1. GM Edwin's Zeitgeist Campaign

Game Master Insnare

As the group is walking down the halls. Anyone have a spare crossbow and bolts. I really don't wish to be unhelpful in fights. Or if you'd like to give up your armor, I would be honored to take the front line again."

You took a contract with the clergy? Did this give you the demon or did you have before the contract?" Iva studies the man trying to figure out what happened.

"Iva, I could provide mage armor for you if you liked. It's not as good perhaps as what you had, but it's better than nothing. If that's not gonna do it though, I do have a crossbow I seldom use and 10 bolts for it."

Femi offers either to Iva while he listens to the man in the pillar. Some clergy!

"If you designed the vault, what can you tell us about it? We know about the curse, and are doing the holy water thing to re-open the doors. Is there anything else we should know?"

The architect says, "As I had said, I would have met my maker by now. They put it into me without my knowledge to lock me away with my secrets. I have no problem with relaying the what I know about this place to you with only two caveats, 1) promise to relay all of my information about the Clergy and their lies to the outside world and 2) Go up there and take an oath on the on the pious mount up there from the holy water over there to tell what happened to me."

You guys agree?

Femi agrees to the first part readily enough. He has no problems speaking the truth, and though he's unsure of the scope of the agreement, he nods affirmatively.

But when it comes to the second part it feels odd. "So this oath we're taking, it sounds rather ritualistic. I'm happy to write a treatise on your story, and see it's sent to those in authority, but what exactly are we bound to by this oath you wish us to take?"

If it is only to do as he's suggests, he'll agree, and ask for more information for his report.

The man says, "To spread the fact that the Clergy is a false doctrine that has betrayed its followers with lies. That is all I need and maybe I will finally be able to die."

"I can only spread your words, unless you have proof of what you claim. But that I will do - along with any proof I find along the way."

"This is certainly a strange enough place." he adds as if that makes a difference.

GMEdwin, do we have proof of his claims? Not sure if I missed something important - which is possible. :)

"And I could probably get the book placed in the library, and with proof of veracity it could be placed in non-fiction. But even without proof of veracity, many people would take your telling into account by virtue of what we have seen with our names attached."

Well you can give me a Knowledge Religion roll about him.

He says, "The things I will tell you are only someone who constructed this place knows. Even the other beings in here do not have the information I have. I know all of the traps, all of the ways to get out of here. Information about the Lady of the Forked Tongue."

Then you hear the sultry voice from before in your heads, "Signore Adolini, what pray tell will you tell them about me that I was not going to tell them anyway."

He says, "Well, I am not sure what you are going to privy them to, but I can illuminate for them a great deal of things."

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Femi

"I agree. I will tell the truth about what happened to you."

You leave Adolini for a short bit to do the ritual as before but adding your promise to him. Drink the holy water from the pious mount and get some hp back and another 24 hour +1 to saving throws(cumalitive)

You then return to Adolini and he says, "What would you like to know?"

Femi takes out his spellbook, and using a bit of his arcane reservoir, switches Burning Hands for Mage Armor among his daily allotment. He then casts it on Iva.

”Now that’ll last six hours or so. If you need another application for any reason, just let me know.” he says grinning, glad he can help out.

He adds, ”This certainly seems like Adolini, the man who designed and constructed these vaults and who was said to have been possessed by a demon. I think his story may be legitimate too. I’m happy to help.” he goes and drinks the holy water, and starts to wonder if there’s a bathroom around anywhere…

”Well,” he begins, talking to Adolini again, ”We’ve been told the only way to open the vault is by doing this ritual with the holy water in each chamber. Is that correct, will that free us? Assuming so, while we do that, what traps do we need to avoid?”

