Quiella |
If this doesn't work, I figured out what we're supposed to do. HINT: It has to do with the new wand.
Quiella continues to aid the others in pushing.
Strength aid: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0
GM Harker |
Ophelia Str: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11
With Ophelia's help, the group finally manages to budge the doors open enough for everyone to progress forward. Kalkamedes attempts to move through the doors as soon as you open them.
The light from Cutter's wayfinder reveals a long hallway 50' long and 15' wide. At the end of the passage, suspended by thick chains, sits a massive metal cage shaped like a demon’s head that hangs over a dark shaft with no bottom in sight. The cage’s door—by all appearances a menacing maw, filled with incisor-like fangs—hangs open to the west. There, a narrow bridge spans the short distance between the ledge and the cage. Moving closer, you see a small console on the north edge of the bridge bears a single lever.
To answer the question that will eventually come up, the cage has enough space to hold 4 medium creatures.
Melufiuos Benidictus |
Good call, Quiella! Now that you say it, it makes perfect sense, though I never would have gotten there on my own.
When Mel sees the lever he impulsively leaps into action, his need to feel useful fueling the bait of a lever just waiting to be pulled. So he rushes forward and starts jerking on the lever to see if it makes the cage go up and down. (I so hope there are no traps *here*, as Mel is too preoccupied to check for them.)
Melufiuos Benidictus |
Bring it back up before that sleep walking maniac tried to walk off into space.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Ophelia Endronil |
Ophelia stares at Mel in disbelief. "Are you mad?" she asks finally.
GM Harker |
The cage doesn't start moving down until about 6 seconds after the lever is pulled, you have enough time to move into the cage without having to jump on the top. In any event, since there's only room for 4 medium creatures, you'll have to split the party into at least two groups to use it.
Unrestrained, Kalkamedes walks into the back of the demon-headed cage and silently waits.
Quiella |
Quiella moves into the cage. As she waits for the others, she readies her glaive for anything that might await them at the bottom.
GM Harker |
I'm just waiting to see who the fourth person will be, if any. Someone else may want to activate a light source, since I believe Cutter's wayfinder is the only light the group is using.
Also, if anyone is restraining Kalkamedes, please say so. Otherwise I'll assume the sleepwalker is able to move freely.
Quiella |
Quiella positions herself between the door of the cage and Kalkamedes.
She is not presently restraining him, but she will throw herself between him and danger, and may possibly tackle him to keep him away from danger, depending on the circumstances. It would be great if someone would grab his rope.
Melufiuos Benidictus |
Mel pops a light stick for the other group.
-Posted with Wayfinder
GM Harker |
Halkale, Quiella, and T'kk'tck join Kalkamedes in the cage, while Melufiuos tosses an activated sunrod into the cage to allow everyone to see. The elf then pulls down on the lever and demon mouth closes once more, as the cage descends into pitch black darkness.
It's difficult to tell exactly how far the cage descends, but it's at least 100 feet, probably much more. Eventually it touches ground in a deeper cavern that seems void of any obvious threats, with another console positioned by the cage mouth to activate the lift. The only passage out is a 5' by 5' tunnel to the south that curves to the west, with some dull green illumination emanating from further down its length.
As the cage stops and the mouth opens, Kalkamedes immediately starts moving towards the tunnel.
Cutter Wolfrider |
Cutter and Nightrunner wait patiently to take a ride on in the cage.
Halkale Timarson |
Halkale grabs the rope and restrains Kalkamedes. He says, "Send the cage back up so the others can come down, before we get ahead of ourselves."
T'kk'tck Greenbeak |
T'kk'tck picks up the sunrod and steps out looking around for writing evidence anywhere and for any threats.
perception w/lowlight?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Not sure on what all modifiers needed to scan the area.
Melufiuos Benidictus |
When cage comes up, we get in and go down.
-Posted with Wayfinder
GM Harker |
Halkale pulls Kalkamedes back on his rope, while the cage returns to the surface. While waiting for the others, T'kk'tck examines the area, but discovers that the cavern is mostly featureless, except for the tall shaft the cage moves up and down through.
Eventually, Cutter, Nightrunner, Ophelia, and Melufiuos reach the bottom of the shaft thanks to the cage, and the party follows the tunnel that leads to the southwest, until it opens up to a larger cave.
Palm-sized shards of jagged steel jut from halfway up the walls of this large cavern, bathing the cavern with a dark green light. A set of natural rock columns support the chamber’s ceiling, which rises to a height of twenty feet. A small tunnel leads to the northeast, and several rounded alcoves branch off from the main cavern.
Although a cursory glance suggests the cavern formed naturally, your keen sight notes that every surface is scarred by claw marks of various sizes.
Although Kalkamedes steers the rope with determination to the southwest, to the direct south you easily notice a gnome with fuchsia hair jump up and down inside a strange set of circles, crying out, ”Oh please, oh please, you have to save me!”
To the direct west, you also see an alcove with a pool of water, and the cavern seems to continue to the southwest.
Halkale Timarson |
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
"This cave was formed by something, look at the claw marks"
Halkale continues to hold the rope, keeping his charge close.
Melufiuos Benidictus |
"Ummmmmm, that ain't right"
Mel casts detect magic and then attempts to disbelieve in the gnome.
