Beyond the Eyes of the Iron Gods: An Iron Gods Adventure Path (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

I knew that, really I did. Was just waiting for everyone to wrap up here. Yeah, that's the ticket.

"Well, if we're done here, why don't we go see Joram and the we can follow after Khonnir"

Kleora considered what she'd been told and said, "That seems wise John, I'd suggest that we look into ways to help us breath under water or at least swim better, if he took his gear in a water resistant container. Speaking of which those might be a wise idea to get too."

"Can someone else grab some water proof leather?" Azariah blushed lightly. "I'm...a little low on funds."

Ritmush reaches into a pouch and retrieves a small bag stuffed to the gills, a few errant lengths of paper protruding. The young man seeming to look at the wall and shrug.
"Dunno ah'bou' any ah that buh tha barman took meh money so ah guess these paper things work fer' coin. How much'd what'ya need's gonna cost? Er.. are we gonna need it? Migh be bes ta talk wit' tha' Joram guy firs. He migh' know a trick aroun' tha' watery part."
Ritmush states as he seems to think on the wall further.
" Yanno' on that topic how mucha' cost is it fer' ah piece ah' wall?"

Once the group has reassured Val that they will do their best to find Khonnir, and do what they can to help fix the damage to the house, they realize there is little else to be done here, and they set out to find this Joram person that Azariah and Kleora told them about.

Azaraih, Kleora, and John know the man, a priest at the temple of the God Brigh.

In what seems like no time at all the group finds themselves standing in the open courtyard of the town’s popular temple, talking with Joram.
The man is friendly, curious about your group, and yet not nosy. He explains how he can cast a spell that will allow you to breathe water for a while, probably no more than a few hours at best, and naturally offers this service to you as he explains that understands you have agreed to investigate below the hill.

He tells you that he has no specific way to help you track time, once the spell is cast, so you are probably going to risk running out of the spells effects before you can exit. In this case he offers you each a small potion. The potion does not allow you to breathe water, but it should help you hold your breath longer

Each character receives one potion of bear’s Endurance (CL 6)

He shows your group around the various workshops around the courtyard. He is quick to point out that he does have supplies available, including two water proof leather backpacks (10 gp each). He also mentions that he has for sale the following items

A Strange Gun, it shoots a charge that creates a bright light, with three charges (100 gp)

A scroll of Trap Finding (100 gp)

A scroll of raise dead (1,000 gp)

Three scrolls each with a restoration spell (400 gp each)

And a peculiar wand that has not been identified (500 gp)

After you have decided if, or what you might buy, he tells you he will follow you to the lake where it is believed Khonnir entered, and there he will cast the water breathing spell on each of you.

Unbolath looks at the items curiously and browses the various workshops' wares, but has spent nearly all of his money so does not make any purchases other than some food if available.

After making sure all perihable goods are protected from the water, Azariah prepares for the swim. She has no hope of buying any of the items the Priest had to offer.

John looks at the backpacks and turns to the group, "I don't have enough money to buy one of these packs but we will need them. I do have 3 gold and 4 silver to chip in. Does anyone else have any funds they can put in? Even a gold or two from everyone will at least buy us one of these."

"Two gold."

Unbolath chips in his final two coins.

At this point Stella steps forward. "We will indeed take the two back packs and can we examine the wand?"

She examines the gun that emits a bright light wondering if it was like those signalling magics that they used to signal across her city.

"Is there anything in this group that someone desires?"

Kleora took out her money pouch and counted out fifteen gold coins as she said, "This is all I have left but it's certainly enough for one of the bags anyway. As for the rest, well, I'm afraid it'll have to wait."

When Stella examines the strange “gun” she is first taken by the quality of the device, and how light it feels. Though it is not like the signal devices she knows, in form at least, it seems to be similar in function. The device itself does not launch a bright signal, but must be loaded with a special cartridge, which is large and cylinder shaped, and the good cleric of the temple tells her that he only has three such charges for the device. Joram is adamant in that he will only sell the device and its charges together and does not want to end up with pieces or parts that are useless without the whole.

Joram allows Stella to examine the wand.

The wand looks expensive, and the craftsmanship is extraordinary.
Your party now has two waterproof backpacks

Ritmush squints somewhat and puts his goggles on as he glances around the mans shop "Hey Diana, yanno wha's anyah this stuff's supposetah do?" the young man mutters under his breath as others mill about and shop. The human making sure to give each item of interest in the shop a long-ish look to let Diana work her magic.
Who knows, perhaps one of these things could actually be useful.

