Elven Mindchemist Alchemist 5 / Arcanist 1 | HP 54/54 | AC 16 | T 12 | F 14 | CMD 14 | F +6 | R +7 | W +3 | Init +6 | Perc +8 | Sense Motive +1
"Take heed!" Arovandeon cautions his companions. "If I am correct, this is a Yellow Musk Creeper! It can entrance a person with its pollen, and if allowed to plant spores can transform its victim into a type of plant-like zombie. If the guards ran across this creature, they might have been turned!"
Illusionist Wizard 11; AC 14, 18 with Mage Armor; HP 21/81 (+ 0 temp HP); F+12, R +11, W+13; Init+7, Perception +12 +1 on saves vs, Transmutations | +2 on saves vs. Illusions
Initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Pai follows the others into the next room. Once the tendril extends from the creature, she aims her wand and fires off another missle toward the plant.
Male Half-Elf Level 2 Bard (Arcane Duelist) | HP 19/19 | AC 17 | T 14 | FF 13 | CMD 16 | Fort +2 | Ref +7 | Will +3 | Init +6 | Perc +6 | Sense Motive -1
Astarton moves forward and attacks, realizing a quick end to this encounter would be better. Besides that, since the knock on his head, he isn't able to think clearly. It was quite possible that anyone who heard what he had to say wouldn't even interpret it as an attempted joke. And then where would his reputation be?
Staying well clear of the creature, Jakarno aims two fingers at the base of the plant and speaks a single word. A jet of acid springs forth from his hand.
Arovandeon lobs another vial of viscous fluid that misses it's target but lands a mere five feet away still engulfing the plant. 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 (9 damage). Astarton heals. Pai launches another magic missile from her wand (11 damage). Jakarno flings a globule of acid that misses its mark wide. Filios circles wide to the right once again to the right 1d20 ⇒ 19 unseen. The yellow musk creeper launches its pollen at Arovandeon. Please make a Will save to resist Xander fires his crossbow at the Yellow Musk Creeper and finds it's meaty center (14 damage).
Illusionist Wizard 11; AC 14, 18 with Mage Armor; HP 21/81 (+ 0 temp HP); F+12, R +11, W+13; Init+7, Perception +12 +1 on saves vs, Transmutations | +2 on saves vs. Illusions
Seeing yet another strong blow struck against the oozy creature, the gnome was beginning to feel better about the situation. No reason to change what is working... she thinks as she points and fires.
Elven Mindchemist Alchemist 5 / Arcanist 1 | HP 54/54 | AC 16 | T 12 | F 14 | CMD 14 | F +6 | R +7 | W +3 | Init +6 | Perc +8 | Sense Motive +1
As the burst of pollen envelopes him Arovandeon comes to the sudden realization that knowing about danger does not always prevent it from finding you. He frantically tries to close his eyes and hold his breath, unsure if either action will protect him.
Will Save:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
If he makes the save he'll take a shot with his crossbow. Also, I think you might be giving too much damage for the bomb splash. It should be 6 I believe.
Male Half-Elf Level 2 Bard (Arcane Duelist) | HP 19/19 | AC 17 | T 14 | FF 13 | CMD 16 | Fort +2 | Ref +7 | Will +3 | Init +6 | Perc +6 | Sense Motive -1
When the yellow pollen bursts forth, the half elf holds his breath. Surprised that his previous attack seemed to do nothing (perhaps he just imagined it, the blow on his head being stronger than he thought) Astarton takes another swing at the creature.
Male Half-Elf Level 2 Bard (Arcane Duelist) | HP 19/19 | AC 17 | T 14 | FF 13 | CMD 16 | Fort +2 | Ref +7 | Will +3 | Init +6 | Perc +6 | Sense Motive -1
No prob man. Do I still need to roll a will save? Can I use my attack roll instead? Just kidding. Unless you let me, then I was serious.
Seeing the plant creature fall under their combined might gave him a bit of relief. He had seen enough of undeath on his adventures. He checks himself over to see if he isn't undead, just to be sure.
