GM BPChocobo's Thornkeep Level 4 - The Dark Menagerie (Inactive)

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

Jostrum mentions the feeling of foreboding. "A magic effect or something?"

He then checks to see if the locking mechanisms could be disabled.

@Jostrum: It looks like you could try picking them, although your first cursory review let's you know that additional magics are also holding the lock in place (vastly increasing the Disable Device DC)

"Let's try the simple door instead!"

"Everyone in formation!"

guess that means I'm getting the door.

Elindriel smiles, "If you wouldn't mind."

What I thought all along. Ki comments. We gotta go find the matching colored bobble to stick into the slot there. Maybe we find all three behind the double doors, but I bet we only find one. Then we go into the door we find the bobble for and find another. Rinse and repeat.

The large stone doors open with a creak; ahead are dozens of life-sized statues of noble warriors garbed in fluted ceremonial armor that line the walls of this enormous chamber. A pattern of nested rectangles marks the smooth stone floor. Stone walls stretch up forty feet to wide slabs in the ceiling that bathe the whole chamber in bright light. Huge double doors mark another exit across from you. Along the west wall, twenty feet above the floor, a massive panel of clear glass holds back three columns of roiling yellow smoke in an alcove overlooking the room.

Carefully looking for traps and other hidden features Miss Dominique walks forward.

perception take 20: 20 + 20 = 40

Jostrum stays behind Miss Dominique, keeping a watch as well.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Elindriel lets the others proceed into the room, but stays near the door herself until some threat presents itself.

@Miss Dominique: As you bravely take the lead and inspect the room, you notice a trio of narrow slits in the eastern wall. These appear to be used for privately viewing the=is room as each slit is not more than a foot or two wide and the slits are about 15 to 20 feet above the room's floor.

Each of the statues appears to be of Azlanti design, but from this distance, you can tell that each of the faces appears to have been demonized in its features.

Finally, the doors across from you appear to be in the same style and appearance as the one you entered through.

@Jostrum: Basically everything Miss Dominique spotted :)

Carefully moving forward. Looking, Listening.

Perceptin take 20: 20 + 20 = 40

@Miss Dominique: Other that the very faint sound of the smoke shooting out from behind the glass wall to the west, you do not hear anything else of note.

Elindriel retrieves her rope from her pack, uncoils it, and throws one end across the room. "I don't like the look of this. Our luck, we all walk in, doors close, glass shatters, and those rectangles drop to form a pit that we can't climb out of. Yes, I don't like the looks of this at all..." She pauses a moment. "Anyone have any spikes they could use to keep this door open?"

there's nothing as scary as an empty room!

So the question is... what do you do in the empty room? :)

Miss Dominique moves carefully towards the other room paying close attention to everything around her.

"Everyone be quiet" she whispers.

Perception take 20: 20 + 20 = 40

Do recall that Ki's mount is currently air walking.

After a moment of being quite Ki offers. How about I ride up and have a look in those slits and whatnot?

As Ki gracefully strides into the room, Miss Dominique heads towards the doors on the other end as she tries to listen for something.

She doesn't have to wait long for as soon as she steps onto the central rectangle, the doors behind Elindriel begin to shut!

Julian, I'll need a DC 16 Reflex or DC 25 Acrobatics check to jump into the room quickly!

Once closed, the doors are then sealed with a click. Following that, each of the rectangle tile sections begin to shift and rise or lower slightly, making the entire area uneven and jagged terrain.

Crossing from one rectangle to another now counts as difficult terrain... unless you're an air battlepig.

Finally, the yellow smoke up to the west begins to roil and seethe as it takes on the image of a giant face. The smoky image seems to look forth from its vantage point behind the glass inset into the wall, scowling hatefully. It speaks in a raspy, disgusted voice, but the voice is spoken in everyone's native language. "Foolish apprentices,", it spits, "how I should have predicted your betrayal at my most critical moment. Seek to escape into some unwritten time, eh? By now, you must have realized your ioun stone array has failed. You now stand marooned in time, living a day, an hour, a single moment stretched into an infinity over countless centuries yet to dawn - one final lesson in obedience from your very, very disappointed master. It does my heart proud to know that your last, eternal moments will see you hunted like animals. Farewell, my faithless friends! Test all I have taught you against the blades of Azlant!"

With the monologue complete, three of the many statues animate, drawing wicked looking stone longswords as they approach the party.

