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Norman returns atop Donneld, [b]"A makeshift platform stands between a series of limestone stalagmites protruding from a seemingly endless subterranean lake. Only a small pool of light illuminates the platform, falling from the hole in the cavern’s ceiling above and holding back the thick darkness stretching in all directions. Three ornate ivory gondolas float nearby, tethered to one of the planks forming the haphazard platform. A rope tied to the tallest stalagmite stretches taught into the darkness to the south.
Someone has disabled the rudimentary lift by securing the end of the chain to a stalagmite emerging from the water’s surface. If someone with good hands and maybe those special tools, could get down there, they might be able to clear the lift mechanism, so we could all go up and down easily." finishes the gnome, rather down that he was unable to be the hero and make the lift work.
Bolger and Ketill descend the knotted rope while Norman gets atop through the chain riding Donneld.
Bolger takes all his tools out and patiently goes over the chain getting rid of the jam and fixing in that way the rudimentary elevator.
Doing so allows all the party to go down the platform over the waters of the subterranean lake. All you see is darkness and a rope going south 5' over the waters.
There are 3 gondolas here, two people can go over each of them. Exploring the lake would take a lot of time, but following the rope shall be easy. Rowing the the gondola pole is a move action that brings the boat 10' ahead.
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Norman and Donneld take the easy option and take the lift down, once Bolger has fixed it.
"Well Donneld, looks like we'll be having more fun today." Norman goes over to the shore, and puts his finger in the water to test the temperature. "Hope we don't need to swim, it's quite cold." he says. "Come now Donneld, we'll use that boat there, we can use the rope to guide us, I'll use the pole. We'll be .... well over there quite soon." says Norman pointing off in the direction of the rope.
Norman carefully follows the rope and looks ahead the way they are going.
Donneld nods sagely, then keeps a careful lookout as they cross the lake.
Darkness, that's all you can see ahead.
The party splits into the gondolas as suggested by Ketill.
Then the question arises, towards what direction do you row?
After 125 feet rowing, you are in the middle of the lake, you cannot see other thing than the water, the gondolas and the rope hanging in the darkness to the south and north.
It is then you start to hear bat noises coming from your left side.
Bolger and Seinto prepare themselves with whatever they have in hands. The bat swarm will definitely get to the gondolas in the next turn.
Ketill bomb explodes in the centre of the swarm killing most of the bats before they can even reach the party. The few bats that survived get totally lost and run away before they can receive another present from the tiefling.
After getting rid of the bat swarm, the party resumes rowing with the pole, following the rope to the southern area of the lake.
More than one minute passes before you start seeing a wall where the rope ends bind. As you approach you appreciate the lake ends in a small natural stone shore and, quietly, you leave the gondolas and set foot into the stone platform that opens into a short tunnel.
At the end of the tunnel you can see a wooden door with a metallic lock in it.
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If anyone could see, Norman's eyes open wide and his mouth let out "Whooooaa!" as the explosion lights up the whole area for a brief moment. He blinks his eyes, several times hoping to regain the full use of his sight again. He says to Donneld, "Did you see that, wasn't that great, if only we had such fireworks, what a great display we could make."
Donneld explains to Norman what he can see, as Norman rides on his great dragon once more. "Bolger, you seemed quite good with the last lock, any chance you'd like to try your hand at the door ahead?"
Bolger inspects cautiously the door. It is clear of traps and has a lock.
With great skill Bolger disables the lock. After some looks of the party, you open the door to a wide room without illumination of any type other than Seinto's sword.
Though naturally formed, the walls and floors of this room are secured and reinforced with additional construction.
It appears as though these newer structures were recently partially torn down. At the chamber’s heart lies a crude and massive machine-like device. It consists of a large stone and iron tank fitted on a crossbar to a disk plated with reflective metals. Strings and cables, threaded through the device in intricate cat’s cradles, secure delicate and precisely oriented refractive devices.
Crying from pain, you see Skeldon, lying over a device in the centre of the room. The unfortunate venture-captain is lashed to the top of his own greatest invention, his body riddled with hundreds of sharp, crystal needle-width shunts all flled with acid. Thus far, it seems he has been kept alive by means of force. Still, his wounds burn fiercely and he is in unimaginable pain. When he sees you he screams "Save me please! Save me! He is here! He will kill you all!"
In the middle of the room stands a dark man observing how the acid is pouring over Skeldon's skin. "Who is that?" He draws one shortsword.
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Seinto enters the room and casts Daylight on his shield.
"Bolger, can you disable that machine?!" Seinto shouts to the halfling.
The room is filled with bright light as Seinto cast a spell over his shield. The dark creature in the center tries to avert his eyes.
"Uah! Pesky creatures of the surface! Stop that light! You are going to pay for that!"
Bolger reaches the machine and readies himself to operate it.
