Terrapin Order - Wizard Only Campaign

Game Master subway rat

Intro:
You have been at the Acadamae for a few years now teaching or researching in your respective field. One spring afternoon as you retire to your quarters, you find a dove perched on your desk. Around its neck is a red ribbon with a small scroll affixed. Intrigued, you open the scroll. The paper is blank, but a magic mouth appears with the following message, “I wish to grant you power in exchange for services. Present enclosed key at Empty Shell tavern. Sunset tonight. The key is in the dove."

IMPORTANT:Once your character is ready, post your reaction to the intro here. Describe how you will get the key out of the dove. Then gather your things and head over to the Empty Shell Tavern. The tavern is located in the Northpoint district just inside the gates by the North Bridge. Character selection will take place soon. We will soon see if your character has what it takes. For now, this part of the campaign is open to all applicants.

Myth has been content in his years at the academy but when he returned to his rooms and found the note and the dove he could not resist the temptation.

Summoning the compulsion magic he so favored, but then Myth favors all the various schools of magic, he forced the dove to vomit up the contents of its stomach cleaned the key off and headed to the Empty Shell Tavern…

How peculiar. Alexis noted. He didn't usually get doves on his desk. Much less carrying promises of power in exchange for 'services'. The weariness he had suffered from just moments earlier started to drain away, the mystery of the dove invigorating him.

"Inside the dove?"

He mumbled to himself. A challenge. Or perhaps test of character? Regardless, he grinned, it was not the drudgery of teaching snotty students the basics of alchemy. That hairy carpenter child was even more of a nuisance today. And his blue-hair idiot companion even worse! He shook his head and refocused on the bird, his smile slowly emerging again.

"Nixx - anaesthesia."

Oil of Taggit, just a few drops would do. The main challenge was coaxing it into the bird. Before long, the dove's breathing slowed and its eyes fell shut. Just long enough to ready some tea!

"Nixx - scalpel."

With the sharp implement in his hand, he slowly sliced the bird open over the stomach. The most probable location. he thought, unless the key was small indeed.

"Nixx - clamps."

With the incision done, he used the steel clamps to hold it open. Carefully he looked around. There! Something glimmered in the light, like how organs and blood never did. With a small smirk he pulled the key free. But he was not done yet!

"Nixx - needle and thread."

Carefully, carefully started to sew the wound close drying off blood as he went. This was undoubtedly the hardest part - any charlatan could slice someone open but only a true professional could put them back together again. When he was done, he admired his work for a long time. For the first time in weeks, he felt satisfied. He had his key and the bird still lived, a testament to his precise procedure.

But now that the challenge was complete, it had exhausted its use.

"Nixx - snack."

"Alright, Tannyll, that's enough."
Of course, her command wasn't met with any argument, as he had learned not to speak against his master's word.
"We'll pick up tomorrow."

Seraphim opened the door to her lodging beside the Hall of Induction, and noticed the dove.
"Oh, how quaint. I wonder what it's doing here."

Opening the letter, she is even more intrigued by the magic mouth.

Her hand extends slowly to the dove, at which point four black and white crackling bolts of energy lash out, hitting the pigeon in several places, and leaving the pigeon in enough pieces for her to gingerly retrieve the key from its remains.

"Hmm. Perhaps this will provide some excitement?"

The docile creature acquiesced to being picked up and held as Nekare` retrieved the message from its leg and read it. hmmmm... she briefly considered her options before enclosing the dove's dainty neck in her only slightly less dainty hand with its head just protruding past her first finger and thumb. A quick twist with her other hand accompanied by a surprising loud clicking noise and the bird was dead. Carrying the carcass with her to the kitchen, she began organizing a menu in her head featuring heavy use of provincial herbs to enhance the gamey bouquet of the bird and a creamy truffle risotto.

After contemplating the message Klock turned to his Familiar, Tick, and said,

"Well, I need that key, and you haven't had dove in a while. How does roast dove sound for dinner?"

Tick replied,

"If you're cooking, I'm eating."

Thankfully the key didn't ruin any of the meat.

"Your charm incantation has improved, Dobjenk, but you lack delicacy. The dischordations between your second and third metabridges are hyperamplified. Re-draft your elucidation of Ptolemy's Fourteenth Principle tonight and, for gods' sake, include footnotes!"

Izithrael barked the assignment to his student as he opened his study door. Immediately, the open window caught his attention.

