In Service to Lore (Table 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

Kraak looks at the dagger. Looks at Nixie, looks at the dagger and hoots.
Then he nods..

After opening the red chest the group hears slight clickin. After a few seconds it stops.

Was the chest empty?

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Touchy, completely distracted by Nixie, does not notice the key drop down above his head.

Dang it Nix! =)

Instead, he glances into the chest.

The clothes Xichi took out of the basket are simple linen clothes. You could sell them, but they are not expensive or antique.

Touchy stares into an empty box. The inner parts are covered with red silk, but there is nothing Touchy could use for getting into the other boxes.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 9 kraak feels the shiny silk, remembering better times as a nestling. With a hoot he looks at the metal box

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Alexos looks up and sees the gold key clinking away along the ceiling.

He sighs, and points at it.

How do they expect us to get that, I wonder...

Given my roll, is there anything else I can tell about the key from here? Like how to get it down or what it opens? Failing that, is it reachable by standing on the table?

perc: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Touchy, lookit that! She points to the key. Here key-tty key-tty key-tty... Nixie tires Mage Hand to retrieve the key.

sonofa...if this Osirionite floor collapses on us when I pull on this key i'm turning in my PFS resignation.

Not really, it's just golden and small and hanging from the ceiling. The ceiling is about 15ft high, when standing on a table you would need a second person on your shoulders to reach the key. But you find something useful hidden in the red chest.

After checking the key above and the red chest, Alexos can see that the chest has a pocket sewn into the silk. This pocket holds a key forged into the end of a jeweled scepter.

Just an overview, also for me, I'm already getting confused which key opens what and can be found where...

you opened:
Wicked Basket - no key needed - contents rune key (already used)
Glass Jar - no key needed - contents jeweled brass key
Red lacquered chest - rune key - contains scepter key

remaining:
copper banded chest
steel chest

Did anyone ever disarm the prank trap on the steel chest?

Xichi tries the brass key on the copper banded chest.

As far as I know, the trap is still active. It needs a DC 15 Disable Device check to disarm it.

Xichi puts the key into the keyhole of the copper branded chest. Something is wrong with it.

+4 on the will save, you already know that there is something magical on this chest

Does Nixie's mage hand have enough pull to dislodge the key from the string?

If not, can Touchy use his whip to snag the key above our heads? It has a 15' reach... just not sure if a whip can do that.

If not, it also does slashing damage... can it be used to damage the string holding the key? It won't work if the string has any kind of hardness whatsoever

Touchy pulls the coiled whip off his belt, eyeing the key hanging from the string up above. "Not the usual sort of thing one uses this little toy for..." He says, with a grin and a wink at Nixie. "But might be able to...."

He proceeds to try.

If needed, Whip attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15, for 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 damage.

Failing that, he will cast Guidance on Xichikitte, and hope the sorceror can acid splash the string from down here?

If that does not work, he looks over at the half-orc, "You got a spell that can burn through that string, Xichi?" He asks, saying a few divine words, and giving him a pat on the behind.

Guidance: +1 to any attempted or required 'attack' roll... or anythign else I suppose, if it comes up within a minute

Will: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 4 = 14

Xichi is not too surprised to see that the copper banded chest was an illusion. As it fades from view, he stands back.

Feh. What is the purpose of this trickery?

Probably to test our resourcefulness or something along those lines.

Alexos sighs again, and takes a look at the new key.

Appraise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Well... I can tell that it is a key, but appraisal has never been my strongest skill... someone else better take a look.

Would jumping from the table to try to get it be an acrobatics check? If their mage hand and whips don't work, perhaps me doing that will grab it.

Alexos stands up on the table.

Well, here goes nothing

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Alexos goes flying through the air in a back flip.

And hopefully gets the key and lands safely, not sure with that roll though.

Ya, vertical jumping is hard. Basically multiply the height you want to get off the ground by 4 for the DC... and then double it if you can't get a 10' running start.

So a 15 means you'll clear almost 2 feet. =) But I'm sure you stick the landing!

I hear circus music in my head when I read about us trying all these tricks to get that key, lol!

Monty Python's Flying Circus, more like... ;) I'll wait to see whether any of our attempts to get the gold key work before trying another jump. Anyone else want to try an appraise check on the one from the red box?

Kraak looks around of all the rukus the others are doing. Is that some form of mating ritual to get the fe-male on to do the strange thing?
He will try to remove the already opened boxes from their places to check underneath, maybe there is a lock somewhere else.

Xichi will examine the red box key.

Appraise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Is Mage Hand effective at pulling or lifting the gold key down from the ceiling? (Xichi will try).

Touchy glances at the rod and dismisses it almost as quickly.

Appraise+Greed: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 1 + 2 = 16

"Bah, cheap paste, hardly worth the effort." He grumbles. "Though yay, another key."

"So now we have three keys, and only one chest." He adds, after a moment. "Don't s'pose one of them opens the door?

I will do it like this :D =>

Touchy grabs the key with his whip and is able to draw it down some ft. Nixie holds the key in place with her mage hand so Alexos can jump up to catch it but Alexos touched the key only with his fingertips. While they watch the key swinging at the ceiling suddenly the string snaps and the key falls on the floor.

You now have three keys and one trapped chest left.

ha! =) A truly cinematic result!

That was nicely done!

Well... I suppose one opens the door, but even if it does we still don't have what we came for...

Alexos attempts to dust off his robes in a semi-dignified manner after failing to get the key... if only his arm had been a few inches longer he would have had it! He mutters to himself while he is doing this:

The gold key was the best hidden and the hardest to get. I bet it opens the trapped box. Still, if anyone knows how to talk to traps I'd love to let them try.

