4-18 The Veteran's Vault [Tier 1-5] (Inactive)

Game Master Michael Hallet

acrobatics (jump): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Rilia stabs with all the gusto of a post-festival parks department work detail person stabbing at litter with their pointy stick.

rapier: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 1 = 21 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Threat but not subject to criticals. "This is how one cuts through grime!"

Inspire round 2: +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Thanks to Rilia's inspiring song, Kiddir slices into the ooze with an impressive gash. Rilia then follows up with a stab with her rapier that stops its quivering for good. The remaining pile exudes a sickening stench that threatens to make your retch.

Looks like Kiddir forgot to include the inspire bonus, which made the difference between a miss and a hit.

Looking down the tunnel where the jinkin ran off reveals that it ends in a solid stone wall.

Looks like Kiddir forgot to include the inspire bonus, which made the difference between a miss and a hit.

It is! Thank you, I will be more attentive )

Kiddir fastidiously wipes the goo off the sword.

"I think I'm starting to get tired of this place."

He sighs and begins to secretly and gently move forward...

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Incredibly varied character, isn't it? )

"Careful Kiddir... Those Jinkins probably left some nasty surprises."

Searlas will follow about 20 ft behind Kiddir, using detect magic and moving up to search for traps whenever Kiddir signals that there are no baddies lurking behind the corner.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

M'boka moves back toward the party, his shield raised and ready to fend off any further attacks. Well done with that ooze, men! Where did the other creatures go?

Double move back toward the group

M'boka moves back toward the party, his shield raised and ready to fend off any further attacks. Well done with that ooze, men! Where did the other creatures go?

Rila secretly wonders how often M'boka gets out.

"Off to set another ambush no doubt."

"Then we catch them before they do!" Willem yells back as he continues to chase the creatures.

Are we still in Combat?

I think the tiny buggers are probably hiding right now.

"I am a crafter of mechanical devices. I've heard tell these creatures are clever with such things as well, so look sharp for traps. Our goal is not to defeat them but to locate that ..." she pauses, thinking it best not to reveal what we seek, in case anyone is listening. "... what we were assigned to locate. If they let us be, we can leave them to their evil schemes. If they don't, we will deal with them harshly."

As she talks, she throws the rope tied around her waist to Katzu to hold and she takes a running jump across the sewage channel.

acrobatics: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (15) - 3 = 12

She manages to avoid a dunking. Katzu stays behind Searlas and Kiddir and anyone else who wants ahead of him and Nona.

Do our instructions indicate the vault might be in this area or should we keep moving through the sewers to find it?

We are not still in combat.

The instructions indicate the vault is in the vicinity, but makes no mention of the natural cavern.

perception (scan for traps/ambush): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

"I don't like this. They are leading up on."

M'boka wrote:

M'boka moves back toward the party, his shield raised and ready to fend off any further attacks. Well done with that ooze, men! Where did the other creatures go?

Rila secretly wonders how often M'boka gets out.

"Off to set another ambush no doubt."

What can I say, he's new! Haha

M'boka remains near the water, keeping an eye toward the rest of the path and watching for anything approaching from the rear. Perhaps it is best that we move on. I do not believe we will gain anything by chasing every rat into its den.

With Kiddir scouting ahead and Katzu watching your backs, the group return to the tunnel. Soon it reaches a 4-way intersection. To your level, the passage leads to a set of stairs.

Algae and moss slick the first four stairs in a short flight of steps that rises to a stone and steel door worked with designs of riders on horseback. Etched into the center of the door is a horse head emblem with a fleck of ruby-red glass for an eye. The edges of the door bear depictions of Shoanti on horseback fighting horned, winged monsters.

Sascha's directions indicate this is the vault door. She remembers placing a trap that will be triggered when you open the door, but could not recall the exact mechanism.

M'boka considers the engravings on the door for a long while, soaking in every detail and trying to recall if there was any religious significance to the scene shown there.

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Searlas carefully studies the door, looking for any hint as to what the mechanism is.

