GM Silbeg's Thornkeep: The Forgotten Laboratory (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

During your night stake out, you all array yourselves around the mill. However, as this was a rather moonlit night, and Roudantaimi has picked a perfect spot to get silhouetted against the moonlit sky... nothing much happens.

My stealth roll is fine. I also noticed that I had accidentally removed my sleight of hand rank! Must have done it when I was fiddling with the skills as I leveled up. I've fixed it up (back to +8), but my knowledge (dungeoneering) went back down to +6. Sorry for the mix-up.

"Well, that was a waste of time," says Arturo about 4 hours from sunrise, dusting the grass off his tunic, "What say we get some rest and then head down to the dungeon. I thought overland adventuring was fun, but that was just plain boring!"

After a night of stalking, and then a healthy sleep, the party heads down once more into the Accursed Halls. Nothing happens as they pass through the entry rooms, and reach the Door of Seven Stars. Arturo pulls out the seven colored stones that he has kept, shakes his head as Jaender looks expectantly to get the chance to play with them, and carefully places the stones in the door.

The door opens, and the team walks down the stairs to once more see The Pool of Seeing. Images from their pasts... and futures... can be seen when they look into the pool. Ophiuchus stares particularly long, a tear coming to his eye, as he once more sees himself and Merian playing in a meadow. The Strong Brute, showing a tender side, gently pulls the nagaji to him, turning his eyes away from the pool. The team quietly walks down the next stair, and enter The Forgotten Laboratory!

The narrow staircase ends in a short corridor leading to a large chamber, the center of which is dominated by a pool of stagnant water. An oily sheen covers most of pool, causing it to reflect a multitude of colors onto the walls and ceiling. The only light in this room emanates from a faintly glowing orb attached to the ceiling, and an acrid stench wafts heavily in the air. There is a simple wooden door in the eastern wall, and a set of ornate stone double doors to the south flanked by a pair of sandstone statues.

Each of you may make a single partial action. Also, if casters wanted to buff before going down, please note which spells you are casting, and their durations.

Arturo casts produce awesome scimitar of centipede-killing as he moves around the room to the east. He will keep an eye out for traps as he does so.

"Ah, this is more like it!" he says cheerily, "I can feel the danger, menace and excitement already! It is as though there is a horde of oddly familiar goblins and numbered skeletons literally waiting to jump in front of us and attack."

Roudantaimi descends among the others, his gun ready to respond to any threat.

"How nice of them,they installed lights in here. If I'll ever quit this adventuring life and settle down, I'll want those folks architecting my abode." Roudantaimi shares Arturo's cheery spirit. "You sense danger, Artie? Oh, which way it is?"

Cast Detect Evil

Waiting for others to go... will move on when at least 4 have chimed in. I moved Roudi in as far as he can go in a single move... the detect magic will need to wait for a moment. Single partial action :D

Jaender follows the rest in, comfortably behind the group. He learned his lesson last time. Just before crossing the threshold, Jaender had used his mage armor wand to cast the spell on himself, as well as on Einhardt, the pretty wolf. As they get ready to walk into the room, he works with Poochie in systematic fashion to cast the resistance chain the group is so familiar with.

His new wand of stumble gap comfortably in his left hand, and his crossbow in his right, his perceptive eyes cover the room from top to bottom, looking for a threat.

His hand quivers ever so slightly in excited anticipation...

The brute moves into the room alongside Arturo, scythe at the ready. His nostrils flare and his body tenses at the smell, remembering the depressed mood he was in yesterday from vile sorcery.

The youth wanders into the room behind the others, with Einhardt following close at his heels. Seeing there is not much room to move about while staying out of the pool, Vox makes an audible clicking noise with is teeth and motions to Roudantaimi. The wolf trots the last few paces and takes her place beside the halfling, while the youth flanks on the opposite side of the gun wielding, lizard riding paladin.

Pulling the enormous lucerne hammer from his back, the youth looks around the room as an old feeling of dreaded anticipation begins to take hold of him again.

- Previously -

"Oh I love stake outs. It is so much fun to be out on a stary night and see the stars. So on a stake out, we sit here right Mr. Hairlips? And what? We aren'y supposed to talk? You are talking right now. Ok, I will be quiet."

One minute later:

"Do think my tabard is ready? Why would you put that in my mouth. To shut me up? Ok, I will be 'quiet on the stake out' like you say."

