GM Endless Forms' PFS 01-41 The Devil We Know Part III: Crypt of Fools (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"Hey, I think I found the door in the painting. Here's the letter "I" next to it."

With that, Oswin checks the door for traps and then tries to open it.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Baern concurs with Oswin, spotting with ease with his dwarven eyes.

"How do we open it?"

"Push, I suppose?" Maximo asks. He then steps up and pushes against it, mimicking the painting.

The opens normally but no secret cache is revealed.

"Well, this is a disappointment. I certainly hoped we'd have yet another strange drawing to figure out. Any suggestions where we go now?"

"Perhaps we have misinterpreted the painting." Maximo wonders as he looks over the art again. "Does it seem odd to any of you that Aroden seems to be fleeing the derro? I would think the real Aroden would be trying to protect the Abbey, not hiding behind its walls."

Is the door we found barred? Is there a way to make it so?

You could leave it closed rather than opening it.

This one's a little tricky.

Maximo pulls the door closed, then presses his hands against it, but not hard enough to open it.

Nope. Not quite.

If there is a way to bar it, maybe with a piece of wood or debris, Maximo will try that.

Nope.

Without looking at the spoiler, Kilian first looks around the area for anything that might match the urns. If there aren't any, he'll ask if Max has a bottle to smash.

Intelligence 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

"Focus on the 'I' and not the door, Max. It might be the key."

"Hmm? Oh..." Maximo stops grunting in his pretend effort of opening the door and moves instead to push on the I.

"Of course. If it was as easy as pushing or pulling this door anyone could have found the key I suppose."

Maximo pushes on the "I". At first nothing happens. In his frustration he punches the wall and suddenly the "I" opens up to reveal a small compartment with a piece of parchment inside.

"I don't normally advocate venting frustration in such a manner, but well done."

"Can you get a map of the city? Let's see if we can find a pattern."

Going on a hunch, Baern requests the papers. He stacks them one atop the other and stacks them one atop the other. He then holds the stack above his head against the sunlight. "Perhaps the glory of the sun can shed some illumination on this mystery?"

Maybe I have been watching too many films, but it comes to mind that maybe they each contain part of the information, but not enough to see everything with just one slip. Like in Iron Man where the schematics are all on different pages but show the whole when laid out at once?

"Brilliant idea, Baern!" Maximo slides up next to the dwarf and looks at the papers illuminated by the sun.

"So. What is it?" He doesn't see anything himself, but assumes a grand revelation is about to occur.

I did that, as well, just after suggesting it. Still trying to make sense of it. Think I may be barking up the wrong tree. Still, would be pretty cool if it worked!

"Hrmmm. Does anyone recognize this? Maybe a portion of the city? Or streets? Or a... park?" Obviously reaching now.

Knowledge Local in case it's not really reaching?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"I believe it resembles a... horse." Maximo squints at the overlaid images. "How does one triangulate with a horse? No no no. This makes no sense."

"If I may?" Maximo takes the papers and lays them out in a triangle pattern. "One needs three places to triangulate a third." He puts his finger in the center. "Now, do these images resemble streets, or perhaps landmarks?"

Is there any skill check Alie could make to try and help?

Kilian looks over the paladin's shoulder. "That first one looks like some sort of town square, with roads around it. The second and third--maybe I've spent too much time on shipboard, but the one suggests a group of islands, and the other a breakwater." He pauses. "Isn't there a whole district of the city based on some islands? Hound's--no, the Dog's Teeth?"

Triangulation Map

That first one looks like some sort of town square, with roads around it.

You're on the right track with this thought. The map of Cassomir is linked at the top with all the other images. Take a look at that and see if it helps. If you don't get it soon I'll give you guys some skill checks to help.

Max, neither of your links show anything when I look at them from work. That's odd, because I can read your DM maps just fine from here.

Ninja'd by Maximo! He's got it!

(Also, the map listed the entrance because I couldn't remove it.)

So, with the puzzle figured out the party can head to the entrance to the Crypt of Fools!

I'll update soon.

This is an awesome scenario. I'm going to buy it myself when we are done. EF, if you plan on running this again, let me know and I'll give you a clean map.

Sometimes Google Docs does and doesn't work for me, though usually I just need to open it in a few tabs and wait for ONE of them to load, hahaha.
Such a simple solution that I was making way too hard. How dwarven of me!

Just had to log into my google account.

