Missing Caravan

[GM Marvel]

When Selina rolls her eyes, Mardak gives her a wink, "Don't worry your pretty little head.  I'll protect ya!"

Tomeal ignores the Hexblade.  People like him always got the Karma they deserved.   Instead he presents Ohma with her equipment which includes a Heavy Shield that Selina was asking about.

Piper winces at Mardak's comment.  But at least he charmed the right person.  Then to Gilley he replies, "Well again I was doing a lot of running in the opposite direction so I didn't get a great look at it but it was bigger than me and I'd say bigger than you too.  Perhaps the size of a horse or a large bear."

[Found a picture for Piper.  Just make him a little greener.]

[Selina Parcellus]

Spider the size of a horse.  Brilliant...  She completely ignores Mardak's comment and instead chooses to remain focused on the task at hand.

"Master Powwaw, please direct us where to go.  I can only assume that there will be resistance, whether from your kin or smaller spiders.  We should address them accordingly, attempting to subdue the kobolds as much as we can.  But that monster must be destroyed.  It's time to move."

[GM Marvel]

"Where you need to go is easy," Powwaw replies.  He nods his head toward the door to the west and adds, "In the direction those tiny spiders went.  All of you please be careful.  This beast is of wicked intelligence.  I've never seen nor heard of such a thing during my travels.  Spiders are usually single minded predators.  But Unreth likes to play with his food.  I know it's not possible but when we were running away and it was cutting down my brethren who were lagging behind, I swear I heard laughter."  The kobold peers down at the ground in deep sadness.  "I just wish I could have done more."

[Betimi]

"What you have done may yet save the remainder of your people."

She looks at Jonath.

"Shall we check that door."

She moves up and first listens at the door, hoping there are no foes immediately on the other side of it, then she aids Jonath in searching for any booby-traps that may have been set.

Listen [1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17
Search (aid another) [1d20+1] = 5+1 = 6

[Selina Parcellus]

Selina looks at Powwaw as he relates the story of his daring escape, shivering at the sudden chill down her spine. That creature had to die, right away. She would not take it prisoner, she would not offer it parley. She would attempt to smash it into little pieces. Selina then adopts a very serious face and moves over to the Western door to see if she can hear or notice anything.

Spot: [1d20+4] = 20+4 = 24, Listen: [1d20+4] = 1+4 = 5

[GM Marvel]

[OoC: Betimi, remember you can only assist Jonath in searching for traps if you have the Trapfinding ability.  Otherwise it's kind of like giving advice to someone when your clueless of the topic. ]

Selina and Betimi both take turns at listening and then searching (I don't think spot would help you much here).  Selina doesn't really hear or see anything of interest but Betimi thinks she might have heard some very faint conversation going on somewhere behind the door.  It's too quiet to hear what's being said but nothing in their tone or cadence would indicate they know you're on the other side of the door, i.e.,  They don't start hushing each other or suddenly get quieter.  Searching reveals that the door made out of Pine and appears to be reinforced with iron bars and it is locked from the other side.

[Sort of like...]

[Jonath]

Jonath nods and approaches the door. He didn't want to spend any more time than necessary, but given the number of traps they'd already run into, it probably was a good idea to take a moment to check. He quickly does an inspection of the door, and once he feels it's clear, also takes a moment to listen through it. On discovering it's locked, he turns to Piper. "Do you have a way to unlock this? If not, I can try to pick the lock, but a key would be much faster." Even so, he begins to retrieve his picking tools to be ready to set to work.

Search:[1d20+8] = 9+8 = 17; Listen:[1d20+7] = 8+7 = 15; Disable Device:[1d20+6] = 15+6 = 21

[GM Marvel]

As Jonath searches and listens, Piper replies, "The lock is on the other side so unless you can walk through walls then you aren't going to be able to open the door.  It used to have a lock accessible on both sides but the Beast had his minions secure the door from his side. I fear the only option here is to smash the it down.  But I wouldn't put it pass the Beast from trapping from the other side.  Traps are one of the things Kobolds are known for so he would likely take advantage of their skill set.  So unless you want to chop the door down, I suggest coming at the problem from a different direction.  Lets say from the North?  There's a 10' passage that you can go through that would be much quieter than bashing your way inside.  It's trapped of course but I'm sure you will have no trouble disabling or evading the trigger mechanism."  Piper gives you all a cheerful smile.

Jonath doesn't hear or find anything more from his search and listen and there is nothing to disable from this side of the door.

[Jonath]

"In that case, the northern approach sounds like a fine idea, if you would just lead us to it," Jonath replies. He only hoped his abilities matched up to Piper's confidence in them when it came to finding and disabling the traps.

[GM Marvel]

"I don't have any problem leading you back to passage but I thought I was saying behind with Ohma to protect the prisoners.  Why don't I draw you a quick map to where the passage is located?  It's fairly easy to find.  You almost stumbled into it but thankfully you went in a different direction.  I fear if I had to reveal myself at that time to warn you, my new bestie may have acted in a counter productive manner and harmed my person."  He smiles weakly up at Mardak, who then chuckles and replies, "I would never hurt ya!  We're friends!"  The Hexblade then playfully but roughly grabs Piper by one of his horns and shakes him.

"Hee... Hee...  Yeah.. Besties..." Piper's eyes shift to the rest of you as if he's not at all sure if being besties with this man was all it was cracked up to be.

[If the group agrees]

Piper will draw a quick map which leads the group back the way they came.  He indicates the portcullis, then the skeleton of the fallen guard and continues a little more south until he draws the area where you found the locked chest.  There he points out the thin passage leading south beside the larger passage.

"Us small folk take the small passage.  But you larger people would have to take the regular passage.  The floor is kind of built like a see-saw.  So when at least two people pass through the passage, the floor tilts up behind you and slides the two front victims into the larger room beyond for who knows what's waiting for them, while the rest of the party would be left behind with a solid wall blocking their way.  With the party split up the group would be much weaker and therefore easier to deal with.  The safest way to disable the trap is for someone who is Kobold size [Jonath] to squeeze through the smaller passage then turn it off from the other side.  But you will want to use stealth so you aren't spotted."

Piper looks to each of you then asks, "Does that make sense?"

[Map:  Sorry, I'm at work so I'm using an old map.  The passage begins 15' south east of the skeleton.]