D&D Beginner's Game: Act 1, Scene 3: The Hunted

Professor Moriarty

The Dungeon Master wrote: »

On closer examination, Poppy can make out that inside the tubes are various animal and humanoid creatures, nothing entirely normal, most with additional limbs, tentacle faces, cat heads on dog bodies etc. Nothing appears to be alive.

Noticing the cauldron and the tentacle faces, the thought of Calamari
Fritti flashes across her mind. She dismisses the thought and carefully makes her way towards the cells at the back of the room for closer inspection.

The Dungeon Master

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Noticing the cauldron and the tentacle faces, the thought of Calamari
Fritti flashes across her mind. She dismisses the thought and carefully makes her way towards the cells at the back of the room for closer inspection.

There are a row of cells.
Barred doors with a key hole in each.



The floor of the cells are lined with narrow sluice grates.
6 cells in total.
3, Cells #1, #2, and #6 are unoccupied and pristine, with what appears to be just stone walls, sluice grate floors, a tube sticking out of the wall on the east wall of each cell.

2 cells - #3 and #5 have semi-dissolved beasts that do not look right.

One is the size of a dog but has 5 legs, one is the bottom half of a bipedal humanoid but with a winglike spur sticking out of the calf of one of the legs.

Cell #4 is occupied by a sleeping human, naked but modesty covered by very long hair and beard, like captain cave man. A tube snakes out at belly button height, coiled on the floor and through a hole on the wall.

Each cell has a button beside the door marked Cell Release.

Under the button is a 6 sided hexagonal hole.

Professor Moriarty

Having examined the cell doors very carefully and ascertained that they are robust and securely locked, Poppy calls out to the humanoid with a loud whisper. "Hello"

The Dungeon Master

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Having examined the cell doors very carefully and ascertained that they are robust and securely locked, Poppy calls out to the humanoid with a loud whisper. "Hello"

All bar Cell #1 are locked tight. The door swings slightly ajar as Poppy checks it.

The man's eyes jerk open and he screams - before cowering at the back of the cell and rocking back and forth in a foetal position.

Professor Moriarty

The Dungeon Master wrote: »

All bar Cell #1 are locked tight. The door swings slightly ajar as Poppy checks it.

The man's eyes jerk open and he screams - before cowering at the back of the cell and rocking back and forth in a foetal position.

Poppy slowly approaches the man with her hand on her concealed sword. In a gentle voice she says "It's okay, I won't harm you. Are you alright?"

The Dungeon Master

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Poppy slowly approaches the man with her hand on her concealed sword. In a gentle voice she says "It's okay, I won't harm you. Are you alright?"

No response from the man. He continues to rock back and forth in the corner, cowering in fear.

Professor Moriarty

The Dungeon Master wrote: »

No response from the man. He continues to rock back and forth in the corner, cowering in fear.

Poppy leaves the cell and looks around for something to jam the door with lest it lock behind her.

The Dungeon Master

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Poppy leaves the cell and looks around for something to jam the door with lest it lock behind her.

Nothing of note, but Poppy can see that in the centre of the room where the plinth is, there are steps that lead up to a desk and a chair.

Professor Moriarty

Ensuring that all cells are locked and that the man represents no threat, Poppy approaches the steps. She carefully scours the room for movement and then begins to slowly climb the stairs examining each step for traps.

The Dungeon Master

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Ensuring that all cells are locked and that the man represents no threat, Poppy approaches the steps. She carefully scours the room for movement and then begins to slowly climb the stairs examining each step for traps.

The cells apart from Cell #1 are still locked.

No traps or movement Poppy can see, save for Fector who is doing a few stretches of his good leg by the north door.

As she climbs the steps, Poppy can see the desk is featureless, with three drawers, apart from hexagonal hole in the middle.

The chair has straps for securing the arms and legs of its occupant, and a jewel-studded circlet for securing their head.

Professor Moriarty

Poppy notes the binds on the chair and makes some sad assumptions. She approaches the desk and examines it carefully for traps. Standing back form the desk and using the hilt of her sword, she attempts to open the top drawer.

