Megan's Curse of the Crimson Throne (Inactive)

Game Master Megan Robertson

"My experience with traps has been almost exclusively the mundane variety. Be my guest." Lucia steps out of the way, allowing Ashe to head in first.

Ashe nods accepting the point.

Looking at the room/hallway... Ashe first scans the room to see if he can pinpoint that faint source of magic he detected before as his detect magic spell is still running. Then he scans the immediate door way for magic, including the statues it they might be automatons tasked as guardians or traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

If he finds none, he will crouch and reaching into his belt pouch styled handy haversack pull out a bag of blue chalk powder and lightly sprinkle 'dusting' the floor just in the door way... to see if any trip wires are revealed. Then regather the dust with his prestidigitation spell that is Also still running.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
+ plus any modifier for being creative GM's option

Then Ashe stands stowing away his bag of chaulk dust again.. and pulling a piece of white chaulk and sketching with simple lines on the inside of his shield a single line map of the hallways leading here, indicating north and then sketching with simple lines the room as he sees it.

He comments, "This is supposed to be a maze so be on the lookout for illusions that might confuse its hallways."

With that Ashe hefts his sword and raises his shield to maximum coverage - total defense as he steps into the room ready to cast featherfall for any dead drops if needed. He moves into the room looking specifically for seams in the floor that might indicate slashing blade traps or holes in the floor walls or ceiling that might indicate dart thrower or spear traps. He tests the first floor section for weight to see if a pressure plate might be indicated {not that he could do much about it if there were he'd still have to enter}. He will closely examine the statues for any seams or signs they might shift in reponce to some trap trigger...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Ashe moves 30'ft forward total defense but stays in sight of the party trying to get the layout of the hallway.

Majenko takes flight from his perch on Ashe's armored shoulder moving with Ashe but staying as high as possible in the room near the ceiling... looking for invisible target with his own keen draconic senses...

Majenko's Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

OOC: A map might be useful if its available Megan

This is a horrendous area, even the DM map barely makes sense and there is no player-friendly one at all...

Nothing untoward can be seen and Ashe is able to step forwards safely.

Majenko, fluttering ahead, spots something strange. At the archway to the room beyond (the one the statues seem to be ushering you to) there is a gap in the floor, walls, and ceiling.

In the area beyond, two alcoves adorn either side of an otherwise empty room. In one alcove, a long lever with an ebony handle protrudes from the wall.

Tried to bodge a map for you - the red dotted line shows where the gap Majenko spotted is.

Ebon Wings admires Ashe's professionalism - from a distance.

"There are some spirits I might be able to convince to scout the way for us, if you think it warranted, Ashe. They would not be here for long, though."

Looked at the make-shift map of yours Megan... are those steps up to a blank wall to the south east in E1? You did not mention them before? Did we investigate that end of the corridor, steps usually lead somewhere? I'm assuming we came from the west hallway in E1... as that was the direction we were coming from on the last map.

Ashe STOPS, immediately at Majenko's warning of the gap in the floor ceilings and wall.

Very slowly he moves to the gap to investigate is closely, but not touch!

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
- What seems to be the purpose of the gap? Does it contain any hidden blades or a sliding stone door to cut-off the end of the room?

Ashe holds up his hand to forestall anyone entering the room, but answers to Ebon, "Don't bother Ebon.. this room is no maze... there does not seem to be any exit from this room. I'll scan for secret doors in a moment... there is a curious seam in the floor ceiling and wall here.. its likely some kind of trap. Have Lady Lucia check up those steps to the hallway end to see if there is some concealed exit in the wall, please?"

"If I were to built a 'death maze' I'd certainly include a secret way in to bypass all the traps... and steps leading to a dead-end is highly suspicious to say the least!"

"Very well, Ashe, though I do not like the looks of that lever in the other room, and will want to return to investigate it."

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27

Lucia steps cautiously toward the stairs, looking for tripwire, pressure plates, or any other mundane triggers that may exist. "You know, if I were a powerful devil, and I wanted to build a trap, I would use magic, and my skills will not find those traps. Don't blame me if a gigantic undead tiger teleports in in front on us."

The gap does not seem to have any hidden blades, doors, spikes, etc.

