Goblin Squad Member. Pathfinder Society GM. 8,205 posts (28,895 including aliases). No reviews. 1 list. No wishlists. 17 Organized Play characters. 16 aliases.
Lubella and Kenji check the floors above and below for any stragglers and clear out wounded that were not already dead. Guards are sent to haul off their injured comrades.
Lubella sighs I wish they could be redeemed. I am sure this will harm our reputation as the collapse of this keep will not go unnoticed by Thrune, but it cannot be helped.
They return with the word the keep is clear of soldiers and a few captives/slaves.
***
Back at the Anvil of Unmaking, the Archons step aside.
Proceed...if it is your will.
The great wheel takes effort to turn, but when it finally does, it screeches a near deafening groan to be expected from a metal gear that hasn't been moved in centuries! At the rotation, the three chains wiring it to the pillars snaps, and the floor begins to rumble.
It's time to move! The party turns and rushes back past Torag's guardians, down the stairs and back outside the walls. Dust pours from cracks in the walls and cascades of gravel rain from the ceiling. Back in the courtyard, the walls have already started to come apart, with massive sheets of stone crumbling to the ground.
You retreat through the gates and rush down the steep road to add a safe distance from the collapsing fort, then turn and watch as the last of the Menador Keep comes apart, the walls crashing into the courtyard, sending tremors that near throw you off the mountain path. A thick cloud of dust visible for miles flows from the rubble. Another victory for the Silver Ravens. One that will not go unnoticed as defeated guards stand in defeat as they drag their wounded back towards the other side of the gap in fear and awe.
***
The trek down the mountain is easy, with no signs of pursuit. The wind has finally dispersed the dust cloud as the sun sets, with the last of the plume still visible in the red light of dusk.
The overland trip back to the ship and beyond to Kintargo will have mixed feelings, but the Captain will be eager to hear of your exploits.
Level to 9th as you return to the ship. I will hold off on any dialog until each person has a chance to respond.
I am ok to continue if there is enough interest. I do not expect we would find anyone willing to join for the last part of a book (many would only want to start the entire series, except people like Kenji who completed books #1 & #2 and waited for us to reach #3).
I am not sure if Lubella and Kenji would potentially return, so I'd not want to utilize their PCs. We can park them in Kintargo as NPC like we did with a couple others. Working day jobs or sources of information.
My biggest concern is the last part is a melee-heavy grinder and could overwhelm the 3 (or even 4). There are some NPC's to be had to assist but not carry the battle.
Anyway, you can each level to 9th. I will post the wrap up here and return to Kintargo.
Ok, once the device is set in motion, there will be 10mins to evacuate everyone and everything. After that, the mission is accomplished.
The grand ball and finale back in Kintargo will be the conclusion of this book. However, it is more complex than this keep and could take months to resolve. We have possibly lost 1-2 players, so running it will be a challenge. Rather than bot them, I could look at a couple PC/NPC options or even ask if people are willing to see this through to conclusion.
The demolition of this keep will finally release us from our servitude for years unnumbered here.
Torag's blessing upon you. May thy endeavors end well.
The two outsiders listen intently as Talvek tries to convince them, and
We are bound here to ensure that the Anvil
of Unmaking is activated only for proper cause, and until
we are satisfied, we do not allow anyone to activate the
device.
Lubella adding her comments to bolster his claims.
As my college has stated, Cheliax has overrun the area and is using this pass to convey armies to overthrow the peoples of the land. Blocking the pass is the best means to prevent these atrocities.
She would auto assist with +19
We have remained here, isolated from
the world, for ages—they have no concept of this Cheliax as
you describe. However, Torag would not approve of the wonton
enslavement and destruction of the working peoples, and you have convinced us of your righteousness. You may proceed.
They bow and step aside, motioning to the device beyond.
Anvil of Unmaking DC12 Engineering:
. The Anvil of Unmaking is a mechanical
device in remarkable working condition, complex in
engineering but simple to comprehend. A PC must
succeed at a DC 12 Knowledge (engineering) check to
understand that rotating the wheel atop its character bell
one full rotation causes complex internal mechanisms to
release. The chains connected to the three support pillars
then snap taut, shattering all three pillars. This in turn
sets up a cascading failure throughout the structure that,
once it begins, can be halted only by powerful magic like
wish or miracle. As internal supports snap and shatter in
the slow-moving chain reaction, the entire keep shakes,
shudders, and rumbles. It takes a full 10 minutes for
Menador Keep to collapse, which in theory gives any
survivors within plenty of time to flee to safety
Talvek recalls early in his youth overhearing a traveling band of dwarf miners chanting some such prayer to Torag as they marched off to the silver mines.
"Hi Ho....Hi Ho...its off to work we go. With halls of stone and ore to tow, may Torag keep us workers whole....hi ho"
As he approaches with his childhood knowledge and the utterance of this prayer,
the previously unnoticed magical trap on the stone face within the door to deactivates
and the door swings open, provided the supplicant is within 5 feet of the door.
Beyond, is a dusty room with two outsiders whom immediately snap to attention.
Thick layers of dust cover the floor of this room and the
looming contraption of stone and iron it contains. Looking
something akin to a massive, squat bell of stone bound in
iron bands, the device is connected to pillars of iron to the
west, east, and south via taut metal chains. Four iron beams
radiate from the top of the central bell, almost like the wheel
of an ancient winch.
Map has been updated...
The two outsiders, with flaming warhammers at their sides step forward:
Beneath their helmets and armor, they have pale or nearly jet-black hairless skin. Their eyes burn bright with the flames of their faith, flaring brightest when they conjure forth their hammers.
First in dwarven, then finally resorting to true speech...
HALT! Supplicants of the mighty Torag!
State your reasons for approaching the Anvil of Unmaking.
They await a response, although a raised eyebrow shows they were not expecting such a motley crew.
Talvek and Sidius search the rubble and find the statues dropped a pair of magic warhammers.
Looking into the hall to the south, definitely the path less traveled...in centuries it seems.
Dust covers the floor and cobwebs hang from the ceiling of
this vaulted, fifty-foot-long hallway. Curved alcoves flank the
hallway, four to a side. Each alcove contains a long-dry basin
held aloft by a stone dwarf. Runes are carved above the door
to the south, while the door itself bears the carved face of a
scowling dwarven man
I apologize for the slow posts this week as we continue to work my mom’s recovery and move back to assisted living facility. I have been out of state, in her house for 3 weeks without internet and have had limited time to push us forward. This hopefully will be resolved this week.
Several suits of chainmail armor lie in a neatly organized
stack on the floor, while nearby weapon racks hold halberds
and crossbows. A large chest sits near the north wall.
Here is the secret door. This room is mostly mundane gear. The Commander's personal chambers have his more prized possessions, but for now, this is where I feel you were meant to go. as he points out the outline to the doorway in the stone wall.
Opening the door, dust bellows forth and a stone staircase into the mountain is revealed.
A thick layer of dust covers the floor of this room. Stone
doors stand in opposite corners, while four curving alcoves,
each fitted with a squat statue of a dwarf armed with a
warhammer, stand guard silently
