Malen's eyebrow arched as the Arkona nobleman admitted that both of the men they were looking for were present. Or at least he knew where they were. The way Glorio spoke of the place didn't suggest that it was pleasant, a conclusion his astute companions also seemed to have reached. He added an additional question, "Did they enter the Labyrinth together, or separately?"
Privately, the priest wondered at the reactions of his companions to the crimelord's admission. While with Pilts they had wanted to respond with overwhelming hostility almost from the get go, here they were more calm and collected. Perhaps the cool demeanor of their host was a factor. Or the fact that he seemed to be telling the truth without any coercion.
The cleric cocked his head, studying the man. If he knew that the duo were down in the Labyrinth, and also was offering to take them there, this possibly was part of a power struggle between Glorio and his sister. Shrugging the thought away, the priest waited to hear the patriarch's answer to their questions.
Glorio scowls at Zamanda’s questions and says, “Do you really want to ruin the surprise? There are several dangers. I will say that you can adjust the labyrinth by pulling key levers to rotate its four sections. You may not understand what I’m referring to, but I suspect the truth will reveal itself in short order. I can tell you a bit more, should you let me show you to the entrance.
“The way out is the same way you’ll be going in, albeit you may have to adjust some of the levers again to escape. Our guests have been down there several days. I assure you, they are both still very much alive. I wouldn’t dare waste such valuable resources. The Queen will need all the help she can get in the days ahead.”
Once again, you get the distinct impression that Glorio has no love for the Queen. He certainly doesn’t seem to have any intention of helping her.
To Bashiel’s question, Glorio says, “As I said, they’re both valuable resources. We placed them there for safe keeping. We don’t want just anyone gaining access to them. Think of it as an extra layer of security.”
To Malen’s query, Glorio replies, “Separately, several days apart. Orisini was quite eager to find his friend, so I felt obligated to help him do so.”
Outstretching his hands as he stands to his feet, Glorio says with a smile, “Shall I lead you to the entrance down?”
Kalem followed the lead of the party. This felt dangerous, but not in a ‘dagger in a dark alley’ sort of way. But rather the way a mouse feels when stared at by a cat. He felt like they were being toyed with. Glorio came across as being much more dangerous than the false emperor. This wasn’t an insane pauper, or a gutter scraper like Lamm. This man seemed like he was in a different league. And at the moment he didn’t see any way forward but to play Glorio’s game.
Glorio, personally, I'm happy to accept the challenge, however I wonder why you are doing this. You surely have no love for the queen. You know that we also do not. Surely you are aware that the two men you have trapped are both also working against her. Why are you targeting potential allies? Couldn't we all be much more useful to you working as allies?
Malen frowned as Glorio implied that the Seneschal, at least, had been in the Labyrinth for several days, now. The two ladies were asking the man very fine questions, so the priest decided to let the nobleman address them before possibly adding more, should he be inclined. It seemed that the group would have to enter the Vivified Labyrinth if they wanted to retrieve the pair of Orisini and Kalepopolis, and Malen felt there was little they could do to alter the situation, short of violence. Looking at the relaxed Arkona, he doubted the result would be as simple as smacking down the false Emperor had been.
Bashiel smiles slightly. This Glorio suddenly seemed as insane as Pilts and his Blood Pig. Just in a slightly different way. Just in case, he asks "Hm. I suppose we'll have to submit ourselves to this Labyrinth? You wouldn't be able to go down into the Labyrinth yourself to retrieve them for us? You would know better than we how to navigate in there... right?" Assuming that is answered in the negative, he murmurs "Safekeeping, huh? And Vencarlo couldn't get out on his own."
He looks to Malen, hoping that the cleric would be able to give the group a warning if the rest are missing anything. This seems like a perfectly obvious trap. Knowing that Glorio has little incentive to answer truthfully, Bashiel still asks "Why do you want us to descend into your Labyrinth? You wouldn't even offer this option if you didn't want us down there."
Glorio looks appalled when Zamanda suggests he has no love for the queen. “How dare you impune my love for our illustrious monarch! She is, without a doubt, the best queen we could hope for. She is what Korvosa needs in these dark times.”
Despite the nobleman’s words, you still recognize that he has no love for the queen, to put it kindly.
