Faithless and Forgotten Part 2: Lost Colony Of Taldor (Inactive)

Game Master nightdeath

Since the Dice bots have being cruel as of late, we shall not be bogged down here too long.

Despite a rather lacklustre evening salvaged only by Nithrun's surprising performance, Mavius shows signs of fatigue (or bored of your presence), he dismisses you after dispatching a mansservant to bring forth the much needed travel documentation that you'll need.

Most of the your overland journey is safe and uneventful, thanks to the carefully notated map provided by the Athenaeum.

Your luck however turns against you for the worst as during the final stretch a sandstorm rumbles toward the bluff from the southeast.

The last rays of the setting sun light up a bluff to the southeast that towers over the desert. Ruined buildings and leaning towers jut up from the plateau on its top as ominous clouds loom to the south of Ibhir—a sandstorm roars across the desert toward the ruins.

The only cover in sight is the Chelish camp’s sandstone building, and the you need to reach it before the storm reaches you!

Please indicate your clothing preference and also any further precaution you may have taken.

Oggil keeps a wary eye out as he crosses the desert. He has heard tales of bandits and worse that sometimes plague these lands.
survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

"That cloud appears as a snake coiled ready to strike!" he says pointing out the impending storm to his colleagues.

"As the hare said... let us make haste."

Oggil hurries onwards - not riding. Oggil Does Not Ride.

CON: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 2 = 15
acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 2 = 26

The hardy and surprisingly quick dwarf makes good time through the sands, and easily scales the treacherous path.

Once there he seeks out the camp site.
perception: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 2 = 29

"As a whale on the flat ocean, so is the camp site. Over there!" he cries out.

Happy to try and aid-another if that is allowed as well.

Survival check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Magni fails to notice the incoming sandstorm but fortunately for him and the rest of the party Oggil proves to be more alert.

Not being confortable with mounts expecially while facing such treacherous weather conditions the dwarf dismounts and tries to avoid the worst of the sandstorm...

Constitution check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Accrobatics check: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

Perception check check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Bad dices... BAD DICES!!! XD

Ride: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Handle Animal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Upon hearing Oggil's warning, Nithrun hastens towards the Chelish camp on the horse, but has trouble steering it in the proper direction.

Aid another is allowed. Map is up place tokens in A1. Thank you

Oggil tries to help his fellow dwarf to beat the storm.
"Like the turtle, the race is won by endurance."
Aid another Magni CON: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
"Leap like a gazelle, from rock to rock."
Aid another Magni acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 (with the extra +2 from the survival check, this should pass)
"And with the eyes of an eagle, if you look over there..."
aid another Magi perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

He does his best to help Nithrun too, but he is less good with animals
He grabs the reins and tries to help pull the pony in the right direction.
aid another, Nithrun, ride: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
With +2 from the survival check, Nithrun only needs one additional aid another to make that ride.

And tokens moved onto the map.

survival: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Unable to spy the storm coming, Samildanach is forced to trust the even odder Dwarf's riddling ways as they lead the borrowed mounts towards the Chelish camp. The going is hard and the Half-Orc looks uncomfortable in the saddle.

Might not work, but any chance I can use my Animal domain speak with Animal for a bonus on lading the horse? I do have Calm Animal as well if that is relevant

ride: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Able to reach the Bluff in time, Samildinach struggles to lead the Horse up the path as the sand buffets them.

ride: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

Looking around he desperately tries to find the camp.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Dicebot is angered!

OMG the dice bots are cruel!

As the party struggles through the sand storm, the stinging sand takes its toll on everyone even with Oggil's strange effective methods.
Non Lethal Damage 3d3 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) = 6

Sand gusts into the building through the open door to the west and the southwest corner of the canvas roof, where the broad tarpaulin has broken free at one end. The canvas strains violently in the wind as the rest of the bindings begin to pull loose. Only half of the building’s original floor still exists to the south. A ladder descends ten feet to a ledge below, and another ladder descends further into a jagged crack in the ground. A campsite sprawls across both ledges, and several bloodied corpses are scattered throughout.