The Dungeon Master

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Poppy notes the binds on the chair and makes some sad assumptions. She approaches the desk and examines it carefully for traps. Standing back form the desk and using the hilt of her sword, she attempts to open the top drawer.

No visible traps.

The drawer slides open and within is a key, and 3 six-sided crystals - one of which is glowing brightly. The other two are dull.

Professor Moriarty

Poppy pockets the key and examines each of the balls in turn.

Necro

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Poppy pockets the key and examines each of the balls in turn.

The brightly glowing crystal is completely untainted, no abrasions to the surface at all.

The dull crystals have minor rub marks on the sides, almost as if they were inserted in something previously.

OOC: Edit: Ooops. Dungeon Master skin going back on

Professor Moriarty

Poppy puts the crystals in her bag and very carefully turns her attention to the other drawers to see if she can open them without triggering a trap.

The Dungeon Master

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Poppy puts the crystals in her bag and very carefully turns her attention to the other drawers to see if she can open them without triggering a trap.

The drawers open easily enough. Both are empty.

Professor Moriarty

The Dungeon Master wrote: »

The drawers open easily enough. Both are empty.

Poppy carefully examines the desk from all angles to see if there is anything else of interest.

The Dungeon Master

Nothing else of interest in or on the desk, save for the hexagonal hole in the centre of it.

Professor Moriarty

Poppy examines the hole carefully and gently inserts her sword into it.

The Dungeon Master

Nothing happens when Poppy's sword is inserted, save for the slight tap of sword on metal when it hits the bottom.

The hole is six-sided (hexagonal), with a thin sheet of metal at the bottom - rather unremarkable aside.

Professor Moriarty

Poppy takes out the glowing crystal and inserts it into the hole before quickly jumping back.

The Dungeon Master

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Poppy takes out the glowing crystal and inserts it into the hole before quickly jumping back.

The crystal glows even brighter momentarily before turning dull. Now the circlet in the chair emits the same glow the crystal had been doing.

Professor Moriarty

Poppy examines the circlet in the chair. She briefly considers asking one of her companions to sit in the chair but thinks she knows the answer she'd get. She muses for a moment before gingerly touching the circlet with her forefinger.

The Dungeon Master

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

Poppy examines the circlet in the chair. She briefly considers asking one of her companions to sit in the chair but thinks she knows the answer she'd get. She muses for a moment before gingerly touching the circlet with her forefinger.

No reaction from the circlet. Fector wanders up the steps towards Poppy at this point.

'Whatcha doin', lass? What's the glowy thing on the chair?'

Professor Moriarty

"Just checking things out, Fector.. Fancy sitting on the chair? Could be good, could be bad."

Guffy

Echtrae monitors Poppy's exploration keenly. He does step in, however, when he tries to use Fector as a guinea pig.

"Woah there Poppy! Fector aint sitting in that thing. Look at all of those animals in the tubes.

Aint nutin good happening in this place" he almost whispers that last part to himself.

"Do you think he is the orchistrator of all this", he nods at the man rocking in the cell, "or is he to end up like the experiment in the other cell? Why wasn't the cage locked?"

Echtrae looks to see if there is a safe way to tip the cauldron out. He turns back to Poppy

"I'd be tempted to put your rocking friend into the chair, but then again he could be between fixes and thats just what he needs. Take it out and crush the crystal, in my opinion. I don't like this place."

The Dungeon Master

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

"Just checking things out, Fector.. Fancy sitting on the chair? Could be good, could be bad."

OOC: Roll Charisma

The Dungeon Master

Guffy wrote: »

Echtrae looks to see if there is a safe way to tip the cauldron out.

The cauldron is quite heavy. It would take incredible strength to attempt to tip its contents onto the floor.

Guffy

Echtrae assess the ladders safety, judging it safe he climbs for a look in the cauldron

The Dungeon Master

Guffy wrote: »

Echtrae assess the ladders safety, judging it safe he climbs for a look in the cauldron

The ladder's steps are coated with a thick black slime, but with no obvious signs of corrosion.

OOC: Roll Dex if you wish to climb the ladder