Glorio continues, “I’m glad you recognize that we’re potential allies. The key word there, however, is potential. You have not yet shown the Arkonas how capable you are. Granted, I believe that you were responsible for the false king’s death, but that could just have been a series of fortunate events. The labyrinth will prove just how worthy you are, one way or the other.”
Glorio smiles at Ilsa’s questions, but shakes his head. “All fair questions, but why ruin all the surprises? There are quite a few people who would like to get their hands on your friends, particularly the seneschal. I let you come straight into my palace, so I couldn’t very well house them here, wouldn’t you say? If you make it through the Labyrinth, you will find the two you seek. You may find more than a potential ally as well.”
The nobleman shakes his head and clicks his tongue at Bashiel’s question about Glorio going to retrieve the pair.
He opens wide his arms once more at Bashiel’s last question. “You are quite the perceptive one. Of course I want you down there! You should want to be down there as well, considering that’s where you’ll find the ones you seek. As for why I want you down there, think of it as a way for me to test your skills and see how useful you can be to the Arkona family. I think we could work well together, but first you must prove yourselves.”
Glorio glances at the hallway before turning back to you and saying with a smile, “I would very much like to say ‘I won’t take no for an answer,’ but that wouldn’t be true. This is your choice. You can walk away now with no hard feelings. As painful as it would be for me, you can take a few minutes to talk it over in private, if you need to. I would very much prefer you decide here and now, though. The waiting is agonizing.”
"Well, if you want us down there, I suppose we should feed ourselves into the belly of the beast, as it were." Bashiel raises an eyebrow and then eyes the rest of the group. "I think we won't get a clearer explanation. Do we need to take some time to decide?"
Malen thinks over the paladin's words for a few moments before shaking his head. He nodded at Ilsa's statement and added, "No, I think the way forward is clear. We'll descend into the Labyrinth, find the pair, and while the Arkonas decide how useful we can be to them, we can decide likewise."
The whole idea sounded bad to the priest, but it seemed the best way given the current constraints. Taking on the entire Arkona household would likely prove an immense undertaking, and leaving without the pair was out of the question. The cleric then waited for any others to offer their input, and Glorio to lead them to the Labyrinth if the party decided to enter.
Zamanda says nothing else to the slime-in-nice-clothing, deferring to the group's decision. She wonders if she can find a way to destroy his labyrinth, and determines to do so if possible, since it seems he loves it just as much as the Emperor loved his Tall Knife, and uses it for much the same purposes.
At least the people in his part of town weren't living in squalor and constant fear, and he didn't appear to be insane. That alone made him better, but obviously not good enough. If the group decided to kill him later, she was no longer going to argue.
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Kalem came to the same conclusion as Zamanda, only with less desire to strike a blow back. He was quickly coming to the conclusion that everyone in power was, by their nature, cruel. With the more power one having the worst they became. It certainly seemed true in this city.
Seeing no disagreement, Bashiel nods to Glorio "Well then, lead away. Time to be tested by this Labyrinth of yours..."
Glorio claps his hands together with a smile at Bashiel’s words. “Excellent! Right this way.”
The nobleman leads out of the side room, handing his wine glass to Carnochan and saying to him as he leaves, “See to the clean up. Then return to your post at the entrance.”
From the side room, Glorio leads you further down the red-carpeted hallway to another set of double doors. To one side of the doors is a fourteen-foot-tall marble statue that depicts the same figure carved into the wooden doors.
The double doors lead to yet another set of double doors. The next set open up into a chamber that hardly seems to be part of a palace, but looks more like a clearing at the heart of a vast jungle, teeming with life. The sky above is a deep, cloudless blue, while in the distance, hazy towers rise above the verdant canopy. Exotic bird calls fill the air, the scent of dozens of unfamiliar flowers and plants assault the nose, and everywhere a riot of color demands the eye, whether it’s the wing of a tropical bird, the petals of a brightly hued flower, or the glittering multicolored tiles that make up a round fountain to the north.
The fountain’s central plume is a stone pillar around which entwine two cobra statues that clutch green gems in their fanged maws. To the south of the fountain stands an immense, life-sized jade statue of an elephant, a howdah perched on its back, its tusks and trunk raised high in greeting to the southeast doors.
