We started, facing 3 kobolds that were tougher than the previous ones. However, the real threat was probably the trap in the room. The two front-line guys had just taken 2d8 of damage which is a ton at 1st level. Will it reset? Logically, it probably shouldn’t since it was launching spears and there was likely not a magazine of spears in the wall. But this is D&D, I mean PE2. But two of the kobolds ran across the triggering floor so evidently, they weren’t concerned. Oakwood took one out quickly, finally hitting. The trap master set a trap and then hid behind a pillar. Ter Stegen took some more damage but stood. The rest of the group piled in as they could and took shots as they could. One of them heard the trap mechanism clicking in a menacing manner but didn’t know what to do about it. After a couple of rounds, they were out. As usual, everyone started in random directions. Oakwood moved to search the trap master in hopes he’d have some clues as to what they were up to. A map? But he triggered a trap and was dropped to 0. So Brisco was diverted from doing Treat Wounds on Ter Stegen to Stabilizing Oakwood. Again, the DC was a tough 15 and he was looking for any advantages since it was only one chance. But then it occurred to us that the gnome had the Stabilization cantrip so no roll was needed. Then more rule looking up for Treat Wounds. Brisco crit on Oakwood and he was full up and then helped Ter Stegen as well. Not sure how long that all took. I think the trap master had an egg shell on a string around his neck. From a BIG egg. So, they worship something big?
So, we faced stairs down however Oakwood suggested we finish off those double doors we passed by before going down a level. On a vote of 3 to 2, we went back. There were no traps or locks on the doors although they were quite old. Inside was an altar room with a squid statue. A Religion roll yielded that this was the god of nature and the sea. The room was covered in mold and slime except for a silver bowl on a table with clear water inside. Oakwood used his Mage Hand to carefully float the bowl over. Some rolls and cantrips later we decided that the water might be magical (holy water?) but the bowl was not. Oakwood poured the water into an empty skin and we moved on. We briefly debated going through the barricade even further back but opted not to. We marched down the spiral stairs and ran right into an ambush. 3-4 Kobalds with crossbows behind some makeshift barricades. We pressed forward and it wasn’t too tough. Except that the low initiative Rogue got critted with a bolt and dropped before she could even go. She was stabilized by the Gnome and carried out of the way. Brisco was going to Treat Wounds her but without a feat, that was a 10-minute task and couldn’t be done in combat.
The last kobold slipped past the opportunity attack of the Fighter and fled into the next room. In there was a pool with a mereman statue in the center. The Kobald made it through the next door before anyone could get a shot at him. In there was another group of Kobolds, sitting around a table. Meanwhile, the fountain trap went off and nearly killed the gnome. Ter Stegen tried to bull rush the statue, fumbled the roll, and fell into the fountain. Oakwood, who was in the lead, fell back out to the first room. Those new kobolds were ready for action. The gnome did as well but Ter Stegen got hit several times before he could go. (This business of 0 level monsters getting 2 attacks a round is rough.) Unfortunately, the gnome ran out of movement in the doorway and we couldn’t block it. She got dropped soon enough. Brisco was forced to stand his ground to keep them bottled up and was dropped as well. Both were dragged clear. Oakwood poured a healing potion into the gnome. A couple of Kobalds were dropped as they came in. Ter Stegen managed to grab a table and block the doorway. Now they were trapped with the trap and started taking damage. We could hear them flee back to their room.
We stopped there. Combat was over since neither side was going into that fountain room any time soon. The plan was to get out of here and report back to the adults. It seemed obvious this was more than a fish-stealing party. There’s a whole community down here. It’d be interesting to see how the adults react. We seem to be most of the way to second level.
GM Summary:
Current Date: The date is Starday, 21st Gozran, 4719 AR Somal's phase is Waning Gibbous Last Session...
Our heroes push on. Some Giant Hairy Icky Furry Spider isn't going to scare them...much.
A search of the web reveals a now desiccated corpse of a small humanoid with scaly skin. The creature is found to have had a Potion of Healing (too late) and a fancy sword with a jewel in the hilt. The group decides Xeeli should hold the weapon in case it is magic. Perhaps with this help the embarrassment of the nearly unhittable scurrying giant spider won't repeat.
Descending deeper into the cave a makeshift barricade is found sealing one path. Material that surely came from the basement of the Otari Fishery is identified, thus it is assumed to be of recent construction. Additionally, it is noted whoever built this did so with some intelligence, thus it is not simply a refuse pile created by unintelligent beasts. Perhaps Kobolds from the town's history are here to "Menace Under Otair" (C). A faint flickering light can be seen through small gaps in the barricade, but it is decided to leave it alone while the group heads deeper in.
Xeeli and TerStegen decide they are tough enough to provide an advanced point. Concentrating more on keeping quiet, the two pass by a ledge above them without notice. Further down the corridor is a group of Small Reptilian Humanoids busy trying to break into a caged-off area. Xeeli and TerStegen bravely sneak forward assuming surprise will allow the two to overcome the four creatures. After a brief scuffle with the creatures she has confirmed are Kobolds, Xeeli bravely drags her now-tattered and bleeding body back down the corridor towards her previously abandoned friends. TerStegen, being an Orc, is made of sturdier stuff and continues to fight. While advancing, Oakwood makes note of a cliff above and vows to return soon to investigate.
With the aid of reinforcements in the form of his friends, TerStegen is able to put down the Kobolds. An impetuous Orc, he again breaks away from the group chasing a fleeing Kobold into a short corridor. Cleaving the Kobold in twain TerStegen literally uses his head to note this has triggered falling boulders from above. Later study will show a specific safe route through the last 5 feet...the dying Kobold had inadvertently been the trigger when it collapsed.
The group re-gathers where they had fought the Kobolds. Wounds are salved and the teens continue their exploration. Oakwood returns to the cliff the group had passed, climbs up, and finds a large set of double doors. After waiting some time, Oakwood realizes that as usual, nobody has followed his lead (being the bastard stepson of the town leader isn't all it's cracked up to be).
The rest of the teens instead follows the lead of the now-dead Kobolds. The wooden barrels and boxes behind the iron bars may hold treasure. The door that wouldn't yield to Xeeli's lockpick eventually yields to the efforts of the group. TerStegen assumes it was his pounding that loosened the door, thus he takes as a prize a gold ring. Surely this will make a magnificent nose ring. A small cache of coins is distributed and yet another sword is given to Xeeli. One Wonders how many swords she needs. Oakwood rejoins the group and is unsurprised when nobody expresses interest with his tale of double doors atop a cliff.
The teens, now flush with treasure fever, proceed to the next room. Inexplicably there is a puzzle here involving gold coins and one magic'd to appear gold. Why in Golarion there is such a thing is perplexing. However, the group shows glimmers of potential...after a short "think" it is solved with ease. A door to the East swings slowly open. Inside is an unlocked chest and a strange mechanism of ropes and pullies. The chest holds an emerald and a magical scroll. Unable to resist, the group attempts to operate the mechanism. Hearing a satisfying click, they are sure they have done "something", but are unsure what that is.
Beyond the door to the north, several things are discovered.
■ A massive chamber, perhaps an audience hall
■ Two different types of floor material
■ A spear trap that they had previously reset and which TerStegen triggered by moving onto the central floor
■ Another group of Kobolds
3 spears are launched from the Western wall. One each hits Oakwood and TerStegen, causing them to stagger. The final takes a surprised Kobold in the face and immediately relieving him/her of life.
