Dm Kumo's Crypt of the Everflame

Game Master Logan Holt

Dyrm follows as suggested

Cotton sticks close to Dyrm.

"So, we get in, we wait until nightfall and then make our move?"

You make your way back arriving just before midnight. The guard who let you out is still alone and gives you a simple nod as you enter.

On the way back... Sa'sori pulls a single gold coin from her coin purse and cast her prestidigitation on it to turn is green... this is an attempt to put magic on the coin she can quickly identify with a detect magic ...regardless of the clothing worn. Like the magic will fade sometime in the next 24 hours.. but that should be enough for her purposes.

When the party returns to the Razmirian compound.. Sa'sori walks up tot he guard and gives him a gentle hug whispering "Thank you!"

And she places the gold coin in his hand.

As the party return to their rooms she says tot he group.. "That guard.. HE and only he gets to live... I always pay back my debts! I have a way of identifying him... leave him to me if I call for you to hold on attacking some particular guardsman."

Sa'sori goes down stairs to see if the door to area {T11} is still locked. Then she will search the floor to see if there are any acolytes still on the floor. If so she will gather the party, just outside the room they are in.

T11 is still locked, and there are two grey robed priests in the dining area. Your room is empty with the exception of Elvar.

Then Sa'sori whispers to the gathered party, "Looks like we start with taking out these two... any one opposed to starting this right now? I've got a sleep spell with their names on it! But we should be prepared to fight them if they do not succumb."

You're more than welcome to, but these two are in the basement and you're trying to get to the 2nd floor. The only guards you need to remove are those guarding the stairs.

They locked that basement door for a reason.. I want to know WHY! And there are only two of them.. we should NOT leave an enemy behind us. Systematic sweep of the compound is the best option for NO surprises. Sa'sori wants to sweep the Entire facility with her casting of detect secret doors so we find everything.. we'll have to do it eventually anyways might as well attack where the enemy is weak~ the element of surprise is on OUR side!

Dyrm looks confused, "Shouldn't we tackle up stairs first?"

There is a brief Exasperated expression on Sa'sori face but she takes a deep calming breath...

"Listen Dyrm, you are not a fighter so its likely you don't get the ramifications entirely... I'll explain. There are only two fighter types among us... Moria and me, our numbers are small so we are a raiding party... if we do not cut down on the enemy's numbers we could easily be overwhelmed in a fight. First rule of conflict is.. nothing EVER goes as planned! We need to reduce the chance of us being outflanked and outnumbered as our two fighters can only reasonable cover one flank at best. In a fight you don't attack where the enemy is strong first your wasting effort and taking a big risk. Attack the enemy where he is weak first~ especially if you can do it without alerting the enemy's main forces of your attack... so that no reinforcements are likely to arrive to overwhelm you already engaged with the enemy when you eventually attack where he is strongest. THAT is a recipe for disaster!"

"Also.. can you lift that portcullis? I expect ALL of us together could not lift it... because those things are usually designed to be locked in the down position to keep that specifically from happening! I saw no controls to the portcullis in the courtyard.. so if things go 'pear-shaped' [vernacular - cock and balls 'screwed'] upstairs~ as they are likely too if fortunes turn against us.. we have NO exit plan~ and this raid just became a suicide mission! But if we sweep the basement of all hostiles we have effectively secured our exit through the secret door in the cell area!"

"Trust me on this.. I know what I'm talking about. We have the element of surprise on our side... we can likely take down the guards in the basement with no one the wiser.. until its too late... for THEM!"

"Well, that was condescending," Dyrm replies dryly. "I think we risk raising alarm earlier on and in the wrong area, but as you like it. We need to be united in this whatever we do."

Sa'sori is clearly perplexed, "Condes~ LOOK.. Do I question you about your wisdom on things dealing with nature, animals and druidy stuff? Hell no! Cause That's YOUR specialty~ no one here will know more about that than you! Why can you not trust me in this.. I fight and cast spells in combat.. THAT's MY specialty! {Tone sarcastic} I suppose you think it will do us better good to raise the alarm where the enemy is strong and we have no exit route, should things fair badly for us?"

