MisterLurch |
The moment Rukn picks up the goblet, the unseen servant freezes in place, the edges of the enchantment fraying and unraveling. After a few seconds, the serving tray clatters to the floor as the magic is entirely undone.
The liquid in the goblet smells like a very expensive red wine. Rich, full-bodied, and slightly spicy.
Solomon Azar |
"That's... unsettling." Solomon said, not really at ease around the strange magical serving tray.
MisterLurch |
"Everybody stand back," says Kilarra, reaching a hand out to touch the northeastern pillar. Everyone watches as her hand touches the pillar. And nothing seems to happen.
When Kilarra lifts her hand, a glowing imprint of her palm is left on the pillar.
Curious, Alexander takes a few steps closer, looking at the aura of the glowing handprint.
Kilarra, will you repeat your actions at the next pillar?
Alexander Pierpoint |
"Hold," Alexander says, gesturing to Kilarra not to move while he stares at the handprint. "Let me look..."
Focusing on the spell, trying to identify it. Spellcraft 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Kilarra Norgorkin |
...What...the...Hell...
Kilarra turns to Alexander with an utterly dumbfounded expression. "Do you have any idea what that is about? Did I just get cursed or something? It had an odd tingling sensation while I was touching it."
Depending on the conversation, Kilarra is willing to try it again on one of the other pillars if Alexander thinks she should.
A little nervous but more curious Kilarra again gets ready to leap out of the way, reaches out her hand and lightly touches the statue
With a nod Kilarra agrees but there is a slight bit of hesitation before moving away.
It is probably best to leave them be since it seems they are only triggered when you touch them so all we have to do is not touch them and move on. I have to say though, I am not thrilled at the idea that we still don't know what just happened."
Zhalet Soroush |
Zhalet moves up to give it a try. She casts Detect Magic and concentrates.
K Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
MisterLurch |
It could be as simple as an Arcane Mark it could be some kind of ward key, it could be a trigger sequence, or something else entirely. The fact that the aura is abjuration means that it is unlikely to be a simple Arcane Mark or a trigger sequence, though it is not impossible.
In short, with the limited information you have, it is impossible to determine the significance of the glowing handprint with any level of certainty.
Rukn ed-Din |
Rukn is fascinated by all the things happening that e does not understand.
So fascinated that he doesn't realise until much later that the gobblet is empty, and the liquid inside Rukn's organism.
-Ouch, maybe I shouldn't have done that... at least it was delicious...
Erizi the Landless |
Wow. You guys are some posting fiends!!!
"Humph Magic". Erizi sits on one of the steps, and waits for the magic using people to continue their investigation.
"Wake me up when you need something opened or moved".
Alexander Pierpoint |
"Let's try to find the source of that Unseen servant and the wine first," Alexander suggests."Zhalet and I both should monitor you over time. The magic down here is ancient; most of it should unravel on its own."
Kilarra Norgorkin |
With a nod Kilarra agrees but there is a slight bit of hesitation before moving away.
"It is probably best to leave them be since it seems they are only triggered when you touch them so all we have to do is not touch them and move on. I have to say though, I am not thrilled at the idea that we still don't know what just happened."
MisterLurch |
Rukn is fascinated by all the things happening that e does not understand.
So fascinated that he doesn't realise until much later that the gobblet is empty, and the liquid inside Rukn's organism.
-Ouch, maybe I shouldn't have done that... at least it was delicious...
Rukn, you feel a pleasant warmth spreading through you. The wine was easily the best you have ever tasted. You feel ready, even eager, for the next adventure. You feel .. the certainty of success in anything you might undertake.
Remove any ability damage you still suffer.
As Kilarra steps away from the pillar, the handprint flares slightly for a moment before beginning to fade. In the span of 30 seconds it has faded from sight entirely.
What do you do next?
Zhalet Soroush |
Zhalet frowns even more. She has been uneasy about coming to the shrine from the beginning, and nothing so far has lessened her ill feeling about the place. She moves bac to the center of the room and waits.
