Chamber 1-6: Tainted Gallery

Under the stress of the acid, a couple of the stone statues begin to break down (#1 and #5). Malfunctioning, instead of spraying acid at you, they instead break apart and explode outward in a splash of acidic stone debris! Galad manages to get out of the danger zone just in time.
Tech: Nobody in the close burst 3 of those two statues. They will no longer get to attack you, but that area (noted on map) is now a hazardous, difficult terrain of acid-soaked rubble. Will cost two movement to pass through one of those squares (and may incur acid damage)!
 
The dwarf, Vondal, remembers his swimming training and swims with proficiency to the bottom of the acid pool. Quickly grabbing the key and bone scroll case, he begins his upward ascent.
Tech: 10 points acid damage, down to 14 hit points (bloodied). But, you have the key and scroll! You are still in the pool, will need another full round to get to the top (with good athletics rolls).

OOC: No other ill-wills befall you this round. I'll get updated map and vitals before end of day today. Then, I'm off on vacation! Due date for this post isn't until June 1, Noon CST.

Initiative:
15 Joryn
14 Ambrose
10 Vondal (done)
08 Galad
== Start of Round 5
22 Finding
21 Tharl
16 Lohmi
16 Acid-Spraying Statues (3)

Chamber 1-5: Tainted Gallery

Finding checks that the noose knot she's constructed is sturdy and weighty enough and, focusing her efforts on the rope lowers it rapidly into the acid, hoping that her hands are steady enough to successfully loop it around the torch and bring it up to the surface before the rope crumbles.

As she works on the torch, she notices two more oddities on the bottom of the pool. "Everyone, there's not just the torch down here, there are two smaller items sitting next to it - but they're too small for me to loop with a rope noose! One looks like a key, and one looks like a...I think it's a scroll case, made out of bone. How can we get those up?"

Finding snags the everburning torch quickly and pulls it up out of the pool of acid. The rope is even holding up pretty well despite being soaked in acid. The torch is a simple steel rod, on the bottom of which is a strange series of notches that suggest it was once part of another object.

On cue, two of the statues spray the acid mist!
Tech: #2 and #6 attack this time... acid spray vs fortitude:
Galad: 11, miss
Ambrose: 21, hit, 6 points damage
Spirit Companion: natural 1, miss
Vondal: 8, miss
Finding: 12, miss
 
You've defeated the skeletons, their bones now litter the floor just like they litter the bottom of the pool. Yet, the danger is not over; the statues continue to spray acid at you! Combat rounds are still going because of this.


Initiative:
15 Joryn
14 Ambrose
10 Vondal
08 Galad
== Start of Round 4
22 Finding
21 Tharl
16 Lohmi
16 Acid-Spraying Statues (6)

Chamber 1-4: Tainted Gallery

[Tharl]
When Tharl gets that feeling, he needs spiritual healing. He regains the use of his sight!
Tech: Healing Spirit. Tharl's hp increase to 15, surges down to 9. One more Healing Spirit allowed this encounter.

An ancestral spirit suddenly appears, jabs the skeleton with his spectral spear, and then vanishes. With this diversion, Tharl retreats to the safety of the northern wall with ease.
Tech: Hit on Skeleton-2 for 13 damage. Skeleton-2 is bloodied. Opportunity attack against Tharl missed.

[Lohmi]
With sword in hand, he crosses over to the eastern side of the chamber and boldly challenges Skeleton-3 to battle!
Tech: Skeleton-3 is marked by Lohmi.

[Statues]
This time, the two statues that spray acid are the southwest one and the northeast one. You are expecting it this time, and therefore mitigate the damage with low ducking or clever blocking with cloaks.
Tech: Misses on Vondal, Joryn and Finding. Skeleton-3 takes 1 point damage.

[Skeleton-1]
The skeleton chases Galad, and corners him in an unfortunate situation.
Tech: Claws against Galad 24 vs AC; 11 damage. Temp HP gone, actual HP down to 25.

[Skeleton-2]
Another skeleton chases Tharl, but Tharl does not allow it to penetrate his space.
Tech: Claws against Tharl, 9 vs AC, miss. Does the spirit companion get to do an Opportunity Attack if the skeleton moved by him (not shifted)?

[Skeleton-3]
Answering Lohmi's challenge, the skeleton leaps over the narrow acid channel.
Tech: Claws against Lohmi, 10 vs AC, miss.
 
