DM Rah's "The Night March of Kalkamedes" (Inactive)

Game Master Kobash

"I suppose I might accept that arrangement." The sword replies to Garinol. "Assuming the warrior can show the proper respect."

Rowanna offers her opinion about the lift, "One of the warriors should stay up here with Kalkamedes in case he needs be restrained again for whatever reason. Also, we shouldn't stay split up for very long."

I'll go ahead and cast Light on the lift. I'll also try to Detect Evil (and Good, Law, or Chaos), and Detect Magic down the pit, then turn back and comment. "I'll stay up here, if you like." <adding in if I notice and magic or evil>

Garinol detects nothing in the pit.

"So magic swords don't seem to have a sense of humor, huh? Ok, I got it. If you want to come along for the ride, sword, I think you might be useful. In my experience, nothing good ever seems to be waiting at the bottom of a dark pit. Hopefully we can get whatever down there diced up and get you and your body back together licketty split."

Valeros steps on the paltform and grabs the sword, assuming it seems interested in joining him for the exploration.

"Me, Valeros, Peri, and Haris first. Then, if there's nothing dangerous, one of us comes back up for the rest?"

I'll hand it over in a knightly fashion, partially curious if the sword will zap Val. . . :)

"Sounds good to me. Let me know, whoever comes back up, if it would be safe to tie a rope around Kal and let him hang off the side of the lift a bit. Better that than him getting lucky and walking off the side to his death."

The sword responds to Valeros. "Have you noticed the crack in my blade? I have been the subject of jokes and ridicule my entire existence, so no, I cannot claim to have a sense of humor. But Kalkamedes saw my potential, and I am very loyal to him for it. If you can do likewise, I will prove my value."

Half the group enters the cage, the lever is pulled, and the lift descends. Below they discover a small rough cave with one five foot wide exit. Seemingly safe, the lift returns and the rest soon join them and continue along the only available route, which soon opens into a larger cavern.

Palm-sized shards of jagged steel jut from halfway up the walls, bathing the cavern with a dark green light. A set of natural rock columns support the chamber’s ceiling, which rises to a height of twenty feet. Several rounded alcoves branch off from the main cavern. Within the first lies an elaborate set of concentric circles inscribed in dull metal of different colors. And within the circles sits a gnome dressed in threadbare clothes and an unkempt mane of fuchsia hair.

He turns towards your group. "What's this? Hello? I've been down here so long I had begun to think I would never see another soul ever again. Please, can you help me?"

"Anyone else thinks this looks like a set up," the fighter asks, before moving an inch toward the gnome.

"What do you need?"

The gnome seems confused by Valeros' quip, but looks to Kilian with hope. "I'm really not sure. Perhaps that that big weapon you have could break this circle if you are strong enough."

MAP UPDATED

”Looks like you're in there for a reason and we're not here to rescue anyone”, Haris lights his evertorch and throws it full strength down the cavern.

I'll walk with Kal a little bit over to the side to see what else is down here, without going to far from the others.

"You're pretty suspicious, Haris. Garinol, what do you think?"

"How about you, sword? This seem like a trap to you? Who would trap a gnome magically? Something stinky about it, I think."

"You're pretty suspicious, Haris. Garinol, what do you think?"

I'm not sure how much of the conversation I had heard, having waited upstairs. However, never break the seals. . . general rule right up there with "not crossing the streams" or "you say yes". :)

(Yes, that would be 'bad')

As Haris, Garinol, and Kal continue further into the cavern, the gnome calls out. "What's wrong with your companion there? Is he injured? Perhaps I can help!" When Haris throws the torch, he raises his voice. "I wouldn't go that way if I were you! The Thrallkeepers bound other things in this place, probably as guardians. They are not likely to be friendly! Please, if you are going to throw your lives away, let me go first!"

By the light of Haris' torch, a deep pool comes into view within another alcove.

MAP UPDATED

"I don't really care for most gnomes, so you don't want to hear my opinion." Rowanna informs the group.

Kilian shakes his head in something like amazement. "How long have you been down here? And how are you staying alive, without food or water?"

The gnome continues speaking to Kilian, though his eyes keep darting to those who have walked away. I've been here since the Thrallkeepers left. What year is it now? I'm sure it has been hundreds of years. The magic they used to imprison me must be sustaining me somehow. It will probably fade when I am released, but for the chance to breath the air outside and see the sky once more, I'll accept death. At least then my spirit will be at peace in the First World."

Garinol Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 Nope

"It's 4713. Who are the Thrallkeepers? I've never heard of them."

"How do we free you, my friend, and how will you help our ally here? Do you know what's wrong with him? Why he's acting this way?", trying to not give away too much info about Kal, before venturing a little bit further. I peeked a tiny bit, the ocd part of me wants to go till I see the whole map, and was seeing if I moved 2 or 3 more squares it was good enough or not.

Geeze, ooc I feel like something is wrong with this, but it feels like metagaming because my character would really want to try to free and help him, being all goody-goody.

Just giving the others a chance to post before continuing.

