GM Tektite's PFS #4EX Day of the Demon (Inactive)

Game Master Hawkwen Agricola

The party decides to search south before fiddling with the traps. Opening the unlocked door, the party finds themselves at a balcony overlooking the manor's first floor.

" I hate this place so much. That rune on the curtain is actually a signal for the demon lord Shax! How awfull,"

"Demons, devils. Sane person wouldn't mess with either."

Getting a better sense of the architecture of the Manor, Aod makes the suggestion to go back and clear the trapped doors.

"Could be that something valuable or useful is in the room beyond."

"I'm worried that there are a lot of missing people but no bodies found, and I don't think the flying guardians are to blame..."

Tak looks from the balcony.

Is there any signs of habitation? No rough beds about or anything? Or is it all neat? - How long has that kid been here?

"Tilly, how long have you been hiding in this place?"

No signs of habitation, that you can see.

Tilly thinks for a moment. I dunno, seems like a long time.

Where to?

It's just the trappy door issue to tangle with then?

There are some unopened rooms to the south.

As far as I can tell from looking at the map, the western trapped door go to a small room with no other exits, and the northern door likely goes outside. I say we see what's in the room. Since the trap is still active the demons probably haven't gotten inside yet.

Sounds good, Take will lead on

Haris clams the toolbox shut with a sneer and covers the rear as the group moves on.

I think the decision was to disable the trap first?

Make up your minds! Going for it...

(any group buffs or assist?)
DDevice: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

No aid coming from Aod. Maybe Tak's got a guidance he can throw your way, but with that roll it likely won't matter.

Yep, Pai's go nothing to help on traps and the like.

For a few tense minutes, everyone watches Haris, from afar. After seeing him freeze, everyone holds their breathes, before exhaling after seeing Haris relax and stand up!

Disarming the trap, the north door does indeed lead to a small balcony veranda with a stunning view of the mountain pass.

Opening the west door leads into a closet where Haris quickly discerns a concealed sliding panel that leads to another small room. A stout ledge hangs over a shaft that descends 35 feet into darkness.

Pai uses her gnomish magic to cast Dancing Lights, to try and illuminate the darkness for the others.

Pai sees that the shaft descends about thirty-five feet, then opens into a larger room. At the bottom of the room is a shallow pool. Due to the angle and width of the shaft, she is unable to see much more. There are a series of iron rungs that lead down into the shaft.

"Are we climbing down?"

"Huh. Didn't expect this." Aod says, frowning down the shaft. "Thinkin we should clear up here first, but this..? Don't know what to make of it.

"Good words of wisdom, clear the top before heading below or we might find enemies at our back and no retreat"

"Clear the top then."

Aod leaves the bedroom and crosses the balcony, readying his wand as he does. "Don't want to waste these wands, so once these protections are up, we go door to door, only stopping if we meet an enemy. Once clear of enemies, then we give them a closer look."

Aod casts protection from evil and shield, then opens the door with sword in hand.

I placed Aod on the map in front of the door to be opened.

The party, led by Aod, begins to search the upper floor. Opening the first door he comes to, Aod sees chamber that appears to have once housed Ostergarde’s commander-at arms. The posh room contains a large mirror and an armoire. Searching the room only turns up small-sized clothing in the armoire and a used up disguise kit that had fallen behind the armoire.

Moving to the next door, the party finds a heavy iron door that is locked with a superior type lock. (Disable DC40)

Checking the other rooms, the party finds mundane bedrooms that once offered guests a cozy respite, but they’ve been stripped down and refurnished with cots. There is nothing of interest in any of these rooms.

That's it for the second floor.

MAP

Pai uses her ability to Detect Magic while the group searches the upper floor of the residence.

Pai uses her ability to Detect Magic while the group searches the upper floor of the residence.

Nada

Should I assume we've searched the upper floors with a fine tooth comb? If so I suppose it's time to head down the secret shaft.

