Dungeon Master S's Devil We Know Part III (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

You find a painting that depicts Aroden and marked by the now familiar "I". It depicts Aroden smashing a lock to pieces with a hammer.

"Well, my friends. This is a good sign. I see the "I" and it looks like it is clearly telling us how we are to enter the crypt when we find it. However, it does make me wonder what these other parts to a key are that we have been finding. Do any of you happen to have a hammer?"

Does the lock look familiar at all? Does the location of the lock in the picture look like a familiar place we have seen before?

It looks rather generic. He's simply smashing it from an overhead swing. There's nothing particularly familiar about the picture or its individual contents.

"Well, my friends, every step seems to lead us closer. Unless you have any other suggestions, I say we go try and find some more statues of Aroden and see if he gives us some more clues, or better yet, keys!"

Why would the way in be to smash a lock when we're collecting pieces of a key? This seems counter-intuitive. In any case, we still need to find the compartment here right?

The painting is painted onto the wall? Evan will look for the compartment within the painting...

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Evan didn't prepare Stabilize, but if one of the others isn't standing right here to cast it, he'll try Mending instead.

Ah! Orryn has stabilize prepared.

Orryn looks the painting up and down, uses detect magic to determine any magical properties, then casts stabilize at the image of Aroden on the painting.

"Why would the way in be to smash a lock when we're collecting pieces of a key? This seems counter-intuitive. In any case, we still need to find the compartment here right?"

"You have a good point. We've found compartments at other places. However, the big difference is that we do not have any statues here, only a painting of Aroden."

Azdak joins Evan in searching the area for hidden compartments.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

"Orryn, were you able to see any magical auras in the arcane spectrum?"

The halfling is perplexed as the others but he does assist them in their search.
perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Sumac asks Gripper and Stellah what they think.

Hmm mebbe the lock in the picture is an actual lock, that these two key pieces go into?

Sumac finds another hollow, but again....no way in. The magic trick doesn't work this time.

"Maybe we are suppose to get in this one by doing what Aroden illustrates in the picture. Can we smash our way in?"

Fel voices an objection to destroying artwork. He asks that destruction be a last resort.

"I understand your objection, my friend. I don't like the idea either. I will keep looking for another way in first."

Does breaking into the hollow require destroying artwork? Is it behind the painting of Aroden or another frescoe?

Azdak takes his time and keeps searching for a way to get in.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Its actually directly behind the "I".

"If we do break in, it is not likely to damage any artwork, just this letter 'I'. What do you say, Fel? Do you think it would be ok to let Harnac use his brute strength the way the picture suggests?"

Before we actual "brute strength", how about Sandor just lightly taps the I with a hammer. That might be enough, like some sort of trigger. The tall halfling nods sage like sure he is correct. Gripper totally agrees with me, and I think Stellah too. Though it always hard to completely understand birds. They can be sort of flighty.

Ok..if we wreck it after trying these other options lets at least try to limit the damage.

hold on a second... the letter I is a pretty good shape for a key hole... before smashing...

since the DM hasn't chimed in yet about the smashing...

Evan looks really closely at the I so see if it has space for a key.

It doesn't have a place for a key, though the idea is not without merit. Sandor being a Dwarf in Korvosa, as opposed to Harnac the dwarf here in Cassomir Harnac gets ready with a weapon. He taps the tip on the "I" to set up his aim, and the very act of touching weapon to "I" is enough. The hollow opens with an incomplete key inside. It lines up with the first piece, and is held together with the second.

"Splendid! I knew there had to be a way in!"

Azdak takes the next partial key and keeps them with the previously found pieces. "Let's proceed to the next known location. Are we all set here?"

With everyone's approval Azdak accompanies the others to the keep (#7 on map).

What exactly is this structure?

It's the Admiralty citadel. While the courtyard is publicly accessible, the inside is not... If you find that you need to get inside, you're going to need a plan.

Can't hurt to take a look around it first... see if we can find the letter I somewhere...