From inside the room, the doors look more like gates set into a wrought-iron fence that encircles the garden. Other gates set in this fence doubtless lead to other parts of the palace, and after a bit more observation, the somewhat static nature of the jungle and landscape becomes apparent—the walls of this
garden are in fact an incredibly realistic and clever painting of a Vudrani junglescape.
Glorio grins at you as you take in the sights. He says, “You like our garden? We made it to mimic the actual look and feel of a Vudrani jungle. Impressive, wouldn’t you say?”
Approaching the elephant statue, Glorio says, “Chamidu is blind.”
Nothing happens and Glorio steps onto the 10-foot-diameter stone platform on which the statue stands. He presses a cleverly concealed 6-inch-diameter pressure plate at the platform’s center. Doing so causes the entire disk to slowly rotate 180 degrees. As it does so, a curved opening appears, granting access to a flight of spiral stairs that descend into the ground.
Gesturing at the spiral stairs, Glorio says, “You’ll find the Labyrinth below and the two you seek as well. I do hope things work out, truly I do. I think we could have quite the lucrative relationship.”
Stepping out of the way to give you access to the way down, Glorio concludes, “Oh, and if you have preparations to make for the… situations… ahead, now would be the time to take care of them.”
Kalem looked at the man with evident mistrust. Slowly and deliberately he worked his magic, making sure that it was clear that none was of an offensive nature.
Zamanda suppresses her urge to kill Glorio now to protect her way out, memorizing the passphrase "Chamidu is blind," hoping that will help them get out later, and additionally hoping that they aren't walking willingly to their deaths.
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Malen says nothing as Glorio led them through the palatial estate, though he looked keenly around at his surroundings, trying to remember the route should they have to come back unattended. When the Arkona patriarch spoke the phrase and pushed the plate, the priest also attempted to etch into his memory what the man had done. It seemed they were willingly walking into the fire, so to speak, but the man seemed earnest enough in a twisted way. The cleric truly believed Glorio meant what he had said, but from a selfish perspective. He viewed the group as nothing but potential pawns, and wanted to assess their usefulness.
The two women seemed strong-willed, and the paladin had the protection of 'Osiris' that would likely protect his mind, but Kalem had fallen prey to the Emperor's spells, if for but a moment. Determined to prevent that from happening again, the cleric smiled and touched the tiefling's arm. "For you, Pharasma's boon will prevent any from impeding your steps. You alone will determine where your mighty blade goes."
Looking at the stairway down with irritation, the priest shook his head and pulled out his holy symbol, calling upon his Lady to grant some of the blessings she had bestowed upon him that day. He walked to Ilsa after the tiefling. "For you, Pharasma will offer protection from the strikes of our enemies."
He then held his arms out to indicate the entire group. "For all, my Lady bestows her foresight and protections from missiles. Be forewarned, we must stay within close distance or the blessing will lose its effect."
Bashiel walks with care at the rear of the group as they head through the garden, and finds himself too focused on an internal conference between himself and his ancestors to take in the garden. When the group arrives at the elephant statue, he breaks off his internal debates. He looks around in alarm at the riot of life and opulence.
"More than a garden, this is..." He shakes his head. "well, I'm not really sure. But the Labyrinth is below this?"
He takes out his shield and straps it on, leaving his sword arm free. Other than that, he holds off on casting any spells. Those he's prayed for today don't last very long.
Chamidu sounds like some sort of religious figure to Bashiel, but he’s not familiar with it.
Glorio waves as you descend the spiral stairs. The way up closes a few moments after you’ve started your descent, but the passage is still lit by everburning torches.
During your descent, you spot a hidden switch in the wall. Based on its location and similar design to the panel Glorio pressed above, you suspect this would open the way to return to the garden.
The stairs spiral downward for about a hundred feet before coming out into a large chamber. The air in this vast grotto is cool. The iron-framed flight of spiral stairs winds up through a hole in the ceiling in the northwest section of the room from the top of a semicircular ledge. The ledge winds down along the cavern’s inner wall to a series of rope bridges that descend even lower from ledge to ledge. The upper ledge is breathtaking and strangely beautiful—a tableau of all manner of odd-colored fungi, lichens, and molds. The fungi have been cultivated, shaped into symmetrical patterns normally not seen in nature, transforming the ledge into a sort of underground fungal garden. Here and there, flickering torches burn in sconces above the fungi, while from somewhere in the darkness below comes the soft splash of water against an unseen shore.