Male Wayang Illusionist (Shadowcaster) 5/Veiled Illusionist 2 | HP 39/39, AC 13 (21), FF 11, T 13, F +4, R +5, W +5, Init +7, Perc +6
"Yes-yes! Mighty warriors you are. The stories of Elven grace and deadliness in battle are not exaggerated!" Tikrit says. He joins in searching the room.
Illusionist Wizard 11; AC 14, 18 with Mage Armor; HP 21/81 (+ 0 temp HP); F+12, R +11, W+13; Init+7, Perception +12 +1 on saves vs, Transmutations | +2 on saves vs. Illusions
"I doubt very seriously these two ambushes occurred naturally. Someone or something is creating mischief down here."
Elven Mindchemist Alchemist 5 / Arcanist 1 | HP 54/54 | AC 16 | T 12 | F 14 | CMD 14 | F +6 | R +7 | W +3 | Init +6 | Perc +8 | Sense Motive +1
"I concur." Arovandeon nods to his companions suspicions, though he does not really find the deadly creatures a surprising development. Something had to be responsible for the disappearance of Imrizade and the watchmen who came down here looking for her.
Entering the room with the others he takes a few minutes to study the remains of the musk creeper, then moves on to search the boxes. ...only known copy is said to be resting in a dirty, cobweb-ridden box somewhere in the Blackros basement... The words from his patron float to the surface of his mind. Perhaps it can be found in one of these.
"Perhaps we should look through these boxes thoroughly. Anything of Osirion origin might contain clues to what is happening here."
I would like to take 20 on a perception check if time permits. If not I'll roll a few checks to represent a few minutes.
Illusionist Wizard 11; AC 14, 18 with Mage Armor; HP 21/81 (+ 0 temp HP); F+12, R +11, W+13; Init+7, Perception +12 +1 on saves vs, Transmutations | +2 on saves vs. Illusions
Your search reveals a normal door hidden behind a stack of cartons against the southern wall. The door seems to be stuck and might require some effort to open.
There is a scroll of Ancient Pharaohs in a dusty, cobweb-ridden box Osirion Mission
Illusionist Wizard 11; AC 14, 18 with Mage Armor; HP 21/81 (+ 0 temp HP); F+12, R +11, W+13; Init+7, Perception +12 +1 on saves vs, Transmutations | +2 on saves vs. Illusions
Male Wayang Illusionist (Shadowcaster) 5/Veiled Illusionist 2 | HP 39/39, AC 13 (21), FF 11, T 13, F +4, R +5, W +5, Init +7, Perc +6
"A door-door! We should find out what is behind it." Tikrit says. He looks from one person to the next, implying that the small 'Tengu' is not going to be of any assistance in this.
The door is not locked not does it have traps. It is stuck and will require a strength check to open. I don't know if there is anything on the other side at the moment.
Elven Rogue Swashbuckler/6; HP 45/45; AC 23; T 17/FF 18 /CMD 20; Fort +3 /Ref +9 /Will +2; Init +6 ; Perc +11; Sense Motive +0
Well, all, the door is stuck and will require some busting in to open. However, we can always take the door in the West wall over there. Any preference?
Filios approaches the other door, listens carefully and searches for traps.
Elven Mindchemist Alchemist 5 / Arcanist 1 | HP 54/54 | AC 16 | T 12 | F 14 | CMD 14 | F +6 | R +7 | W +3 | Init +6 | Perc +8 | Sense Motive +1
Pocketing the Osirian scroll, Arovandeon gestures to the sign for the stuck door. "It would seem that leads to the archives, a place more likely contain old information." He swings his hand to indicate the sign for the other door. "The scriptorium may hold more recent information more relevant to the current situation. My suggestion would be to enter there and seek to arm ourselves with knowledge."
Male Half-Elf Level 2 Bard (Arcane Duelist) | HP 19/19 | AC 17 | T 14 | FF 13 | CMD 16 | Fort +2 | Ref +7 | Will +3 | Init +6 | Perc +6 | Sense Motive -1
"That's all well and good, but if there is any one down here setting a welcome party for us, it's likely that banging a door down will just set off more alarms and give them more time to notice and prepare for us. Let's check out the other rooms to make sure they don't catch us from behind as well. Besides, there could be another entrance too."
