Heralding the Coming of the Age of Worms (Inactive)

Game Master Fanguar

As he handles the egg, Sverrir mulls the red metal...

Knowledge (Dungeoneering) to ID red metal...: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

arcana, planes, and religion here, not too much help for history, nature, etc.

@Lucid: That alchemy roll is pretty epic, so here's some fluff: The pedestal is made of Fireiron. It's dirt common in the elmental plane of fire, but unique to that plane. It's alchemically and magically inert, but it's unusual colour makes it popular for decorative pieces.

At Sverrir's touch, the stone egg begins to shudder. It trembles and seams open up in the egg's smooth surface. In a matter of moments a small stone humanoid stands where the egg once was. It rumbles at you in a foreign tongue.

Stepping back, Ramos purses his lips but says nothing.

I can't speak Terran and who knows if it understands common. Hopefully someone else knows what the heck is going on.

Edit: Yay! Post 1100! How the time flys!

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 What is it?

I have no idea what its saying. Can anyone understand it? I have a scroll that will let me understand it but not speak to it.

Marcus listens intently. Linguistics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Sverrir eyes the stoney newcomer with caution, trying to mask his surprise at the egg’s transformation…

The dwur nods at its words;

”I spake its tongue my friends…”

Then he answers the stone figure in its own rumbling tongue;

האָי ביסל איינער פון די ערד. איך בין סוועררïר פון די דווור הויז קאָלטǫנן. מיר זוכן וויסן און מאַזל אין דעם אָרט ... וואָס טאָן איר וויסן פון אים?

Used Yiddish for Terran :)

The elemental relaxes noticeably when Sverrir speaks.

Nice use of google translate

Khyrn quietly releases the breath he had been holding.

At the egg's transformation, Pavo tenses and reached for his dagger but visibly relaxes as Sverrir communicates with the creature. However, not able to understand any of the words spoken, Pavo's hand rests near the dagger sheathed on his belt, ready to react if the need arises.

Sverrir nods at the stoneling's words and mutters an aside to the group;

"Little steinling calls itself Artophanx lads... will share its knowledge if we help it escape the room... Seems fair 'nough..."

The dwur eyes the creature curiously before speaking;

"איידער מיר שלאָגן אַ מעציע, טאָמער מיר קען מייַן אַ קיזלשטיין אָדער צוויי פון דיין גוואַלדיק וויסן ..."

Why is he held here? Who was his enemy?

I suppose, but how was it trapped here? Do you think we can trust it?

Lucid backs up a couple steps as he asks What manner of creature is Artophanx? Since he speaks Terran I am going to guess he is some type of earth elemental? And does it know what binds it? If I can get it out of the room I think its worth more than just information. Maybe helping us for a short time. I bet is been stuck here for a very long time.

How big is this creature?

@Lucid:He's a small earth elemental

Artophanx thinks for a minute.

Terran: "This is the tomb of Zosiel who died on the fields of Pesh."

Presuming Sverrir relays the above to the group

"Zosiel and Pesh mean anything to the learned ones in our kompany?"

The dwur addresses Artophanx again;

"ווו טאָן איר ווינטשן צו זייַן דערטראגן צו קליין שטיין האר?"

Pesh was that great final battle between Law and Chaos that ended their primordial war. It was a very very long time ago. Ask if he is one of "Ogremoch's" elementals? Act all respectful and such when you say it and even more so when he answers yes. As Lucid says the name of the prince he bows slightly and tries to look respectful. He is assuming that this creature is a servant of the Prince of Evil since we know that the Prince had a legion of such serving him.

knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

knowledge History: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Have I ever heard of Zosiel?

"Of course not, Ramos, it's a servant of an evil elemental god. It will do or say anything to get what it wants, and it will just as likely lie to us as tell us the truth. We can't trust it, and we can't let it run loose on our world."

For information about Zosiel and/or Pesh.

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

What Khyrn said, except I bet after all these years it only want to go to its elemental plane. I think its playing us, so lets play it back. Maybe it knows what is in the flooded area, or can even sketch a map of what is flooded. Heck, it might even be able to go down into the water for us and fetch things for us.

Smart Lucid, very very smart. It's dosen't need air to breath so we could use that to our advantage. I like the way you think.

Re:Zosiel: the name isn't familiar, but then again not every general or hero is going to be remembered thousands of years later

Artophanx acknowledges Lucid's show of respect to Ogremoch.

(Assuming Sverrir passes along Lucid's question)

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Kn Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

I've read about situations like this. Some sort of binding. Maybe he or... she, knows of something useful in this... complex.

Sverrir nods his head at the collective wisdom;

"Aye. If we can brekk the enchantment then the little steinling's knowledge could be as valuable as gold..."

knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

lol. Of course, the wizard, who has two chances to know about the binding fails while the fighter and cleric each make the roll and have to explain it to him. :) I really was thinking that maybe if the elemental could assume dormant form again at the border of his area of confinement and Lucid could lift him and dimensional step across the border, that might work. Likely not, and likely Lucid can not life the elemental anyway.