Kilarra Norgorkin |
Kilarra looks between the two passages leading out of the room. "It is up to you however I am inclined to go with the small passage first. 'taking the road less traveled' and all that ."
Erizi the Landless |
"Erizi stirs at the mention of moving on. Fine! Do you with me to lead the way"?
Erizi starts slowly down the passage, unless stopped.
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 Perception
Erizi the Landless |
[dice=Reflex]1d20+6
Solomon's backward leap mirrored Erizi's. The flame caught him on the opposite arm, which he shook against the pain while inhaling sharply through his sharp teeth.
"Yeah. Ow."
His hand glowed faintly like the setting sun and he brought it to Erizi's burn.
[dice=Cure Light]1d8+2
Then he considered his own wound and decided to down a potion rather than lose another of his prepared magics.
[dice=Cure Light]1d8+1
"Let's not do that again."
"Thank you Brother Solomon. Burns are my least favorite form of injury. They hurt so much, but bleed so little".
MisterLurch |
Passing through the narrow hallway to the west, you come to a chamber that is as clean as the other room was; no trace of dust or grime can be found. Along the walls there is gruesome fresco work depicting unworthy souls dismembered by demonic sphinxes. In the west wall, a pair of niches hold statues of gynosphinxes, glaring with mock menace towards the hallway. A third niche stands empty to the south, while a fourth filled with rubble lies to the north.
Kilarra searches the mouth of the hallway for traps, but finds none, and the party begins filing into the room.
Surprise Round
Kilarra steps into the room, moving aside to let the others in. As soon as she does, the two gynosphinx statues charge with their mouths open in a silent roar. The first one lands a solid blow on Kilarra while the second statue fetches Erizi a strong blow to the thigh. Once they attack it is clear they are not natural creatures as they do not use claws as a sphinx would, but rather they club with the unarticulated ends of their limbs.(Kilarra: 8 damage. Erizi: 9 damage.)
They are immune to death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects), necromancy effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, stun, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless).
They are not subject to nonlethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain.
They are not at risk of death from massive damage.
Initiative:
Rukn: 21
Alexander: 19
Kilarra: 14
Gynosphinxes: 13
Solomon: 11+
Erizi: 11-
Zhalet: 5
Sphinx #1: Unhurt
Sphinx #2: Unhurt
1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 = 19
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Rukn: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21.
Solomon: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11.
Kilarra: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14.
Erizi: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11.
Zhalet: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5.
Alexander: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19.
Gynosphinxes: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Round 1, go!
Kilarra Norgorkin |
Acrobatics1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Seeing an opportunity to get a flanking attack while simultaneously opening up space for the rest of the party to enter the room, Kilarra attempts to maneuver around and get behind her opponent however the floor seems to have been magically polished a few too many times and she slips slightly on the overly clean and well kept floor but still manages to get into position and attacks.
Att1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
DMG1d4 ⇒ 1
Rukn ed-Din |
Alex, there's a Knowledge spoiler in Lurch's post.
Being caught by surprise and caged in the alley, Rukn tries to pass through and take a good spot to start pummeling.
Will double move and attemp Acrobatics to avoid AoO
Acrobatics Roll 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Alexander Pierpoint |
Sorry. I glanced right past that... ^^; Knowledge (arcana) 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12. Well, that's just grand.... =_=
Finding himself unable to advance and unable to use any of his area spells, Alexander mutters an arcane phrase that causes a layer of rancid grease to bubble up out of the ground - right under the feet of the gynosphinx clisest to him!
Grease. Reflex save DC 16 or fall prone.
Erizi the Landless |
Rage 9/10, HP 29/38(34)
"Ouch! This place hurts".
Erizi moves forward (Hopefully not into grease), and attacks one of the stone monstrosities.
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27 Earthbreaker (Raging, Flanking)
2d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 5) + 9 = 20 Statuebreaking (Raging, Bludgeoning)
Zhalet Soroush |
K Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Zhalet places her hand on Solomon, imbuing him with heightened sacred power.