This dark, vaulted chamber serves as a scriptorium, where texts from the archives next door may be read or copied at leisure. Bare wooden shelves, empty except for some extra writing supplies (sheets of parchment, bottles of ink, and quills), line the eastern wall, and three desks with high stools stand in the center of the room between six columns. A small sign on the southern door reads “Archives—Private.”
A body lies slumped in the southwestern corner, still clutching a club. Its legs have been eaten away by acid, and the corpse is already showing signs of putrefaction, with patches of mold on the skin. A broken lantern lies next to the body, its oil spilled on the floor. These are the remains of Hodd, one of the museum’s unfortunate watchmen sent to investigate the basement. After falling prey, he dragged himself into this room, but perished from his wounds before he could go for more help. His corpse has now become home to spores from a mold.
The two northern desks each contain small, empty candelabra, two bottles of dried ink, and old quill pens. The southern desk has been used more recently—the candelabrum holds the stubs of half-burnt candles, the ink bottles are still wet, and fresh ink stains the quill pens. A handful of books and scrolls, treatises on the solar system and the empty space beyond, lie open on the desk. Underlined passages and marginalia written in Osiriani refer to the “the Dark Tapestry” and the “Dominions of the Black,” as well as something called the “Gate of Beyond,” a long-lost portal to these otherworldly realms. References to an ancient aberrant sorcerer named Kubburum Ishmedagan and the mad wizard Ralzeros the Overwatched are also highlighted.
Illusionist Wizard 11; AC 14, 18 with Mage Armor; HP 21/81 (+ 0 temp HP); F+12, R +11, W+13; Init+7, Perception +12 +1 on saves vs, Transmutations | +2 on saves vs. Illusions
Knowledge Arcana 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Pai looks at the tomes carefully, trying to see if the names or descriptions jogged her memory about any of the topics.
Elven Rogue Swashbuckler/6; HP 45/45; AC 23; T 17/FF 18 /CMD 20; Fort +3 /Ref +9 /Will +2; Init +6 ; Perc +11; Sense Motive +0
Careful not to get near the spores, Filios carefully takes the club from the body of Hodd and places it in his pack. As he strides towards the door to the Archives, he turns back and says to the corpse,
By the way, Hodd, you are fired.
Filios intently listens at the door and checks for traps.
Male Half-Elf Level 2 Bard (Arcane Duelist) | HP 19/19 | AC 17 | T 14 | FF 13 | CMD 16 | Fort +2 | Ref +7 | Will +3 | Init +6 | Perc +6 | Sense Motive -1
Astarton follows Filios into the scriptorium and sees the corpse on the ground. He stands and points at the body. "Hey, won't he turn into a zombie? He got moldy, that's not good. Arovandeon," Astarton reached over and tugged on his sleeve. "You said mold would turn you into zombies. How come he isn't a zombie yet? Should we burn him?"
Filios you spot a sheet of parchment that fell beneath the desk and was forgotten Written in Osiriani, it contains some of Imrizade’s notes as well as sketches and diagrams of the Gate of Beyond and the brain canister she found in Osirion. Linguistics please
No traps on the way to the archives. You hear nothing coming from the other room.
I noticed all the Knowledge checks nothing calls for it but here is that back story for your reading pleasures.
Thousands of years ago, in Absalom’s early years, a mad astrologer and wizard named Ralzeros the Overwatched became obsessed with studying the distant worlds beyond Golarion’s skies. Bargaining with strange and otherworldly patrons for knowledge and power, Ralzeros learned of an age-old magical portal buried beneath Absalom called the Gate of Beyond, a doorway to the Dark Tapestry, the lightless void between the stars. After locating the portal, Ralzeros erected a basalt keep and observatory over it, concealing the Gate in secret chambers beneath the stronghold. Eventually, Ralzeros disappeared, and knowledge of the Gate of Beyond vanished with him. His mansion lay abandoned for long years, and the hidden portal fell into disuse.
