DM CH-P's CoT: The Bastards of Erebus (Inactive)

Game Master Feral

Working with those with a more delicate touch, Maddok removes the various parchments, bundles them up, and hands them over to Appario for him to store in his magical satchel.

Once the task is complete, Maddok leads the group back upstairs to the doors leading out to the courtyard.

"Appario, do you think you could disable the wards on courtyard doors despite your affliction?"

Derek inches away from Appario and whispers up to Livia.
"Blind maybe, but it sure isn't mute eh?
I doubt he'd make a good rhyming demon, but maybe a cussin devil?"

Semenya will put her hand on Appario's shoulder and guide him, making sure he doesn't fall too much. And if he does look to fall, she'll try to catch him.

"We'll see what we can do for you, Appario."

Appario listens to Derek's question with all seriousness.

"Well, I don't necessarily need to see, but it would help to know what I am doing. I'd prefer not to do it blind."

Appario rubs his burn marks from the sunlight (16/44 hp) and thinks about things.

"Yahirma, don't you have a scroll that would HEAL all this?"

Semenya puts two potions into Appario's hands.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Cracking open the first glass case, Maddok finds the parchment inside to be old and brittle, and it crumbles apart in his hands when he tries to roll it up. By all appearances, the glass cases exist not only to display the papers, but also to protect them.

***

It would be possible to bring the cases along, but there's a whole lot of them; many more than would fit in the haversack or that could be carried. Figuring out which ones are most valuable or most interesting, and then only bringing those, would be a better idea.

***

Do you do anything with the commanded spawn, or with the bodies of the other spawn, now that you have a source of direct sunlight?

Oh, good point.

"Little brother, why don't you try the Morrowfall's powers on the held spawn?"

Seeing that the papers are too fragile to be handled Maddok frowns, "Removing the parchments will damage them too much. Little brother, might you be able to point out the ones worth bringing with us?"

Would a Knowledge: History do or does this require Appraise?

"I could...but as lady Yahirma pointed out, we should not offer redemption to just one if we can do it to both. Better I go in and use it on the staked spawns don't you think?"

"Hmmm, as for the papers, I MIGHT be able to figure out which ones are relevant through my knowledge of history or about the local area. But I can't offer more than that."

Putting the Morrowfall away for a moment, Derek calls out.
"All clear, you can join us now Wahnvynne."

"Yahirma, don't you have a scroll that would HEAL all this?"

Ah, the scroll of Heal, then? That partly depends on how comfortable you and Appario are with the 20% chance of failure and burning the pricey piece of magic.

"We do have one way of curing you, Appario, but it goes far beyond what is necessary. Instead of providing a starving man bread and water, it would give him a feast. Where he might just need shelter from the rain, it is like a palace. If we feel that this shall be our only chance to explore Delvehaven, then it is an expense worth expending. If we think we can return, I would as much prefer sneaking out and purchasing a scroll to manifest the healing in a less expensive manner."

Yahirma will try casting Heal from the scroll if desired - no pressing concerns either way. You can roll the 1d20+6 for a DC 11; I'll be out and about for most of today.

Maddok actually was referring to the staked spawns but I'll play along since I wasn't clear.

"You speak wisely little brother, test the trinket's magic on the staked vampires", the big man agrees.

"Yahirma, what of the one bound to you. Will you be taking him out with us into the city?"

Although Appraise would be the best skill to use for this purpose, Knowledge (history) would also be useful in determining the value of the parchments.

***

Vahnwynne makes her way to the others, finishing the job of tying a bundle of soil to her belt as she walks.

"You control the artifact? Is it as you expected? Was my .. master .. right in fearing its existence?"

Appario is completely comfortable with the chance of failure. There is very very little chance of destroying the scroll on failure.

Appario stands looking, but not seeing, at Yahirma as she attempts to read the scroll to Heal him.

I hope this works.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 vs. DC 12 [caster level for heal (11) + 1]

Appario smiles as his sight returns and his flesh heals.

"Wonderful, Yahirma! I can see! Now, Derek! Where was that thing you wanted me to electrocute myself upon?"

Appario's good humor returns with his sight.

Semenya, I did not use your potions. I was waiting for this.

The bigger issues was spending 1k+ for something that should cost 100g and the fact that we're basically done here already. Oh well.

"The artifact was dangerous to normal humans as well. It seared the flesh of Appario and little brother and robbed Appario of his sight. Fortunately, Yahirma had some very powerful magic on hand to treat his condition."

