[GM Striker's The Ruins of Azlant] Table 1

Game Master Sam Sturkie

"Someone - something - curious about how bodies work." Momo takes a walk around the room, examining the various tools, "or maybe they're a sicko who eats human flesh." Momo whips her head around, causing her ponytail to hit her cheek, "either way, this can't be a good sign for us."

"Isn't that wight, widdle Scuddle-Wuddles?" In her next breath, Momo is cooing to her mechanical arachnid. "Who's my widdle Scuddles who is totally not the creation of some ancient, evil society? You are! You are!" Momo has her head turns towards her shoulder, affectionately patting the top of her pack.

Deth walks up to the body and starts examining it.
Heal check to determine cause of death: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
'Please don't let him have been conscious while this was happening' he silently prays as he looks it over.

As Deth examines the remains he determines that they were a male gnome, you cannot determine if he was alive or dead. He was skillfully butchered like an animal

Tresure
Searching the pockets of the bloody, discarded clothes yields two bars of soul soap, and a small silver necklace with the number "XII" on it.

Deth's face grows deathly pale as he steps involuntarily away from the body, the silver necklace slipping from his grasp and falling to the side. His eyes meet Nox's and Nox can tell that the news is not good.

Once Nox sees the silver necklace fall, Nox knew exactly what had happened and to whom. He moved to the trinket and looked at it closely. When he saw he numbers, he plopped down to the ground without realizing it. ”He was a scoundrel and all, but he was still family. I guess you could say that he was our scoundrel...Who could have done this to him, and why?”

He put his head in his hands, thinking out loud. ”Someone has to pay for this. Surely these clockwork things wouldn’t have had the innate evil to carve up one of us like this. Scuttles wouldn’t, that's for sure. Will the rest of you help me figure this out and punish those who killed XII?”

Delia suddenly hears the sound of the necklace falling and looks up to see Deth's face as the druid stares at Nox. Her stomach lurches as she realizes what had happened and her breath leaves her lungs in a sad, heavy sigh. She walks over to Nox and sits down next to him, putting her arms around him. "I'm so sorry, Nox, I truly am. I will help you seek out justice for your uncle. What else can we do? Does your family have any type of special funerary rites?"

"Absolutely." Deth says to Nox's question. He looks around, thinking. 'This 'autopsy' had to have been performed recently. That means that others could right now be in peril.' he thinks, but is afraid to mention out loud. "We need to get moving" he suggests, realizing that he may come across as uncaring, but explaining his reasoning would mean telling Nox that they were very likely just a few days too late.

"You're right Deth." Aenon agrees "As sorry as I am for your loss Nox, now that we know what fate might await the other colonists there is no time to lose."

Nox shook his head at Delia. ”No, we never had any special rites. I suppose maybe it would be nice to light a pyre and spread his ashes on the island after we finish exploring. I know he’d definitely want us to keep going...that’s for sure.”

Delia nods. "Absolutely, Nox, I will aid you in that. For now, let us push aside our grief and push onward my friend." She stands and offers her hand down to Nox to help him back to his feet.

Momo awkwardly stands in a corner, unsure how to console her companion. "We should keep going. Let's see what else is here - we might find the culprit." Momo suggests opens the door to the North.

"North it is then." Deth says, agreeing with Momo.

North through the crossbow traps and up the ramp or east through the trap? If everyone just makes a break for the ramp and then you should be able to get up there before the trap goes off, otherwise you looking at someone eating at least one bolt opening the door for everyone to dive into the unknown eastern toom

Just to avoid getting some unknown horror up our bums when we're fighting whatever bossmonster rules this place, Aenon will take that bolt and check out the eastern room.

Ps: For those not familiar with the term, Monk trapfinding more or less comes down to walking straight into a given trap and hoping your evasion and above average reflex save keeps you alive. Please do not try this at home.

Nox takes Delia’s Hand, and clambers to his feet. He remained quiet, rare for him while he followed the others deeper into the building.

Momo is prepared to make a run for it behind Aenon.

Deth also follows Aenon through the trapped room.

Delia will try to find a piece of metal that is roughly shield shaped and hold it over her head as she rushes behind the others!
Hoping to maybe get a little Cover against those traps!

