[PFS] 5-23 Cairn of Shadows by GM Upaynao (Inactive)

Game Master Upaynao

Is there anything visible on the ceiling above the man, or does it go up past our light sources (like if it's one of the 200 foot high sections)? If so, I'd suggest someone put light on an arrow and send it up, or something. Just to make sure we aren't leaving a terrifying ceiling Zon-Kuthon behind us. ;)

Eglantine also follows Xichi's gaze, but she squints up into the shadows and can see nothing. "...anyone got a light spell?" she says, shifting uncomfortably as Telendrak still unnerves her.

"Ye-es... let's... leave him for now. Healing's a mercy. His mind's probably more gone than his body, but for now, if we can ease his pain at all... but let's keep moving after that. I can't stay this size forever!"

(I'll detect magic on the throne/Telendrak/etc, just in case there's anything there that can be analyzed, if so:)

Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 1 +18 Kn Arcana, +15 spellcraft.... though yay, a nat 1.

"Let's try for those stairs.... Ugh, this place needs a cleansing!"

"What did you find down that side area?"

“Not much as I recall. But we didn't go right to the top. Skug and I are going to look now.”

Eadie waits for the others to catch up, so the party is not too spread out (like we are on the map) before scaling the steps to the top to see what she can see.

Take 10 Perception for traps & threats: 10 + 15 = 25

Flying and surrounded by his multiple images, Insidion agrees to investigate.

"Let me see what's up there," he snarls.

I'll fly up 80' (double move) and look around.

Eglantine inspects Telandrak as Oleander heals his wounds. There is a look of disbelief on the man's face, tinged perhaps with a little fear. However, there is no magic to be detected upon him.

So there are section of the ceiling right above Telendrak that are way beyond what those people with 60 ft of darkvision can see. I'll mark them up on the map.

Suddenly, as Insidion begins flying upward, the chains tremble then shoot out, seemingly intent on wrapping up the offending flyer!

I'm going to need a DC 30 Fly check from you Insidion, lest you be stuck! Anyone flying must make a DC 30 Fly check at the end of their turn or be trapped, which will require an Escape Artist or Strength check to get out of. Also I'm aware that a number of you have adamantine-based "solutions". If someone with an adamantine weapon spends a full round chopping up chains, they will free themselves enough that they can fly again for one round.

Eadie should I hold off on telling you what's in that corridor I just uncovered?

Yes please, GM.

Eadie tries freeing Insidion with her adamantine ‘bolt-cutters’.

“Guys, I think we have dodged a most unpleasant trap here.”

“If you’re curious about Telendrak Khan’s torturer, I suspect he will tell us all about it once we have liberated him and taken him out of the Cairn when we leave.”

She kicks the chain at her feet. “I’m not keen to get tangled up in these things – possibly for a very long time. I think we should try a different way now. Perhaps via the staircase EG found?”

Insidion is fifty feet up in the air. Can you fly up there?

I can, if need be. But I'll more likely chop my own leg off than cut any chains with that giant thing.

If it helps, I have boots that you can use.

Can I try the 'chop chains - the chains lower', 'chop chains - the chains lower' etc trick until he's on the ground?

Otherwise, if I could borrow Xichikitte's winged boots, that would be great! Thanks, X.

"It is the Duty and responsibility of the Silver Crusade to heal all. Especially those plagued by demons." notes Oleander as she does what she can the ease the mans pain.

Both of those have their own set of issues. The minute you start flying, the chains will go after you. If you steadily start chopping at the chains, you will forfeit those minutes per level buffs that have been up.

If Oleander wants, she can remove Telendrak from his chains. There's no check.

OK, but Insidion's 50' up you said? Eadie's not quite 5.5' tall.

So if she full-attacked the chains at AC 10, allowing a 5% chance for rolling a 1, she'd have him out in (on average):

50' up/(5' swipe * 2 attacks per round)*1.05 * 6 sec/round = 31.5 seconds + chain lowering time

I say let's go with that.

Oleander does release the man from his chains.

A look crosses the elfs face, a combination of disgust, loathing and helplessness. Finally she starts to untie the chains that bind the man to his horrible fate.

"I would hear more of the creature that did this to you."

Takahiro looks about to see if releasing the man has summoned fell creatures or triggered a trap...

Throwing glances up ever so often, able to make out Insidion wrestling in the chains but nothing in the blackness beyond him, E.G. grimaces to herself. "Nobody has a light cantrip, eh... oh well, I can't throw stones, I never bothered learning those spells myself!"

She considers the flask in her belt pouch that contains bottled daylight-- this not being able to see what lurks in the deepest shadows makes her uncomfortable. Nodding to herself smartly, she gets it out and then snatches one of the ioun stones that orbits her head-- the tiny mossy disk that features a crack down the middle. Turning away from Telendrak under some notion that the poor wretch has likely been in shadows for ages, Eglantine carefully pours the oil over the ioun stone, and the chamber gets much, much brighter.