Five minutes later:

"Do think my tabard is ready?"

rinse repeat

- at the Pool of seeing -
"Yes Merian. Yes I will. Soon.. Large man that sings, you are a good friend." Ophiuchus is grateful to be led out by Strong Brute.

Moving into the room, Ophiuchus draws his flail and casts guidance

Resistance Chain, previously

Poochie and Vox are up... partial actions only in surprise round.

Noticing the oily sheen beginning to move on the top of the darkened pool, Vox quickly begins to run around the outside of the pool. At end of his movement, the youth is standing on the opposite side of the pool from Strong Brute.

Move Action: move 30 feet along the outside of the pool, ending 3 squares south of Strong Brute *token not yet moved*

Vox has a lucerne hammer drawn (reach weapon), and so should be flanking with Strong Brute.

Vox moved.

If I am reading that MAP right, I can't really do anything. Why don't we all move out of the room, and just ranged attack - assuming we have some blunt weapon. I wouldn't use slashing or piercing?

You could start moving around the room like Vox did. Or try entering the water. Go ahead... the water's fine!

I'll just start a fire and maybe it will burn like lake Erie... :)

-Posted with Wayfinder

Swallowing hard, Ophiuchus moves into the water. As he wades towards the slime, he calls upon the great ones blessing, and swings his flail with a might that belies his calm demeanor.

Heavy MW Flail + PA w/ Guidance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Flail Damage + PA: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Water is 3' deep, so is difficult terrain, and as such you cannot 5' step. So, Ophiuchus enters the water, ending his turn, as we are in the surprise round.

Poochie enters the water next to the slime, which then forms a pseudopod so as to smack the nagaji.
Pod attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 but it misses.

nice to see all my rolls suck

Okay, time for some contingency posting.... as per Painlord's last comment on his lovely guide.

Arturo moves into the pool to flank with Ophiuchus and strikes at the slimy thing.

Scimitar vs slime, flank: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 2 = 29
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 2 = 15 -- Of course, its' probably immune to crits...
Damage, sneak attack: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (1) = 10 ... and sneak attacks.
Crit damage, if successful and not immune: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

If I needed to make an acrobatics check to avoid an AoO, here it is:

Arturo acrobatics to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

I'd also like a knowledge check on this thing. Not sure if you want me to make those, or if you prefer to make them. Just in case you want me to do it, here's my roll. If you prefer to do it, make yours! I'm assuming slimes like this are covered under dungeoneering.

Arturo knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Unsure of what to use against this foe, but not hearing any advice from his companions, the barbarian swings his weapon in a diagonal, top left to bottom right, hoping to cleave right through...whatever it is.

Scythe: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 = 10

"Oh, ugly it is... Should we try to reason with it? Ah, no.. OK, battle it is" Roudantaimi wonders for a bit, before noticing his companions are already storming the beast.

The gnome guides his valiant mount to the other side of the pool, to give himself a better line of fire. DC 5 ride check will succees always... Are these normal 5-foot squares again?

Musket, DA, PBS: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Damage, DA, PBS: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Einhardt's teeth gnash out at the creature, the wolf's snarling and growling already drown out by the splashes within the murky pool.

attack(bite w/ pa): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

I really hope all these slashing and piercing weapons don't make oil slick babies

Jaender skips into the room, eager to see how well oil burns, but decides better of it when he sees Poochie and Arturo in the oil slick with the odd creature. Instead he looses a pair of energy bolts which dip and arc around both sides of the nagaji to strike the sludge creature.

Magic Missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 2 = 6

Spell Resistance Check, just in case: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Arturo identifies it as a grey ooze Good enough roll, I'll give it all to you for now!

The party's attacks do a massive amount of "damage" to the sludge.
As they hit the thing, acid eats at their weapons (or teeth).

Sven: Ref: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Einhardt: Ref: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

The acid eats into Einhardt!
acid damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Poochie and Vox are up.

"Shît! It's a grey ooze!" yells Arturo, realizing too late what the creature actually is, "Look out for the acid, and don't hit it with your metal weapons if you can help it! Sorry for the delay, on the information, Vox..."

Realizing he can't do much good without his precision damage, and unable to use his cool new flanking feat with Vox, Arturo quickly coats his blade with bladeguard. Full round action, almost certainly provokes.

"I have enough of this for one other small-ish weapon," says Arturo as he frantically applies the fast-drying resin, "Should have put this on at the f#+!ing beginning of this delve into the dungeon... stupid, stupid, stupid..."