She is at the limits of her patience, "Look~ We don't have time for this... just array yourselves out near the east end of the hallway {T7}. {That puts everyone...including Dyrm with in a double move of the galley {T9}} "These scrolls are weak.. but they have a 50/50 chance of ending the fight before there is a fight.. but if they fail.. we will have to be ready to do it the hard way. The Galley is far enough away from anyone upstairs a 'brief' battle downstairs should not attract attention."

Without anymore words the half-elven maid strides off to start her ploy for attack.

Sa'sori enters the Barracks {T8}. And leans against the wall taking deep breaths to calm her heart... she has to be focused and ready for any eventuality. She looks over at Evlar... and her expression... is sad... but grim determination puts steel in her gaze.

She then purposely dishevels her white initiates robes and put her Razmiran mask on only partially as if it was donned hastily.

She mutters... 'Time to roll the dice...'

With a sigh she speaks loudly, "..er WHAT?!? ...You woke me for THAT?!? Do I look like your personal Server or something? FINE!!! Whatever!!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
- 'All the worlds a stage and we are All but actors...'; Trying to get the right tone of indignation and acting convincingly... not entertainingly!

Sa'sori ignores anything that Evlar says as clearly the words were spoken to the air and not directed at him... she then strides from the room in her best rendition of her temper in a piqued fit.

She strides from the room in a clear angry fit and stomps her way into the Galley {T9}... muttering furiously under her breath too loud to be not heard,'...I'm a g!+ d#!ned Sorceress, I can kill a man with but a few words..! and what are they bothering my sleep for... {mock sour whining tone}~ I'm thirsty~ I want some cold water... {grumble}~ I'll give you some damned COLD water...!'

She only casually glances at the two grey robed acolytes there as she stomps over to a table snatches up a random bowel and still grumbling strides over to the Water barrel to open it...slamming the lid to scoop out a full bowel of water...

She does not even look at the Grey Robed Acolytes as she strides from the room her gaze pure murder...

But... once she exits the Galley {T9} she stops just around the corner out of sight of the grey robed acolytes she sets the bowel down and draws a scroll from her bandoleer under her robes.. and says, "You want COLD Water? Let's see how you like to wear it!"

Opening the scroll she begins casting the sleep spell...

- Note: Sa'sori has established for some time that she is a hot tempered sorceress who revels in casting her spells.. often casting prestidigitation or mage hand to help with everyday things. So the Acolytes hearing her voice in the process of casting spells is not an uncommon thing. Now Sleep IS a full round casting but hopefully the acolytes won't bother to notice the difference before its too late.

At the end of her casting Sa'sori peeks around the corner into the Galley and drops the spell into the middle of the two Acolytes. Will Save DC11 or be asleep for 1 min.. more than enough time to gag and tie them up.

For her 'effective surprize round action'.. Sa'sori gestures to her companions to move into the galley {T9}, as she draws her Elven Curve Blade as part of her move action into the room to the nearest enemy still conscious. That is all she can do she cannot attack.. this round.

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

- NOTE: Regardless of the effects of her spell Sa'sori has the movement to get to at least one of them.. and THEY are SEATED at benches! If they stand to fight.. Sa'sori will take her attack of opportunity to cut him down for it!

Will SAve Grey robed 1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Will SAve Grey robed 2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Both priests fall to the initial casting of the spell likely never knowing what hit them.

Sa'sori... smiles very self-satisfactory.

"All too easy...", she mutters.

She begins acting quickly, wasting no time... she sets her elven curve blade down on the table and gently binds, gags, and blindfolds the two 'priests' cutting sections of rope from her length of hemp rope.

She also searches the two men{?}.. looking for keys, spell components, holy symbols, or weapons...

In the last she takes one set of their mask and robe for herself... an upgrade 'long-overdue' in her opinion.. Razmir would be 'proud' she ironically, chuckles inside.

Flexing her will Sa'sori releases her familiar, 'Red Wing' for a second pair of keen eyes.

Since quick discovery is not an issue.. once the preist's are trussed up.. she will gentle carry them one at a time if need be into the the Barracks to set them on the cots.

