PERCENT:Ranger: Move Silently] (vs. Target 67) [SUCCESS by 44] [d100 = 23]
N'laea: [SKILL] Ranger: Hide in Shadows [PERCENT:Ranger: Hide in Shadows] (vs. Target 59) [SUCCESS by 8] [d100 = 51]
BOB The steading is out from the hills and trees in a large flat area
BOB the primary thing you notice is there is a pathway up to the front doors that a large wagon can travel
BOB from where you are up near the cave that is what you see
Craigh: So, I see two entrances, and 2 places to enter by climbing.
BOB you have no idea if you can be seen
Raelynn cloaks herself because she has her own way of being sneaky
Craigh: Well, those are giants, so those doors are 15 to 20 feet tall.
BOB The map shows the huge timber stronghold of the local clan of hill giants. All outer walls are of logs of at least 3' diameter. Inner walls dividing rooms and the like are about 2' thick, and doors are great iron-bound log affairs of 1' thickness- single doors being approximately 7' wide and 16' high. All inside floors are of stone. Ceiling height varies from about 16' at the edges to 32' at the center, and there are great blackened rafters above which hold up the roof. The Steading is in a nasty damp area, where hard rain is a daily occurrence and wet fogs a nightly event. All wood in the place is very damp. (Normal fire will have only a 2% chance per round of burning or setting the place afire, and even magical fires will have only an 8% chance per round of doing the same.)
Indigo: Ohh!! What if someone puts on the oil of stone giant strength and challenges a giant to an arm wrestling contest for the chain?
N'laea: You like arm wrestling, do you not, Tiberius?
Craigh: Anybody know if giants have infravision and can see in the dark?
Tiberius: I have never arm wrestled a giant that would be fun!
Indigo: I dunno
Youtargim: Giants can see in the dark to a limited degree yes
Bixi Fizzlebang: glances at Tiberius
Bixi Fizzlebang: I see no reason not to let him try
Licornah : So... I think we should go over by where that small tower is on the left?
Indigo: But if the walls are high and there aren't guards we can just walk around and no one will notice us
Indigo: Sure
Craigh: This is true, unless there's someone in that tower on the left.
N'laea: It is a good starting point.
Indigo: Then we wave and say hello
BOB No visible entrance to the tower
BOB only that gate there at the road
BOB or the one on the side that goes to unknown and why
N'laea: Yes. If we do not want to try diplomacy, that would be the entrance to go for, but if we want to... attempt arm wrestling...? Perhaps the front is better.
Craigh: Whatever you think best.
BOB so front door
Bixi Fizzlebang: [SKILL] Alertness [MOD:WIS] (vs. Target 14) [FAILURE by 4] [d20 = 18]
Craigh: [SKILL] Find/Remove Traps [PERCENT:Find/Remove Traps] (vs. Target 35) [SUCCESS by 9] [d100 = 26]
Lanek: [SKILL] Find/Remove Traps [PERCENT:Find/Remove Traps] (vs. Target 70) [SUCCESS by 43] [d100 = 27]
BOB Lanek does not find any traps leading up to the door
Craigh: Huh, if we're going in openly, shoulda kept the disawareness spell.
Craigh: shrugs
Talwin: KNOCK..KNOCK...KNOCK...
Craigh: watches the tower and roof for spears or rocks.
N'laea: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 12) [FAILURE by 7] [d20 = 19]
BOB No answer
N'laea notices those glinty rocks
Craigh: [SKILL] Alertness [MOD:WIS] (vs. Target 12) [FAILURE by 1] [d20 = 13]
Bixi Fizzlebang: [SKILL] Alertness [MOD:WIS] (vs. Target 14) [FAILURE by 3] [d20 = 17]
Talwin: KNOCK...KNOCK...KNOCK...
Youtargim: [SKILL] Detect Noise [PERCENT:Detect Noise] (vs. Target 15) [FAILURE by 26] [d100 = 41]
Talwin: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 13) [SUCCESS by 2] [d20 = 11]
Talwin: GOOD EVENING THIS EVENTIDE
Talwin: HELLO THE HOMEFRONT
Talwin: MAY WE SPEAK WITH THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE
Indigo: Does the gate just open?
Craigh: [SKILL] Detect Noise [PERCENT:Detect Noise] (vs. Target 5) [FAILURE by 93] [d100 = 98]
Lanek: [SKILL] Detect Noise [PERCENT:Detect Noise] (vs. Target 55) [FAILURE by 16] [d100 = 71]
Craigh: Are the glinty rocks making a ringing noise for anyone else? Or just me?
Talwin: (One moment. That's next)
Talwin: Bran, permission to enter?
BOB So Talwin opens the doors
The place is bare, but there are many pegs along the walls, and various items of giant outerwear (capes, cloaks, etc.) and bags hang from them.
