The Kaer Magan Stories (Inactive)
Game Master GM Idyll

I have some rope, Kellen says pointedly ignoring the frustrated look Vigan just shot him. What do you want me to do with it?

Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Kellen doesn't have any ranks in Knowledge skills which seems stupid now. I'll have to change that next level.

"What do you mean? Whats interesting about them?" Vigan inquires blandly. He adds "Climbing down there shouldn't be a problem."

"They all be white, save one. That strikes me a touch unusual. It might nothing, but we cannae get a good look from here."

Vigan nods at Ogrim.

"Kellen, can you see anything dangerous about stepping on that symbol? Do you want to go down there first, or is that a weird question to ask?"

I'm going to go ahead and roll climb. I'll go down behind Kellen when he establishes it is safe.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"Will do," Kellen responds moving over to check the symbol for traps.

Kellen will attempt to disarm any traps that he may find.

Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Disarm (if needed) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

The climb down the rope is easy - it attaches perfectly to the balcony on the suspended bridge.

Once everyone is on the ground floor (unless anyone wants to stay up on the bridge) Kellen inspects the symbol. It doesn't appear to be trapped at all - it's just a large symbol made of a darker stone than the rest of the floor around it.

Just to clarify - this room is circular (obviously), with a large pit in the middle of the room. Steps lead down to the pit easily. The floor around the middle is roughly 10' above the pit and 30' below the bridge.

Hagar climbs down the rope, and the moment his feet touch the ground he has his axe in a defensive position. Seeing that there are no immediate threats, he starts to survey his surrounding in detail.

Perception Take 20

Ogrim goes to look in the pit (perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19) and at the statues (perception 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15)

Vigan glances very briefly at the statues before moving towards the eastern door, listening for anything that might approach with his spear gripped in both hands.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Darius scans the room with the rest of his companions, not liking how still everything was.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

"Seems that there's a door behind each of these statues here" - says Hagar, while stroking his chin - "but beats me if I know how to reach them doors, short of chopping these statues to pieces"

He hafts his huge axe, as if measuring could he break the statue with it.

"Graves and ornate headstones maybe. Only someone with a lot of money would build a statue of themselves like that to mark their grave...tch...how base."

Vigan moves towards Ogrim as the dwarf examines the black statue.

"Seems that there's a door behind each of these statues here" - says Hagar, while stroking his chin - "but beats me if I know how to reach them doors, short of chopping these statues to pieces"

"Maybe we should try to slide them over, before we get all smashy?"

Does anyone have Know:History? If so, give it a roll.

The group takes a circuit of the room. You have no idea who the statues represent, but you note the following about each.

Clockwise around the cathedral, starting with the southwestern statue (AK20), the white statues depict: a tall man with gems set in his forehead, wielding a flaming glaive; a beautiful woman with wild hair, holding a ranseur; a voluptuous, nude woman wielding a two-headed guisarme; a short, smiling man holding a longspear; an obese man with rotting flesh, wielding a scythe; a handsome, bearded man in extravagant clothes, wielding a lucerne hammer; and an imperious, heavyset woman holding a mirror and a halberd.

The eighth statue (in the south-southeast part of the room) is carved from dark stone and is threefold in form, portraying a tall woman with three faces looking in three different directions. One side has a kind face and cradles a baby in its arms, while a second side displays a more stern expression and holds an hourglass. The third face has a crazed look; its hands are empty, but thornless roses twine up both arms.

As noted by Hagar, each statue has a door flush with the wall behind it.

Updated Map

I'm not sure where you are specifically, so don't worry too much about where your avatar is in the map.

Vigan has a +1 trait bonus to history because of Scholar of the Great Beyond, and it also is a class skill for me because of that. But I haven't spent ranks to train it yet. If you'd like to accept it here's a roll.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

"Maybe we should try to slide them over, before we get all smashy?"

"I agree with Ogrim here," Kellen speaks up after having been silent for a while. "Caution is warranted. Perhaps a check for traps as well? No telling what has been done to the area in all the time its been used."