She will glare at Evlar, "You see! I'll kill a man in a fair fight... but I'm No Murderer! I don't kill helpless people just because its easy or expedient! These men will face the justice of this town's own law for their crimes of theft and extortion!"

Dyrm shakes his head at something but now follows quietly.

Sa'sori search the subdued priests for any valuable and casts detect magic to search for any magic they might possess. Not expecting anything but best to be thorough...

Sa'sori Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Red Wing Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

Looking at the idle party with a expression of irritation, "..are you folks going to get involved or just stand around? We have work to do here!"

The priests both hold a masterwork rapier, a light crossbow with 20 bolts, a sap, a suit of +1 studded leather, a masterwork light steel shield, two sunrods and 20 gold peices, a smokestick, and two potions of cure light wounds on them each. They are also wearing a grey robe with an iron mask that is identical to yours. Each of them also has an unmarked iron key.

Sa'sori smiles widely at the loot, "Jackpot... now all we have to do is survive the rest of it. Dyrm... you may want to use one of their studded leather suits its enchanted and better than your regular leather.. should not restrict your Druid abilities and add some real protection in a fight!"

Sa'sori herself, grabs one of the unmarked iron keys hanging it around her neck on a leather thong. She collects a smokestick, 2x sunrods, and a potion of cure light wounds~ all shoved into bandoleer slots. She drapes one of the Grey Robes over her own... making no attempt to hide the white beneath.

She also hands a cure light wounds potion to Cotton, Dyrm, and Moira... She hands to Cotton and Moira a sunrod...

The rest is shoved into the bag of holding for later sale or use.

Sa'sori shrugged, time was of the essence and she was not waiting for the enemy to discover her deeds.

Sa'sori walked down to the {T11} and cast detect magic upon the door... and took a few moments to study any magic signature especially anything in the abjuration school.

Honestly, she is hoping there is no magic.. would make her task easier...

If there is no magic... she will try to use the Iron key retrieved for the Grey Robed Razmirian Priests to unlock and open the door.

The door does not detect as magic and will open without issue.

Sa'sori smiles... grateful there was no magic. Opening the door she draws her elven curve blade and taking the right hand hall enters the cell area looking for any guards. She proceeds on through {T12} scanning everything for magic as she goes, again looking for the effects of what may be an alarm spell. If she still detects no magic she will try the door to {T13}... it was unlocked before hopefully it remains so. If there are no hostiles she again scans for magic and checks the secret door. Hopefully it has not been secured somehow and the secret way out remains available...

Thinking, {The last time we came through here.. I was what I thought was especially careful.. left no trace of my discovery of the secret exit.. and yet they somehow figured out we'd been in here.. and locked the doors from then on. My guess, an alarm spell. If only I had thought to scan for magic the last time.. we might have avoided alerting them. But then we might not know of the secret exit either.}

Nothing seems to have changed from last time you were in here, though the floor in the storage room seems to have been swept.

Sa'sori is satisfied she turns back to the t-split and goes find that party... informing those who wish the Secret Exit is available if they wish to leave... she is not leaving.. she came here to do a job and THAT is exactly what she is going to do!!

Sa'sori goes back and tries the door that goes to {T14}... it was locked last time... she thinks. Again scanning for magic first.

Dyrm takes the potion with a soft grunt as the half elf works

Seeing Dyrm still with her Sa'sori smiles and says, "Thank you for sticking with me.. and trusting my judgement Dyrm... it means a lot, to me. You may want to use one of the priest's studded leather armor.. its enchanted for better protection than your leather armor!"

Last time it was not locked, but the stairs beyond were trapped so you chose not to pursue it.

The door once more is not locked.

Oh??! I did not realize we figured out the stairs were trapped... or at least I didn't remember that fact.

Sa'sori opens the door to the stairs going down {T14}... and sends Red Wing to scout the stairs with instructions not to set foot on the steps, stay high in the air as possible... merely determine the nature of the room below and return and if there are any guards ... or guardians. She pauses to finally cast a spell of her own shield... sharing the effect with Red Wing before sending on his scouting flight.

