Lord Zekk's First Steps (Inactive)

Game Master Lord Zekk

Aeris tried the key on the copper-banded wooden chest, did anything come of that?

insidion had been fishing the key out of the glass jar...

Insidion you stick you hand in the jar, though the seemingly clear liquid starts to burn your hands.

Acid Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6 DC 16 Reflex for half.

Aeris please make a Will save.

Zekk - per his post, Insidion was using some string and a fish hook to get the key out, so it shouldn't affect his hands.

Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Yes, I had tried to fish it out with string and a fish hook.

Aeris on closer examination of the Copper Banded chest you realise it is the subject of an illusion spell. You seem to have overcome and find that the chest is empty.

Insideon with a bit of effort and a lot of patience you fish out the jeweled brass key from the glass jar.

You all notice that the blue stone key from the wicker basket has the same same runes on it as the Red lacquered chest.

Aeris calls on the blessing of Calistria and attempts to open the red chest with the blue stone key.

Cast guidance then open chest.

The key is a perfect in the Red Lacquered Chest and it opens easily revealing key forged into the end of a jewelled sceptre.

That just leaves the Steel Chest. Can I get a perception check from everyone please.

Per: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

"One chest left, what could it be?"

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 Well, whatever it is, we'd better see it with these rolls.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

"Surely this test won't be quite this simple..." Zlata stands with her scythe at the ready while one of the others prepare to open the steel chest.

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Insidion tries the next key on the chest.

The key at the end of the jewelled sceptic does not work on the chest but you all notice a gold key that is dangling from the ceiling.

What's it dangling from? Can I hit it, or whatever it's attached to with an arrow to knock it down, or is it in arms reach?

"What's the point of all these different keys? Really annoying."

Bow attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Arcana skilfully brings the dangling key down. It appears that this key is mean for the silver chest.

The only other remaining lock in the room is on the door which bars your escape from the room.

2 keys 2 locks

Aeris collects the key that Arcana has just recovered from the ceiling, then uses it on the silver chest.

Don't want to steal your thunder, Arcana, just keeping us moving.

Insidion watches with interest as Aeris checks the silver chest.

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Insideon doesn't notice anything until it is too late. As soon as Aeris unlocks the Steel Chest he is covered in a bright green dye. Inside he finds the map of the Salhar burial vault beneath Sothis and a wand of knock (CL 3rd, 11 charges)

The adventurers exit the chamber and are greeted by Amenopheus. "Well done. Well done! You have made it through, though it seem you still have a few lessons to learn on taking proper precautions. I'm sure it is a lesson you will not soon my green friend. The wand and the map are yours to keep, but I will have my keys back. I shall inform Ambrus of your... performance."

As the group leaves the vault, Insidion examines his skin. "I guess it's time to visit Paracountess Zarta Dralneen," he says sourly.

Aeris stole my key DM plz ban.

Arcana wants to be angry at the silly test, but instead laughs herself to tears at Aeris expense. "Your wings are green your wings are green!"

Do we wanna take the map back to the lodge or keep goin' from here?

Let's do all the quests and turn them in at the end.

Aeris makes a sour face at the explosion of greeen dye, then sidles up to Arcana and attempts to rub his wings on her. After chuckling a bit at Arcanan's reaction, he says, "Let's finish up these jobs, eh?"

Arriving at Paracountess Zarta Dralneen’s townhouse in the Ivy District—one of several homes the noblewoman keeps a round Absalom you come upon a magnificent gothic structure three stories in height. The ebon lacquered double doors wrought  with gleaming silver fixtures greet the characters, a prickly brass cone hanging from a chain serving as the door
chime. Moments after ringing it, a servant in loose casual attire opens the door, greeting the Pathfinders as if expected. If q uestioned, the servant remains quiet, only responding when pressed, and then with only a few simple words:  “My  mistress will answer any questions you have once we reach her quarters.”

Led through well-appointed sitting rooms, ballrooms, and a grand stairway granting a view of an elaborate study, you finally arrive on the third floor of the house, at the door of Zarta’s personal study, which lies beyond her bedroom. Knocking upon the door and announcing his presence, the servant opens the darkly stained wooden door.
A large intricate carpet dominates the marble floor in this sitting room. A chaise sits along the north wall and a desk spans the southeast corner, its chair positioned with its back to the southwest corner of the room. Three comfortable chairs are positioned around a  small,  low  circular  table. 

Sitting in the chair behind the desk, Paracountess Zartadralneen regards you all with a wry smile, putting away a few papers before standing to address  the hopeful Pathfinders.

“Aldor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks.” She then turns her attention to the group. “It’s always so incredibly adorable when I see a fresh faced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. Well, maybe not you.” Zarta points. “I assume this isn’t a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Valsin has been nagging me about. Seems I can’t get that man around these parts anymore,” she gestures, sliding her hand down her body and widening the gesture to sweep out and across the room as if her home were a secondary thought. “On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits. “Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order.”

Sorry I need to rush to work. I'll post more later. Please feel free to role play a bit.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 No spoiler for me!

Aeris keeps his green-stained wings covered by his cloak as much as he can, and smiles wryly at the Paracountess' rather obvious overtures toward the party. She'd be welcome in any temple of Calistria, that's sure. He's so focused on Zarta, in fact, that he doesn't notice anything else about the room.

"We only need to make order from this world if order is what we consider important, Paracountess," Aeris observes, then bites his tongue, sure he'll be seen as reaching above his station by the imperious Chell.

Zlata struggles to hold her tongue through the Paracountess's lecture, but eventually she can take no more.

"And if one isn't satisfied with one's 'station'? Your 'order' is just an excuse to maintain your own privilege, at the expense of others! A pact with devils is still a pact with devils, whether you think yourselves servants or masters."