**EDIT** Got so excited I forgot to wait for my action! Erm... this... on my turn. Sorry!

In for an ounce, in for a pound

Ophiuchus seeing his favorite wolf howl in pain from the acid, charges (moves) forward. With a vicious two-handed chop, Ophiuchus aims for the center of the ooze.

Heavy MW Flail + PA + Guidance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Flail Damage + PA: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

unless you want to use the 1st roll (7), they both suck

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Vox begins grinding his teeth in anger at seeing Einhardt recoil from the searing pain of acid falling upon her body, his anger a clear extension of deep concern for the wolf. He pulls bladeguard from his pack and immediately begins applying the concoction to his lucerne hammer. As he works diligently to apply the substance, all the while looking over his feverishly moving arms at Einhardt, he can both take in the smell of scorched, burning fur and see the acid burns slowly expanding to surround around her mouth and incisors.

The wolf's scarred jaws begin to quiver as the youth looks up to Arturo.

"You didn't know," the youth shouts with air of annoyance, though it is clear he is frustrated with this devilish monster hurting his wolf-friend and not upset with the mustachios gentleman. "You don't need to apologize... please just take this monstrosity out."

draw and apply bladeguard

Poochie hits the thing, doing a decent amount of damage (they have a horrible AC).

attack choice: 1: Poochie, 2: Einhardt, 3: Sven, 4: Arturo: 1d4 ⇒ 2
It then swings its pod Einhardt.
Ooze Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 And misses, badly.

Then, Arturo pulls out his bladeguard (and provokes)
Ooze Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Slam Damage + Acid: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 4 + (2) = 10 Grab: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18 Arturo is hit by the goo... which hurts, and burns, and sticks to him (Arturo is grappled)

Roudi, Sven, Einhardt, Jaender are up.
Einhardt is not happy about the burning bite!

"Oh, no! Help Arturo, I'll join you as soon as I get a new bullet loaded," Roudantaimi shouts, worried of his grappled friend. With haste, the gnome starts reloading his musket.

Full-round: reload

The brute notes Arturo's and the other's comments, dropping his precious scythe to the ground and drawing his cruder, but more expendable club. He then uses it to blast the grey slime, swinging down with both hands.

Club Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Full-round: reload

Crap! When do you get paper cartridges and rapid reload?

Jaender's heart rate picks up as he sees the situation turn quickly against his friends. Knowing he needs to hit this thing hard, he does the one thing he is sure will do some form of damage.

Magic Missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6

reflex brute: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
The club takes acid: 1d6 ⇒ 4 damage, but this is fine, because it has Hardness 5.

It fails to move after the brute hits is (and Jaender can save his spell).

Combat over.

Now what would you like to do?

"Well, I should definitely have put that on my blade before coming down here!" Arturo scolds himself, "Ah well, you live and learn. With slimes, as with love, a little bit of protection can go a long way." Especially when you've been flirting with half-orcs. Idiot.

"Ophiuchus, my strange reptilian friend, if you don't mind, would you please use this to heal me?" Arturo passes Ophiuchus his wand, "That thing seems to have made my skin red raw and covered in blisters. At least my blade is safe now if we encounter another of those. I'm not sure if it was the most tactically sound decision to be applying that stuff to my new scimitar while in the water with that thing..."

Trailing off, Arturo begins to search the room, and specifically the pool, for any sign of valuables.

Perception to search the room: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

If he finds nothing, he'll stand at the exit to the room, ready to leave with the others.

Oh my pretty wolf, whatever happened to you. You should never jump into a pool and attack a ..... that." Turning to Vox, "You best be taking MUCH better care of her or you and I will have to have a talk."

CLW Einhardt: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Mr. Hairylips, it is a wonder you don't have a gang of little Mr. Hairylips in every village and hamlet we have visited if you are so careless with your blades. Try to be more careful next time. I should really get in with a better group of adventures. Mr. Trask liked to hug statues, and Mr. Hairlips likes to kiss slimes. Oh Merian, why did you have to leave me?"

CLW Arturo the Kissing Bandit: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW Arturo the Kissing Bandit: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Looking at the MAP, and being able to move tokens, is there a door/hallway to the south? We should resistance chain, and I will cast Guidance, and head that way.

Once the Pathfinders are ready, "It looks like statues to the south, but they are not wooden so we should not hug them, or kiss them Mr, Hairlips. Roudantaimi do you speak statue? Can you teach me? I wonder if my tabard is done?"

Doors to the east and south. I slightly moved the masking to help. Searching?

