Initiative for the group: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17(going with the highest modifier among you)
Initiative for the enemy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

No one made their perception checks(although Bryson came very close), so there will be a surprise round. A map and description will follow this post. Remember, fluid initiative. One side will win initiative, determining whether enemies will go before or after the rest of you, and all of you will act each round in the order you post.

EDIT: Looks like the enemy will act first.

No one made their perception checks(although Bryson came very close), so there will be a surprise round.

Post their stuffs, please! So we can kill them...er...talk them down! Whoever they are! :)

Well, as I'm about to be off the net for the rest of the day, I'll post my actions now.

When I get to act, if any allies are hurt, I will do my best to maneuver so I can hit the most of them, and I will Channel Positive Energy. If any enemies are hurt, I will do my best to exclude the two enemies who are most badly hurt from the healing I provide. Otherwise I will post my actions tomorrow

Combat Map: Vanderboren Vault

Lavinia stepped into the Vault with wide eyes, lighting the way with a bullseye lantern. Spinnaker Jon, Annie, and Bryson remained close to her as she took in the domed ceiling and the intricate carvings of the pillars. With a single glance, Lavinia demurely conveyed her desire for the impressive half-orc to stay close to her, then returned her gaze to the vault walls, trying to hide an embarrassed smile from the others.

With preternatural silence, two shapes slithered out from behind the pillars and attacked. By the light of the lantern, what appeared at first to be enormous cobras, each the size of a full-grown man, were quickly revealed to be something else entirely. The monsters' bodies were made up of dozens of circular iron bands, fitted together to form a snakelike body. A forked silver tongue flickered like a flame between each creature's fangs.

Knowledge(Arcana) to identify.

The creature on the right lunged for Spinnaker Jon, taking him by surprise. The creature on the left slithered into range of Lavinia and Annie, striking at Annie with its fangs.

Surprise round: the snakes emerge from hiding.

Round 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 to attack Spinnaker Jon; 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 damage if that hits his flat-footed AC and he must make a Fort save. 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 to attack Annie; 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 damage if that hits her flat-footed AC and she must make a Fort save.

That hits. Fortitude save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Annie cries out as the snake sinks its fangs into her, and calls on Cayden Cailean for aid.

Channeling Energy (excluding the snakes): 1d6 ⇒ 6

Annie straightens a little and pulls out her rapier and club. "Miss Lavina! If you can, step back carefully! Here, if you have no weapon to defend yourself, take this!" She holds out the club.

That's kinda two move actions - if you want to put off the drawing of one weapon until later, Annie will first arm herself, then pull the club on the second round to give to Lavinia, if she has no weapon herself.

Arcana Check (untrained): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6. I have no idea. Snakes!

That hits. Fortitude save: 1d20+2

Byrson will take a 5 foot step trying to get between Lavinia and the metal snake. Then I'll draw my sword and attack.

Atk: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Byrson will take a 5 foot step trying to get between Lavinia and the metal snake. Then I'll draw my sword and attack.

Atk: 1d20+2
Dmg: 1d6+2

Round 1

Wondering idly what the thing could be, Spinnaker Jon tries to think...

Knowledge (Arcana): (1d20+6=24)

Caught flatfooted by the attack, he takes a hit.

Fort Save: (1d20+0=8)

Desperately he tries to cast Mage Armor defensively...

Casting Defensively vs DC 17: (1d20+3=4)

...and fails miserably. In fact, critically.

Ghirrak explodes into action, surging forward protectively as he launces a pair of vicious blows at the serpentine creature.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Bindlplotz drops down and and sets his shield as a bipod, he takes aim at one of the creatures and fires. 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 dmg 1d10 ⇒ 5

"It be looking like a trap left by your parents..."

Is there any way to move in F,-1 from where I am? If so, I go there and I attack E,0

short sword 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Is there any way to move in F,-1 from where I am? If so, I go there and I attack E,0

short sword 1d20 + 4; 1d6 + 2

Sneaky wrote:

Is there any way to move in F,-1 from where I am? If so, I go there and I attack E,0

short sword 1d20 + 4; 1d6 + 2

You'd be risking an attack of opportunity as you passed through those friendly spaces, but an acrobatics check would let you avoid the AoO. If you want to risk the AoO, you would have cover by moving behind Ghirrak as you go to F, -1.

Dgrim advances to the iron cobra on the right, swinging his large axe wildly at this opponent.

Attack (1d20+4=8, 1d10+3=5)
Knowledge (arcana) (1d20+1=7)

Desperately he tries to cast Mage Armor defensively...

Casting Defensively vs DC 17: (1d20+3=4)

...and fails miserably. In fact, critically.

