"Here's what we know: the archaeologists have been charmed to put these discs in the cracked wall. They also asked us not to destroy anything. The discs radiate abjuration magic, which is usually protective in nature.
Baseless speculation time...I'm thinking one of two options:
1) They've been charmed to protect the temple.
2) They've been charmed to keep the monolith guardian from coming out to fight an impending evil."
He scratches his beard.
"We need more data. I agree with Amenohotep; let's explore the rest of the area."
Paladin 4 / Oracle 8 AC 27 {T:13/FF:27} HP 116/116 Init+0, Perception +2 | Fort +15, Reflex +9, Will +19 | Tracked Resources:Oracle Channel 7d6 (DC 20) 6/7 | Paladin Channel 3d6 (DC 16) 9/9 | LoH 4d6+2 {+1d6 or Mercy} 11/12 | Reroll 1/1
"And please friends, let us remember that we are dealing with Pathfinders, not enemies. If it comes to a conflict, try to avoid doing permanent damage. We were tasked to keep them safe."
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Point of order: does everyone else use the dust from the sphere? Asking for a GM friend.
Through the doorway, the crashing sound gets considerably louder; it is difficult to hear each other over the din. The area beyond the fallen doors is all covered from the high Garundi sun. A broad hallway extends both east and north, while an alcove to the west is filled with a stone fountain beneath a carving of a cyclops breaking free of clutching tentacles. The fountain's basin in full of clear water.
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Everyone using the dust from the sphere feels very much at peace, as though chaos has been purged from him or her.
Markolf:
The fountain radiates strong abjuration magic and moderate conjuration magic; concentration is difficult with the crashing sound, but eventually Markolf gets that it produces clean, fresh water.
Amenhotep:
The fountain radiates strong abjuration magic and moderate conjuration magic. Concentration is difficult with the crashing sound, but eventually Amenhotep gets a reading: he sees giant hands dipping in and lifting up to giant-sizes mouths, its waters cool and refreshing.
DC 27 Kn (arcana):
In addition to being fresh and clean, the water also bestows a powerful bonus to Escape Artist checks and combat maneuver checks made to escape a grapple (bonus also applies to CMD to avoid being grappled). The effects last for 24 hours.
Female Undine Druid (Undine Adept) 11 | HP 98/98 | Wild Shape 5/5 | Surge (+17 CMB): 8/8 | AC 20 T 13 FF 17 | CMD 20 CMB +7 | F +12 R +9 W +15 | Init +9 | Per +19; Dip +17; Spel +15 | Treant HP 114/114
Kirana is alarmed by Amenhotep and Markolf's actions. She expects weird things from Markolf, but when Amenhotep also drinks... she pauses.
Sense Motive:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 "How bizarre. What is it about the water?"
Female Undine Druid (Undine Adept) 11 | HP 98/98 | Wild Shape 5/5 | Surge (+17 CMB): 8/8 | AC 20 T 13 FF 17 | CMD 20 CMB +7 | F +12 R +9 W +15 | Init +9 | Per +19; Dip +17; Spel +15 | Treant HP 114/114
"Since when did you think tentacles were bad?" she asks Markolf, even more confused now. "You've always appreciated limbs and organs of other creatures in the past. What's special about the water?"
Kirana will cast Ancestral Memory but will refrain from moving closer to the fountain or the carvings yet. She's hoping that the knowledge of her elders can guide her.
77% chance of success (1-77 succeeds)
Percentile Roll:1d100 ⇒ 61
For GM Reference:
Link to Spell on d20pfsrd
"Success indicates that you not only gain the +5 insight bonus on all Intelligence-based skill checks, but that one of your ancestors came across a situation or problem similar to one you are currently facing. In this case, the GM provides you with some specific information to assist you in overcoming your problem."
Male Human (Chelaxian) Male Arcanist (Brown-fur transmuter) 7 | HP 37 / 37 | AC 12 (16) T 12 FF 10 (14) | CMD 14 CMB +2 | F +5 R +6 W +7 | Init +7 | Per +10; Kn (Arc, Dun, Loc, Pla, Rel) +14; Kn (Eng, Geo, His, Nob) +11; Spel +16
"Of course I love tentacles. My love of tentacles is well-established and has had me banned from several institutions. But I prefer that they not be used to feed me to some elder horror."
Markolf stabs his finger into the carving.
"The cyclops that built this temple seemed to run into these type of things enough to have created and documented defenses against them. This water against unwanted groping and the dust against unwanted mind groping."
He shrugs, "Or they're setting us up, in which case, well-played, cyclops."
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Kirana:
Kirana knows what's in the spoilers here. Her ancestors also tell her a story of a time long past (the spoiler for Amenhotep here.
Markolf recounts his anti-groping theory to the party in great detail, including an odd and not-a-little-creepy puppet show. Meanwhile, Amenhotep — his mind numb from listening to the Arcanist for more than 10 seconds — discovers a crack in the east wall of the corridor, light pouring out from something inside.
Male Human (Keleshite) Slayer 8 | HP 70/70 | AC:20 T:13 FF:18 CMD: 27 | F+10 R+10 W+4 | Init +6 | Perc +11
Noticing that Amenotep might be onto something important, Jhalan offers his help. "Do you wish me to enlarge that gaping hole? A triffle for my adamantine blade." offers the smelly Keleshite.
If Amenotep agrees, Jhalan uses his adamantine bringer of destruction to carve through the stone wall and enlarge the opening.
