GM Lorenzo's #4-11: The Disappeared (Subtier 4-5) (Inactive)

Game Master Lawrence Smith 2

Once you've determined that Zarta’s letter of admiration is actually a clue to your next objective, you realize you'll have to traverse the ventilation system in order to reach the
records archive beyond.

The crammed vent leads to a series of old ventilation tunnels. The floor and some of the walls of the tunnels are plain stone or plaster, but in many places the walls and ceiling display pieces of crumbling mosaics, frescos, murals, and bas-relief sculptures.

The tunnels are narrow with low ceilings, and tend to be about 3 feet wide and 3 feet tall. They lead to many rooms on both floors of the residential wing. Zarta’s note (see Player Handout #2) gives clues to which direction to take at each fork.

Once in the tunnels, you crawl along on hands and knees. Occasional vents punctuate the walls and provide dim light throughout the tunnels.

At the first junction, the wall to the left of the fork is adorned with the head of a lion, cut off from whatever mural sustained it in the room below, and the right side of the fork shows an ancient banner unfurling.

(Fuzzfoot's in the lead. Which way do you go?)

Barbo smiles at Lady Vanessa, "Of course! I always study up on Prestidigitation before working with you, my lady." After a beat, he realizes what that sounds like and coughs. "Uh, because the company you keep is often far cleaner and elaborate than my dusty robes can live up too." He clasps his hands together and whispers into them. When he opens his hands, inside is a small paper rose. "This trick never gets old." With a flick of the wrist he tosses the paper, which dissolves into nothing soon after.

Before entering the vents, Barbo whispers, "If we encounter any trouble, I can Silence any casters or Calm emotions any guards which stop us." Once the group encounters the junction, Barbo chuckles. "You were right about the secret code, Fuzzfoot! Looks like we should take the Lion side. Perhaps the next crossing will have a Scale."

Like most samsaran with countless past lives, this ain't Barbo's first rodeo. In a voice sounding like that otherworldly oracle, Siri, he guides the party to the left of the fork, the way adorned with the head of a lion.

The next junction you reach has the right side of the fork adorned with the scales of justice, while the left fork is plain wood.

(Which way do you go?)

"Follow the scales. That's the way." Einn mutters as she sounds like she's trying not to sneeze. "I'm so glad I'm wearing someone else's clothes right now."

The soft-spoken Ulfen woman speaks up. Scales, says the sorcerer, and Fuzzfoot obeys.

You follow the scales, and the next junction has a crown on the wall of the right branch of the fork and a depiction of a spear thrust up through the floor of the wall of the left fork.

(Which way do you go?)

"Kings wear a crown, so let's try right."

Fuzzfoot keeps crawling, and looks for a painting of a centaur.

Eager to demonstrate he has an investigator's keen mind of his own, Fuzzfoot turns right at the crown.

The halfling leads you to a dead end with a vent in it. The middle third of a centaur wielding a bow adorns a wall of the tunnel, its arrow pointing to the vent. The vent is mostly clogged with dust and cobwebs, and the iron edges are covered with rust and mold. Nobody's cleaned this thing in a long time.

The halfling can see a gentle blue light penetrating the vent from whatever room lies beyond. He sees what looks like a large squarish room filled with shelves, cabinets, table and chairs. He doesn't see anyone through the vent.

Your expected 30-minute warning from Venture-Captain Amara Li doesn't come. Maybe the message spell can't penetrate the walls or the maze that is the antiquated ventilation system.

Map & Images

Time Remaining: 30 minutes.

"Are we almost there?" Fran whispers to the others up ahead. "These vents are so narrow...I feel like I can't breathe in here..."

She shivers, quickly trying to refocus on the task at hand. "I just hope we'll be able to get back out of here in time."

"Yes, Fran is right. We'll have to get in and out of this room quickly, to make sure we beat our time. " Barbo smiles, despite the dark and dank circumstances. "What's the hold up, Fuzz? Is it stuck? "

Lady Vanessa crawls through the air vents on hands and knees, having gathered her skirts up around her upper thighs but not shy in the least about the view this affords anyone following her. In these kinds of situations, she is content to allow the specialists like Fuzzfoot and Barbo to take the lead. She just hopes this is all worth it in the end, and they can find some clue as to Zarta's fate.

Einn waits for the all clear.

Fuzzfoot is always leary about rust and mold. I doubt our friend went through here, since the cobwebs persist.

Knowledge, Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (14) + 9 + (6) = 29

If he doesn't recognize it as dangerous, he will proceed to the vent, and if all clear, will hop down, motioning for the next in line to follow.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

(following behind Fuzzfoot), "I will be right behind you."