Knowledge(Arcana) DC 12:

Round 1: Annie used her divine magic to heal herself and her comrades of 6 points of damage. Bryson, Sneaky, Ghirrak, Dgrim, and Bindlplotz all attempted to fight back against the snake-like constructs but none of their attacks connected. Fortunately for Spinnaker Jon, his defensive casting prevented another deadly attack, but his spell failed to go off.

Bryson:

Lavinia watched Annie start to offer her weapon and shook her head, drawing a rapier from the folds of her gown. She struck at the snake on the western side of her(1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20, 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 to confirm critical for 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9), joining the fray.

EDIT: As Lavinia is technically acting after Sneaky, she would have made her 5-foot step in round 1, rather than 2. This only affects her attacks in round 1, so everyone else's actions remain the same. In round 2, she counts as acting BEFORE everyone else, including Sneaky, so he continues to get the benefits of her flanking.

Round 2: Its tail shaking with menace, the western cobra struck at Ghirrak(1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3, possibly doing 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage and forcing a Fortitude save), while the eastern cobra attacked Spinnaker Jon a second time(1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12, possibly doing 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 damage and forcing a more difficult Fortitude save than the first).

Lavinia saw Sneaky's new position and took a 5-foot-step to (D, 1), shouting to the nimble rogue as she attacked, "I'll try to distract it!" and giving him a flanking bonus on his next sneak attack, while her own attack(1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20) gained a slight edge, thanks to Sneaky's position on the other side of it.

Everyone, I'm seeing some issues with the Paizo dice roller. It looks like it's incredibly easy to accidentally reroll when making edits to a post. Most of my rolls remained the same while I was editing, but one attack at least changed from a miss to a hit. While I trust all of you enough not to abuse this liability, it does make editing your posts a little tricky. For the purposes of this combat, I will allow the Paizo dice rolls. In the future, I'd like everyone to go back to using Invisible Castle and only use Paizo's when IC is down.

Round 2

Spinnaker Jon gasps with relief as Annie's healing pulse eliminates the critical damage he took. He easily dodges the fumbling second attack of the Iron Cobra. He then shifts to (F,3) and cast Mage Armor, this time without having to deal with an attack of opportunity.

Secondary Fort Save:
Fort Save: (1d20+0=9)

He shouts, "They're Iron Cobras! Anyone have any adamantine on 'em?"

Round 2 - Annie

I have previewed for proofreading and editted my posts for mistakes, and haven't seen any rolls change yet. I will keep an eye out for it, though.

Annie looks around the room - if these creatures were left here by Lavinia's parents, there must be a way to defeat them without endangering lives - maybe there are adamantine weapons somewhere? Or some other way to dismiss them?

Perception: 1d20+3=17

I'm going to assume that wherever Bryson stepped, he vacated F2. I would like to take a 5' step there and cast Bane ( I forgot to reexamine my spells so I'm using the spells from yesterday ). 50' radius, Will Save 14, -1 on attack rolls and saves vs fear

She drops her proffered club as she steps back and readies her shield and rapier.

Dice roll for testing purposes: 1d20 ⇒ 14
On 1st preview: 14. 2nd preview: 14 On edit: 14

I was hoping to displace Lavinia in (1,E) to protect her from the metal snakes. She seems to not want to play the defenseless damsel role though. It probably would make more sense for me to have gone to E,3. You decide. Sorry

Ghirrak continues to press his attacks trying desperately to hammer the serpent and forcibly occupy its attention.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Everyone, I'm seeing some issues with the Paizo dice roller. It looks like it's incredibly easy to accidentally reroll when making edits to a post. Most of my rolls remained the same while I was editing, but one attack at least changed from a miss to a hit. While I trust all of you enough not to abuse this liability, it does make editing your posts a little tricky. For the purposes of this combat, I will allow the Paizo dice rolls. In the future, I'd like everyone to go back to using Invisible Castle and only use Paizo's when IC is down.

only time that happens is if you change something between the [dice][dice], left out the slash so it would be visible.

What size category are the snakes?

What size category are the snakes?

Dgrim drops his axe and shield and steps in close to the cobra, attempting to grapple it and take it down.

Grapple (1d20+4=5)

Annie looks around the room - if these creatures were left here by Lavinia's parents, there must be a way to defeat them without endangering lives - maybe there are adamantine weapons somewhere? Or some other way to dismiss them?

Perception roll to look on the right and on the left in search of something to use the ring with...

Perception check

1d20+4; [8,4] = (12)

full attack roll for Sneaky just to try the miracle

very bad I fear

1d20+2; 1d6+2;1d20+2;1d6+1; [3,2] = (5)
1d20+2; 1d6+2;1d20+2;1d6+1; [4,2] = (6)
1d20+2; 1d6+2;1d20+2;1d6+1; [5,2] = (7)
1d20+2; 1d6+2;1d20+2;1d6+1; [3,1] = (4)

I can avoid to roll for sneak attacks I think with these rolls to hit.