The steps to the SE do appear to lead to a blank wall, yes... but as Lucia gets closer she finds that it's an illusion. Beyond is a deep, deep hole.

"Lucia: that I can help with. Perhaps I should concentrate on looking for magical auras."

Ebon casts Detect Magic, and concentrates on using it.

Asherick scowls... unable to find the purpose of the gap in the floor. Ashe then steps back from the gap unwilling to do anymore investigations until the party was all together.

He turned and joined the parties investigations at the stair steps at the end of the previous hallway.

"What have you determined?", he asked in general.

"This wall isn't real. Who knows how far down the pit on the far side goes... What have you found over there? Have you examined the lever?"

Lucia looks down toward the bottom of the hole.

Ashe ponders the hole...

"No. I did not examine the lever. I was unwilling to cross the seam int he floor to potentially trigger a trap with the party split up. An illusory wall huh? Hang on..."

Ashe pulls forth a rope from his belt pouch - handy haversack going back to the intersection back away from the illusory wall to the entrance to the maze. He pulls out a hammer from the same belt pouch and hammers a iron piton securely into the wall attaching his rope to it. He wraps the rope securely around his waits. Then he pulls up his garishly colored Kapina - Varisian Scarf, up to wrap around his head ...as a blindfold.

Drawing his sword he reaches out until the blade contacts the far south wall... Then he begins to walk forward draging the blade across the wall to follow the solid wall up the steps .. beyond the illusory wall.. and heading right for the pit hole oblivious of where he is until either he passes the illusion or falls in the hole... he is ready to catch himself on his rope or even cast feather fall should he need. But he is trying to not rely on senses that can be fooled.

He comments, "If there is an illusion here.. I want to make sure its the only illusion... I knew the Arkona must have some secret way into the Vivified Labyrinth... that avoids all the traps!"

Ashe walks forward...

"I have found little, I am afraid. You and Lucia seem to be doing the bulk of the work in our partnership."

Asherick chuckles at Ebon's self-criticism as he slowly walks forward keeping his sword touching the south wall as blindly he proceeds through the illusion...

{chuckle}"...No need for self disappointment Ebon Wing... Inquisitors are trained to be consummate investigators... and my affiliation with the Pathfinders... has taught me a few tricks over the years of my membership! You contribute whatever you can and know for a fact we are grateful for whatever you can do, its a team effort... not a contest."

Ashe continues running his sword across the back south wall now up the steps and perilously approaching the hole in the floor.

Ashe walks forwards feeling no resistance to his progress... as the rest of you watch he walks straight into the 'wall' which you all realise isn't actually there.

You see Ashe moving forwards steadily... until there suddenly is no floor beneath his feet! The hole was real, it seems. It seems to take a long time before the rope around his waist snaps taut and you hear a grunt from below as he's winded as his fall is arrested.

The piton appears to be holding.

As soon as Ashe begins to fall.. he casts feather fall... which is an immediate action cast spell [Rules-wise, this means you can cast this spell in response to a situation... even when its not your turn to act and even after you have already acted... like suddenly falling into a hole you did not see], arrests his sudden fall to a gentle descent.

Ashe gently descends until the length of rope he settled on [Which sorry.. I noted I did not say in my post - but 30' feet is reasonable as a 3d6 falling impact damage is not fatal to someone as high a level as Ashe.. but 40 to 60 feet could hurt badly!] 30'ft comes taught around his "waist" [sorry my original post mispelled this].

Ashe frowns pulling his Kepina scarf down to look around. Drawing Dauntless Heart to shed its light {20'ft radius - Torch} and see how far down the hole continues.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Ashe 'thinks' at telepathically to, Majenko still only 40 or so feet above...

And the tiny Dragon turns in flight to dive down the hole to find out how far down it goes... in stealth using his many senses...

Majenko's Stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (3) + 19 = 22
Majenko's Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
- Senses : Blindsense 60’ft, Darkvision 60’ft, Low-light Vision
Majenko's Fly: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Majenko's Flight Speed: 60'ft

Ebon grabs the rope to take the slack from the Piton, then starts to drag the rope up (slowly)
"What have you found?" he asks, as much to hear Ashe survived as to hear the answer

The hole seems to go down forever, Ashe, even with Dauntless Heart's light you can see no bottom. The walls of the hole are rough and do not look as if they were manmade.

