[PFS/DMK/EMS] The Emerald Spire Superdungeon

Game Master Kludde

The group touches the branching root of the spire, and zaps eastward into a cave.

A lake of chill water reaches to the walls of this cave. Glowing green branches of crystal extrude from the southern wall, and a gravelly beach rises near the southernmost crystal. To the east, the crystals grow to reach a pair of stone terraces that lead up from the water to a door, on which an eye-shaped rune shimmers.

"Do we just want to fly or climb over? The only other way I can think of is to go back and try to get over using one of those other branches." Bruce says as he watches the water for movement.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

Thistle taps his finger on the crystalline root first, then points over to the root that seems to extend to the platform. His airwalk spell would just as easily carry him over from where he is at, but it seems logical to just use the method that seems to be provided. He shrugs his shoulders and steps up in the air, crossing the distance to check the space out, and make sure it appears to be safe to transport to.

I'll scout it out by airwalking over to it. People should be able to fly or use the branches... whatever conserves resources makes the most sense.

perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

"Wait!" Caranthir says to Thistle, along with some waving of his arms.

"Let me scry the area first. It may reveal dangers without you risking yourself."

The elf takes several minutes with clairvoyance, examining the area to the south thoroughly.

Take 20 perception for a 42 on P9

Caranthir scan the area on the opposite end of the lake. An eye-shaped rune on the stone door glows with green light, and gives him the sense of being watched back...

"Yep ... I think flying over this is a good idea. Ready when you guys are."

Caranthir casts his fly spell to join the others in getting over the water.

"Can everyone make it across?"

Jelani flushes a bit red. "I uh, actually forgot to buy another potion of fly after I drank mine. I usually keep one on hand, but I'm gonna need some help this time."

"I got you covered big guy ..."

Fellgrim will use Alchemical Allocation to share his Flying Infusion with Jelani ...

Bruce also uses his Alchemical Allocation with a fly potion to get across water and over to the landing.

Caranthir leaps into the air, scanning the way as they cross.

perception: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 31

On the other end of the lake, the door with the watchful eye is unlocked, and leads into a small corridor.

"Bruce, will you do the honor of investigating this door and corridor?" Caranthir asks, though he looks around himself.

perception: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (15) + 31 = 46

Thistle follows closely, ready to spring to his friend's defense if necessary, keeping a wary eye out for danger. As soon as he is able, he sets his feet down on the hard surface, all the better to feel the most subtle of vibrations that he cannot hear with his ears.

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23

Caranthir and Thistle inspect the door, but hear no sound. The doors opens easily.
Immense stone double doors stand in the eastern and western walls of this room, and two single doors are set in the south wall. Three low, stone platforms sit along the north wall, each fitted with a rectangular, green crystal tile.

As Thistle enters the room, he hears a telepathic voice:

Thistle speaks out loud in his awkward voice, but concentrates in his mind, hoping that both his companions will hear him, as well as being able to communicate back with the telepathic speaker.

"You say you have observed us, yet we are ignorant of you. Won't you tell us who you are? We are Pathfinders. Adventurers seeking lost friends and lost relics. And by lost, I mean lost to us, and other adventurers like us."

Jelani follows the others closely. When he hears Thistle speak up he asks, "Who you talkin to, This?" standing where the deaf oracle can see his lips.

Thistle cannot help but grin at the irony of being the only one who can hear the speaker.

He taps his helmed head with a scaled finger a few times to indicate the telepathic speech.

"Not sure, but I suspect it is whoever is the master of this place, and I don't think it will be long before we meet." He raises a scaled eyebrow.

Caranthir looks around carefully, concerned that Thistle is the only one that can hear the voice.

"It reminds me of that lich-mage with the terra cota warriors...hopefully it is something more benevolent."

Jelani frowns at the memory, looking around suspiciously and hefting his hammer just in case.

Thistle's heart sinks at the reminder of the Lich. It was one of his greatest accomplishments, to undo such foul magics. A paragon of life force pitted against his antithesis, and they were able to triumph, though at a great cost. That is to say nothing of how close they all were to death.

In his heart, he hopes that no more such evil lives in this place, but a piece of him is not so sure they will be that fortunate.

Bruce checks all the doors in the corridor for traps. "So which way do we want to go first?" She asks once she is finished.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (16) + 14 + 2 + (1) = 33

Let's open the door to the east where Bruce is standing.

Fellgrim frowns as he listens to his friends reminisce on previous encounters, hopeful that this one would turn out better ...
"Did he answer? Can he help us? Perhaps we should wait for an answer before continuing? We might get a better idea of what to expect."

I am the Vault Keeper, the creature answers. I did not summon you. it states in an emotionless tone, Have you arrived from the surface? What do the creatures above know of the Xiomorn? Do you represent the strongest of the surface dwellers?

Can we all hear it at this point, or still only Thistle?

You can all hear it. Someone is communicating telepathically

Jelani thinks at the voice, "I dunno about the strongest, but we have fought our way down here from the surface. I'm pretty strong, I mean, look at these arms!" He flexes his biceps, smiling. "What's a Ximorn?"

"We represent the strongest of it's organizations, if not in sheer numbers, but in tenacity. Nothing above us that opposed us remains. Tell me, if you had summoned us, what would it be for?" Thistle add's to Jelani's question.