(I'm going to use my oil of daylight on my cracked mossy disk ioun stone: what sort of visibility does that give us of whatever is above Insidion?)

"If those chains don't want us going up there, then I want to know what's beyond them," the quarterling says. She spares a glance here and there at Oleander's ministrations.

"--you're doing a good thing. If I knew anything of healing I'd help you."

Insidion looks like a caged animal as the chains start to grab him. He tries to take evasive action.

fly: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Any chance they grab one of my mirror images, or they latch right on?

Alright! So lets see. First off Eglantine, while you are welcome to use that oil, the ceiling in that portion is fifty feet up. Now if you cannot see that far, you can either rely on your companions with darkvision to confirm that (like Insidion who is in a prime position to see that for himself), or use your oil of daylight and confirm it for yourself. Insidion, you roll is not enough to avoid getting snagged. you may attempt an Escape Artist Check or a Strength check to burst out on your own. Your mirror images don't make you harder to grab by an environmental thing like a bunch of angry semi-sentient chains (yes, I am aware of how silly that sounds lol). You have to picture that it isn't one chain that is trying to go after you. It is a whole bunch of chains. As in every one that is near you. I would give it to you if we were talking about one chain, behaving like an opponent.

Eadie, the chains lowering is the rate limiting step in this Cirque du Soleil of sado-masochism. It'll take about six second for the chains to push down a foot. So it'll take about three to four minutes to bring him down, although if you want to math it out along with your sundering blows, go ahead; I don't really have the mind for it right now but I'll use that result!

Oleander slowly lifts Telendrak off the hooks that have held him a prisoner for so long. Gratitude wrestles with Fear, as he looks up at the ceiling blindly. "It is the Master of all within. The Master of Chains. The Lord above. His will is made manifest throughout. Telendrak has seen it. I have seen it. It's power. It's obedience to the mysteries of old. It is old beyond reckoning. It has shed it's weakness. It's blades are filled with the grace of our Lord. ALL HAIL THE PRODIGAL SON, THE WANDERER IN THE DARK! PRINCE OF MIDNIGHT! WE CALL OUT TO THEE!"

"Your prince has abandoned you, just as he has this realm. Seek for lighter gods Telendrak." suggests Oleander, finding the insane man somewhat worrying.

Eadie, the chains lowering is the rate limiting step in this Cirque du Soleil of sado-masochism ... So it'll take about three to four minutes to bring him ... I'll use that result!

FWIW, I'm OK with that :)

Eadie drops her backpack and keeps slashing chains in order to liberate Insidion.

She keeps an eye skinned for trouble - particularly in Oleander's direction and in the raised ceiling 'dome'.

Take 10 Perception: 10 + 15 = 25

Takahiro tries to avoid being distracted worrying that either meddling with this fellow or being stuck in the chains has likely drawn some attention from dark entities...

As Insidion slowly returns back down to the ground, Takahiro and Oleander keep a watchful eye on their surroundings. Their charge has made quite some noise.

"Oh how I would if we could but it has said "let there be no others but our Midnight Lord! This it told us when I became Telendrak." whispers in barely audible tones the Nidalese warrior, with a panicked look towards the ceiling, as if voicing these words was to invite retribution.

But only a faint otherworldly breeze answers the unspoken question the Pathfinders have.

Not sure if I still needed that Str check to break free...but looks like I'm back down.

str check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Insidion thanks Eadie for her assistance in helping him break free with a grunt of acknowledgment.

"We're not getting up there. The CHAINS OF HELL block the way. Maybe we should look around elsewhere," he suggests.

"Tell me Telendrak... who were you before? And what does it mean to be Telendrak?" inquires Oleander.

Wolfie still has his hackles up. He doesn't like this wounded man one bit.

Telendrak looks at Oleander with a blank look. "I... I do not know anymore... Gods... It's gone... Oh merciful gods... It's all gone... It has taken it from me..."

Since there's been a lot of interaction with him, I'm going to allow for the Knowledge:History check. And for good measure, everyone with a rank can roll, I'll take the highest and apply the rest as assists if they beat 10.

Can't hit that :p

Knowledge History: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Enough talk! Let us move on! Xichi don't know much about history.

Takahiro, you don't have to hit 25 by yourself. A lucky roll from anyone and a couple assists will do it. Not that I'm helping. :-p

GM: I'll save the oil then, thanks. I was under the impression it was continuing up past Insidion, but if not, I'll hold onto it.

Takahiro: we should still roll it, because we count as aids if you have ranks in it, per the GM :)

Eglantine glances between Insidion and Eadie-- Eadie seems to have things in hand-- and the tortured man Oleander is ministering to, her brow furrowed in thought.

Kn history: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Know Hist - 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Untrained and have already used my faction pin. I'm no help here, sorry.

Eadie nods and smiles in acknowledgement of Insidion’s thanks.

