White Neb Mountain (Inactive)

Game Master Nebten

Well over a millennium ago, the wizard Keraptis rose to power in the valleys of the northern mountains, bringing the local warlords under his thumb with gruesome threats--threats that were fulfilled just often enough to keep the leaders in line. Under Keraptis' overlordship, the influx of rapacious monsters and raids from the wild mountains decreased markedly, dwindled, and then almost stopped. Seeing this, the populace did not put up much resistance to paying Keraptis' rather heavy taxes and tithes, especially when stories of what happened to those who balked were circulated. Those lords who protested disappeared in the night and were replaced by the next in the line of succession, who was usually inclined to be more tractable than his predecessor.

Gradually, as all dissension was stilled, the taxes and levies became even more burdensome, until eventually the wizard was taking a large piece of everything that was grown, made or sold in the valleys, including the newborn young of livestock. Around this time there began numerous reports in the land of sudden madnesses, demonic possessions, and sightings of apparitions and undead. Furthermore, monstrous incursions into the settled lands began to increase as raiding parties of humanoids burnt whole villages, and evil and fantastic monsters appeared from nowhere to prey upon the harried peasants. At the height of these outrages came Keraptis' tax-collectors with word of a new levy--one third of all newborn children were henceforth to be turned over to the wizard!

As one, the people rose and destroyed the sorcerer's hierarchy and marched on his keep, where, lead by powerful and good cleric and his ranger acolytes, they destroyed Keraptis' minions. The great wizard barely managed to escape to the south, accompanied only by his personal bodyguard company of deranged and fanatical evil gnomes.

Keraptis fled to the cities of the south and west, but wherever he went, this reputation preceded him, and he was unable to stay anywhere for long. Once again retiring north, he came to the shores of the Lake of Unknown Depths, where he heard tales of haunted White Plume Mountain. Investigating further, he at last found the refuge he was looking for in the tangled maze of volcanic tunnels beneath the cone. He and his gnomes vanished into the shadow of the Plume, and humankind heard no more of the evil wizard.

That was almost thirteen hundred years before the present day. Now, seemingly, the hand of Keraptis is once again interfering in human affairs. If it is in truth the ancient wizard at wizard at work here, can he be thwarted before his power grows once more? What is his purpose in this bizarre challenge to the world's heroes? There is only one way to find out . . .

Dot for easier post seeing!

Dot. I promise not to forget about this.

Noggin dot

Today, the once-feared name of Keraptis is little known even to learned scholars. Little-known, that is, until several weeks ago, when three highly valued magical weapons have be founds missing. Rewards were posted, servants hanged, even the sanctuary of the Thieves' Guild was violated in the frantic search for the priceless items, but not even a single clue was turned up until the weapon's former owners discovered the following note:

Search ye far or search ye near,
You’ll find no trace of the three
Unless you follow instructions clear,
For the weapons abide with me.

~K

Today your group has answered the call to a one Kiikan Dack, a local rare arts collector. Your group, while eclectic, has a good reputation of up and coming heroes.

"And that is all that was left in its place. Pretty boastful if you ask me," Riikan says after allowing you to read the carefully penned velum.

"I was hoping to hire your group out to retrieve my stolen weapon. I can offer 10,000 gold pieces, be it in coin or gems. The item in question is more of an art piece then a tool of war. But I will admit, it is quite dear to me. Are you interested?"

Dot

The energetic Halfling blurts out with a whistle.
"Well, that is a tidy amount of gold, no doubt. If I may ask, Sir Riikan (Kiikan?), which of the three missing
fancy weapons is yours, so that we may know it when we see it? We would need a good description,
should we accept, that is."

The small disgruntled gnome grunts and puffs at the note. Behind him stands a dome-headed dinosaur. "Greetings. My name is Leopold. This here's Noggin. I s'pose I could look into the matter for you. What more can tell us of Wave, Whelm, and Blackrazor?"

Riikan takes a sip from his drink. He then holds the glass to the light to inspect its color while answering the questions.

"I can only tell you about my item, Wave. It is a trident whose head is forged of steel with a distinctive blue-green sheen. The haft is cut from a long, stout piece of rare black coral. Wave is intricately carved with fish, twining seaweed, and similar aquatic motifs.