The man says, "As you probably have noticed all of your gold has turned to lead. Outside of the vault, gold is a barrier against teleportation but here gold enables you to leave. See when I designed this place, the Clergy spared no expense and did not want to know specific, keep the loop as tight as possible... Ugh, I should have known. I installed rings of gold to block teleportation. This element is critical to the design of this vault. The stones in the walls are laced with gold, preventing creatures from teleporting out. But the dungeon relies on teleportation magic within to make the hallways a sort of infinite loop. Normally a creature wearing a gold ring could bypass this and just walk right out the front door, but the vault also has a special curse laid upon it, which causes gold on any creature that enters the vault to turn to lead. The leaden curse was only known to a few who crafted the vault, like myself, and none today are aware of it except for those inside, the other beings do not know why it is the way it is but I do. The holy water is one of the ways to get out. You can make rings out of the gold that Belcamp has, swim through the well in the chamber of the Lady of the Forked Tongue, but it is a very long swim. She might have another option."

You hear the voice again, "I think it imperative I speak with you. The information I have will be very much worth it. You won't have to wait til morning to leave if you do."

The man coughs and says, "Could you please inform me of how you came here, so I do not waste your time with tunnels you have already been in."

Iva lets Adolini know what chambers they have been through already.

"Let me get this straight we can drink of the fountains, swim through a tunnel, listen to the voice in our heads that tells us there is another way or make rings out of Belcamp's gold. I'm sorry who is Belcamp. I may have missed that piece of the tour."

Adolini says, "Belcamp is in Chamber Seven, Damned Souls, he is or was the bearded devil Belcamp of the Golden Chain, a squad leader in a long forgotten devil army that tried to conquer our world ages ago. Belcamp joined with the Demonocracy and eventually rose to a modest position. He freed and gathered the various evil spirits in the vaults, and occasionally recruits foolish treasure hunters to join his “legion." To get to his vault you would need to go back past the accursed items vault there you could take a right and go back to vault 2 or you can take a left to go to vault seven. There used to be a really clever trap in that tunnel but I have heard that Belcamp has built fraises to stop the rust monsters. Anyway, that next vault is the one of Belcamp and beyond that is vault 8, which has a randomness trap of teleportation, basically you might be teleported to some other part of the vault system. Vault 8 has all kinds of dangerous beasts. After that you will probably want to go to vaults 3 and 4. "

"Wow, this place is bigger than I thought. I'll have to conserve my spells better or I'll never see out the night!"

He doesn't like the sound of a bearded devil, and he's really tired of the voice in his head. "We'd best get going then. I suggest we head to vault seven and face this Belcamp fellow now while we're still somewhat fresh."

He shakes his head, "I wish I'd brought my scrolls!" he laments. I'll do better next time. he thinks. Or perhaps a wand of something or other.

He waits to see what the party thinks before moving off toward vault seven.

Adolini says, "From what the lady has told me, you are half way finished. Anyway, after Belcamp you will most likely go back to vaults 3 and 4, this one is very interesting it is violence penance curse, basically you need to throw your weapons on the ground, move forward, throw them again and keep moving. Or you can kick them forward. This prevents them from hurting you. Are you sure you do not want me to tell you some more things to help you on your way?"

Iva listens intently as she Adolini gives them suggestions. "You are the master builder. You know best what we need to know to make it out of this place and keep our promise to you. What do you think we should know that will help?"

"Yes, all that you can tell is is helpful."

He says, "Every time blood is spilled in this vault a sacred skeleton becomes animated, normally they attack the closest thing to them but with this chant ' “Noli me tangere, fratris. Saepi cum fide, nobiles.” the skeleton will be your friend within that particular vault or tunnel."

After he says that his body twists within the pillar of flame and his eyes turn blue and a completely different voice is emitted from Adolini's body, "As you most likely surmised, I am the demon that was forced upon him by the Clergy. I have an interesting offer for you. It is much more simple, free me and I will kill, destroy or wreak havoc upon any challenge or such in my way!"

Femi repeats the words to make sure he has it, "Noli me tangere, fratris. Saepi cum fide, nobiles. Check. You've been extremely helpful, thank you."

When the demon appears, he takes a frightened step back a moment, before remembering it is contained within the pillar and cannot escape on its own.