"Tak, are you able to see in the dark? Maybe you lead here. I'll follow, then Haris and Pai." Looking to the girl, he adds. "She should probably stay up here. We could barricade the doors to this room just in case. If somethin comes knockin, she could follow us down."

"Darkness is no hiding place against my eyes... I see as clearly as the daytime"

Takahiro nods at the suggestion of leaving the girl behind... save her seeing something horrible.

"Tilly, are you ok with staying up here where its safe? We'll be right back for you. If there is something bad, it'll be down there, so you'll be nice and safe up here."

The party makes preparations and climbs down the shaft, leaving Tilly up on the second floor.

The iron rungs descending from the closet continue all the way from ceiling to floor, leading into a clear pool filling the bottom 10 feet of the room. The chamber’s walls depict Asmodeus in all manner of triumph. A stone stair rises from the pool to a dais on the room’s eastern end, where several dark robes hang on hooks. An ornate double door in the east wall provides the only visible egress from the chamber.

Not a few minutes later, the party hears Tilly climbing down the rungs. Reaching the bottom, she looks at the party guiltily. "I was scared. Please don't leave me alone. Those thin men might come back. I just want my family." Her bottom lip starts to quiver again as she finishes.

MAP

Pai looks at the others, not knowing exactly what to do. She sighs. "It's okay, Tilly. Just stay behind us, so we can keep you safe, I suppose.

"Want to check the door?"

Tak Detects Magic, then Evil, then with his eyes...

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

"I guess...", Haris looks suspiciouly at Tilly.

perc: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

-Posted with Wayfinder

Tak and Haris find the unlocked and do not perceive any traps.

"Let's pass around protections again, including the girl." Aod uses his wands again and moves in. "Shoulder to shoulder Tak. Pai, stay as far back as you feel comfortable. Haris in the middle."

Who else has a wand of Protection from Evil? I've been spending charges, but I think we're splitting them, right? Anyway, I'll put one on the girl first, then Aod and Haris. Can Takahiro get himself and Pai?

Takahiro triggers his Shining Wayfinder, and then casts a scroll on Pai.

Haris has a PE wand- load the entire modual up on it, he doesn't mind.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Slight retcon. One of the robes hanging on the wall detects as magical. It is a robe of bones.

The party casts a few spells and opens the door. The party sees another corridor. Another corridor tees in from the south and there is a portcullis further down the hall in which the party now stands.

Before we rush in, does anyone think we should be wearing one of those robes? Also, let's pack the robe of bones away so no one else can use it against us.

I think that might be a good idea, Aod. Putting the robes on and stashing the evil magical one are good ideas. I'm having a bit on internet issues today, so I might be very sparse in posting, FYI.

Ok, unless Takahiro has a problem with it, robes on. Maybe we can pretend to be those murderer's on route to this location to get the drop on anything in here.

Can't see Tak having a problem with the mundane robes, the robe of bones might make him pull funny faces though :p So yep, happy for him to play dress-ups.

I assume you are moving on..

The party dons the robes and heads down the corridor, then turning south.

Two sets of stairs flank this 50-foot-long corridor, sinking the avenue 10 feet under the lip of an overhanging balcony. A horrifying mural of the Nine Hells covers the entirety of the 50-foot-by-20-foot west wall.

MAP

You'll need to make a climb check if your going to the east, over the balcony.

Not wanting to waste more magic, or blow their cover with strange behavior, Aod gestures forward, suggesting the group continue on.

Pai hops in line and follows the group. "The decorator of the place is not one I'd hire," she mutters as she stares at the strange mural.

Takahiro also agrees with walking the traditional route around.

The party continues down the corridor, following it as it turns west, the north again, ending in a set of double doors.

If our spells are almost up maybe we should check this door for traps before recasting them again.

How long do they last? I would estimate you've been in the mansion...an hour.

I was referring to the protection from evil spells, which only last one minute per level (1 more the wands). We just recast them before putting on the robes and entering through the last double doors.

Well, it's about 130' to the doors, so we can assume at least 2.5 rounds, with an action left. So you can have PfE up for another 7 rounds.