(024) The Ravine Door

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

Olaf puts down the bright little lantern and then eases Victor down. He looks to have slightly more mobility than previously, and his lips quiver some at the proffered water, though Olaf isn't sure whether his companion actually manages to swallow any.

"Victor, try to take a little water." Olaf says, but is careful to *not* give him much as he doesn't want to choke him.

It still looks as though Victor isn't going anywhere under his own steam, so Olaf makes his scratch on the grimy wall and then takes up his load again before turning left.

Now this passage continues on for somewhat fewer than twenty yards before turning left again. With no other options, Olaf pushes on a soon comes to a stout, iron bound door. Curiously, there are numerous great slashes and dents in the timbers, and one 6 inch wide plan has been beaten off its fittings so that it hangs ajar, offering a slight view of the utter darkness beyond the door...

What to do?

"Drat! This is probably the dungeon we found before." Olaf says, he shines the lantern's light so he can look beyond. If he is sure that is what it is, he'll turn to retrace his steps. If he isn't sure, he'll have to try to open the door and see what lies beyond.

If Olaf has to retrace his steps, it will be back to the T intersection. Once there he will turn left and continue down that passage...still very cautiously.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Olaf has to put Victor down again, not only to rest his aching back, but also to edge himself close enough to the door to peer through the crack offered by the loose board.

The shaft of yellow light cuts through the darkness within like a sword through jelly, and through the swirling motes of dust caught in its unblinking eye, Olaf sees that it is indeed the morbid dungeon from whence Pelenwin was rescued some few days past.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
(1d6)

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Victor makes a barely audible moan as Olaf peers for a moment into the torture chamber...

"What is it, old boy?" Olaf asks quietly as he peels his gaze and the lantern away from the crack at the door. Then a kind of wet flap, perhaps like a fish slapping on a stone, comes to his ear and he jerks around... (1d6=6!) and is surprised as a scaly, Man-sized lizard-thing leaps at him with a feral "Hithhhhhhh!" and a bleak looking spear already poised overhead!

(1d20=9) by some miracle Olaf just manages to turn the spear point aside with his mailed shoulder, only to find the wretched thing snapping its fang-filled snout inches from his face! What-ever it is, the thing is sneaky, feral-quick and angry. It as an alligator-like face, with a webbed, spiny ridge running over its flat skull and down its back. It stands Man-like, but has horrible scaly skin, and clawed, webbed feet and hands.

It opens its alligator maw wide revealing inch long fangs, and hisses threateningly. Olaf's eyes are more on the jabbing spear-point as he reaches for his sword!

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
Olaf will fight, defensively at first. While he fights he will try to talk to the Lizard-Man, "Stop your attack! We mean you no harm!"

If he gets a positive response, he'll continue to try to talk to the beast...it must have some intelligence to have a spear...and see if he can get it to back off, or perhaps show us a way out of here. If he gets no, or a negative, response, Olaf will fight to kill.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
The lizard-thing doesn't seem to be listening and drives forward its attack again, this time more focused on biting Olaf than stabbing him with it's spear.

(1d20=13) Olaf manages to draw his sword just in time to block the creature's main attack, but now finds himself completely cornered by the thing -- his back firmly against the stuck door.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
In the following round Olaf fights back.

Initiative is rolled (1d6;Olaf=3, Foe=1)

Olaf presses the aggressor back now, thrusting it off with his sword and pure grunt initially, and then when it furiously scrambles to get back at him, hissing and squealing, he lunges (1d20=6) but his blade is turned aside harmlessly by its thick scaly hide. Then it is upon him again, all wet claws and slavering jaws! The stink of the monster up close is powerful -- a musk of rotten meat. It snaps its alligator jaws at him again (1d20=9), but Olaf if wary of its tactic now, and twists aside in the nick of time!

What now? Fight or run? [img]images/smiley/wink.png[/img]

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:
Have to fight! Victor is on the ground and can't run. Yeah, Olaf thinks about it, but it's one on one and he thinks he can take the thing.

[waysoftheearth]

waysoftheearth wrote:
Very well.

Initiative is rolled (1d6; Olaf=6, Foe=4).

Olaf believes "he can take the thing" and immediately pushes to make his case known (1d20=14), slashing fierce and hard, and gouging an awful wound across the monster's belly (2dd=2,4) for 6 hit points! It squeals at his injury, but rather than falling back it seems to enrage the thing to new heights! It snaps and stab frantically now (1d20=8) but Olaf expertly shies its claws, and snapping fangs and spear thrusts aside.

[waysoftheearth]

eris wrote:

Very well.

Initiative is rolled (1d6; Olaf=6, Foe=4).

Olaf believes "he can take the thing" and immediately pushes to make his case known (1d20=14), slashing fierce and hard, and gouging an awful wound across the monster's belly (2dd=2,4) for 6 hit points! It squeals at his injury, but rather than falling back it seems to enrage the thing to new heights! It snaps and stab frantically now (1d20=8) but Olaf expertly shies its claws, and snapping fangs and spear thrusts aside.

Olaf again tries to get the monster to back off, "Stop attacking!" he shouts at the beast, "Back away!"

But Olaf doesn't stop *his* attack, for unless the monster backs away he is going to feel the bite of Olaf's blade again!