Touch of Good on Solomon. Since Zhalet is last in initiative order it won't affect Solomon until his round 2 turn
MisterLurch |
Round 1
Rukn slips past the others in the narrow corridor and out between the two sphinxes. He tries to avoid their clubbing limbs as he goes by but the one right by the hallway lashes out at him as he passes by, connecting with his right shoulder. (Rukn: 10 damage.)
Peering around Erizi's shoulder, Alexander summons a patch of grease beneath the closest one. It deftly, and surprisingly, does not fall in the puddle of grease.
Kilarra moves around the one that struck her, trying to avoid its attacks, but its blunt limb smashes into her ribs like a tree trunk. (Kilarra: 8 damage.)
The first sphinx flails in vain at Erizi while the second has slightly more luck attacking Kilarra, its limb smashes into the side of her head, and she slumps to the ground, unconscious. (Kilarra: 8 damage.)
Seeing his ally fall, Erizi rushes forward bellowing in rage. His mighty earthbreaker smashing down on the creature with the sound of a maul striking a timber. (Sphinx #2: 15 damage.)
As soon as Erizi moves out from in front of Alexander, revealing him to the perception of the gynosphinxes, they both lock their gazes on him.
Zhalet touches Solomon on the shoulder, the power of Sarenrae flowing into him and guiding his motions and bolstering his defenses.
Initiative
Rukn: 21
Alexander: 19
Kilarra: 14 Unconscious, dying.
Gynosphinxes: 13
Solomon: 11+ Still has actions for round 1. Touch of Good does not apply to these actions.
Erizi: 11-
Zhalet: 5
Sphinx #1: Unhurt
Sphinx #2: 15 damage
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Alexander Pierpoint |
Acting on a hunch, Alexander raises his new holy symbol to his face, thrusts a hand out at the gynosphinx statues and bellows: "In the name of Nethys, Halt! Stop! Cease!"
If necessary, he repeats the command in Draconic and Osiriani.
Rukn ed-Din |
-Ouch!
The statue hits Rukn strongly, but he manages to get to the spot he was aiming for. He tries to quickly finish off the one which just dropped Kilarra, which seems wounded.
Flurry #1, Hit, Perfect Strike 2d20 ⇒ (2, 16) = 18 => 16+4=20
Flurry #1, damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Flurry #2, Hit 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Flurry #2, damage 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
MisterLurch |
Round 2
Rukn sends two arrows into the sphinx that Erizi had just punished so fiercely, both arrows chip off bits of the creature; bits of wood... (Sphinx #2: 9 damage.)
Alexander raises the sacred mask of Nethys to his face, shouting at the sphinxes, "In the name of Nethys, Halt! Stop! Cease!". There is no response from the sphinxes. Alexander repeats himself in Draconic. No response. Alexander repeats his command a third time, this time in Osirian.
The Sphinxes both bow low to Alexander and withdraw carefully to their niches along the western wall.
Combat is over.
Alexander Pierpoint |
Alexander hurriedly limps over to Kilarra and administers a healing potion.
"I am a blasted fool," he says, his voice distorted by the mask. "I should have realized... I am keeping this mask on for now."
Potion of CLW for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 for Kilarra.
Solomon Azar |
Solomon hadn't even had time to move before Alexander had cleverly stopped the fight. He rushed to Kilarra's side as Alexander poured a potion down her throat. He watched it's effects and waited to see if she regained consciousness.
"You alright?"
MisterLurch |
Alexander hurriedly limps over to Kilarra and administers a healing potion.
"I am a blasted fool," he says, his voice distorted by the mask. "I should have realized... I am keeping this mask on for now."
Potion of CLW for 1d8+1 for Kilarra.
