GM Blood's Age of Worms in Golarion

Game Master David James Olsen

Yep, no traps unless they have a really high DC!

Nothing I can do about that :)
Kelkzar opens the first box.

All 6 are locked

"Locked. I don't think you want me breaking them in case there is something fragile inside. Take them with us or come back to them later?"

"Let's come back to it later, unless you sense any magic in them, Rauno."

Rauno will close his eyes and concentrate, slowly holding a hand out toward each chest in turn.

Detect magic on all of them.

Trevor was not too happy at the thought of stopping, but he nevertheless enjoyed the deserved rest. In the morning, he goes through his usual routine of prayer and training, asking Kelkzar to spar with him and discuss tactics.

"So, we can't open locked chest?! That's amazing!" he says with a ringing laughter.

It would take almost all of my second level slots, but I could Knock the lot of them. Assuming we investigated the chests before Rauno prepared spells. Otherwise, we can come back to them.

I was assuming the Take 20 searching was before resting, so you can choose knock if you want or come back for it later

No magic comes from the chests, and he doesn't detect magic from inside, but it could be shielded from what the chests are made of.

Trying to be helpful, Trevor adds: "Well, Allustan didn't seem interested by them..."

I was assuming the Take 20 searching was before resting

That was my intent

Oh, I see. We're still on the previous night. Rowena would caution that opening four chests for loot is not the best use of so much magical resources.

The next morning...
"Hang on a moment," Rowena says, peering intently at the chests. "Something has been on my mind since my morning meditations. Something new, about moving so fast while staying still... Shine some light in through the keyhole..."

She stands in front of the leftmost chest, tentatively reaching a hand out towards it. As she concentrates, her hand starts to twitch and vibrate, faster than a person should ever be able to vibrate it normally. As the vibration passes through the rest of her body (and equipment!), it suddenly seems to stretch and come apart into a cloud of Rowena vapour, which reaches out and slips in through the keyhole to have a look around inside the chest. Rowena-vapour checks out all four chests before solidifying.

If the contents look interesting (and not breakable), she'll suggest that Kelkzar and Trevor can safely bust them open.

Gaseous form lasts 22 minutes for you so you can check out all 6 chests!

The various things found in the 6 chests are: a wand, 3 tablets carved with glyphs that resemble the ones you have seen in this area, a set of scrolls that have crumbled into dust, silk gowns and robes, and matching platinum necklace, ring and erring set.

You can get this ability from your level and use it before Rauno finishes memorizing spells if he wants to take less knocks for something specific from this list or bust it open.

As she comes out of the chests, she relays what's inside, pretending that nothing unusual just happened.

Thinking about how those locks looked from the inside, she roots around in her pack, pulling a small bundle she remembers Jirin stuffing in there a long time ago. Smiling, she grabs the set of tools, unrolls them, shushes Trevor, and starts to work.

Taking 20, she gets a 35 and can open the chests. The magic trap on the vase, however, she leaves for later.

"Those were quite the meditations Rowena. Maybe we all should take some time to reflect on Korada's lessons."

"Well, I've been saying that for months," Rowena replies with a ghost of a smile, though she's clearly distracted.

"How did I know how to..." she mutters to herself, looking from the chest to Jirin's tools and back again without coming up with any answers.

"I must say Rowena, that was amazing! What mastery of your body you show!!" says Trevor with a smile, but then he blushes again and shuts up, keeping his eyes locked on the first vase.

Rowena spends a couple hours fiddling with the locks finally opening all 6 chests. Everyone else is ready by the time she done to move along

Linguistics Rauno: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34

loot: wand of eagle's splendor - 15 charges, set of three clay tablets written in Vaati (Deciphered by Rauno to be revealed as love poems, the set is worth 500gp), set of scrolls long crumbled to dust, robes that turn to dust as soon as they are touched, and a matching set of platinum necklace, ring, and earrings worth 8,000gp as a set (or 1,500gp each).

Having a full night's sleep, uncovering some treasure, you are ready to move along. What would you like to do first

"I'd suggest we go across the hall and check the doors on the other side."
We still would need to disarm the trap on the statue, correct?

"I saw this guy once who could open a lock in a few seconds... It's taking you a long time, no?" says Trevor innocently behind Rowena's shoulder as she toils at opening the locks.

"I just need a bit of room to maneuver,"" Rowena replies calmly, stretching her arms to the side and elbowing Trevor in the genitals. "Whoops, sorry. Did I get you?"

As long as you don't try to remove the sword on the statue it won't go off

Heading south out the door to the room you slept in, you head up the stairs to the east to go out of the room past the statue. Once on top and passing the area with the black floor, Kelkzar and Rowena notice this time that the floor is a living thing! (and likely the reason the sound is muffled in this room.) However it hasn't made any hostile moves towards any of you while you have walked by it.

Re-post the description:

This two-tiered hall shines with purple light from four large chandeliers. A large black sphere hangs between them. The chandeliers seem to be sculpted with small humanoid figures in silvery metal. A second-floor gallery with arches and spiral striped pillars runs the length of the hallway to a second set of large double doors. The black tile floor absorbs the light from the chandeliers, and even sound in this chamber seems muted and dull.

