As the pathfinder approach the water, the smell of kerosene becomes more pungent and with good reason: a layer of oil covers the upper layer of the water.
That said, Aiden and Djorn are fairly certain there is no trap set on the first pillar's top.
We harbor no Robs here, Pirate or not. Wrong coast! Instead, we harbor strange figures from beyond the edge of reality who are challenged by keyboards and typing.
Male Human Bounty Hunter Slayer 5 / Rake URogue 2 (HP: 63/63 | AC: 17/12/16 | F+7 R+9 W+5| Init +1 | Percep +10 SM +10) Speed: 40
"Gotta be a trap, right? We wade in or try to cross the steps and something ignites it, setting us on fire." He nods at Waki. "We set it on fire and let it burn out. Might take a while, but no hurry."
He pulls out his flint and steel to light a torch, then holds the lit torch just over the water.
Aiden's plan seems to not work at first, but as he turns to gauge the other's expressions there is a sudden whoosh of hot air and the upper layer of oil does catch fire.
What this means in practical terms is that if you do happen to fall or dive into the water here, and something happens to still catch you on fire, there is only a 10% chance of it actually happening. While you burn away the oil, there still is some oil that has dissolved into the water (and technically some water that dissolved into the oil but that's neither here nor there). That small amount of oil could, when deposited on the surface of your clothing, potentially catch fire. Perhaps. Unlikely. Hence the 10% chance of it firing off anyway. Point is, you are still better off trying to avoid diving into the water.
Passing through from pillar to pillar will be a total of eight DC 12 acrobatics checks, unless you want to avoid the pillars entirely and only jump on the collapsed portion, in which case I will need a DC 10, a DC 15 and a DC 20 Acrobatics check, in that order. If you pillar jump, you do not need to worry about travel on the collapsed parts. You may take 10 but not 20.
When you make it to the other side...:
Emerging from your latest hop, you come to behold a short hallway with a wide staircase to the west leading to a room illuminated by the warm glow of a small, fuel-less forge next to an eight-foot tall statue. The statue depicts a handsome, winged humanoid, though one side of his body is notably angelic and the other half fiendish. Skeletal remains in a red uniform lie in the middle of the room. Another, smaller staircase leads north to parts unknown.
Esh claps the action. "Wow, very fiery, much woof!"
After some instants, he clears his throat and gestures towards the pillars. "Well, let's proceed. I'd say. Judging by the surface, I'll have no problem to pillar-jump myself. But how about that exercise for you all?" he says, visibly worried.
Male Human Bounty Hunter Slayer 5 / Rake URogue 2 (HP: 63/63 | AC: 17/12/16 | F+7 R+9 W+5| Init +1 | Percep +10 SM +10) Speed: 40
"I doubt it'll kill anyone to fall into the water, but we can run a rope across as a hand hold for whoever needs it." Aiden takes his time stepping from pillar to pillar, carrying a rope across.
Acrobatics (take 10):10 + 7 = 17
"Another statue over here. Esh, you might like this one. ...And another corpse too." He moves to search the corpse.
Male Human M Human Ranger(Guide, Skirmisher)7/Fighter 1/Rogue 1 [HP 82/82, AC 21/27 /ff 16/22 /t 15, Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +2, Init +5, Per +12, Spd 30'
Djorn carefully but nimbly jumps from column to column to cross the recently burning pool.
F Half-Orc Spiritualist 3 | HP 15/24 | AC 12 | T 10 | FF 12 | CMD 12 | Fort +8 | Ref +4 | Will +11 | Init +2 | Perception +5 (Darkvision 60 ft.) | Sense Motive +11 | Spells: Level 1: 0/5 | Bonded Senses: 3/3 | Reroll 0/1 | Active Spells:None Yet
"Alright, Qiang. Please help me out." Nuo concentrates on Qiang and absorbs the spirit into her consciousness and begins to hop across. Absorbing Qiang happens to give Nuo Skill Focus (Acrobatics)
Acrobatics (Take 10):10 + 3 = 13
"If you don't mind, I'd like to summon Qiang again." Nuo begins her mental ritual. Takes 1 minute.
Nectanebo has no trouble determining that the statue is that of Belial , lord of desire and adultery. The ruler of the molten layer of Hell’s fourth circle, Phlegethon, his followers considered goats sacred.
Approaching the corpse, Aiden gaze is first taken by the rather obvious hole that runs through the remains, having punched through the ribcage. Then it is drawn to the gold goat-headed amulet, clutched tightly in the remain's hands.
Heal DC 15:
Whatever it was that killed this ancient corpse, it was extremely hot.
Detect Magic - 18 seconds later:
That amulet has traces of abjuration magic, but in an unformed aura - it is definitely not a magical item per se, but has some magic to it. Perhaps long dormant. The forge harbors some magic as well.