Majenko flashes past and soon is out of the circle of light. He reports that it is getting hotter down here. Eventually he reaches the bottom... or at least a place where the sides appear to have collapsed. He reports a large rhomboidal crystal which is too hot for his claws to touch, half-buried in the debris.

OPPS! I completely forgot Megan.. Ashe is wearing a Ring of Feather falling {the same one he used to escape for the battlements of Castle Korvosa during the mock execution}! Can I get my casting of the spell back as a daily use, please? :)

Ashe hears his little draconic friend's telepathic report. Ashe calls up to Ebon and Lucia...

"Majenko has found something... not sure what it is I'm going down to retrieve it. He can't be further away than 60'ft its the range of his telepathy. My rope is 50'ft should have enough."

Ashe sheaths his sword and climbs a little on the rope to take just enough slack off to unloosen the rope around his waist.

Climb: {Whew! Just made it! :)} 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Then he plays out the rest of the rope from his Handy Haversack belt pouch letting the 50'ft length fall into the darkness below.

Ashe releases a tight grip on the rope with his Inheritor's gauntleted hand being the only hand holding the rope and begins to fall... but his Ring of Feather Falling slows his descent to a gentle landing at the bottom. Ashe draws his sword again to provide illumination.

He regards the large rhomboidal crystal and the increasing heat.

Ashe examines the Crystal...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Detect magic still running, is it magical? Detect Evil... is it Evil?
How heavy would Ashe think it might be? More or less than 5 lbs?
Does there appear to be any purpose to it being down here?
Are there any other magics in the area?
What seems to have been the cause of the collapse of the walls of the shaft?
Does the crystal it radiate any light?
Ashe assumes he is well below the water table, is there any moisture on the walls? Or has it been dried up by the heat?
Does Ashe think he could pick up the hot stone in his metal gauntleted hand without being burned?

On Ashe's arrival... Majenko takes advantage of the perch upon his armored shoulder again to regard the curious crystal rather than the effort to flutter around wildly in the tight shaft trying to hover.

You find that the rope is nowhere long enough. Do you want to featherfall down?

Majenko seems to be implying that the rhomboid crystal is absolutely enormous, how much of that is down to the fact that he's pretty small you cannot tell.

Ashe ponders the situation... with annoyance.

'This MUST be important to the Arkona.. why else hide it under an illusory wall?'

Ashe yells up, "I think this is important so I'm going to feather fall down... don't worry I have a means of flying back up!"

Ashe releases hold of the rope to let his ring carry his fall and float him gently down to the bottom of the shaft... hoping he is not making a mistake...

When he gets there ...same questions as above...

Ashe examines the Crystal...

Perception: 1d20 + 7
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5
Detect magic still running, is it magical? Detect Evil... is it Evil?
How heavy would Ashe think it might be? More or less than 5 lbs?
Does there appear to be any purpose to it being down here?
Are there any other magics in the area?
What seems to have been the cause of the collapse of the walls of the shaft?
Does the crystal it radiate any light?
Ashe assumes he is well below the water table, is there any moisture on the walls? Or has it been dried up by the heat?
Does Ashe think he could pick up the hot stone in his metal gauntleted hand without...

Ash floats down, Majenko fluttering around him.

At the base of the shalf the air is so hot it's virtually unbreatheable... and that's without the taint of sulphur. The crystal is HUGE - thicker around than Ashe is tall and embedded in the wall and floor of the shaft. It's too hot to touch.

It is, however, not magical.

Ashe is dumbfounded... the purpose of the 'gem' completely a mystery...

{What in the world is THIS for?!?} he ponders briefly... before it is clear... staying down here will mean a quick assured death!

Grabbing one of his two feather token - floating feather, Ashe invokes its magical power of fly and begins to rise.

Thinking to Majenko, {Come with me my friend.. there is great danger here. THIS is a mystery will will not likely live to solve if we tarry!}

Ashe flies back up the shaft Fly MV 40'ft for the Floating Feather's 10 round duration... [Any left once he exits?]

