Round 1: Anton talks about the black gem. Donovan casts Detect Magic. Sion and Mordesel enter the chamber and ready attacks.
Creature appears and attacks Sion
Durova attacks (misses)
Round 2: Anton Inspires Courage. Sion attacks and backs off. Mordesel moves in and attacks. Donovan focuses Detect Magic.
Creature attacks Mordesel
Durova attacks (misses)
Round 3: Mordesel throws Alchemist Fire (hits). Donovan tries to Mage Hand gem (fails).
Sion steps forward again and swings mightily at the creature, scoring a deep cut, but still continues to bleed. "I need healing!"
The misty creature hisses in pain at Sion's attack. Still, something about its composition makes it difficult to hurt.
Wounded and enraged, it spins around at Sion, seeking revenge but also noticing that the drow was an easier target than the monk.
It lashes out at Sion.
More blood is drawn from Sion, healing the monster slightly. Sion suffers greatly as a result.
Durova moves up behind Sion and uses his CLW wand to heal as much as possible.
CLW wand
On the round following a direct hit, the target takes an additional 1d6 points of damage. If desired, the target can use a full-round action to attempt to extinguish the flames before taking this additional damage. Extinguishing the flames requires a DC 15 Reflex save.
The fire finally burns itself out, but not before partially melting the monster. It gurgles and hisses in pain.
Sion swings and takes a step back. "Curse this creature!"
With a final swing of his sword, Sion cuts the agile creature down. the mist turns to droplets of blood and rain down upon the floor.
With the creature destroyed you inspect the room.
The globe on the pedestal is of volcanic glass and can be easily shattered (hardness 2; 5 hp). Alternatively, you could just hold onto it. If covered over or put into a backpack, the darkness would be suppressed.
(Unfortunately, it will function for only 24 hours and then return to being a non-magical lump of obsidian)
Intact it is worth 20 gp.
The rest of the chamber is uninteresting. Holes in the floor are meaningless and the doors are easily de-barred.
Where to now?
"Well, it's going to be North or East, anyone have a favorite direction?" Dane comments sarcastically "In reality though, we should probably try to figure out which one's trapped. I suspect one of these is meant to further hurt or delay us."
Mordesel puts the obsidian sphere in his pouch. As the room lights up, he says, This could come in useful. After Dane asks about a direction, Mordesel pauses for a moment. He begins to inspect the doors, I don't know about that. There has always been a hint about impending danger. I think that one of them may contain help in our quest.
Mordesel finds nothing else in this chamber. The doors are safe, unlocked and untrapped.
The north corridor is a short one, heading only 20ft before terminating at another door.
Unsurprisingly, the door is inscribed with yet another platitude:
“Cruelty is a tool not a pastime. Be ruthless to thy enemy but reward those who serve thee well.”
Content with this information, you head back to the previous chamber and try the door to the east.
The corridor immediately swings north for 40ft before ending at a door in the east wall. Upon the door is an inscription:
“The chosen are revealed by their might. The weak deserve no sympathy.”
Sion sheaths his sword and takes a breath. "Well that test was a little more fun." He stops for a moment to take a breath while everyone decides which way to go.
Durova waits quietly behind the others. He wasn't up to taking the lead, and we was content to follow the others to whichever door they chose. We are making a good pace...hopefully we can keep it up!
Mordesel examines the doors and their clues. Hmm . . . If I am interpreting these right, it seems that this one, he points to the east, sounds like it will test whether we are mighty or weak. The one over here, he points to the north, seems to be suggesting that there is either an enemy, or servant behind there. He pauses for a moment longer. It seems to me that the door to the north has a better chance of being useful. Mordesel stops, waiting to see if the others agree.
"Fair enough." Dane has little to say about things, and follows along quietly.
"You sound like a man with a plan, Mordesel. The Master appreciates thought like that. I will make sure he knows of your decision making...if the choice ends up being correct!"
The door opens to a plain chamber with no other doors.
In the middle of the room is a torturer’s rack. This cruel implement appears functional and ready for use but currently empty. The chamber is lit by an oil lantern that hangs from the center of the room.
It appears otherwise empty.
Anton looks around. "I see where that we could torture our enemy and thus be 'ruthless'... And perhaps the reward to those who serve would to not be subject to the rack here...," he says. "We do, however, seem to lack a suitable enemy slash servant..."
Mordesel, stops, staring. Well, it was a guess. No one else had an idea. I just can't believe that's it. Can any of you make sense of this room? he asks as he begins to examine the torturers rack, followed by the walls.
In the west wall Mordesel finds a secret door. Although fairly well concealed, it looks easy enough to open.
"Perhaps there might be someone or something in the room we didn't take that we might need to use this equipment on?"
As Mordesel reaches the west wall, he motions for the rest of the group to be quiet. He walks quickly over to them, whispering There is a secret door over there, he points to where he was, and someone is crying inside. He smiles coldly. I believe we've found someone to help us.
He walks over to the door again, and tugs it open.
Within is a small, dark room, barely 10ft in width and length.
A small figure cowers from the rush of light, his eyes wide in terror. It is a very young human man, barely out of adolescence. He wears a dirty chainshirt and a ragged blue tabard but is otherwise unarmed. His disheveled clothing has upon it the Mitran starburst, a standard crest for the Knights of Alerion.
He stammers fearfully,
"Who... Who are you? Have you come to save us from this terrible place?"