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Norman rides Donneld, "For glory.." he shouts waving his morningstar above his head. A fine spectacle of a ferocious gnome warrior atop his fiery dragon steed. As Donneld closes in on the dark skinned man, he swings the vicious ball of steel. "Attack!"
Donneld lazily strikes at the humaniod, his large dragon teeth showing as he brings his bite down.
After Ketill's bombing Norman charges over the dark creature mounted on Donneld. Both his morningstar and Donneld's bite land true over the blinded and flat-footed creature.
Orik moves just after Norman and stays there protecting with his shield.
The wounds on Zoathrias are considerable, but even then he steps back swearing in an unknown language and draws a shortsword with one hand casting a spell with the other.
Suddenly the room feels with a deep darkness, that only receeds due to Seinto's Light spell.
Some acid drops over Skeldon burning a bit more his misstreated skin. He shouts in pain.
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Donneld follows the dark man, "Here in front." the dragon speaks. "For Glory" the gnome says loudly as he swings his weapon once more, this time into the darkness as directed by his mount. The dragon opens its mouth again, its teeth dripping with the blood of the darkling where he bit him last time. This time, having only taken a small step, the dragon brings his tail round strike as well.
Donneld bites with his long head Zoathrias as he tries to use his deeper darkness spell-like ability.
Ketill's bomb hits the dark creature burning him in flames.
Charging into attack with all his strength, Norman the dragon knight darts over the dark creature, hitting him with his morningstar and allowing Donneld to finish up Zoathrias.
When Zoathrias is slain, his body combusts in a fash of white-hot fame that blasts as a firewall to all creatures within a 20-foot-radius burst.
The explosion and the acid leaves Skeldon at the verge of death.
A bit more of acid and he will fall.
When the intense light disipates, you found in the body silversheen, a leather armor, two short swords, a drow-crafed boots of elvenkind, and six doses of black smear.
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Orik, moving gracefully like a ballerina, avoids most of the explosion as the enemy is slain.
"Get oop 'ere an' heal t'is wee fella a'fore he oop an' dies oon oos!"shouts Orik at anyone with the ability to use a wand. He holds out his own wand and waves it at the casters. "Take me wee fancy stick an' gae tae it, lads!" He also takes his Cure Moderate Wounds potion from his pack and pours it down the throat of the bound Pathfinder.
Meanwhile, he checks on Bolger's ability to disable the machine. If it looks like it'll work, he urges him forward, if it looks like trouble then he hefts his axe ready to smash the thing to pieces.
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As Donneld gets out of the way of the blast, Norman slips in the saddle and catches the full force of the fire. His mustache singes at the edges as the flames engulfed him, "My beauties, what have you done to my beauties." his fingers immediately move to smooth out the rough edges, as his nose wrinkles as the smell of burned hair wafts across his face.
Norman HPs: Max: 10 Current: 4
Donneld HPs: Max: 6 Current: 3
On being healed by Orik's potion Skeldon slowly recovers. He looks at you hecstatic "Who-who are you? Did you came to to to save me? Oh thanks god! Pathfinders! Zoathrias wanted to kill me, bloody traitor! He attacked the Lodge a week ago and killed everybody, he has been torturing me, healing me each time I was unconcious, thanks! Thanks!"
Ketill places some of his cataplasms on the Venture-Captain's body stabilizing him.
"Oh my, let's get out of here please. I don't want to stay here anymore. Even dead this creature almost killed me. Cough-cough" Skeldon stands up with a bit of help and you all return back to the Karcau Lodge.
Once there, advancing your moves as if he knew why you were here, Skeldon takes a bunch of note books from his library as well as the Aureolyte you already picked up and hand them to you.
"Please, let all this to arrive to the Decemvirate. I was almost to the point of reporting back, just this Zoathrias took me. Such a shameless creature, he wanted to torture me just because I bargained to obtain this rock. There are those that do not know how to forgive." The Venture-Captain gives you a clap in the back and takes you to the exit door. "Seriously, thanks for your help. I hope your way back to Absalom is fast an confortable. Give my best wishes to the Decemvirate."
"Oh I know, I was supposed to deliver them months ago, but couldn’t find anyone reliable enough to perform the task. But it seems I finally found someone who deserves my trust." Skeldon smiles at you again making an effort to show himself as a victim and kind man.
As Ketill hands the relocation notes to Skeldon this one changes his facial expression "Oh my, why? This must be an error. Please hand all my research notes to the Decemvirate, they have to know this was just a big misunderstanding."
Once you hand Skeldon's diary with all the notes about his "business" with the criminal organizations in Karcau and the darklands folks, and despite Miregrold’s best efforts, the Decemvirate assumes possession of the Karcau Lodge and transfers him to a more remote lodge elsewhere on Golarion, where he is less of a liability to the organization. The Society’s masked leaders turn control of the Karcau Lodge over to Basia Kalistoff, who makes good on her promise and rewards you for your assistance.
The Decemvirate appreciates the recovery of the aureolyte sample and Miregrold’s notes.
FIN