Sorry no trained knowledge skills here. :(

Yeah, you need to have a rank in the skill to use it, I'm afraid. It's not a big deal, though.

Kellen do you want to risk disabling at least one of the traps so we can see whats behind, maybe just the black one or something what do you say?

That's more than I can do so I say give it a shot on one of them.

Or depending on how the trap functions we could just tie a rope around the statue and have us all pull it over at the same time.

Vigan opens the door behind the ominous black statue.

I'll just risk the trap and open the door so things move on. Assuming reflex...

save:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Vigan moves to open the door. To reach it, he brushes up against the statue. The moment he touches it, the feeling as if he's been blessed courses through his body.

You have been blessed with aid - you receive a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves against fear effects, plus 11 temporary hit points. This will last for 10 minutes.

The statue slides aside easily and the door behind opens with a push. You see before you a small crypt, with three small alcoves and bodies in the holes in the wall that have been cut for them. Most of them have long-since decayed.

Updated Map

There appears to be a hidden door over there. After pointing this out, Darius will pick up the wand and attempt to discern what it is.

I'm going to get the wand and cast Detect Magic on it. If I have the time, 1 minute I believe, I will then use Spellcraft to attempt to identify it.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Vigan's fists open and close rhythmically. "Woah, strange feeling when I touched that statue...like some great energy forcing me higher to some inevitable end." His eyes brighten for the first time.

"Hidden door? Let's bust it down."

Kellen has moved away from the group, something catching his eye. He moves swiftly across the chamber.

"Hey! Hey! There's a person here!" He yells, back to the group. Then, you hear a small scream and the chamber is silent.

Moving towards the sound, you see that Kellen is lying, unmoving, on top of another person. Tall and lean, but well muscled, the elf wears dark leathers and carries a number of blades. He appears to be slowly regaining consciousness.

What? Terror. Demons. Falling. Crow people. Electricity. Gnomes. Wait, Gnomes? The elf on the floor mumbles as he sits up pushing the small gnome off of him.

Seeing the party approach he scrambles to his feet and reaches for his long sword. When he is not attacked outright he simply rests his hand on its blackened hilt.

He looks around worried and asks Who are you? Where are we...?

Is it fair to loot Kellen's body? :)

Vigan points "What did you do to Kellen? Do your loyalties lie in the dust with him?"

Still obviously groggy from whatever knocked him out in the first place Minwae struggles with reality. Who is Kellen? he asks with confusion. This fellow? indicating the down gnome. The only thing I might have done to him is trip him with my unconscious body.

Minwae stands up from his spot on the floor and sees the gnome closely for the first time. I do not know what has happened to this gnome. Come see to your friend. I will not hamper you. He takes a step back to seem more non-threatening and still has not pulled a weapon.

As to my loyalties, well they lie with me, and whoever pays me, I guess. That seems to jar him slightly, as if a memory comes back to him. The crows. Are you with, er, did the Tengu hire you as well?

Vigan relaxes, seemingly taking the elf at his word "Tengu? No...we're investigating a certain sensitive incident on behalf of a local power. Perhaps you can help, we've been under the impression that there was only one way down here...seems you've come another route. Hmm, more importantly perhaps we can help each other get out of here alive..."

Vigan glances at Kellen before casting a gaze towards Ogrim.

"...we were about to breech that far wall, there's a hidden hinge." Vigan points out the secret door within the crypt.

"Gnome, elf, it dinnae make a difference ta me. Sneak thief, get ta yer sneakin'."

[b]A little taken back by this groups disregard for what seems to be one of their own, Minwae examines the body of the gnome himself, looking for life.

Untrained Heal Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

As he does so, he also will be checking for valuables and specifically potions. If he finds anything small and useful he will quickly palm it, trying to keep his body between the party and the gnome.

Slight of Hand: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

You are free to loot Kellen's body. But let me know when you're ready to move on.

Minwae was going for his potion of cure light, but I guess could come up a holy instead if he has both and they were unmarked.

Well, seems you lot are down one rogue. And I seem to be down one employer. Perhaps some arrangement could be made. I would be willing to step up and help you out for whatever deal the gnome had...?

