male nagaji bloodrager 2 | HP 17/24 (21/28), bloodrage 2/9, destined strike 2/3 | AC 18, T 11, FF 17 | F +6, R +1, W +1 (+2 vs mind-affecting or poison, uncanny dodge) | CMB +6, CMD 17 | Spd 30' | Perc +6 | Init +3
"It was nothing," blushes Hskrota. "Let's keep moving!"
M CN Ifrit Ftr3/Brd1 | HP 31/31 | AC 19, T 13, FF 16, CMD 19 | F +6 R +7 W +4 | Performance 6/6 | Per +4 (Darkvision) | Init +3 | Shield On |
Is Orin's 21 Perception enough to find the secret door at the end? If not, perhaps Nithrandyl or the Tengu will spot it. Otherwise, we can go back to the main hallway.
I forgot to tell you that there is a 30-foot chute between area 6f and 9b, with a built-in ladder with a system of rails and rope on either side of the ladder rungs (probably to lower corpses gently to 9f). So you all went down 30 feet when you went to 9b.
The tengus appear bolder now. As the secret door slides away, you find yourself at the base of a large statue, which appears to be on a swivel system so as to be rotated out of the way of the Runecrypt you're in right now. The tengus inspect the mechanism for traps.
Red Tengu, look for trap, including assist, trapfinding:1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 13
Blue Tengu, look for trap, including assist, trapfinding:1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 12
After 4 minutes or so, they nod to each other and invite you to push the statue forward.
Hskrota's bulging muscles leap at the offered physical labor! as he starts rotating the statue out of the way, a powerful jolt of electricity races through his arms towards his feet!
Hskrota Ref Save vs. DC 12 to save for half:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 against 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7 electricity damage.
With the statue out of the way, you can all see the following:
The ceiling of this cavernous chamber vaults to a height of
sixty feet, forming an architectural wonder unsupported by
any visible columns or buttresses. Forty feet overhead, a
wide stone bridge with an elaborately carved railing arches
over the chamber from north to south, joining two sets of
massive bronze doors at either end. The central portion of
the chamber contains an inlaid spiral symbol and is recessed
into the floor, with eight staircases leading up to a wide ledge
that encircles the room ten feet above. On this ledge stand
bronze doors to the east and west. Eight larger-than-life
statues stand upon the ledge as well, evenly spaced around
the room’s circumference—seven carved from white stone,
and the eighth carved from black stone.
Knowledge Religion DC 15:
This is the ossuary’s Grand Cathedral, dedicated to Pharasma, though in an architectural style much different from the gothic Pharasmin cathedrals of the modern day. The spiral symbol inlaid on the floor is Pharasma's holy symbol.
Knowledge History DC 15:
Seven of the room’s statues are carved from white marble with exquisite detail. Each statue portrays a different figure, though the figures all bear an imperious mien. The statues represent the seven runelords of ancient Thassilon.
Knowledge History DC 20:
Clockwise around the cathedral,
starting with the southwestern statue (in front of area
9a), the statues depict: a tall man with gems set in his
forehead, wielding a flaming glaive (Karzoug, Runelord
of Greed); a beautiful woman with wild hair, holding
a ranseur (Alaznist, Runelord of Wrath); a voluptuous,
nude woman wielding a two-headed guisarme (Sorshen,
Runelord of Lust); a short, smiling man holding a
longspear (Krune, Runelord of Sloth); an obese man
with rotting flesh, wielding a scythe (Zutha, Runelord
of Gluttony); a handsome, bearded man in extravagant
clothes, wielding a lucerne hammer (Xanderghul,
Runelord of Pride); and an imperious, heavyset woman
holding a mirror and a halberd (Belimarius, Runelord
of Envy).
Knowledge Religion DC 20:
The eighth statue (in the south-southeast part of
the room) is carved from dark diorite and is threefold
in form, portraying a tall woman with three faces
looking in three different directions. One side has a
kind face and cradles a baby in its arms, while a second
side displays a more stern expression and holds an
hourglass. The third face has a crazed look; its hands
are empty, but thornless roses twine up both arms. The statue
is an archaic representation of Pharasma in her three
aspects: the midwife, the reaper, and the prophet.