"Don't move!" he hissed at Dobjenk.

There, on the desk. A dove.

Izithrael swiftly moved to his desk and retrieved the large encyclopaedic volume resting there.

"Piercing the Veil," by Izithrael Xar. How apropos.

Moving to strike the bird with the massive tome, he halted, mid-swing, when he noticed the scroll.

A moment later he listened to the instructions, lips pursed.

"A challenge. How...provincial. Dobjenk, come here." He snapped his fingers as his young pupil jumped to attention.

Izithrael turned and muttered the incantation as Dobjenk's eyes glazed over.

"Vivisect this creature. Bring me the key."

Dobjenk accepted the dove wordlessly and strode from the room.

"Whatever you do, make certain your hands are clean," Izithrael muttered, musing over the strange instruction.

The docile creature acquiesced to being picked up and held as Nekare` retrieved the message from its leg and read it. hmmmm... she briefly considered her options before enclosing the dove's dainty neck in her only slightly less dainty hand with its head just protruding past her first finger and thumb. A quick twist with her other hand accompanied by a surprising loud clicking noise and the bird was dead. Carrying the carcass with her to the kitchen, she began organizing a menu in her head featuring heavy use of provincial herbs to enhance the gamey bouquet of the bird and a creamy truffle risotto.

a touch too late to edit my post, but just to prove I'm paying attention it should be amended to say she listened to the message taken from the bird's neck

Shadwell walks to the end of the dim corridor, giving a quick glance over his shoulder to make sure he’s alone before opening the decrepit door with its faded sign reading “Cleaning Supplies Closet." Stepping gingerly past the assorted brooms, buckets, and other janitorial accoutrements that were carefully arrayed to impede both entrance and curiosity, he makes it to the back wall – an illusion which he pushes through effortlessly to enter his chambers.

The dim magical light he summons clearly illuminates the cramped space to his elven eyes; the low ceiling, the endtable piled high with pilfered books and parchments, the bench used as a workstation for his crafting experiments, the cot tacked to the wall above it, the dove curiously looking at him from beside his latest work in progress, the cracked mirror he used to check his disguises, and last but not least the –

Stopping in his tracks, Shadwell stares with an almost panicked intensity into the eyes of the dove; in response, the bird cocks its head and absent-mindedly gives its left wing a flutter. Seeing the ribbon and scroll around its neck, he silently curses himself before intoning an almost sing-song incantation which blankets the bird's mind in slumber. Putting his armful of books on the floor in front of the entrance, Shadwell silently steps up to the dove and studies the ribbon in detail with the aid of a detect magic cantrip; once sure it is free of harmful magic, he carefully unties it with a summoned mage hand. Unrolling the affixed scroll with gloved hands, the magic mouth delivers its message.

I’ve been noticed.

The wizard stood dumbfounded for several moments as the realization sunk in. Before long, however, the wheels of his mind began to click and whir, and he contemplated his situation.

Not just noticed, but noted. And studied.

Crouching down to get a better view, the wizard inspected the bird, even going so far as to gently roll it over and check under the wings – through use of a summoned mage hand, of course. If someone of a less than forgiving nature had discovered that he’d been lurking about stealing tomes and lessons for the past several decades, it was not entirely inconceivable that they might seek to do him harm, or worse, seek reimbursement!

Satisfied that the key alluded to was, in fact, physically contained within the diminutive avian, he stood up and rubbed his smooth chin in thought.

A test, then; but to prove what? That I can kill a bird on someone else’s whim? I should ignore this, save to move my residence to some other wing – perhaps the basement of the Aeromancy School?

A slight frown bends Shadwell’s lips, and sensing his mood, a long, dull grey centipede slinks from inside his coat pocket up to his neck, where it protectively wraps itself twice over.

It is true, however, that my studies have hit a bit of a wall these past few years. The books and lessons I need are behind magics too powerful or too observed to risk bypassing. If something does not change, I shall be stuck here for centuries. Even so, the provenance of this offer is still in question; best not to leave any traces that can be exploited.

