DM Rah's "The Citadel of Flame" PFS PBP Gameday (Inactive)

Game Master Kobash

”-On your sides. Those could be more sentinels”, Ugly says to Sark and Alden, indicating the perfectly preserved corpses in a small outcrop near the brass doors, ”Bandages don't look a day old, not without sorcery...”. He arms himself with two wooden stakes and remain at distance.

"I don't know; buried under the sand, they'll dry out pretty fast." Leonides sets his shoulder to the door and tries to open it, but slips on the sandy paving stones.

STR check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"Here. I'll try. Keep a lokout for other dangers"

Alden sets his shoulder against it and slowly but surely exerts considerable force against it mking sure not to make too much noise in order not to alert any potential dangers around.

His shoulders bunched up, the muscles in his legs burning as ssweat pours down his forehead but he doesn't relent. Growling slightly beneath his breath, Alden pushes with all the strength he can muster.

Take 20 for Str Check. Total 24

Creeping over, Pascale investigates the two corpses.

Leonides steps back and keeps watch while Alden pushes open the door.

Pascal moves to examine the two corpses and finds that they are not more sentinels left to guard the Citadel, but simply a pair of old bodies, preserved by the environment. One holds a vial in its hand and clutches a worn bag containing three more. The second has a broken bow and a quiver at its side with 4 golden-fletched arrows that gleam brightly in the sunlight.

Alden, you mentioned opening the door as quietly as possible. The hinges are not rusted, and the doors are basically just heavy unhinged. Can you give me some kind of idea how you'd open them quietly, plus roll a stealth check or some other kind of appropriate skill?

Sark moves over to the bodies as well, his bow ready. When he sees the bodies are not alive he relaxes a bit. Looking over the body with the bow, he spots the quiver and slowly looks over the body to see if anything stands out. If nothing catches his eye he slowly removes the quiver to examine the arrows. He looks back at the scene of the building and think this is not the last time we will see fire today.

Sark shouts over to the group and asks, "Anyone mine if i take these arrows to try and use later? If we have time maybe can try to work out if they are magical or not."

Pascal holds up the vials to the sunlight and turns back to the group. Anyone have any idea what these might be for?

Am Afraid Alden isn't too bright.

Alden placing his hands on one side of the door farthest from the hinges and pushes, using his full body weight as well as the press of his broad shoulder being brought full bear on the edge of the door.

First a slight push to test for resistance and then a stronger push to gradually ease the door open and allow a crack. After making sure of that, Alden will then bring his entire weight against one door as he pushes one side open first before opening the other (Unless they open together).

Alden will open it wide enough for 2 to go abreast.

Attempted Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"Let me have a look at them, Pascal." The inquisitor murmurs a quick orison (casting detect magic) and examines the vials.

Spellcraft check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Then he moves on to the arrows.

Spellcraft check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Leonides determines that the vials are four oils of bless weapon, and four +1 holy arrows.

Alden slowly pushes the doors open. Though not completely silent, he manages to get them open without making a racket.

The entry hall within is clearly meant to impress visitors. Stylized efreeti faces are spaced every 5 feet along walls covered with scrollwork carved in gold filigree. Massive obsidian benches line the walls, and a thick layer of desert sand covers the floor and stairs, especially near the entryway. Many rows of stout pillars, carved to resemble writhing flames, surround the center of the room where a set of graceful spiral stairs, constructed of black marble veined with scarlet, wind upward. The bonfire in the entry hall casts illumination throughout the room and sends waves of intense heat flowing upwards, along with thick black smoke. Directly above the flame, at the level of the chamber’s ceiling, is a wide capstone concealing the interior of the hall’s large minaret.

MAP UPDATED.

Leonides scratches his head, contemplating the bonfire. Has that been burning all this time? What fuels it, I wonder?

Peeking over his two teammates, Haku strains to see what is inside the chamber. Are there any inhabitants that we can see?

Sark offers 2 of the arrows to anyone else so not to keep all their eggs in one basket then addresses the group.

"It appears that we are about to enter a fire worshipping cult, anyone prepared for this sort of thing, protection from fire, ice attacks ect? Spellcasters if we were to rest outside could you prepare these sort of spells?"

Sark likes to be as prepared as possible when entering the unknown.

We ought to divvy up these oils as well. I'll keep one, so that leaves 3 others for the group.

Haku shakes his head, "What I have prayed for today will help everyone in ending the threat together, through the blessings of Tangaroa. Other than that, I am here for healing support."

Ugly signals for Pascal to toss one vial over, then stows it away. When others are ready, he pulls out his hand-cannon and takes the first steps in carefully. Seeing no one evident, he steals across the floor to the double doors and listens.

Stealth,Desert Shadow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Alden looks at the lited bonfire.

"Isn't this place supposed to be abandoned or something?"

Alden readies his flail and shield.

Pascal passes a vial to both Alden and Aeshuura before attempting to slip her way into the shadows cast by the bonfire.