What senses do you share with Red Wing. It's empathy only correct?

Yeah just an empathic link.. he could likely reasonably communicate simple emotions like 'revulsion for dead things, fear of living monsters' etc... I can't quite speak to him yet ...but Dyrm Can... which is what I'm hoping for actually to get a detailed report.

Red Wing flies down and is repulsed at the site, he is gone for a few rounds before he suddenly seems terrified and flies back up the stairs to you. After waiting a moment, nothing seems to be coming up the stairs pursing the bird.

Sa'sori considers the emotional sensations she felt from her familiar... she pets him reassuringly, cooing to him softly... letting him know she will NOT be sending him off like that again here!

Turning to Dyrm, "There is something horrific down there ..likely the remains of the victims of this trapped stairway.. but I think there is something else as well... perhaps some monster of some sort that he suddenly saw, I'm not sure. Can you cast speak with animals Dyrm to find out exactly what Red Wing saw?

"If he can't, I can probably talk with Tweety."

Sa'sori smiles warmly at Cotton... clearly grateful she decided to stay, "...you don't need to wait for Dyrm, Cotton... if you think you can contribute.. go right ahead! Time is kinda of the essence here; the alarm has not ..to our knowledge been raised yet.. but it won't stay that way forever!"

The bird will explain to Cotton that he saw lots of bones then the biggest snake he ever saw.

Sa'sori listens to Cotton's report from 'Red Wing' and ponders frowning, "...so I'll bet the trap is some sort of sliding affair and you fall into the room below where their pet monster snake gets its meal. Crude... but effective I guess... and of course murder!"

"We could probably go down there and kill it ... but I'll just bet its poisonous.. something we can't deal with right now..."

She rolls her eyes as if she forgot something, "...Well might as well start this now..."

Pulling a scroll from her bandoleer Sa'sori leads the way back to the Cell area and the room {T13}... then casts her spell from the scroll... Detect Secret Doors... first panning her vision over the area of the known secret door.. just to test the spell is working. Then she begins to rapidly walk the underground area searching for any other secret doors in the basement... moving through areas T12, T11, looking down the stairs to T14, then scanning area T7, T8, T9, and T10 in order.

The spell scans a 60'ft cone and lasts for concentration up to 1min at its caster level 10 rounds~ so she will be moving quickly to make sure she gets a full scan of the entire basement area... noting where she detects any secret doors or passages ..spending at least a second round to get an exact location if need be.

You find a secret door in the hall 20 feet from {T11}. After a bit of searching, you find the torch scone has a secret hinge and hidden behind it is a small keyhole. Trying the key you found on the priests does not seem to fit this hole.

Sa'sori notes the secret door informing both Dyrm and Cotton to its presence. After determining there are no more secret doors on this level... Sa'sori quietly ponders the door for a few brief moments.

Then she turns and sneaks up the north stairs to peek into room {T5}... then comes back to do the same ion the south stairs to peek into room {T4}.

She is trying to find out if there are any guards or priest on those stairs or in those particular rooms.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

If she spots any guards or priest in either location she comes back to the Door at {T11} shuts and locks it. At the secret door she will try to force it open... hoping the closed door and the distance to the stairs and the room will muffle any sounds of her forcing the secret door.

She will ask Dyrm for help and ask Cotton to keep listening at the shut door to {T11}.

First Sa'sori with try to weaken the door with repeated Acid Splash castings at the lock and where she might expect the hinges to be.

10 castings should do the trick...with Feat-Point Blank Shot
Acid Splash x10 10d3 + 10 ⇒ (2, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 3, 1) + 10 = 27

Strength Check to Force Door: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19 [21 w/Aid Other]
- If Dyrm gets at least a 10.. that's a +2 to the result to Aid other

The door does not seem to budge.

Were there any guards or priests in the rooms T5 or T4?

There were not. Based off your other nights here you could reasonably assume the only guards will be at the main gate in the courtyard, the door in the courtyard that is always guarded, and at the bottom of the stairway.

What is the secret door made of, and does her castings of Acid Splash seem to have had any effect on the locking mechanism?