Was it ever established if the money ritmush received from Fort horizon was considered legal currency here? Ritmush has 300 dollars after he traded the rare coins he found and I never got around to spending it on anything useful so its just sitting in ritmush's pocket doing nothing at the moment.

Stella would look over the wand motioning to Kleora. "Wish to help me?" She asked. "I am unfamiliar if magic is different in this area."

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Eager for a chance to work with the enchantingly beautiful Stella Kleora stepped over, placing a hand lightly against Stella's lower back, and said, "I don't know how much use I'll be as I don't really study magic, I just do it. I'm afraid I wouldn't know where to start."

Smiles looking over at her. "Well, I can teach you what I know. I got most of my learning from the traveling bards. I collect stories and information."

Kleora gave a nod to Stella as she said, "I'd like that Stella, I'm afraid I've spent too much time arranging business deals and studying the technology to focus on the more arcane side of things. Probably doesn't help that it comes so easily to me that studying it is kind of unnecessary."

"That does sound tedious. I am more use to dealing with people to calm nerves and settle disputes. I was in a school before I came here."

She goes quiet and sighs. "I hope to find a way to help the city I am from."

John takes one of the waterproof packs and puts his powder, cartridges, food and chalk into it and then passes it around. "Put anything that can be harmed by the water into it and then let's go see that priest."

Ritmush after a few minutes of hanging over the items like some kind of deranged vulture and muttering seems to give up on.. well whatever it was he was doing and shrug. "coul'a jus said no.." The young one mutters as he sifts through the voluminous pile of belongings, at least half of which seemed to be sharp and dangerous.
the young man exhuming three different mostly complete traps, various sprockets and springs, garlic, a rolls of twine and thread, and oddly enough soap appearing in the dirty young mans hands. The human seeming to give the object a confused quirk of his brow before tossing it in the 'not-waterproof' pile.
" When tha' heck'd ah get that..." the Ritmush mutters as he picks up his pile of garlic, soap, chalk, and cured meat. Several large hunks of bread of venerable age and two serviceable torches remaining outside the pack.
Not sure why I have those. Heck when was the last time I even ate bread? Weird. Plus I don't need torches when I've got magic. Can probably get them off someone else if they are needed.

Ritmush seems to be talking to some person who is not there while the rest of the group makes sure there are ready to leave.

Items have been recorded and committed to image file registry for further analysis. No object scanned conforms to any existing database file, however, many items are similar in apparent form to common mechanical devices though their actual function cannot be easily determined.

Haha, no worries, John. I am that priest.

Joram says as he is careful to hand out a

Potion of bear’s Endurance

To each of the party members, being extremely careful to make sure he places one of them right into Ritmush’s hand, and then picking it up again off the table where Ritmush left it as he walked around the shop looking, and handling various things, and a second time putting it into Ritmush’s hand

While Joram is making sure everyone understands the limitations of the potion, Kleora and Stella stand off to the side in a quiet conversation while Stella examines the wand.

John blushes slightly and then says, "Yes, I should know that. Things have been a bit stressful lately." Then to the whole group, "Once we're ready lets head to the lake and drink our potions and get wet."

Intuition: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Stella slowly considered the wand. It wasn't for standard detection. She bit her lip slightly as she concentrated taking the clues she had from everything she had encountered.

Unbolath adds a few items to the waterproof backpack and stashes the potion. Nodding to John, "Ready."

Kleora took out a small book, ink and quill, her spell component pouch, and tech kit, placing them in the bag when she gets a chance, "There, those are the only things I think I need to take, oh wait, food too." She places her trail rations in as well, "There, that should do it. The rest of it won't be hurt by getting wet."

Well now hold on Joram puts a hand on John’s elbow. The potion is to help you get out, should you end up staying longer than the duration of the water breathing spell. So hold onto that. I’m not completely sure it will be enough, so you’ll have to decide that once you know how long it takes to get to wherever it was that Khonnir made it. The spell I’ll cast should get you through the flooded areas, I mean it will last for several hours, but if you decide to stay there beyond the duration of that spell, getting back out will be up to you, and hopefully the potions will help you hold your breath long enough to do that.

Alright, is everyone ready, follow me

Joram leaves the temple, and leads the party to the edge of the small pond to the north.

John looks at the pond, "That doesn't look very good. Hope you ladies don't mind getting a little filthy."

"I get covered in guts and grease most days," Azariah replied wryly, "A little pond scum won't hurt."

Kleora looked at the murky water and said, "Well, this is going to be pleasant. I guess we should get this over with." Kleora began to strip off her dress leaving her in her small clothes and stuffed it in the bag, "There, that'll make this easier." It was quite easy to tell now, if it wasn't before, that Kleora has a curvy figured that invites being looked at. "Well, shall we?" With that, she jumped in and began to swim.