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Evan spends some time in the courtyard (as do the rest of you if you'd like.) Alone he doesn't find it, but I'll allow "aiding another" as this represents a group effort.

Sandor/Harnac, from now on it will simply be "master dwarf!"

Sumac quickly jumps in to helping Evan.
perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Azdak, naturally helps search for the "I".

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

"I can't imagine it's outside, but its still worth looking. I think we are going to need to find a plan to get us inside. Do you think we can have a word with the Admiralty? What would we even have to talk to them about?"

That's enough to find something with the telltale "I". There's a relief on one of the inner walls that depicts Aroden making the waves crush a navy invading the coast.

Inner walls? So we see it through a window into the building? We know where it is, but have to get inside?

That's enough to find something with the telltale "I". There's a relief on one of the inner walls that depicts Aroden making the waves crush a navy invading the coast.

Pulls out his waterskin. He pulls out the cork and then squeezes it sharply under his arm splashing waves of water over the I.

Pulls out his waterskin. He pulls out the cork and then squeezes it sharply under his arm splashing waves of water over the I.

Clever!

Clever, and successful.

The final piece of the key literally pours out. This key, however, has more than just the missing final piece. The "handle" of the key bears the picture of a fountain in a town square. The artwork is old, very old.

"Nicely done, Sumac! You really are a clever fellow aren't you?!" Azdak pats the druid on the back. "Well, it looks like the entrance to the crypt must be in the square with the fountain."

Are we familiar with this fountain? Have we seen it before?

Knowledge (Local) or (Geography).

The halfling puffs up proud of himself. Well, I like to think Im more wise then I am clever. But never mind how awesome I am. We have to solve this riddle. There are crypts to explore, engineers to rescue, and bad guys that need killing. Whats our next step?

Adam is still on vacation I think. Ill post for Fel

The bard gives his knowledgable opinion on such things.

Knowledge local 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Knowledge geography 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

you know... with all the complicated crap we are going through to get a key to open something, it makes me wonder how the followers who are kidnapping people are opening the door. I mean... Could we have just followed one of them back to their lair and skipped this key finding bit?

"I doubt they would be careless enough to let us follow them. They are clearly going through great efforts to keep this crypt secret."

maybe we'd have failed to find the entrance that way... but aside from the location, doesn't their ability to go in and out mean that there's a much easier way to open the door than to have this key? Or does the key go to something they can't open either? It just seems odd to me.

Could be they have a different entrance they're keepin' to themselves, and that this entrance predates anything they've been doin'. I agree wichye, Evan, it is a bit strange--but maybe they just got lucky and found another way in.

Fel actually does have a solid idea. The fountain at Area could very well fit the bill. There is a small, nondescript fountain in the center-ish of Cassomir. It might fit the bill.

"Well Fel, let's take your idea and search this fountain near the center of Cassomir."

Azdak joins the others and when he reaches the nondescript fountain in the center of Cassomir, he intensely searches to find a key hole, portal, statue, or even another "I".

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Sumac appreciates Azdak aiding him in his search for the I.
perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

"You're Welcome, Sumac! We have come so far, and I feel like we are on the verge of finding the crypt that we are looking for! We should be with those engineers in no time!"

Perception assist: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Perception Aid attempt: 1d20 ⇒ 7

It's not much, but here it is. There's a tiny keyhole in the side of a nondescript fountain. The key works..... and before your eyes a staircase opens that descends into the underbelly of Cassomir...

Well done, boys! Now, let's go find us this Master!

Harnac takes the lead, as "underground" is his wheelhouse...

The stairs circle around below the street into an ancient looking throughway. The place is lit not at all, and after a few revolutions the passage is completely dark. Eventually the stairs end at an intersection that surrounds another, more ancient fountain.

Perception checks.

If no one is upset about the idea of having light, Evan will cast light on a stone to provide light for those of us that need it to see.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Azdak follows in the middle of the company.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

I have to laugh at our perception rolls so far... are we just not paying attention?