Searching the statues, weapons, Harp and Mund, more searching
Subject Turn
I have a few things to work on this morning and then I will let you know your fate. ;)
From: Mark
Subject Searching the statues
With a nod from Harp Mund and Surin switch places, with the halfling in front and the larger barbarian behind him. Mund chafes a bit at the delay but deep inside he knows that this is better. He knows that he can probably avoid most of the traps but that the others, Ally in particular, probably could not. He would hate to see Ally killed now after all they have gone through. Maybe he could goad that elf Kal in to risking himself to find the traps? Mund laughs to himself at the image of Kal at the bottom of a pit with three or four wooden stakes sticking out through his back.
Surin takes his time, checking the floor for pressure plates or trip wires. He moves towards the closest statue (D2) and from about 5 feet away takes a good look at it (Search 17+11=28). Even in the dim light the features are clear. He calls out to the group waiting at the door "It is a hobgoblin (Knowledge Check, DC10, 12, success). The work is amazing. Very life like. It is hard to tell but it does not look to be an action pose. I would say that somehow the artist got a hobby to sit for the work. But I ain't no artist. I'm movin on to the next one."
Again the halfling moves around to the north of the statue and works his way closer to the next one (F1). "I recognize this creature as well, it is an orc. Again very life like. No traps here either. Should I keep goin?" Mund, who is right behind Surin, also looks back at the party.
OODM: What is everyone going to do? If you are moving into the room give me the row/column designator like I used before. I want to know who is in the room and where they want to be. Surin is at E1, Mund is at D1, Harp is at B4 and Ran at A4. Everyone else, as far as I know, is out in the hallway.
From: Mark
Subject Statue sizes
Just to let you know, the sizes of the grey circles on the map have absolutely nothing to do with the size of the statues they represent. All the statues are in proportion to the creature they are of and all are life size. For example if the MM description of the Hobgoblin says that they are 5 feet, then the statue at D2 is just around 5 feet high. If the orc description says an orc is 6' then the orc statue is 6' tall. They are all in proportion for the creature being described. The actual circles do not mean anything other than location.
For example L4 is not neccisarily larger than H5.
I hope that this is clear.
From: Karl
Subject Searching the statues
"Are you *sure* they're sculpted?" Salix calls to Surin. "Are they on pedestals? Is there any artist's mark? Veining in the stone?"
"I'm worried that some creature might have turned these unfortunates to stone," he says to Harp by way of explanation.
Salix will wait and follow Harp's lead/command.
From: Mark
Subject Searching the statues
I have sent Ashley some info about the statues.
From: Kevin
Subject Searching the statues
Harp nods at Salix's question. Out of his element or not, he had a good head on his shoulders. He mentions half in jest to Salix " I wonder if those birds we encountered earlier may have been in here first?".
Harp calls to Surin "Don't touch any of them. Check out these statues that are closest to us and see what they are."
From: Ashley
Subject Searching the statues
"Touching would be a bad idea," Surin said in agreement. "Though for all I can see they're just statues." He moves toward one of the statues closer to the door (E6) to check it out.
From: Derek
Subject Searching the statues
"When everyone is back in the hallway, why don't we try throwing a rock at one or something?" Allistair murmurs to no one in particular.
From: Porter
Subject Searching the statues
"Anybody got a sling stone?"
From: Ashley
Subject Searching the statues
"I got one. Do we want to check all the statues first or do it now?"
From: Porter
Subject Searching the statues
"Let's check out this first statue first."
From: Ashley
Subject Searching the statues
Surin will do this unless Harp objects.
From: Porter
Subject permission
OOC: Do you for Harp's permission to scratch yourself, too? ;)
From: Ashley
Subject permission
Harp, I gotta itch something fierce. Do you mind?
From: Kevin
Subject Searching the statues
Harp will motion Ran to come from behind Harp and up to his side (B3) and motion Kal and Allistair into the room behind them (Kal in A3, Allistair in A4). As this is happening, he sees Surin and Mund talking to themselves and sees Surin pull a sling stone from his pouch. What were they doing? "Surin, don't touch them yet. Finish looking and then we will hit them."
From: Porter
Subject Searching the statues
"Come on, let's check out the statue, you little scratcher."
From: Surin
Subject Searching the statues
Not that Surin would have much of a choice if Mund wanted it bad enough :P. He'll go on to the next statue and Mund can throw stones without him.
From: Porter
Subject Searching the statues
Mund takes the sling stone from Surin if Surin lets him.
From: Porter
Subject Searching the statues
What I meant is that with a gesture, Mund *asks* for the stone, and accepts it if Surin will give it.
Go on to the next one? We don't know what we found on this one.
From: Mark
Subject Searching the statues
Ok if Surin gives Mund a sling stone which statue is he going to hit with it.