BOB There are the giants
BOB 2 snoring hill giants, supposedly guarding the entrance (H.P.: 40, 34). There is a nearly empty keg of ale between them.
Indigo: puts his fingers in his ears to stop all the loud giant snoring noise
Branwyn: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 19) [SUCCESS by 3] [d20 = 16]
N'laea: [SKILL] Ranger: Hide in Shadows [PERCENT:Ranger: Hide in Shadows] (vs. Target 59) [SUCCESS by 35] [d100 = 24]
N'laea: [SKILL] Ranger: Move Silently [PERCENT:Ranger: Move Silently] (vs. Target 67) [SUCCESS by 50] [d100 = 17]
N'laea puts finger to lips and sneaks by them, waving others to follow
Talwin: They are asleep (whispers)
Talwin: WHISPERS THEY ARE SLEEPING. WE’RE GOING TO GO THIS WAY GUYS; ARE YOU OKAY WITH THAT?
Bixi Fizzlebang: (also whispering) they might wake up if there is a lot of noise if we move on, though.
Talwin: OR DO YOU WNAT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE
Talwin: Shrugs Helplessly. If you want I'll kill them?
Bixi Fizzlebang: Is there a way we could just wake one and keep him quiet? Try to find out what we're heading into? (still whispering)
Talwin: He’s a giant? How will we do that?
Talwin: He can throw me at his buddy and then we'll have two.
Bixi Fizzlebang: I don't know, I've never seen a giant before! (still whispering)
Talwin: Smiles
Talwin: One moment
Talwin: Bran, what should we do? Scout, or kill?
N'laea: quietly, frowning, "We did not come to kill.
Craigh: looks for somewhere to take cover in the room.
Talwin: Gestures helplessly again
The place is bare, but there are many pegs along the walls, and various items of giant outerwear (capes, cloaks, etc.) and bags hang from them.
Craigh: [SKILL] Hide In Shadows [PERCENT:Hide In Shadows] (vs. Target 55) [SUCCESS by 17] [d100 = 38]
Talwin: Then I'm going to keep exploring
Talwin: Nods
This 80' long passageway is dim, shadowy, and generally deserted and ignored, for all of the feasting and fun is beyond in the Great Hall. A few torches burn smokily along either wall. There is singing, talking, laughing, shouting, arguing, wrestling, joking, and the like going on, so the place is a veritable din of noise.
Licornah : Let's not kill as our first option. I agree moving on is a good option.
N'laea: still quiet, We are after an artifact that leeches into the water. This place is damp. If we spot signs of the blight we are close.
Chief Nosnra: Advanced Effect ['RESIST: fire'] -> [to Chief Nosnra]
Branwyn: nods
Talwin: [SKILL] Engineering [2] [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 10) [SUCCESS by 9] [d20 = 1]
Talwin: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 13) [SUCCESS by 6] [d20 = 7]
BOB OK so that is what Talwin and N'laea see when they open those doors
BOB so you are all back in the first room
N'laea silently curses to herself
BOB N'laea and Talwin opened the doors, loud sound emerged and they shut the doors
N'laea: very quietly, 22 Hill Giants, the Chief, a Cloud Giant, Five Ogres, A Stone Giant, and a Bear.
N'laea: Having a feast. If we want to interrupt... we'd need a good plan to handle that if it goes south.
Talwin: Nods gravely
Talwin: I see why our two giants here are hammered
Bixi Fizzlebang: (still whispering) they just look drunk to me?
Indigo: But this will give us a good chance to explore other places
Indigo: If they are feasting
N'laea: Yes. Diplomacy sounds good in theory but that is... many. Exploring may be best.
Talwin: I do think we should have a plan. We have no chance against that many hostiles
Talwin: If we get caught, we should all have a fallback point and point of egress
N'laea: Sleep spells? Illusion tricks?
N'laea: You have invaded fortresses before, Talwin?
Talwin: I have survived invading fortresses before
Bixi Fizzlebang: What does egress mean?
N'laea: Then your input will be valuable.
Talwin: Egress means that if we are compromised and have no chance, a place to retreat where we can prevent us all dying
Talwin: We cannot be separated
N'laea: There are no windows, either. Fewer escape points.
Bixi Fizzlebang: cringes
Talwin: Separated will be our death, despite Bran's power.
Bixi Fizzlebang: I don't like the sound of that
Talwin: Shrugs. They are occupied with a feast
Talwin: We can set a limit of say, twenty min?
Talwin: Meet all back here in that time?
Indigo: We just don't get caught doing anything bad. Wandering around isn't necessarily bad
Talwin: Nods
Bixi Fizzlebang: We saw the tower from outside... I wouldn't think they would keep something so important in such an obvious place?
Indigo: If they are tossing it in the stream all the time who knows where they keep it
Craigh: Do you want Lanek or me to go upstairs quietly?
