DM Talomyr's Council of Thieves (Inactive)

Game Master Talomyr

"Blessed Inheritor, see me across safely..."

Guidance, being used on the climb check.

Stowing his shield, Valeron begins to carefully climb across the shaft, using the rope.

Climb DC7: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Whew!

Once across, ignoring the yell from beyond the door, Valeron shakes his head. "The worst part is I bet we go back that way, too."

On the ring of protection, Valeron doesn't have one yet, and I can't quite tell who's getting attacked more at this point. Something tells me Talomyr may attack Morghrim more :)

Kev already has one.

Maybe it's too late now, but I'm assuming that everybody is tying a rope around the main rope and about their person in case they do slip. It looks like a long way down...

Also, do the people going across on the rope also feel weightless, or was that a descriptive effect of Kev's truly awesome Acrobatics roll?

Valeron- if you plan to regularly prepare Shield of Faith, don't bother with the ring. If your not, take it.

Also, do the people going across on the rope also feel weightless, or was that a descriptive effect of Kev's truly awesome Acrobatics roll?

Each person crossing felt something akin to that feeling, just not as keenly as Kevorin.

Taking whatever gear you need off of Wart's body is fine. Just let me know who has what.

Addie will pocket the scroll of Detect Secret Doors and the bag of marbles.

Would a knowledge check be appropriate to figure out who Vheed is?

"MORE THAN ONE OF YOU?! I HEAR YOU! LET ME OUT OF THIS DAMNED CELL!"

DC 20 Knowledge (Local) check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 - nope, no idea...

Valeron- if you plan to regularly prepare Shield of Faith, don't bother with the ring. If your not, take it.

It's Shield of Faith or Faerie Fire for his domain spell. I guess I'll take the ring, and just use Valeron's Shield of Faith on Morghrim? :)

"Sounds like someone wants out..." Valeron nods at the others.

"You there, inside... identify yourself." Valeron shouts back through the door, hoping to gain some insight into the room's occupant before the door is opened.

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

So close...

In the bat of an eye the voice behind the door goes from forceful and angry to sheepish and pleading...

"Vheed has had me locked in here for so long...so long...if you let me out, I will go home...I won't even go after your master, Vheed...I so long to be out of this place"

Well the thing is, Morghrim only has a certain amount of spells known and one is shield of faith anyway. Take the ring and memorise Faerie Fire regularly, its a brilliant spell, it can come out of your treasure share later :).

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 Fail on Knowledge (Planes), pass if Monster Lore applies.

Well the thing is, Morghrim only has a certain amount of spells known and one is shield of faith anyway. Take the ring and memorise Faerie Fire regularly, its a brilliant spell, it can come out of your treasure share later :).

1d20+8 Fail on Knowledge (Planes), pass if Monster Lore applies.

In this case, Monster Lore would certainly apply

Morghrim growls, speaking quietly.

I think its a devil of some kind in there. We should be cautious- but it might know things about this place that make it worth at least trying to wrangle information out of.

DC 15 Knowledge (Planes) check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

"I believe you are right, Morghrim," Addie whispers to the inquisitor.

"I don't know who Vheed is, but he - or she - is not our master," Addie announces to the voice in the cell. "How did you wind up imprisoned here?" she asks.

"As I said, Vheed imprisoned me here. If Vheed is not your master, how is it are you in this place and not in one of these damned cells?"

"Who is this 'Vheed' you speak of?" Addie asks.

You hear what sounds like the prisoner sniffing the air...

"Human...do you really expect me to believe that you are here
of all places and do not know who Dharghentu Vheed is...the Lord Mayor of your little, precious city."

That will trigger the ability to make a new Knowledge (Local) roll.

DC 16 Knowledge (History) check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

"Dhargentu Vheed - the first Lord Mayor assigned to Westcrown after the House of Thrune took control of Cheliax? That was 80 years ago. There have been four other Lord Mayors since then. Sounds like you've been locked away here for a while, devil."

"So we've found a number of prison cells? I wonder what infernal creature is locked away in the other one..."

After deliberating for a moment, he adds in a low voice, "if a Thrune appointee locks away this creature, it must truly be insidious. I cannot see any good coming of it's release."

As you look down the hallway, you see what you would assume to be nine more cells. All of the other doors seem to be of the same construction and appear to be barred from the outside, just as the one that contains the howling creature, with the exception of the third door on the left is no longer barred from the outside.

"NO! Don't leave me here! I...I can not stand this anymore. Let me out, Szasmir promises to help you if you let me out..."

Bump.

"Szasmir... what can we possibly gain from your release? Surely you are locked away for a reason.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

"I can tell you about this place. Guide you to what you seek, I can, this and more."

"There's enough damned devils in this city," Addie whispers softly so that only her nearest companions can hear. "I really don't think we should set another one loose."