Heh, of course the LG spots it...

Vigan's eyes narrow in disgust, he shakes his head in frustration and disappointment, murmuring "damnnit" under his breath. "Find what you needed? ...tch...You didn't have to try and hide it like a scumbag, we were trying to help you." He brushes past Minwae and drags the body into one of the alcoves where it cant be disturbed. "We'll come back for him after we sort this out."

Guess I'll also attempt a diagnosis...
Heal check:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

"Now, you want a deal? Here's a grand offer: we stick together and don't die. The safe exit back there won't open except for us, so unless you just happen to like it down here..." He doesn't finish his sentence. "Oh and there's gold to be had, but a punk like you will have to earn it in the eyes of our employer I'd wager. You could start by checking that false wall there, because that's where were going."

Darius shook his head at the monk's scathing words. Must be new to the city if he's getting his back up at a little scavenging. Gods know there's worse that goes on in this place. Shrugging, he moved towards the hidden door, looking to see if their new "companion" would be able to pull his weight or not. As he did so, he quietly slipped the wand into his waistband, sure it would come in handy down here.

"Easy Vigan. Someone make sure to grab the P. of CLW that the priestess gave him. I don't think he's going to be needing it. Shall we see about this hidden door?"

Save your disgust for one who earns it. I got in, so I can get out, monk. I took a jolt and my head back there, and don't yet recall everything, but I do know there is another exit. You cannot hold that over my head. I borrow from the dead so that I may live. Do you truly extort the living with threats of entombment.

Minwae calmly walks around the monk and removes all the gnomes gear and places it openly on the floor in front of the party, considering it. This gear will do the little fellow no good at all, but these weapons are too small for any of us to use so I'll leave him those, and his armor. But these items I will 'borrow' from him to help us succeed. The elf picks up a set of thieves tools, a sack of iron rations, a rope, 3 sunrods, 2 tinder twigs, and a vial of holy water. I'll write you a receipt monk, if you will calm down.And if anyone needs any of this just ask.

Minwae then moves to the front of the group to examine the secret panel, pulling his long sword as he walks.

Find Traps: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

You discover no traps.

Pushing the panel open, you see a narrow hallway ahead of you. After only 15' inside, you spot a square shaft, dropping into darkness.

Moving around the corner, a macabre gate made of bleached bones blocks the passage. The gate has no obvious handles or hinges.

I moved you ahead a bit, so feel free to go back and explore, percept or anything else you'd like to do.

no problem here.

Seeing the bones Minwae quickly switches from his sword to his club, then carefully checks both the shaft and the gate.

Perception of shaft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Perception of gate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

darkvision incoming

Ogrim peers down the shaft to see if he can see the bottom.

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Is the shaft part of the construction or is it an excavated hole?

Vigan puts an ear to the shaft.

Perc:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

He also examines the gate, trying to figure out how it works without hinges and handles.

Perc:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Int: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11

The shaft appears to be part of the original construction - but it is unclear what purpose it served or serves. It is incredibly deep - not even Ogrim can see the bottom. But it also appears to be deserted - nothing is moving or stirring within earshot.

Examining the gate doesn't reveal any of its secretes, either. It still bars your path.

Updated Map

Break it down. Minwae concludes. It only bones and there seems no other way.

Is there anything beyond the bones we can see? Like through the space in the bones...or is it just solid bones, bones after bones?

You can see nothing beyond the bones. It is a solid gate the full-width and -height of the doorway.

"I think this calls for a large orc with a large axe."

[b]This is likely gonna be loud[./b] Minwae announces as he moves forward and swings at the bone gate with his club using both hands.

Club Swing: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 81d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Depending on the reaction, if nothing bad happens, and some damage is done, Minwae will begin to batter down a section of the gate.

The second the club strikes the gate, a sharp bone spear appears and shoots towards Minwae.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 for 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

The attack lands and pierces Minwae's armor and stomach, doing significant damage. Take 7 damage.

The spear disappears as quickly as it appeared and the bone gate stands as before.