GM Tektite's PFS #04-19 The Night March of Kalkamedes 4-5 Group (Inactive)

Game Master Hawkwen Agricola

That would seem to answer the riddle, but if we are wrong then we weaken ourselves for whatever is to come. *sigh* I suppose the most logical choice is to try it on me as it seems zapping my strength will hinder me less than the rest of you.

"I assure you my friend, your strength is more valuable than mine."

Kuraishimo will zot himself with the wand and voluntarily fail the saving throw.

1d6 ⇒ 5

Kuraishimo appears a bit woozy as he approaches the dais, pausing for a moment to give anybody the chance to prepare before he does so.

Kuraishimo uses the wand on himself. Suddenly he feels so weak, he can barely step up onto the dias. Upon standing on the dias, he feels stronger than he has ever felt in his life.

Kuraishimo flexes.

"It appears to have made me immensely strong, should I try opening the door, or maybe tap Kalkamedes or perhaps another one of you. Any thoughts companions?"

"Get the door", Hrolf says. "With any luck, opening it will disable the trap."

Kuraishimo will strut up to the door and attempt to open it.

Kuraishimo STR. check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Kuraishimo pushes on the massive iron door and manages to move them a bit, but cannot open them.

"Even with this improved strength, I may need some help, any volunteers?"

I will help.

"As will I."

STR!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Han will push against the door with all his might.

If either of them walks up and is incapacitated I will use the wand on them as well.

As Han steps onto the dias, he suddenly feels much weaker and cannot walk with the weight of his gear.

Zantir steps up to help and also feels much weaker, though he is able to still walk. Zanitr tries to weakly push on the door.

STR check Zantir: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1

What I meant when I said I would help is that I would take a tap from that wand and then help.

Kuraishimo uses the wand of Zantir.

1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Though he should feel weaker, standing on the dias, Zantir feel stronger. He tries the door again.

STR check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

The door budges a little more, but still does not open.

Using the wand on Han, whose feels oddly stronger after, Han lends his strength to the effort.

1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Han STR check: 1d20 ⇒ 18

With Han's help, the door finally opens into a large hall that leads to a lift of some sort.

Suspended by thick chains, a massive metal cage shaped like a demon’s head hangs over a dark shaft with no bottom in sight. The cage’s door—by all appearances a menacing maw, filled with incisor-like fangs—hangs open to the west. There, a narrow bridge spans the short distance between the ledge and the cage. A small console on the north edge of the bridge bears a single lever.

"Well done everyone", Hrolf says as the doors shift open.

Is Kal moving again? If he is, Hrolf will try to step around the dais to get around the door without being sapped again.

Kalkamedes moved down the hall. You can't step around the dias. For the sake of moving along, we'll say the wand was used on Hrolf and the party paused at the lift until the effects wear off. The party now stands at the lift.

MAP

"I hope this is the last time I say this... into the demon mouth everyone."

"You should know by now that it will not be." Han smirks.

Pleasant place this.

Can the lever be reached from within the cage?

Can the lever be reached from within the cage?

Yeah, the console is in the cage, the description isn't very...descriptive.

Studying the console, you find that the lever is has three positions up, middle, and down. The lever is currently in the middle position.

Oh good. A puzzle.

Hrolf doesn't let Kal into the cage until everyone else has squeezed inside.

Does Kal reach for the lever?

Kalkamedes steps into the cage and stands silently as if waiting.

"Perhaps this is like the rust monster, the sword and the barbarian?"

The big ulfen looks to Kura in confusion.

"I'm afraid I haven't heard that one."

Me neither

Rereading, the lever is outside the cage, but within arms reach. There is an identical lever at the bottom.

At the bottom of the cage or the bottom of the shaft?

Bottom of the shaft

So someone has to stay up top in order to lower the cage?

Nope

Oh, I misread that first part. In that case...

Hrolf pulls the lever!

"Going down!"

Hrolf pulls the lever to the down position. Suddenly there is a loud clang as the thick chains begin to turn and the mouth of the demon head closes. The chains continue to turn, lowering the demon head shaped cage. The cage reaches the bottom and the mouth of the demon opens again. Kalkamedes immediately begins heading south through a winding passage that opens into a larger cavern.

Palm-sized shards of jagged steel jut from halfway up the walls of this large cavern, bathing the cavern with a dark green light. A set of natural rock columns support the chamber’s ceiling, which rises to a height of twenty feet. Several rounded alcoves branch off from the main cavern.

MAP!

Zantir moves in front of Kal, hoping to see what is coming.

Han will walk up to examine the symbol in the alcove. I see a tri-force!

Han walks to the alcove to the south while noticing two more alcoves to the northwest and southwest. As Han approaches, he sees this circular alcove buds off from the larger cavern to the north. An elaborate set of concentric circles inscribed in dull metal of different colors occupies much of the space within the room. As he gets closer, he hears a voice call out him in Common. You there! Help please! Oh you don't know how good it is to see another living, breathing soul!

Looking toward the sound of the voice, Han sees a gnome, dressed in threadbare clothes and an unkempt mane of fuchsia hair. The gnome stands within the center of the inscribed concentric circles.

"A gnome? What are you doing here?" Han approaches cautiously.

"Ollysta Zadrian Has taught me that imprisonment is wrong. We should free this poor gnome as soon as possible."

The gnome smiles widely at Han. I am Koth’Vaul. Just a simple gnome who was imprisoned here centuries ago by an organization known as the Thrallkeepers. They bound me here in this keep known as the Black Edifice to use my fey essence to power their magic. He face turns wistful. My captors have all long since died, but the wards that bind me have kept me young. All I want now is to be free so that I can taste fresh air once again, die at last, and perhaps travel back in spirit to the First World from whence he came.

"Wait, one second.. If you were trapped here that long, why have you not gone through the bleaching? Any gnome trapped here for more than a year would be bleached. I do not believe you to be a gnome. So what are you really?" Han draws his cutlass reflexively.

Hrolf studies the circles in hopes of understanding their purpose.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Hrolf cannot discern the nature of the rings.

Koth'Vaul shakes his head at Han. I do not have an answer for you. Perhaps it is the magic of the rings.

Kuraishimo will also cast detect magic and study the gnome and the rings.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

EDIT:

"How do we even free you? I believe such magic is beyond my impressive talent."

"This is an impressive prison."

Any Gnome is never just a Gnome. Especially one found in some crazy magical prison. Be wary friends.

"I don't like it", the big ulfen growls.

What's Kal up to?

Kal is trying to head toward the alcove to the southwest.

As the party begins to express doubt about Koth'Vaul, the gnome suddenly begins to get very angry. You are sealing your doom, you petty little creatures. Meet my pet. Suddenly the party hears a noise coming from the northwest alcove and turn to see a large black dragon emerging from the pool of water in that area. The dragon's skin seems to be dull and hangs from his body.

Initiative:
Dragon
Hrolf
Zantir
Kuraishimo
Han

The dragon moves toward Zantir and it's head snakes out toward him, jaws open.

Bite Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 3) + 7 = 15

The dragon's jaws snap shut inches from Zantir's face.

Party up!

MAP