Rivers Run Red

Game Master fictionfan

"Does anyone have some kind of wind spell handy? I was thinking I could cast Burning Hands and someone could try to direct the flames using some kind of wind spell."

"I'm afraid I've not yet gained power over the wind, Valek."

Can we seriously not just start a simple campfire, then spread the flames to the briars? The fire should do most of the work for us. Surely we've made cook fires and like before without such trepidation?

Yes however these are wet green briars in the middle of a lake. I'm not saying it would be impossible to start a wild fire, but it would be tough. As for chopping though with an axe. From my own experience that might take a while, but Mallichatti is a lot stronger then I am so how about he can clear a 20 ft^2 area every 3 hours.

Maybe you can dry out those brambles and use them to start a big bombfire.

Aer points to the boat. Rahathiel could carry us over in that. Maybe.

What is his carrying capacity?

Aer points to the boat. Rahathiel could carry us over in that. Maybe.

I hate that I didn't think of that myself. With other characters, I've had flying eidolons carry the whole party over obstacles numerous times. He can use simple rope tied with foot loops to carry us right up to the tower doors in pairs (if the boat is too heavy).

What is his carrying capacity?

The eidolon's heavy encumbrance limit is 460 pounds if I'm not mistaken.

The boat is likely too heavy but the ropes seem like they would work.

Rope seems easier too!

Valak is not liking where this discussion is going! Take my feet off the ground?!?! Why would I want to do that!?!

"Valek should probably go first. He weighs as much as any two of us." :D

"And half as tall so a smaller target." Mallichatti says in a deadpan.

Giving Mallichatti a sideways glance, Valak, secures his weapons and gets ready to grab the rope harness.

Rahathiel carries Valak over the brambles as he gets closer the sense of malevolences intensifies. It is as those some dark regard is watching balefully.

Will saves for Valak and Rahathiel to avoid being shaken

beware the power of my mind!: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Unfortunately it is your mind that is beware(ing). You are shaken.

Still could use Rahathiel's roll

The tower seems to be in very good shape of something so old. The entire thing seems to be made out of a single worn stone.
I could use a knowledge history or enginnering from you. You may use your stone cunning for a +2

Faint carvings of strange symbols are barely visible in some of the tower’s stones
Linguistics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
You can't however figure out what they mean.

religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
You know that you should know something about these symbols you must have been sleeping that day.

I don't have knowledge history or engineering.... :(

perception?: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 2 = 12

No luck. You don't see anything.

Then a wisp zaps you from behind.

touch attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35
electric damage: 2d8 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

You are still in the air.

"OW!! What the hell was that?!?!" Valak tries to twist in the harness to look behind himself but he is obviously struggling without solid ground under his feet.

Valak says to Rahathiel "Get me on the ground! I'm under attack!"

Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

"If..that is what you wish." The angel will swoop low, find a clearing and drop off Valak, drawing his sword to turn on the wisp which should now be visible.

I don't think they become visible upon attacking.

Riva readies to blast any wisp who makes an appearance within her line of sight.

Rahathiel is shaken as well.

Unfortunately Rahathiel is out of Riva's sight the island is after all large enough that is would take hours to walk across and the tower is in the center.

Valak is within shouting range however.

I thought they had invisibility at-will, like the spell? So it would go away after making an attack.

Wisps have natural invisibility.

Ooh, that's mean! The more you know..

The rest of us fly over unless there something preventing Rahathiel from doing so. As long as we are protected by resist energy, the wisps should be less of a threat to us than the brambles.

Skipping ahead.

You are all at the base of the tower. Everyone make a will save to see if your shaken.

Will Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

By the way the flying took trip took 15 minutes per trip..

Wow. Must have been a LOT of brambles.

"Keep an eye out for trouble. It won't be easy for us to fall back the way we came if we get into a tight spot."

Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Riva uses here ability to See Magic, and attempts to ascertain what and where the fear effect may be coming from.

Does Riva have any idea what might be causing the shaken effect?

The island is a repository for alot of dark magic. The tower is the center of it. A hallow would cancel it out.

"I don't like the feel of this place....we need to cleanse it of all evil, Angradd demands it."

Riva cautiously moves to the front door of the tower (if one is apparent) and searches for traps whilst continuing to use her See Magic ability.

Perception check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

"Do you suppose we should go straight in, or take a more subtle approach?" she asks as she examines the door, and then peers upwards looking for windows and other possible areas of entry.

I'd say we should go in.

A lot of knowledge checks.

Anyone else want to try a Knowledge (engineering or history) find out about the tower.
As well as Linguistics check to identify the language of the symbols craved into it.