AUTO-TARGETING CROSSBOW TRAP: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
Crit?: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

dmg: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

P4
A long marble workbench runs the entire length of the southern wall, and a rusting metal shelf stands on the opposite wall. Squat stools line up along the bench, which is littered with a variety of small, precise hammers and chisels as well as fragments of crystalline stone that looks like quartz. A single door exits to the west, and another exits to the north.

The table holds a multitude of small chisels, files, magnifying glasses, scales, and tools that pertain to the arcane but are not magical themselves. A strange metal contraption at the workbench has a rubbery hose snaking up the wall to the ceiling and a fine, needlelike end set near a vise built into the table. Dust from cut gems has accumulated beneath this device.

Treasure: A rather innocuous ioun torch sits on the workbench amid several pieces of normal quartz.

"What a strange device." Delia stares at it for a few moments, wondering as to the purpose of the hose. It was clear the needlelike end was used for cutting gems, but what was the other portion?

She spots the ioun torch sitting there and plucks it up. "This will come in very handy for us, I believe! Who should carry it?" She will then begin to listen at the northern door for a few moments.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

There is nothing else of note in this room

After Delia listens at the door, Deth will try to open it. "This place is nightmarish." he explains. "Soulless experimentation on people, by constructs. We need to burn this place to the ground."

No crit
Aenon grunts as the bolt strikes him in the side but is deflected by the magic protectig him. After catching his breath, he joins the others in exploring the room, searching through the northern door.

As Deth takes the word, Aenon calmly replies. ’While great evil has been performed here, I do not believe there is anything to gain from destroying this place. Even if we were able to overcome the towers protective wards, it is a site far to valuable to harm for no reason.’ Aenon pauses for a moment. I do not disagree that whoever is behind the torture and kidnapings should be hunted down, but do not take away this opportunity to learn about what could very well be the only standing aslanti building on this island.’

P5
This dark chamber is featureless except for a large ring of an unusual-looking metal embedded in the floor. A single door exits to the south.

Does it look like something could be chained to the ring
Deth walks up to the ring, examines it and if it seems safe enough his natural curiosity compels him to give it an experimental tug.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"I'm with Aenon, this place has no choice as for what it is used. The occupants make that decision. This place could be used by us or by the settlers to great advantage. Not to mention the historical wealth of this place... I cannot in good conscience allow you to burn this place to the ground, my friend." As they move into the next room, Delia stares at the ring with curiosity as well. She will quickly cast a minor cantrip to see if there's any magical aura to this device.

The ring is of a strange an unknown material set into the floor creating a circle. it is flush with the stone floor.

Very magical, strong divination aura

Delia is slightly staggered by the powerful aura, putting one hand to head and taking a swaying step backward. "This ring contains extremely powerful divination magic. Perhaps a seeing circle or something?" She will spend a few moments to try and identify the nature of the divination magic.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Deth steps back upon the realization that it is magical. "Of course it is.", kicking himself for not thinking of that earlier. He joins in with Delia in the magical examination of the ring.
Throws Detect Magic
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

The circle seems to be able to detect and project magical auras similar to the spell detect magic without requiring the observer's concentration.

Curious, Deth places the +1 Spear in the circle. As he waits for a reaction he asks. "Well, I guess we need to use the stairs, but that means risking the crossbow room again. Anyone have any ideas?" He casts goodberry from the wand and hands 4 of them to Aenon.
Goodberry: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7
Counting the two he had left over this leaves him with 5 berries

Aenon takes the berries from Deth, and stands silent for a moment. First looking at Deth, then at the berries, then at the door back to the crossbow nightmare room, then to his wounded side before his eyes once more return to Deth. "Fine, we're doing that again then." He munches down the berries before returning to the doorway to plan the next run.

Delia stares at the ring in awe, with a large smile upon her lips. "This is amazing!" She explains to the group what the ring does with a very animated voice. "The discoveries we have made on this island alone will be talked of for ages to come! Can you imagine, we must come back to this tower again when we have more time to focus on studying it."

Delia frowns as they get ready to move out into the main room. "There has to be a better way than this." She eyes the metal shelf. "Maybe we can give this to Aenon as cover. You can put it in front of you, draw a few shoots from the crossbow into the metal, then we all run back through the room." Can the shelf be removed in anyway?

Nox couldn’t think of any other idea than that which was already decided by the group, so he quietly followed along. He still felt slightly lightheaded from finding 12in the state he was in. It seemed strange.