Centuries later, the eccentric and immensely wealthy Blakros family purchased the abandoned building, first to use as a villa, and later as a museum for the family’s huge collection of antiquities and curios from across Golarion. Many of these articles were gifted to the family as dowries or acquired by the family’s adventuring daughters, and are displayed in the museum’s exhibit halls.
Twenty years ago, one of the Blakros daughters, a young half-Osirian child named Imrizade Blakros, was playing in the museum’s basement archives when she stumbled upon a secret trapdoor. Investigating the hidden chamber below, Imrizade found the Gate of Beyond. Although the portal was broken and inactive after long centuries of neglect, it somehow connected with her, insinuating strange whispers in her young mind. In due time, however, she grew bored with her “secret playroom” and soon forgot the incident entirely.
Recently, Imrizade, now a daring and successful adventurer, discovered a strange metal cylinder inscribed with peculiar hieroglyphs while exploring a forgotten Osirian tomb. The canister was indescribably ancient, older even than the tomb in which it lay. In fact, it dated back to a time in Golarion’s distant past, when the Gate of Beyond was originally constructed. Sealed within the container for tens of thousands of years was the preserved brain and ghostly consciousness
of an aberrant sorcerer named Kubburum Ishmedagan.
Illusionist Wizard 11; AC 14, 18 with Mage Armor; HP 21/81 (+ 0 temp HP); F+12, R +11, W+13; Init+7, Perception +12 +1 on saves vs, Transmutations | +2 on saves vs. Illusions
Pai overhears the questions. "I don't know if he'll turn into a zombie, but this room is not a place for fire. The old tomes and scrolls will go up like kindling, if we aren't careful with flame."
Elven Mindchemist Alchemist 5 / Arcanist 1 | HP 54/54 | AC 16 | T 12 | F 14 | CMD 14 | F +6 | R +7 | W +3 | Init +6 | Perc +8 | Sense Motive +1
"I am a little curious about that myself." Arovandeon replies to Astarton as he examines the moldy corpse. "These here appear to be acid burns. Perhaps that has prevented his transformation... or perhaps it is not yet complete. I believe the process takes some time. It might be dangerous, but I agree with Pai - this is not an ideal place to burn the corpse. I think it would be prudent to drag it back to the other room and burn it there."
If Fillios share Imrizade’s notes that he found: Arovandeon speaks Osirian. Is linguistics still required to understand them? Would a comprehend languages spell work otherwise or are they in code?
Male Wayang Illusionist (Shadowcaster) 5/Veiled Illusionist 2 | HP 39/39, AC 13 (21), FF 11, T 13, F +4, R +5, W +5, Init +7, Perc +6
Tikrit, after perusing the documents, shakes his head. "Danger-danger in such lost knowledge. Evil is remarkably resilient." he says to whoever is listening. "Is the door safe-safe?" he asks Filios from across the room. "I think we have found all we need-need from here."
Elven Mindchemist Alchemist 5 / Arcanist 1 | HP 54/54 | AC 16 | T 12 | F 14 | CMD 14 | F +6 | R +7 | W +3 | Init +6 | Perc +8 | Sense Motive +1
Arovandeon would like to destroy the watchman's corpse to safeguard against it reanimating. Also, was The Aucturn Enigma anywhere among the scrolls in this room? Perception check below if needed.
No Arovandeon it was not, sorry No traps, not locked, nothing heard. Assuming you move through:
This chamber contains several tall wooden bookshelves reaching to the ceiling, almost bursting with the weight of books and scrolls filling the shelves. The shelves and their contents are encrusted with thick growths of brightly colored fungus and glistening mold. Many tomes have fallen from the shelves, their open pages forming a base for more fungi and large mushrooms which carpet the floor. The air here is damp and close, and several of the fungal growths pulse with an eerie purple light that dimly lights the room.
Two large iron candelabra, full of unlit candles hang from the vaulted ceiling. Several varieties of the fungi glow dimly with pulsing purple bioluminescence providing the room with shadowy illumination.