"According to legend, Wave was forged by giants who were imprisoned on the desolate island called Thunderforge by agents of Besmara. The first hero to wield it was the half-giant Dravenda, said to be the daughter of Besmara herself, who used it in rebellion against her mother’s servants and paid for her insolence with her life. There is supposedly more to that story, but knowledge of history is limited."

"I see. Thank you. I'm sure the others are just as distinctive and remarkable. It seems like a job we can tackle."

A human-shaped figure in a heavy, leather cloak follows Titus, carrying the standard adventuring gear in a pack, though the cloak behind his pack is containing more than just the individual (read: his wings.) On his belt hang three Kukris, though one is gold and bears the image of an owl's eye engraved into it. Upon entering the room, he draws back his hood, revealing is a gray-skinned human face (though the eyes glow a pale, colourless white.)

Aothan scan the room with his constant Detect Evil, and pending nobody is detecting, he responds to the room. "That sounds well within our skillset. Thieves will not escape the sight of Tanagaar."

Money Finalized. Until further told, I am supressing my Aura of Menace, because that tends to make people hostile, do ho ho. Oh, it only works on Hostile creatures! Neat! Linky!

"Name's Karsk." A bulky half-orc growls. "Seems fair and doable. When do we start?"

"For that sum of money, can I assume you have tried or contracted for scrying for your missing weapon already? Do you have any other leads beyond the note? Any enemies or people recently asked to see it? Also, would we be allowed access to the location of where the item was stored to look for clues?"

"All forms of divination have been unsuccessful. As for enemies, I'm sure I have a few, but it would be just as easy to kill me then to steal from me. Only those within my inner circle are aware I have Wave. My vault has already been thoroughly investigated for clues. This poem was all that was found. But I know where you need to go . . ."

Riikan puts down his glass at the corner of his desk. He then pulls out a large piece of parchment and unrolls it. Before you all his a large map of the area to the north.

"The directions at the beginning of the poem leads me to believe that our errant items can be found here: White Plume Mountain. I will arrange for steeds and provisions. It should take you a few days to get there."

"Most excellent. Although I already have a steed. I am sure pack animals will be required for a trip of that length. I may be small, but I have a hearty appetite."

"Those are certainly some interesting geological features? I'm curious how they came about in such a fashion."

"Either way, I appreciate your offer of a mount but I think Noggin here will let me ride him without too much fuss. And I like the way Nigel thinks. I'm not one for starving on long journeys."

"Yes, mounts will get us their faster and I'm already hungry. We should go."

"Though I appreciate the thought, you need not prepare any foodstuffs for me. I need not eat." He pauses to think, "The offering of borrowing a mount, I will graciously accept." Aothan studies the room and the map. "I have never seen this place before. Should we gather some pertinent information, where may I deliver a dossier for such things? Is this building acceptable?"

"Not much is known of White Plume Mountain. It stands alone in a vast area of dismal moors and tangled thickets. The Mountain is almost a perfectly conical volcanic hill formed millennia ago from the slow leakage of lava. About 1,000 yards in diameter at the base, the peak rises about 800 feet above the surrounding land. The white plume that gives the mountain its name and fame is a continuous geyser that spouts from the very summit. The spray shoots into the air, then trails off to the east under the prevailing winds like a great white feather. The water from the geyser collects in numerous depressions down-slope that eventually merge, creating a sizable stream.

"The nearest village, Yellowreach, lies about a days trek from the mountain along the Yellow Flow River (so named for the sulfurous deposits along its banks). The village has very little in supplies—rations, lantern oil, and maybe a few inexpensive potions or scrolls. The villagers know of the mountain and its surroundings, but they generally give the area a wide berth. It is said any adventurers bold enough to set out for White Plume Mountain are regarded as either very brave or very foolhardy."

Riikan smiles as he says this last line before finishing off his drink.

"I am ready to go whenever. I do not have much extra cash for purchases, so paid food and reward to boot. Timing could not be better.. "

Within the following days, you find yourself at the base of White Plume Mountain. You decide to leave your mounts in a small natural cave two miles south of the Plume known as Dead Gnoll's Eyesocket. Once everything is stowed, it is time to scale the south side of the mountain.

You soon located an entry tunnel leading into the rock and emerge in a cave that actually seemed to breathe, exhaling a large cloud of steam and then slowly inhaling again, like a man breathing on a cold day. It is no wonder the locals have dubbed this cavern the Wizard's Mouth.