As soon as you reach the bottom of the stairs, Kalem spots four fungi-encrusted skeletal figures with scimitars drawn. They look poised to attack. No one else in the group sees them.
Kalem stepped forward and brought his flaming Scythe down on the nearest skeleton. While the scenery was breathtaking, the Bloodrager had been suitably on guard. The labyrinth was already proving to be inimical to their continued well being.
Zamanda spots a hidden switch on the way down and calls the group's attention to it, showing them exactly where it is, in case she is unable to be with them when they return.
Also, should you use this switch, I would also try the passphrase "Chamidu is blind" as you return. It may do nothing, but looking like a fool repeating it is better than not using it and getting attacked because you aren't.
Kalem stepped forward and brought his flaming Scythe down on the nearest skeleton. While the scenery was breathtaking, the Bloodrager had been suitably on guard. The labyrinth was already proving to be inimical to their continued well being. His blade injures the creature, but doesn't kill it.
Red Fungal Attacker releases a sickly green-and-purple cloud in the direction of the group. It envelops everyone but Zamanda. In the process of doing so, it becomes visible to everyone.
Kalem and Malen inhale the sickly cloud and feel its effects immediately.
Blue Fungal Attacker releases a cloud of its own, also enveloping everyone including Zamanda. It becomes visible as well.
Malen once again breathes in the noxious fumes of the cloud.
Yellow and Green Fungal Attackers advance unseen except by Kalem.
Kalem inhaled the noxious fumes, and it would have left him reeling and puking. But he had begun to accept the gift of his blood more and more. The old disgust he had felt in it was fading, being replaced by not just acceptance, but hunger. It was everyone else who was wrong. It was they who were jealous of him. Jealous of his strength, his power...his potential. The fire within him burnt away the poison, leaving him laughing as he continued swinging his scythe.
Bashiel's expression clouds as fungal undead start shambling towards the group. For all the artistry of the garden, keeping undead within is even more grotesque than Scream's paintings. He draws his mace (OR appropriate weapon if he identifies a different DR) and pauses for a moment as he thinks about what he knows about these creatures.
Barely a second later, he swings in with his heavy mace, bashing apart the bones of the nearest fungal skeleton.
Zamanda is unfortunately not close enough to effectively use burning hands, or her bow, so she decides to speed everyone up instead.
When making a full attack action, a hasted creature may make one extra attack with one natural or manufactured weapon. The attack is made using the creature’s full base attack bonus, plus any modifiers appropriate to the situation. (This effect is not cumulative with similar effects, such as that provided by a speed weapon, nor does it actually grant an extra action, so you can’t use it to cast a second spell or otherwise take an extra action in the round.)
A hasted creature gains a +1 bonus on attack rolls and a +1 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. Any condition that makes you lose your Dexterity bonus to Armor Class (if any) also makes you lose dodge bonuses.
All of the hasted creature’s modes of movement (including land movement, burrow, climb, fly, and swim) increase by 30 feet, to a maximum of twice the subject’s normal speed using that form of movement. This increase counts as an enhancement bonus, and it affects the creature’s jumping distance as normal for increased speed.
(lasts 9 rounds)
Malen looked quite surprised when the undead creatures suddenly popped up close by, even as the alert Kalem immediately started to swing his fiery scythe at the abominations. His alarm was evident as the cloud of spores and vapor swirled amongst them, only to breathe easy as his personal wind wall harmlessly deflected it away. Thank you, Pharasma.
Not knowing how powerful these enemies might be, and loathe to expend more resources than necessary at the beginning of this so-called Labyrinth, Malen stepped forward and reached out to touch the undead monster closest to him.
Malen looked quite surprised when the undead creatures suddenly popped up close by, even as the alert Kalem immediately started to swing his fiery scythe at the abominations. His alarm was evident as the cloud of spores and vapor swirled amongst them, only to breathe easy as his personal wind wall harmlessly deflected it away. Thank you, Pharasma.