Mordesel smiles. He reaches out a hand to the cowering young man. Yes, of course we are. But we need your help. Am I correct in thinking that you know something of this place? Tell us everything you know.
The young man quickly perks up, convinced that rescue is at hand.
"Yes! Yes of course! I heard, umm... Something about metal, no mithral, cobras in the other room. I think they're construct guardians or something."
He pauses, searching his memory.
"I overheard them talking about the Shrieker, whatever that is, that screams if there's any nearby light. Some kind of alarm system I guess... Oh, and that four drowned men rise when they hear the screaming."
He shudders.
"Undead? Sounds like it I guess."
He hesitates, finally calming down enough to inspect your group. His enthusiasm dies down a bit and he becomes a little more nervous. This was not the rescue party he had been hoping for.
"I don't know of any other dangers are in this place, that's all I overheard about monsters and traps. So ummm... Are we going to go look for Sir Balin now?"
Yes, of course. Is he down here with you? How did you get down here?
Sion raises 1 eyebrow at the talk of constructs and undead.
The boy is about to speak when he notices Sion's ethnicity, and pauses. As he glances around he sees that the symbol of Asmodeus is prominently displayed and he grits his teeth.
"Foul devil worshipers! You... You have come to torment me! I am a loyal follower of Mitra, and I will not falter! Begone!"
Despite his bold words the boy is obviously petrified.
"Is there anything else of value that you have not told us, boy? We have this nice torture rack in the next room, clearly fit for so keen about your size. Tell us everything and we might not need it tonight. For instance, who is Sir Balin?
He hesitates. Mentioning the rack has worried him. Still, he continues his arrogant tirade.
"Sir Balin is my mentor! He is a great knight of Alerion. When he finds you, he will smite you all!"
"Ah, I can fear in your eyes. Here's let's be proper...there's nothing to be afraid of. Just take off that ugly Mitran gear, and we can find you something more fitting. Mitra is a false god...throw him down and accept Asmodeous. There's always room at the true god's table if you are interested."
Diplomacy
Mordesel clicks his tongue. I would hate to get you to help us through torture. We really can save you if you'll convert. It's not so bad as you think. We're better at keeping our words than some of your Mitran friends. I think you could fit well within our ranks.
He swallows his fear, draws himself up to full height, looks Mordesel straight in the eyes and announces proudly.
"I will not abandon the Shining Lord. Do your worst! I will tell you no more."
Clearly, he is not yet broken.
Anton sighs inwardly. Followers of the Lord of Deception that don't know how to deceive... Giving the others a look, he steps forward to look at the young man, a smile on his face. "Well done, lad. Mitra's light truly shines within your heart. I would say that you have passed. Don't be fooled by our disguises. You know where we are. We have had to keep a low profile here, in this little den of iniquity. If we had come in initially as a strike force, we ran the risk of losing you and Sir Balin to their foul blades. As it happens, we have made it this far without drawing their suspicion. If we can get both of you, we will be able to move together and smite the fiends that have captured you."
The boy looks about nervously, but after a moment's contemplation breathes a sigh of relief.
"Thank the heavens, I am in your debt sir. My name is Timeon and I am Sir Balin's squire. We were traveling to Balentyne from Daveryn when we were waylaid by a beautiful, platinum-haired woman who had powerful magic. My master killed a few of her underlings, but we were still captured and brought here. I awoke upstairs and was tormented by a bald man wearing dark robes. He was terrifying. I managed to escape down some stairs, through some open doors and strange passages and hid in here."
Timeon gulps as the memories return.
"Barely a moment after I hid, I heard the bald man enter the room. He was talking to someone else, I think it was the scary woman. I heard them talking about how Sir Balin was in another chamber down here, and other things. I remember them saying a secret door is across from the stairs that hides the way out."
He sighs grimly.
"I don't know exactly where Sir Balin is but we need to find him and escape this mad house! We need to get to Balentyne and report these events to Lord Havelyn!"
Know. Religion
Mordesel's smile grows. You will stay with us as we search for sir Balin, yes? Just in case we need your help. He looks to the others to ensure their agreement, then asks, Any other questions before we move on to the . . . he pauses, looking to Timeon mithril cobras was it? If not then let is go prepare before entering the room.
Dane smirks but keeps out of the conversation, Looks like we've got a new Dale already.
Sion smirks as he leads the way to the next door. Only the Mighty... He opens the door and walks through, weapon ready.
Timeon hides at the back of the party as you move on.
As Sion opens the door, you see two cobras, apparently made from mithral, in side the chamber. Aside from a single door in the south wall and a lit oil lamp in the middle of the room, there is nothing else here.
The constructs open their mouths in a silent hiss and prepare to lunge at you.
Dane, well prepared for the constructs bursts into the room, and swings his Rhomphaia with a strong, full bodied swing.
Anton urges his companions into greater feats of courage.
Sion waits till he can feel the bard's inspiration run through him then he charges at the construct on the left.
With a mighty swing of his greatsword, Sion cleaves the head from the body of the metallic snake. It drops and goes motionless.
Mordesel steps into the room, moving towards the rear of the snake, motioning for Dane to move a little so that they can soon surround it. Once there, he strikes out with his quarterstaff.
Mordesel's strike hits home, but does no noticeable damage to the construct.
It lunges at the monk.
The snake's metallic teeth scratch Mordesel's arm. A flesh wound, although Mordesel notices that the construct has injected a strange liquid into the wound.
Mordesel shakes off the poison.