Init Order (bold = up!)
Jostrum
Ki
S3
Julian
Elindriel
S1
Miss Dominique
S2

Map updated! Miss Dominique, I put you back in the center square as that was the trigger for all of this occurring.

Jostrum pulls out a wand and taps it to his quiver. Abundant Ammo

reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Seeing the door close Julian dives in rolling to his feet.

Huzzah! No splitting the party! Was going to be worried about Ki until he posted about wanting to inspect the viewing slits :)

Right. To clarify, Miss Dominique is acting very brave, going out front and all, but Ki, is sticking to her protectively. So they will likely get caught in the same trap. Now I am wishing I had purchased that adamantine lance…

Ki charges the construct in the NW corner power attacking, but does so such that he moves up into the air and strikes down at the thing with his 10' reach. Perhaps it cannot reach him.

Spirited Charge, +1 Lance: 1d20 + 13 + 4 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 13 + 4 - 2 + 1 = 263d6 + 24 + 18 ⇒ (2, 3, 1) + 24 + 18 = 48

Sorry for the confusing math. To Hit: +4 for charging. -2 for power attack. +1 for higher ground. Damage 1d6+8+6 for power attack, all X3 for spirited charge. I hope I have that right.

Shatter Weapons @ Ki +1 lance: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 6) = 8

Ki's powerful blow shatters the statue with a single blow! However, before it's destruction, Ki's lance shakes violently and a crack forms along the lance's tip!

Ki, your weapon has 1 point of damage... but now has the broken condition! Note that although your weapon is not below half its HP, the statue's special ability states the broken condition for -2 to attack and damage rolls until it is repaired.

The state closest to the entrance immediately moves up and strikes at Jostrum!

No AoO for you Elindriel!

S3 longsword @ Jostrum: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Damage on hit: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Confirming crit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Extra damage on crit: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

As Jostrum finishes his spell, the statue strikes at the archer, grazing him along the chest.

Init Order (bold = up!)
Jostrum (5 damage)
Ki (lance has broken condition)
S3
Julian
Elindriel
Miss Dominique
S2

Hey! That darn statue creature broke my lance. Ki laments. But I think I can still use it.

And no save I guess? Just learned that the wooden hafted weapon would normally have 10 hit points. But because it is small it has half that. Being magical adds 10 more, for Hardness 7 and 15 (now 14) hit points. Does your math concur?

Correct on both accounts; a certain death-inducing dungeon really got me to learn the rules for hardness and item HP fast. These things aren't deadly... but downright annoying.

Elindriel steps out of the doorway to a, albeit useless, flanking position with Jostrum, then infuses her blade with power and brings it down in a powerful stroke.

Not an action: 5' step as indicated
Swift action: Imbue falcata (arcane strike)
Standard action: Attack statue
Attack (Falcata +1 (2H), Power Attack): 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 2 = 27
Damage (Falcata +1 (2H), Power Attack, Arcane Strike): 1d8 + 7 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 6 + 2 = 21

Critical Confirm (Falcata +1 (2H), Power Attack): 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 = 21
Critical Damage (Falcata +1 (2H), Power Attack, Arcane Strike): 2d8 + 14 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (8, 1) + 14 + 12 + 4 = 39

Jostrum has his bow out, so won't be threatening.

Impressive Elindriel. I think you just did more damage than Ki when he charged. :)

Okay, edited to remove the flanking...though might I suggest that Jostrum invest in a cestus? Just sayin'...

@Ki- yeah, I was kinda excited about that, until I realized that it took a crit with a x3 weapon to do it...:-P

What? You finally crit Elindriel! Gadzooks!

Small bit of recompense from the statue @ Elindriel's falcate: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 5) = 10

Imbuing her weapon with additional arcane energy, her weapon slices along a crack against the neck of the statue and slices it clean through. Although her blade shakes violently from the strike, it show no damage as a second statue has been defeated.

Julian will down his mutagen and then move to engage the statues

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 191d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Miss Dominique will just double move away.

"No mending or make whole today! But as long as you don't totally destroy it I can repair it for you tomorrow"

@Julian: Because of having to get the potion/mutagen out, you couldn't use Accelerated Drinker and even with that, you're still a move action away from the closest statue. I did move you closer to it, though.

The remaining statue then chargers toward the alchemist!

S2 charging longsword @ Julian: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 2 = 11
Damage on hit: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

However, it fails to land a blow on the more feral Julian!

