[PFS/DMK/EMS] The Emerald Spire Superdungeon

Game Master Kludde

Fellgrim will try to wedge the spike of his gnome hammer into the bottom of the door and use it as a lever to lift the door off it's hinges.

"No no no ... don't you see. This belongs over there! It is the only way to complete its holy purpose."

Despairing over the adventurer's continued defiance, Slaagh moves out of the room...

"We should take up defensive positions," Caranthir suggests. "This appears to be turning hostile quickly."

He nocks an arrow as he prepares for combat.

Caranthir pulls out an arrow, nocks it and feels the god box' tug on the arrowhead.

Only moments later, Slaagh returns with three troglodytes, armed with club. Though armed, they are not threatening. Slash speaks Do not vandalise the provider of grub and water. You have mad your offer and the passage is clear. I must ask you to leave now.

Slaag is clearly tense, and seems to be somewhat unused to this kind of situation.

Slaagh=Slash=Slaag, I presume?

"Meh. We're here for treasure and exploration. We don't really care what you want," Jelani says, moving to defend Fellgrim.

Yes, Slaagh all. Stupid autocorrect.

Are not our door open to you? Did we not offer you food, fine grub, and drink? Your passage below is free. You have offered to the god-box, to the Skraa-orm Thagh! You're not allowed to defile this place, and why would you?

Slaagh is clearly upset, but remains pious.

I almost feel sorry for them.

"We never agreed upon anything Slaagh. We are exploring and this box, or whatever you call it, it isn't divine, it is just an object. We want to study it." Enora says, her curiosity proving too much for her.

Is the open door the one to the next level below? If so, that was a short level :P.

There are 6 slots, and we have walked by or seen 6 doors, but they aren't all in this room. My first guess is the obvious (but possibly wrong) that the doors are removed and placed in the slots, and it turns off the magnet... Totally guessing, but it seems obvious the doors go in the slots.

I have a boon from a previous sheet that lets me have you let us know basically if an action is a good idea or not. It would be kind of cool if there is a way to do this without indiscriminate slaughter, but I am also a completionist at heart ... I'll find it today so I can link it...

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If it's a 'weal' or 'woe' type of questions, it isn't going to help you much with moral choices.

Watching his companions Bruce gets the general idea and starts taking the door in front of him off it's hinges. What kind of metal is this door anyway? Just copper?

Thistle stops messing with the door when he is asked to stop, even though he cannot hear the request, he is able to figure out the gist of what is being asked. He continues to look around the room, and pokes his head out the door, unaware of his companions insistence on removing the door near them.

"Perhaps we should simply comply with their request," Caranthir observes quietly to his companions. "If things turn hostile later on, which I imagine they might, we can return here and investigate this further. At this point, it does not feel right to goad them into hostilities," he adds.

"Good idea ... we still need to investigate the rest of this level; perhaps we will find something else to explain how to interact with the load stone."

As the adventurers take no further action that the draconic creatures see as defiling, the three armed troglodytes stand down, but keep an eye on the adventurers.

There's two general directions in which you can explore: northwest and southeast

Caranthir eyes the creatures suspiciously, but whispers quietly to his companions.

"I'm not sure why these creatures are allowing strangers to wander around exploring their habitations, but it appears we are free to go...for now. Let's try the southeast area, shall we?"

To the southeast, a rectangular room features four holes in the floor, each one foot across, evenly spaced along the northern wall. The air is thick with the stink of troglodytes. Two short passages lead to the dimly lit corridor. These narrow corridors and alcoves are barely illuminated; only a faint green glow emanates from the light-sticks mounted on the walls. Each alcove is filled with untidy debris—troglodyte nests of shredded cloth, storage containers improvised from discarded adventuring gear, and crude weapons. The smell is terrible.

A green glimmer cuts through the darkness, coming from a curving wall of smooth green glass embedded in the hallway, marked with a complex arcane symbol about the size of an outstretched hand.

Moving further, there's a cluttered room. The smell of troglodytes is especially strong here. Various articles—scraps of cloth, strips of leather, and other debris—are neatly sorted and stacked along the chamber’s walls, which are decorated with crude paintings in bright green hues.

An old troglodyte is accompanied by three more, and speaks Slaagh told me you made sacrifice. Good. We welcome such a generous stance. The road down is open to you, shall I guide you the way? The other three troglodytes are wary, and armed, but not hostile.

"Since you are an elder you must know this... What is the godbox to you, how do you see divinity int it and what attracted you to come here?"

"What lies below?" Jelani asks.

See divinity? My child, what heresy is it to proclaim that we merely see divinity in it? The god box serves our every need: delicious grub, fresh water. All we ever need is to meditate under its soft hum, free from any harm.

We rarely thread below, though we know water to be plentiful there. Water, we are in no need of, as it is provided to us.

Probably my last post until the 27th. Enjoy the holidays!

"So you see no reason to leave here or cause harm to anyone else?" Bruce asks the old troglodyte. "What if we did not make an offering?"

If you made no offering, that would be sad, you would not allowed to pass below. There would be no passage for you. Why would we harm you, though, as long as you do not harm us?

I'm back, merry (belated) christmas everybody!

welcome back, and merry Christmas!

The only thing it looks like that might be of interest in this area so far is the arcane symbol... I am assuming that is a know: arcana? I have planes and religion, not arcana. Otherwise, we explore this area the best we can, (take 20 perception where they let us) then we should head up to the upper area. Seems like we should just leave these guys alone if they aren't hostile and will let us pass through. Maybe I'll grab a sack of mundane metal for next time we pass through...