I'm slightly confused. The floating black sphere is the creature and now it's lying on and covering the floor? Or the sphere is still there, and just this time we noticed that the floor is alive?

"I can't believe I missed this before, but that black floor is some sort of creature. Not one I've heard of before. How about you Rauno?"
Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

The sphere is still there, the black floor is a creature on the actual floor. You all missed your spot rolls the last time you walked by

"Alive?!" asks Trevor, wonder in his voice, wonder and caution, as he threads somewhat more lightly.

Knowledge (dungeoneering) 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20

"A black pudding, I believe. An ooze of sorts."

"Edible?" Trevor asks again, hearing pudding.

"Alas, no. If only ridding the world of such monstrosities were as easy as setting hungry young lads upon them."

"It didn't bother us last time we crossed. Should we just leave it alone. I can't help but think it is some sort of strange trap."

"Do you know how to kill it? I'm guessing I'm not going to be able to toss it over my hip like Trevor!"

Quintus looks up at the ceiling for a moment, one corner of his mouth trembling, before getting back to business. "There are other doors that we haven't tried to look through. Let's start with the other set in the room with the spikes."

"So you think we should just leave it Quintus? I'm inclined to agree though I have a nagging feeling we will see it again. Perhaps when we follow Allustan's path. If you would prefer to start with the room with the spikes, I will lead us there. We also need to look at the door right across the hall." Not sure if the decision is fully resolved, Kelkzar leads the way back across the room, trying to step on the black pudding as little as possible (which probably means walking all over it).
Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

In case you are unsure, the black pudding is in the middle of the room on the raised area, it is currently outlined by black lines on the map, and you have yet to walk on it. Many of the frescoes and pillars and chandeliers are there. You haven't walked into that area and you haven't examined those yet either. At this point it hasn't moved or attacked you

Gotcha. Ignore that part of my comments. I'm still good leaving it alone for now.

Ah! Makes more sense. Thanks!

"Heu... What do we do if it attacks?"

Trevor is treated to one of Kelkzar's toothy smiles, "Then we kill it." He claps Trevor on the back. "But it left us alone last time. I'm sure we'll be fine. Just don't wake it up."

Rauno furrows his eyebrows in concentration. Why I am having such a hard time remembering lore of black puddings? Is it this strange place? As they debate, he closes his eyes to try and recall the tomes and lectures he's experienced to summon useful facts.

Did we decide we could take 10 on knowledge rolls in a non-combat situation? If so, Rauno will do so here in case fighting the ooze is inevitable.

Yes I will allow it, and since it isn't attacking now, you can do it

"Well, this particular one must be quite old to have grown so large. They are mindless, and can dissolve most things other than stone."

Moving across the hall you open the door. A rush of superheated air flows from this room like the heat from a forge. Glowing hot coals cover the room’s floor. A pair of copper double doors stand at the far end of the room. A small chest of black stone sits in the far corner of the room.

The heat in this room is extreme. from outside the hall you are sweating, you believe is would be worse inside.

Inside is a creature made of fire, and a snake-bodied humanoid with spines of crackling flame that dance along the creature's blackened, fiery-red scales. The snake creature speaks up as he sees you. Imagine a ridiculous British accent

“Greetings visitors, I am Antyress Redpike, Earl of Coalchester, and this here is my faithful servent, Smoughed. It’s ever so good to have visitors, isn’t it. Smoughed? It’s so dreadfully boring around here otherwise.”

He continues, “I’m terribly sorry, because I would love to be a more gracious host. But I’m afraid I may have to stab all of you in the vitals. I’m compelled by conjuration, don’t you know, old chaps. It really can’t be helped. I’ll have to slay you all. Unless you have something shiny and valuable and a good reason I shouldn't attack.... ”

For the fire creature:

Snake fire creature:

"I understand. Would you mind giving us a minute?" Rowena asks the creature, then shuts the door.

Kelkzar ducks back through the door as Rowena closes it. "A good decision Rowena. Shall we set up to the north and south in case they pursue us? If they don't, we can prepare for them and try again."
Kelkzar also shares what he knows, all spoilers for the 1st creature and only the 1st spoiler for the 2nd creature.
Knowledge (arcana) on fire creature: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Knowledge (arcana) on snake fire creature: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

Knowledge (arcana) 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (10) + 21 = 31
Knowledge (arcana) 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 22

Rauno will fill in the little more he knows about the snake creature.

"What does it mean by shiny? How did Allustan get past it?" asks Trevor.

"Allustan didn't come this way, Trevor. We're making sure that our backtrail is covered." Quintus looks to Rauno. "Could you make an illusion of us while we hide? Then make the illusion flee into the room with the black pudding?"

"Well, we know what's there, but that doesn't mean we have to fight it, no?!"

"Let's close that door!" urges Trevor.

Not sure what the plan is. Can someone sum it up. So far you have shut the door and discussed options. Let me know!