You also realise you're not alone!!

Round 1
Samildanach The Dread
Nithrun
Magni Stonebow
DESICCATED SKELETONS x2
Oggil Redhand

Bold is up

history: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Oggil realizes little as he looks around the site, not noticing the animated skeletons...

Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

"Goodness, those skeletons are a bit past their prime. Their clothes seem to date to the Everwar."

Nithrun speaks words of encouragement to his allies as they begin to attack the skeletons.

Inspire courage: +1 attack and damage, vs. fear and charm.

Spying to ancient Skeletons, Samildanach spits sand from his mouth with a grimace, despairing of the abominationsn that seem to hound him. Stabbing his Trident into the soft ground, the half-Orc raises his battered driftwood holy symbol and calls forth Gozreh's holy energy to smite the creatures.

"Back to the depths with ye! Foul Abominations!"

Channel Energy, DC 13 Will for half: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Magni doesn't say anything while taking his sling out and sending a bullet fly towards the skeleton on his right

Attack roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 -> Damage roll: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Will save 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Will Save 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Samildanach The Dread/ Oggil Redhand 1d2 ⇒ 1
Attacks Samildanach 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 51d8 ⇒ 1 Fort DC 11 if hit
Samildanach The Dread/ Nithrun/ Magni Stonebow 1d3 ⇒ 3
Magni Stonebow 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 61d8 ⇒ 4 Fort DC 11 if hit

Round 1
Samildanach The Dread
Nithrun
Magni Stonebow
DESICCATED SKELETONS x2
Oggil Redhand

Bold is up

Both Skeletons move up with one missing a piece of its skull and begins flaiing about wth their broken weapons. Each swing leaves a distinct distortion as if getting hit could be a bad thing indeed.

Oggil steps up and smashes at the close (brown skeleton)
flurry: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
flurry2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
confirm?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

The first skeleton receives a massive blow, with fire running down its limbs slowly turning them back to ash.

damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 4 + (3) = 14
crit bonus damage?: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

"Bones to Ashes!" he says with a certain satisfaction.

Round 1
Samildanach The Dread
Nithrun
Magni Stonebow
DESICCATED SKELETONS x2
Oggil Redhand

Bold is up

One skeleton spinters into pieces from the mighty blows from Oggil. Despite his strange poems, the dwarf hits hard where it counts!!!

Magni steps back and sends another bullet flying at the skeleton on his left!

Attack roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 -> Damage roll: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Confirmation check

Confirm critical: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 -> Damage roll: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Still performing, Nithrun takes his bow and aims it at the remaining skeleton.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

If it hits...

Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

With his trident in the ground, Samildanach brings forth the power of his deity to cover his free hand in hardened driftwood with tiny thorns sticking out from their knuckles. Shield raised he punches the skeleton ahead of him.

Swift for wooden fist, lethal unarmed strikes that don't provoke

Unarmed, Blunt: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 = 17 for damage: 1d3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

Magni's stone and Samidanach's Fist puts paid to the remaining skeleton as it crumbles under your combined onslaught even as Nithrun's arrow accompanys his performance to strike the ground in an epic finale!

You also managed to secure the tents to protect against the upcoming sandstorm.

Moving into A2
This cold, dark stone chamber has walls covered in ancient markings that the ages have worn to the point of illegibility. The higher portion holds a dried-up well, a ladder leading up, and descending stairs to the north. The lower portion to the south has two ancient buildings and a collapsed passageway. The floor has fallen near the east wall, exposing another chamber below. A robed corpse lies at the bottom of the ladder.

"As the snake burrows into the sand to flee the eagle, so perhaps the archiologists have fled underground to escape the storm." wonders Oggil.

The dwarf climbs down to inspect the body at the bottom, hoping it is not yet dead (and doubly hoping it is not undead).

"Seems possible..." mutters Magni noncomittally.

Samildanach lets out a sigh as the abominations crumble and their mounts are saved the worst of the sandstorm. Pocketing the potion and the rope for now, the half-orc follows Oggil down the ladder, ensuring to collect his Trident on the way.