Knowlege (arcana): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"If he is indeed bound to this room, freeing him is beyond our abilities. Our best bet is to try and get as much information from him as possible, possibly by telling it that we will try to figure out a way to return it to its home."

And if he is bound beyond our ability to help he will not be able to help us much either. Ask him if he knows what lies in the flooded room? But you will have to describe where it is as he likely does not know it is flooded.

Hearing the others, Sverrir once again parley's with Artophanx;

"גרויס זעלנער פון אָגרעמאָטש. עס מיינט די געפאלן קישעף אַז ביינדז איר איז רובֿ שטאַרק און ווייַטער פון אונדזער אַבילאַטיז בייַ פאָרשטעלן. אויב יי קענען פירן אונדז צו דיין פֿרייַהייט, ביטע טאָן ... מייַן קאַמראַדז און איך וואָלט אויך וויסן וואָס ליגט אין די פלאַדאַד קאַמער? קענען איר אַרייַן עס?"

Diplomacy?: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Terran:"I don't know of any flooded chamber. I can't leave this room unless my enchantment is broken and if you can't do that, then this conversation is a waste of energy."

Artophanx turns away and if left alone will shift back to his dormant egg form.

Lets leave the creature and move on. That red metal pedistal is worth something IF we can get it back to town. Sverrir, can you check to see hour heavy it is?

The dwur nods and moves back toward the pedestal, taking the strain of its weight...

"If we can move it friend Lucid, then by the gods it comes back with us heh...Might be that The Smelting Hus or Allustan the mage might give us coin fer it?"

Max lift - 230lbs, can push or drag x5 that...

Perhaps we are looking at this all wrong. If the elemental was summoned and bound here then killing it should release it back to its home plane right Lucid? The Elemental wants to go home, so it should have no reason to fight. And before we destroy it's connection it can tell us the secret to this room. What do you think?

Let's find out more...

@Sverrir: You can lift the pedestal, but just. It's 200lbs.
@Ramos: There's probably a knowledge check required, but only summoned creatures return to their home plane when killed.

Seeing the dwur miner sinews straining as he lifts, its clear the pedestal has a considerable (but manageable) weight...

"Gah. It is heavy... but we can take it... two of the stronger members of the group could lift, or if needbe I can push or drag it... It is no heavier than a mine cart or big Markus here..."

Sverrir wipes his brow and produces his flask once again with a broad smile;

"Labour builds the thirst nei?"

"Well, if out goal is ta haul it outta here. What's say we save it fer last. We should make sure the rest of this place has been explored before worrying about this thing."

Sure, but lets get it out of the elemental's area. I trust that creature not.

The earth-ling is but one piece of the puzzle. Let's move and talk... Naddoc. Does anyone know of someone or some thing named Naddoc?

Kn Arcana, Naddoc: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

That's a good point Lucid. Lets get the pedestal out of the room then we can head down to the flooded chamber and check it out. Common Severrir, I'll give you a hand. Motions Ramos as he goes to help lift the pedestal.

Sverrir spits on his weathered hands and nods;

"Easy does it har!"

With the aid of Ramos presume we can shunt/lift the pedestal to a desirable relocation? Does the steinling respond in any way??

IF we can keep exploring until we level I can learn two new spells, one of which can be a spell that lets someone breath under water.

Khyrn will help move the pedestal if needed, while also trying to watch for any reaction from the elemental.

It's been here centuries? Another few hours won't matter. For all we know the dead bodies are its handywork. Perhaps indirectly, after following its advice. Let's leave it here for now...

Marcus looks distracted in thought.

Lucid looks confused at Markus' words. The thing there Lucid indicates the now dormant elemental. followed some kind of evil demon. It is now trapped in this room. There is no plan to ever remove it. We only plan to get this red metal pedestal. I would prefer we never have to enter into this chamber again, so wish that strange metal be moved a few feet outside the creature's reach in case we decide to come and claim it later. Then we may be on our way.

What if the very rare metal binds it? Like silver or cold iron are reported to affect some...

Sverrir shoots a look at Ramos before chipping into Markus and Lucid's debate;

"Which is it to be lads? This thing ain't the lightest ye know!"

The binding is magical in nature and that block of red metal is pretty ordinary, except being from another plain from another plane. Its not magic in the slightest. Move it and then we are back off to that watery passage. If I am wrong we have to take it down. It should not be that tough.

Markus will help with the heavy lifting as needed.

You manage to lift and move the pedestal out of the room and into the corridor.

So there is the flooded area and the hole in the ceiling in the lantern room left to explore.

We've decided to look more closely at the watery passage.