"I... I do not know anymore... Gods... It's gone... Oh merciful gods... It's all gone... It has taken it from me..."

“The outcome of finding that relic the Society wants just got a little more interesting.”

While the others discuss history, Eadie searches for secret doors (and traps) in Telendrak’s ‘throne room’.

Take 10 Perception: 10 + 15 = 25

Two more assists! Come on folks, I'm dying here! :D

Eglantine, Insidion flew up to about 30 feet before the chains decided to stop his efforts. So yes, things continue up, but Insidion can see the remaining twenty feet between him and the ceiling. And I'll assume he doesn't want you to use an oil for something he already sees. Now, if you were talking about the area immediately above Telendrak's throne, then I could see a reason to do what you are trying to do.

As Telendrak babbles on, Eadie takes stock of the room and looks about. Apart from the recessed ceiling above Telendrak's throne, there is nothing here.

history: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 <-trained.
Oleander ponders what she knows of the history of the area.

history untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 2 Boo.

Insidion doesn't know who the guy is and doesn't really care.

"There were other rooms here. Let's explore them," he suggests sourly.

#Disappointed. Anyway. Where to next Pathfinders?

"You are now free." says the elf to the shattered man.

"We can take you outside if you like. I would suggest not waiting here though."

"That side corridor then" Takahiro strides off to explore the place further.

“Hey! Me first, Takahiro.”

Eadie tears up to the top of the staircase. “Wow, Skug. You’re right where I left you!”

Take 10 Perception: 10 + 15 = 25

Eadie should I hold off on telling you what's in that corridor I just uncovered?

I think it’s time to revisit what’s in the corridor, GM ;)

E.G. trots along with the others, tossing a worried glance back at Oleander and her new charge.

"I don't know he'll really be able to manage for himself outside... I'm happy to help loan my wand to healing his body, but, uh..." she taps at her forehead. "...I think the wounds go a little deeper."

Skug flashes some tusk at Eadie, "Skug smell fight. Fight this way."

Oleander shrugs. "Outside is safer than in here. It is now his decision."

She will however take the wand to heal him further if he wants it.

Insidion glowers as he follows the others, still hovering above the ground with his fly spell.

Xichi lags to the rear, hoping to stay away of sharp stabby things.

Oleander and Wolfie, after making the poor man comfortable as possible, trail along behind the others.

"This place just gives me the creeps." he mutters. Wolfie growls in agreement.

“Yah.” Eadie nods, slapping a ‘friendly’ chain out of her way with the flat of her blade.

"I am not worried by their alien nature and strange carry on, we shall share with them the light of salvation"

Or the darkness of the grave. Somehow I think they will choose the latter.

Telendrak stands up hesitantly and begins to walk towards the barrow's exit. However, he collapses in the hall leading in and begins to weep. Whether in terror or relief is difficult to tell.

Meanwhile all you agents have moved into the corridor leading to the previously discovered set of stairs, where Skug spent his time eyeing the stairs suspiciously. The are no chains in the narrow hall, a relief for everyone, including Eadie as she passes in front of Skug to take a look at what lays at the top of the stairs. No corpses. Nothing dangling. A door. There is an ancient stone door at the end of the hall.

In the rear, Insidion is surrounded by agitated chains, but by remaining at ground level he manages to keep them from going after him.

Telendrak's sobs echo throughout the halls as Eadie looks on at the door thirty feet away, barely discernible in the darkness.

I did mention this before, but i'll mention it again. All light sources you had walking in here (Ioun torches and traditional lighting) had their effective illumination halved. So that means that you are looking at ten feet of normal light, then ten feet of dim light. Eadie's take ten is pretty good, so I'm giving the end of the hall away. But keep that in mind.

“Hmm … Maybe this setup is designed for us to rush straight for the door into a shadowy trap.”

Eadie continues thinking out loud. “I’m thinking there might be a darkness trap combined with a crack or crevice holding incorporeal undead – like shadows.”

The warrior turns to the spell-casters. “Has anyone got the dancing lights cantrip or light orison? If someone’s got light maybe we could send arrows or severed chains hosting the spell down the corridor to get a better look?”

“Dancing lights would simplify the whole process though.”

Eadie puts a hand on Skug’s arm. “You can wait a little bit longer to kill, Skug? Yes?”

Take 10 Perception: 10 + 15 = 25

The big half-orc smiles for Eadie, "Skug wait. Skug have pay sense."

Oleander turns away from the sobbing man.

Time enough to deal with him when we have finished searching this place.

Then she pauses, realising they were missing something.

"Telendrak... what happened to the group that came before us?"

"Skug have pay sense."

Eadie scrunches up her face beneath her iron mask. Does he mean he can smell gold behind the door..?

Oh, I get it now!

“Oh, I get it now!”

She returns the smile. “Yep. They’re as good as dead, Skug. We’ll just allow them a little more time to not realize it.”