It only takes Theophilus a few seconds to pick the lock. The door opens to a spiral stairway leading downward.
A winding downward staircase empties into the center of a chamber with four circular alcoves. Each of these alcoves glows with a different colored translucent barrier: red, green, blue, and white. With the exception of the alcove behind the white barrier, a variety of items are on display beyond the barriers. Among these curiosities are books, scrolls, figurines, urns, and tapestries. The alcove behind the white barrier, however, is mostly blocked by rubble, as if it had been ransacked in the past. Four gemstones sparkle atop a stone altar along one of the chamber’s walls.
Corona:
There are phrases carved into the floor at the base of each of the fields.
Top Left: wet the sky
Top Right: fan the flame
Bottom Left: spark the earth
Bottom Right: fill in the sea
"If you look at the phrases on the floor, they all have various hints."
"Wet the sky." She points in the upper left tunnel, covered in debris. She then turns clockwise to each different corner in the tunnel.
"Fan the flame."
"Spark the earth."<Oooo, I like that one!>
"Fill in the sea." You can read the spoiler.
"I suggest we put the inspect the gemstones and decide on what elements they correspond to. For example, wet the sky may mean we should put the water gem on the air pedestal."
"Water gem on the Air pedestal."
"Air gem on the Fire pedestal."<No wait, I like that one more!>
Male Human (Varisian) Kineticist (Telekinetic) 4 | HP 39/39 (THP 6/6, NL 4) | Burn 1/7 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F +8, R +8, W +2 | Init +6 | Perc +8
Top left is air, top right is fire, bottom left is earth, bottom right is water. It's where the phrases are carved. Unless Corona's reading the ones all the way across the room when she translates. That'd be tricky.
The garnet contains a small flame. The opal contains a miniature cyclone. The pearl is filled with sloshing water. The diamond has several gray rocks inside of it.
Corona, momentarily driven by her passenger, is drawn over to the chamber previously warded by the barrier of fire and begins to examine the artifacts and texts there. Keelee chooses a room at random--earth--and begins to examine the artifacts therein.
The other three begin to sift through the rubble that was warded behind the cold barrier. After a few moments, Brutus identifies a text under a broken stone that bears the symbol of Ranginori. Flipping through the pages, it is clear that it is written entirely in a language that none of the four in that chamber understand. Theophilus finds a finely made chain shirt in a chest smashed open by fallen rubble, and Thornberry finds a flask of an odd elixir.
Detect Magic:
Both the chain shirt and the contents of the flask radiate magic: enchantment and evocation respectively.
Male Human (Varisian) Kineticist (Telekinetic) 4 | HP 39/39 (THP 6/6, NL 4) | Burn 1/7 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F +8, R +8, W +2 | Init +6 | Perc +8
Anyone know what language it's in at least? We can bring it back to the lodge, but if it's just dirty poetry, I'd as soon sell it to an aficionado instead.
"I do not know the language, but we should hold onto the book. Why did the cavern collapse, and why did the Concordance not repair it? These are mysteries that will require solving."
"The chain shirt is magically enhanced for some minor protection benefits. Kayleee or Brutus should consider wearing it. As for this elixir, it is called an elixir of forceful exhalation. One moment while I try to recall more details..."
During a brief perusal of the book, which is titled The Codex of Fundamental Dominion, Corona is able to determine through her linguistic enchantment that there is another book in the Cobalt Gallery of the Azure Hall, titled the Primordial Key of Ilyralene, which details theories on freeing Ranginori from the Untouchable Opal.
However, before your discovery sets in, a voice shouts from the stairs.
"Pathfinders! Come out! You are wanted for questioning regarding the theft of several of Fairuza Bereket's jewels at the Grand Symposium Gala."
A voice rings out, and Corona shakes her head. "It sounds like Jamilia has framed us to stall for time." She cleans herself up. "I suggest we try this diplomatically- we may be able to get a lead on her this way."
Male Human (Varisian) Kineticist (Telekinetic) 4 | HP 39/39 (THP 6/6, NL 4) | Burn 1/7 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F +8, R +8, W +2 | Init +6 | Perc +8
Theophilus checks to make sure none of his pockets are jingling, Yeah. Besides, if they search us they'll probably just pretend to find something bad anyways. Better talk 'em out of it.
M Gnome Druid (leshy warden/wild whisperer) HP: 15/15 | AC: 19 CMD: 10 | F: 5 R: 2 W: 3 | lowlight vision, Per + 9 SM +2 init +2
Fairuza? She wasn't even wearing gems! Thornberry will shout
Jamila would never use underhanded tactics - well she would - but she would never betray a legitimate authority. She is a good person!