Steam vents pierce the mountainside in various spots, but none of them are large enough to allow additional entry. Near the ceiling at the far end is a long, horizontal crevice about 1 foot wide. Periodically, air is sucked into this crack at great speed, creating a loud whistling sound and snuffing out torches. After a few moments, the rush of air slows down, stops for about 2 seconds, and then the air rushes out again in a great blast of steam.

Inside, the cavern floor was covered with muck—obviously a byproduct of the condensation dripping from the walls and ceiling. Hidden beneath this mud, near the back of the cavern, you discovered a simple trapdoor set with an iron ring. And now, below the opening, a square vertical shaft beckons.

Aothan, during travel, offers to illuminate an object of a party member's choosing with his at-will Continual Flame SLA. Additionally, he will go undisguised (per se), to keep his wings accessible. If requested, he'll explain that he's an agent of Tanagaar's domain, sent as another pair of eyes and explains his different abilities. He particularly notes how he can traverse a plane instantaneously (though he needs to know what it looks like) and his ability to bolster w creature's stamina (Aid SLA.)

Nigel will ride his Roc unless otherwise noted (like climbing down a shaft)

Once at the mountain, Leopold will dismount from Noggin and follow right behind the dinosaur, allowing it to lead the way before the gnome.

The shaft travels for twenty feet before reaching a staircase. The rusty metal staircase spirals down into warm, humid darkness. The stairs seems to vibrate slightly, as if in tune with some inaudible subterranean rumbling.

The party descends about 100 feet before endings in a room covered with a foot of water. Floating on the water is patches of green and white subterranean algae. The floor itself is covered with slippery mud. The air here is foul but breathable. There is a single exit the leads from this room.

Unless noted otherwise, all rooms and corridors are covered in this water/mud combination = hindered terrain.

What are ceiling heights (for hovering purposes)?

Aid for myself: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 If anyone else wants Aid, feel free to roll 1d8+6. Lasts 6 minutes.

Aothan keeps in (at least) the second row (so Trapspotter works as intended. He looks to the group, kukris in his hands. "I apologize, I have forgotten to forewarn you; if you should try to perform a magic on me, please let me know beforehand. My body is resistant to anything that is not of my own doing, though I can suppress it for a short time."

Boo, my Woodland Stride doesn't apply.

Leopold detects magic in the room and slowly moves up with the party, still letting Noggin go in front of him. Leopold also takes this time to put on his mage armor.

All ceilings are 10 feet high, unless otherwise noted. The rooms and corridors have been carved out of—or in some cases, seemingly melted through—solid rock. No magic can be detected in this room.

Aothan Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

As the party makes its way down the corridor about 70', it turns left. After strolling 20', a low hum can be heard.

Leopold Will save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Aothan Will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Nigel Will save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Karsk Will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
1d6 ⇒ 6

Everybody but Leopold finds themselves stunned with fear as they see a figure ahead at an intersection of three passageways.

A bedraggled creature rests on a 2-foot-high pile of bones that fills the intersection. The creature’s body looks like that of a mangy lion, and great, tattered wings lie folded at its sides. A female humanoid face peers out from beneath the tangled mat of hair that covers its head. A feline voice purrs out a greetings.

"Greetings adventurers. Sorry for freezing you in place like so. It allows us to talk a bit. You would be surprised what kind of ruffians come down here. But you look like a smart group, and it has been awhile since I've been able to match wits.

"I want to play a game with you. Each passage will take you where you want to go. Each passage requires a riddle's answer to pass. Answer these riddles three, and I shall leave you be."

I'm also +1 vs traps for perception, BTW. Trapfinding and whatnot, eh? I'll stuff it in my header.

Aothan, once unstunned, reactivates his constant Circle Against Evil and apologizes. "I lowered my defenses. This mundane travel has made me complacent for too long. I am sorry for failing to aid appropriately."

He'll then focus his Detect Evil at the room (and her, if she's possibly evil.) "Greetings. If it is a mental challenge you propose, then so be it. I must ask, though; Are you the brigand whom stole the weapon we seek to return? I care not to risk my companions lives for nothing."