Bixi Fizzlebang: Well where do we think there might be something that would connect to the stream? The basement maybe?
Indigo: [CHECK] Wisdom (vs. Target 10) [FAILURE by 1] [d20 = 11]
N'laea: [SKILL] Ranger Tracking [2] [MOD:WIS] (vs. Target 17) [FAILURE by 2] [d20 = 19]
N'laea: I can go with you, Craigh.
Bixi Fizzlebang: [CHECK] Wisdom (vs. Target 13) [SUCCESS by 1] [d20 = 12]
Bixi Fizzlebang: If we are looking for where the... blight... is coming from, it definitely seems like we need to go lower down... they're not contaminating the stream from this tower
Bixi Fizzlebang: And um... I'm very afraid of not being together with 20 giants and a bear and whatever else you said was right there on the other side of the door.
Bixi Fizzlebang: I can handle the bear maybe but I have no faith in my abilities with giants.
Indigo: So we all go downstairs. That's fine
Nightshade, Cat, Elven : [Translation] Puuurrrrrsssss
Indigo: Who's going first?
Bixi Fizzlebang: nods, clearly relieved
N'laea : [Translation] You have an idea?
Indigo: Shhhh kitty!
Rubs up against Rae
Talwin: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 13) [FAILURE by 6] [d20 = 19]
Raelynn: Shh, I'm trying to remain hidden!
Raelynn: What is it?
Talwin: [SKILL] Engineering [2] [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 10) [FAILURE by 5] [d20 = 15]
Talwin: Rolls eyes points up. Snoring from above
Bixi Fizzlebang: So do we want to try one of these other doors, or go back outside and try the other entrance we saw?
Youtargim: [SKILL] Detect Noise [PERCENT:Detect Noise] (vs. Target 15) [SUCCESS by 8] [d100 = 7]
Youtargim: I do not hear anything back there,
Youtargim: Who wants to go first?
Craigh: I can
Tiberius: Ready to follow you in Bixi
Craigh: [SKILL] Observation [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 15) [SUCCESS by 9] [d20 = 6]
Craigh: looks through the doorway
Bixi Fizzlebang: looks terrified and frantically shakes head
BOB Craigh sees it is not locked
BOB looks to be a solid door
BOB smaller than the others you have seen so far
Craigh: quietly opens the door and looks through
Craigh: Hallway, empty. Follow carefully.
Craigh: heads up the corridor.
Craigh: is going to peek around the hallway corner before listening at doors.
Craigh: Giants can't fit in here.
BOB Point for Craigh
Craigh: looks down the next hallway.
Indigo: Is that a good thing?
Talwin: Well, a safe place from Giants at the very least Indigo
Talwin: We might have better chances here
Talwin: if it comes down to an all out brawl.
Talwin: [SKILL] Engineering [2] [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 10) [FAILURE by 2] [d20 = 12]
BOB No one in sight
Bixi Fizzlebang: [SKILL] Botany [MOD:INT] (vs. Target 14) [SUCCESS by 11] [d20 = 3]
BOB You have this hallway, Tiberius closed the door behind you
Craigh: Double door down this hallway on the right. Go on, or try one of these doors?
Bixi Fizzlebang: looks up
Craigh: tries the door in front of him, gently.
BOB Into another hallway
BOB still empty but three more doors down there
Craigh: At a guess - servants quarters.
Bixi Fizzlebang: Small servants?
Craigh: same size as us.
Craigh: But this path has less visibility. Less chance of being seen from a distance.
Bixi Fizzlebang: If we are in servants quarters, this might be a good area to find stairs that go down... maybe they have to transport things from storage basement?
Craigh: goes back to try the door by Indigo.
Craigh: Ready, Indigo?
Indigo: Sure
Craigh: peeks through.
The place has 10 cots, 10 boxes, 4 stools, 1 table, 2 benches, and with a few cloaks, some hides on the floors and walls, etc. A small chest on a stool in the northeast corner of the room.
Indigo: Let's open the chest!
Craigh: Do we want to take the time to rummage, or keep on?
Craigh: I'm game. Branwyn?
Branwyn: A quick look will likely not hurt
Craigh: unless it's trapped.
Craigh: grins
Branwyn: I wouldn't spend much time opening all these boxes
Craigh: Locks aren't my specialty, but I'll give it a shot.
Craigh: goes to the chest.
Craigh: opens the chest.
BOB A small chest on a stool in the northeast corner of the room contains some dwarven and elven ears, and one of them has an earring in it
Craigh: Craigh salvages the earring, but leaves the ears.
Indigo: What was it?
Craigh: Ears. Trophies. One had an earring.
Craigh: Looks like dwarf and elf.
Indigo: Yuck! Why would you wanna keep ears?