The brute moves up to the door to the east, giving it a quick glance.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

If he finds nothing amiss, he looks to his companions expectantly. Once they gather and resistance chain, he opens the door. If they seem to like the double doors better, he does this at the southern doors, instead.

"ooh what are you looking for Large man that sings? I can look too. I am good at finding things!"

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Once his companions' search of the room is complete (taking 20, fully assisted) Arturo moves to the eastern exit, searching it for traps he says, "One door's as good as the next, right?" before checking to make sure it's open and then indicating for the Strong Brute to lead the way.

Disable device, if locked: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Once you take the time to search the room (I will assume, for the time being, that you are taking 20 and sweeping the room, etc. Also, BTW, most of the time you can Take 20 to search for traps... it is even an example. However, it does take time (1 minute per area searched), and certain types of traps might trigger just by proximity, etc.) you find, a pearl set into a stone disk under the sludge. It is definitely magical...

spellcraft: Ophiuchus: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
spellcraft: Jaender: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

But neither Jaender nor Ophiuchus can determine what it does.

Note, from now on, unless otherwise noted: Most of the rooms in the Forgotten Laboratory have 20-foot high ceilings, and unless otherwise stated, all the entrances to chambers in this level are simple wooden doors. Lighting is virtually nonexistent except where otherwise noted.

Arturo searches the eastern door as you all get lined up, and set your "resistance chain".

I see that Jaender has a wayfinder, and Poochie has the light spell known... is that all of the light you have available? I will assume, for now, that both Jaender and Poochie have light sources, and no one else.

Arturo does not find any traps, and the door appears to be open. The Strong Brute (Sven) opens the door...

Please take a single move action into the room.

A wall of rusted iron bars dominates the northern half of this room, dividing the area up into three individual cells. In the southern half of the room is a grisly looking table bedecked with manacles and blood. On the wall behind the table hang gruesome, blood-stained tools and other implements. Wooden doors stand on the east and west sides of the room, and a hall to the southeast winds upstairs.

The brute leads the way into the room, progressing slowly while letting the light keep up with him. He peers about for anything amiss. Beyond the terrifying decor, that is. He can assume what this chamber was used for, and his unease grows.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"Oh, we must have found the kitchen. Wonder what was for dinner?" Ophiuchus moves quickly into the room with Strong Brute.

Ophiuchus has light on his buckler

Arturo decides to wear the magical disc, attaching it to his cloak like a clasp, tying it on there with some sundry cloth and string. Anything so powerful that neither Ophiuchus nor Jaender could determine its function must be worth keeping.

It is as the goblins say," Arturo proclaims, "'Nepoužívejte odmítnout možnost nosit moc', which translates as 'Do not turn down the opportunity to wear power'. I think I got that right... the goblin words for 'pants' and 'power' are so similar."

The rogue continues out to the next room with the rest, keeping his customary position behind the Strong Brute. He looks sideways at Ophiuchus, "I think the question is 'who was for dinner', but let's not worry about such things. I say we make sure this room is clear, and then keep to this level. May as well explore all of it before gallivanting off up some stairwell. Yes?"

Aid another to the Take 20 search from whoever has the highest perception, then move on to the door at the eastern side of the room.

Perception (aid): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

As always, Arturo checks the door for traps (and to ensure it is open) before stepping back to allow the Strong Brute to lead the way.

Disable device if it is locked - or trapped!: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15 -- Oh! Let's hope it's neither!

As for light sources, Arturo has torches, but relies on the magical lighting of his comrades.

The large man has a chuckle despite his normally grave demeanor. In Arturo's case, the opportunity to wear pants might be equally important, depending on how often he walked around with his manhood dangling for all to see. He waits for the rest of his companions to enter, letting the more learned have a look around and give their opinion before leading the way.

Clearing this level seems like a good idea.

Vox enters a few moments behind Strong Brute and takes a position nearby to the man. Einhardt trots into the room at the youth's heels, and stops beside the nice nagaji. Upon hearing the words uttered by Ophiuchus, Vox involuntarily cringes as he processes the words and the nagaji's misunderstanding of the situation.

Taking a quick moment, in a thankful lull between the next inevitable battle, Vox turns to Ophiuchus. "I swear to you I will take the best care I can of Einhardt. I hope you can believe me, and I appreciate everything you have done to keep her healed. She is the only family I have, aside from you all," Vox says, noticing the wolf standing beside the nagaji and displaying what appeared to a beaming smile at Ophiuchus. "She's taking quite a liking to you, I must say."