She's so righteous, right Insidion? What does she have against a pact with devils? You wouldn't have me without that kind of stuff...

And he would be much better off...

Insidion shakes his head.

"Why don't you just skip to the chase...what do you want us to do?" he asks Zarta bluntly.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Per: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Arcana wonders what prompted the woman's rant on devils. "That's nice but I don't think we're here to talk about devils and stuff...we just want our thingy."

NEW MAP

"The  “trinket” you need  to  retrieve is  a  seven-lock  iron  case.  It is best not to  try  to  tamper with the case when bringing it back to the Grand Lodge. The box is magically warded with abjuration magic intermingled with strong evocation magic, in addition to the seven locks." As  the paracountess  talks,  you all hear a  cacophony  of  booms  and thrashes  from  beyond  the  room’s  west  door.  She sometimes  pauses  at  an  extended  eruption  of  these  noises before  continuing  with  the  conversation. 

“A  servant  is really  misbehaving.  You’re  going  to  have  to  deal  with it  in  order  to  get  the  trinket.”  She  goes  over  to  the  desk in  her  study,  opening  a  drawer  and  drawing  out  exquisite  silver  letter  opener  shaped  like  a  dagger.  “You  might  need  this  to get it to submit,” she offers with a sly grin.

You proceed to the Zarta's bedroom. The bedroom is decorated in the colors of Cheliax— ebon black and crimson red. Silk, rare woods, and
carefully carved marble compose every bit of furniture in the room. Goose down now litters the room, covering almost every surface and the silken shreds of the cushions that contained it lie about like flayed skin . A post on the massive screened bed is snapped in half, collapsed on the bed and drawing the screened curtains into a ripped slope of formerly fine cloth. Vials of perfume and crystal jars of other cosmetics sit smashed on the marble floor around the dresser. A prominent fixture in the room, a large “X” made of stout wood sits along the west wall, complete with leather shackles and chains. A table sits to its left strewn with various items intended for pleasure, but outwardly resembling implements of pain.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Aeris suggests that Zlata or Insidion take the dagger, as the more likely ones to end up using it. He steps into the room and admires the chaos and destruction for a moment, then asks aloud, "Where is the servant that made this mess, and was making all that noise?"

"Someone else can take the dagger," Insidion says. "I'm already equipped to deal with this...servant. If you would just point the way," he says as he draws his greatsword.

Per: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

"This one of your devils then? Devils are..." the monk pulls out an arrow with white fletchings and a shiny silver-white head. "Devils are silver, right?"

Zlata takes the letter opener, though her expression says she'd prefer to use it on the paracountess if only she could think of a way to do so that the woman wouldn't take pleasure from.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Surveying the bedroom, Zlata mutters to herself, "yes, clearly you have these 'servants' entirely under your control." The perpetrator of the damage not immediately apparent, Zlata attempts to sense any evil auras in the room (Detect Evil).

The  imp  Kreuvus  is  enraged  and  totally  out of control. The creature desperately wants inside the box and throws it aro und the room hoping to smash the thing open. Though dented, the case doesn’ t look like it will be opening anytime soon. The imp seems totally engrossed in the box and doesn't notice you.

"Hey! Get away from that box!" Aeris says forcefully. "We need it!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Insidion draws his greatsword and moves toward the imp, malice in his eyes.

"Drop it!" he says.

intimidate aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Zlata brandishes the letter opener at the imp.

Aid another (intimidate): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

The effect is somewhat spoiled because the paladin can't help but take a certain satisfaction in the destruction of the paracountess's property.

Kreuvus seems to pay no attention to you and is solely intent on getting into the box.

Aeris: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Arcana: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Insidion: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Zlata: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Kreuvus(Imp): 1d20 ⇒ 13

Round
Arcana
Insidion
Kreuvus
Aeris
Zlata

Those in bold may act

Arcana hesitates before shooting the demon with a silver tipped arrow. Maybe it knows something important. She puts the arrow away and fires off a pair of blunted arrows at the monster.

Flurry 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Nonlethal blunt damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Flurry 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Nonlethal blunt damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

The creatures rage makes its movements erratic and hard to predict...

Now!

Without the restraint of the aasimar, Insidion rushes in, rage and fury in his eyes. He raises the greatsword above his head and swings in a mighty arc.

rage, charge.

MW Greatsword attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 20 for damage: 2d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 3) + 6 + 3 = 17

Who's up?

Looks like Arcana and Insidion were the only ones with actions before the critter. I think we're close to done here...let's keep on track. :)

I agree, I think we're waiting on Lord Zekk.

Sorry for not posting I was on vacation for a week and it just so happened there was no Internet where I was. We're close to the end. I've got to go into work right now, but I'll post soon. We're nearing the end. Once again, sorry for the unannounced absence

-Posted with Wayfinder

Awesome, thanks for the update. Glad to hear you are still around. :)

still around but work is killing me. Thanks for being so patient.

The Imp pays no attention to any of you, still persisting with box.

You have another round to act.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I was kind of hoping combat would end with my last action (see above): MW Greatsword attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 20 for damage: 2d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 3) + 6 + 3 = 17. Did I cut it in half?

Insidion continues his assault on the oblivious creature.

MW Greatsword power attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 2 = 24 for damage: 2d6 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4) + 9 + 3 = 17

If the first hit didn't kill it, I'm raging for this one, too.

If they both hit, that's 34 damage.

Sorry guys, I'll pick things up from the weekend. RL is being it's demanding self.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Any chance this might finish by Monday? I have something else starting soon and was hoping to use this character...

Nevermind...used a different character. But it would still be nice to finish, especially this close to the end. :)