As Esh moves up to get a better look at the forge, the rod in his possession begins to vibrate.
Male Human Bounty Hunter Slayer 5 / Rake URogue 2 (HP: 63/63 | AC: 17/12/16 | F+7 R+9 W+5| Init +1 | Percep +10 SM +10) Speed: 40
Aiden frees the amulet from the corpse's hands. "Another relic. I'm a bit concerned about what killed these fellows. The fire, I get. He could have triggered that oil back there. But what knocked a hole through him?"
He holds out the amulet for anyone to check if it's magical.
On the notice about magical auras, Esh focuses his mind on the object before declaring: "Oh! That is not a magical item but some magic seem to... cling to it."
He turns his gaze and looks at the room.
"And that's the same for the forge. Perhaps long dormant magic. One thing is sure: it's abjuration."
Walking into the room, he feels an unusual shake.
"What the maelstrom? Have you seen this? The rod seems to react to the place..." he almost shouts.
Stepping closer to the forge, the rod begins to visibly shake. Looking about there are a number of tools, untouched since the complex was abandoned by the living. Perhaps one could mend the artifact. Perhaps.
You may attempt a Spellcraft or another appropriate Craft (Something) check to try and repair the rod. Only one attempt though. Figure out how you want to do this, I'll proceed on to the next room in the interest of not stalling you all over this.
As you ascend the steps of the narrow staircase, you come into a larger corridor where you spot the mirror to the stairs you've just ascended; however, with the amount of rubble they are buried under, it seems unlikely anyone will ever come through that way. To your right, a painting depicts four figures guided along a path by a rat, a goat, a raven, and a hound. A rounded tunnel extends to the west, and glowing runes on the floor divide the floor into four areas. Stairs at the far end of the hall descend into what appears to be a larger room, and a decrepit corpse wearing a silver amulet is splayed precariously across the upper steps. Within, you spot a couple statues displaying serpent motifs.
|AC 20, T 13, FF 17|HP: 39/39*|F +6*, R +4, W +5 (+2 vs Necr/curses/TNLs, +1 vs fear/conf)|Init +2, Perc +8|CMB +6 CMD 18|Deadspeaker 3/3, Ghostly Horde 1/1, Focus: ?? Gloaming, ?? Azrael, ?? Guidingstar, ?? Perun
GM Upaynao wrote:
Stepping closer to the forge, the rod begins to visibly shake. Looking about there are a number of tools, untouched since the complex was abandoned by the living. Perhaps one could mend the artifact. Perhaps.
Nectanebo throws up his face and hands upward, then downward.
"I don't know Who, or What, is trying to tell me something, but I've got the message," He declares mockingly before taking out his own fine tools....
Craft (Jeweler):1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16>>>:( I've got a folio reroll if it comes to that, but I'd prefer it if someone else had some sort of ability to grant rerolls.
Male Human Bounty Hunter Slayer 5 / Rake URogue 2 (HP: 63/63 | AC: 17/12/16 | F+7 R+9 W+5| Init +1 | Percep +10 SM +10) Speed: 40
While Nectanebo fiddles with the forge, Aiden steps into the next area. He looks at the runes on the floor. "Ok, I'm almost certain this is a trap. Maybe someone can come see if they can recognize what these things do. It killed someone."
He turns and spots the painting. Recognizing some of the animals represented, he pulls out the raven headed dagger and the goat amulet from earlier. "Hmm..." He searches the painting for any further clues.
Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Is there any indication which runes might correspond to which animal?
Did we find a dog item?
Edit: Found it, it was the ring. Does the rod have any animal inscription on it?
Male Human M Human Ranger(Guide, Skirmisher)7/Fighter 1/Rogue 1 [HP 82/82, AC 21/27 /ff 16/22 /t 15, Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +2, Init +5, Per +12, Spd 30'
"I don't know about traps, or magic," Djorn says as he looks at the runes warily, as well.
"I catch your drift there, though. I wonder if they might ave done 2 amulets?"
He looks carefully at the amulet the corpse is wearing trying to see if there is any sort of engraving on it, specifically a rat.
Nectanebo believes to have restored a modicum of functionality to the rod; however, given the limits of his knowledge and the rudimentary nature of the possible repairs, he believes that calling on the rod's power may expend its magic forever.
Djorn, looking over from where he stands, can determine that the silver amulet the man is carrying has the face of a rat embossed in the medallion. However, the dead man does lie beyond several marking on the ground.
The rod does not have any animal inscription upon it.
Looking around, Aiden does spot markings that should identify what object is linked to each partition. However, making sense of the marking will require some knowledge of the planes.
