In Service to Lore (Table 1) (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

This isn't so bad. I thought for sure it was going to be the bit with transferring four gallons of water with a three gallon and five gallon jug puzzle from Die Hard 3

We could kill tiny snake easy. Think that mean we fail puzzle though?

Oster's feeling kinda useless on this one too

Can you lift the key out with the mage hand?

"I believe so. It doesn't look very heavy." She looks into the basket from a safe distance, focusing on the object inside and trying to raise it up with her magic. She does the same with the key in the jar as well.

Tabitha carefully raises two keys.

The key in the basket is made of blue stone. The small runes on it look like the runes on the red chest.

The key in the glass jar is a jeweled brass key.

Nice trick Tabitha. I'm no expert but it seems like brass key goes to copper chest and blue key goes to red chest.

Giving a small bow, Tabitha smiles, bringing the blue key to her own hand and letting Jenya take the brass one. "Let's see for certain," she says, careful to stand behind the red chest, slipping it in and trying to pull it up while pointed away from her, lest there be a trap in it.

Jenya does the same with the copper chest and the brass key.

Tabitha turns the key of the red chest and the chest opens. In the chest is another key: a key forged into the end of a jeweled scepter.

Jenya tries to open the copper-banded chest with the brass key, but as she touches the chest she has a strange feeling. Something is wrong with it.

will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
per: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Stupid key isn't working!

Frustrated Jenta throws her head back and notices the key.

Hey guys look, a key dropping out of the ceiling

Appraise: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13.

"That scepter looks nice, but I am afraid that the jewels are just for show - they would not be worth much on the open market... that said, I am more interested by the fact that it has a key on the end..."

Hans then turns to Jenya.

"Are you having trouble with the chest? Doesn't the key fit?"

Everybody interacting with the copper chest can do a will save to find out what's wrong with it.

Will: 1d20 ⇒ 17

With everything else already pointed out, she merely looks at the chest with confusion, everything slowly coming into view and making her take a step back. "The chest is fake. It's an illusion."

Now we have too many keys, not enough locks. Which one gets us out of here?

Huh, let's look around here for hidden rooms or something.

Jenya takes 20 on perception to search the room.

"If the scepter is all fake jewelry and the end is a key, perhaps it is our way out."

Reginald looks at the solid steel cube carefully for any weakness or imperfection. He knocks on it to see if it's hollow. Take 20

Don't forget the key on a string at the ceiling ;)

A short summary. You have the blue stone key which opened the red chest, the scepter key and the brass key. The steel chest is still locked and the door is locked. Another key is still above you.

Jenya doesn't find any hidden rooms or doors. The steel chest Reginald knocks on seems to be hollow.

Using the corner of the room as a modified chimney (to lower the climb DC), Hans attempts to climb the wall, and make a grab for the key...

Climb: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19.

Wait; how high up was the key hanging? If it's above our heads, I could just lift someone up on my shield to get it down.

Hans climbs up the corner of the wall and can reach the key easily.

Hans shrugs when he climbs back down.

"Well, we now have three unused keys - which one do we want to try first on the remaining chest?"

Wait; how high up was the key hanging? If it's above our heads, I could just lift someone up on my shield to get it down.

It was about 15 ft up.

Chest is trapped right? Jenya says dubiously. Do we even need a key to open it? Maybe Tabitha can just pop the lid up from a distance?We need to find the map before we get out of here.

The chest is trapped and and locked. You need a key to unlock it at least. But the trap can be disabled with a DC15 disable device check.

"Is anyone able to disarm the trap? If not I'll take the chance and open it. With abit of the ole' halfling luck I'll be able to avoid it."

Garret smiles and offers to take the key and open the chest if nobody else can disarm it.

We don't actually have anyone trained in 'Disable Device' in the party, as far as I am aware... Whomever opens the chest will have to take the trap...

Got Disable Device +3, but without tools that's basically +1 right? Can't Tabitha turn the key and raise the lid from a distance? Tabitha OP in the room :)

Got Disable Device +3, but without tools that's basically +1 right? Can't Tabitha turn the key and raise the lid from a distance? Tabitha OP in the room :)

Sure, that's possible.

Tabitha nods, getting a good distance from the chest and Mage Handing the key into the lock from a distance. "And people say cantrips are useless spells," she says with a playful smirk, lifting up the lid of the chest if it unlocks.

Oh damnit, I keep doing that.

Does Tabitha have an alter-ego we should be worried about? ;-)

I got confused somehow, which key are you using?