Thistle takes a moment to write on his board, "Do you require payment every time we pass through here?"

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"What should we expect to find after we pass through?" Caranthir asks.

The arcane symbol is quite like the ones the party has seen on different levels of the complex. Each level seems to have its own marking.

The Troglodyte answers to Caranthir We venture not below. There is water there, but water is provided to us by Skraa-orm, so we have no need to go below.

"What happens if the box does not get any tribute? Not just from us, but in general."

"Is there anything else on this level? Perhaps places they don't go?'
Felgrim asks while pointing to the trogs ...

No tribute, from anyone? That would be a dark day indeed, there would be no more grub, and no more clean water, for sure! We'd have to go back to hunting for food...

Our home contains only the the Skraa-orm, and the two tribes of troglodytes that take care of it.

"It sounds like this has happened before? Or perhaps there is fear that Skraa-orm will shut down since tribute is what activated it."

Auto succeed SM check.

Bruce turns to the group. "While I am extremely curious about this device I can not in good conscience disrupt there peaceful life style. I am all for moving on to the next level as we have purchased our passage through."

"I concur," Caranthir agrees. "Who am I to determine that all of their kind must be evil? Let us proceed to the next level."

Just for curiosity's sake, seems like it would be fun to discover more about this thing, hopefully in a way that doesn't disrupt or start a fight with the troglodytes. He said their is two tribes... maybe the other tribe inhabits the north part of the level? I would be curious to see what they say about it...

Edit: Also, how do they get tribute if no one is passing through? How many people go through here?

"Well ... I guess we move on to the next level unless and until we are ready to push things here."

Jelani shrugs. "Up to you guys. Long as I get paid at the end and they aren't keeping any slaves, I don't really care."

"Do you always get along with this other tribe? Or have there been disputes over resources?" Bruce askes the elder troglodyte.

The god box provides plenty of delicious grub and water for us all, there is no need for conflict.

Perhaps if I switch tactics we may get some where. "I get the sense that you are worried about the god box. I have some skill with such devices as well as my friend Fellgrim here. If you allow us to shut it down and inspect it we can make sure it continues to function for much longer."

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 15

I like where you are going with this Bruce! Maybe we can use Bruce's diplomacy as an aid? If we want to go down this path, my check is +11...

Thistle moves up to the troglodyte and puts his hand on his shoulder, weapon sheathed and shield strapped to his back. Writing deliberately, he scrawls some notes, trying to explain the group's intentions.

Rydym yn braenaru, chwilio am y gwirioneddau y bydysawd mewn testunau ac arteffactau, hyd yn oed duw-blychau. Gan fod fy ffrind yn dweud, os byddwch yn caniatáu i ni ymchwilio duw hwn o eiddo, mae'n bosibl y gallwn i gael gwybod sut i gadw'r bwyd a dŵr a gyflenwir am byth, hyd yn oed os nad yw anturiaethwyr yn dod â'r metel eich duw yn gofyn i chi. Yr wyf yn oracl, sianel ar gyfer y duwiau. Yr wyf yn siarad â hwy, ac maent yn rhoi benthyg eu grym mi. Gadewch i ni eich helpu.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

If Bruce can aid (and perhaps others) we would be at least up to 26, could get above 30...

Caranthir nods sagely.

diplomacy aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

"Oh yes ... it is pretty common for such things to require the faithful to do routine care and maintenance to keep them it top condition."

"Indeed that would be a good idea. There might be a limit to the amount of metal the box can attract..."

aid diplo: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

N..n..not work forever? By the provider of food and grub, we must be saved! Have at it, man, have at it!

The religious man gestures wildly, and speaks in draconian, forgetting that Thistle can not hear him. He finally comes to his senses and says: Sure, you can interact with the Skraa-orm, but you must follow certain rules. There shall be no removing of offerings, unless they be harmful. Finally, we cannot allow you to leave unless we are sure that the Skraa-orm is satisfied.

"How do you know it is satisfied? Other then it stops producing food and water."

The blessings of the Skraa-orm are manifold. The grub, the water, the sweet soothing hum. Should the blessings be gone, there would be void. We would know, indeed, we would know.

"Fair enough. Fellgrim you'll need to put aside any metal items if you wish to assist me." Bruce removes his weapons and tools and places them in his handy haversack.

Interesting question, is Mithril magnetic? if it is Bruce will remove his chain shirt and place it in his handy haversack as well.

With his metal items safely stored away Bruce will remove the doors and place them in the slots.

Thistle stands with the troglodyte holy man to help reassure that things are going smoothly. He also walks with the group up to the northern parts as they remove the doors in case a threat materializes as they remove them. His demeanor is calm and reassuring, communicating with simple notes on his board as necessary.

Fellgrim will follow Bruce's lead and remove all weapons, armor and metal tools as well.

The doors are heavy, and will need some teamwork to take out. The troglodytes from the southern clan have been informed, and escort the group to the god box room. There is some clear murmuring and muttering going on as the group starts working on the first door.

I'll need a DC 25 strength check, or a combined strength of 40 to move a door.

Happy new year, everybody!

I can lend 18.

If Jelani is helping then his 18 with Bruce;s 15 and Fellgrim's 9 should be enough.

"Thanks for the help Jelani, but you'll need to take off any metal items before we take the door into the main chamber."