All this sneaking around is starting to bore the hell out of me... I need either a good fight, some good ale or a good woman very soon! All three would be preferable, in that order!

OOC- how far down is it from the vent opening to the floor of the room? Can Fuzzfoot tell?

(jumping down or climbing at same modifier) Acrobatics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Once on the ground he will draw his rapier and move towards any threats... or the nearest door if no immediate threats are detected.

I don't know of any bards who sing ballads about the Master Duelist who snuck into the castle and DIDN'T kill the dragon.

Mr. Sunshine pads along behind Fran, not finding the smallness of the vent shaft a problem in the least. On the other hand...

"Maow..."

This sort of thing is a lot less fun with people, Fran. All I can see is backside and since I'm not a dog it's not very exciting.

Fuzzfoot sees nothing around the vent that poses a threat.

He's concerned that forcing the vent open might be a noisy operation. Perhaps he could accomplish the task with light fingers and skill rather than ham-handed brute force.

Barbo frowns at the delay, and the potentially noisy grate. He whispers up the line, playing a game of What's the Pathfinder version of "telephone"?! Message. "I could Grease that up for ya. That might help with the squeaks." If Fuzzfoot thinks the Grease spell might aid him, Barbo leans over, pulls out a wand and casts Grease on the object.

If not, Barbo whispers again. "I just learned a powerful spell which could Silence this area. Normally I reserve it for powerful casters, but it could help with this job if your fingers aren't feeling nimble." He shrugs, meaning no offense.

"That's a good idea," Fran whispers, smiling. "I wish my own magics were that useful! Kitty says it'll come in time, though."

Nodding at Fran's encouragement, Barbo pulls out his wand and whispers a magic phrase. Grease shoots out and coats the rusted vent. Well, if this makes the vent more difficult to grab, at least it will disappear in a minute...

Fuzzfoot pulls out a wand of grease, and considers how it might help keep things quiet. Then he resorts to his old tricks.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Fuzzfoot makes quick work of the challenge, opening the old vent and setting it to the side in total silence.

The vent is near the ceiling of the records archive, but climbing up and down is made trivial by a cabinet standing against the wall under the vent.

The records archive is large and square. The walls glow with a gentle blue light, and the air feels unnaturally cool and dry. Shelves line the walls and stand in ranks through the middle of the room, punctuated by a wooden table and ornate chairs.

An imposing, unoccupied desk faces the main entrance in the north wall of the room. The high-security doors appear locked and sealed, and there's presently no one in the archive.

On an easel next to the desk is a detailed sketch of the room.

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(After he follows Fuzzfoot into the room),"This is an extensive amount of records to rifle through. Any ideas where we should start?"

OOC- I am assuming Fuzzfoot will visually check the area for traps. But just in case- Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 17

(Rather than moving towards the door, he begins by casting Detect Magic and scanning the room, although rapier is still ready in hand).

I don't think the Chelaxians are foolish enough to leave a room with this amount of sensitive information unguarded

"Be ready for anything..."

Using the decoded list of names, Fuzzfoot looks at the files in the foreign ministry personnel records. "Thysius, why don't you check 'counterintelligence'?"

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Barbo smiles at the halfling's idea. "Fuzzfoot you may be on to something. I'll bet your shelf has it. But... " He wanders over to the shelf in the middle of the room. "I'll check 'internal security evidence' for any clues about our missing lover. "

Fran slowly crawls out of the vent and carefully hops down from the cabinet, Mr. Sunshine right behind her. She looks around and then looks at the easel, frowning.

"That seems really convenient, having a sketch of what's located where," she remarks. "You would think that whoever works here wouldn't need the reference...but I won't complain. Um...I guess I can try looking at 'Histories' and see if anything useful pops up?"

She hurries over and begins flipping through files, trying to remember each of the names they'd decoded as she searches...

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Unable to offer any help thumbing through books, what with the lack of thumbs, Mr. Sunshine pads over to the desk and hops atop of it. He noses around through anything that might've been left sitting atop it, trying his best to help.

"Maow!"

Fran, I will search the top of the desk but someone else will need to open the drawers for me.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Lady Vanessa clambers down the cabinet and brushes the dust from her skirts. As she studies the room layout, she recalls that the list of names they found had a series of "Seal Numbers" next to each. As she herself heads for the section labeled Imperial Security Dossiers, she reminds her companions of the note.

"Zhat note ve found earlier listed some seal numbers. Maybe somevun could check zhe internal security sections."