From: Ashley
Subject Searching the statues
OOC: Whoops. Sorry, I wasn't clear enough, I guess. And I also didn't read Mark's post to me very carefully. Give me two minutes...
From: Kevin
Subject Searching the statues
Harp seethes inside his mind. Either it was Kal doing his own thing in a self righteous act, or Mund doing his own thing out of a complete lack of concern for his personal safety (and possibly the safety of others). Harp had been one to break the rules before, but never when life and death were on the line. What would it matter if they took a few more minutes to finish looking at the statues, and then they could start trying to get a response out of them. Hell, maybe opening the door on the other side of the room was the trigger. I wonder if these things could be pushed aside, or toppled over? Even if they were to come to life, doing so in a jumble on the floor would certainly slow these creatures down some.
From: Porter
Subject Searching the statues
I'll wait until I find out what Surin discovers from the first one before I make that decision. Right now, he's just tossing it back and forth between his two hands.
From: Porter
Subject Harp and Mund
Wow. That's quite a severe reaction from Mund and Surin talking and Surin giving Mund a sling stone.
From: Kevin
Subject Lunch
OOC: I am going to get some lunch. I hope we are all alive when I get back.
From: Porter
Subject Searching the statues
Actually he can't be doing that, since he's holding his axe and shield. He tucks it into his belt pouch.
From: Kevin
Subject Harp and Mund
OOC: Just part of Harp's progression to LG from NG. He has been trained to follow the rules, especially when working as part of a group. It is something that has been pounded (literally) into his head over the past few years. It is now starting to sink in.
From: Porter
Subject Harp and Mund
Unless I read it wrong, Harp is upset that Mund is breaking the rules and putting Surin's life in danger.
Mund has done neither one. All he's done is talk to Surin and put a sling stone in his pocket.
From: Mark
Subject Weapons
Actually he is not holding his axe and shield since when I asked for weapons you said that you had your bow out, since all the others had melee weapons.
One reason I asked.
Mund has a bow out. Unless you tell me otherwise.
From: Ashley
Subject Searching the statues
Surin stares hard at the statue, trying to make sense of it. If it weren't for the stone color and the stillness of it, it would probably be indistinguishable from a real-life hobgoblin. Though Surin couldn't imagine why anyone would want to sculpt a life-size statue of a monster. Art wasn't really his thing. Taking Salix's instruction, he looks closely for a 'maker's mark', though it's not obvious at first glance. Though, Surin figures, if he made an ugly statue he probably wouldn't sign it either. In answer to Salix's question, Surin yells back to the group, "No stand or pedistal. It's just standing here." If Surin doesn't find any distinguishing marks on it he's gonna go on his way to the next one.
From: Kevin
Subject Harp an Mund
Harp does not know that. He hears the two of them talking, trading sling stones, and he is not sure what they may be planning. He is just feeling a bit put out from the abject failure of his plan against the dragon. It obviously must be someone else's fault - it CANT be his fault. In that he is all to human.
From: Porter
Subject Weapons
Huh. I thought I had said that Mund was switching from his bow to his axe.
Doing a search, it looks like I never sent that.
So I'll do it now. Before Surin heads off toward the first statue, Mund puts up his bow and pulls out his axe.
From: Mark
Subject Weapons
Ok he has his axe and shield out now.
From: Kevin
Subject Searching the statues
Harp hears Surin call back about the next statue. Hobgoblin. Well, even if they came to life, they would not be to tough to beat. Unless they kept getting bigger and stronger the farther into the room they went. It would be interesting to see if they did.
From: Kevin
Subject Harp and Mund
As Jamie from Mythbusters says "I reject your reality and substitute my own".
When Harp realize how poorly his plan worked, he was shaken and is questioning his abilities. However, when in doubt, he will fall back on his training to do things in a orderly fashion. Improvisation is not a strong point, and not something he understands well.
From: Porter
Subject Harp and Mund
OK. Thanks for clarifying. I incorrectly assumed you were metagaming.
From: Kevin
Subject Harp and Mund
If I knew what metagaming was, I would know if I was doing it.
This was just a frustrated thought running through Harp's mind. Part of him wants to go in and just start busting these things up, but part of him, reinforced by his training, want's to be patient and methodical. If he was by himself, he would pick the biggest one and start swinging.
From: Porter
Subject Harp and Mund
You know, I (not Mund) feel sorry for Harp. He is *sooo* not suited to leadership, and would be much happier following someone else's rules.
From: Kevin
Subject Harp and Mund
I agree. Harp did not ask for this. He was chosen by Anglewing. Harp was much happier when they rescued Rochelle - he did what Ran told him and did not have to think a whole lot. Harp is a pretty good grunt, not a good officer.