Shield strapped and Trident ready he cautiously moves closer to the body to see how it died.

heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Of course if it animates it will be a different story

"Careful there... we know the dead don't rest easy in this place..." says Magni keeping his sling ready...

Assuming you take 10 for Climb Check VS DC 14

You also find that The Athenaeum archaeologist’s bag contains
a scroll of resist energy. Which is the robed body at the bottom.

Indicate when you're ready to head to the next room.

craft(stonemastry),stonecunning: 1d20 + 0 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 0 + 2 = 15
history1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
history2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
history2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

craft(pottery): 1d20 ⇒ 14
appraise (dagger): 1d20 ⇒ 6

"As the Cuckoo bird destroys the eggs of its host, so has someone purposefully destroyed this passage. And the egg on the ground is yet fresh."

He frowns "I wonder what was beyond and why they were collapsed?"

He looks at the pots with interest "The pots are of the right age for the ruins." The other artefacts look to be of little significance to him.

After passing them round, Oggil is more than happy to stash them in his sack to take back as useful artefacts.

History: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
History: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
History: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Nithrun examines the artifacts, but they don't mean much to him, so he hands them back to Oggil for safekeeping.

"Well? I can't say I know much about this so called everwar..."

At A3

To the north, a winding stairway descends to the dim chamber below. Four alcoves hold marble statues of grim soldiers from ages past, two on either side of a faintly glowing statue of a regally appointed man who towers in front of the southern wall. Two golden lion statues stand at guard in front of the god. The roof has collapsed at the northwest corner, where a large stone slab lies on the floor below the opening.

Of interest are the following items;
The quartet of Taldan statues occupying the alcoves.

The next archaeological item from the report is the pair of golden lion statues.

The final archaeological item is a large, ancient statue of the god Abadar.

Declare any other actions other then the spoilers. :P Happy New year ppl.

Oggil inspects the room before entering it.

"As the magpie may say... 'What a find!'"

He first inspects the Taldan statues in the alcoves
history: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
appraise,stoncunning: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
stonemasonry,stoncunning: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

"As the alpha male leads the pack, so did these soliders lead the army of Taldor's army of exploration. It is odd however that these all are men who died before the founding of Corentyn - which is where this mission supposedly comes from. As the fly might say to the spider- there is trickery at play here."

He then moves to the golden lions
perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
But can tell little about it.

After his examination of the stonework, however he looks at the figure who fell from the room above, trying to see if it was an archologist or someone else.

Lastly Oggil inspects the fallen stonework, curious about whether this is the result of natural processes or something else.

Engineering: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Planes: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

"Interestingly, it seems that those lion statues were once statues of hellhounds, but that someone added some not-so-true parts to them. The gold coating was tarnished to make them look past their prime."

Appraise + stonecunning: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Perception check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

"These statues are almost bran new. They were created in the last century at most. And yes... seems like someone went to great pains in order to hide the original purpose of those statues... If the originals were hellhounds we can probably expect some diabolic presences to haunt the place..." Magni considers sounding pensive.

"As the tide comes in and goes out, so does it come in again. Perhaps Diabolism was on the rise in Imperial Taldor. But if these ruins are so old... who would have changed the statues in the last century? As the Chameleon changes it's colour, so has someone set about changes here. But why?"

"Hiding something, most likely... and the obvious suspects should be Cheliax and its Thrune rulers... hiding some ancient den of iniquity maybe?" considers Magni.

"Or maybe these lands were not really a colony of Taldor..." adds Oggil.

"Indeed," Nithrun adds, "that would be a reasonable conclusion. But what state would have had statues of hellhounds?"

Will save from all who investigated the Statue of Abadar

As he circles the room looking at the statues, Oggil feels odd...
will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 +2 extra vs spells, +4 vs enchantments

"If it fly's like a bird, and sounds like a bird, and looks like a bird... the chances are that it is a bird. " replies Oggil to Nithrun. "Cheliax"

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

"But would it not have been in their interests to keep the hellhound as a hellhound if it were truly theirs?" Nithrun asks back.

