GM BPChocobo's Thornkeep Level 4 - The Dark Menagerie (Inactive)

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

The trek down the stairs is quiet as always. Ki is getting bumped around more than usual, Sty still just having completed his training with the cavalier and also unused to taking so many steps.

From the Enigma Vaults, the team heads down the stairs that the allips guarded and descend further below. The stairs wind back and forth as you head down further into the ruins. Julian, taking the lead, makes the first step on the floor; as this happens, a loud single, gong crash can be heard.

Map updated!

"Keep your eyes peeled. They surely know we're here by now." Elindriel puts words to action and examines the area around them.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Elindriel peeks ahead, taking the lead from Julian. A scuffled circle of blue-white chalk mark the floor on the northern side of the room, covering the flagstone with various sigils and runes. Four-foot-tall torch holders, already lit for your viewing, adorn the corners of the square room.

However, the most striking feature is the floating spectral helmet in the middle of the room. Upon the half-elf's entrance, the helmet turns to her, tilting its metal frame ever so, and then just simply continues to float.

Map updated!

Ki seems less concerned about charge lanes now and is happy to hang near the back.

everyone heard that right Julian asks, Sometimes I can't keep straight what are my thoughts, what are maul's, and what's occurring in the world around me.

Elindriel nods at Julian. "Yes, Julian - we all heard it, as did, I imagine, everything else down here." She points to the floating helmet. "Anyone have any thoughts on what to do about that?"

"I'm sure it does not bode good for us, the helmet or the gong. Let us see what happens."

So whatcha doing? Moving forward? Throwing fiery death? Say screw it, let's be Aspis? :P

Well, that depends - is there an Aspis Consortium Organized Play? :-P

Elindriel draws her falcata and steps forward...keeping out of any charge lane Ki might want to use.

I guess we owe it to ourselves to at least look over the Aspis benefit package.

Ki will trop down the stairs and move the El's left.

Jostrum followsa, keeping his bow ready and a sharp look out.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

Stepping forward, the helmet turns to look at each person. It currently seems fixated on Elindriel.

Outside from the ghostly helm, the faint circle in the north and a door to the west are the only other items of note.

Elindriel looks to the others. "I don't know what to expect here, but I've a feeling it's going to happen when we interact with the circle." She sighs. "I don't want to leave this behind us, though, so here we go..."

She walks over to the circle and steps inside.

Ki watches the brave singer advance and enter the circle ready to strike at any danger.

Julian will stick close to Elindriel

@Elindriel: You step in the circle. Nothing happens. The floating helmet does tilt to the side slightly after you do that, though.

Elindriel looks again at the helmet and the circle. Why have a floating helmet here? It's ethereal, so it might very well be dangerous, but it's not hostile, which implies it has a purpose other than for defense. Perhaps it can talk? She shrugs and addresses the helmet directly. "What is your purpose here?"

She will repeat the phrase in several languages, if she receives no response.

@Elindriel: In each language, it does not respond. It looks at you blankly, glances at the door, then looks back at you.

Elindriel sighs. "Well, I guess there's no help for it. Let's continue, and hope that we figure out what it's for along the way." With that, she nods to Julian to open the door.

"Perhaps someone should detect for magic. Maybe that can reveal a little bit of the mystery."

Elindriel mutters a quick incantation and studies the helmet.

Cast detect magic

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

@Elindriel: The helmet is an animated object, although you've never seen one that is incorporeal. You don't note any special attacks it may have.

Elindriel reports, "It appears to be an animated object, but incorporeal, which is odd...and that's all I can determine."

She also directs her vision to the rest of the room, including the torches, the chalk outline, and the door.

as Elindriel attempts her multitude of languages julian will go up behind her and gesture emphatically with made up sign languages.

@Elindriel: There is EXTREMELY faint conjuration magic coming from the circle. I'll need a Kn: Arcana to identify the circle's purpose.

The torches are continual light torches, still glowing after millennia of use.

Knowledge (Arcana, Untrained): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Well, not too helpful, but there ya go...

Elindriel sighs. "Well, nothing to do but move forward, I suppose."

knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Wait, I know this, or is it Maul that knows this. Think. Think. Think.

@Julian: That's a teleportation circle... or the remnants of one. It looks like that with some magical skill, it could be redrawn and used as a beacon to teleport to this specific floor with accuracy.

Jostrum glances at his party then moves up to the door to examine it. "If this attacks me, you know where my healing wand is."

T20 for 35 on the door.

Ki continues to look at the manifestation. Its like its there and not there. he wonders.