[ooc]gold was totally going to be my choice[/dice]

Let me guess. In box is another key?

Tabitha opens the chest and examines its contents from a safe distance.

The trap triggers, but nobody was close enough to get cought. The chest holds the map of the Salhar burial vaults beneath Sothis, the official charte and a wand of knock.

That's the stuff we need. Let's grab it and knock

All we had to do to get out was knock on the door? I could've done that anytime.

"Well, we *do* still have the scepter key, but if that does not work, we can always try the wand..."

Knock or try the key? ;)

Should try the scepter key first

Ok, if you try the scepter key

The door opens and the servant is already awaiting your "escape".
"No bites, no blueish skin color? Amazing! Not everybody exits withouth at least one of that. Take the map and the charter back to Master Valsin, but please leave the keys. We might need them in the future."

"So I guess we're not the first, then?" says Reginald. "Nice work everyone. Since we seem to be moving down this list, shall we meet the Paracountess next?"

"I dare say this is a regular test for new recruits," Hans remarks dryly. "I have no objection to meeting the Paracountess next."

Arriving at Paracountess Zarta Dralneen’s townhouse in the Ivy District — one of several homes the noblewoman keeps around Absalom — Pathfinders come upon a magnificent gothic structure three stories in height. The ebon lacquered double doors wrought with gleaming silver fixtures greet the characters, a prickly brass cone hanging from a chain serving as the door chime. Moments after ringing it, a servant in loose casual attire opens the door, greeting the Pathfinders as if expected.

Led through well-appointed sitting rooms, ballrooms, and a grand stairway granting a view of an elaborate study, the recruits finally arrive on the third floor of the house, at the door of Zarta’s personal study, which lies beyond her bedroom. Knocking upon the door and announcing his presence, the servant opens the darkly stained wooden door.

A large intricate carpet dominates the marble floor in this sitting room. A chaise sits along the North wall and a desk spans the southeast corner, its chair positioned with its back to the southwest corner of the room. Three comfortable chairs are positioned around a small, low circular table. Sitting in the chair behind the desk, Paracountess Zarta Dralneen regards the recruits with a wry smile, putting away a few papers before standing to address the hopeful Pathfinders.

“Aldor, you are dismissed. Close the door behind you and attend to your other tasks.” She then turns her attention to the group.

“It’s always so incredibly adorable when I see a freshfaced batch of Pathfinders. I mean, look at you scrumptious little teacakes. I could eat each and every one of you up. Well, maybe not you.” Zarta points. I assume this isn’t a pleasure visit since most of you are terribly overdressed for that manner of occasion, so that must mean you are here for that trinket Valsin has been nagging me about. Seems I can’t get that man around these parts anymore.” she gestures, sliding her hand down her body and widening the gesture to sweep out and across the room as if her home were a secondary thought.

"On the good side, he always sends me all the precious new recruits. Many think we in Cheliax serve and worship devils, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, we use the creatures for their power. They serve us and we sculpt their power in our own interests. The world must come to Terms with the order of things. People need to know their place and operate accordingly. It is the only way to make order from this world. Too many people stretch too far beyond their station, making waves and eroding the true order."

As the paracountess talks, a cacophony of booms and crashes sounds from beyond the room’s west door. She sometimes pauses at an extended eruption of these noises before continuing with the conversation.

Map updated, the orange square is Hans

As the Paracountess's speech continues, Oster's attention slips farther and farther away. Once the crashing starts, his focus is entirely on the door. And his hand rests on his weapon, gripping it tensely.

Tabitha bids farewell to the servant, a smile on her face as she helped bring their plan to fruition without any pranks or snakes getting in their way. She greets the Paracountess with a respectful nod, though she keeps pleasantries with the Chelaxian to purely professional.

Hearing the boom, the bard snaps right to attention. She pulls her blow from off her shoulder. "That had best not be demons, lest you've just unwound your entire sentiment," she says with narrowed eyes.

For the first time Garret seems truly uncomfortable visiting the Chelaxian representative. He'd hope to leave that task until last, given the treatment his people received in Cheliax, he had no love for it's upper classes. Trafficking with devils was bad enough, but enslaving halflings and giving them demeaning nicknames like 'slips' was certainly not something he appreciated.

Nevertheless, Garret holds his tongue through the meeting, hoping to bring things to a swift resolution. Finally, with his curiousity peaked at the noises beyond, the halfling speaks.

"What is that riot beyond the door?"