[PFS/DMK/EMS] The Emerald Spire Superdungeon

Game Master Kludde

Round 1: Buffs: Stoneskin (Adamantine/10); Protection from Evil; Heroism; Ablative Barrier; Blessing of Fervor (+atk); Shield AC32 - HP75 - Bomb +20/+15 4d6+4; Fast Bombs; Point Blank Shot; Precise Bombs; Precise Shot;

Fellgrim will try to lob a few bombs in his general direction ...

Bomb (Range/Touch): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20 for Fire: 4d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4, 5, 2) + 4 = 20 or Splash DC19 Rfx: 8 = 8
Bomb (Range/Touch): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31 for Fire: 4d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 3, 4, 4) + 4 = 20 or Splash DC19 Rfx: 8 = 8
Bomb (Range/Touch): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 for Fire: 4d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4, 5, 5) + 4 = 23 or Splash DC19 Rfx: 8 = 8

Jelani advances around the corner, entering his bloodrage. He tries to smash the vault keeper with his hammer. "I'M NOT A COW!"

Chain Breaker Bloodraging Power Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38Damage: 3d6 + 26 ⇒ (5, 5, 4) + 26 = 40

Caranthir steps up just enough to thread shots through Jelani's massive tree-trunk legs.

A rematch...I must do better, he thinks, trying to keep his wits about him.

+2 Icy Burst Longbow (rapid shot, deadly aim, manyshot, weapon specialization)(frost + shock dmg): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 372d8 + 24 + 4d6 ⇒ (8, 6) + 24 + (1, 6, 5, 3) = 53
+2 Icy Burst Longbow (rapid shot, deadly aim, weapon specialization)(frost + shock dmg): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 281d8 + 13 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 13 + (5, 3) = 29
+2 Icy Burst Longbow (rapid shot, deadly aim, weapon specialization)(frost + shock dmg): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 231d8 + 13 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 13 + (3, 2) = 25

Fellgrim lobs his projectiles, which explode in a formation of fire. Jelani steps through the roaring flames and makes clear he has beef with the vault keeper. He deals a ringing blow.

Caranthir fills the air with arrow, and several of them chip shards of the Vault keeper's body.

Severely wounded, the vault keeper strikes back against Jelani

Claw: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (9) + 24 = 332d4 + 6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 = 8
Claw: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (10) + 24 = 342d4 + 6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 6 = 13
Claw: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (6) + 24 = 302d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 6 = 10
Claw: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (4) + 24 = 282d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 4) + 6 = 13
I need four DC 25 fort saves, 1 Dex drain for every fail

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Bruce
Thistle
Fellgrim
Caranthir
Jelani
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Vault Keeper (185)
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Round 2: Buffs: Stoneskin (Adamantine/10); Protection from Evil; Heroism; Ablative Barrier; Blessing of Fervor (+atk); Shield AC32 - HP75; Bomb +20/+15 4d6+4; Fast Bombs; Point Blank Shot; Precise Bombs; Precise Shot;

Rise and Repeat ... Uugh :-(

Bomb (Range/Touch): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20 for Fire: 4d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 2, 5, 3) + 4 = 19 or Drift SW: 1d8 ⇒ 6 for Splash DC19 Rfx: 8 = 8
Bomb (Range/Touch): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21 for Fire: 4d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 6, 5, 5) + 4 = 25 or Drift NE: 1d8 ⇒ 2 for Splash DC19 Rfx: 8 = 8
Bomb (Range/Touch): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 for Fire: 4d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4, 6, 1) + 4 = 20 or Drift NW: 1d8 ⇒ 8 for Splash DC19 Rfx: 8 = 8

Fort saves: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 281d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 331d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 201d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" Jelani exclaims before whacking the vault keeping as many times as he can.

Chain Breaker Bloodraging Power Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 331d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 121d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19Damage: 3d6 + 26 ⇒ (2, 6, 1) + 26 = 353d6 + 26 ⇒ (6, 5, 1) + 26 = 383d6 + 26 ⇒ (1, 1, 6) + 26 = 34

Caranthir switches to adamantine arrows, just in case, then fires another series at the vault keeper.