Not knowing how powerful these enemies might be, and loathe to expend more resources than necessary at the beginning of this so-called Labyrinth, Malen stepped forward and reached out to touch the undead monster closest to him. However, his touch, though successful, doesn’t seem to have any effect at all on the creature.
Zamanda is unfortunately not close enough to effectively use burning hands, or her bow, so she decides to speed everyone up instead.
Ilsa tries to use her stare on one of the fungal creatures, but despite her unique ability to effect undead creatures, her gaze does nothing. She casts grease beneath three of the creatures, but they all keep their footing.
Kalem strikes the creature twice more, injuring it further, but not killing it. The bloodrager realizes that his flaming weapon doesn’t seem to be doing as much damage as he was expecting.
Bashiel's expression clouds as fungal undead start shambling towards the group. For all the artistry of the garden, keeping undead within is even more grotesque than Scream's paintings. He draws his mace and pauses for a moment as he thinks about what he knows about these creatures. He realizes he knows absolutely nothing. He’s not even sure these creatures could properly be called skeletons at all.
Barely a second later, he swings in with his heavy mace, bashing apart the bones of the nearest fungal skeleton. He strikes a solid blow, injuring the fungal creature some.
Red Fungal Fighter, along with the other fungal creatures, looks incensed that its toxic fumes have been repelled by Malen’s spell. It swings its scimitar at Kalem, seeking blood. Both strikes miss.
Blue Fungal Fighter swings at Bashiel. The paladin takes one strike from the creature that could have been much worse and narrowly avoids another thanks to Zamanda's hastening.
Green Fungal Fighter, still invisible to all but Kalem, tries to move forward, but can’t get sure footing and so is forced to stay still.
Yellow Fungal Fighter takes a step forward and slashes twice at Kalem. It misses both times.
Seeing that flames did not burn, Kalem instinctively changed tactics. Rather than have his scythe he wreathed in flames, it instead danced with electricity. He parried, dodged, and attacked back, doing more damage to himself than his foes were doing to him.
Zamanda, frustrated, decides to try shooting anyway.
(point-blank, soft cover)
(haste)
Most of her shots at blue are off because she is trying to shoot between Bashiel and Malen without harming either one of them, but one of her arrows seems to strike true.
(gravity bow, point blank)
Malen's eyes widened as Pharasma's energy that would sap the life out of undead seemed to be ineffective against the skeletal thing he had touched. "I don't think these are undead...but how could they not be?" His question was a bit rhetorical, but he was pretty shocked.
Glad he had decided to not channel the Lady of Graves' positive energy, he looked behind him and saw the way blocked. Frowning, he instead pulled out his dagger and attempted to stab the creature closest to him.
"Is it just the fungus animating these skeletons?" Bashiel calls out mid swing. Whatever they are, they seem to have little resistance to being smashed to pieces with maces. He takes advantage of Zamanda's spell to do just that!
As he smashes his way through the unusually bulky skeleton, he ponders trying to knock it off the platform and into the water far below.
Malen's eyes widened as Pharasma's energy that would sap the life out of undead seemed to be ineffective against the skeletal thing he had touched. "I don't think these are undead...but how could they not be?" His question was a bit rhetorical, but he was pretty shocked.
Glad he had decided to not channel the Lady of Graves' positive energy, he looked behind him and saw the way blocked. Frowning, he instead pulled out his dagger and attempted to stab the creature closest to him. His blade passes harmlessly through the skeleton’s ribcage.
Zamanda, frustrated, decides to try shooting anyway.
Most of her shots at blue are off because she is trying to shoot between Bashiel and Malen without harming either one of them, but one of her arrows seems to strike true. Despite it being mostly on target, it passes harmlessly through the creature’s ribcage just as Malen’s dagger did.
Ilsa takes a step to one side of Bashiel, her ghoulish claws extending as she does so. Then she swipes at the blue fungal fighter. She gashes the creature three times, but her normally paralyzing strikes have no such effect this time.
Kalem, seeing that flames did not burn, Kalem instinctively changed tactics. Rather than have his scythe he wreathed in flames, it instead danced with electricity. He parried, dodged, and attacked back, doing more damage to himself than his foes were doing to him. He destroys the red attacker and badly injures the yellow one.