Dgrim

Dgrim** spoiler omitted **

Bindlplotz glances over his shield..."BLAST IT!" Bindl then cracks the breech and reloads, then lines up another shot.

1d20 ⇒ 11+5=16

I'm just going to roll a flat d20 in the roller, and put modifiers outside.

Round 3

Spinnaker Jon- Points his finger at the nearest construct and fires a Lightning Ray.

Ranged touch attack:
1d20+4=24
Critical Threat-
1d20+4=6
I'm guessing that is not confirmed.

Lightning Ray damage: (1d6+1=3)

Spinnaker Jon shouts "Arr, is there an off button on these things? See if there's another
ring swich on this side! Check the walls and pillars!"

Perception check: (1d20-1=7)

Sorry everyone, I was supposed to post this Thursday, but after writing the whole thing, Facebook chat did something that completely erased the post.

Round 3

The western cobra snapped its fangs at Ghirrak(d20+2=21) for 7 damage and forced a Fortitude save. The cobra to the east struck at Bryson(d20+2=5) but missed.

Lavinia heard Sneaky's shout and glanced down at the ring on her finger. Was it possible that the ring did more than just open the vault? She made a fist and thrust the ring toward the Iron Cobra attacking Ghirrak. Immediately, the cobra withdrew and slithered back to its hiding place behind the pillar. Lavinia swung her arm in the direction of the other construct and it withdrew as well. She let out a huge sigh, smiling awkwardly. "Perhaps if my parents had left me a little more than obscure riddles, we might have avoided bloodshed. Is everyone all right?"

In the event that anyone still threatens the Iron Cobras once they've withdrawn from their current squares, they do not react to further attacks from the group.

The chamber appears to be empty except for the cobras. If anyone wishes to search the chamber, you may take 10 or 20 on the actual search.

Seeing Ghirrak hurt before the creatures retreated, Annie released another healing surge into the group, keeping Cayden Cailean's blessing from the iron cobras just in case their retreat ended for some reason.
Channel Positive Energy: 1d6=5

As everyone began looking around the room, Annie decided to do what she could to help Bryson out. He seemed to have sharp eyes, and spotted things she missed.

Take 10 to assist Bryson's search: +13

Round 3 (Revised)

About to fire a lightning ray, Spinnaker Jon watches the Iron Cobras slither back into hiding and slumps against the wall with relief.

"Arr that be mighty terrifying sight that were. Didn't think we'd be getting free that easy."

At Annie's suggestion, he tries searching as well...

Perception Check: (1d20-1=13)

"Nope, nothing here."

Bryson isn't totally convinced that the 'Iron Cobras' are standing down and keeps a wary eye on them as he searches the room. He rankles at how well these magical abominations mimic the natural creature.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

Dgrim tilts his head a little as the Iron Cobras withdraw and become disanimated. "Hmph," he ponders out loud. He moves up to one of the constructs and hits it hard with with blunt of the tip of his axe, then sets his feet in preparation for retaliation. When it seems he can't incite a reaction from the once-threatening snake, Dgrim states, "Brilliant! What a piece of engineering and magic! Who could've designed this? What you think, Bindlplotz?"

When he's done with the cobra, Dgrim starts searching the area around him.

Check to determine origin, age, and any clues from the constructs that may pertain to the vault: Knowledge (engineering) (1d20+9=28)

Take 20 to search the room.

Dgrim tilts his head a little as the Iron Cobras withdraw and become disanimated. "Hmph," he ponders out loud. He moves up to one of the constructs and hits it hard with with blunt of the tip of his axe, then sets his feet in preparation for retaliation. When it seems he can't incite a reaction from the once-threatening snake, Dgrim states, "Brilliant! What a piece of engineering and magic! Who could've designed this? What you think, Bindlplotz?"

When he's done with the cobra, Dgrim starts searching the area around him.

Check to determine origin, age, and any clues from the constructs that may pertain to the vault: Knowledge (engineering) (1d20+9=28)

Take 20 to search the room.

On second thought, I'd like to take 20 on my perception check if I may.
That would bring my total up to 36 with Annie's aid.

On second thought, I'd like to take 20 on my perception check if I may.
That would bring my total up to 36 with Annie's aid.

