Game Thread, Chapter 1: All the Kings Horses...

[Kuroimaken]

"Our reanimated friend is correct, the principle is the same. I remember reading about this particular form of portal before. The portals are built to grant two-way passage to those traversing them. It's not unlikely that the ease of use and the manner in which they seem to work might have some connection with moving troops in and out of the Underdark."

[Bozwevial]

"So would a covert plan be appropriate here? The only obstacle to the plan I can find is that the glow of the runes may alert our adversaries, to say nothing of any potential traps laid on the portal." Marlowe is somehow completely untouched by the dust and dirt, his clothes as impeccable as ever.

[VennDygrem]

"I doubt there's going to be any traps on the stones. Our major concern is, if we decide to elude those creatures, they may very well just follow us. If we can't keep them from doing that, then the whole point is moot. Unless we can put a cloud of fog or dust between us and them, so they don't know which stone we use..."

[Agita]

Ris-Janna lets a bit of time pass after Cade speaks, to see if anyone else is going to save her the trouble of speaking, but then chimes up, "I can do that. Dark mist... or a cloud of shadow, like I did on the tree."

And here I thought having Obscuring Mist as a domain spell would be useless. Of course, she also has Darkness as an SLA, but not everyone in the party can see in magical darkness, so most of us wouldn't know where to put their fingers.

[PhaedrusXY]

And here I thought having Obscuring Mist as a domain spell would be useless. Of course, she also has Darkness as an SLA, but not everyone in the party can see in magical darkness, so most of us wouldn't know where to put their fingers.

Obscuring Mist is one of my favorite spells...

Xuuvosic's serpentine minion, Siphsis, speaks up "Massster... the sstones are rumored to move from time to time of their own accord. So even the wolf-beassst might not know where the correct sstone is, if it has moved ssince he last used it. And if we have to ssearch them for the correct symbol in a cloud of missst... it will take more time."

[Agita]

"Okay... I can see fine in shadows... so I can put down a cloud of shadows and look for the stone just fine. The rest of you can just stay in the hole."

The 20-ft. cloud from Darkness won't cover all of the stones, but RJ can cast it on her clothes or something so it'll move with her. Or on a stone (not a mucklestone, that is) so she can pick up and throw it (and won't always be right at the center of the area).

[VennDygrem]

To be fair, Cade said "between" the enemies and the stones, nothing about putting the cloud on the stones themselves.

[HeadofVecna]

"I still don't like this. But there are too many fucking unknowns, and the one thing we do know is that doing it straight up ain't likely to work out well. We'll start trying to stealth this out. If shit goes south RJ, yell out but hold off a sec before going dark. That will give a few others a chance to pop out and look. Use your judgment on how long to wait though. I don't want you taking any more hits than necessary."

"Bitches, if RJ or I call out AND there's still darklight (darkvision working) outside the pit, come out find the rune, activate it if you can, and whether you can activate it or not call out if you find it.. But if you can't see outside by the time you're ready, just stay unless I tell you otherwise. Goes without saying, but I'm gonna fucking say it; if anyone gets a gate open and you're outside the pit, make for the gate."

"Everybody ready? .... Going in 5 4 3 2 1."

Xuuvosic teleports to the first rune, and in a low stealthy (Hide check (1d20+16=29) Edit: This does not include invisibility bonuses) crouch, moves to check a second and a third if necessary. If he gets lucky before his second standard action (i.e. ports right to it or finds it on his move action), he'll try to activate the rune.

[VennDygrem]

Hrrm, doesn't give me the chance to interject that the stone doesn't likely make an actual gate, but rather probably acts as a teleportation focus. Or rather, the chance to roll a knowledge check or ask the barghest.

[HeadofVecna]

Hrrm, doesn't give me the chance to interject that the stone doesn't likely make an actual gate, but rather probably acts as a teleportation focus. Or rather, the chance to roll a knowledge check or ask the barghest.

I didn't want to hold things up any further, but X did pause to give others a chance to interject. So there should be a chance to make last minute adjustments/statements before teleporting.

[PhaedrusXY]

Started an "encounter" thread. Post there till we're done with this area, please.