His mind made up, Shadwell sets to the task of recovering the key. After fishing about his collection of knick-knacks used to practice enchanting, he finds a suitably small replacement key, and with a few gentle shakes with his mage hand awakens the bird, after which he dismisses the telekinetic extremity. Using a regrettably powerful enchantment to charm the simple creature, he then ensorcells it so that it may understand the elven speech, and proceeds to explain why it would be such a great assistance if it wouldn’t mind inconveniencing itself by regurgitating what must be a most uncomfortable meal. Once complete, he then explains why it would be equally useful if it could swallow a quite different and undoubtedly more suitably edible key, after which he finally intones another slumberous spell upon the thoroughly bewitched bird, this time a instilling in it a powerful, and amnesiac, sleep.

Briefly checking the key itself for any enchantment, Shadwell then quickly rolls the tiny scroll back up and reties it to the dove with the ribbon, making sure to imitate the original knot as exactly as possible. Then, depositing the key in an inner pocket and wrapping the bird in a piece of cloth, he refreshes the illusory wall to his abode and exits, passing unnoticed through the halls and out into the city.

I’ll leave the bird near the campus before it awakes, none the wiser to what has transpired. Stroking a finger lightly down his familiar’s back, he sets off on his task.

To the Empty Shell, to see what sort of game I’ve been invited to play. One thing’s for sure, my dear Centurion; in a shell game of wizards, there’s far worse fates than coming away empty-handed!

Let us now begin the selection process. Since we only have 7 applicants, there will only be one elimination. I feel slightly bad having to eliminate just one of you, but this is an evil-ish campaign, so I better get off on the right (evil) foot. You all should have received a PM from me. This round was mostly to set a precedent. If you want to ask something that you don't want the group to hear, feel free to PM me. I will probably also discuss your characters with you that way. There will be some information that only your character will be aware of, and unlike most campaigns, you may not want to share everything with your companions. I will leave that up to you. I may not give out treasure fairly all the time either. If you think I'm being unfair to your character, you can petition to the group for fairness, and beg for their scraps, although that will likely be met with scorn. But don't worry too much. I may be evil, but I'm not cruel. I'll make sure you character gets what's coming to them...in the end.

After a few minutes of watching the strange event before you, you decide that this auditorium could not have fit under the streets of Korvosa. Clearly this is some sort of extra-dimensional plane. And you are clearly witnessing the meeting of some sort of cult. It seems they worship this speaking turtle. What ignorant fools these people must be. After what seems like an eternity, the turtle finally shows signs of wrapping up.

"...and that is why my children, you must not be deceived. There are many powers in this world. There are many gods and goddesses. There are many clerics who hold power. But why do people follow them? What have the gods ever done for mortals. No, the true path lies in power you can touch, power you can control. The mighty clerics and paladins this earth are only the elite chosen few. And how did they become chosen? Through merits of their own? No. Most of them grew up fat and lazy. Their mother burned incense and gave gold to the priests. They became pious and prideful, never earning their privilege. And now they keep you underfoot, living in their mansions while you live in the streets, or under the roots of your city's wall. Oh, but you are different. You are the hard working man. The laborer in the field. You, my children, who do all the thankless jobs of the earth, you are blessed now in this place. Only your will and actions matter here. your actions. Your sweat and blood and toil have meaning here. You bring your sick and injured, and they are healed. You bring your impoverished, an they walk away wealthy. Now, enough talk. Pass the plates!"

At this, the crowd cheered in thunderous applause. Ushers in fine tunics emerged from the sides of the room bearing plates filled with shining metal. As they were passed along, each person took one single gold coin from the plate and passed it along. As it reached you, you pause for a moment, but the usher urges you to take a coin. Then the plate passes.

The turtle resumed. "I know you are all anxious for the feast, but I have a special treat for you today. We have some special guests here all the way from Korvosa. Through your support, we have begun to spread all throughout Golarion. As I have taught you, power is the only form of truth. Power is life. Power is death. Power is all that matters. We strive to give you power. Our special guests tonight have achieved great power. And tonight they will give us a small demonstration. Please come down. Don't be shy. These fine folks have come a long way in search of power. Let us encourage them. How do we feel about the search for power?" At this, the crowd begins to chant,"Power is life! Power is death!" The ushers take you by the arm to escort you down the stairs to the front of the amphitheater.

You are walking slowly, so you have three rounds to cast any spells you have prepared. You are not quite sure what to expect. At this point you may choose to follow instructions, go out the way you came, or do something else entirely. Oh, and also, everyone give me a perception check. If you don't post one, I'll roll it for you.

A wizard is never caught off guard.

The words of Nwojali, one of his first tutors, come to mind. Izithrael could spit. How could he have been so foolish?

