Gornak groans in pain as he steps back and swings his hammer again.
--------------------------------------------------------
Thanadros continues peppering arrows at the crab.
Round Two:
"Gornak! Look out!" Aylmora cries, pointing past the half-giant and unleashing a crackling ray of electrical energy toward the massive hermit crab in the giant golden helm.
Vaclav starts another prayer to Erastil.
Thanadros drills a third arrow into the eye-holes of the helmet, his fourth bounces off as the helmet swivels to face him, claws out. Then Aylmora's lightning bolt arcs from her fingertips and strikes the helmet: sparks fly, polyps explode and steam belches out of the helmet. The claws snap rigid and then go limp.
Gornak swings his hammer, striking the crest of the helmet and rolling it off the crab's soft body with a dull clang. Steam rises from it, along with the surprisingly delicious smell of cooked crab-meat.
It's definitely dead.
Gornak grunts as he inspects his wound and then lets out a low whistle. "And I thought I had a big head!"
Vaclav's prayer to Erastil changes to one of thanksgiving for victory. He looks around the room and cautiously approaches the helmet. He can't help but wonder if the helm is truly made of gold and what nature of creature would where it.
The helmet is not, indeed, pure gold, but has gold leaf and inlay of gold over bronze, protecting the latter from the ravages of time. It has peeled here and there, revealing green bronze beneath, but is probably still worth a fair amount. It's about five feet across, so can just about be maneuvered through the passages with some effort.
Vaclav looks over the helmet. Gold leaf over bronze. Was it decoration or a a real battle helm? And how immense would the bearer of such a helm be? Nearly as tall as the Cathedral? He shakes his head.
"We can come back for this. Let's find that barghest."
"Yes Lets!" Thanadros replies and starts making his way west down the corridor.
"There's also that carving of gold coins with two coin-sized slots in it back the way we came - it may lead to another secret passageway too," Aylmora suggests.
"Sure, those missing coin slots have to be there for some reason, right?"
As you return to the L-shaped chamber, leaving the helmet and the coins strewn at the bottom of the sea-cave for later, you find a familiar figure waiting for you in there.
"There's also that carving of gold coins with two coin-sized slots in it back the way we came - it may lead to another secret passageway too," Aylmora suggests.
"Sure, those missing coin slots have to be there for some reason, right?"
Vaclav nods. After we run all turns in this passage, we'll try it. For now let's follow Thanadros.
A tired but confident Gob stands and greets you. "I've made some progress with them, and I think we have come to some good compromises... And I sort of mentally bonded with some sort of tribal totem," Gob holds up a writhing, giant centipede he pulls from his breastplate as he speaks, "and it bonded with this creepy crawly and helped me unlock some ancestral magic. I think it'll help in cementing my chiefiness... is that right..?. I'll explain later. But I think this will be a disguised blessing. So, what did you find? And what is that delicious smell...?" Gob's mouth starts salivating as he stuffs his totem-bug under his breastplate again. "I think I'll name the critter Granny," Gob says to no one in particular.
"Its helmet crab. Come, we are searching for the Bargest."
The Westernmost passageway leads down to the sea-cave, there is nothing further of interest there that you do not already know about.
It takes Aylmora a few moments to locate the two tiny slots. Inserting a gold coin into each has an immediate effect: With a grinding sound, the pillar slowly sinks into the floor. Any naked flames flicker as the air, foul from untold centuries of disuse, slowly circulates out into the hall which is fortunately well-ventilated.
Beyond the pillar, now a flat golden disc on the floor of the passageway, there is a second hallway, with three sets of stone double doors leading north, east and south from it. The north and east sets of doors have normal handles of carved stone. The south door has an indentation in the shape of a seven-pointed star filled with odd bumps and indentations where handles would be.
Vaclav watches the pillar of coins sink with surprise, then cough at the outpouring of foul air. "So they chose to hide the barghest, if this is indeed his lair. If Nualia was visiting him, I would have thought the air would be better."
He peers into the newly revealed hallway. "What do you all think?"
"Pheeew! I don't think anyone's been down here for a long time."
"Let's give the air a chance to clear before we go in."
Vaclav calls the group in for another blessing from Old Deadeye before going in.
Channel
Seeing GOrnak still a little hurt, Vaclav extend the prayer for the big half-giant.
Use Magic Weapon to CLW for Gornak
Aylmora takes a few moments to regain her mental focus.
"That door looks ominous... That is where I would put an evil demon thing." Thanadros says as he walks up and inspects the south door.
Perception
"Here, let me take a look too, Thanadros," Aylmora says, stepping forward to examine the door as well.