+2 Icy Burst Longbow (rapid shot, deadly aim, manyshot, weapon specialization)(frost + shock dmg): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 252d8 + 24 + 4d6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 24 + (1, 3, 4, 2) = 42
+2 Icy Burst Longbow (rapid shot, deadly aim, weapon specialization)(frost + shock dmg): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 231d8 + 13 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 13 + (3, 4) = 27
+2 Icy Burst Longbow (rapid shot, deadly aim, weapon specialization)(frost + shock dmg): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 271d8 + 13 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 13 + (3, 6) = 25

Oh snap... does that say Drain? Going to need a greater Resto - after the fight. Those aren't cheap. :)

Thistle grimaces with each blow that the barbarian takes, and can almost feel the drain it has on him. He steps up behind the giant man and places a scaled hand on his hip. As quickly as he can, before the big man shifts his stance to take another swing, Thistle murmurs a prayer to bind the physical wounds. There is something deep about the cuts though that is producing a barely noticeable change to Jelani's movements.

That will take deeper magic to fix... he internalizes, confident that his companions will finish the job the right way this time.

Cure Critical: 4d8 + 11 ⇒ (3, 1, 7, 4) + 11 = 26

For some reason I can't move my token on the map to make sure I am within touch range of Jelani.

Bruce?

Several explosions fill the air when Fellgrim lobs his bombs, and as soon as Jelani hammer hits, the creature shatters into millions of pieces.

Combat over

A shockwave emanates from the slain vault keeper, knocking Jelani, Fellgrim, Bruce, Thistle and Caranthir straight over. Tremors fill the undergound cavern as a pulse of bright energy snakes its way through the under ground area, into the roots of the spire, and move further up. When the bright light dissipates, the green crystal is all the duller for it, as if a permanent presence has left it...

The whole room seems to be dedicated to whoever is depicted in that statue

"Wait, did we just win the spire?"

Thistle feels a wave of emotion wash over him as the vault keeper is destroyed. It is a mixed emotion though, both elation and sadness. On one hand, the satisfying feeling of vengence for turning Caranthir to stone, and his violent defiance of the intrepid pathfinders was joyous. That they had traveled so far, and removed so much that might threaten the world above, was gratifying.

Yet when the Nagaji walked over to the crystal, staring at it's suddenly dull glow, a part of him was sad, realizing that somehow the vault keeper was contributing to its shine and power.

Perhaps this is why the gods had sent him here after all. Perhaps he might be able to someday unlock the secrets the vault keeper held, and restore the shine of the spire, and bend it's energies for good, and life.

The Oracle smiles a smile of contentment, and begins the process of searching for answers. They did still have a mission from the society after all.

Know Religion: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 Ha! I can't even hit the DC. Maybe I should have put more skill points into knowledges... Certainly our resident vigilante and arcane archer can figure this out... :)

Can we take 20 on the Religion check?
Inspired Knowledge (Religion): 20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ 20 + 7 + (6) = 33
Or Not ...
Inspired Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 6 = 27

Caranthir shudders in tandem with the room. He is struck with both relief and sadness as the massive crystal structure stops glowing.

"Could that really be the master of this whole place?" he wonders aloud.

"Is this place safe to be...that was quite a shockwave."

Has all the quaking stopped? Or does it look like we need to escape quickly?

When the information about who the religious markings refer to is passed along, Thistle again searches his memory, but cannot find anything about this king. He searches the room to look for more clues that might help him figure out the purpose of such a shrine.

As he looks, he ponders back to when this rag tag crew first entered the spire, searching for lost wizards. They had found one of them what seemed like ages ago. There was still some mystery, some clues that perhaps his mind wasn't connecting that still needed to be put together here.

Any chance you can give us a recap of our original mission and how much we have accomplished so far? Thanks!

There was never a clear mission on this lower level, other than the ominous 'make sure that whatever is below doesn't come out' the inevitables on the previous levels seemed to value. With the vault keeper gone, you've made sure of that, but who knows what further beasts he summoned on this level.

The quaking seems to stop for now - it doesn't look like the underground area is collapsing anytime soon.

You can still use the transport token, and there's a couple of areas you haven't visited.

Let's clear out the rest of this floor...

Thistle begins to lead the group to the southern double doors before Bruce takes the lead, clearly comfortable in her new skin. The Nagaji makes sure everyones wounds are bound and healed, then makes ready to explore the next area.

In the back of his mind, he begins to wonder how and if he could take over rulership of this place. It would be a fascinating seat of power...

Perhaps this is what the others who are here now have thought. Dangerous thoughts...

Caranthir nods as Thistle leads to the next door. He nocks a trio of arrows, following the others.

southern double doors sounds good.

"Right ...south it is then." as Fellgrim follows the crowd up to the next door.

The eastern wall of this chamber bears a complex carving of a map of an immense cave system. Opposite this map stands a peculiar machine made of stone and metal and crystal, the top a large inverted funnel made of what appears to be green crystalline spider webbing. To the south, three spheres of stone are embedded in one wall, while opposite them two green levers lie in the down position.