"No, I think that would be a bad idea." he begins slowly. "You'd serve us a short time, and then what. Ravage the countryside? No, I don't think I want that on my conscience. Thanks." he adds dryly unable to see any true advantage to this arrangement.

They'd done OK so far. I mean sure, there's a devil coming up, but surely we can handle it. Right?

You say goodbye to Adolini and his demon and make your way back through Rust monster chamber and you then see where the tunnel forks and you take the left tunnel to go towards chamber seven, in this tunnel you see obvious and easily-avoided fraises of bone and stone spears pointing toward where you are coming from. For normal sized creature they are easy to avoid but the big rust monsters would have had a difficult time.

After the tunnel ends you see two legionnaires guarding the front doors to what you have heard was Belcamp's chamber. The first one says, "Halt who goes there?"

For a moment, Falko forgets about the mission, their timeline, their need to escape and get back on the train. So much history filled these halls; secret history. At times, he had wondered about the so-called boons of Risurian progress, but being witness to the dirty deeds of the Clergy can only confirm his cynical inclinations: Every government in power is bound to have skeletons in its closet. And perhaps a few closets...

He shudders at the thought of what Risur may have in his closet. A thought of the great snake in the jungle flashes in his mind, and he grows weary and worried...

----

As they approach the legionnaires, Falko stiffens. This Andolini did not mention. "We wish to visit Belcamp. Let us pass." he says in an authoritative, but non-threatening way.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

He has been in the pillar for over one thousand years so he may not be up to date on everything going on in the vaults.

The legionnaire says, "Prefect Belcamp is in the Keystone exhibit."

Do you go directly to him or take a different route.

What I mean is, Belcamp is in the circular room, you are in the entrance room. You can go straight towards the door overlooking his room or go to the Binding circle areas or to the statue areas.

"Thank you." Iva nods to the Legionnaire. "Is he in the mood for visitors?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
The direct approach?

Femi also supports the direct approach, though he worries about leaving the guards in their wake to attack from the rear...

He remains quiet and tries to look unobtrusive.

You guys take the most direct approach through the vault and you go through the main gallery. IN the main gallery you walk by another four legionnaires and mover to the door.

Perception DC 25

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Iva notices nothing as she approaches the door.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Perception with Heroism: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 14 + 2 = 34

Falko places a cautionary hand on Iva's shoulder and warns: "Look at the handles! They're poisoned..."

He pulls from his bag a thick canvas bag, empties its content, and hands it over to Iva: "Use this to protect your hands. Keep an eye on the legionnaires. They might have been waiting for the poison to attack..."

Iva opens the door with the bag and you make your way down to the Keystone exhibit. You see the bearded devil that you assume is Belcamp sitting on a throne of sorts with four more legionnaires around him, he is watching with glee the torture of a lilend on a torture rack with a 15ft mithral blade piercing its body.

As you approach the devil says, "You are the group who have defeated those infernal rust monsters. Why have you come to visit me? If you are looking to join the legion, I might could have a spot for you."

Do you guys want to talk or attack the devil?

Unsure how to proceed, Femi hesitates a moment before realizing - This is it!

He studies his enemy, looking for weakness.
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 (DR/Resistances/Special Abilities - if I get any questions)

If he learns anything, he immediately shares it with the group.

He’s pretty sure the devil will be immune to his flame, but he doubts the guards will. He casts Fireball centered to hit the guards, and if he catches the devil, so much the better.

SR if needed: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Fireball Damage: 6d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 6, 4, 4) + 3 = 32 DC 18 reflex for half

With a total of 11, no answers

Femi unleashes a fireball towards the throne of legionnaires and the devil to no affect.

