Shadows of the Past
- Thread starter Azel
- Start date
- Original Fantasy
- Location
- Germany
As Artemis said, those rolls where both for Yaxkin. The Stone Man in the courtyard managed to beat your Sneaking roll, but I didn't include his roll in the update.
Nope, but you would get some for crawling down that shaft.
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[X] Try to climb up the shaft above the oven. There must be some way for the smoke to get out. (Can't take the codex along due to its size.)
-[X] Try to memorize part of the writing. So that you can replicate some of it. A line would be enough.
I doubt talking will work. It also went full murder rage by just noticing us.
I'm not too hung up about leaving the codex. We know where it is and got the iron discs as sort of proof.
-[X] Try to memorize part of the writing. So that you can replicate some of it. A line would be enough.
I doubt talking will work. It also went full murder rage by just noticing us.
I'm not too hung up about leaving the codex. We know where it is and got the iron discs as sort of proof.
- Location
- Germany
If we have no chance to ambush or prepare I'm fine with making it automatic.
Our only mechanical choice besides that is the positioning bonus/malus and in a real fight we'd all vote for a conservative tactic there, rather than the extreme number we took for the non-lethal test.
- Location
- United States
So long as you alway have Yaxkin make the decisions that have the best chance of survival we really can't complain.
- Location
- Germany
I generally try to avoid handing idiot balls to any NPC, let alone the PC. I originally thought about making your reaction to being spotted a vote, but decided against it when 2 of 3 options had a very decent chance to get you maimed or killed.
- Location
- United States
Yeah, I trust you to not maliciously get us killed like that. You've got my green light to automate any combat so we can get a longer chapter.
?Wait. Damn it.
The stone man is going to be set off and it's going to try to come in after us.
It already knows we're here, and is just waiting outside the hole.
- Location
- United States
Spirit talking could fail, thus setting it off further than it already is. Now it's content to wait us out. If we make it mad it might try to dig us out.
- Location
- United States
Metrux
Gentle Demon Lord
- Location
- Brasil
They seem to be golems in the old way, which means he can't go around orders, orders that probably stop him from destroying the place or going further in, since that wouldn't be good for a big oaf of a mechanized guard. Of course, this also means that other important places should have others guards or other forms of protection, but one thing at a time.
- Location
- Brazil
@Azel Will Yaxkin remember to tie a rope around the stone stone furniture before going down?
Ouch. Had to have sequence of low rolls eventually, I suppose.
- Location
- United States
Reasonable, and I hope you're right, but on the other hand these are potentially malfunctioning golems. Depending on how low our rolls are they might ignore old orders not to damage the workshop.
Please let this be the case @Azel.
Metrux
Gentle Demon Lord
- Location
- Brasil
Reasonable, and I hope you're right, but on the other hand these are potentially malfunctioning golems. Depending on how low our rolls are they might ignore old orders not to damage the workshop.
Please let this be the case @Azel.
Don't worry so much, worrying will tire your beauty and not help with the results :3
Chapter 9: Descend
- Location
- Germany
[X] Try speaking with the Stone Man. If it's still too crazed to speak with you, descend into the floor shaft.
1.6.17.10.8.0 - Seating of the Black Storm
You take a few breaths to steady yourself and slowly step back towards the door. The spirit might have been offended by your trespassing, but it might not be beyond reason and there is a sturdy chunk of stone between you and him. It feels a bit silly to bow to that door and a foot half glimpsed through the hole, but you don't quite know if the Stone Man might notice if you skip that part. "I apologize for my infraction, wise spirit. I meant not to anger you." It's only half a truth, since while you didn't want to draw his ire, you did want to sneak around him after all. No reply comes forth and so you try again. "Would you allow me to leave? I shall trouble you no more." Again there is only silence at your proclamation. Your master had told you that the Stone Men tended to understand spoken words, but were very unlikely to reply to them. Since he hasn't moved a single step from the door, he either didn't hear you or had no intention to let you out.
With that your gaze is drawn back to the shaft in the floor. It is not a tight fit for you, but still far to narrow to climb it with your pack. Carefully you wrap the valuable codex taken from this room into your bedroll to protect it before tossing the lit torch down the shaft. Your gaze lingers on it as it descends, revealing a steep drop before a bend in the shaft makes it tumble out of sight. Briefly you consider tossing down your pack too, but that would probably shatter every jar in it. Likewise, you untie your belt and stuff it into the leather sack. Without the torch, darkness has descended on the room again and you carefully lower your feet into the hole. You dearly hope this is a way out and not just a smaller hole to die in. With a final deep breath, you lower yourself into the shaft and drag your pack after you.
