Where Angels fear to tread: Fawkes & Goran

[Ythgar]

Goran, Halfling

”Spike the door! You get the top.”

Hopefully Goran either still has his backpack - Fawkes having declined it earlier - or he can retrieve it now from Fawkes

Goran pounds a spike into the crack of the door or its mechanism if its visible with the pommel of his dagger, and if he can’t get spikes, then will use one of his mundane daggers.

[Stirling]

Fawkes

I think the concealed door rotates on a central pivot so may turn both ways if I understand correctly, not just one. I don't think we have time to hammer in lots of spikes against the weight of Giant Weasels and chasing Orcs.

I ditch my backpack and heavyweight gear, grabbing Goran by the collar, urging him to let go off whatever might drag him down and I jump into the Sewer water, trying to get out of sight and trust that the sewage and stink means the Weasels lose our specific scent.

inventory adjusted to just waist belt & pouch contents and my melee weapon.

[Ythgar]

Goran

Goran thinks ***well, I did have low card*** and pinches his nose shut as he is pulled into the sewer.
He'll shrug out of his backpack if it drags him down and see if they can move to under the ledge.

[Straither]

Tunnels below the Temple Ruin

Sewer Network.

Goran & Fawkes take a dive into the inky black sludge that floats upon the sewage water surface. The channel is about fifteen feet wide with some leeway under the walkway ledge and of a variable depth, upto to 12'ft in places. Garbage, flotsam and jetsam of Highport's neighbourhoods flows through, a lot of food waste. A ubiquitous shopping trolley of course.

Goran has his magic dagger clenched between teeth, so both are without light source and in the environment, infravision doesn't work as the steamy stench and cold water ruins all but the hottest of heat perceptions in the channels. The Orc guards burst through, crossbows loaded and bullseye lanthorns in hand. They immediately begin a search and loose random bolts at any signs of bubbles or ripples on the surface.

Orcs: light crossbow bolts [1d20-4]=4-4=0 [1d6+1]=6+1=7 [1d20-4]=13-4=9 [1d6+1]=6+1=7 [1d20-4]=2-4=-2 [1d6+1]=2+1=3 [1d20-4]=15-4=11 [1d6+1]=1+1=2Orcs: light crossbow bolts [1d20-4]=3-4=-1 [1d6+1]=4+1=5 [1d20-4]=10-4=6 [1d6+1]=1+1=2 [1d20-4]=7-4=3 [1d6+1]=5+1=6 [1d20-4]=12-4=8 [1d6+1]=2+1=3

The Weasels are lead along the walkway and sniff, bending heads to look under the paving stones to see if any heads peek out sheltering underneath.

One Giant Weasel yips and though the article looks just like a floating log, the Orcs guards unleash another barrage of bolts.

Orcs: light crossbow bolts [1d20-4]=15-4=11 [1d6+1]=2+1=3 [1d20-4]=20-4=16 [1d6+1]=5+1=6 [1d20-4]=14-4=10 [1d6+1]=5+1=6 [1d20-4]=10-4=6 [1d6+1]=1+1=2

One at least strikes true and the toothy 'floating log' submerges with a thrash of its tail.

"Well, if we don't get them, Snapdragons will!" says Hookhand, having run through the tunnels behind the Weasel pack. The guards spread out along the walkways, a pair combing the side channel, another checking upstream towards a large blockage made from an internal sewer collapse, others go downstream as far as a crossover bridge. Not satisfied you have floated away and expect you to come up for air very soon, the guards send another round of shafts at random floats, hoping to hit a head or torso as much by accident as by design.

Orcs: light crossbow bolts [1d20-4]=2-4=-2 [1d6+1]=6+1=7 [1d20-4]=13-4=9 [1d6+1]=3+1=4 [1d20-4]=14-4=10 [1d6+1]=3+1=4 [1d20-4]=6-4=2 [1d6+1]=4+1=5
Orcs: light crossbow bolts [1d20-4]=11-4=7 [1d6+1]=3+1=4 [1d20-4]=12-4=8 [1d6+1]=1+1=2 [1d20-4]=5-4=1 [1d6+1]=3+1=4 [1d20-4]=10-4=6 [1d6+1]=4+1=5

You can stay submerged for a couple of minutes, holding your breath until you gasp for air, however unclean and fetid it may be. The water has a strong undercurrent which pushes you downstream where the main spread out posse of Orcs is searching. You can go with the flow or try to counter and swim upstream.

Could you both also give me a [1d100] system survival shock check, based on Constitution attribute.

Fawkes 5/17hp
Goran 4/16hp.

next actions please. Fawkes & Goran

please delete anything from inventories that you left behind or release in the Sewer as you cannot swim encumbered.

[Ythgar]

Goran

Goran will remove his studded leather armor also if it causes any significant impairment.

Eyes closed in the muck, Goran feels for his leather map tube and sheds himself of excess encumbrance.
Opening the end of the tube he jabs his dagger into the other end to create a makeshift breathing tube.

Not remembering whether Fawkes carried a small blade, but knowing he has several, he reaches for Fawkes's arm and pushes the hilt of one of his daggers into Fawkes's grasp.