Zhe Umbral Court vill be verrry interested in zhis room. My mentor Kholas vill revahrd me vell for zhis find.

After giving herself a little guidance to aid her search, she begins perusing the dossiers, looking specifically for information the Chelaxians may have on certain prominent Nidalese, including Kholas, Elioander, or her friend Meleyne the Sun-Dimmer. And of course also looking for the seal numbers or information about poor dear Zarta.

Perception, Guidance: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

We're going to hold action until everybody's on the map. Please, place your icons on the map to indicate where you are. At present, we can see the locations only of Thysius and Fran.

Einn drops out of the vent onto the cabinet below.

The team spreads out, looking around the Records Archive.

As Lady Vanessa moves over to the Imperial Security Dossiers, one of the chairs at the table animates! Its wooden legs screach against the tiled floor as it moves to eliminate the unauthorized intruder.

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Surprise Round
Bold may make a move or standard action.
Einn
Fran
Thysius
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot
---
"Chair"

Everybody (except Lady Vanessa) may act during the Surprise Round!

Know Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Resistances Please.

Einn tries to jump to the next cabinet.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29 Special attacks, defenses and abilities, pleas.

Barbo peeks through the books and sees the chair just before it moves. "Ah, an animate object. A classic library guardian. " He walks around the shelf to wear he can see the chair a little better. "How very dull. JEEVES! " The older man whispers furiously. "Stop lolligagging and fetch my wand! No! The missile wand! " He throws an angry look at the shelf he just left, waiting for a reaction.

Einn leaps down from the cabinet. She doesn't quite stick the landing, but she doesn't fall. Thank goodness it was a short drop!

Erlathan moves to a better spot to get a look at the thing.

Both arcane casters recognize an animated object when they see one.

Such a construct is known for its hardness.

Constructs are also immune to death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects), necromancy effects, paralysis, poison, sleep, stun, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless). Constructs are not subject to nonlethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or energy drain.

This particular animated chair looks like it can use its arms to slam and grab a target and constrict.

As Barbo moves up next to the cabinet labeled 'Internal Security: Receipts,' the chair seems to turn on its access, alternating its orientation between Lady Vanessa and himself.

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Surprise Round
Bold may make a move or standard action.
Einn
Fran
Thysius
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot
---
Animated Object (Chair)

Fran, Thysius, and Fuzzfoot, you're up in the Surprise Round!

Knowledge, arcana: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 9 + (1) = 15

Fuzzfoot moves towards the chair.

Knowledge(arcana): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

(moving towards the Animated Chair, drawing his SHORT SWORD +1, and positioning himself between the foe and Lady Vanessa), "Time to teach this possessed piece of furniture a much needed lesson!"

OCC- As far as ARCANA result, Energy Resistance?

(Smiling at Lady Venessa in a very devious way), "Don't worry my Lady, you can REPAY me later..."

While the chair doesn't react to Fuzzfoot as the halfling approaches at a distance, the animated object again seems to turn on its access, alternating its orientation between Lady Vanessa, Barbo, and Thysius.

Map & Images
Surprise Round
Bold may make a move or standard action.
Einn
Fran
Thysius
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot
---
Animated Object (Chair)

Fran, you're up in the Surprise Round!

Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

"Oh..! Oh bother, this won't be fun," Fran gasps as the chair suddenly springs to life. She quickly reaches into her pack and draws out a vial of alchemist's fire.
________

Move action to draw out the alchemist's fire!

Fran recognizes the chair is a construct, an animated object. She draws a flask of liquid fire.

The chair's arms lash out striking at the nearest unauthorized intruder. Thysius shifts his narrow hips, dodging the awkward construct.
Slam vs Thysius; Damage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

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Surprise Round
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot
---
Animated Object (Chair)

Everybody, you're up!

Perhaps not really thinking things through, Fran moves closer to the wily chair and tries throwing her vial of alchemist's fire at it!

Attack vs. Chair (Alchemist's Fire; Ranged Touch, Into Melee): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 4 = 0
Damage (Fire): 1d6 ⇒ 2

And trips, very nearly dropping the vial directly on her feet instead.

"Eeep!"

"Sveetie, I hope you realize vhat you're getting in to," Lady Vanessa whispers huskily to her "protector." She glides one finger down from his right ear across to his left shoulder as she lightly steps around behind him. Thysius feels the hairs on his neck stand up as magic (and other feelings) build within him.

Casting guidance on Thysius.