Initiative: Femi 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23, Falko 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6, Chretien 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19, Iva 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17, Isaac 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10, Primma 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10, Ottavia 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24, Belcamp 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15, Legionnaires 1d20 ⇒ 4

Order, Ottavia, Femi, Chretien, Iva, Belcamp, Isaac, Primma, Falko, Legionnaires

Round 1

Ottavia moves to attack Belcamp with her firey morningstar 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 10 miss

Femi, Chretien, Iva

The map is the rust map that is on Chretien's and Falco's hyperlink

Round: 1, Initiative: 23

Femi, astounded that his best spell did no damage - to anybody shouts out, ”These legionnaires, they’re special. The took no damage from fire, something’s wrong!”

Fearful now that they were in over their heads and he’d made a horrible mistake, he moves quickly, two squares down and four to the right. In the hopes of delaying at least some of the opposition until they could make headway, he attacks three of the legionnaires with Magic Missiles using Toppling Spell.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Trip CMB: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Trip CMB: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Trip CMB: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Iva moves up and tries to get into a flank with Ottavia. She'll only move there if she can stay out of range of the legionaries. She slashes at the demon with the intelligent longsword.

My friend I need your help with this.

+1 Heartseeker Longsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Cretien moves hastily up against the wall two squares east of Falko, and then presses a button on his shield that deploys it as a wall on the west side of his square.

basically getting out of the way and throwing a wall up to protect himself. unfortunately that is two move actions so offense will have to come next turn.

Iva you cannot flank because the devil is on top of five legionnaires, they are making a human throne for him. So I will have you attack one of the Legionnaires.

One of Femi's missiles kills a legionnaire outright and the other two fall over.

Iva's attack connects.

Chretien moves.

Belcamp full attacks Ottavia with his glaive 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29 hit 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 +2 INfernal wound and again 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 miss

Isaac, Primma and Falko

Isaac gasps as Femi attacks with his fireball without any discourse. He then starts setting up his crossbow turret next to him.

"Damn, Femi! You're quick on the trigger, no? And fire?! Against a devil?!?" comments Falko with a tired sigh as he conjures grease under the legionnaire-be-throne.

Cast Grease, Ref DC 14.

Primma and Carmen both move in unison to opposite ends of the enemy. Slashing and flailing at him to the best of their ability.

Primma attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19
Damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 4) + 6 = 13

Carmen attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Carmen attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Reflex DC14 for two legionnaires that have not fallen 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 fail, 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 pass

Primma and carmen combine to destroy one legionnaire by going up the stairs.

Legionnaire 1 stands up

Legionnaire 2 stands up.

Legionnaire 3 acrobatics 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 pass moves out of the grease and around to attack Iva 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 miss

Legionnaire 4 stays put

legionnaire 5 moves to attack dascarmen 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Legionnaire 6 moves to attack Primma1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 hit 1d6 ⇒ 2

Legionnaire 7 moves to attack Primma 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Legionnaire 8 and 9 double move towards Falko

Ottavia AOO 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 hit 1d8 ⇒ 6 not doing as much damage you would think.

Iva AOO

Did the devil fall from his legionnaire-throne?

He is sitting down, just in a more awkward way Devil reflex 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

AOO Longsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Iva studies the legionnaire in front of her, and the devil. She swings at the legionnaire with both weapons.

Longsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Damage Ghost Touch: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Silver Kukri: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Iva hits

Round 2

Ottavia, casts defensively 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25, casting cure critical wounds on Belcamp 4d8 + 8 ⇒ (8, 2, 3, 5) + 8 = 26, the positive energy burns the devil.

Femi, Chretien

Round: 2, Initiative: 23

"Damn, Femi! You're quick on the trigger, no? And fire?! Against a devil?!?" comments Falko with a tired sigh as he conjures grease under the legionnaire-be-throne.

"It's best not negotiating with devils, but I do apologize if I went too far.” he grins, ”The fire was for the legionnaires - but they too seem immune, though weak."

Femi again casts Magic Missiles using Toppling Spell. With his first missile, he targets the devil, trying to drop him to his knees at least, while he sends the next two missiles at the legionnaires he already wounded.

SR if needed on the devil: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Trip CMB: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 (devil)
Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Trip CMB: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 (wounded legionnaire)
Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Trip CMB: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 (wounded legionnaire)