OOC: Dice were on your side this round. Also, I've been looking for a way to present current maps and vitals for maximum tactical access. I played around with updating the main post with them, but sometimes it's tough to maneuver the maps into the right spot with the Blogger editor. Therefore, look for the tab page above for Current Maps and Vitals. 

• 15 Joryn
• 14 Ambrose
• 10 Vondal
• 08 Galad
• == Start of Round 3
• 22 Finding
• 21 Tharl
• 16 Lohmi
• 16 Acid-Spraying Statues
• 16 Fiend-Tainted Skeleton Warriors (Update - All Destroyed)

Chamber 1-3: Tainted Gallery

Acid Showers

Acid Blast Attack: In RED

From the corner of the room, Galad witnesses the skeleton slinking out from behind the statue. But then his focus rests on the statue itself, where he then notices something new - a nozzle slightly protruding from the statue's mouth.
  

Too late to warn anyone, however! Suddenly, a spray of acid bursts forth from two of the western statues (from the nozzles). Galad, Ambrose and Vondal show quick reflexes and manage to dodge or avoid the spray. Skeleton-1, Skeleton-4 and Tharl are hit more fully!
  

Tech: Close blasts shown in map on right. Vondal and Tharl were attacked twice. The spirit companion was unaffected. This attack reveals that the skeletons have Resist 5 Acid. 

Tharl takes first damage of the game (9 Acid Damage) and is blinded until the end of his next turn.

Also note, Skeleton-1 is now bloodied (icon is now red on map).

Tainted Claws

Each of the skeleton warriors show straight-forward battle tactics, heading for the closest enemies and flanking their foes.

Galad is able to side-step two claw attacks from Skeleton-1 with ease.

Tech: Rolls of 8 and 9 vs. AC... miss!

  

Skeleton-2 rushes Tharl and skewers the shaman with his bony, clawed hands! Tharl, with eyes blinded from the acid, is unable to defend himself from the onslaught.

Tech: Two hits for 23 necrotic damage. Tharl is bloodied.
 
Skeleton-3 and Skeleton-6 flank Joryn. Joryn's impressive armor causes three of the four attempts to brush off harmlessly, but one claw draws blood.
Tech: One hit, but it was a Natural 20 for 14 necrotic damage. 

Skeleton-4 and Skeleton-5 brutalize Lohmi. The swordmage may be swift, but his reflexes are not fast enough. He drops to the floor, a pool of his blood starting to gather underneath him.

Tech: Three hits for a total of 46 necrotic damage. Lohmi is unconscious and dying!

Map of the Original Post

OOC: Well, I guess they don't call it Fourthcore for nothing. Dungeoneers, what will you do now?  

• 15 Joryn
• 14 Ambrose
• 10 Vondal
• 08 Galad
• == Start of Round 2
• 22 Finding
• 21 Tharl (Blinded until end of turn)
• 16 Lohmi (KO)
• 16 Acid-Spraying Statues



Updated Map and Vitals (Tharl and Lohmi yet to go)


Some art pulled from www.theweem.com (condition cards). Very nice site, check it out.

• 16 Fiend-Tainted Skeleton Warriors (3)

Chamber 1-2: Tainted Gallery

(Screw it, I know I said this was going to drop at 12:00pm CST, but I can't wait that long.)

The Statues
For those getting closer to the statues (Galad, and Joryn/Finding as they pass by), you see they are hewn from cracked, unkempt marble. Each statue has a dirty plaque set into its base, with what looks to be some writing or drawing on them. Difficult to tell exactly what though, with the grime covering them.

The Pool

Joryn, Finding and Tharl, (passing by or walking up to the pool), can see that it is quite murky and clouded. You can clearly see an everburning torch at the bottom, the source of the strange light in the chamber. The light pierces through the murky liquid, revealing a depth of 30 feet. It also shows that the bottom of the pool is littered with bones.

Tharl drops a piece of meat into the liquid, and it slowly begins to dissolve. A mild acid, at best.

Large Eastern Statue
Finding and Joryn see that the far east statue is nearly fifteen feet tall, carved to look like a gangly noble, whose head is thrown back in agony, silently wailing. The wetness comes from his empty eye sockets, like tears flowing into the channel to eventually reach the pool. To the left and right of the large statue are hallways leading north and south.

The Skeletons

At this point, all six skeletons emerge from behind the statues! They are dressed in old scale armor, but carry no weapons. Each of their bony clawed hands are deep purple in contrast to their otherwise grayish bodies; as if their hands and wrists had been dipped in dark dye.