Orin looks at all the statues, not comprehending what any of them might represent (he has no knowledge skills as of yet. "Seven white ones and one black... and we know they aren't that lily white girl and her seven dwarves from the stories. So anyone know what they mean?"
Know Religion:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 "That looked like it hurt Hskrota. Someone should look at that. This is the ossuary’s Grand Cathedral, dedicated to Pharasma, though in an architectural style much different from the gothic Pharasmin cathedrals of the modern day which is plainly visible. The spiral symbol inlaid on the floor is Pharasma's holy symbol...These seven statues are carved from white marble with exquisite detail. The statues represent the seven runelords of ancient Thassilon... these statues are the various runelords... i've heard not all the statues do justice to what the runelords actually looked like... but who knows. This eigth statue over here is of Pharasma."
Yes Hskrota just took 7 dmg from the magically trapped statue.
If no one has knowledge history let me know and we'll just move on. Please tell me which other room you're going for. You're all smart enough (even Hskrota) to figure out that there's probably a secret door behing each statue...
male nagaji bloodrager 2 | HP 17/24 (21/28), bloodrage 2/9, destined strike 2/3 | AC 18, T 11, FF 17 | F +6, R +1, W +1 (+2 vs mind-affecting or poison, uncanny dodge) | CMB +6, CMD 17 | Spd 30' | Perc +6 | Init +3
"Thanks for the healing. That was quite a shock there!" Hskrota tries to puzzle out the statues, but he simply doesn't know enough history.
"If there are secret doors, should we start with the black one first and then go in a circle?"
Walking under the large bridge crossing overhead, you arrive at the ancient Pharasmin statue. The tengus inspect the mechanism for traps.
Red Tengu, look for trap, including assist, trapfinding:1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 27
Blue Tengu, look for trap, including assist, trapfinding:1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 31
After 4 minutes or so, they nod to each other and invite you to push the statue forward.
Hskrota's bulging muscles leap (carefully this time) at the offered physical labor! as he starts rotating the statue out of the way, a powerful jolt of buffing magic races through his arms towards his feet!
Hskrota receives aid!:1d8 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
With the statue out of the way, you can all see the following:
These catacombs are similar to those of the Runecrypts,
but were used to inter the Thassilonian clergy of
Pharasma, who were not sworn to one of the seven
runelords. No undead guard these crypts—most of the
bodies here have long since decayed into dust; those
that remain crumble apart with a touch.
Several ancient silver holy symbols of
Pharasma were interred with the priests here—seven
can be found in all, worth 25 gp each, but the church of
Pharasma will pay 50 gp apiece for these early relics of
their faith. In addition, there is a bone wand of
disrupt undead (30 charges) hidden among the funerary wrappings.
M CN Ifrit Ftr3/Brd1 | HP 31/31 | AC 19, T 13, FF 16, CMD 19 | F +6 R +7 W +4 | Performance 6/6 | Per +4 (Darkvision) | Init +3 | Shield On |
Balrog continues to regret not learning Bardic Knowledge. He follows along trying to look useful.
"If any of these statues have fire traps that the Tengu cannot disable, I can endure them better than most."
male nagaji bloodrager 2 | HP 17/24 (21/28), bloodrage 2/9, destined strike 2/3 | AC 18, T 11, FF 17 | F +6, R +1, W +1 (+2 vs mind-affecting or poison, uncanny dodge) | CMB +6, CMD 17 | Spd 30' | Perc +6 | Init +3
"That wand should come in handy! Who can use it?"
When the treasure has been collected, Hskrota creeps slowly further into the catacombs.
With the help of the tengus, Hskrota finds a secret door to the south!