Knowledge (Planes) DC 15:
The correct order is raven, hound, rat, and finally goat.
|AC 20, T 13, FF 17|HP: 39/39*|F +6*, R +4, W +5 (+2 vs Necr/curses/TNLs, +1 vs fear/conf)|Init +2, Perc +8|CMB +6 CMD 18|Deadspeaker 3/3, Ghostly Horde 1/1, Focus: ?? Gloaming, ?? Azrael, ?? Guidingstar, ?? Perun
GM Upaynao wrote:
Nectanebo believes to have restored a modicum of functionality to the rod; however, given the limits of his knowledge and the rudimentary nature of the possible repairs, he believes that calling on the rod's power may expend its magic forever.
Apart from the very visible sets of runes in the ground, there is nothing else of note on the man. Except perhaps for the slight smell of death that still lingers.
Male Human M Human Ranger(Guide, Skirmisher)7/Fighter 1/Rogue 1 [HP 82/82, AC 21/27 /ff 16/22 /t 15, Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +2, Init +5, Per +12, Spd 30'
"And there's the rat," Djorn says, pointing out the amulet. "But how are we going to get to it? Maybe if we use the other objects with their correct symbols, we can deactivate the traps along the way? Then again, maybe we can lasso the body?"
He pulls out his rope from his pack and starts tying the appropriate knot to make a lasso.
If you wish to lasso the dead man's body, you will need to hit an AC of 5. I'm going to venture that this is a "weapon" you aren't proficient with though, so there is the non-proficient penalty to take into account.
Male Human Bounty Hunter Slayer 5 / Rake URogue 2 (HP: 63/63 | AC: 17/12/16 | F+7 R+9 W+5| Init +1 | Percep +10 SM +10) Speed: 40
Aiden chuckles as Djorn ties the lasso knot. "Give it here, wilderness warrior. For better or worse, this isn't my first time roping a body. It's a little bigger than a halfing, but not nearly as squirmy."
He takes the lasso and tries to hook the body.
Aiden is a Bounty Hunter Slayer and is proficient in lassos.
Male Human M Human Ranger(Guide, Skirmisher)7/Fighter 1/Rogue 1 [HP 82/82, AC 21/27 /ff 16/22 /t 15, Fort +9, Ref +12, Will +2, Init +5, Per +12, Spd 30'
Aiden Richter wrote:
Aiden chuckles as Djorn ties the lasso knot. "Give it here, wilderness warrior. For better or worse, this isn't my first time roping a body. It's a little bigger than a halfing, but not nearly as squirmy."
"Are you sure? It sort of seems like it was your first time. Maybe with a little practice you will be better. Why don't you try again?" Djorn comments. Unfortunately, it is much harder to hide a smile when you don't have a beak.
Unfortunately, Aiden's first lasso throw somehow managed to knock the body with such force that it starts to slide down the stairs, out of sight of the pathfinders.
Male Human Bounty Hunter Slayer 5 / Rake URogue 2 (HP: 63/63 | AC: 17/12/16 | F+7 R+9 W+5| Init +1 | Percep +10 SM +10) Speed: 40
"Uh..." Aiden watches Waki try to leap over the runes and he's tying the raven dagger to his longsword. He touches the dagger to the first set of runes to see if there's any reaction.
lmao... the dice hates us!
Also: I don't think I'd be using my quibble since the result was already revealed...
Esh watches the scene with a mix of amusement and sadness.
"Well, you are quite skilled in the noble art of jumps, Waki. However, we still to pass through ourselves." he says.
If nothing happens when Aiden pokes the rune with his dagger, the ganzi walks boldly on the first rune after saying "Tell the society I died for more tales to be told! And also my wives that I love them!"
Waki looks around the the new room while calling back
"Master Esh, Jumping to the other side , my hope to disrupt any attacks while the runes investigate or bypass you do ."
The first set of runes seem to pulse, slowly, as Aiden passes the dagger across the line as they dim incrementally. But not before Waki gets across to the other side of the runes.
Waki's first will save:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 Waki's second will save:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 Waki's third will save:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 Waki's fourth will save:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
The bird-man lands without a scratch; however, upon landing, he feels compelled to approach a floor tile upon which glowing arcane script is inscribed, shining through the mist that hangs within this chamber, a thin unsubstantial fog that seems to drag upon the floor. As he steps forth, he observes that the only other staircase here is obstructed by rubble from another age. Several statues with serpent motifs stand in the area. To the north, a large, green stained-glass window looms behind a twisted statue of three serpentine men conjoined at the hip. Vines snake across the floor from a central pool filled with luminescent green liquid.
Waki, give me a DC 16 will save. Everyone else; you may take actions, but nothing radical - such as powering through the remaining wards. This needs to get resolved first.