Init Order (bold = up!)
Jostrum (5 damage)
Ki (lance has broken condition)
Julian
Elindriel
Miss Dominique
S2

Julian will attack the charging statue, lashing out with claw and fang

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 171d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 201d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 241d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

@Julian: Your teeth and claws sting after attacking the statue, which weathers your blows. It's damaged, but still an active threat!

*cough* the thing may have some damage reduction that hasn't been noted before because of the powerhouses crittin' and chargin' things :P *cough*

Jostrum fires three adamantine blanched arrows at the remaining statue.

Rapid, PBS, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 - 2 + 1 - 2 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 + 4 = 13

Rapid, PBS, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 12 - 2 + 1 - 2 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 + 4 = 9

Iterative, Rapid, PBS, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 2 + 1 - 2 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 + 4 = 9

Jostrum unleashes his salvo of arrows at the statue, but it is still there, although with several chunks now removed.

Init Order (bold = up!)
Jostrum (5 damage)
Ki (lance has broken condition)
Julian
Elindriel
Miss Dominique
S2

Elindriel charges the remaining statue.

Full-round action: Charge statue
Attack (Falcata +1 (2H), Power Attack, Charge): 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 2 + 2 = 16
Damage (Falcata +1 (2H), Power Attack, Arcane Strike): 1d8 + 7 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 6 + 2 = 17

@Elindriel: Sorta moot point, but you cannot charge the statue. Each rectangled area counts as difficult terrain moving from one rectangle to another. However, again, moot because you still could hit it anyway :)

Statue reverberation damage @ +1 falcate: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 5) = 14

Elindriel fells the remaining statue, but doing so not as cleanly this time leaves a crack in the blade!

Note: Since your initiative is after Ki, if Ki charge/pwns this thing, then your blade is safe!

I am in class today and tomorrow and without a computer. Posting from phone. Will post tonight. But I had already decided that Ki would not charge again unless someone was in trouble. His thought was the threat was greater than he would break his lance than that the last statue would hunt someone bad. I had hoped your metal weapons would fare better than my wooden one.

No worries, I'd almost imagine in character that you'd be freaked out about having your lance destroyed. And thanks for the heads up!

With the last statue destroyed, a pair of clicks occurs from both doors. The tiling on the floor also shifts back into normal position, spinning Elindriel somewhat. The yellow smoky face continues to look over the party.

Miss Dominique turns to the smokey face.

"We're not your pupulis, and even if we were, sending statues to attack them is not a valid teaching technique. Also smoking in front of students is really frowned upon!"

Shen then hits Jostrum with a wand of cure light CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 and declares:

"Let's continue! 'Open Door' formation"

Somewhat cradling is lance and looking worried about it, Ki falls in.

Elindriel sighs, concerned for her focus weapon, but nods and gets behind Julian, ready for the next room.

Huh - didn't realize this:

If a bonded object is damaged, it is restored to full hit points the next time the wizard prepares his spells

@Elindriel: did not know that either, cool!

As the party falls into formation, the smoky face booms out once more in laughter before dissipating back into the 3 smoky yellow columns.

With everyone in position, Julian opens the door....

*creeeeak*

Ahead of you are eight statues of regal figures garbed in ancient finery that line each wall of this wide hallway. Each bears a brief transcription on its base written in an ancient script. The stairs to the south lead up to a ninth statue, taller than the others. This figure holds a mighty glass sword above its smooth, featureless face, and its other hand juts outward, palm upturned as if seeking alms.

Kneeling in front of the figure and standing up with the door's opening, is a tall human with a broad chin and a pair of daggers at his side. He turns to you with a quizzical look on his face. "Who are you?".

It is Rozimus.

Redcon slightly - Ki was gonna ride up and look into those windows across from the glass. What does he see? Is the opening large enough for him to get through if he decided he needed to?

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

@Ki: The window is fairly thin, but all you see is a narrow alcove (probably no more than a foot in). There is no openings, but you still see the plumes of smoke. However, now that you're up close, you can tell that instead of shoot out from below, that it's actually swirling at the bottom and moving up. There does not seem to be any location for the smoke to come in/out of the container as well.

The feral Julian known as maul answers in a low raspy voice. I Maul

Elindriel gasps and draws her blade. "What kind of trickery is this?" She begins to cast detect magic, attempting to discern whether this is an illusion.