Thornberry hangs back Guys as soon as we get out there, I will drop a cloud on them and force them to come to us - unless theyre all sylphs or something
Female human Swashbuckler 2: HP 20 | AC 17, T 13, FF 14 | F: +1, R: +6, W: -1 | CMD 16 | Perc. +3 | Init. +3
sense motive:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Curious how someone would have know where to find the group, Keelee calls out ”Who are you to make such accusations, What is your authority in this matter?”. Keelee is trying to determine if they are actual investigation authority.
"We serve under the authority of Sultan Zafer the XXXVIII," the suli demands. "We have a warrant for your arrest and questioning. Now, come out with your weapons lowered!"
Keelee:
He appears to fully believe in their position as guards of the Sultan. However, you sense nervousness in his voice when he mentions the warrant for your arrest.
Female human Swashbuckler 2: HP 20 | AC 17, T 13, FF 14 | F: +1, R: +6, W: -1 | CMD 16 | Perc. +3 | Init. +3
Keelee shuggs as she answers Cel ”No plan, I don’t see any other exits from here, So unless we want to stay here? As for the Sultan guards, I don’t believe their clam of having a valid warrant. May be a case of another enchanted individual.”.
Keelee steps out of the cave, with her weapon ready to defend if attacked ”Show me this warrant!”
M Gnome Druid (leshy warden/wild whisperer) HP: 15/15 | AC: 19 CMD: 10 | F: 5 R: 2 W: 3 | lowlight vision, Per + 9 SM +2 init +2
Thornberry will delay until after the rest of the party has had a chance to get into position/take ranged attacks, but then will cast a fleeting obscuring mist spell to force them down off the stairs.
Leshington for his part readies an acorn to throw when one of the suli come down the stiars.
Male Human (Varisian) Kineticist (Telekinetic) 4 | HP 39/39 (THP 6/6, NL 4) | Burn 1/7 | AC 18, T 14, FF 14 | F +8, R +8, W +2 | Init +6 | Perc +8
Theophilus rushes forward to do what he does best, annoy the caster. Rather than a dagger a patched up satchel of miscellaneous goop comes flying out of his overcoat to splatter halfway across the room.
Loosened Strand Extended Range Telekinetic Blast (Tanglefoot Bag vs. Touch):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18Taking 1 burn
"It looks like Keelee's intuition is correct." Corona double moves out of the hallway. "You have chosen the wrong group to arrest. Please reconsider your actions or I'll burn you to a crisp. Heehee!" "Corona" hops up and down.
Spellcraft:1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 2 = 21
"Trying to knock us asleep with magic? Heehee! Somebody hit 'em!"
Female human Swashbuckler 2: HP 20 | AC 17, T 13, FF 14 | F: +1, R: +6, W: -1 | CMD 16 | Perc. +3 | Init. +3
Keelee moves forward to the foot of the stairs.
If the guard on the next level of stairs is within reach Keelee with attack else she readies an action to attack
crunch:
rapier:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 to hit
damage if hits:1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Parry and riposte first attack rapier:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 to parry
If Parry is greater than attack to hit, then follow with Riposte attack Riposte rapier:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 to hit
damage if hits:1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
The (red) suli dodges the bulk of the tanglefoot bag, but curses as the effort and the goop force him to lose his concentration. Brutus advances to the stairs. Keelee rushes to the foot of the stair to attack the descending suli from lower ground but finds the angle difficult to overcome.
Thornberry: Check your map position and, given the party has moved all over the place and you delayed rather than readied, you can change your action.
The entangled (red) suli draws his crossbow and loads it. One (blue) suli hurries down the stairs and draws a sap. Another (yellow) continues to descend, drawing a sap, and then begins to invoke a spell. The suli guard just above Keelee (orange) draws a sap and tries to bean her on the head, but he finds it equally difficult to strike her.
Spellcraft DC 16:
Sleep
Combat! Round 2
Party is Up!
Red Suli (entangled 3/4, crossbow)
Blue Suli (sap in hand)
Yellow Suli (casting prolonged spell, sap in hand)
Orange Suli (sap in hand)
M Gnome Druid (leshy warden/wild whisperer) HP: 15/15 | AC: 19 CMD: 10 | F: 5 R: 2 W: 3 | lowlight vision, Per + 9 SM +2 init +2
Thornberry still moves up and drops the cloud at the top of the stairs to keep the ones who prefer to cast from being able to target us - they need to come down and meet Brutus if they want to cast!
Thornberry then advances some more and draws a scroll of Bulls Strength just in case.