"Well? Did you find anything of note down there? If not, we should continue moving. I believe the other path ended in a room with a lever. Perhaps we should try that."

Lucia leads the way to the room with the lever, poking at the gap in the floor with her blade.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

If she doesn't find anything indicating a trap, she steps over cautiously to examine the lever.

Ashe shakes his head, "Perplexing. There was a huge gemstone of some sort Bigger than the shaft is wide! It radiated a harmful amount of heat... like being in a forge... so hot it was making the air unbreatheable~ I could not stay down there long! But it radiated no magic as far as my spell could register."

The young paladin shrugs, "I've never seen anything of its like... and I have no idea of it purpose or power source if it is not magic. Perhaps is is an artifact similar to the Numarian technological devices from the 'Silver Mount'? But.. it does not conceal our quarry as far as I could tell so... for now, it is a distraction. Yes, let's keep moving... back to the maze entrance."

Ashe follows Lucia ... even into the room with the lever. He watches as the does the same kind of search he did before but says nothing.

He comments, "...we may have but no choice but to play the Arkona game their way, for now, if we are to have any progress. The lever seems to be the only direction to go from here... if you don't mind... Lady Selito.. I would prefer it if it were me to pull the lever."

"Possibly a crystal from the Plane of Fire itself? Such a thing might be useful for its mundane heat - or a trophy from an extraplanar conquest. Do these Rahsasha have a resistance to heat? In that case they might use it as a vault, of sorts."
"Either way, it sounds as if it has nothing to do with why we are here."

So, where now?

Ashe, your floating feather has but 2 rounds left by the time your feet are once more on solid ground.

As posted above we gather at the room where the level is and position ourselves. If no one objects Ashe pulls the lever. shield on his arm ready for ... whatever happens. Majenko is with Ebon.. hopefully positioned out of harm's way with our spellcaster.

Are you all in area E3 when Ashe pulls the lever?

Yes. Or at least, Lucia is.

Yes - and Nosoi

OK. Ashe pulls the lever. Everything seems to spin dizzily for a moment... and then you find that instead of looking back at the area with the statues, you are looking at a completely different scene.

You are facing a 10x15 foot room, one door on your right and one on the wall in front at the left end. (I'll upload a picture when I get a moment at home, cannot do it from work.)

There's something scribbled on the floor...

Ebon - a Lawyer by training - fixates on the scribblings on the floor. He's aware of the danger of Symbols... but decades of practice have him reading the runes simultaneously with seeing them.

[OOC: Sorry for the delay in my posting... have had some computer issues and been busy.]

Ashe feeling the spell of 'dizziness' turns and draws his sword expecting some sudden attack as the trap is triggered...

But finding that only the room changed... scans around his detect magic still running...

Was there some magical effect that teleported us to a different room?
Is the inscription on the floor magical?

"Wait Ebon! Let's be cautious!"

Ashe pulls out his Wayfinder triggering the compass...

Have we changed in orientation, as facing the lever Ashe should still be facing west?

The scribble on the floor detects as magical, yes.

The Wayfinder thinks Ashe is facing south (if he is still facing towards the lever, that is).

Ashe cocks his head...

"Either we we we're just teleported... or.. I think the room shifted... turned maybe. I'm facing a new direction though I've not physically moved."

Ashe notes the magical script on the floor and studies the arcane energies trying to determine is school of magic...

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

[OOC: Can we get a map of the new room?

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25detect magic
Ebon called up his arcane senses in an attempt to learn more of the glyphs without risking reading it. Something harder than he would have thought.

"Should I pull the lever again? Maybe it'll take us to different places in this labyrinth." Lucia, without any knowledge of spellcraft, doesn't attempt to learn about the glyph.

Ashe looks to Lucia, "That's not a bad idea 'Lady' Selito... but.. let's first thoroughly search this section first! Remember.. there may be other captives here in the Labyrinth that need rescue as well!"

That's a reminder ... we have another player who has been EXTREMELY patient awaiting our finding him.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ....

"Let's do this quickly then" Ebon confirms, stepping away from the glyph.

Ashe nods, "Very well."

He leans his Longsword against the wall and reaches into his Handy Haversack - Belt Pouch... and pulls forth a small pouch of blue chalk dust.