Geeze, ooc I feel like something is wrong with this, but it feels like metagaming because my character would really want to try to free and help him, being all goody-goody.

Likewise. NG Andoran faction--of course he's going to be all sensitive to a situation reminiscent of slavery.

”Keep him there and quiet-”, Haris whispers to Garinol once around the corner, then pulls out his Wand of Disguise and changes his appearance to match Kalkamedes. Once ready, he'll lumber back to the edge of the seal, watching to see the gnome's reaction.

Upon seeing Harris pretending to be Kalk, Peri gets in on the action.

"Hi sleepyhead"

bluff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

-Posted with Wayfinder

From her position by the exit, Rowanna casts Detect Magic to investigate the magical properties of the circle and surrounding area.

Garinol, due to the position of Haris' thrown torch you cannot see into the dark area.

In response to Kilian, the gnome looks confused. "4713? By Xin's reckoning? I would have thought more time had passed."

To Garinol, "The Thrallkeepers are a conclave of thaumaturgists that serve the Runelords. Or did. I haven't seen one here in a long time."

As Haris/Kalkamedes returns and approaches the circle, the gnome peers at him, then exclaims. "Johanis? No, wait, that can't be. But he does look a little like him. A descendant, perhaps? What is wrong with him? He looks almost... asleep."

"No, by Absalom Reckoning. I think Earthfall was close to ten thousand years ago; I'm no historian, though."

"We can send someone back for the gnome, if he's telling the truth. If he's not. Maybe we can get them to send a powerful Mage who can deal with him."

Haris does his best at sleep talking while swaying,”I AM Johanis! Tell them the truth and they'll set you free!”.

Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

[Any Wand bonus or assist from others?]

Garinol, due to the position of Haris' thrown torch you cannot see into the dark area.

Kal has my Everburning Torch hanging around his neck :)

And is Garinol really yelling back to the gnome from over there? He will probably have a harder time hearing any answers.

"Yes johanis, we will find the truth"

bluff assist: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

"The wards the gnome is supposedly stuck in are designed to imprison outsiders. A gnome should be able to move freely out of them." Rowanna relates with a darkly amused smile.

The gnome seems confused by Haris/Kalkamedes/Johanis.

"How can that be? A human would be long dead. Are you a spirit possessing one of his ancestors? If so, you know me, old friend, and you know I am not lying! Why won't you set me free?" The gnome chokes up and begins sobbing. "Please!"

Peri leans in flaunting what Desna gave her and whispers to the gnome.

"Rowanna believes you are fibbing gnome dear, just as you assume Johanis is. I believe it is time to come clean"

intimidate: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

And I was just about to say that if he took Kal back there, I'll go with Kal. . .

"Hey Rowanna, lover, could you come here a moment. I think Kal might have grabbed my Wayfinder, too." hoping she might catch the oddity of the sentence and realize something was going on. I'll step foreward to the edge of the circle, and Detect Evil, then Detect Good. (Also want to try that on the other circle).

The gnome's sobs change, becoming staggered and strangled, then wheezing. He covers his face and his shoulders heave. When he looks up at Peri she suddenly realizes that he is laughing at her.

"You know, for a mortal, that wasn't half bad." A disturbing grin splits his face, his teeth suddenly jagged and sharp. "But it leaves me wondering. Should I act intimidated, or lustful? You can't quite pull off both, my little fox."

"Had the other girl looked closer, she might have noticed how weak this circle has become over the centuries. It will soon fail. I could wait, but I am so bored that I will make you an unusually generous offer. To the one who frees me I will grant one wish."

As he talks his form begins to swell, his skin blisters and smokes, limbs distend, bones cracking and resetting into unnatural positions. His skin turns to ash and floats away like embers, revealing scales beneath. From behind his back two more arms tear from his clothes, each ending in large pincers in place of hands.

It then turns a terrible face upon Peri. "Refuse and I will break free soon enough and make you wish for death."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (3) + 22 = 25

Image of the Creature

Haha, Haris would love to say, "Wish? I'ma Pathfinder, I can't keep s#!+" BTW, Rowanna saves the day! And can't see image GM.

Image should be viewable now.

Rowanna begins to move to Garinol's position when the 'gnome' reveals his true form. She stops mid-stride and attempts to identify the creature.

Knowledge (Planes) to ID creature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Valeros stares way up to the top of the monster's head. "He's big and ugly, isn't he? You know it might be worth our while to just leave him be in that magic circle. He looks tough!"

Shaken Peri quips to the monster

"Not going to happen."

She blows the monster a kiss, winks, then walks back towards her companions. She hopes that no one noticed how scared she actually was.

bluff for acting unfazed: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Kilian nearly falls over scrambling backwards away from the circle, stammering and bringing his guisarme around to point at the creature. The trembling of the polearm's business end makes it clear that the Andoren is not used to such manifestations. "W-what is that?"

I'll keep on scanning, trying to determine if it's the circle, the creature, or both that radiates that arua.

KalHaris does a mime-to-wall act and exits stage left out of view, then dismisses the disguise. He continues over to pick up his torch.