Goran System Shock (75%): [1d100]=60

[Stirling]

Fawkes

If there is an alligator or croc or whatever a Snapdragon is? floating in the water, then we need get out. I don't need outswim the Snapdragon, just outswim Goran.

Fawkes: system shock survival vs 95% [1d100]=6

I will grab the dagger from Goran and with a big deep breath from my high Constitution, will try to swim against the current and go upstream.

another checking upstream towards a large blockage made from an internal sewer collapse,

maybe we can get beyond the blockage?

[Ythgar]

Goran Tillertoe

Summoning his family's affinity for the water as evidenced by his surname, Goran heads upstream with Fawkes.

[Stirling]

Fawkes

I think we need to lie low for a while, let the guards think us drowned. Then we need search for the others unless we find a safe spot to shelter until I can renew my healing spells.

[Ythgar]

Goran

Goran will share his makeshift snorkel with Fawkes while he tries to remember what he knows about snapdragons.

Goran Int check (13-): [1d20]=9

[Straither]

Tunnels

Sewer Network.

After what seems an eternity, Goran and Fawkes breathe a little easier, thanks to the scroll tubes cut so they snorkel underwater and the Orc guards convincing themselves that if they didn't get you, then the Snapdragons did.

Never heard of such creatures before but City Sewers in many coastal waters are overrun not just with rats and slimes but bigger apex predators such as Crocs'. No surprise then that floating logs among the sewers suddenly thrash tails.

The Giant Weasels sniffing the walkway ledges coax whatever does float silently, snout above sewage to come menacingly close to them rather than be provoked by the thrashing of swimmers nearby. You go upstream, not too far, maybe 50'ft of where you dived in
Here the sewer tunnel is collapsed with the side stonework being exposed and failing in, creating a large dam of bricks and rubble and behind a mass of tangled flotsam. It looks a precarious unsecured mound to climb since moving any one block could bring the others down upon in a wave of held back sewage waters and city waste. Having said that enough broken branches, logs, tangles of wires and old ropes have massed to create a little dry platform like a tattered raft that perches against one dark niche.

Surviving the initial shock of immersion into the sewage your system shock check you can swim to the foot of the rubble collapse and decide on next actions. Whether to wait out the guards and weasels leaving so you can claim our back into the walkway or, subject to good dexterity, scramble up the rubble without disturbing it into a further collapse and rest on the thatched tangle of flotsam.

Fawkes 5/17hp
Goran 4/16hp.

[Stirling]

Fawkes

Gives way to the more dextrous Halfling to scramble up the rubble pile.
"Dangle a rope length down, it may help me struggle less and lower any collapse risk."

I would cover him with my crossbow but I ditched that. A heavy crossbow underwater, could be harpoon like. Smothering ourselves in the sewage, not very nice but could cut out any infravision risk once we exit the waters.

I will also be very wary of crocs, spiders and rats, carrion crawlers and other sewage pipe dwellers.

[Ythgar]

Goran, smelly Halfling

"Ain't got no rope."

Goran looks about for a length of cord, branch, cloth, wire, or rope that he can toss down to Fawkes after he scrambles up to the platform, which he checks against his halfling weight for sturdiness.

Goran Dex Check (18-): [1d20]=11

[Straither]

Tunnels

Sewer Network.

Goran wriggles out of the channel of sewage, crawling worm like over the rubble. Guards search with lanthorns still, cone of light flashing across the sewage surface but they have walked downstream of you and you can quickly but carefully scramble the the slick stone. Checking that nothing dangerous lurks in the upper niches of the sewer tunnel, all seems sound and Goran can secure a piece of knitted rope to assist the less dextrous Half-orc out the water and into cover.

Fawkes: Dex check vs 12 [1d20]=12

The thatch of branches and flotsam is barely enough to create a 5'ft square matting but with some care, you can rest on a prickly base and inch or two above the sewer waters, providing a sudden surge of waste, toiletries or extra heavy downpour do not raise the level much further. He you can get to dress wounds, pulling out any untended crossbow bolts and ripping what is left of your silk blousons to make ad-hoc bandaids. The only illumination the occasional check about with the enchanted dagger's limited radius and once attuned, racial infravision.

Next Actions Goran & Fawkes. discuss what you want to do, how long to stay hiding here and any creative ideas.

Fawkes 5/17hp
Goran 4/16hp.

[Stirling]

Fawkes

Battered and bruised physically and spiritually, he can only meekly call upon his God's divine aid to heal,

Fawkes: casts Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=1

+1hp on Goran.

"Let me bless you my little brother. I can receive my blessing if I find an Orc Slaver to strike holy vengeance upon."

I think we need to act carefully. We can rest here but waiting a day seems an unwise choice. But we can't stray too far and I don't think we can sneak into the Slave Market to try and rescue any captives. But perhaps we can sneak along the walkway, ambush a few Orcs if we can, stay away from the Weasels.