Then Ashe casts a Mage Hand spell...

Arcane Failure: {35%} 1d100 ⇒ 31

.. but the spell fizzles, he did not get the gestures quite right in his gauntleted hands to his dismay. So he casts it again...

Arcane Failure: {35%} 1d100 ⇒ 64

This time successfully getting the hand gestures properly with a little more concentrated effort.

Using the mage hand spell Ashe lifts the small bag of blue chalk dust to levitate it over the magical inscription on the floor to sprinkle the contents over the symbol until it is completely obscured.

Putting the now empty bag back in his pouch Ashe picked up his sword and proceeded into the room... leaving the lever Ashe heads for one of the doors the one on the wall in front at the left end.

At the door Ashe detects for evil through the door... first.
{Remember: spells or enchantment cast by evil beings can also radite evil...}

"Lady Selito will you check for traps on this door before I open it?"

Lucia steps up to the door, looking for trigger devices, hidden blades, or vents for acid or gas, all types of traps she's encountered before.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

Ebon Wings, the scribblings seem to be a glyph of some kind, without actually reading it you cannot be certain what it is but likely something unpleasant, pain perhaps? Just as well Ashe has now dumped chalk all over it (nice move!).

Ashe, there's faint evil through the door... very faint.

Lucia, no traps and the door is unlocked.

Three large wooden chests, their lids decorated with carvings of cavorting tigers, sit against one wall of this room. Some sort of message seems to be carved on each lid. The wall opposite the chests is carved to depict hundreds of tigers marching in widening circles around a single green gem the size of a fist, set in the wall and itself carved to resemble a tiger's head.

It's not a big room, 10 ft wide and 15 ft long, and there are no other exits.

Ashe surveys the room... "There is faint evil here... possibly faint evil from someone evil casting a spell some time ago."

He ponders the green fist sized-gem in the opposite wall, "Aha..! I may be off on this but that might be another of those Bloodstones for scrying that were everywhere up stairs. Odd that it is green... when those were clearly red."

Ashe casts detect magic to survey the room for any magic... especially the possible bloodstone on the wall.

Arcane Failure: 1d100 ⇒ 72

"There are no exits from this room... so whatever is in this room.. is NOT our goal {neither Master Orsini nor Neolandis}... which says to me there are nought but traps in here... likely."

The spell is indeed properly cast and Ashe scans the room alternating between detecting evil and magic to pinpoint either source...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Mentally Ashe asks Majenko to scan for any invisible targets that might be in the room as well.

The Tiny amethyst-scaled dragon swoops down to land on his shoulder perch to peer into the room tongue flashing as he scents the room...

Majenko's Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
- Senses : Blindsense 60’ft, Darkvision 60’ft, Low-light Vision

The gem in the wall is indeed a third eye bloodstone. As for why it's green... well, nobody knows. You do not, anyway!

Majenko thinks there's something alive in the middle chest.

Ashe mentally thanks his tiny friend for his insight.

"Everyone step back to the doorway, and be ready..."

He moves back to the doorway {I don't think I ever stated he entered the room but just to make sure}, and casts mage hand again...

Arcane Failure: 1d100 ⇒ 95

...the spell cast successfully... he picks up his sword, leaned against the door-frame, and readies his shield, while concentrating on the spell stretching out his will to lift the center chest's lid.

The mage hand opens the chest (which wasn't locked). Hissing like a tea-kettle a crimson snake rears up, spreading a cobra-like hood, and looking around for something to bite!

Ashe gets a sour look on his face... "Yeah.. nothing but traps."

Leaning his sword against the door frame again and letting his shield fall on it's shoulder strap... Ashe pulls his Royal Glaive-Guisarme.

Stepping up using the pole-arm's reach he strikes the snake dead out of its reach to strike back... likely with a venomous bite.

Standard Action: Attack With Glaive-Guisarme 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Damage: Glaive-Guisarme 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Ebon ponders the green bloodstone. Given the secrecy of the room, the lack of bloodstones leading up to it, and the defences... could it be the means by which the bloodstones could be seen through?
When the snake appears he spins, activating his Deathwatch Eyes.
Don't think this actually takes an action, so he'll hold while he processes the information