Maddok beams at Appario's no-longer-handicapped state.

"Appario, these parchements are too fragile to remove from the jars and take with us but we could transport a few of them as they are. Are any of them more valuable than the others?"

"Oh, now I'm even more glad to see."

Appario will take a good look around, carefully handling and examining things.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15 Appraise
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13 Appraise
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 Appraise
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21 Appraise
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20 Appraise

I really like seeing. Much better than not seeing.

"Right, wait here, I'm off to test the powers of my new "toy"."
Derek will resolutely march down the corridor to the room with the staked spawns.
He carefully closes the doors, makes sure to stand in the middle of the room so he can see all the corpses and then with a suitably theatrical flourish (despite the lack of audience) he procures the Morrowfall from the pocket where he had secreted it.

"Behold! Your release from undeath is nigh! Easi...
...
pfft hahahahaha!”
Before Derek can finish the incantation he is overcome with mirth when he realises just what Appario meant when he cursed about Calistas furry beaver.
I must be tired, it took me several minutes to realise he wasn't talking about an ACCTUAL beaver.

"Eh, ok, sorry, trying again.
Behold! Your release from undeath is nigh! Easivra! Sunburst!"

Yahirma nods, relieved that the magic worked as planned. "Can you feel it? That paper bound a potent spirit, and in its release it experienced a moment of freedom and mirth. It must have taken a great wendifu to bind such a favor to tree-flesh - so great that I was almost unable to direct it to act as we desired." She looks with some concern as Derek prances about with an artifact as if it is a shiny new stage prop. "We work with magic greater than any one person might see in ten lifetimes, friends. We must take care that we do so with respect. Even the cleansing sun can burn a pure soul."

She turns to Maddok with a slight smile. "How do you feel, Seeker? There are but a few portals left to open, and already so many of your goals seem complete. The time for one ritual is coming to an end, and the time for another," she continues with a glance to Vahnwynne, "is just beginning."

Lol. I don't recall Appario as being so crude as to use the word 'beaver'. :)

"Again, my thanks, Yahirma."

Appario keeps looking through the papers, hoping to find stuff of value to a collector.

"We still need to lay our Pathfinders to rest. This may not have been possible without their aid", Maddok reminds the group.

Appario discovers two parchments of particular interest:

- A letter from Shadowcount Thenris IV of Nidal commissioning the Red Mantis to assassinate the dragon Menkare of Hermea in 4577 AR.

Despite appearing as an original, Appario determines that this letter is in fact a well-made forgery; an attempt at inciting conflict between Nidal and Hermea. The letter would be worth 150 gp to a collector.

- A peace treaty signed in 2133 AR (over 2500 years ago) between Taldor's Seventh Army of Exploration and eleven tribes of Isgeri Kellids.

Appario determines that the text here is original, but someone has added an additional section further limiting the entitlements of the natives. This insert was added 2-3 years after the original signature ink had settled. This treaty would also be worth 150 gp to a collector.

***

The powerful burst of sunlight Derek unleashes in the other chamber tears apart the bodies of all of the dead spawn, each flaking away as ashes in the wind.

After helping Appario carefully stow the two containers holding the more valuable of the documents and collecting Derek from the now ash-filled, room, Maddok leads the group back upstairs to the doors leading out to the courtyard.

Maddok waits for Appario to search for and disable any possible traps.

Semenya peers around as the party moves, attempting to Aid Another on Appario's trapfinding.

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20 Perception

"Remain cautious. This has all the sensations of us being lulled into a false sense of security. And the Pathfinders weren't always...friendly...to gate-crashers."

Just for confirmation: Does this mean everyone agrees not to spend any more time looking for interesting treaties, plus bypass the northern half of the basement level?

Appario will carefully roll up and protect the documents he's found.

Appario, finding success in the few treaties he's seen, continues to look for interesting or valuable history.

Take 20 Perception = 28.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 Appraise
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18 Appraise
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 Appraise
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 Appraise

If any items require appraisal by weight, Appario will break out his scales and use that to enhance his appraising by 2. "Ah, the Accord at Devils Ridge! By weight, this should be worth 435gp."

"Now that Appario is once more fully capable of sight, should we still hurry from here? We can come back of course now that we know of this place, but we could also finish exploring it now so we need not do that."