[Ythgar]

Goran

In a mixture of whispered common and thieves cant:
”Thank you.”
”A day does seem too long. We can get some rest, watch for patterns on patrol, and pick some off when there’s a chance. Maybe they have some herbs or potions on them, or at least something cleaner than these.” He motions to his sewage soaked clothing.

Goran carefully builds up the side of the platform facing the ledge to provide better cover for them.

Goran then looks through the debris for anything useful, sling stones, a blade, fabric cleaner than what he’s wearing. . .

[Stirling]

Fawkes

Goes through his meagre resources. He ditched everything weighty apart from his studded armour, bone vest ephod, Macuahuitl and waist belt with his thieves tools in one and clerical prayerbook, incense candles and rosary in the other, plus his purse of silver coins.

"Hmm ... not much. What do you have?"

[Straither]

Tunnels: Sewer Network

Goran then looks through the debris for anything useful, sling stones, a blade, fabric cleaner than what he’s wearing. . .

The flotsam in the sewer channel is mostly waste produce flushed down the drains of the city's gutters and grates. Anything that doesn't normally float is sunken to the bottom of the sewer channel and where you are, in a niche high up in the dug out brickwork of the tunnel sides, the most you can gather is just the garbage of fabric, branches and old ropes that are too tangled together to flow over the lip of the rubble dam into the sewer channel and away that you dove into. You can make your raft of thatch a bit more secure but little else.

Fawkes prays over Goran +1hp a minimal healing sanctioned by his God. He can as suggested receive his own regenerative healing via the ritual slaying of enemies who's spilt blood is leeched by proxy through his vampiric ring.

But the guards and Weasels that patrol along the sewer channel are still wary. They have an increased patrol routine and over the next hour, you see the cones of lanthorn searchlights scouring the sewage surface and even upon the rubble dam as the Orcs look for evidence of your demise.

The guards poke into the sewers with long spears and occasionally trigger more crossbow bolts at random bulges that floats by. An hour passes by between the brief encounter and when the patrols relent searching along the sewer channel. You breathe a sigh of relief and can make next actions plans.

Sewers random vs 1 [1d6]=2

Next Actions Fawkes & Goran

Fawkes 5/17hp
Goran 5/16hp.

[Stirling]

Fawkes

"Let's wait another hour then move out to check the surrounds and search for the others."

He has no idea where the group might be or the Fates they have encountered, last seen sheltering around the Sundew room. So here are some choices, Goran you choose which way this time.

A) We could try and sneak back through the Cemetery Crypt but then we need get either over the boundary wall or pass the Memorial Garden double doors. Not my favoured action choice.

B) Sneak back to the spy point and try again to gather more information on the Slave Lord Steward and traitor Blodgett (supposing he is actually a traitor). But I expect that passage well guarded, especially since those chasing us would have passed the two dead bodies.

C) Sneak into Slave Market area by going through rotating secret door and try to rescue any slaves, ambush any leaders, slave merchants. Looks too well guarded.

D) Explore along the Sewer walkway and Orc patrol area. Commit to covert guerilla tactics to harass patrols, hamper logistics, damage their supplies.

Goran, what do you think?

As an action, once we decide what to do, Fawkes listens in to his surrounds and once convinced nothing is about, will try to sneak back to the secret door area.

Fawkes: Hear Noise vs 15% [1d100]=5

Fawkes: Move Silently thief skill vs 26% [1d100]=66

[Ythgar]

Goran

”I say we sneak slowly from one hiding spot to the next and ambush what comes by until we’re equipped and that ring of yours has you at full strength.”

”Sewer is handy for disposing of bodies, especially with snapdragons, so maybe in this area for a while. But when we’re ready, I think we head back the way we came, unless they’re patrolling it.”

disregard luckstone modifier
Hear Noise 20- : [1d100-5]=65-5=60 (luckstone)

Move Silently 53- :[1d100-5]=67-5=62 (luckstone)

Hide in Shadows 50- :[1d100-5]=16-5=11 (luckstone)

[Straither]

Tunnels

Sewer Network.

11.00am.
Illumination: infravision & enchanted dagger.

After a brief respite on the thatch of flotsam, the pair decide to scout the nearby sewer network and turn to guerilla tactics as they are cut off from comrades and resources.

Sewers random vs 1 [1d6]=2

They slip down the rubble dam, careful not to dislodge any stones lest the held back sewage burst forth and sweep them in a flood of contaminated slough down the sewer channel. Sneaking to the rotating secret door, stop, listen. You hear chirps and barks; the Giant Weasels might still be close on the other side. Scented as you are in a thick layer of sludge, any Halfling or Half-orc scent is well and truly masked. You explore along the walkway coming to a side channel that extends westwards about 35'ft before ending in another collapse of rubble and stone blocks though the tunnel sides and ceiling seem quite secure.

Further south, the walkway heads towards a small bridge that crosses a sewer channel. It looks newly made with a tied ribbon cut at one end and a broken wine bottle dangles to the side, remnants of an 'official opening' ritual. All seems quiet, too quiet in fact. But no one disturbs you and for now, your exploration and sneak seems to go undetected.

Fawkes 5/17hp
Goran 5/16hp.

next actions Fawkes & Goran