Perception + Guidance: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

"I would not be at all surprised if the etchings on the door lend a clue to this."

The etchings provide no clue, but it looks like a wire has been rigged with tension in it. When the wire is cut, or the door opened, the wire will likely release something. You'd have to delicately release the tension so that whatever is propelled by the mechanism doesn't have much momentum.

It's a mechanical trap.

"Well... anyone here adept at disabling traps? No... well... Kiddir, you seem to have the deftest hands of us. And the hardest head if anything goes awry... Would you mind?"

Searlas will cast 'Guidance' on Himself and Kiddir, and use Aid Another on the disable check.

Aid Another: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Edit: Figures that I'd roll awesome on the aid check. Waiting for Kiddir to roll a 1. Kiddir, you have +3 to your check (so far).

Ser Willem bravely stands a bit back from the door. "Interesting how she recalls much of this place, but not how to operate the trap she placed on the door..", he muses as he absent-mindedly regrips his sword.

I'm a little confused. How can I make Disable Device cheks, if I'm not trained in this skill?
But if I can somehow:

DD: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16

You were almost right about my dice roll ))

I'm a little confused. How can I make Disable Device cheks, if I'm not trained in this skill?

But if I can somehow:

You were almost right about my dice roll ))

With your greatsword? Or we could try avoiding the trap via clever use of twine to open the door with maybe.

Oh right, its trained only. And I think none of us are trained in it. Hmm.

"Hmm, a man with such skill at skulking and spotting as you... I was sure this was right up your alley. Nonetheless, let us see if there is a way around this, leaving the tension wire intact. I would not expect our friend to place a device such as this here without a way to bypass it herself."

Knowledge (Engineering) + Guidance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Searlas looks about for anything that would work as a counterweight to the door, preventing it from opening too fast.

Grateful that her knowledge of mechanisms might prove useful, Nona looks around Searlas to see if she can spot anything useful.

Knowledge (Engineering), to aid Searlas: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Seeing nothing helpful, Nona shrugs and says, "Maybe the best armored among us should just try to force to door and hope the trap is rusty with age."

"Or I can dismiss Katzu and summon something to open the door. It would have to be a pony or it wouldn't likely be strong enough to affect it. Is it locked as well as trapped?"

I say we trigger it from afar. Rilia has open/close. Normally she uses it on belts, buckles and buttons (after she's used spark to light the candles) but if it's not locked and swings freely.... She tries it from around the corner.

"Behind me Kiddir. Everyone else stay back behind cover. I'm going to open the door."

The door, being made of steel is going to be too heavy for the spell to affect. Unfortunately it looks like one of you may just have to take the brunt of the trap.

Katzu moves forward and prepares to enter the area where the trap is. "Allow me. I may be injured, but I cannot be killed, only forced to return to my home plane."

Nona casts Mage Armor on him before he does anything else. AC becomes 17.

He allows for anyone who may have a helpful buff. "Stay back until the trap goes off," he warns and proceeds to attempt to open the vault.

Searlas casts a round of guidance on everyone, including Katzu and then runs back with the party as fast as possible.

"Clear!"

As Katzu opens the door, the tension in the wire is released suddenly and a javelin shoots straight at the eidolon. It causes a severe wound.

Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 and Katzu must succeed on a DC 11 Fortitude save vs poison. If the initial save fails, the poison will be active for up to 6 additional rounds until a save succeeds. If Katzu is unconscious, he will not be able to choose to use guidance vs the poison.

Searlas utters the only word he knows in Azlanti, and runs forward to catch Katzu.

"Stercus!"

If Katzu fails any her saves vs poison, Searlas will attempt to use aid another. Please roll on his behalf as needed.

Katzu has 6 hp and 13 Constitution. So 12 points puts him at -6, unconscious and bleeding.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

I'm not sure how aid another works for fortitude saves, so Searlas or the GM will have to take care of that, if it applies.

Nona cries out and rushes forward to heal her friend.