Male Human Empyreal Sorcerer 2 (HP 12/12) (AC 10/10/10) (CMD 11) (Fort +1, Ref +0, Will +9) (Init +0) (Perception +8)
Amenhotep shrugs thoughtfully.
"Before we start breaking this place apart, let's see what we can find without a brute-force approach... after all, there is probably an entrance point to whatever is on the other side of that wall, elsewhere in this complex..."
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
The rupture in the limestone starts as a broken part of the wall, then quickly narrows to a small crack, eight or nine inches long and perhaps an inch wide, about five feet off the ground. The light streaming from it casts a soft glow in the otherwise dim light.
Markolf finds nothing on this side of the wall that radiates magic.
Female Undine Druid (Undine Adept) 11 | HP 98/98 | Wild Shape 5/5 | Surge (+17 CMB): 8/8 | AC 20 T 13 FF 17 | CMD 20 CMB +7 | F +12 R +9 W +15 | Init +9 | Per +19; Dip +17; Spel +15 | Treant HP 114/114
"If we're curious to know what's on the other side, I can take on an earthen form and move through for a glance," Kirana offers. "I would ask for whatever protections can be granted before I do so, however. Perhaps a magical invisibility?"
I can wildshape to an earth elemental again and take a look. I got a bad feeling about what's on the other side though. Do we want to finish searching the perimeter first?
Male Human (Chelaxian) Male Arcanist (Brown-fur transmuter) 7 | HP 37 / 37 | AC 12 (16) T 12 FF 10 (14) | CMD 14 CMB +2 | F +5 R +6 W +7 | Init +7 | Per +10; Kn (Arc, Dun, Loc, Pla, Rel) +14; Kn (Eng, Geo, His, Nob) +11; Spel +16
Markolf pulls a scroll of invisibility out of his Haversack before immediately returning it. "Can do. Maybe let's map out the rest of the hallway first."
Paladin 4 / Oracle 8 AC 27 {T:13/FF:27} HP 116/116 Init+0, Perception +2 | Fort +15, Reflex +9, Will +19 | Tracked Resources:Oracle Channel 7d6 (DC 20) 6/7 | Paladin Channel 3d6 (DC 16) 9/9 | LoH 4d6+2 {+1d6 or Mercy} 11/12 | Reroll 1/1
"It sounds as if we are ready to do some more exploring. Jaysin, keep a sharp eye out. Markolf, if you will allow me to take the lead?" The paladin cautiously steps into the first western archway with sword drawn, but held low.
Whenever you decide to go, Caduceus will hit you with a Protection from Evil.
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
The walls in this room feature mosaics of a stylized cyclops wearing an ornate one-eyed mask and commanding other cyclopes. In the carving, the cyclops places the mask on other cyclopes to cure blindness and, in one image, seemingly bring one back from death. A large slab in the northwestern corner holds only dust, though a smaller shelf above it bears an odd, one-eyed mask, which is revealed as magic under detect magic.
Female Undine Druid (Undine Adept) 11 | HP 98/98 | Wild Shape 5/5 | Surge (+17 CMB): 8/8 | AC 20 T 13 FF 17 | CMD 20 CMB +7 | F +12 R +9 W +15 | Init +9 | Per +19; Dip +17; Spel +15 | Treant HP 114/114
Kirana will use Detect Magic and scan the area.
Spellcraft:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21 "Interesting," she says, pointing to the mask. "That mask has can protect its wearer, to a degree, against the gaze of certain creatures. It is magical."
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Markolf Crowley wrote:
Does the mask on the shelf resemble the mask depicted in the mosaics?
The mosaics are reasonably detailed, but time and age have worn it so Markolf isn't entirely sure. But it does seem to have a single eye cover as a cyclopes mask might.
Male Human (Chelaxian) Male Arcanist (Brown-fur transmuter) 7 | HP 37 / 37 | AC 12 (16) T 12 FF 10 (14) | CMD 14 CMB +2 | F +5 R +6 W +7 | Init +7 | Per +10; Kn (Arc, Dun, Loc, Pla, Rel) +14; Kn (Eng, Geo, His, Nob) +11; Spel +16
Markolf cocks an eyebrow. "Strange...it doesn't seem that this mask actually does what the mosaics indicate..." He trails off, wiping some orb dust from his eye and wiping it on his moistened beard.
"Annnnnnyway...moving on!"
Just for good measure... Spellcraft (best of two):1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28 Spellcraft (best of two):1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
I'm sure Markolf would be content to open doors from the next county if possible. That said, I'm not sure how six people open doors at ends of hallways while not in lightning bolt formation.
Five-star Hound of Tindalos. Er, GM. Whatever. | RoW Encounter Map |
Moving on, Caduceus opens the next door to find a wide room with two alcoves to the west and east. The western alcove bears mosaics of a burly cyclops with a flail and shield; in one image, a human with a conical hat hands the cyclops a flail, while in each other image the large cyclops is smash in fiends or serpent-headed humanoids with it. A large slab in this alcove is empty, but a shelf above it contains a fine-looking heavy flail and a steel shield.
Of more immediate concern, however, is the pair of large snakes here, each with a head at either end of its long, coiling body! Both display large sets of fangs! They appear to be attacking a cowering woman just inside the east alcove!
Amphisbaena have poisonous bites, are immune to petrification, and resist cold energy. These amphisbaena appear altered in some way, as if touched by another plane.
DC 25 Kn (arcana):
An amphisbaena functions normally even if cut in half; when dealt a critical hit with a slashing weapon, the creature is cut in half but continues to function as two separate smaller creatures. These amphisbaena appear to have the fiendish template.