Also whispering, Kev says, "Agreed. They hold to their word, but twist it so they aren't really helping you...at least, that's what I've heard. We can't trust it. Leave it in there to rot."

"My friends, I was hoping you would all say that," Valeron replies in a low tone, with a definite sense of relief washing over his expression.

"Devil, or imp, or whatever you are... first speak of why you are imprisoned such that we may judge for ourselves if it wrongful. Then speak of what you know of the Knot, so we can judge the worth of this information..."

And only then will you discover our intentions to keep you imprisoned.

Valeron considers the many prisoners he saw sentenced within the courts of Asmodeus during his tenure in the legal system. Not all were guilty - surely Wart was a noble soul worth a chance of granting his freedom.

Wart...

"I am falsely imprisoned. Vheed locked me away, after I warned him of another's betrayal...now you tell me Vheed is dead. As to what I know of the Knot, why would I freely give my only bargaining chip to leave this cell. Let me out, and I will give you all I know."

I'm thinking we have all the leverage here, devil. You don't give us what we want, we can just walk away and leave you here. You need us; now you need to convince us that we need you. Start talkin', because i'm getting mighty bored of waiting to see how this pans out.

The imprisoned devil howls in frustration...

"Very well. What is it you seek?"

Tell us about this place.

"The Knot is a plane unto itself, created by a powerful servent of the Dark Father. I ask again, what do you seek? The Knot is a large place, help me help you...."

We've already encountered Shadows here. What other defences can we expect to find?

Morghrim looks at the others, wanting them to chime in.

"It's probably not going to do any harm asking him about the device we want," Kev whispers to Morghrim.

"The worst of it is likely the heart of the knot. I have known unfortunates to enter and never escape. If you seek treasures, you will have to face the Outcast King. I will say no more until you release me from this cell."

Addie prepares to cast a hex upon the devil if her friends choose to release it from its cell.

"I suppose our other option is we could release it, and finding it evil, we could 'remedy' that problem should it present itself."

Valeron shrugs, and peeks back at the shaft over which they leapt to the prisons with a worried look.

Morghrim decides he would rather not discuss his plan out loud for the approval of his companions- the devil might overhear it. He figures he'll be shouted down if it starts to be something the others are uncomfortable with.

How are you bound? Is it merely a physical door blocking your escape, or something more? Can you not use extraplanar travel?

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 Sense Motive

"It is just the door. This cell has an enchantment on it that prevents me from traveling as I normally would."

Valeron taps his foot as he debates the benefits of the creature's release compared to it's internal imprisonment.

"Surely this is an imp or some other pitiful creature within. I am not opposed to releasing it, hearing what it has to say, and if we discover it's treachery, we can return it back to the Hells from which it spawned."

Unsheathing his longsword, he stands at the ready.

It is not as simple as that. Kill it here and you do return it to its own plane- and perhaps from there it can do greater damage than locked in here.

Creature- what is to stop you from simply escaping as soon as the door is opened? What assurances can you make? What deal can you offer us?

"As I have said, I will give you all that I know upon my release. While Vheed was the first master of the Knot, he was not its creator."

Very well- but be prepared that the terms of our agreement may change once the door is opened. Stand well back- for you will not leave the cell until we have granted you permission.

Morghrim hefts his glaive but doesn't open the door himself, preferring to give his companions a chance to object and Kevorin time to look it over. He gives the door a thorough glance himself.

1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24 Perception

Nothing seems to be holding the door closed other than the heavy wooden bar across the front.

It is not as simple as that. Kill it here and you do return it to its own plane- and perhaps from there it can do greater damage than locked in here.

Addie silently nods in agreement with Morghrim's assessment.

Very well- but be prepared that the terms of our agreement may change once the door is opened. Stand well back- for you will not leave the cell until we have granted you permission.

Addie scowls and shakes her head in opposition to the thought of opening the cell door to release the devil. Before the door can be opened, Addie casts a spell of protection on herself (Mage Armor; duration 4 hours) and then casts a minor spell to allow herself to see magical auras.

Cast Detect Magic and study cell door. Knowledge (arcana) check if any auras are detected: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28.

Also, would a Knowledge check reveal any information about the 'Outcast King' the devil mentioned?

Also, would a Knowledge check reveal any information about the 'Outcast King' the devil mentioned?

Possible but the DC would be very high.

Addie prays to The Gentleman for guidance as she searches her memory for any knowledge regarding the 'Outcast King' the imprisoned devil mentioned.

Knowledge (History) check augmented by Guidance: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 1 = 20 - nope.

Are you opening the door or moving on? If you are opening the door, who's doing the honors?

I was waiting for Valeron and Kevorin to chip in. If there are no objections, Morghrim will open the door- and keep his glaive held firmly, pointy end towards the door as he kicks it open (after unlocking it of course). Basically, remaining wary and not letting the blighter out.