They look upon you with coldness; they will take no joy in killing you. You simply need to be killed.

  

OOC: Combat begins! See initiative below. Anybody have any abilities that would modify the initiative (such as Warlord bonuses, etc.)? If so, let me know soon and I will update the list properly. Hoping for posts from Finding, Tharl and Lohmi first, then I will post for the Skeleton Warriors. Everyone can do free actions though (example: talking). For those of you new to 4E, hit me up with questions via email, twitter, gmail chat, etc.

Initiative

• 22 Finding
• 21 Tharl
• 16 Lohmi
• 16 Fiend-Tainted Skeleton Warriors (6)
• 15 Joryn
• 14 Ambrose
• 10 Vondal
• 08 Galad

Fiend-Tainted? What's up with that?  

Good Luck,

MilwaukeeJoe


Updated Map
This area will contain the updated map that includes events as they unfold in the comments below.
Turns processed: Tharl, Lohmi, Finding
Skeleton-1: Wounded, Not Bloodied
Skeleton-5: Marked (denoted by triangle)
Skeleton-6: Wounded, Not Bloodied, Next Hit will Push 1

Chamber 1-1: Tainted Gallery

Your pursuits of the dwarven warrior Jonar Redhammer have brought you to the ruins of Amaloss Keep... The main keep is abandoned, in ruins. It is Lohmi, Human Swordmage, that senses the magical aura of a illusion in the ruins, one that conceals a stairway leading down into the Keep's dungeons.

Original Map of this Post

You follow the stairs behind the illusory wall down over thirty feet before ending in a large chamber, supported on either side by six statues (small stars on map) covered in cobwebs and dust. Each statue is carved to look like a whip-scarred human struggling to support the ceiling on his hunched shoulders.

Updated Map including events from comments below.

In the center of the room is a pool of clear water fed by a channel that enters through a passageway at the far east end of the room. The soft sounds of the gentle waters feels good upon your ears. A shimmering light comes from the pool, casting wavering blue shadows all around the chamber. A strong smell of acid is present in the air; it's breathable, but not pleasant.

Welcome to Weekly Grind 4E: Vault of the Wailing Prince! 

• Feel free to briefly introduce your character to the other players. You've been working together for a while now and are familiar with each other.
• What are you doing for light sources?
• You cannot see exactly what's down the eastern hallway, due to the distance.
• You are at B7 on map. I will be placing your "icons" on the map in the coming week.
• When you post, be sure to mention the coordinates from the map so there's no confusion. Also include what roll you'd make in a "Tech" section. Example: Lohmi descends the stairs and approaches the statue to his left (D3) and examines it more closely. Tech: Perception +3
• I'm looking forward to your comments/posts! I may respond with a comment of my own. I plan to post the next big post on Thursday, but may be sooner if necessary.

Good Luck!
MilwaukeeJoe

Character Creation - Choosing a Picture

Dungeoneers,

Being D&D 4E is a tactical game, I would like for you to send me a picture that represents your dungeoneer. Try to choose some thing that scales well, as I will be shrinking it down to very small to put on the battle maps.

Send me your pic via email. If you don't care, I can choose for you. I've got plenty of pics, such as the one shown here.

Thanks!
MilwaukeeJoe

Map of the First Chamber

Pre-releasing the map of the first chamber, just to wet your appetite. Keep those characters coming in! I anticipate starting the game next week.

Character Creation Time!

I will announce soon who is in the "first batch" of dungeoneers to tackle the first Grind4E room.

If I have more than 6 players looking to join, excess above 6 will be put in a waiting status until a dungeoneer dies. I will then offer the spot to a player in the waiting room (and the player who's dungeoneer died will go to the waiting room).

Dungeoneer Creation Rules:
http://slamdancr.com/wp/2011/04/weekly-grind-4e-an-introduction/

Read the rules on character creation,:

• Have me create a pre-gen for you. You provide: Name, Race, Class, etc.

OR

• Use the WotC character builder and create a dungeoneer. Send me the *.dnd4e file by emailing to joenehmer777 [you're all going to die] gmail.com

Also, hit me up with questions if you have them via that email address, or @MilwaukeeJoe via twitter.

Character creation, coming up.

I will be posting the character creation guidelines within the next few days. I'm currently waiting for WotC to re-up my DnDInsider account.