Touchy picks up the golden key where it fell on the floor, and flips it to Alexos. "All yours!" He adds, with a grin, indicating the final chest.

He then not so subtly backs a little further away, still smiling like all is well.

Alexos catches the key and looks at it like it is a snake.

I guess I'll open it then. Everyone else stand back... I doubt this is a lethal trap, but you never know.

Alexos takes a deep breath then inserts the gold key into the steel box's lock. He attempts to open it.

Here goes nothing... let me know if I need to do a reflex save or something.

Touchy, lemme see your shield... Nixie tries to hide behind it if he gives it to her...or mabe they can both fit.

The dwarf is more then happy to let the girl use his shield for cover, especially if that gives him an excuse to sidle in beside her to hold it up.

"The protective arms of Calistria, offer succor and warmth to all." He says, with a meaningful grin.

"Well, most..." He amends a moment later.

"Or at least you!" He adds a moment after that, waggling one bushy eyebrow in counterpoint.

After everybody hid behind something or stepped back far enough, Alexos opens the last chest and the trap triggers.

This chest holds the map of the Silhar burial vaults beneath Sotis and a wand of knock with 11 charges.

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

The trap washes over Alexos, but thanks to knowing about it before hand he was able to resist its effects. His skin is still its normal whitish shade.

Whew... guess that was the wrong key after all.

He reaches in and takes the contents.

Hm... I can't really use wands... catch Nixie!

He tosses it over to her, still cowering behind Touchy's shield like a small child.

I'll hold onto map for now. I want to copy it into my journal once we pick one up for me... might be useful.

He seriously looks thrilled at the prospect. After all, knowledge is worth while to him.

Touchy looks a little disappointed.

"Isn't there supposed to be a charter of some sort too, not just the maps?" He shrugs slightly. "Probably in the other vault, in the other chests, behind the other traps." He adds with a chuckle.

"Lemme see that." He says to Nixie, reaching for the wand. He mutters a small divine incantation, then takes a minute to study it closely.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

But is unable to determine what its powers are.

"Bah, more distractions!" He grumbles, before tossing it back to the bard. "Souvenir." He says with a chortle.

"Someone try the door. Get us the hell out of this place before they decide to run us through another maze."

Can we try the snake key, or the scepter key on the door?
Will do so if there's a keyhole to stick something in.

Well, the door has the last keyhole you haven't tried ;)

Catching the wand with a flourish Nixie inspects it. spellcraft: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 Her heart skips a beat. Smokey kitten-knickers! This things got some juice left in it! Thanks...

You can't use Spellcraft untrained, Nix... or ID them without Detect Magic... =)

After his last experience with the box, Alexos is taking no chances and inspects the door thoroughly for traps. He also takes the time to look at all the keys (including the runed one and the gold one) to see if he can figure out which one (if any) fit it.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Should be enough to figure out which one fits and if I need to duck while opening it. Again.

I'm not magical enough to know what my treasure is? *sigh*

Think of it more like a surprise package... let the anticipation build!
And reasons to learn new things come level 2!

Heh... maybe you can use it as a hair pin to put your hair up while we wait to identify it...

Kraak smiles and hoots.... "We get out soon!"

To Kraak he says.

Hopefully. Now let me concentrate... the last thing I want is for this thing to explode because I used the wrong key... or to dissolve into a wall of snakes because I turned the key the wrong way.

Turning thoughtfully to Touchy.

You are right, there was supposed to be a charter too... maybe they will give it to us once we show them the map... or maybe I missed it. You are more than welcome to search the chest more thoroughly while I am working on this.

His grin is positively evil. The tatoo almost makes his eyes glow maniacally.

No real hard feelings, Touchy. ;) Alexos is just a tad peeved at having set of the trap is all, and since you kinda nominated him to open it he wouldn't be all that upset if you were to accidentally set off a second trap while searching the chest... as long as it wasn't lethal.

Ha! You are playing into the Calistrian narrative... remember... 'to know who to kick in the teeth later'! its all about vengeance... even the small ones. /insert evil laugh

Alexos doesn't see any traps at the door and compares the keys with the keyhole in the door. The one with the scepter seems to be the right size for it. He puts the key into the keyhole and turns it around. The Pathfinders can hear a clicking in the door and it swings open. With the map under his arm he steps through the door.

I hope this was what Alexos wanted to do.

Outside of the puzzle room the servant is already waiting. He checks the Pathfinders and says "No bites, no blue skins? You did a good job in there." and he hands the official charter to Alexos because he has the map under his arm. "Please take this charter back to Valsin but leave the keys, we might need them for further recruit tests."

Kraak hootes"Very clever wo-man and nice sstunty and pointy earss. SSolved it in no time!"

Hey mister Ameno-pause...I MEAN...Amenopheus...whacha fancy this thing to be? My friend Touchy here says it's *sarcasm* magical, ha, can you believe that? It's a wand of... Nixie snaps her fingers a few times waiting for the answer, as if she already knows and is just testing him.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

That works just fine, thank you!

Alexos takes the charter gratefully.

My thanks for the charter and the map, we will make sure that Master Valsin receives them. I do have a question for you and a request. I was able to resist the trap when opening the steel box because I knew the trap was there, but I still set it off. I used the gold key, reasoning that the hardest and most obscure one to find would be the correct one. Would I have gotten the same result with the bronze key from the acid?

While his face is outwardly calm, you can tell by his voice that Alexos genuinely takes this failure as something to be learned from.

My request is related. I would like to keep the gold key, if I may. I am willing to pay for it of course. I had at least one failure with it... and if the bronze key really was the correct key for the chest, two. I want to have a reminder of how much further I need to grow.

Here goes nothing, rolling a Diplomacy roll to back up my argument.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Ouch.