The Andoren looks again at Max's layout. "I think you have it. Pharasma's Pulpit, the Admiralty Citadel, and the Harbor Watch."

Perception check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

"They're all over the place, it seems. Another I there, in the foundation wall."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

For once, Baern's eyes notice nothing.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"So there is!" Maximo exclaims, looking closer at the symbol. "So, where is the entrance then?"

After taking 20 on Perception...

"Hmm.. A loose brick here."

Maximo will try to manipulate it.

Not sure what Disable Devices is for. I don't have it, and I don't think it can be used Untrained.

Nothing to disable. For some reason they gave it as an alternate to Perception to notice the brick.

When Maximo pushes the brick, he opens a 2-foot-by-4-foot section of wall, revealing a set of stone stairs that descend beneath the streets of Old Cassomir.

As you descend, the temperature falls rapidly until it stabilizes at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The stairs are in complete darkness. After a number of quick turns and further descent, you find yourselves in a small chamber 200 feet beneath the city streets.

An ancient fountain decorates this open tunnel intersection. Many chipped sculptures provide spouts which drizzles water splash into the basin below. The fountain’s cold concrete edges have carved symbols that adorn its sides in three distinct bands. A set of stairs leading down from above empties into the room from the south, while two 5-foot-wide tunnels exit the room to the east and west.

Kilian tosses his ioun torch into the air, where it floats around his head. As he does so he stops and whispers, "Listen! Moaning noises, and coming this way."

Perception check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Perception again: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Baern goes down, drawing his cloak about himself against the chill.

"This place could use the sun's warmth to --- I hear it, as well. Hide yourselves! They sound like slaves, whom I would rather not kill."

As he speaks, he bears his shield and seeks a place to seclude himself.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Oswin casts light on his holy symbol, which hangs from his neck. He listens in the cool hallway and hears the same thing as Killian and Baern.

He takes out his wand of bless and casts it on the party, returning the wand to his belt if he has time.

Alie was in awe at the teamwork of her friends. "You all are more than just swords and holy symbols! Very quick thinkers, all of you."

As the descent into the crypt happened, she shivered. "I left all my sweaters back at the lodge. No one warned me about this!"

"Chains? Slaves?" Maximo looks down the hall and straightens his back. "Maximo does not hide from injustice."

The older man gets the special little flask from his breast pocket, opens the lid, and drinks it. In moments the alchemical mutagen has transformed him once again into his younger self. Running a hand through his full dark hair, he steps to the center of the passage and draws his greatsword, placing it point-down on the stone floor.

Mutagen +4 strength -2 intelligence +2 natural armor. Current AC 22

Alie takes a look at the new and younger and improved Maximo and gasps. Max was a hottie when he was younger!

Maximo moves into position just as the door opens to reveal a procession of two derros with four mites (one of which is struggling to hold a large jar filled with bugs), all leading five human slaves shackled together in a line.

Initiative:

1. Baern
2. Derros and Mites
3. Maximo, Alie, Oswin, and Kilian

Baern is up!

Baern mutters "I would have rather they be in the room rather than down the hall, but..." as he moves up, drawing his scimitar.

With a cry of "Freedom and justice!", he swings his scimitar down on the derro in the lead.

Scimitar w/ Bless: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19
1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Baern hacks into the derro!

---

The derro step to the side as it tries to stab into Maximo!

short sword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

One of the mites now throws its jar of bugs into the room before stepping up near Max. The spiders swarm out towards the party!

Ali, Oswin, and Kilian:
swarm damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
DC 11 Fort save against poison (1d2 ⇒ 1 Str damage)
DC 11 Fort save against distraction (nauseated)

The other mite tries to run around Max and Baern (drawing AoO from both) and very likely dies in the process.

Another derro and mite push past their human slaves to get up front, leaving another mite in the back.

Initiative:

1. Baern
2. Derros, Mites, and Spiders (oh my!)
3. Maximo, Alie, Oswin, and Kilian

D1: 9 dmg

You guys are up!

Oswin steps out of the swarm and throws an alchemist's fire at it.

If I can. I would need to be able to 5' step away, move action to retrieve and standard to throw.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Fort save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Fort save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Kilian swallows a few spiders and begins retching uncontrollably.

Fort save vs. poison: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Fort save vs. distraction: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Fort 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Fort 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Alie steps away from the swarm and flings her vial of alchemist's fire at it as well.

Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Damage 1d6 ⇒ 2