DM Fang Dragon’s Ruins of Adventure (Inactive)

Game Master FangDragon

Despite the efforts of Ser Armithia and Zane the statue's head stubbornly refused to move.

"Seems the mechanism has become stuck, it shouldn't be that hard to turn. We might need to find some oil, I seem to remember the caretakers had a cupboard in the north-west side." said Delenn.

Kardas spreads his meaty mittens as frustration pours over his features. "We truly well are in a library for this is the one place in Phlan where brute force isn't a possible answer to a problem. Fine, perhaps one of us can give it a go," and he doesn't want to eye Azarra yet does so anyway. "If that doesn't work, we can go and fetch some of the caretaker's oil."

Ishta thinks for a moment, considering the possibilities. "I haven't memorized my Grease spell today, but I have some soap. We could try if it works."

Azarra jumps in to help

Strength Aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Then she examines the statue to see if there is another way to help.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Seriously, dice?

She responds to Kardas

Oil it is.

I suppose you could try soap, but oil will probably work better. You could go back to town to buy some easily, or explore in the Library. Let me know what you wish to do.

"I mean, if it's easy enough to reach, but ..." and Kardas wiggles his fingers, causing icy motes to float towards his hand. "I could try casting grease on it?"

He then answers the question by doing just so. What regular oil could do, hopefully, magical grease can do too.

I never thought about that, Ishta, but it might just do the trick.

After unsuccessfully trying to help Ser Armithia twist the statue into position, Zane takes a break and allows the heavier thinkers of the group to do their thing while he just looked about aimlessly, keeping a wary eye out for danger. As Kardas was able to conjure up some magical goop that might unstick the stubborn statue, Zane turned his attention back to the matter at hand, looking across at Ser Armithia and getting ready to assist once again.

The gold elf kicks the podium....

Kardas's spell apparently did something because you hear a solid ker-CLUNK come from deep inside.

The new strength DC is 15

Can I take 10 for 13 and get an assist?

After hearing the sound of something moving deep within whatever mechanism was within the statue, the priest again braced his feet and set about trying to help Ser Armithia move the stone to the appropriate position.

Str Assist: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

"Ha, rust and dust cannot withstand the might of the ancient words of Nar!"

Zane strains and the Head initially resists movement but then something gives and suddenly it twists ninety degrees before stopping with a satisfying CLUNK.

Delenn seemed pleased, saying, "Ah very good, that's one of four set. Lets deal with the others, I wouldn't be surprised if they've also seized up, we may need to repeat this procedure."

OK where to next?

Azarra gets back behind Zane if they are moving on, still afraid of being turned to stone.

Zane grinned tiredly at Kardas' words, wiping his hands on his tunic before retrieving his mace and shield. Once the group was set again, the priest would follow along, taking care to try and provide cover for Azarra as they wandered.

I say door N, since we're already here.

"Three more. There, that door! Let us go there. Or," and Kardas eyes the elf with question marks written all over his face. "Is this door not safe to open?"

Door N, as Zane suggested.

The door was unlocked and opened into a cavernous polished smooth sandstone corridor, the length of which you can just make out through the gloom, it appears to cross the whole length of the library. Several doors where visible branching off the corridor, each with the same carved angel motif. Again the smell of dust and ages hangs in the air.

OK which way?

"So, more of the same here. Is it perhaps worth going back to check out those other 3 rooms? Make sure there's no trouble in our backs?"

I am fine with moving on to the three remaining pieces, but there's a case to be made to at least have a peek at what's behind the doors. Sadly, that tends to bog down play in a pbp environment :x

Ser Armithia leads the way.
Seeing the hall, he nods to Kardas.
Agreed.

Zane agreed with the Rashemi man's logic, so he sets off after the two others, waving the remaining party members after him. He understood Delenn's objective, but leaving too many doors at their backs with potential enemies was a risk that was too great in the cleric's eyes.

Door O seems the likely next candidate.

Even against her curiosity, which compels her to open the side door (door L), she follows the rest and trusts their common sense.