Rejuvenate Eidolon, Lesser: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Her spell stops the bleeding but not much else. She turns to the others. "That's all I can do for him today. Can someone else help?" It is the first time her eidolon has been so badly injured and her eyes are brimming with tears, even though she knows he cannot die as such.

Might want to wait to see what the poison does and how long it takes for him to recover from the poison before applying any healing. If the damage is too severe, Nona will dismiss him and make do with summoned monsters for the duration of the day and work on getting him back to full hit points when she has the resources. The rules say that if an eidolon dies, it is sent back to its home plane. If the eidolon is sent back to its home plane due to death, it cannot be summoned again until the following day. If the eidolon was slain, the next time it is summoned, it returns with half its normal hit points. The rules don't indicate whether damage to ability points remains or returns to half normal or what. I'll check forums to see if this has been clarified.

Since there is no time to help with the initial save as it happens immediately upon injury, with the +4 bonus from the eidolon's type that fails by 1.

The poison starts to take its toll on the agathion robbing him of Constitution: 1d2 ⇒ 1.

You can use heal to help treat the poison. As a standard action you make a heal check. If your heal check exceeds the save DC of the poison, you get a +4 competence bonus to the check.

Katzu, -4/6 hp, 1 Con damage, stable, poisoned.

Go a ahead and roll more saves for Katzu, we can determine if a Heal check will make a difference on a save.

Willem puts a hand on Nona's shoulder. "Your companion was brave to take the brunt of that spear for our company. I know not the ways of his kind, but we must endeavor on, for his sake. "

Drawing his sword, Willem moves forward into the now open door.

It's a rather good question. The core rulebook has a vague line that says "You can also use this standard action to help a friend in other ways, such as when he is affected by a spell, or to assist another character's skill check." How that actually works is rather vague and I've seen different GMs allow it, disallow it, or treat it differently. Come to think of it, a heal check to treat poison is probably makes the most sense in this situation, so I'll roll that. Either way, Searlas wouldn't be able to help the initial roll, just any following rolls. Also, if anyone's Heal check isn't a straight 20 and wants to help...

Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Edit: Ninja'd by forgetting to hit 'submit post'

Edit to edit: Also, I think your eidolon has +4 to saves vs poison.

Fort Save, Eidolon bonus, heal bonus: 1d20 + 2 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 4 + 4 = 14

With help from Searlas, the poison is leached from the wound before it can do further damage.

"Well, at least he's not getting any worse now..." He fishes a wand of Cure Light Wounds out of his pocket and shrugs. "Anyone know how to use one of these? If not, perhaps Katzu should probably get some rest."

Nona looks nervously at Rilia and M'boka. "Let me try." She takes the wand and concentrates. She casts Guidance on herself and then points the wand at Katzu and touches it to his forehead.

DC 20: Use Magic Device, Guidance: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 = 23
Cure Light Wounds, CL 1: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Katzu's wound heals some and Katzu sits up. Katzu is 2/6.

Nona gives him a tight hug, sniffs back some tears, and tries the wand again.

DC 20: Use Magic Device, Guidance: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 1 = 19
DC 20: Use Magic Device, Guidance: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22
Cure Light Wounds, CL 1: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

With that the wound heals completely. Nona smiles broadly and gives the wand back to Searlas. "Thank you! I ... We owe you. Now let's see what in this vault."

Katzu looks around, feels his stomach where the wound had been, then wipes a tear off Nona's cheek and stands. "That could have gone better. Thank you," he says to the whole group and bows at the waist in the manner of the Minkai people.

Without further comment he turns to follow Ser Willem into the vault.

M'boka strides over toward Searlas. I would be glad to provide further healing during our mission as it is needed. If Searlas agrees to allow him to take the wand, he stows it safely in a pocket where it is easily accessible. He puts his closed right fist over his heart and nods toward Katzu. I thank you for putting yourself at risk for all of us. We owe you a great debt. He continues through the door alongside the eidolon, his respect for the fascinating creature growing greater by the moment.