Leopold furrows his brows and frowns as his companions stiffen up. He smacks whoever is closest in the knee. "Hey! Keep your wits! Listen to the lady!"

After hearing her proposal, Leopold frowns again in his regular grumpy way. "Well it seems we don't have much of a choice, do we? You've got what we want and we need to answer your questions first. I'd surely hate to fight something so pretty so let's have the questions instead."

Yep, knew you had the trapfinding. Hence the roll ;) Just forgot the +1 which wouldn't have changed anything

"I have been bound here by the one you seek. But he is no mere brigand, I can assure you that. Your treasure awaits you, but down which passage I do not know."

The sphinx then smiles at Leopold quick compliment.

"Flattery will get you far, gnome. This single road now has turned into three: North, East and West. Tell me that direction you wish to go, and my riddle will follow."

Nigel and his roc stare at the creature, too scared to speak.

"Ba...wha..."

Assuming cannot interact unless saved? Also, Nigel is +2 vs Fear, plus has shake-it-off feat, so may have hit 16 if that would have helped.

Everybody can interact. After 30 seconds, everybody feels normal. Sorry for not making that clear.

"Wow, I love games, especially riddles...you know ones like 'if a chicken-and-a-half can lay an egg-and-a-half in a day-and-a-half, how long does it take a goblin with a wooden leg to kick all of the teeth out of a....oh sorry. I get carried away. Yes, which direction, hmmm. Say, so do you work for this person that has our treasure?"

Nigel looks to his friends on which direction they suggest.

Karsk glares at the woman suspiciously. "West?" He says with a glance to his party. "I have no inclinations of which way would be best."

"West is as good as any." Leopold reaches up to smooth out his mustache while he waits for the riddle.

"West sounds good to me, too."

"Ahhh, the West. The direction of unknown lands ready to be explored. Ponder this riddle, my handsome crew. When you are ready, each of you say the answer aloud upon entering the tunnel."

The sphinx then rises up in a more formal manner to recite her riddle without any inflection in her voice.

I run, though I have no legs to be seen. I possess no heat, yet I do have steam. I have no voice to let words out, but from far away you can still hear me shout. What am I?"

Aothan speaks through his Truespeech to the Sphinx. "I must ask, as I am not entirely clear on the terms of this game. Are we to act as individuals for these riddles, or are we do discuss amongst ourselves beforehand?"

The sphinx smiles in pleasure at Aothan's inquisitive nature.

One riddle per passage. How you derive the answer, I care not. But each of you must say the correct answer upon crossing the tunnel's threshold to grant you safe passage."

The small gnome crinkles his forehead until his eyebrows touch and taps his chin with his finger. To his companions, he thinks aloud, "Water runs. It's not steam per se but mist can surely look like steam. You can hear running water from far away if it's loud enough-perhaps if there are rapids."

"Is not a waterfall a more accurate guess, then? It seems to fit all qualifications if mist is eqaring to steam," Aothan says, turning to the party.

"Bah! I believe you are right! Fine, I'll take the first go."

Leopold dusts himself off and calls Noggin to follow along. He nods to the sphinx, "He can't talk but is it safe to assume he's with me?" Assuming so, he responds, "Well, alright then: waterfall." He then walks down the tunnel with Noggin in tow.

Before Leopold passes into the tunnel, the sphinx answers his question.

"It is not safe to assume. If he cannot speak, his safety cannot be guaranteed."

Aothan looks to his animal-empowered allies, "If you have the funds, I could teleport back to town and buy a Circlet of Speaking. It would take time, but would allow entry."

Archive of Nethys link

"If time is off the essence, then I will reluctantly enter without my trusty steed." the Halfling sighs.

Nigel will go last before he speaks "Waterfall" after watching the others, if they safely pass.

Crap. I don't have that kind of money. Leopold's build is kinda focused on the AC and a significant chunk of Leopold's resources went into his pachy. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to leave him behind and do without, at least until we have enough for the circlet.

Leopold looks flustered for a moment but then commands Noggin to stay as he proceeds on him own down the tunnel.

Leading the way, Leopold passes through the threshold saying Waterfall. Nothing else occurs.

Noggin stays behind attentively. He looks back at the sphinx then looks back at Leopold. He then lets out a low mournful screech.

Nigel follows the gnome, after telling his roc to stay close.

"waterfall "