Appario can't roll up the glass cases, since they're actual glass cases (the parchments are each lying flat inside a case made out of glass with wood frames, which allows the parchment to be viewed from both sides). If he tries to take one of the parchments out of its glass case to roll it up, the same thing will happen as when Maddok tried; the old, brittle parchment will crumble apart in his hands.

***

With several more minutes spent looking through the various treaties, Appario finds three more that would be of particular interest to collectors:

- The declaration of Haliad I designating Sargava as a colony of Cheliax in 4138 AR.

- A letter from Count Andachi conscripting the mercenary general Kazavon to drive the Belkzen orcs from Ustalav in 4042 AR.

- A treaty documenting Minkai's declaration of war against the Teikoku Shogunate in 3616 AR, signed by Setsuna Kuga, the Perfect Swordswoman.

Appario determines that the Minkai declaration is genuine, with authentic calligraphy, while he can't quite determine the authenticity (or falsehood) of the other two parchments. In either case, each of the three would be worth 150 gp to a collector.

Realizing how hard it is to roll up glass, Appario will instead put them as is into his haversack.

"I think I'm done here unless there is something else you wanted to check." Appario makes sure he has all his possessions.

"Derek, where was that door?"

* * *

At the next door....

"Let me take a good look at this door...after all it's worked *so* well in the past," Appario adds sarcastically while examining the door carefully.

Take 20 = 28 (29 vs. traps) Perception on the door

"Not sure..."

I'm going to assume that's the door to the courtyard on the ground level, since that's the only door that has been mentioned recently. If it's instead one of the unexplored doors on the basement level (>>>map reposted for convenience<<<), or if you check out the tavern/bar at the end of the northern hallway at that level, let me know.

***

Appario locates a magical trap on the door, set to spring if the handle is turned.

Beyond the trap, there's also the tiny door set into the bottom of the door, and the table the party set up earlier to prevent anything from moving through that tiny door.

Derek, if this is not the right door, please specify.

"Meh, should this handle turn, the trap will be set off." Appario steps back to examine his options.

"Anyone have a good idea on some way to get by this door without opening it or a way to turn this doorknob at a distance?" Appario asks wistfully.

* * *

I'll give it a go after Derek's confirmation and waiting to see if others have a solution.

"I believe either Yahirma or I could turn the doorknob from a distance..."

Shaking her head, Yahirma reports "I cannot yet manipulate the forces unseen with such precision - only bursts of directed movement. I can try opening the door from a distance, but I do not believe that it will work as intended."

Pilfering Hand might work if the door opens outwards and has a very simple handle, but I believe that Open/Close is in order here.

Appario stands back and lets the women do their thing.

Maddok watches in confusion as the party worries over a trap, the same traps that they had already passed several of.

He waits in silence while plans are made.

You are asking me? Haha, I've been too busy playing follower in front to really have paid attention. My apologies.

Derek meanwhile is so deep in thought that he does not really pay attention to what is going on, until he suddenly blurts out in a loud voice.
"PUMPKIN SEEDS!"
Looking around he frowns.
"Wait what? Are we STILL here? I thought we were back at the safe house already."

We passed the doors to the courtyard earlier when we were searching the first floor. It had some sort of doggy door which Maddok blocked at Semenya's suggestion.

See here.

Maddok is all for returning to the safehouse as soon as we deliver the remains of the Pathfinders (which involves getting through the courtyard, which involves disarming the trap).

Yahirma, Semenya: It would make me so darn happy if you guys would take more initiative to actually do stuff especially when you post so infrequently. On one hand, I want your participation, however, like in the situations above, it's amazing frustrating when nothing happens.

Appario will attempt to disarm the door.

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24 Disable Device

My apologies

Unless Appario feels confident about his success after giving the door a try with his picks, Yahirma will experimentally give the structure a yank with Pilfering Hand (careful maneuver). She will give him a moment to clear out of the way before attempting the long-range door-opening.

"I can't imagine they installed a miniature door for the rats alone, and little else here has been friendly. When you think the foes are at your feet, it can be just as likely that they scale the ceiling. Perhaps we can get Derek a drink from the downstairs bar after this."

Semenya climbs the wall, and is on the ceiling over the door. She's ready to cast if anyone comes through the door as it opens.

Appario's tinkering fails to disarm the trap, but after a tense moment when his hand slipped, he just avoids triggering it.

The door doesn't open when Yahirma casts her spell, but (assuming Yahirma attempted the Disable Device part) the trap is sprung. A ball of fire explodes from the handle, singing the nearby walls and setting the table on fire.

