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"Oh i love puzzles, So a key, a cobra, an illusion, a locked chest an iron box and a half empty vial. This sounds like the beginning of a bad joke. First things first, does the key appear to fit into any of the key holes? I could try to pick them, but if they have glowing runes you should probably stand back. Could we see if the vial is magical? It may be the key to the other chest, quite literally. If we do find that its magical, might i suggest putting just a drop onto the illusion, the key and the magical runes?"
Think think think, a copper-banded chest of smooth, dark wood. an illusion, Its got to be there for some reason. Could it be hiding something underneath?
a red lacquered chest; It has magical runes, probably some defensive spell our final objective is probably here.
cube of solid steel; As of yet, we know nothing of this.
a low table holding a clear glass jar half full of liquid. Mystery liquid, It is only half full, is this significant?
covered wicker basket that held a key with its guardian. I think we can disregard the snake, it was simply a trap. But with that, probably all of these items are trapped in some way. note to self, don't listen to Terrill...
Trippen moves small table, looking but not touching and pacing around to the opposite side. Trippen looks both above and below the table for any other clues as to the purpose of the liquid. Then he picks up the vial, swirling it while holding it up to the light.
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”All right, let’s try to sum up what we’ve got here. Please tell me if you’ve noticed anything I’m not listing here.”
“3 chests: one with copper bands, that appears to be an illusion; a red lacquered one, with a keyhole surrounded by glowing runes; and a steel one with a small keyhole.”
“A glass jar, half-full of some kind of liquid – notice anything else about it, Polami?”
“And a basket that contains a snake and some cloths, and used to contain this key, made of some kind of blue stone and covered in runes. Seems like the rune-key and the rune-lock should go together, but who knows? Also, we should take a closer look in the basket – any thoughts on how to best deal with the snake?”
With this summary done, Terrill looks at the key in his hand and the tiny keyhole on the steel box, and moves as if to fit it in. Just before he does so, he looks at Trippen and asks, ”Perhaps you could see if either of the two real chests are trapped? Having already fallen for the snake-in-a-basket trick, I’d rather not see what other clever surprises our absent host has in store.”
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Trippen complains lightheartedly and in good humor, "Do you know how hard it is to look for traps inside a key hole? How do i know that the second i put my eye up to it another tiny cobra won't jump out?"
He squats low next to the chests, Lighting a candle from his pack and holding it close to the case to peer into the key hole, then holds the candle to the side of the chest to try to peer into the crevice.
I've seen the trip wires before, the minute you open the chest BAM... or maybe the needle in the lock? Filled with Dhabba spittle. That's some nasty stuff.
When examining the liquid you see this gallon-sized clear glass jar is about half full with clear liquid. At the bottom of the vessel sits a jeweled brass key.
While examining the steel chest, this steel cube has only the faintest crack where its lid meets the base, and would be completely featureless save for its narrow keyhole. You do notice a mechanism on the lock that looks like it would trigger something inside the chest once it is opened.
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"well, i can see something funny inside of this lock. Theres an extra tumbler. i can't tell you if using the key would bypass it. But i can see that if you press it the lock won't work as advertised. Give me a few minutes, i'll see if i can disable it."
Trippen doffs his backpack and rummages through for a leather bound package. After loosening the bindings, he unrolls it to reveal his tools. Selecting a minuscule scribe and equally small Sutures, Trippen begins his work. Using the sutures, he holds the tumbler in place then jams the tumbler, attempting to distort it so that it won't move.
Terrill and Omar examines the key noting the sizes of the key holes on the chests and realizes it will likely not fit in the steel box, but could potentially fit in the copper-banded chest or the red lacquered chest.
Tippen spends some time attempting to disable the device in the steel chest and after a short amount of time he manages to lock it in place so that it will not trigger when the chest is opened.
Polami attempting to fish out the key, has a hard time but eventually manages to latch it with her fishhook and pull it out of the liquid.
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"Well, it seems this rune-etched key and the rune-etched lock might go together. Let's see if Desna's smiling on me today."
Terrill puts the blue stone key in the keyhole of the red chest and attempts to turn it, touching the holy symbol around his neck with his free hand and whispering a quiet prayer.
Terrill inserts the key slowly and turns to unlock the chest. You hear a click...