"Perhaps some rope next time? I mean really, that seemed rather silly."

Because it is likely to come up again Rilia can wand heal as well though needless expenditure of vital fluids will probably result in a pointed lecture.

Past the stone door, the coarse brick of the sewers gives way to cut stone block construction with corbeled arch ceilings that peak at a height of ten feet. Sturdy wooden doors line the walls, though years of mildewed neglect have eaten away at the facades.

The hallway is lined with cells that served various purposes over the years. Most of them are unlocked, save for a few. Another hallway joins this one, running east to west, leading to another set of ascending stairs, beyond which the vault is said to lie.

"Come on."

Rilia looks about, magically opening, and if there is nothing interesting to be found, closing doors.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Hmm, the direction that this hall goes, I would not be at all surprised if those Jinkins had their escape path move into here. We should make sure we crack open each of those locked cells. I really don't like the prospect of leaving ambush spots both behind us and ahead of us."

Searlas makes a careful note of the state of each of the cells as he passes them, taking the time to use guidance and perception, taking 10 for 18 as he moves forward.

The cells with the open interiors are the unlocked cells, those still covered up are locked. Since no one in the group has Disable Device, you'd have to break them down, barring a magical solution.

The cells reveal nothing of interest, certainly not the items you were sent to retrieve.

Nona and Katzu help with the inspection of cells before moving up to the next stairway and the Vault beyond. As usual, Katzu stays toward the front and Nona toward the back.

The few furnishings in this large chamber are restricted to racks, iron maidens, and other implements of torture. Near the center of the room a massive table with manacles hanging from each corner bears testament to grisly interrogations, and nearby a pair of wooden tubs stand empty, their contents long since evaporated. Against the north wall stand several empty racks and hooks for holding weapons or tools; the implements that once hung there are now scattered in disarray across the floor. A short series of steps near the eastern wall leads to the only exit.

As the lead of the group starts to mount the stairs, several of you hear something flying around. Kiddir and Rilia hear something else in the room, trying to hide.

A crossbow bolt comes out of the darkness at Katzu!

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

This time the jinkin's shot finds its target, wounding the agathion.

M'Boka and Katzu are up, single actions only.

Surprise Round -- Single Actions only
Searlas (surprised)
Imini
M'boka, Nona (surprised), Katzu 4/6 hp, Willem (surprised)
Paffuf, Mifra, Xarmigash
Kiddir, Rilia

Willem nods and moves forward. "We'll be ready for them if they come again." He then checks each cell, opening it as he goes by, leaving it if it's locked. He agreed with Searlas, though he didn't say as much.

Searlas nods towards Ser. "We certainly will be ready... What a despicable array of tools... There is no place for such equipment in a civilized world."

He makes a smirk and motions towards the manacles, turning to Rilia. "Well, I guess Calistria might approve of those for..."

Searlas' tasteless quip gets interrupted by the sound of the crossbow bolt.

"Gah! Ok... wasn't ready..."

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Katzu calls out "Jinkins with bows, and something else. Sharp things on the ground. Tread carefully. Better to lure them out here."

Katzu otherwise focuses entirely on defense. Total Defense, +4 to AC, AC = 21

M'boka cranes his neck to look over the heads of those in front of him. "Be careful up there, friends. Ser Willem, allow me to grant you the guidance of the gods before you confront our foe." He calls out a prayer and his hand begins to glow faintly, but is limited in his action.

Will hold a charge of Guidance until I can move up behind Willem and cast it on him.

From behind the far vat, the sound of chanting is heard as the center of the room is plunged in darkness.

Another crossbow bolt flies, this time at Kiddir. As he is caught flat-footed he is unable to dodge the shot.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Kiddir and Rilia are up, single actions only.

Surprise Round -- Single Actions only
Searlas (surprised)
Imini
M'boka, Nona (surprised), Katzu 4/6 hp, Willem (surprised)
Paffuf, Mifra, Xarmigash
Kiddir 12/14 hp, Rilia