Unbolath wades into the water and takes a few cursory looks around beneath the surface to determine how far one can see beneath the water given its murk.

Joram leads you all to a small pond at the north end of the town. The pond rests in a sink hole like area, where the ground rises up on three sides all around you, north east and west. On the south side of the area the pond turns into a small stream which flows southward toward the lake near the temple.

Without any ceremony, Joram retrieves a rod from his belt and holding it in one hand he moves through the group mumbling a spell, touching each person one after another.

He then addresses the whole group as they get ready to enter the pond

You are all able to breathe water as easily as you breathe the air around you. The duration of this spell is only a few hours. I do not know exactly where the entrance to these underground caves is, but I suspect that as this is a spring, that if you can follow the currents of the water you might find something there. I really do not know where it is exactly

Kleora is the first to enter the water

And then Unbolath steps into the shallows

John enters the water and as his face goes below the surface he feels the water flowing across it and collects his friends hands in a chain and leads them up the underground spring to an area inside the hill.

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

earlier
Ritmush being quite distracted looks at the newly placed potion in his hand and then back to his belt noting its absence. He grins sheepishly at the cleric.
While plenty in the room interested the young man none of it was obvious enough to be useful in the near future for him to buy.
The scruffy one following the group as they head to the lake.

The pond

Ritmush is a bit leery about joining hands with everyone, though after a few moments of peering at the cleric seems to realize if the man had wanted to turn him into a newt he could have picked a much better time.

Ritmush pulls out a fairly well cared for dagger and makes sure most of his gear is packed away proper. Seeming to think of something the young man mutters words and a quartet of ghostly lights appear. They then immediately plunge into the water.
I don't know if the cantrip dancing lights works underwater. They only act like torches for lighting so I think its possible but it would be good to know how it works in your world.

And after moving the orbs around a bit puts his dagger in between his teeth and follows after John.

Survival: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Feeling the flow of water tugging at her gently, Azariah followed John into the caves, trying not to stare in wonder at the aquatic world around them. It would be fascinating to stay and observe life beneath the surface, but she was sure others had already done so. Besides, she had a job to do.

Sorry been extremely sick

Before getting to the pond

"This detects technological properties." She would tell Kleora quietly as she muses slightly.

"I think I could barely afford this and the other strange device with cartridges but I would be broke afterwards What do you think? Get it here or leave it here for when we return?"

Once she was done talking with Kleora she would turn to the cleric with a warm smile.

"Could we make a deal for a discount? I can't quite afford these items for the price you are asking but if you reduce the pair down to 500 we can talk. Here is my proposal. We soon will be bringing other information and possibly more technological things back. We won't want to keep them all but, if we do. I can promise to explain everything we know about them. That way should you run across them again you would know their real value." Her Halo brightening just a bit and her wings fluttering.

At the Pond

Stella would sigh softly and would calmly undress down to a set of very nice pantaloons and a shift packing her clothes away in the water proof bags. Along with all her food and important things.

Her figure was hidden under the loose shift but a tantalizing tease none the less. What also was confirmed, was the fact the wings on her back were actually real as they fluttered slightly.

She stuck close to Kleora as she entered the water.

Edit Forgot rolls

Survival: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

Before

Kleora's interest was caught at Stella's declaration, "Hmm, interesting. If we can afford it it could be worth taking with us, if not I think a deal to hold it for us might be possible."

Now
Survival: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

Kleora found the murky water disgusting and hard to see through, even worse was the fact that something was making her hair stick together. All of this combined eld to her thrashing about a lot and making absolutely no progress what so ever.

Before, For Stella and Kleora…

The priest places his left hand behind his head and scratches his neck when Stella asks for a deal, and then makes a peculiar face that gives away his thoughts. He smiles, and squints at the same time, as if to say,

“You got me”

Well, I suppose you git me. If you didn’t mention the Council’s agreement I wasn’t gonna bring it up. But alright. I can offer it to you at a discount. I’ll sell you both for 500, or 400 if you promise to give me first claim on purchasing anything you bring back.

Stella can have the wand and the pistol, with three flares, for 400 gold pieces

At the Pond…

John is the first to go under the water, and it is a bit of an effort to take his first breath, his natural instincts are hard to overcome. The murky water seems foreboding at first, but he almost immediately feels a slight current coming from the northeast.

When John is letting his body sink to the floor of the pond, here about twelve feet below the surface, when suddenly four small orbs of light appear above his head and the murkiness recedes a little bit. John sees Ritmush as the young man falls through the water toward him and he shuffles out of the way using his arms and then points in the direction of the currents source.