Just for future reference, and I am sorry that I have not remembered to bring this up before now: these potions are being made by a cleric of Nethys who takes great pride in doing anything he does to the best of his ability. Therefor, when using a potion brewed by Father Zastoran, it heals 1d8+3, rather than the customary 1d8+1. Kilarra heals 7 damage.
Kilarra Norgorkin |
Kilarra awakes woozily, "Wow, solid objects hurt more than I thought." As Kilarra looks around you see confusion on her face as she looks at the now stationary statues in the alcoves. "Ummm...so did they magically put themselves back together after you crushed them to bits and should I be worried that they will come at us again?"
Concern written on her face that they will spring out at any moment she reaches into her pouch, pulls out a potion and drinks greedily.
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Feeling like the potion did not work as well as she liked she downs another one.
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
and another one...
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Finally feeling restored she stands up and notices Alexanders new face lift... "I am guessing there is a really good story to be told here."
Alexander Pierpoint |
"No. Not a good one," Alexander says. "This is a monastery of Nethys. There would of course be temple guardians, whose thought capacity would by design be limited so they could not be deceived nor bribed. But the monks would need a way to move around safely and, when necessary, call the guardians off. A holy symbol and use of the correct language, Osiriani, tongue of Nethys' birthplace, identified me to these guardians as someone to be obeyed. I called them off."
Kilarra Norgorkin |
"I think I am fine now, thank you for asking Solomon. Quite literally a painful lesson but a lesson well deserved none the less. I think I need to invest in better armor when I get the chance.
Turning back to Alexander "Do you think that mask might protect you against the traps in here as well. Could that have something to do with the statue in the last room not doing anything when I touched it? Perhaps because you were close by with that mask on your belt?"
Almost as an afterthought she adds "You know, since you seem to be able to control them could we use them to help us fight anything else that we may find in here?"
"A dead end with animated guardians...What would they be guarding...Help me look for a hidden passage way.
Kilarra searches the collapsed alcove to the north to see if it once seemed to lead on to another area before it caved in as well as the southern one and behind the 'guardians' to see if they are still protecting something.
Perception1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Rukn ed-Din |
After the fine wine, the potion tastes a bit sour to Rukn's palate, though he's had a lot worse. He lends Kilarra a hand (or, better said, an eye) to look for something weird.
CLW Potion 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 I was thinking about it when I hit "submit".
Another CLW Potion 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Aid Kilarra 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Alexander Pierpoint |
"I do not know," Alexander says. "The monks would have known what not to disturb. A symbol would not defend against such. I might be able to command these constructs to heel, but... If we were to claim this monastery for a base, it might be best to keep them in reserve as our future door guards, if you all agree."
Detect magic and Perception 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10 to help look for anything of interest.
MisterLurch |
After a few moments of searching, you come to the conclusion that the tunnel to the north collapsed and that there exists the possibility that more of the complex may be whole beyond the collapse.
To the south lies the more immediate item of interest. Alexander, now having the time to examine the room, reports that there is an aura of illusion in the southern niche. The only other items that show a magical aura are the two statues.
Kilarra's brief search of the southern niche reveals that there is a secret door hidden behind an illusion. Kilarra, Rukn, Zhalet, and Solomon have little difficulty in penetrating the illusion once they are aware of it. The others cannot defeat the ancient magic, despite being able to feel the door through the illusion.
A brief inspection reveals no traps on the door, which is unlocked.
Kilarra: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 4 = 28.
Rukn: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 4 = 26.
Alexander: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 4 = 17.
Solomon: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 4 = 30.
Zhalet: 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 4 = 20.
Erizi: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 4 = 10.
Kilarra: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17.
Kilarra Norgorkin |
Visibly excited to find something hidden and something buried Kilarra says "Shall we explore door number one now and come back to dig out door number two when we are all done?"
Considering how difficult it has been to detect the presence of traps so far I would recommend that everyone stand back at least 10 feet or so until I get it open. After that I will peek inside but not go in until we are all grouped up again."
stealth to try and quietly open the door1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
perception to see inside1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Reflex save if required1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10