A giant green statue is carved in the form of the Vault keeper that was just defeated.

Caranthir looks carefully at the levers, as well as the statue.

detect magic + careful examination

perception take 20: 20 + 23 = 43

Anybody else?

Jelani wanders over to the statue and examines it. "What's all this stuff do?" he wonders aloud. If nobody has an answer, he walks over and flips one of the levers up to see what happens.

"Anyone want to bet these levers bring this inanimate statue to.. animated?" Thistle muses to his companions. He looks around for notes, then notices Jelani taking a much more direct approach to figuring out the levers. He hefts his shield, and divine energies hum at his fingertips, the Oracle ready for his prediction to come true, just in case.

The map appears to depict an immense cave system. When Jelani flips the lever it immediately becomes apparent what of: a single room lights up as a 'you are here' marker, leading the party to conclude that the emerald spire is only one of many underground vaults, nearly all of them at unexplored locations.

The three stones can be manipulated as cursors, allowing the highlighted room to shift in a remote examination of contents. Many of the rooms appear to contain locked creatures, in statis, but very much alive.

Thistle looks on, entranced by the device and the expanse of the menagerie. "At least the meaning and purpose of the vault keeper is a little bit more clear now. I wonder if there is a reason why. And the keeper still seemed to me more minion than master. Did we kill the master of this vault and it's contents already?" he wonders, hoping the others were putting something together he was missing.

And what exactly could someone do with all of this? the wheels in his head begin to turn before he even realizes the implications of his question.

[b]"Hmmm ... is there any information on these creatures? Should we let any of them out?"[b]

"Who knows what kind of havoc these creatures could create if we let them out, at least until we know what they are. There must be records around here somewhere. We are pathfinders, at the very least we can begin to document this ourselves in order to report it."

Not sure what to do next, other than either find documentation on the creatures, or document it ourselves. Is there anywhere left to explore?

Caranthir ponders whether he's learned anything about these creatures.

knowledge arcana/dungeoneering/local/planes/religion: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20 Looking for 1) vulnerabilities 2) immunities 3) special abilities

"I supposed you are right; we should document everything a let the Society figure it all out."

There is more to explore, but you did kill the grand-poo-master-of-the entire-vault-creature. Up to you if you want to continue exploring

Caranthir examines the creatures, and concludes they must have been captured or summoned from all kinds of locations - there is no clear pattern to the kind of creature that inhabit the vaults, other than that they are very powerful.

I'm up for exploring the rest of it. What else would there be to do in this module now that we've beaten the UBBEG? (Ultimate Big Bad Evil Guy)

"I wonder if we should scout out the rest of this place? Like what is over there? Fellgrim points to the dark area to the SW :-)

I'm thinking if we've beat the BBEG, the rest will be pretty anti-climatic. I could check the other rooms out with scrying, though, if there's anything else we might need to see/avoid...

Let me use the viewing room to your advantage, then

From the viewing room, the adventurers can see the presence of creatures in the current vault. In one room (P8), a large cavern full of crystals can be observed, some of which seem to be of the carnivorous kind.

In another cave (P5), a group of basidironds lurks around. There is a last cave, hidden behind a stone wall (P6), beyond which the viewing room cannot see.

I vote we clear out the last two room of creatures, then inspect the hidden cave, for the fun of it. If enough of us agree (or the DM decides he wants to take us through it) lets just keep rolling.

Thistle points to the room with the carnivorous crystals and shrugs his shoulders as if to say, Why not?

That's fine with me. Sorry to have been quiet, just haven't had much to contribute.

Caranthir nods at Thistle's suggestion to finish exploring this place.

"We have explored all of the rest of the levels. We should finish here, I suppose."

He prepares his bow for further combat and follows after the others.

Of course we should! How else will I know this place is safe to begin making it my own base of operations for my trading caravans? Thistle grins.

After this place is clear, I'll have to see to asking the others if they want a stake...

Thistle clears his mind, putting the thoughts of the future away for now and focusing on the present. Building a trading empire would be fun, but there was still work to do.

And we're back!!!

"We should probably check what is behind that wall?"

The stone wall is solid, tough it wouldn't stand up against the combined might of a Jelani. Smashing the wall would somewhat spoil the element of surprise, though.

Perception: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (8) + 22 = 30

"On second thought ... whatever is behind that wall should probably stay there until the society is ready for it. Let's get out of here guys!"

"Yeah, it seems like we finally finished this place off. Time to retire as heroes of the Society I guess?"

Shall I end the level here, then?

I'm not sure what else there is to do. Feels like we're done with the spire to me.

Okay, let's have a final set of day job rolls, then!

Day Job: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21