Bashiel calls out mid swing, "Is it just the fungus animating these skeletons?" Whatever they are, they seem to have little resistance to being smashed to pieces with maces. He takes advantage of Zamanda's spell to do just that!
As he smashes his way through the unusually bulky skeleton, he ponders trying to knock it off the platform and into the water far below. From Bashiel’s current location, he estimates the drop would be about 100 ft. Who knows what lurks below?
The paladin injures the blue skeleton with all but his last swing.
Red Fungal Fighter is dead.
Blue Fungal Fighter swings its scimitar at Bashiel again. Both of its attacks miss.
Yellow Fungal Fighter steps forward and slashes twice at Kalem, becoming visible as it does so. Its first swing scratches the bloodrager.
Green Fungal Fighter does the same. Both of its attacks miss.
Zamanda shoots again with blunt arrows to see if that works better.
(point-blank, haste, soft cover)
(haste attack)
(gravity bow, point blank)
Kalem was slowing down. He was injured, not just by the blade of the creature, but from his own scythe. It was eating away at him, using his own life to harm the enemy. Gritting his teeth he resolved to change the enchantment when he got the chance. IF he got the chance.
Malen saw that Kalem's injuries were stacking up, but something seemed off. The tiefling was wincing every time he connected with his scythe as though experiencing pain. The priest's brow furrowed in concern, and he called upon Pharasma to wash away his hurts as the battle continued.
Bashiel grits his teeth in determination. These fungal creatures were far sturdier than they looked, with blow after blow doing little to turn them away. Nevertheless, he continues swinging and advancing towards the east.
Mid swing, he grunts out "What kind of welcoming party is this?"
Malen saw that Kalem's injuries were stacking up, but something seemed off. The tiefling was wincing every time he connected with his scythe as though experiencing pain. The priest's brow furrowed in concern, and he called upon Pharasma to wash away his hurts as the battle continued. Most of the bloodrager’s wounds close.
Zamanda shoots again with blunt arrows to see if that works better. Her first two arrows strike true, injuring the blue fungal fighter more.
Ilsa slashes at the blue creature again. One blow is all it takes for her to bring it to the ground unconscious.
Kalem was slowing down. He was injured, not just by the blade of the creature, but from his own scythe. It was eating away at him, using his own life to harm the enemy. Gritting his teeth he resolved to change the enchantment when he got the chance. IF he got the chance. Only his second attack lands, but it’s enough to destroy the yellow creature.
Bashiel grits his teeth in determination. These fungal creatures were far sturdier than they looked, with blow after blow doing little to turn them away. Nevertheless, he continues swinging and advancing towards the east.
Mid swing, he grunts out "What kind of welcoming party is this?"
His first two attacks land, his second particularly hard.
Blue Fungal Fighter is down.
Yellow Fungal Fighter is dead.
Green Fungal Fighter, unperturbed by the other fighters’ fall, swings again, this time at Bashiel. Both of its attacks land, injuring the paladin some.
Zamanda walks closer to the water, trying to sense whether there is something dangerous in there.
From where you fought the fungal creatures, the water is barely visible about 100 ft below. It's hard to say if there's anything dangerous, given the distance and darkness, but nothing obviously stands out.
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Zamanda starts across the first bridge, scouting ahead for danger.
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Ilsa shakes her head, still not happy with their predicament.
"He never really told us what they're doing down here. Or rather, why they're keeping them here. Or what they want us to do. If it's a test, it seems an awfully deadly one," she says as she follows Zamanda.
The priest rushed forward after the group dispatched the remaining creature, calling upon Pharasma to convert some of her energy into healing magic as he grasped Bashiel's shoulder.
The cleric's brow furrowed at Ilsa's words, the questions poignant. What was the point of all this? A test, it was said, but it seemed more a death trap. Hopefully Orisini and the seneschal had fared well, but after a few days things were already looking grim. There was nothing to do but proceed, he thought, and play this out to the end.
Not knowing how sturdy the bridges might be, Malen hung back, allowing others to cross (or waiting for those ahead to cover plenty of ground, should someone want to take the rear position).