Endurance, DC 250 (smooth stone):
14 + 60 (Strength) + 60 (Concentration) + 60 (Endurance) = 194
6 Degrees of Failure
Tumbling!
Taking 1d10 damage from the fall: 4
26/30 Wounds
14 + 60 (Strength) + 60 (Concentration) + 60 (Endurance) = 194
6 Degrees of Failure
Tumbling!
Taking 1d10 damage from the fall: 4
26/30 Wounds
You immediately regret your decision to crawl in here. At first it looked like you could manage it, but after you were already deep enough in to be unable to catch the rim, the stone turned out to be damp. It's your left foot that slips first and your catch yourself by painfully jamming your elbow against the wall to brace yourself, but the movement just shakes you tentative grip even further and you begin to slide down. You press against the walls with every body part you have and try to dig your nails in, but your nails find no grip and the stone shears the skin from your fingers, knees and elbows.
Endurance, DC 250 (smooth stone), -50 (bend in the shaft), +50 (tumbling):
83 + 60 (Strength) + 60 (Concentration) + 60 (Endurance) = 263
2 Degrees of Success
Falling stops.
3 Net Failures from previous failure left over.
Taking 1d6 damage from the fall: 1
25/30 Wounds
83 + 60 (Strength) + 60 (Concentration) + 60 (Endurance) = 263
2 Degrees of Success
Falling stops.
3 Net Failures from previous failure left over.
Taking 1d6 damage from the fall: 1
25/30 Wounds
Your feet strike something for a moment, before sliding away under you on the slanted ground. The bend. With all you strength, you press your back against the shaft, adding more tears on your back in the process. You strike the bend with a dull thud and thankfully come to a stop. Your pack rests uncomfortably on your neck, but at least you don't fall any further. For a brief moment, you just try to stay steady and allow yourself a moan of pain. At least you can see the end of the shaft before you, the dull glow of the torch illuminating the exit.
Endurance, DC 200 (slanted shaft):
34 + 60 (Strength) + 60 (Concentration) + 60 (Endurance) = 214
2 Degrees of Success
34 + 60 (Strength) + 60 (Concentration) + 60 (Endurance) = 214
2 Degrees of Success
Slowly you creep forward. While your fingers hurt, especially the torn nails, they thankfully bleed not so much to make it even harder to keep yourself steady. One careful bit after another, the end of the shaft comes closer and you finally reach the end. What you see before you is not heartening at all. The shaft leads to a large chamber lined with crumbling stonework and a small opening through which the water of the river flows. Other shafts end within this chamber and they all do so a good two men high off the ground. There is no going back now and so you carefully sling your arms back into the straps of you pack and slide out.
Evasion, DC 150 (uneven ground):
90 + 80 (Dexterity) + 80 (Dexterity) + 60 (Evasion) = 310
Easy
90 + 80 (Dexterity) + 80 (Dexterity) + 60 (Evasion) = 310
Easy
The last drop proves less dangerous than you feared, and while rubble is strewn across the moss covered stone floor, you land evenly. The jars in your pack clink against each other again, but it seems nothing broke in your descent. Small mercies. With a deep sigh of relief, you set your pack down and quickly glance at your wounds, the rushing water outside sounding like the finest music to your ears after the stillness while being squeezed into a tube of unyielding stone. Nothing too serious, but you will need to take care of them soon or they might become infected.
36
Yes.
Yes.
A low growl sounds from the exit and your blood is pumping again before it even had a moment to settle down. Idly you think that your luck is running thin today as you carefully measure up the beast that slowly walks into the room. No. Its lair most likely, and you just appeared within it. The dull brown and black pelt of the wolf stands out quite noticeably against the green and grey walls, even in the flickering light of the torch still burning somewhere beside you. Its hackles are raised as it slowly creeps closer to you. Much better then fighting the crazed Stone Man above you, but as you quickly whip your knife out of you belt, you still can't consider it a blessing. No cover in this chamber and far too close to use your bow, you will have to fight it dagger against teeth.
Wolf Attack:
98 + 50 (Strength) + 70 (Dexterity) + 100 (Bladed Weapons) = 318
vs.
Yaxkin Defense:
96 + 80 (Dexterity) + 80 (Dexterity) + 60 (Evasion) + 30 (Combat Awareness) = 346
Miss
Yaxkin Attack:
72 + 60 (Strength) + 80 (Dexterity) + 60 (Bladed Weapons) + 20 (Knife Fighter) = 292
vs.