As well as Knowledge (religion) check.
As well as Perception check.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Riva wants to know EVERYTHING there is to know about the tower, its surroundings, and those runes. However, wary of symbol spells and similar magical traps, she searches for those with her See Magic ability before attempting to read or translate anything.

Knowledge: arcana: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34; Can't roll less than a 15 with See Magic.
Knowledge: dugeoneering: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Knowledge: engineering: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Knowledge: geography: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Knowledge: history: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Knowledge: local: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Knowledge: nature: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Knowledge: nobility: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Knowledge: planes: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Knowledge: religion: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Linguistics: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23

Wow, that's a lot of bonuses!

Seeing magic you detect an Strong evil aura around the tower. It gets faint the farther you look from the tower. The tower appears to be concentrating the magic of the area.

Inside the tower all arcane spells gain a +1 caster level however whenever you cast you must make a DC 10 fort save to avoid being sickened for 1 round

The tower itself is a crumbling ruin—nothing remains but a half-collapsed, 40-foot-tall stone cylinder and a swath of rubble within and without. The stones of the tower are ancient; These ruins are far older than any others in the area and could even date from the Age of Destiny. Faint carvings of strange symbols are barely visible in some of the tower’s stones.

Unfortunately you don't get enough on the Linguistics check to read symbols are even identify the language which is a shame it would have allowed you to use many of your other checks.

Per the linguistics skill, I guess that means I need to roll a Wisdom check to avoid drawing a wrong conclusion since I failed.

Wisdom Check VS DC 5: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18

Seeing the evil aura emanating from the tower, and not having come to any conclusions (misleading or otherwise), Riva informs her companions of all that she has learned and redoubles her efforts to decipher the runes.

Riva takes 20 on her Linguistics check for a 38 total. Takes about 20 minutes for the equivalent of one page of text. If it doesn't look like we can afford the time, she will take 10 instead.

The symbols are written in the ancient Aklo language. You find fragments of a series of blasphemous prayers to the ancient gods of the Old Cults the eerie name “Yog-Sothoth” is found. Also it seems like the towers was built according to some ancient technique to concentrate magical power specifically for the purpose of summoning.

As well have the what was mentioned earlier
all Summoning and calling spells cast in this tower get a free Extend metamagic

Worried that their collective abjurations may be running low on time, Riva calls out to the wisps in the area while the others search for a way into the tower:
"Hear me you vile pine lights! You know now that you can no longer hurt us, but we can hurt you. Stay out of our way and there won't be any need for you to die today."

Bluff check: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
Intimidate check: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22

Hopefully that will keep them off of us long after our protection wears out.

Then Riva waits for her companions, ready to blast any spooks who make an appearance within her spell range.

Valak approaches the tower alongside Riva. "If the whole tower is emanating evil, how do we go about cleansing it? Angradd honors those who fight on a battlefield, but this is no battlefield."

"If we bring enough catapults, then it can be." replies Riva, with a smile.

Does anybody find a way in?

There is a large double doors on the side of of the tower. It seems they used to be wooden doors with metal inlays however the wood has completely rotten away leaving only the metal inlays. The floor of the inside is covered with bones most of them appear to be humanoid.

1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 2 = 17 Will save + Latent PSion assuming fear effect.

Mallichatti looks around feeling tense. "You can find about a dozen towers like this around Egorian. Had to go into them every once in a while to grab some idiot sorcerer or wizard plying the dark arts a little too recklessly for our comfort. Best to just go in and deal with the mess before the bastard inside makes it bigger." Giving a feral, mad smile Mallichatti asks. "So let's go say hello"

EDIT: Thoguht the save was lower. Ah well.

The Dc of the will save to avoid being shaken is 20.

As she enters the tower behind her companions should they ever decide to go in, Riva casts false life, mage armor, prestidigitation (to keep the cobwebs and dust and dirt off of her), see invisibility and shield upon herself. She also casts light upon her ring.

"Be ready for anything."

As soon as you cast see invisibly you see a wisp 5 feet in front of you seemingly reveling in your fear.

I made my save earlier, so I am not afraid, but shouldn't the wisps be? Did my intimidate check to scare them away before not do anything at all?

Riva attempts to cease its reveling and drive it away with magic missile.

"Bastards are still here, feeding on the fear induced by the tower's evil aura."

Magic Missile damage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 4) + 3 = 13
Intimidate check to drive it off: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37

Not going to boost the damage this time, since the damned thing will probably just heal the damage once it's out of sight.