"Well, let's get going, then, shall we?" Elindriel nods again to Julian, ready to move on.

"You are all behaving quite wonderfully! I'm quite proud of you! I'll inform your parents that your progress is quite amazing!"

Opening the door, a dark hallway is brought to light. It's obvious you'll need your own light sources down the hall. However, two pairs of doors can be seen, against the west wall and at the end of the hallway to the south.

Map updated

Elindriel brings her wayfinder out of her belt pouch; it's attached to a thin leather strap. She wears the wayfinder around her neck then speaks a word of command, causing it to glow with a bright white light.

She readies her bow once more. "Julian and Ki in front, then Jostrum and I, then Dominique. Let's head for the door on the right, Julian."

Elindriel may just let leadership go to her head - if anyone objects, let me know

I do not mind going first, but I got this new trick. I can charge through the party, so I am good a rank or two back.

@Elindriel: Moving into the hallway, the ghostly helmet starts following you, floating about a foot away from your head. It occasionally moves on top your shoulder, then floats up.

Julian, presumably accepting Elindriel's request, opens the adjacent door. Vibrant foliage creates impenetrable walls of shrubbery that encase the chamber and sprawl across its center, but ends sharply at the hallway as though cut away with a knife. Trees and shrubbery create a thick mage of jungle brush and undergrowth, and their canopy blocks out most of the bright light pouring from the open sky above. To the west (straight ahead), a gap in the foliage leads into a dank, unlit stone cavern. To the south, an enormous kapok tree towers above the rest of the jungle terrain.

Map updated!

Open sky?? Elindriel casts detect magic once more, studying the area inside the room.

@Elildriel: The entire room has a magical aura, although you can feel it's most concentrated in the back of the room, near the kapok tree. You'll have to wait 2 more rounds before you can give me a Kn: Arcana check

"It looks like the whole room is magical..." Elindriel continues to study the room.

Jostrum peers into the room.

KN: nature?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Why everyone wait. Let's go! Maul pushes way, and then turns back and in a hestitant voice, Yes, erm, that is, if everyone is ready to go.

Don't trust that helmet. Ki grumbles but follows along.

Jostrum looks at his companions. "What should we do?"

... So I'm not sure where it went, but I had a nice lil post about that led into combat, heck the map even updated. Bah. I'll try rebuilding it :/

Jostrum, Julian, Ki, and even Sty notice that a patch of the jungle grass looks more bulbous and gooey than it should be. Almost immediately, the pile of grass and glob starts moving towards Julian!

Init Order:
Elindriel
Miss Dominique
Julian
Grassy Ooze
Ki/Sty
Jostrum

If you haven't noticed, map updated!

Elindriel readies her weapon and begins singing of battles gone by.

Standard action: Begin inspire courage (13/14 rnds remaining) - everyone gets +2 attack/damage
Free action: Drop shortbow
Move action: Draw falcata

Right after Elindriel sings her song of inspiration, Julian is surprised by a pair of hisses and assaulted!
It's Stealth roll was... high to say the least.
Snake bite @ FF Julian: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage on hit: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Julian Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

4 Damage to you Julian

Julian's foot is bitten, but the strongman resists the venom injected into his body.

Now that the snake is struck, he sees that the snake is no ordinary reptile; it has a pair of heads, one on either end of its long body.

Init Order:
Elindriel
Two-headed snake
Miss Dominique
Julian
Grassy Ooze
Ki/Sty
Jostrum
Bold has yet to act for the round
Map updated!

Bless

Ahh, Two Snakes! Maul has two feets!

Maul will jump up and jump on the snakes head
retrieving mutagen, unarmed strike
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 81d3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

@Julian: Your leaping jump only makes you silly, not lethal as you miss the snake entirely.

The ooze continues to creep up and also attacks Julian!
Slam @ Julian: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 1d8 ⇒ (3) + (6) = 9
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Extra damage on crit: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Plus side... at least the crit was from an ooze with energy damage and not a halberd-wielding demon.

Unfortunately, as Julian jumped, the ooze decided to strike, causing a painful sensation against the alchemist's groin!
12 damage to you Julian, 6 of it acidy goodness

Up:Waiting until tomorrow morning, then botting Ki/Jostrum

Elindriel
Two-headed snake
Miss Dominique
Julian
Grassy Ooze
Ki/Sty
Jostrum

Sorry, was just waiting for the Ooze to act.

Jostrum darts into the room, using Ki and Julian as cover. He then spins on his heel and fires at the snake-thing.

Attack, PBS, Bless, Inspire: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 31
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 12