"...power in exchange for services."

Ah, right he thinks as he is led toward the stage. Still, trust no one.

He reaches for his spell component pouch.

Cast see invisibility
Cast seek thoughts (DC 20 Will negates)

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5

Mythaniel is surprised at the message, "Indeed Power is Life and it is Death, who would have figured such words of wisdom from a Terrapin".

As Myth heads down the ramp he casts spells of self protection:

Cast Defensive Shock Round 1,
Cast Resist Energy (Fire) Round 2, and
Cast Bear's Endurance (Double Duration) Round 3.

Myth looks around to see who else is being led to the stage.

Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Nekare` takes in her surroundings and casts Charm Person on her escort and politely asks him to unhand her. She then instructs him to inform yon turtle that she'll be no part of his dog and pony show, before casting Obscuring Mist and Dimension Door to transport her as near to the exit as possible before leaving.

perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24 +2 v invisible or incorporeal

"While I agree with their attitude towards power, surely he knows of Nethys' clergy? They are not given their divine power, as he does not pretend to care about us mortals. Perhaps that is why I worship him, myself."

Not appearing fazed by the talking turtle, Seraphim gently pushes the ushers' arm off of her, and walks willingly beside him as they are taken to the front.

"Truly, however, one must not be too careful."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Alexis listens to the sermon with a blank expression. This is worse then listening to the priests of Erastil preaching family values. Bleh. When the plates are sent forth, disdain flashes over him before quickly being replaced with a flash of confusion. He had not been expected to be *given* money to listen to sermons. Regardless ... He took the coin and pocketed it, separate from his coin purse.

The part that followed fell to his taste however. He could not help being a little bit excited about 'displaying his awesome power' to the cheering of the crowd. It was, of course, a completely illogical feeling. *Snort* So this is how Evocers feel ever day! Still, it might be fun. Still, he would of course not show his full potential. Which probably wouldn't be that impressive, given the methods he preferred, unless someone really had to die. At the usher's call, he rose and straightened his dull black robes. With no small amount of annoyance, he sneered at the usher.

"*Don't* touch me."

Emboldened by his master's command, a dragon emerged from Alexis shadow. It hissed and snapped its fangs at the ushers hand, a gesture that probably would have been horrifying if it did not have the approximative size of a chicken. Still it was enough to much down a finger or two, serving as an ample deterrent to further manhandling.

Satisfied with the display at the ushers quick removal of his hand, one way or the other, Alexis followed him down towards the turtle. He works a quick casual spell and pulls out a small vial with a clear, somewhat viscous, liquid.

Actions: Heightened Awareness, pull out a vial of Confabulation Powder and a 1 round Detect Magic trying to get a glance at either the turtle or those platters of money.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 2 = 18

Klock shakes of the ushers' hands off.

"I can walk myself down the stairs"

"Let's see what these people are up to, starting with that coin", thought Klock.

"Why aren't we running?",Tick thought.

"I want to see how this pans out" Klock thought to himself and Tick, "plus, they offered food"

"Yeah, let's hope these people can make a better meal than burnt dove", replied Tick.

Casting Detect Magic on the coin for 1 round

Casting See Invisibility

Perception: 1d20 + 716 + 723 ⇒ (9) + 716 + 723 = 1448

Casting Mage Armor from a wand
Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 1715 + 1732 ⇒ (8) + 1715 + 1732 = 3455
AC is now 18

Klock, those numbers seem a bit...off...

And unless something is really weird*, you don't need Use Magic Device for a wand with a spell on your class list and on a level you can cast : )

Sin Magic with their hyper forbidden schools for example ...

As he sees no alternative but to interact with the staff of the Empty Shell, Shadwell silently thanks the powers that he had the sense to return home and put on an appropriate disguise before entering. He’ll just take 10 on his check, resulting in a 25.

Appearing as a common male human laborer, he mumbles his thanks as he is led through the tavern to a locked door. The young man of dubious ability takes Shadwell's key and unlocks the door for him, waving him through. As he passes the wizard stumbles, momentarily grabbing the man for support before righting himself and continuing onwards with a word of thanks.