Azariah watches Ritmush summon the lights, and follows the bow below the water’s surface, she can see John pointing to a crack in the wall of the pond under the water. The crack is about six feet wide and seven feet high, the top of the crack is five feet below the surface. Azariah can feel the current coming from this crack.

Stella is next to follow and, and she sees the lights ahead of Ritmush as he moves along the bottom of the pond following John as john reaches for Ritmush’s hand and then indicates that Azariah should take Ritmush by the hand. Soon they are forming a human chain and Stella is thankful when Azariah takes her hand. The strange murky water disorients Stella a bit more than she expected.

Kleora and Unbolath follow, easily seeing the others making a chain and following John.

The crack in the wall of the pond leads to a flooded tunnel than winds left and right, going steadily to the northeast. John can walk on the floor of the tunnel, but the going is slow as he must step around stalagmites and rocks that litter the way. The others try to swim but find stalactites on the ceiling that are far more hazardous than keeping to the floor and weaving along the obstacles.

It takes twenty minutes, two ten minute turns, to reach the part of the tunnel where John can stand.

Torch, Caves Below the HIll, the flooded tunnel
Day 2, before noon, turn 63

Torch, Caves Below the Hill, the flooded tunnel

Day 2, before noon, turn 63

John takes one than a second tentative step further into the caves as his head comes up above the water.

With somewhat of a rush the others push those in front of them to make John pick up the pace.

Soon the group is standing in water only two feet deep, which seems to be flowing southward, from cracks in the wall to the north of them, while immediately on their right is a strange, shale covered “beach.”

The air here is moist and as you wipe the water from your face and eyes you not only feel a mild sting on your eyes but you can taste the acrid odor of this air on your tongue.

There is a peculiar sort of soft red glowing light in this area, and you cannot tell where it is coming from just yet. The faint light allows you to see the area of beach underground here which is covered with fragmented shale and here and there you see blackened, possibly scorched patches on the beach which appear to be the remains of small camp fires, which tells you that you are not the first to come this way. Looking further across the beach toward the east you see a cave extending even further east, but this cave is above the level of the beach, five feet above it at least. Where the cave begins, above the beach you see a few, tall, stalagmites.

Past the beach, going further to the north the small stream curves to the east and out of sight.

Unbolath strides from the water and recovers his supplies from the waterproof bag as he scans the area.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

"There. A glow in a crack in that wall."

Intuition: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

"Someone watches us."

He strings his bow and readies an arrow.

Azariah raised her scythe, having just finished rubbing the weapon with oil to get rid of the water on the blade. "May I suggest, if you're friendly, that you come out and talk? We're not hostile, but I'm afraid we're also not interested in being attacked."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

John scans the cave as he emerges and moves to let the others in. He sees the crack and begins retrieving his gear and loading his musket.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Intuition: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

As Unbolath, and John take notice of the brighter light, and Azaraih follows them toward the edge of the beach, a host of large fire beetles comes pouring out of the crack in the wall. These large insects are the size of dogs, and not small dogs either. How so many of them were crowded into that space is hard to imagine, but one after another they pour out onto the beach.

There are seven Fire beetles, the map will be updated, roll for initiative...

Beetle Initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 18

As soon as they got clear of the water Kleora cast a quick spell and the water sloughed off of her body and from her undergarments. With that accomplished she got her clothing from the bag and was just pulling on the last of it when the firebeetles attacked.

Due to roleplay reasons I'd like to be last on init as Kleora is still getting her clothes on right before they attack and would be caught unawares.

Initative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Initative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Knowledge:Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Init: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Stella recognized them immediately for what they were. "Oh! We can use those as torches. If only I had a cage to put one in. The glands on their back will glow for a couple days after they die."

Stella had been holding the pack with her clothes in it so started to dig into the pack for her cross bow tucked under all of that.

Note to self, put weapons on top.

I figured that was common enough knowledge to spout, so any more you want to add for her actual success. ^.^

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Will post action once map is updated.

Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Ritmush looks blandly at the big pile of bugs before smacking his lips. It ain' bacon buh its good enough. Is'aht wha' tha' glowy goop is fer? Tried tah' make soup out of it once. Tha' didn' go well." ritmush chatters, near oblivious as the bug begin to advance. The young one obviously distracted by all the interesting things in the cave.

Bugs go before me, we could distract them with food or fire. I am guessing splashing a bunch of water on them would also be unpleasant to them. Either that or we start hacking the crap out of them murder hobo style.