Craigh: At least, these are hairy and those are pointy
GM: [TABLE] Giants Sack Contents = [d100 = 25]
Cheese hard, Slightly moldy and stinky
Indigo: Let's go
BOB That is what Bixi finds searching through the pockets and sacks
Craigh: I keep body parts of some creatures we kill. Hunters keep deer antlers. And so on.
Craigh: Craigh goes back to the door.
[3x] Boulders, small
Indigo: I think they would just smell and then get all rotten
Craigh: Left or right?
Indigo: You're leading
Craigh: will listen at this door
Craigh: [SKILL] Detect Noise [PERCENT:Detect Noise] (vs. Target 5) [FAILURE by 2] [d100 = 7]
Youtargim: [SKILL] Detect Noise [PERCENT:Detect Noise] (vs. Target 15) [FAILURE by 27] [d100 = 42]
Indigo: I don't think anyone's here
BOB Neither of you hear anything
Craigh: open door slightly and peek carefully in.
The place has 10 cots, 10 boxes, 4 stools, 1 table, 2 benches, and various odds and ends.
Craigh: This is not quite what I trained for. Close, but not quite.
Indigo: These rooms are boring
Craigh: I'm going to check the table, see if there's any notes.
Indigo: We're in the wrong section I think
Bixi Fizzlebang: At least we haven't attracted any attention yet
Craigh: Boring means no dying. A successful spy mission is the most boring thing in the world.
BOB It has been just over a half hour so far that you have been sneaking around
Indigo: But it would be good to do this before they stop feasting too
Craigh: Running through the halls, killing everything you meet, happens only in bards' tales.
Craigh: we're going slowly and quietly
Indigo: There isn't anything to kill
Craigh: Anybody want to open a box? If not, on to the next room.
Bixi Fizzlebang: I would think when they're done feasting most of them will be so drunk we might be able to convince them we are a hallucination
Craigh: Pick a box, any box, see what prizes lie within!
Indigo: Probably just more ears or underwear or something
Craigh: Could be the Tiara of the Moon Goddess, you never know.
Bixi Fizzlebang: Please, no more goddess artifacts
Indigo: Not in a barracks room
Craigh: Youtargim, your door.
Bixi Fizzlebang: This one is bad enough
There are 6 beds, 4 chairs, 4 stools, 7 chests, and two tables in the room. Various skins and hides cover the floors, several hang on the walls, and there are giant garments on several pegs. One torch burns smokily at the west end of the room in a wall sconce; at the east end of the room is an unlit torch in a sconce.
Indigo: There sure are a lot of giant beds in this place
Craigh: I'll check the tables again, just in case. 7 chests will take a while to open, but I can if you want me to.
Bixi Fizzlebang: shakes head
Bixi Fizzlebang: I don't think anything valuable will be here in the common rooms
Indigo: These are better giants. They have beds and not cots
Craigh: Oh, good point Indigo. A better class of giant lives here.
Craigh: I'll pop open one chest, just to see.
Indigo: We could all take a chest and open them together
Craigh: Go for it!
Indigo: goes to one of the chests
Indigo: It's chest opening time!
Craigh: goes to another chest.
Indigo: Ready?
Craigh: If everybody's at the party, this is the best chance to do this exploration.
Craigh: Ready
Lisa (Indigo): flips open his chest
Craigh: opens his chest
Bixi Fizzlebang: opens chest
Branwyn: opens another chest
BOB Chests are empty or have misc. clothing in them with no valuables
Craigh: Well, that was exciting.
Indigo: More boring stuff
Craigh: Anybody want a shirt? It'll never shrink too small.
Indigo: you wanted to pull on that sconce Bixi?
Indigo: laughs
Bixi Fizzlebang: It seems a little out of place
BOB A torch at the other end is what appears to be an unlit torch, but it is actually a giant sword
Craigh: Trust your instincts, apprentice.
BOB it is touched the special illusion is dispelled.
Bixi Fizzlebang: Um... can anyone carry this?
Craigh: laughs bitterly.
BOB No giant but Bixi needs to roll a d20 please
Bixi Fizzlebang: [d20 = 20]
BOB She easily commands
BOB Note that the sword is unique, with 14 intelligence, 8 ego, and speaking hill, stone, and frost giant languages in addition to the common tongue and the language of Neutral Good (which alignment the weapon is). It detects enemies, but the sword has no other powers. It is +2 in general and +4 versus any sort of giant (scoring that plus in damage, of course).
Craigh: we have a potion of giant strength
Craigh: Talwin can probably use it.
Craigh: So, apprentice, now what must we do?
Bixi Fizzlebang: looks at Craigh, wide-eyed
Bixi Fizzlebang: shrugs
Craigh: Besides get one of these strapping young lads to carry your fabulous treasure for you, of course.
Craigh: We have to put a torch back in its place.