"I'll take the shots this time if you'd like." Deth says as he joins Aenon in the doorway. Hunkering down behind his shield he goes completely defensive as he acts as a target.
Being full defensive will raise his AC to 23, but he may not be able to move. Just being defensive will raise it to 21. Whichever method would seem to work best.

I'll gladly take the shots, I just felt like it was a funny way to end the scene. ^^ If being defensive (25AC) or fully defensive (27AC) is an option, Aenon will run with that.

The spear glows (as if someone was looking at it with detect magic) the aura is visible for everyone.

If you all make a run for it from the door you should be able to get through the room before they fire. The only reason one of you had to be hit was someone had to stop to open the door.

Lets run for it then.
Deth picks up the spear before joining Aenon at the doorway. "That is remarkable." referring to the circle. "How about you take the lead, in case we are running into trouble and I'll cover everyone from behind.

’Sounds like a plan.’ Aenon agrees and dashes through the door.

P8. Ramps
There are no stairs separating the levels of the tower. These ramps are approximately 30 degrees and not considered difficult terrain. Running or charging down a ramp, however, requires a creature to succeed at a DC 10 Acrobatics check or it falls prone.

P9. Library
Much of this level is a room that wraps around the tower. At this
room’s northernmost end, a ramp descends to the lower level, and
another ramp on the south wall ascends to the floor above. Against a wall to the southwest is a table suitable for quiet study. The western side of this area sports half a dozen bookshelves covered in the dust of deteriorating paper and leather. Opposite the shelves is a small stone plinth holding a clockwork bust of a nondescript woman. A large table surrounded by a few stools occupies the eastern side of this room.

A large Skum is standing among the shelves examining some of the surviving tomes and turns to watch you as you come up the ramp. He hefts a large glave as if testing its weight or loosening up the muscles in his arm.

cue boss music

”Are you the monster that killed Uncle Nini?! I won’t rest until you are dead, too,” Nox squeaks, trying to keep from breaking into angry tears.

Seeing the huge Skum standing there amongst the books, Deth almost tries to talk to it, thinking its well read. At least until Nox's angry outburst reminds him that intelligent or not, this is an immoral monster. As long as the creature itself doesn't make a noise, Deth stays silent, afraid that more guards might be in adjoining rooms, but he does enchant his club to do more damage.
Cast Shillelagh on the club and move cautiously forward.

Aenon keeps up with Deth, carefully eying the doors and preparing to defend against whatever springs from them.

Momo seems to be in agreement with Deth as she pulls out her bow, "I don't like this place that I don't understand. And I don't like all of these creatures occupying it."

Momo stares at the creature Nox is addressing and tightens her grip in her bow. Great.

8 bit boss music or Final Fantasy boss music?

Delia stops short when she spots the skum. "Take him down quickly." Almost immediately she begins humming one of her inspiring, although slightly melancholic tunes.

Inspire Courage.

Aenon: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Delia: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Deth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Momo: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Nininox: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

URLGRYBER: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Watching the party prepare for the fight he slowly stalks towards you raising his weapon and speaking in a harsh tongue.
"ራስሽን ሳመጣለት ጌታዬ ይደሰታል. በእዚህ ደሴት ላይ የሚኖሩት እብሪተኝ ያልሆኑ ጥቂት ሰዎች እቅዶቹን እምብዛም አይነካኩም."

Round 1, Initiative 5:

"What is he saying? He's a bad guy, right?"

If someone else attacks, Momo raises her bow and fires an arrow at the creature.

To hit (Longbow): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

If none of her companions attacks, Momo stands around doing nothing.

Round 1, Initiative 5:

"What is he saying? He's a bad guy, right?"

"I have no idea what language that is." Deth responds. "But I bet he has something to do with the missing colonists."

Delia continues her tune, but changes the tempo slightly to a slowly, more soothing song and the skum finds himself fighting off a yawn suddenly...

Actions: Free - Maintain Inspire Courage. Standard - Cast Lullaby on the baddy! Will save DC 14 to negate.

Round 1
Delia- Lullaby Will DC14: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 He shakes off the spell.
URLGRYBER- Lunges forward at Deth!glaive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 Dmg: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Deth-
Aenon-
Nininox-
Momo -
Delia-