Upon entering the huge chamber his eyebrows raise in surprise as he looks around. This place is big. Too big. He nods to the usher as he's led to an aisle seat, scanning the crowd as he listens to the unusual proselytizer. Far too many people as well; not all of them could have entered through the Empty Shell without arousing suspicion from the constabulary patrons. At least, not the Empty Shell in Korvosa. I felt no disorientation, but we've probably been teleported. That is... unfortunate. With a crowd this size, though, it will at least be easy to blend - is that Professor Graavf??

Unable to help himself, Shadwell stares for a moment at the ghoulish Professor before looking away, only to realize that several other attendees in his immediate vicinity are from the Acadamae as well.

Drat! Has one of these "colleagues" invited me? Have all of them? I can't imagine that I've slipped up that badly! Shadwell unconsciously prods at a smear of dirt on his neck, making sure his disguise is still intact. Or are they here by invitation as well?

His ears prick up as the turtle begins rousing the crowd for some "special guests," and his fears are immediately confirmed as an usher takes his arm and impels him to stand.

Oh no.

He follows along with the man, mind racing.

If I do anything now, I'll just draw even more attention to myself. What does this babbling reptile want me to do? Pull flowers from my sleeve for these people's amusement? If only I had some sort of distraction...

He heard the various other Acadamae wizards grumbling at ushers and whispering out spells behind him as they were led down the aisle, but suddenly a bit of a commotion broke out as one of them attempted to charm their attendant. It would certainly be a relief if these men were actually men! Glancing backwards, he weighed whether the scene afforded him the opportunity he so desperately sought...

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18 as requested.

That was supposed to be

UMD: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 31

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

I thought it was UMD unless you had the spell in your spellbook, my bad.

Oh no worries. Just pointing it out so you don't accidentally screw yourself over : )

Thanks, and is anyone else having problems with the dice function on the forum?

No, not that I've noticed. You used the standard (dice=This Roll)1d20+16(/dice) with brackets instead of ( ) ?

Yes, I'm going to try again with (1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5)
Test: 1d6 + 23 + 25 ⇒ (3) + 23 + 25 = 51

Err that seems really weird. Can you copy what you wrote to get that output, with ( instead of [?
________________________________________

test: 1d6 + 23 + 25 ⇒ (4) + 23 + 25 = 52

Or did you actually write (1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5) inside the (dice) (/dice) (as I did above in my test roll)? Since the dice command actually rolls the dice, it will ignore the excessive signs ( "⇒", "(", ")" and "=" ) and parse it as 1d6 + 2 3 + 2 5 ....

The Dice command is to roll dice so you should type "(dice=test)1d6+2(/dice)" with [ instead of ( and ] instead of ) to get it to roll. :P

Ah, that's where I went wrong.
I wrote 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 inside the Dice Command

Yah, that doesn't work. Welcome to the forums btw : )

Thanks, and it has been a pleasant place so far

Klock, I thought for a minute you had found a way to get over 1000 on a skill check, which would have been impressive indeed

As you scurry about defensively, you notice the elf sitting next to the turtle eyeing you all intensely. After a few moments of confusion, elf speaks out to the crowd. "As you can see, powerful agents are suspicious and quick thinking. Observe well and take note. For our great Terrapin has decided to grant an audience with 6 of our guests this evening." The elf gestures grandly to the turtle. "Whoever seeks a word with the great one must simply walk through one of these six doors." The turtle, elf and attendents move over to the right side of the room, leaving the floor empty. Immediately the back wall of the amphitheater drops away revealing five open door frames built into a wall of stone. Each door is spaced about 20 feet apart. After only a glimpse of seeing the doors, the door in the middle bursts into flames, shining a bright red glow into the rest of the large room. You are easily able to discern this is a wall-of-fire spell. You could not make out who the caster was. The door on the far left seems to be completely open. The next door in the row also seems to be completely open. On the right side of the flaming door, is the 4th door, but it is closed and the door boasts an impressive looking lock. Finally on the far right, is another closed door. This one is guarded by two ferocious looking fiends of some kind (knowledge planes if you care to know what kind)

The doorways themselves are a bit peculiar. They each have a dark veil in the threshold preventing you from seeing beyond.

"Do I have any volunteers? Have any of you achieved great enough power to be worthy of an audience with the Great Terrapin? Perhaps our special guests would like to make an attempt. And as always, any of our number may come and try to enter the doors. But beware, they are guarded. Only the powerful will be successful."

