Chapter 4: Battle in the Ruins

[Woe]

Dang, that's a big hall!

Unless Jaali has objections, I'm good for retreating to I19 with my bow out and then shooting anything that comes into the room.

Correction: I'll retreat to H14 and leave the vial of continuous light at H08. That will give me 120' of light to shoot by.

[mTeasdale]

In that case, Jaali will hide himself with his super halfling skills between the monkey statues at H3. I'll be out of the light stone range, right ?

[Longman]

I'll retreat to H14 and leave the vial of continuous light at H08. That will give me 120' of light to shoot by.

Yes, you will be shooting out of the dimer light, through 60 feet of brighter light, then back into 30' of dimmer light again. BTW, the light spell seems to have beaten the darkness spell, which only extends to the base of the stairs.

In the first round, the ranger moves 40 (4 squares) back down the hall, leaving the light at H08. This move is silent.

The halfling moves from I05 to H03, hiding himself between two of the monkeys on that square. He is just on the edge of the dimmer light shed by the stone.

There is no movement from the top of the stairs in that round. They are probably still waiting for the dust to settle.

In the second round, the halfling can remain hidden. Does he want to?

The ranger can either move 40, or 80, down the shaded walkway area. If she moves at 40 she can make a move silently roll. If she moves at 80, she can't.

Meanwhile, you still can't hear anything at the top of the stairs. Whoever was there would be staring at a wall of magical darkness left by the rope. In fact, there is probably a strange pocket of darkness poking about 30' above the top of the stairs.

The monk begins climbing out of the hole in round 3. We haven't quite got there yet.

Everyone else hang tight. Stuff will happen soon.

[Woe]

But I don't want stuff to happen! Haven't you learned that about me yet? Stuff = death!

Sonja is happy being in the darkness. Another 40' move. Oh, and bow out, arrow nocked.

[mTeasdale]

Staying hidden is probably Jaali's safest mive for now.

[Longman]

Indeed!

R2: The ranger proceeds another 40 as indicated in an attempt to remain silent. Jaali stays hid. Nothing happens.

R3: Yuan Cheng starts digging himself loose. Just in time he realises there is a pirate scout walking past the whole with a pistol. He tries to rubury himself again and the man walks past, apparently without noticing him. Better luck in round 4...

Kanya gets to her final location at the end of the hall.

There is a large exposion from the stairwell, Much sand, soot and chips of stone come flying down the stairs and into the hall of the apes. There is a loud clang as the staves of the monkey men hit the concrete floor.

Sounds like someone just threw a hand-made grenade down the stairs. It has caused you no damage and probably has not harmed the structure very much but it was very loud.

Round 4 - I presume Jaali and Kanya hold positions. YC, do you try to dig yourself out again this round?

[quozl]

YC will wait again until he hears something else.

[Longman]

Several more rounds pass. Then, the darkness at the bottom of the stairs seems to break and give way to a new light spell, which is coming down the stairs.

First to appear is Apinya, who has his pistol out. He is not carrying the light, which is coming from another character behind him.

He doesn't see Jaali, and probably can't see Kanya either. He is looking around the room, mostly staring at all the monkeys in the hall.

YC - do you attempt to stick your head up again? You can't hear anything.

Jaali and Kanya - what do you do?

[quozl]

Sure, YC will try taking another look.

[Longman]

OK, you stick your head up.

You can't see anyone now. The main noise seems to be coming from the larger cubes where you can hear people talking. You think the pirates were probably sending out scouts and one happened by just as you poked your head up last time.

If you want to dig yourself out now you are probably safe...