The wall is cut stone and the door is hidden within. The locking mechanism is a metal key slot hidden under a torch scone a half foot from the edge of the door itself.

Sa'sori ponders her hammer & iron pitons regarding the stone door... {True, there are no guards nearby that could hear... for now.. but destroying the door would be time-consuming and noisy... eventually... someone would notice!}

"{Sigh}...we don't really have time for this."

On a whim Sa'sori will try both keys she has found just to make sure they don't work...

"Well... 'No balls.. no babies'...!"

Sa'sori takes off her two robes and gesturing to Dyrm to turn around with a sly smile... removes her silken ceremonial enchanted armor... being briefly mostly-naked, and dons the Enchanted Studded leather the Razmirian priest's were wearing from Moira's Bag of Holding. Then replaces her two robes grey over white.

Pulling her hammer and an iron piton she heads for the stair way down to the 'snake lair' {T14}. Quickly she hammers a piton into the wall and secures her rope to it.

Then she pauses calming her nerves first.. then very slowly and precisely attempts casting her Shield spell...

Arcane Failure: 1d100 ⇒ 83

And smiles as her spellcasting somatic gesturing is not adversely affected by the heavier armor and her Shield spell is successfully cast!

Current AC 20 {+2 Dex; +1(+4) Studded Leather-Armor; +4 Shield Spell}

Taking hold of the rope and securing it to her shapely-slim waist she draws Asar's Longsword in one hand beings to carefully descend the stairs looking for what might trigger the trap...

Sa'sori's Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

While Red Wing Flies down the stair~ keeping close to the roof as possible; to give warning if the Big Snake is waiting in ambush...

Red Wing Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

Giving a moment for others to post. Your bird will warn you the snake is out still before you set one stop on the stairs.

Yeah, I'd like to hold to see if the other players will engage the story as well.

If you still need a strength check 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Red wing will alert you quite obviously with a sense of panic that the snake is certainly lying in wait. Since you were the only one to come back after meeting with Reginar, it may be an unnecessary risk to deal with a snake trapped in the basement when your target is upstairs.

Sa'sori keeps a firm hold on the rope looped around her waist and the ASAR'S Longsword in her hand as she angles around the curving stairs... testing each step carefully.. expecting a pressure trap of some sort 'seems most logical' some false step that will likely trigger either some kind of deadfall or shift the steps to flatten out into perhaps some kind of slide. Not discounting a trip wire ... but not really expecting something THAT crude when a simple triggering step based on weight would be easier.. at least she would think so.

'Red Wings' frantic chattering in the back of her mind steeles her heart and resolve, {'Calm my friend... if I cannot handle one unintelligent big-snake... how can I expect to handle a whole nest of two-legged 'snakes' who claim to be men? No risk, No gain... might as well go home then!'}

Pausing holding position briefly... Sa'sori pulls a sunrod.. lights it and tosses it down the steps before her giving it enough momentum to bounce off the wall and clatter down the steps with the aid of gravity hopefully to the bottom... and provide her will a light source she need not carry in hand to see.

She continues down the stairs carefully trying to get line of sight on the snake...

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Besides... Mr. DM... in a purely meta-game sense, Sa'sori NEEDS the Experience points. Dungeons are 'generally' by story design ..NOT meant for players to skip all the easier challenges to go right to the end! The dungeon builds the players up with xp from lesser challenges so they are ready for those end harder challenges. Sa'sori NEEDS level 4 More than ever now!

As you're climbing down, you do find a pressure plate, and even the gentle testing with your foot is enough to trigger it. The stairs suddenly disappear from under your feet and you start to slide down. Quick reflexes let you grab the rope holding yourself from sliding down below.

Sa'sori narrows her eyes... regarding the specific step. Pausing she shifts her weapon/rope grip.. to pull a piece of chalk from her belt pouch to mark the step clearly.

Resetting her grip on rope and sword, Sa'sori carefully continues slowly down the 'slide' trying to get line of sight on this big snake.

Calling mentally to 'Red Wing' to warn her if the snake starts to advance toward her up the steps~ now turned slide...

Can I please stand on my DC26 perception check to spot the snake?