DM CD's Unrest in Atlus
Game Master Vethcyr

"I think that both arcane and divine magics have been used in this room. Let's see. It looks like this writing is in the ancient language of the serpent people I have been trying to learn about. Unfortunately, I don't know their language. This tower, and everything in it, may very well have belonged to the ancient empire." Leto peer around excitedly. "Let's go further in. Let's...One second. Oh clever clever. They kept the room clean with a prestidigitation effect that lasted all these years to keep the room clean for them." Leto takes a closer look at the chair to see if he can learn anything from it.

Knowledge (History) Do I know anything from it or its design?:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Mmm, Serpent spirits. Perhaps Twohey can take a closer look.

He takes a small bottle from his belt pouch, and sprinkles a red liquid on Twohey, who shoots a look that virtually screams you see the s@&& I have to put up with? He says a little chant and does a little dance, then they both walk over to look at the chest more closely.

Re-examination of the chest.
Aid another 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Spellcraft 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21

Gareth looks around the room in awe. He takes particular interest to the ceremonial sword. "I've never a sword quite like this before. I wonder what these inscriptions say. Here let me see if I can figure anything out."

He takes out his Scroll of Comprehend Languages and casts it on himself.

UMD:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Leto recoils from the chair. "Oh god. Those snake f@+@ers...It would seem that this civilization not only believed that it was superior to all other races. It would sacrifice other races. They were also both warriors and magic users. There is something about an eclipse here that I don't fully understand."

Leto looks up at the door. "Let's go onward and see what else we can learn." He bids his servant to lift up any bags of powder to the door.

Gareth points to the blade. "This is very well crafted. Its inscription reads "For the Empire." What do you make of that? In either case, I don't think they'd mind if one of us borrowed it from them, would they?"

With that, he looks at the scroll, reading its text as well.

Friend Leto, Twohey feels you have misinterpreted this chest. It is not magic, merely sealed by a magical force.

If these creatures, who, as you say... he covers Twohey's ears with his hands and drops his voice to a whisper f!!%ed snakes, are your ancestors, perhaps it contains information you need. Do you want me to open it for you? He puts his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Bahahahaha Gareth only Perception Let's do this!
Perception:1d20 - 2 ⇒ (12) - 2 = 10

As Gareth reads the scroll, he becomes increasingly concerned. "Whoa. Whoa whoa whoa! This doesn't sound good! Here, let me read it: To summon forth the long night, proffer sacrifice amid the bones of the ancients. Return their gift from whence it came."

"And then it blabbers on about the "servants of the night" and how their ascendence comes, and how no mutinous slaves will question their mercy, and let the dreaming darkness consume all."

"What do we do? We can't let anyone complete some kind of ritual. Is their gift that sword?"

Martin walks over, resting his hand on Gareth's shoulder.
"Calm down, I think this place has been abandoned for some time. I dont think anyone will be doing any type summoning anytime soon. We should grab the sword though, if not I'm sure some art collect would pay a pretty penny for it."

with that, Martin walks over to the sword, wresting it from it's place on the wall.

Here's to hoping it's not cursed

As Martin picks up the sword, it suddenly straightens and lengthens without becoming heavier. It now resembles a bastard sword while weighing and feeling equivalent to a short sword. The sword retains its black color and serpent pommel.

It is now a bastard sword, but you feel fully proficient with it because it feels like a short sword.

Twohey hoots in alarm, and he and Hascya exchange troubled glances.

Twohey flies over to circle around Martin, staring intently at the sword.

Spellcraft (with Identify still active):
Aid another 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Spellcraft 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30

Martin waves the sword around, feeling it out, finding the right grip.

"Interesting."

Hascya walks over to Martin, the chest all but forgotten, and Twohey alights back on his shoulder.

That is very strange. Even Twohey has never seen magic of this type. You should be very careful, as we cannot know what form of spirits dwell within it.

"If everyone steps away I can ask my unseen servant to open the chest." Once everyone steps aways away from the chest Leto has the unseen servant open the chest.

It doesn't work.

Martin places the sword on the holder again, waits a moment, and then picks it up again.

It remains a bastard sword.

Gareth gives the sword a strange look. "Hmm... Can't see I've seen anything like that before. Here, let me take a look."

Gareth will first detect evil around the room, particularly at the sword and the chest. If nothing is apparent, he will pick up the sword himself.

As Gareth picks up the blade, it remains a bastard sword.

"Well, it seems this thing has more than meets the eye. Maybe I'll try it out in our next battle."

Martin says, reaching out to take the sword from Gareth

Hascya shakes his head sadly at Leto.

Did Twohey not explain? The box is sealed with magic. Your spirit servant is to weak to break that power. Here, we will uncover the contents.

He draws his sword and chops neatly into the top of the box.

Attack 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Damage 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 = 6

Repeat as necessary...

Leto detects magic on whatever is inside.

Sorry, I had this typed up yesterday, but I guess I forgot to hit the post button.