From: Mark
Subject Harp and Mund
Listen to all the cry babys. :) I don't want to be leader, I don't want to be inside, I don't want to be so short. :)
All in good time.
From: Porter
Subject Harp and Mund
I don't want to be so devilishly handsome.
From: Kevin
Subject Harp and Mund
Wish granted - Charisma is now a 3.
From: Porter
Subject Harp and Mund
Mund cries, he is so happy.
From: Mark
Subject More searching
As Surin inspects the second statue, the one of the noble orc, Mund takes a closer look at the hobgoblin one. Damn if it did not look like it was almost alive, Mund thinks to himself. He keeps catching his hand moving to touch the smooth stone surface but catches himself each time. As Surin is looking, Mund hears Ally mention something about throwing a stone at one of the statues and seeing what happens. Not a bad idea Mund thinks. "Hey Surin, can I borrow one of your sling stones?" The halfling looks back at the barbarian with a questioning look in his eye. "Sure" the rogue says handing a sling stone to the barbarian. "What you need it for?" "Well Ally had this idea" Mund replies "of hitting one of the statues with a stone and seeing how it reacts."
Surin frowns at this. "Would you mind holding off on that until I get a look at them all. If throwing a rock wakes them up I don't want to be out here in the middle of them all. I don't got all that fancy armor you got." Mund grunts his consent and puts the stone in his waist belt pouch and pulls his axe back out. Surin motions Mund to follow him and the halfling works his way to the bottom of the room to the next closest statue. As he moves Surin thinks he sees something out of the side of his eye but when he turns all he sees is another statue. A real ugly statue (G3). This one is a winged creature of a type Surin has never seen before. He stands there for a minute, Mund behind him, watching the statue but sees nothing. The halfling shakes his head and moves on to his original destination (E6). Mund shakes his head, not having seen anything either.
When he gets there he sees that it is another orc statue. Almost, it looks to him, identical to the first. A close visual inspection reveals nothing special about the statue. Surin then moves on to the next statue (C7) with Mund still behind him. The halfling is now out of view of the rest of the party. This statue, in Surin's opinion, looks like a creature he saw years ago, a Bugbear.
OODM: OK, I need actions actions. Surin is at C6 and Mund is at C5
From: Porter
Subject More searching
Let's have Mund be at D6. He's staying close to Surin, and he doesn't want to let Surin get in between Mund and the statues he's studying.
From: Mark
Subject More searching
So let it be written, so let it be done.
From: Porter
Subject More searching
Mund agrees with with the halfling's suggestion and won't touch any of the statues.
It's the halfling's show, and Mund will follow him wherever he leads.
From: Josh
Subject More searching
Kal's just staying alert and following Harp's lead.
From: Randy
Subject More searching
Ranthir will also watch and wait.
From: Derek
Subject More searching
Allistiar keeps on getting more and more uneasy at the slow wait at the end of the room. "Be careful," he calls out to Mund. "I'd be willing to bet that either all these stone statues will suddenly awake and attack us, or else there is some creature in the back corner that turned them all to stone."
From: Porter
Subject More searching
Mund's blood chills as he thinks of his recent escape from statuehood. That bite in his leg still don't feel right, no matter what Salix says.
"Let's go real slow and keep a sharp eye out, Surin. I don't want to be surprised by no rockifying monster."
From: Derek
Subject More searching
Allistair asks his familiar if he can smell anything strange. If not, Allistair sets him down and tells him to scout around the room, and to immediately return and report if he sees, hears, or smells anything unusual.
From: Kevin
Subject More searching
OOC: Mark, at this point, I think we have Harp at B4, Ran at B3, Kal at A3 and Allistair at A4, with Ragnar and Saliz just out in the hallway.
Unless we have reason to change their exploration, let them keep on keepin on.
From: Ashley
Subject More searching
OOC: I'm a little confused as to how many statues Surin has now examined. I highlighted the ones on the map and attached it. Let me know if I missed any or did something wrong. :).
IC: Once thoroughly convinced that the immediate statues in the room weren't going to squish him or anyone else [I did take all the proper checks, right?], Surin calls back out to his friends. "They're pretty safe, so far as I can tell without touching it. Allistair should probably come take a look at 'em, see if there's anything unnatural that I can't pick up on. Try to keep to the path I've taken, in this general area [I'm thinking the squares of DEF 3 4 and 5, if Surin's already been though there]". Surin's a bit ansy about going farther in and surrounding himself on all sides by the statues, but he's confident in Mund and the rest's ability to save the day if need be.
From: Mark
Subject More searching
No he has not looked closely at G3 but he has looked at F1.
From: Ashley
Subject More searching
That makes sense. Thanks.