"Thanks for the prayers, brother Vaclav. And welcome back, Gob!" Gornak heartily replies as he renews his metaphysical potency on Vaclav and Thanadros's weapons.
"Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure we won't find any sign of Master Quar in there. It's like he just vanished from the face of the world..."
"Is it real gold? I wonder how long ago it was built... You know, guys, this place is technically mine now, so you're welcome to whatever you find down here!" Gob smiles mischievously like he just told a joke.
(knowledge checks for identifying culture/age of the secret door?)
Gob smiles at Gornak, "You saw me last night you big lug. Felt like a month with all that delibetation and bickering, though."
[b]"It seems the barghest is not on display. If it is locked away, I guess it would be behind the fancy door.
Anyone wanting to can make a Knowledge (arcana) or (history).
Know(?)
• Autohypnosis: +6 (2 ranks + 1 Wis + 3 trained) • Climb +3 (2 ranks -2 Str + 3 trained) • Craft (armor): +10 (2 ranks + 5 Int + 3 trained) • Knowledge (arcana): +12 (4 ranks + 5 Int + 3 trained) • Knowledge (history): +11 (3 ranks + 5 Int + 3 trained) • Knowledge (local): +9 (1 rank + 5 Int + 3 trained) • Knowledge (psionics): +9 (1 rank + 5 Int + 3 trained) • Knowledge (religion): +10 (2 ranks + 5 Int + 3 trained) • Perception: +8 (3 ranks + 1 Wis + 2 Racial + 2 tool) • Ride: +5 (3 Dex + 2 Racial) • Spellcraft: +11 (3 ranks + 5 Int + 3 trained) • Stealth: +16 (4ranks + 3 Dex + 3 trained + 4 Size + 2 racial) • Survival: +5 (1 rank + 1 Wis + 3 trained)
Arcana:
History:
"I recall an old book I saw at Veznat Parooh's that showed ruined architecture from the Thassilonian Empire. This architecture and design is identical to that, added to which some of the motifs - like the men with the glaives and the mass of gold - remind me of depictions of the Runelord Karzoug, the Runelord of Greed. Fascinating..."
"Did the book tell you if it was safe to open doors with strange glyphs on it?"
"What's a Runelord?"
The Runeloards were the regional rulers of the seven kingdoms of the Thassilonian empire, so called because of their mastery of the rune-magic upon which the empire's power was based. In fact, after the first Emperor Xin perished, the powerful wizards he had enticed to help build his great empire seized control, and the seven virtues became the seven sins as the Runelords warred among themselves. Exactly how the empire fell is disputed, but poets claim that the excesses of the Runelords of Sin offended the gods themselves who sent the cataclysm that ended that age and plunged the world into a thousand years of darkness.
"Runelords...Karzoo...Emperor Shin...Thassilomium.." Gornak gets a glazed look on his face as he mumbles the names to himself. "This is worse than studying with Master Quar. Gee, I sure hope he turns up somewhere safe and sound."
I'm opening it." Thanadros says in a cautionary tone and gives the others a chance to back up or prepare themselves, he then opens the glyph door.
The glyph door refuses to cooperate. It is stuck fast and does not even tremble at Thanadros' best efforts.
...The south door has an indentation in the shape of a seven-pointed star filled with odd bumps and indentations where handles would be.
"There must be some kind of key," Aylmora says, pointing to the seven-pointed star indentation. "Anyone seen anything that could fit in here?"
"What about this necklace thingy?" Gornak points to the thingamajig he's wearing. Would that fit?
Gob readies his crossbow, makes sure granny is safely hidden under his armor, and manifests force screen on himself.
"You think they'll adore me more or despise me if we kill this thing? Maybe I can use it as proof that their old ways are weak and outdated?"
Gornak's medallion is of similar design but far too small.
"Looks like we need to hunt for a key," Aylmora sighs in frustration.
Perception
"Let us find this key then!" Thanadros turns and heads over to the north door. He examines and listens at it. If nothing seems out of place and he doesn't hear anything, he opens the door.
Perception
Thanadros can hear a voice talking in an alien language. It's reminiscent of Shoanti and Varisian, but only very distantly. He can tell that the voice repeats the same set of sentences over and over.
The door opens - reluctantly. This barren room contains an upraised dais on which sits a marble throne. To either side stand statues of a man clutching a book and a glaive. A ghostly figure seems to be seated in the throne, an image of the same man who appears in the statues. He seems to be addressing an audience as he moves his hands about, fingers decorated with hooked rings, but the words issuing form his phantom mouth are difficult to make out and in a strange language. He speaks and gestures, then the image flickers and he begins again...and again...