Maddok instinctively interposes himself between the roaring flame and Vahnwynne. When the danger has passed, he pushes aside the debris he had placed to block the smaller door previously and opens the larger door to let the party out into the courtyard.

"Are there any traps or wards out here that we should be aware of?", the big man asks of Khazrae.

The erinyes head smiles. "Not any more."

She continues after a brief pause. "Not mine, anyway."

***

The door easily opens, and Maddok looks out onto the bright daylight over a large, weed-choked courtyard, 120 ft long and 180 ft wide. A second building stands at the opposing end of the courtyard, while a wooden walkway hangs 30 ft above, connecting the upper floors of the two buildings.

A variety of weapon racks rest against the stone walls surrounding the courtyard, while dozens of pillars support a 10-ft-wide wooden terrace protecting these weapon racks from weather. In the middle of the courtyard, there's a raised 50-ft-diameter circular dais composed of a mysterious blue metal.

Forgot one thing:

A stone walkpath runs across the courtyard, circling the raised dais, from the door you just opened to a set of large doors on the opposing building.

Maddok leads the party across the courtyard along the left wall towards the second building, examining the weapon racks along the way for anything of value or interest.

As he does he asks the erinyes again, "What about ones that aren't yours?"

Heh, well played big brother.

Derek innocently whistles as he remembers something about dolls and them bringing him pain.

"Ironic isn't it? My guess is that the pathfinder society wanted to keep those things we recovered from the vault.
But rather than use them for the good of all they secured them away lest they risk them falling out of their hands.
That worked out well from them didn't it?"

Better look out for any dolls around here.

"What do you mean little brother?", Maddok asks the bard. "Do you believe these other things we have recovered, like the rapier and the mummified hand are powerful artifacts as well?"

Assuming Khazrae doesn't warn him about any traps, Maddok will detour from the wall to the mysterious blue metal dias at the center.

As Maddok and the others walk out into the sunlight, Vahnwynne backs away from the door.

Sounding sorrowful, she says "I'll wait here until you come back."

***

Khazrae looks towards Maddok.

"I wouldn't know. Perhaps someone else has placed traps here. Perhaps not. I simply figured it might be bad for me if a trap was found if I had stated there were no traps."

***

The weapon racks are filled with weapons of all sorts and sizes, although to Maddok's trained eye they're all ordinary weapons of their kind; none are particularly well made. Each weapon is fitted with protective padding, indicating they're meant for training as opposed to deadly combat.

Appario enters the courtyard, sword drawn.

Stupid door...I need to practice more when we get back. *If* we get back.

"Say Derek, you're not a fan of the Pathfinders either, right? What about them annoys you the most?"

Maddok's heart sinks in his chest as he has to leave Vahnwynne behind again, "We will be swift."

***

At the devil's confirmation Maddok will examine the dais and try to learn what he can about the blue metal it's constructed from.

Derek chuckles a little at the seeming naivety of his big brother.
"Well, maybe not artefact level of power, but I don't think they would have placed them in the same vault unless they also had great value.
Monetary or magical."

Considering for a moment he continues.
"They had names; I think most of them probably have a story of their own, give me a little time and I may recall something of it."

Derek then turns and regards Appario.
"Either eh? No you made your own feelings clear when we talked to that lady...and I too am not exactly a fan.
What annoys me the most you ask? Look around you, so many stories kept away from eager ears.
Artefacts and treasure hoarded instead of used.
Knowledge that could improve the lives of many secreted away instead of shared.
And all this they do while at the same time claiming to work for the greater good."

Appario nods in agreement.

"Yeah...that about sums it up. They have all this power. All the influence. All the potential to do great things...yet they sit and horde their artifacts like greedy little children." Appario looks at Derek as if waiting for Derek to say something snarky.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah...we Abadarans are greedy, but let's be honest: we *love* to lend and *love* to spend. We believe that we can make the world more civilized. Sadly, these Pathfinders..." Appario shakes his head. "...I have no idea what they are doing with their power...or why they even seek it."

While speaking, Appario looks around the courtyard again.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 Perception

Derek simply grins at Appario, somehow managing to convey a look of both mock hurt at being thought to insult a friend’s faith, and at the same time one of over exaggerated innocence much too strong to ever DREAM about being snarky.

"True enough, it’s not good for the economy if you just sit your rump on your gold like some kind of dragon. And while the golden vault might hold one copy of every item ever made, at least nobody tries to stop you from using the original."