Before you can act, one zealous young man in the front row makes a dash for the open door on the far left. Just as it seems he is about to go in, you hear a loud crack, as his body slams into the place where the opening should be. He falls back and slumps into unconsciousness. You wonder if there was some spell that got him or if he just hit a barrier so hard, he knocked himself out. Ushers drag him away, as the crowd hoots and hollers.

So to recap there are six doors. The farthest left looks open, but some idiot just tried to run through and bonked his head. The second on the left also looks open. The third is awash in flame. The fourth appears closed and locked. The fifth, is guarded by fiends. Go ahead and post what you would like to do next. Roll initiative as well, so that if two of you go for the same door I'll know who went first. You are trying to enter the doors to gain audience with the turtle.

There are six doors, but you only listed 5 : ) Last one the entrance?

Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Hmm. Even if the conversation with the turtle didn't lead anwhere (which he doubted!) perhaps there were still ways to make this worth the trip. Learning some new tricks for example. With a discerning look, Alexis slowly walked towards the two leftmost portals, examining them for obstacles both magical and mundane.

His small dragon familiar followed him closely, looking for things his master missed. And cautiously eyeing the flaming door which the small dragon clearly didn't like.

Perception, Nixx: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

K(planes): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25
Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Izithrael observes the foolish young zealout fall to the ground, his nose pouring blood.

Do I dare?

He considers the creatures that he has already seen. He considers the turtle, the, elf, and, of course, his colleagues. He touches the scarab amulet hanging around his neck.

Where angels fear to tread.

Wordlessly, he walks to the left-most door and maneuvers through the narrow opening, slipping into the doorway beyond.

Initiative 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Mythaniel casually strolls through the Wall of Fire and through the door it guards without turning to look at anyone else.

Resist Energy Fire is operating. Book not with me is there also a Reflex saving throw?

First, initiate and Knowledge (planes)
Init: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Know (planes): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

"It is obvious that this is a game. I so enjoy these games."
Seraphim laughs energetically before disappearing, obviously the work of a Vanish spell.

Slipping from his usher's grasp during Nekare's theatrics, Shadwell melts into the audience. Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32 using Hellcat Stealth and counting the audience as a'crowd', then activating Face in the Crowd ability to remain unnoticed by those near him.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Seeing his options for doors dwindling, the half-elf makes his way down through the audience to the stage, eyeing the fiends as he prepares to cast a spell. Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25 while moving (as above, -5 with movement penalty) and Knowledge: Planes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22 for the fiends.

EDIT: Holding off on casting a spell until I know what I know about the fiends; time is obiously of the essence, and I don't wish to waste a standard action.

sighing heavily, Nekare` returns to the floor of the amphitheater thinking I will get that turtle for this!

Ignoring everything else she approaches the fiends' door
spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
planes: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

I assume you mean literal fiends, as in devils

a chubby imp arrives and lands on her shoulder

K. Planes: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Klock moves towards the door guarded by the devils, and begins to look them over.

"why are we going to mess with devils," thought Tick.

"We might find a solution beyond those fiends," replied Klock.

"Infernal creatures can make a really good roast," Tick quipped.

"If you don't hush and let me think, I'm going to let them," Klock replied.

Casting Detect Magic towards the doors for 3 rounds

oops, forgot to post initiative, and how is it that both cooks are drawn to the devil door, lol

initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

She looks askance at Klock do you mind, I'm trying to have a conversation with my friends here?

Klock moves away from the fifth door and replies,

"You have an interesting taste in fiends."

Klock then begins to look around the room, searching for the Sixth door.

She realizes she won't be able to bully her colleagues away a second time and decides she must act now while the odds are in her favor.

She steps a little ways of from the devils and hands her imp, Clearbourne, a wand, telling it you know what to do

she faces the devils again an Summons her wolves
augmented wolves susummoned: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 REALLY? Whatever it'll work
which immediately attack and harry the fiend on the left At the same time, Clearbourne uses his mistress's wand on the one on the right

toppling magic missile damage: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 2, 2) + 5 = 15

trip cmb: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

With the devils distracted and/or prone she quickly skirts past them and through the door

** spoiler omitted **

Ugh... Alexis sighs. His colleagues were acting with annoying haste. He himself really preferred to *think* about things, but ...

With a deliberate (and loud and obnoxious) sigh, he pulled out a scroll from his knapsack and read it with one hand on his tiny dragon. Once done, she strode trough the flames of the burning door with contemptuous ease (unless the Wall of Fire inflicts more then 20 damage of course, in which case he quite humorously speeds up :P). His familiar on the other hand looked a bit worried about the flames and snuck in underneath his masters robe.