Will Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"Mmmh... this statue's mug is pretty ugly... should have a beard if you ask me..."

Samildanach looks flabbergasted at the amateur archaeology taking place before him, not knowing what quite to look for. Taking his allies' word for it he looks at the statue they are indicating, frowning slightly at Oggil's reaction, though it hardly seemed out of place for the obviously mad dwarf.

"Lions are Taldan, it would appear that this is a basic cover up as you have surmised. Well done, out of the city we fare much better! Now if this does have Fell conotations we should take care or else end up like that poor soul back there."

will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Both Oggil and Samidanach find nothing wrong with the statue, but their two companions discover otherwise!

There is a double door behind the illusion which is made of metal.
A serpent head etched upon its surface is the symbol of archdevil Geryon. The doors have been locked since the Everwar with a chain and padlock.

You also find The corpse of a Chelish soldier from the Everwar that is concealed beneath a portion of a collapsed roof. The broken skeleton wears a platinum ring adorned with the head of a hound, and it has a faint aura of abjuration magic.
Assuming you cast detect magic here

"Well... this is an illusion. Aaaand... here's the door leading to more trouble, no doubt... and by the way, that symbol stands for the archdevil Geryon..." scoffs Magni clearly not pleased about his findings.

Nithrun's eyes widen upon finding the door and the corpse. "That ring on his finger seems magical. But I don't suppose anyone here can pick locks..?" he asks, looking around him at the unlikely group.

"The lock is as a cliff face to me." has Oggil.

"It would need to be slowly worn away"

He reaches down to pick up the soldiers ring.

"Perhaps someone should say some words over him, for I doubt he is enjoying his eternal fate."

He examines the stonework, does the collapse appear recent.
perception+stonecunning: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 = 32

If nobody can pick the lock, Oggil will spend a few rounds practicing board breaking with the chain. He does 2d6+3 damage per hit, so he'll get through eventually.

It would take some time but eventually Oggil manages to break down the door after repeated pounding, allowing the next room to be revealed.

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Shadows cast by a blazing brazier behind a metal lattice to the south flitter across the wall paintings here, granting the images the illusion of haunted animation. A seven-foot-tall statue of a hunched, robed figure with three eyes and a mouth ringed with tentacles stands before the lattice.

The metal lattice is rusted and no longer properly anchored in the walls. It takes not much time for it to be pried loose.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
A5
A fiery brazier at the east end of the chamber makes the air uncomfortably hot and acrid. An eight-foot-tall statue of a devil with large, curved horns stands at the west end. Across from the metal lattice is a collapsed, descending staircase. An ancient skeleton is partially buried under the rubble.

This chamber is desecrated in the name of the archdevil Dispater, whose statue resides to the west. The brazier beyond holds a fist-sized hunk of rock salt bearing a continual flame. Skeletal remains in the rubble are that of an ancient Jistkan priest-artificer.

history: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
perc: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

"Don't know much about their art and statues, but look at that rod... could that tell us something? Not that I like all the devilry that seems to be throughout this place. Not one bit."

That his method of speech changes is perhaps signal enough that the dwarf isn't very happy with the scene in front of him.

history2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"My goodness, that rod looks like it may have been a Jistkan control rod. That is of significance... if it is real."

"Sure it is... Now stay focused... I have a bad feeling about this place..." says Magni while taking his sling out, loaded...

Waiting for the other two responses. :P

Samildanach looks over the room in disgust, the desecration to foul denon lords obviously rebelling against the Half-Orcs own beliefs. Listening to Oggil almost make sense for the first time this trip he nods.

"Only way to find out is to take it for now and get it evaluated by our curator friend." he says taking the Rod from the place indicated by Oggil. "So far this place has been re-dedicated to several Demon lords, do we think there is a pattern here? Whatever this pattern is I am sure none of it has anything to do with the Devil lovers. This Jistka then, is it an old civilisation? Never heard of em."

History: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"Neither have I," Nithrun adds. "Nor can I decipher that tentacled statue and the painting."