Hascya hacks into the chest repeatedly, eventually breaking it open. Inside, you find:

An amulet carved from black stone, with an emblem of a dagger upon it.
A wooden ring.
A gold ring.
Four scrolls, one of them much bigger than the others.
A pouch of gemstones.

Let's identify things! First roll is aid another, second roll is the real spellcraft.

Amulet 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18
W Ring 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38
G Ring 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27
Scroll1 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
Scroll2 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26
Scroll3 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31

Leto examines each item in turn.

Spellcraft:
Amulet: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Wooden ring: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Gold ring: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Scroll 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Scroll 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Scroll 3: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Big scroll: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Gems: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Gareth examines each item in turn.

Appraise:
Amulet:1d20 ⇒ 20
Gold Ring:1d20 ⇒ 20
Gems:1d20 ⇒ 20

Uhhhhhh what just happened.

You're either very lucky, or hilariously unlucky that those rolls happened now.

"Wow, there really are some lovely items here. I'm not sure about the amulet, but the wooden ring allows the wearer to fall safely from great heights, the gold rings helps the wearer avoid blows (ring of protection +2), Not sure about he scrolls."

Holy s$*~. Those dice.

Hascya grins broadly. Fear not, Twohey can read the scrolls. Perhaps he can teach you some time.

This scroll (no. 2) is evil. It will take a dead body and force a powerful and vile underworld spirit to inhabit it, and bind that spirit to the control of the person who cast it. Such magic should be destroyed. He grabs that scroll.

This one, (no. 3) however, is a good scroll. It binds air spirits, to protect all around when it is read.

Perhaps Twohey can take it, and use it to help all our friends in battles. He picks up the chest, replaces the lid as best as possible, and begins fastening it to his scabbard-harness.

"Well, not only is all of this magical, but it's worth quite a pretty penny too. I'll bet you could get 15,000 or so gold for all of those gems. And the amulet is made from black onyx, probably worth around 1000 gold. My dad was fascinated by the material, he said necromancers always wanted as much as they could get of it to create undead beings. And that gold ring would probably fetch a couple of thousand gold to a collector, if we can find one."

For loot purposes, I would be fine with keeping track of items, the one problem being that Martin can't detect/ identify magic meaning that I would have to open spoilers to do it. If people are comfortable with this, then I could do so, and continue to roleplay Martin as being oblivious, otherwise It might be best for someone who actually knows what the items are to keep up with loot. Your call.

Martin sheaths his newfound sword, shifting his previous sword to his back, and looks on at the spoils inside the chest without commenting.

"I would like to lay claim to the wooden ring. My last several falls from great heights has led me to desire a...backup plan." If no one objects Leto slips the ring on his finger.

"Let's move on to the next area." At that, Leto grabs some powder and bids the unseen servant to pack the lock with powder. Then he steps back a ways and casts spark.

As Leto goes for the blasting powder, martin says"Not so fast their Leto. Not all problems need to be solved by blastig powder. We can probably force our way through the door with some good old fashion man power."

Martin examines the lock. Is this one also inaccessible by foot, or can Martin reach it via a ladder or something?

There's a stone staircase leading up to it.

Martin will attempt to force the door with his shoulder 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

If this fails, he will try and sunder the locks with his new found bastard sword 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 dmg:1d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 If there is any additional enchantment that I don't know about, it is not included in these rolls

The door doesn't budge. However, Martin's newfound sword does its job, shearing through the lock easily (adamantine weapon).

The trapdoor up may now be opened.

"see Leto, we don't need blasting powder for everything!"

"I would point out that I was not the one to propose the initial use of powder and I was only using a handful to blow the lock. No need to overreact." Leto has his servant open the door.

The top floor of the tower features four massive, open-air windows around the perimeter. Easily ten foot wide and fifteen feet tall before tapering to a point, these windows afford a commanding view of the landscape around the tower. A circular, downward-sloping roof protects this observation point from the elements. The tower's lean means that your view of the northern horizon is sharply limited.

The only signs of life up here are some bird nests on the windowsills.

"Save the chattering for later, ladies." Gareth snarks. "The powder served its purpose. Now, what I wanna see, is that big scroll we found. If I didn't know any better, I'd say it might have something interesting written on it."

Gareth takes the large scroll and examines it.

"Mind if I have a look?" Leto also looks at the scroll.

On the scroll are a lot of diagrams of various humanoids and monsters, each with a sizable amount of the jagged script written below. They look like anatomical drawings.

"Sure, go ahead. All of these pictures show different sacrificial rituals for quite a few species. They show the major organs and preparations for humans, dwarves, elves, even giants, goblins, dragons... Oh hey, Martin, I think I even see your mother on here!" He points to a diagram of the kobold and laughs, before handing the scroll off to Leto.

Appraise:Going for the 4-peat!
1d20 ⇒ 18
Someone aid me and we've got it

Jamros will attempt to aid Gareth (remember, appraise checks can be attempted untrained).

Aiding Gareth's appraise: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11 Success! Go ahead and open the spoiler, Gareth.

"Look at how well preserved it is," Jamros comments. "I bet we could find someone to buy it."

So, what do you guys want to do now? There's pretty much nothing to loot on the top floor.