The octagonal room that had been concealed by the false pillar was supported by a single large pillar with dozens of deep grooves along its sides. Curiously, the seven walls of the hidden chamber bore incredibly detailed bas-relief carvings of exotic monsters(though not the monsters described in the riddle). Starting at the wall immediately to the west of the entrance and moving clockwise, the carvings depicted a tentacled monster with a glaring red eye and a mouth full of teeth, a looming dragon, a fish-like creature with four tentacles and three eyes, a two-headed giant wielding a pair of immense clubs, a spherical creature with four eyestalks and a bulging central eye over a drooling maw, a gorilla-like beast with a fanged maw and six eyes, and a towering black spider with seven eyes. Each monster's eyes consisted of a glittering red stone. The ceiling above was only ten feet high, with the same eight-pointed star radiating from the grooved pillar. The arms of the star were black, save for the one pointing south toward the entrance, which was red.

Dgrim touched the pillar, testing a theory, and found that it could be rotated so that the red groove pointed at any of the displayed monsters, clicking like a combination lock as it moved from monster to monster.

Annie smiled at Dgrim. "Clever! Hm....look at these creatures. One, two, three...seven...the eyes." Annie closed her own eyes as she concentrated on the note from Lavinia's parents.

"Chimera looks to sunrise, Cyclops looks to sunset, Medusa looks to sunrise, Umber Hulk looks to sunset, Basilisk looks to sunrise." Her eyes popped open and her smile widened to a grin. "So sunrise is in the east, and chimera are three headed beasts - six eyes. We turn the pillar 'east' - I assume right? - to the six eyed wall, then sunset - left - to the one eyed wall, then...basilisk. That's just a lizard, right? Two eyes?"

Annie's grined became a bit sheepish. "Maybe someone with more nature or monster lore would be surer of the numbers of eyes. I think the basilisk and medusa both have two...but I would hate to be wrong! and I'm not sure what an Umber Hulk is...except I'm sure it's very large..."

Annie ran her hand over the eight pointed start motif that had been throughout the vault. "Miss Lavinia, do you know what the significance of this star is?"

Annie ran her hand over the eight pointed start motif that had been throughout the vault. "Miss Lavinia, do you know what the significance of this star is?"

"Lady Lavinia, it's the symbol of the Seekers. They are a worldwide group of adventurers, and I think there's a local chapter here in the city. It seems your parents were members." Dgrim points outs. "I'll show you where it is, if you'd like."

Then he moves on to the pillar. "Let's test your theory, girl." Dgrim grabs a couple of the grooves. "Grab your weapons and prepare for the worst, everyone." The dwarf then tries to rotate the pillar.

If uninterrupted, he'll continue until the red arm of the star points to the six-eyed gorilla.

Bryson will leave the puzzle solving to the others, but he will otherwise aid where he can, like rotating the pillar or standing guard.

Spinnaker Jon, fascinated by the device, will help out as he can.

Use Magic Device: (1d20+8=18)

Bryson will leave the puzzle solving to the others, but he will otherwise aid where he can, like rotating the pillar or standing guard.

Bryson beams at Annie's attention. "None of the creatures are native to the jungle. Except for the chimera, I don't know much of any of them. I wish I could give you more help."

"Lady Lavinia, it's the symbol of the Seekers. They are a worldwide group of adventurers, and I think there's a local chapter here in the city. It seems your parents were members." Dgrim points outs. "I'll show you where it is, if you'd like."

Then he moves on to the pillar. "Let's test your theory, girl." Dgrim grabs a couple of the grooves. "Grab your weapons and prepare for the worst, everyone." The dwarf then tries to rotate the pillar.

If uninterrupted, he'll continue until the red arm of the star points to the six-eyed gorilla.

Lavinia looked thoughtfully at her father's signet ring. "My parents...adventurers? I never imagined such a thing. To travel to foreign lands and unexplored reaches..." She smiled a little. "What a life that must have been."

To the best of Jon's expertise, the pillar does not appear to be magical.

Well, I don't have knowledge skills, but if no one else is willing to try knowledge skills, Annie will try untrained ones. I'll roll a couple of checks. Please feel free to apply them as you deem appropriate. I pretty much assumed if I didn't know off the top of my head how many eyes something had, or I wasn't sure, Annie wouldn't know untrained either.

1d20=8, 1d20=19, 1d20=10, 1d20=13, 1d20=18, 1d20=15

Knowledge: Local = +6, all others, +2 (untrained)

Well, I don't have knowledge skills, but if no one else is willing to try knowledge skills, Annie will try untrained ones. I'll roll a couple of checks. Please feel free to apply them as you deem appropriate. I pretty much assumed if I didn't know off the top of my head how many eyes something had, or I wasn't sure, Annie wouldn't know untrained either.

1d20=8, 1d20=19, 1d20=10, 1d20=13, 1d20=18, 1d20=15

Knowledge: Local = +6, all others, +2 (untrained)