Wait... Magic Missile doesn't harm objects... Barbo frowns and curses at the force lifting his backpack. "No, curse you, the other wand! I clearly said, the greasy wand!" Exasperated by his own inability to fight a SIMPLE Animate Object spell, he recklessly moves towards the table, drawing his dagger as he goes. He tries to climb onto the table, to distract the guardian.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

And... doesn't make it?

Fran fumbles her flask of alchemist's fire. No one's hurt, but the flames leave a sizable scorch mark on the tiled floor and char the wooden table and a couple of chairs.

Lady Vanessa rubs Thysius the right way, the way her deity likes.

Barbo attempts a high jump onto the table. In the immortal words of Wesley Snipes, blue men can't jump.

Map & Images
Surprise Round
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot
---
Animated Object (Chair)

Einn, Thysius, and Fuzzfoot, you're up! (Barbo, you have a move or standard action left, and magic missile works against an animated object.)

(Barbo, you have a move or standard action left, and magic missile works against an animated object.)

Barbo, having failed at his exercise, turns and looks behind him. As "Jeeves" is still rifling through his pack, he sighs. "Whatever. Just grab all of the stick things. I'll sort it out in a moment. " Irritation spread across his face, he twists his wrist and throws a small ball of acid at the chair.

Acid Splash!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Damage : 1d3 ⇒ 3

Einn slips around the corner of the filing cabinet and fires a Scorching Ray at the chair.

Range Touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Fire: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 3, 1) = 15

Barbo pitches a glob of acid at the construct, then Einn blasts it with a bolt of flames.

The Records Archive is beginning to fill with smoke and acrid fumes!

You notice the 'No open flame!" signs posted on the walls, and the cabinets are marked 'flammable.' So far, it's just a bit of a mess, nothing's caught fire.

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Round 1
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot
---
Animated Object (Chair) (-18)

Thysius and Fuzzfoot, you're up!

(Standing his ground against the vile construct), "Time to die."

Swift Action- Arcane pool to grant an additional +1 bonus to his SHORT SWORD (+2 now).

(Casting Corrosive Touch- Defensively) Casting Defensively: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

USING MY REROLL

(Casting Corrosive Touch- Defensively) Casting Defensively: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16+3 GM Stars for 19

Touch Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 -1 for attack* (16), Acid Damage: 4d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 1) = 6

Melee Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15, Slashing Damage, Magic: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

(Throwing a quick wink over his shoulder to Lady Vanessa), "I'll take that bet!"

*=used Guidance bonus to offset -2 penalty for two-weapon fighting. Melee attack roll modifiers adjusted within roll mechanic.

Thysius applies spell and steel to the animated chair. Though severely damaged, the construct seems undeterred.

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Round 1
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot
---
Animated Object (Chair) (-33)

Fuzzfoot, you're up!

Fuzzfoot moves closer to the animated object and throws a bomb, excluding Thysius from the effects.
Ranged Touch, PBS, Precise Shot, Precise Bombs; Damage: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 211d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

(Folks, I forgot to account for the animated object's hardness, when I applied energy damage. "Divide the damage by 2 before applying the object's hardness." CRB, p. 173. I've corrected its hit points below.)

Fuzzfoot throws a fire bomb at the chair; when the flames go out, the animated object is blackened, but it appears to have suffered no additional damage.

The chair extends it arms again, trying to embrace the sylph magus, but Thysius dances away from its grasp.
Slam vs Thysius; Damage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 231d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Grab vs Thysius: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

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Round 2
Bold may act.
Einn
Fran
Thysius (-4)
Lady Vanessa
Barbo
Fuzzfoot
---
Animated Object (Chair) (-6)

Everybody, you're up!

(Using the forces of WIND against the Animated Chair's damage)

Immediate Action: Casting Windy Escape: DR 10, Magic.

You'll have to do better than that...

"This THING is proving much harder to dispatch that I had first thought it would!"

OOC- New Round (2) Action(s).

Swift Action: Spell Recall to 'recall' Windy Escape

"May the Winds protect me!"

Using the arcane power of his Pearl of Power, Thysius casts Corrosive Touch a second time.

Casting Defensively: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Spellstrike

Attack via Spellstrike: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Acid Damage: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 1) = 11, Weapon Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Standard Attack

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23, Weapon Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"We need some Hulking Brute to smash this thing into pieces! Exceptional Swordsmanship is only going to get us so far!"

(Looking at Lady Vanessa, with the sound of concern growing in this voice),"Lady Vanessa, stay away from this creature, I need to gain a position of advantage."

OOC-applying 5 foot move.