Take 10 stealth for an 18

Pas, I (Aeshuura) am playing Haku for this one, I forgot and let my alias slip. Ugly seems to have been signalling for it, so we'll give it to him. ^_^ Sorry for the confusion!

"Sark, I don't think we have a day to wait. This place could be buried under the sand again with little warning." Leonides follows the half-orc in.

Sark shrugs and dives into the shadows to follow the group from behind with his bow ready.

take 10 with stealth

Ah of course! That makes way more sense!

Pascal will give the last vial to Leonides.

Ugly moves quietly through the entrance chamber to the double doors. He hears nothing but the crackle of the bonfire.

Pascal and Sark also sneak into the chamber, taking different routes among the pillars.

No new developments. Everyone continue.

Waiting for everyone to enter the citadel, Pascal then tiptoes up the steps to investigate up top.

Stealth 18

Making his way to the double doors to the south, he waits to see if Ugly opens the ones to the north. If he has the time, Sark checks for traps on his door but will stand back if Ugly reaches for the doors closest to him. As he passes near the fire, he tries to see what fuel it burns, if any. He does not get closer than 15 feet though.

Ugly motions for someone to check the stairs while covers the north door.

Alden simply takes up position and watches out for danger letting the rest do what they do best.

Sorry, I missed seeing Pascal's post about checking the stairs

Gripping his warclub tightly, Haku moves carefully to the stairs, "Sark, would like to do the honors?"

Haku, Pascal has already moved up the stairs. Sark is crossing the room to the other doors. Leonides, you said you followed Ugly in, but since he was trying to be sneaky I've left you just inside the front doors for now until you tell me otherwise.

Pascale climbs the central stairs finding that they wrap around the capstone and end in a small landing adjacent to an egg-shaped enclosure suspended inside the minaret. The chamber’s exterior walls are wreathed in smoke flowing in wide ribbons toward the minaret’s peak. A squat stone door leads inside.

The door is currently closed.

Sark crosses the chamber towards the southern doors, peeking into the bonfire as he does. He sees no source of fuel within and can only guess that it must be magical in nature.

Sark, you have time to check for traps if desired.

Oops! I missed that one too! :p

Sark looks over at his name being called, being deep in the shadows he guesses his fellows cannot see where he is and continues on his path. He takes the time to search the door and waits for the others to decide which way we will go.

take ten to search 16

Sark detects no traps on the southern doors.

Sark waits to hear what is at top of stairs, as he waits moves over to Ugly's door ever watchful for traps on his way, and check his door. From the shadows Sark asks Ugly "hey you going to open this door, it seems safe"if i find nothing that is heh

Leonides takes rear-guard going up the stairs, checking behind the party frequently as he goes up.

Pascal whispers down her finding to the others. "I'm going to open it up and see what's inside. Anyone want to join me up here?

Checking the door for traps (Perception take 20=22) she proceeds to open the door once anyone else has joined her.

Haku heads up the stairs to back up Pascal.

Sark examines the northern door while Pascal thoroughly checks the door at the top of the stairs. Neither finds any sign of traps.

Ugly waits below with Sark. No intention to open the door just yet, he braces against it for the moment until the others return.

"Errmm Does anyone need me to open up any doors? Or are there any other foes?"

Alden Whispers.

Sark watches the group on the stairs, his mind thinks of traps he would set, which why he is so good at finding others. He thinks that having the stairs dump anyone on them into the bonfire would be a nasty way to protect that door, he hopes nothing goes wrong and waits to see what happens.

can you take 20 searching for traps, since if you fail there is a possible effect i though you could not take 20 searching for them. Good to know if we can for future.

As far as I know you can always take 20 when using perception as an active skill. Disable Device however I believe you need to roll. Failing to perceive a trap will not cause it to activate usually, but failing badly in an attempt to disable it will. That said...

Pascal opens the stone door and looks inside. The small chamber beyond the door is dark and bare of any furnishings. Suddenly a flame appears hovering in the center, briefly illuminating walls decorated with large murals before it flashes outward in a rush of fire that spills out the door and partway down the stairs enveloping, Pascal and Haku.

WHOOOOOSH!

Pascal Reflex Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Haku Reflex Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Fire Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

5 Fire damage to Pascal
2 Fire damage to Haku

"Tangaroa's foamy beard! What was that?" I'm assuming it was some sort of trap, and not some kind of elemental still floating above?

Sark jumps a bit when the fire washes over the two on the stairs, holding his bow at ready he shouts up "Everyone ok?" At least they were not dumped into the bonfire like he would have set it to do....

In the famous words of Admiral Ackbar - It's a trap!

The trap sprung, the flames dissipate into the air and go out.

Leonides hastens up the stairs, drawing a wand. "Anyone hurt up there?"

Haku calls down, "Pascal is hurt a bit."

Ugly heads upstairs.

Are icon positions correct?

I should probably be in your position on the map.