Using Scroll of Resist Energy (Fire, cl 5) and casting it via Improved Spell Share on both himself and Nixx. Not sure if Familiars can use 'hide in robes' for total cover, if so the last part may be redundant :)

can a door be used more than once?

I am not sure. Which is why I switched from 'ponder carefully' to 'walk trough fire' :P

Initiative for this round:
Izithrael - 28
Mysterious - 27
Mythaniel - 21
Seraphim - 17
Klock - 15
Nekare - 10
Shadwell - 9

Izithrael acts first and decisively. He moves toward the leftmost door, skirts around some invisible barrier, and slips inside. Instantly, the doorway vanishes with a quite "pop". The poor soul who tried to gain entrance first lays there still quite unconscious. Izithrael is in the campaign. Congrats.

Next, Mysterious cautiously approaches the second door and third door inspecting them as he draws near. As Mysterious investigates, Mythaniel walks right by headlong into the flames. You can see them lap at his clothing and the crowd goes wild! As he enters, that door also disappears with a pop, and the red glow coming from the fire ceases.Mythaniel is in. Congrats.

Seraphim vanished from sight, and just a moment later you hear a pop come from above you on the domed ceiling. You look up, but too late. The only thing you see now is an intricate painting covering the whole vaulted stone ceiling that seems to be arranged in layers. Low on the domed ceiling near where it meets the wall, you can see what looks to be a vast landscape crowded with people. Above their heads is a band that encircles the whole ceiling. The next level up depicts another scene. And then a third and a fourth. It keeps going like that up in smaller concentric circles, each with it's own scene. It looks intricate, but you don't have time to study it now. There are more interesting things happening. Seraphim is in. Congrats.

Klock acts next. He walks up to the fiends. They look like a cross between and insect and a cadaver. They are bony and hideous. They stare back at Klock impassively, eyeing his every move.

Nekare emerges from the passage you all came through, makes here way over to the fiends and speaks to them. They again look at her with their otherworldly eyes, and make no movement.

Shadwell seems to have vanished as well. Did he go invisible, or just melt into the excitable crowd? The crown who by now has focused its attention toward the fiends. The seem to really want a fight.

Some of you have made it through the doors already. Others are piecing together information before acting. From here on out your initiative will matter greatly. So you may want to wait until the person before you has gone, partly to watch what they do, but also, to not tip your hand. Unless otherwise stated, each door can be reached with a single move action from where you are. Door 2 remains. Mysterious is investigating that one right now. Door 4 (the locked one) remains. No one has approached it yet. Door 5 guarded by fiends also remains. Klock has moved away, but Nekare is nearest them. The other doors have disappeared. Shadwell still has one delayed standard action this round. (I probably should have used a map for this)

Initiative for next round:
Shadwell's spell
Mysterious - 27
Klock - 15
Nekare - 10
Shadwell - 9

Ready, go!

did I glean any information from my knowledge: planes check of 32?

Sorry, Nekare. I missed your second post there. That will have to happen this next round, as that's way too much for one round even if I did initiative in a weird and completely unfair way just now. Honestly, I didn't think you would all beeline for the nearest door. Feel free to change your action as needed.

edit: Oh, and information is coming just now as PM.

She visibly pales as she recognizes the creatures barring her path and shoots Terrapin a scathing look, but she refuses to back down from her chosen challenge.

she whispers to herself there's a way, but it only works if...

casts detect magic and further studies the fiends

Shadwell's eyebrows rise as he recognizes the devils. Well, at least the promise of power seems real enough. There's one door too few, though; things could get very... competitive. He intones the enchantment of miserable pity upon himself in preparation. His standard action in the first round.

Truly, one can never be too careful!

Since doors are 1 use only, ignore scroll! (And it saves me some money too :P)

Ogh. *This* better be worth it... Seemingly nonsensical, Alexis starts to jump and dance in front of the second door. Well, 'jump and dance' is a strong sentiment. More like tossing himself as he was a sack of potatoes. Nevertheless, he seems to be making *some* sort of progress...

Unless the lighting level is Bright, Nixx (my little draconic friend!) has concealment. Thus, he is qualified to make a stealth check. Dun dun dun!

Stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38

His actions have been pmd (or will be, really soon!)