Please roll for me; I have no clue what to roll.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Cutter Wolfrider |
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Cutter calls out to the gnome, "Ho there friend. How are you restrained? We are happy to lead you out of this place."
Quiella |
Quiella takes a few steps forward to better position herself between anything that might go after Kalkamedes.
She looks at the gnome. How do you name yourself? What troubles you? I was going to end with brother but you didn't clarify the gender.
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
GM Harker |
Melufiuos squints funny at the gnome and verifies to his senses that the gnome is completely real. He then casts Detect Magic, and discovers there are indeed magical auras in the room.
The gnome is located in a circular alcove that buds off from the larger cavern to the north. An elaborate set of concentric circles inscribed in dull metal of different colors occupies much of the space within the room. Inside those circles stands the male gnome, with his unkempt fuchsia hair and wearing threadbare clothing. "My name is Koth'Vaul, and my tale is simple, yet sad. Many years ago I was imprisoned in this terrible place they call the Black Edifice by a foul organization named the Thrallkeepers. You see, they needed a fey essence to power their magic, and they chose this poor gnome. Eventually, all the Thrallkeepers died, but I yet lived, kept young and alive by the wards that bind me. Please, destroy this circle and free me, so that I might finally die and hopefully travel back in spirit to the First World from which I came!”
Quit Guessing: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Melons Apples: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Old Lemons: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Olive Peaches: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Tax Apes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
My love: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (3) + 28 = 31
Mel's unnecessary Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
T'kk'tck Greenbeak |
T'kk'tck plods forward claws clicking on the stone as he approaches the gnome. His head swivels back and forth so he can see the room and the gnome with both eyes. He taps the sun rod on his beak as he travels. He carefully stays outside of the circle as he walks and studies the metals.
Looking to see methods of destroying the circle and determine it's makeup.
Mostly to himself but loud enough to hear "If they died... where are their bones? Where are their clothes? The evidence of their lives? Surely they didn't carve this out while naked?"
Turning to the gnome he speaks more directly, using the sun rod like pointer: "Seriously, where are their writings? We need to know."
GM Harker |
The circle is composed of a number of concentric circles of different dull metals. It can probably be destroyed by both mundane and magical means.
"I've been stuck in one place for so very long, I really don't know what happened to all their things, but I'll be glad to help you look if you just let me out of here!" Koth'Vaul replies, with desperation bleeding into every word.
Cutter Wolfrider |
"How is it that the Thrallkeepers were able to imprison you here Koth'Vaul?" Cutter asks.
Quiella |
How can we destroy this circle for you, brother?
GM Harker |
In T'kk'tck's opinion, Koth'Vaul is completely trustworthy. Melufiuos agrees with that assessment.
Kalkamedes continues pulling on his tether to try to move to the southwest, altogether unconcerned by the party's conversation with the gnome.
"They captured me and forced me into this circle!" Koth'Vaul replies to Cutter's question, the tone of his voice becoming high pitched like a child's. After a brief pause, he takes a good look over at the struggling Kalkamedes, "Could it, could it be? He looks just like Johanis! My gods, he must be his direct descendent! You see, Johanis was traveling with me and my adopted sister all those years ago. When the Thrallkeepers accosted us, he was the only one to escape. He vowed he'd return someday to save me, and now, 10 generations later, here he is in spirit. Can't you see friends, this is a sign that you must save me! All you have to do is break the circle with your weapons, I cannot do it from the inside."
You vaguely remember reading about the Thrallkeepers. Although you don't recall much, you do remember that they vanished millennia ago, so the gnome's claim that Kalkamedes is the tenth-generation descendant of Johanis is biologically impossible for a human.
Open House: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Melufiuos Benidictus |
Mel pulls out his hand ax, moves up to the circle, and gets down on one knee in order to start hacking at the metal. However, something about the logic in that last statement stops him. "Then why isn't he trying to break the circle? He does not even seem aware you are here." To the rest of the party he suggests, "Maybe we should kill him first, and then break the circle so his spirit can be free?"
Halkale Timarson |
Halkale's face screws up in thought as he tries to follow Melufiuous' logic.
"We can always let him go later, perhaps we should follow our charge first? If he's been here 10 generations...wait how you know it's 10 generations? "
Ophelia Endronil |
"He's lying, T'kk. That's why." Ophelia glances at the others, purple-lined eyes narrowing. "The Thrallkeepers vanished thousands of years ago. There's no way our friend could be separated from them by only ten generations."
GM Harker |
"Whoa, whoa! Please, please don't be so hasty lady! I've been down here by myself for so very long, I'm bound to get a little confused about how long it's been." Koth'Vaul responds, jumping up and down nervously, "You can't just leave me here, please, PLEASE, you can't! It's just not right."
Cutter Wolfrider |
Cutter shakes his head, "I think Halkale is right. Let's see what's got Kalkamedes so interested over there. We can always come back. He's obviously not going anywhere."
Quiella |
Quiella squints at Kath'Vaul after this new revelation.
Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5
Well... he seems like an honest gnome to me, but I trust you, Ophelia. If the rest of you don't want to let him out yet, we can return and deal with him later.
Ophelia Endronil |
"I have a bad feeling, that's all. I can understand one losing one's track of time after so long, but... This feels off." She stares at the circles for a few moments, trying to determine their purpose.
I don't have Knowledge (arcana) trained, but would Spellcraft work...?