The next room is empty, and the catacombs are so old here that only dust remain. Not a scrap of bone, linen, or wood even remains. The room is utterly empty, except for dust. One of the alcoves, however, has no shelf and instead, in ancient times, was hollowed out, and on its floor, you see a square shaft dropping into darkness below. It is a LOOOONG drop you think... however you find evidence that something or someone has used that shaft in recent times as the dust around it has been disturbed... and you similarly find tracks going south and around a corner: booted footprints the size of a medium creature. Following these tracks you reach a gate made out of bleached bones. The gate has no obvious handles or hinges.
"No traps here! but it looks like a dead end! no hinges!" says one of the tengus.
In the large crypt up north, through the bone gate, you can see repeated lines of footprints marking the dust on the floor, all leading to an alcove in the northeast portion of the chamber. The burial niches lining the stone walls are empty save for ancient scraps of yellowed linen.
male nagaji bloodrager 2 | HP 17/24 (21/28), bloodrage 2/9, destined strike 2/3 | AC 18, T 11, FF 17 | F +6, R +1, W +1 (+2 vs mind-affecting or poison, uncanny dodge) | CMB +6, CMD 17 | Spd 30' | Perc +6 | Init +3
Hskrota inspects the gate, wondering if he can simply smash these bones.
perception:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
If it appears safe, he will use his heavy flail on the bones, hoping to open the crypt beyond.
The gate pops wide open, and remains in 'spear mode' for a while, allowing the party to go through. One tengu adds, "I'd be quick about it folks... I'm thinking this won't stay like this too long!!"
The tengus cross the open gate immediately.
Unless one of you state that he's NOT crossing, I will assume you all do, in order to mitigate the very bad situation of splitting the party here. Does this sound reasonable?
male nagaji bloodrager 2 | HP 17/24 (21/28), bloodrage 2/9, destined strike 2/3 | AC 18, T 11, FF 17 | F +6, R +1, W +1 (+2 vs mind-affecting or poison, uncanny dodge) | CMB +6, CMD 17 | Spd 30' | Perc +6 | Init +3
The nagaji falls to one knee when he gets stabbed. When the tengu opens the gate, he rolls through despite the pain.
On the other side, he asks Orin to activate his wand.
clw x2:2d8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 6) + 2 = 11
Marking my own charges.
When that is complete, he has a closer look around the room.
Nithrandyl grabs the wand and follows the others mindful of keeping some distance between him and the tengus if they are actively looking for any traps.
Orin gladly obliges Hskrota and uses the nagaji's wand on him twice... then hands it back of course, noting where it is kept in case of unconsciousness in the future.
male nagaji bloodrager 2 | HP 17/24 (21/28), bloodrage 2/9, destined strike 2/3 | AC 18, T 11, FF 17 | F +6, R +1, W +1 (+2 vs mind-affecting or poison, uncanny dodge) | CMB +6, CMD 17 | Spd 30' | Perc +6 | Init +3
Hskrota swings his flail at the red skeleton in front of him.
M CN Ifrit Ftr3/Brd1 | HP 31/31 | AC 19, T 13, FF 16, CMD 19 | F +6 R +7 W +4 | Performance 6/6 | Per +4 (Darkvision) | Init +3 | Shield On |
"More feeble skeletons? Smash them for the Glory of...um... The Pathfinder Society!"
It's not really in line with the whole Balor act, but it'll have to do.
Inspire Courage! 4 of 8 rounds used.
+1 Competence bonus to hit and damage.
male nagaji bloodrager 2 | HP 17/24 (21/28), bloodrage 2/9, destined strike 2/3 | AC 18, T 11, FF 17 | F +6, R +1, W +1 (+2 vs mind-affecting or poison, uncanny dodge) | CMB +6, CMD 17 | Spd 30' | Perc +6 | Init +3
Hskrota totally destroys the heck of one of these superhard skellies, and as it crumples to the floor, you see some green viscous liquid spill out of its now exposed bone marrow...
Waiting for Nithrandyl as he can perhaps take another one out before I roll atk/dmg for the skellies...
