DM Rah's Thornkeep - "Part 2 - The Forgotten Laboratory" (Inactive)

Game Master Kobash

Forgot flanking, but I doubt it matters...

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"Try to hit that crystal. That might be the key to stopping this thing once and for all!"

With a stone cold expression, Maddie attempts to bash the statue again.

Mace + Magic Weapon: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 1 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Pai, you can't get to the crystal without destroying the statue or attempting what László was considering. And to be honest, grappling and pinning the statue for a minute would be a lot harder than just beating it to pieces as you are slowing doing. I'll move on again for now.

More strikes bash the statue. This time Ayaki finally gets the right angle and puts a sizable crack in the torso. If the statue was filled with candy, this would be much like a Taldan birthday party.

However, the statue still fights back and it's not time to celebrate just yet. Turning to the latest threat, it punches Ayaki right in the beak. 9 damage

Slam at Ayaki: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Slam at Ayaki: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

INIATITIVE Round 6-7 - Everyone is up again!

This is getting monotonous. Shoulda played a wizard or something.
club: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22, damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3) + 4 = 10
gore: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14, damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

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PA greatsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (3, 2) + 10 = 15

PA bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
damage: 1d3 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Barlor and Ayaki land telling blows. The Statue seems almost ready to fall...

mite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 151d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

That should about do it.

Despite relentlessly failing to damage the creature, Maddie tries, tries again to little avail.

Mace + Magic Weapon: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7

Unfortunately, that doesn't do it... I'm assuming László is aiding and providing flanking?

The mite continues to provide an entertaining distraction, and flanking partner, in the fight.

Maddie's strike is true, but the statue is so hard that her magic bounces off without leaving a mark.

With two threats, the Statue throws a fist at both Ayaki and Barlor. Barlor takes one to the shield, but avoids damage, but the other strikes the tengu solidly. 8 damage to Ayaki

Slam at Ayaki: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Slam at Barlor: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

INIATITIVE Round 7-8 - Everyone is up again!

PA Greatsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 2) + 10 = 16

PA bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
damage: 1d3 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Ing eventually abandons the effort, content to harry the statue. Barlor continues his assault.
Club: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11, Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 6) + 4 = 12

And with two great blows the statue breaks into pieces, joining the rest of the junk scattered about the chamber. The crystal built into its chest, the source of the magic that powers it, pulses wildy and shatters.

Though there are no functioning items left in this room, there are raw materials and items suitable for repurposing. The various cogs, gears, and tools in this room are worth a total of 1,000 gp, though the whole lot weighs more than 500 pounds.

The south wall of this chamber contains a large iron door with a particularly complicated lock. A plate on the wall next to the door is etched with the words "Enigma Vault".

The key taken from Krenar opens this door, but the passage and stairs descend into a new section of Thornkeep. Before descending, you should probably report your findings back to the Pathfinder Society.

The Enigma Vaults is the next module in the series.

Let's go check out those other statues.

were any of them missing the crystal in the chest?

Both are missing crystals.

I still have over a minute on this Shillelagh. We can give it a shot.

Ayaki casts leadblades on his great sword

"Let us do it then."

"Woah, woah, woah! Are you all suggesting we out the crystals in the statues and let them wallop us again? I think the Society should know of these constructs, and we should just take them the crystals. Why destroy something that might be worthwhile to us?"

Unfortunately, that doesn't do it... I'm assuming László is aiding and providing flanking?

Correct. Thought I'd said that; sorry.

"Pai is right, my friends. I do not think, now, that the other statues will animate without these odd crystals, which our leaders should learn of quickly. But before we take our alchemist prisoner back, I would like to see if there was anything at the end of the trapped hallway."

This group abandons me like the last.

"Well, let us explore this level once more, in case we missed something "

The end of the trapped hallway was already searched once by Ayaki, who found nothing. László searches it again, but finds nothing new.

"So, then. Up, report, and then before we return I need more arrows, at least--I have used many here."

Despite looking a bit cross at her ineffectiveness against the statue, Maddie channels to heal the group after the battle.

Channel healing (4/5 left): 1d6 ⇒ 3
Channel healing (3/5 left): 1d6 ⇒ 5
Channel healing (2/5 left): 1d6 ⇒ 1

"I can continue if anyone is still significantly injured." She offers afterwards, looking more serene.

"I have to concur with Pai and Laszlo. Unnecessary fighting does not seem like a good use of our time. Moreover, the statues are probably of more value in study by the Society intact rather than broken into pieces."

"I'm sure your Society can just 'magic' the statue back together if they're so interested." Turg emphasizes the "magic" point with finger-waggling. She also spends a minute summoning Snave to aid the search. He takes 10 for 27.

"Thank you for your healing magic Maddie. I believe that I will remain in Thornkeep, the village not here until your return. Ambrus will shame me if I do not fully explore this complex, however I can not do it alone. Perhaps we will all meet again comrades."

Feeling a sense of accomplishment Ayaki finishes his thoughts

"Shall we head back to the village?"

You return to the surface victorious over the dangers lurking beneath Thornkeep. Your prisoner, the deranged alchemist Krenar Half-Face, is questioned by Venture-captain Ambrus Valsin and Master of Spells Aram Zey, both of whom teleported from Absalom to personally receive your report. He is then turned over the local authorities for crimes against magic and nature, and to answer for other activities and bodies left in his wake before coming to Thornkeep.

In the next few days a few interesting discoveries are made concerning some of the items you recovered. The arcanolembic is primary among the interests of the Society, and with the proper collateral, it is yours to test on their behalf. The crystal also is of note, as very few constructs are made with removable power sources. Aram Zey plans to descend and bring back one of the inert statues for study.

The last mysterious discovery is a mutagenic unguent found among Krenar's alchemical components. Apparently Krenar was experimenting in ways to grant the effects of a mutagen without the preparation an alchemist goes through to use one safely, and enough of the substance was recovered to give each member of your group one dose of the experiment. However, the eagerness in Aram Zey's tone upon handing them out, and the polite request to write down any side-effects, makes you wonder if perhaps he might be conducting a little experiment of his own.