Just in case there's something other than a hallway behind it, Kardas backtracks into the room and opens the sole unopened door. Map: door L.

I durped. Was quite tired when I last posted *hides behind his excuse* so, doors D and E are only accessible *from* the hallway, but door L is definitely in our room. Of course, having an overhead overview as a player, I can see it leads to the darn hallway, but still. My character would darn well want to ensure that's the case. My apologies for delaying us ;x

In the interests of avoiding map exploration bogging things down I'll reveal all the nearby rooms.
Kardas opens the door to the east to find a gloomy corridor leading north. The door to the west opens onto a narrow corridor with numerous coat hooks, and low wooden shelving for slippers. There's several suspicious stains on the floor and everything of value has been taken. Round the corner he finds another study room which contains little of interest beyond dried up inkwells and desiccated and crumbling parchment.

To the north Zane tries another exquisitely carved door bedecked with cherubs and angels. The door also has a copper plaque engraved with the word 'Rhetoric'. Inside is raised lectern that stands some 3 feet above the flagged floor. The remains of rugs and cushions students would have sat on are strewn across the floor. The walls are lined with bookshelves containing a great number of what appear to be Textbooks with titles such as: 'On the Rhetoric of Kings and Angels', 'Logic: A rational Discourse', 'Arguments of Mind and Theory'.

In the north west corner is another statue like the one you manipulated earlier.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Ser Armithia stands at the ready; his helmeted head continues to scan.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Zane looked around the room full of books, working hard to keep his eyes from going glassy just from reading the nearby titles. Certainly the world needed its historians and keepers of knowledge, but the priest was very glad it was not his chosen profession. Noticing the statue in the back, he glanced back at Delenn, arching a brow. "I'm assuming that's another of our quartet?"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

"Uh? What's this, a guestbook?"

Not being much versed in theology, Ishta makes some of her friends notice.

"You'd expect a guestbook to be located at the entrance. Ugh, the titles of the books here give me a headache, so I doubt that whatever is in that tome, is something I'd want to read."

Kardas doesn't have knowledge religion, so yeah ;)

Delenn looks at the book askance as she replies, "Yes that's one of the statues. I'm not sure I like the looks of things in here, we probably shouldn't linger."

She walks towards the statue, which is right next to the Lectern and the animated book, and tries to move it. Despite her visibly straining, nothing happens and she sighs, "I'm afraid it's stuck too."

Same DCs as before.

Ser Armithia turns his cones in the direction of the book.
Knowledge (religion) (Int): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Zane sighed as Ishta pointed out the floating tome, though it seemed a rather strange trap if it was indeed one. Following Delenn into the room, he approached the statue with her, trying his own hand at moving the piece. After a fair bit of grunting and straining, he glanced helplessly at Kardas.

Str: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The Raumathar flashes a wry grin at Zane before scraping his throat to make sure the necessary phlegm is there to cast a most lubricative grease spell. "Ha! Fine! Use my skill at magicks to smoothen the transition and acquisition of wares!"

Cast Grease, bringing Kardas's remaining level 1 spells down to 2 out of 4.

Ishta looks worried. "Mmmh... We should look for the oil Delen talked about. Burning through our magical energies doesn't seem the wisest way."

She also pats Zane in the shoulder. "My friend, you should have a look at that book. Maybe there's something important in there." Since the GM asked for a Kn Religion roll and Ishta doesn't have it.

Zane had no luck trying to turn the statue's head, his hands slipping off. Kardas's spell seemed to have an effect once more, with some hidden mechanism making a THUNK.

However you are as this happens, the faint ghostly outline of what must have been a lecturer appears behind the book. Suddenly the doors bang shut and pages from the book race forwards and backwards. Suddenly the book snaps open on a page with a complex diagram and letters and words contained leap from the page and begin swirling in the air like a thick cloud that seeks you out. You are all barraged by a glut of complex ideas, tangled formulas, and logical conundrums that causes your head to ache terribly, making the room seem to spin while your eyes, nose and mouths bleed!

Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 1, 2, 2) = 14

Azarra <----- WE ARE HERE

Ishta Khosiv
Kardas Rasalas
Ser Armithia-Seendren
Zane Levallis
Delenn
Haunt

Azarra, Ishta Khosiv, Kardas Rasalas, Ser Armithia-Seendren and Zane Levallis are up.

"Aieee! A haunt!" screeched Delenn as the cloud of symbols attacked!

Where is the book exactly? I don't want to burn anyone :P

The book is next to the statue, so yeah you probably don't want to use burning hands.

Zane grinned as Kardas as the Rashemi man cast the useful spell once more. At Ishta's words of caution, the priest nodded his head in agreement, his excitement having caused him to overlook rationing their resources more carefully. As she patted him on the shoulder, he turned to respond and explain that he had no formal knowledge of religion when all of a sudden the waves of negative energy washed over the group!

Grasping the pink disc of Lathander, Zane concentrated fiercely, shouting, "Morninglord, help your servant to put this apparition to rest!"

Channel Positive Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11

Is the ghostly apparition still there or is it just the book now?

It's still there, just. The book seems to be the main source of trouble, as least in so far as a lay person can tell.

Ishta respond with an aggressive invocation, sending data of force towards the book.

[dice=Magic Missile]3d4+3[/b]

"Let me at it, Ish! Let me at it!"

Can you take a 5ft step back, Ishta? If not, Kardas will help to forfeit his round :)

Botting Azarra
Undaunted by this strange enemy, Azarra starts singing which bolsters your resolve! Inspire courage.

Ishta unleashes a fusillade of miniature missiles which scream into the book, turning sections into confetti!
Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 3, 1) + 3 = 9

Azarra

Ishta Khosiv
Kardas Rasalas <----- WE ARE HERE
Ser Armithia-Seendren
Zane Levallis
Delenn
Haunt

Kardas Rasalas, Ser Armithia-Seendren, Zane Levallis and Delenn are up.

Kardas the brown object next to you is the Lectern upon which is the book. You can reach it from where you're standing.

Ah, sorry for the bbcode fail. Yes, Ishta would definitely step back from the melee to leave room for the experts.

Did it seem that Zanes Channel affected it? Did my knowledge religion 13 recognize it has a haunt? I will Channel if yes to either.

Just waiting to resolve Kardas's action. Channel energy should affect a haunt.

The Raumathar's muscles bulge as he puts in an ultimate effort to cleave the book in two.

Std action: attack the book with +1 longsword
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Kardas' sword slices through the book, sending page fragments flying!

Moments later Zane invoked The Morninglord's name, flooding the area with positive energy which seemed to dissolve sections of the cloud.

Ser Armithia no, you didn't recognize it. However Delenn did and told you all that it's a haunt, you can post an action if you like.

The Paladin also Channels.
Channel Positive: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

Ser Armithia invokes the stern judgment of Helm and floods the area with positive energy which seems to burn the haunt!

Delenn flings her hand towards the book and cries a harsh word. A fusillade of miniature missiles screams towards the book, detonating in tiny showers of paper.
Magic missiles: 4d4 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 2) = 11

The haunt flickers and seems to vanish before coming back with a vengeance. Words, images, concepts and theorems lanced into your brains causing mental overload. Azarra suffered particularly badly, ending up dazed and staggering about!

Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 1, 6, 3) = 18

Azarra <----- WE ARE HERE

Ishta Khosiv
Kardas Rasalas
Ser Armithia-Seendren
Zane Levallis
Delenn
Haunt

Azarra, Ishta Khosiv, Kardas Rasalas, Ser Armithia-Seendren, Zane Levallis and Delenn are up.

Zane gritted his teeth against the onslaught of negative energy, looking about at his companions to see how they were faring. The lovely half-elven woman staggering under the pressure had the priest taking steps to help her, though he still had the presence to keep clasping his holy symbol and send another pulse of warm, divine energy out to try to counter the dark cloud in the room.

Channel to harm the Haunt: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6