"Xiomorn? Not sure if I have encountered such yet Jelani. Anybody else have any idea of this?"

Fellgrim smiles at how Thistle carefully qualified the answer to the Keepers question about our strength, feeling uneasy with either a specific claim to strength that could be seen as a challenge or a claim to weakness that could be seen as an opportunity. Stating that we have powerful friends was an artful way to dodge the question by claiming both.

"So ... what do you keep in the vault? Is it something others can see?"

Caranthir frowns, confident whatever this voice comes from is not a friendly creature.

"Why don't you come meet us in person," the archer says.

Perfect, you will make an excellent servant, the voice says, are you saying you are unaware of the Xiomorn? The builders and keepers of vaults? You have not noticed the emerald outgrowths on you way down?

"Yeah ... that's where I thought this conversation was headed ... So ... ah ... how may we serve?"

"Tell us about this Xiomorn, that we might know him," Caranthir says.

"Sounds like Xiomorn is a plural thing, guys," Jelani says to the group. "You speak for the Xiomorn?" he thinks at the voice.

"Yes, we have noticed the emerald growths. Are we at it's root? Are you the source of it's growth?" Thistle adds another question to the peppering of questions his companions have thrown at this telepathic creature.

[code]You are indeed at it's root. I am the keeper of this vault. I have summoned many minions to do my bidding[/code] The Xiomorn speaks, and then emerges from a pedestal.

[code]I am the undisputed master of this vault.[/code]

[code]Too many years have I been locked into stasis, but when that wizard above started experimenting, he weakened the bonds that bound me.[/code]
[code] You have heeded my call as well, strongest of the surface dwellers. Will you join me and rule at my side?[/code]

Rule at his side? Thistle wonders to himself, both intrigued and afraid at the power this being might wield.

"What does that mean, to rule by your side? What is it that we would rule? This place? It is nearly empty now, devoid of life save only a few who chose not to oppose us. What is left to rule? What secrets are left to be kept? Why were you bound in the first place?"

Thistle pauses for a moment, wondering how the creature might respond, but mostly just hoping for a response that gives him more clues as to what lay in this 'vault'.

"And what would happen if we said no?" he adds finally.

Caranthir fingers the fletchings of an arrow. Thistle had asked all the questions he had, and something told him this would not end well.

"Man that is a lot of talking. Enough to make you thirsty right?"

Fellgrim drinks another of his alchemical allocation elixirs ...
... things are about to get frosty ...

It looks like the Xiomorn is growing bored. Ah well he says, time to capture you now

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Caranthir
Thistle
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The Vault Keeper
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Fellgrim
Bruce
Jelani
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As Caranthir knew just a moment before it happened, the situation turns.

His arrows are already flying toward the creature, though the first one is off-target. vs. flat-footed

+2 Icy Burst Longbow (rapid shot, deadly aim, manyshot, weapon specialization)(frost + shock dmg): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 192d8 + 24 + 4d6 ⇒ (8, 1) + 24 + (1, 6, 6, 4) = 50
+2 Icy Burst Longbow (rapid shot, deadly aim, weapon specialization)(frost + shock dmg): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 311d8 + 13 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 13 + (4, 4) = 29
+2 Icy Burst Longbow (rapid shot, deadly aim, weapon specialization)(frost + shock dmg): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 241d8 + 13 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 13 + (3, 6) = 29

Cleric Haste!

Thistle shrugs his shoulders as the banter ends and arrows fly. He whispers a prayer, sending bolts of divine energy to each of his companions.

Casting Blessing of Fervor, make sure you pick your bonus.

Caranthir hastily fires his bow, but misses his first shot. The other two hit, as Thistle works his magic.

The Vault Keeper slings a spell at Caranthir, and the elf feels his skin get dryer.

DC 23 Fort save please

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Fellgrim
Bruce
Jelani
Caranthir
Thistle
---
The Vault Keeper (58)
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Round 1 - AC 29: Blessing of Fervor [+2 Atk/AC]; Alchemical Allocation [Heroism];

Fellgrim uses his AA to drink his Heroism potion without consuming it.

Jelani steps past Bruce and enters his bloodrage, swelling to giant size. He swings his hammer like a baseball bat at the strange creature trying to kill them.

Chain Breaker Bloodraging Power Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25Damage: 3d6 + 26 ⇒ (1, 5, 3) + 26 = 35
BoF Bonus: +2 to AC and saves.
AC is 24 this round.

Thistle breaths in slowly through his nose and releases the breath out of his mouth, controlled and calm. His scaled hands move in a small circle, coming to a clasped position at his chest before he moves them out in a wide arc, gesturing to each of his friends. A divine blessing falls over them, and a bright pinprick of light settles on the vault keeper.

Cast prayer - give us a +1 to attack/damage/skills and gives the vault keeper a -1 to same.

fort save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20 I'll take bonus to attack, reflex, and AC. Not going to help me with this failed roll, though. :/

Probably better tell me what happened before I post an action (if I can).

As Fellgrim consumes a potion and Jelani lays into the strange creature, Caranthir develop gray patches on his skin that expand with virulent expedience. He feels his bones stiffen, until he feels no more. What remains is a statue of Caranthir, a monument to himself.

Thistle casts a spell...

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Fellgrim
Bruce
Jelani
Caranthir
Thistle
---
The Vault Keeper (58)
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Oh...great. Best of luck!