Wolf Defense:
30 + 70 (Dexterity) + 70 (Dexterity) + 80 (Evasion) = 260
Hit
1d10 (Vital Strike) + 4 = 12 damage -> Bleeding Wound caused
Yaxkin - 25/30 Wounds
Wolf - 18/30 Wounds, -2 Wound Penalty
98 + 50 (Strength) + 70 (Dexterity) + 100 (Bladed Weapons) = 318
vs.
Yaxkin Defense:
96 + 80 (Dexterity) + 80 (Dexterity) + 60 (Evasion) + 30 (Combat Awareness) = 346
Miss
Yaxkin Attack:
72 + 60 (Strength) + 80 (Dexterity) + 60 (Bladed Weapons) + 20 (Knife Fighter) = 292
vs.
Wolf Defense:
30 + 70 (Dexterity) + 70 (Dexterity) + 80 (Evasion) = 260
Hit
1d10 (Vital Strike) + 4 = 12 damage -> Bleeding Wound caused
Yaxkin - 25/30 Wounds
Wolf - 18/30 Wounds, -2 Wound Penalty
You carefully crouch down and lower the blade in your right hand to make a quick stab while raising the left to protect your face. 'Better your arm than your throat' your old master had always said. For the longest moment, you circle around the wolf, who has stopped on a small pile of stones and tracks you warily. Then he strikes, but you are ready. Its lunge is amazingly fast and might have ended the fight for others right then and there, yet you are used to fast opponents. With a quick step to the side, you turn out of his way and jab the dagger into his side as he passes you. The best lands in a graceless tumble and lets out a yelp of pain and yet it raises immediately again. You circle it again, ready for the next pounce.
Wolf Attack:
77 + 30 (Strength) + 50 (Dexterity) + 60 (Bladed Weapons) = 217
vs.
Yaxkin Defense:
28 + 80 (Dexterity) + 80 (Dexterity) + 60 (Evasion) + 30 (Combat Awareness) = 278
Miss
Yaxkin Attack:
40 + 60 (Strength) + 80 (Dexterity) + 60 (Bladed Weapons) + 20 (Knife Fighter) = 260
vs.
Wolf Defense:
26 + 50 (Dexterity) + 50 (Dexterity) + 40 (Evasion) = 166
Hit
1d10 (Vital Strike) + 10 = 18 damage -> Bleeding Wound caused
Yaxkin - 25/30 Wounds
Wolf - Dead
77 + 30 (Strength) + 50 (Dexterity) + 60 (Bladed Weapons) = 217
vs.
Yaxkin Defense:
28 + 80 (Dexterity) + 80 (Dexterity) + 60 (Evasion) + 30 (Combat Awareness) = 278
Miss
Yaxkin Attack:
40 + 60 (Strength) + 80 (Dexterity) + 60 (Bladed Weapons) + 20 (Knife Fighter) = 260
vs.
Wolf Defense:
26 + 50 (Dexterity) + 50 (Dexterity) + 40 (Evasion) = 166
Hit
1d10 (Vital Strike) + 10 = 18 damage -> Bleeding Wound caused
Yaxkin - 25/30 Wounds
Wolf - Dead
Its second attack looks laughable in comparison to the first. You knife had dug deep and it shows. Not a single graceful movement like before, but a struggle to work up the speed to jump at you again. This time, you go for the kill. You step left again though not as far as before. Claws go for your hand as the animal seems to comprehend what will now happen, but your aim is true and the obsidian blade sinks into its throat before your enemy tumbles to the ground.
You breathe hard and warily eye the entrance, but nothing else comes. Only the rush of the water outside keeps you company as you watch the blood running out of the wolf's throat and leaving red streaks in the small pool of water.
What now?
[] [Target] You still haven't found Ixtli. Look among the houses on the other side for him.
-[] [Target] Write-In Plan
[] [Target] Leave for Tlamaca. Ixtli is most likely already dead and you found the codex at least.
[] [Action] Pick as many as you wish before going on.
-[] [Action] Take the wolfs skin. (Might attract predators on the way back.)
-[] [Action] Dress your wounds.
-[] [Action] Something else.
Endurance: 86 XP
Evasion: 43 XP
Bladed Weapons: 90 XP
Evasion: 43 XP
Bladed Weapons: 90 XP
AN: Sorry for the delay. Real Life interrupted.
No Spirit Talking roll here, since the Stone Man was already in murder mode and not listening.
The rope was a good idea, but Yaxkin doesn't have one, especially not one long enough to cover the rather long shaft.
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- Location
- Germany
24 Wounds and less, so one more hit and you take penalties.
As for the skin, you are not sure. A rough guess would put it at 200 beans, give or take some haggling.