Perception checks
The chest unlocks. The red lacquered chest holds a key forged into the end of a jeweled scepter.
Looking at the key Polami is holding and comparing it to the key holes, it appears like it might fit in the steel chest.
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"So, the goal of our 'quest' here is permission to access the vaults, so it's possible the scepter key opens those vaults. But we were supposed to be given some papers - a charter and maps - so they must be in the last box. Unless one of these keys somehow turns the illusion into a real chest. And we still haven't really looked in that basket. Ay, this is a puzzle, isn't it?"
"Anyway, Polami, will you go ahead and try the small key on the steel chest, and we'll hope it's as easy as the red one?"
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Trippen clears his throat loudly, "My friends, i do believe we have missed something. when we opened that chest, a panel opened up on the ceiling revealing yet another key and i am just a tad too short to reach it. But lets not chase too many rabbit trails. Polami, if you wouldn't mind, this chest is now free of traps. Would you please do the honor of opening it. Or i can, if you don't trust my handiwork."
Omar takes a skilled shot and knocks the golden key down as it hits the floor with a clink.
Polami tries her key in the steel chest, while it fits and turns it doesn't appear to catch any of the tumblers to unlock the chest.
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"Nice shot, Omar. I was looking up at that key thinking about whether I could hold Trippen on my shoulders and whether he'd be able to reach the key - I should have thought of shooting it down."
With this, Terrill picks the golden key off the floor and walks over to the steel chest. If Polami hasn't already done so, he pulls the brass key out of the lock, inserts the gold key, and turns it, crossing his fingers as he does so.
Terrill tries the golden key on the steel chest and as luck would have it, the chest unlocks with no ill effect. Inside you see the map of the Salhar burial vaults beneath Sothis and a wand.
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"Thank you, Lady Luck! Desna seems to make every key I try the right key, doesn't she? Though without you, Omar, it might still be hanging from the ceiling."
Terrill reaches into the chest and removes the map and wand.
He then says "So we've now got 2 keys we haven't used, and only the lock on the door. Unless we can somehow make the other chest useable."
Holding up the wand, the asks, "Anyone have an idea what this does?"
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Trippen returns to the tumbler he had broken."hm... Well, when we opened the first chest, a key droppde out of the ceiling. I never checked that mechanism for traps but I did check thechest that was just opened and disabled whatever it was supposed to do. maybe it wasn't a trap but instead the next clue"
[roll = take 20 on whatever is needed to figure out what the mechanism on the iron chest lock was] 20 [/roll]
Callanto tries the key and the door creaks open as it is unlocked. The servant is waiting there. The servant notes that you can keep the map and wand, but must return the keys you found inside, and guides you back to the Sapphire Sage.
"Ah! I see you have recovered the map of the Salhar family vaults! I am pleased that your skill with traps is apparently well trained. I will send notice of your success, along with your payment, to the Lodge as soon as time allows. It should be waiting for you before sunset." Once finished with his thought, he again returns his attention to his work, and pays no further attention to your group as the servant ushers you out of the study.
The group continue on with their tasks, heading to the orphanage after already having collected the medicine from the paladin. Upon reaching the home you see; nearly swarming with cats and children, this fine upper-class home appears to be clean and in good condition considering the number and ages of its inhabitants. Three young boys shoot marbles in the dirt near the side porch, and inside strewn toys and more cats lie about on the floors. A few children take care of chores, while coughs and sneezes softly erupt from the children’s dormitories upstairs.
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"A lot of people say that about 'em, but I haven't really know many halflings. But say it's true that lots of them are thieves and vagabonds - and I'm saying either way on that," Terrill adds, grinning back at Callanto. "But they can't just be born knowing how to pick a lock, can they? Though I guess it's a question of their nature. A fish doesn't have to be taught to swim, I imagine."
Looking at the halfling, he asks in a joking tone, "Well, Trippen, which is it? Did someone teach you to pick locks, or did you take to it like a fish to water?"
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"Well, i first learned to pick a lock when i had locked myself out of a particularly important security box of mine. A wandering pathfinder came by and opened it for me, She was very pretty girl- Tamaera was her name. She showed gave me my first lock pick. Since then i would listen to the bards about tales of pathfinders. When a bard sings, they always describe the bravery of the adventurer as she runs into battle. But it always seems that a well placed trap is what brings them into the belly of the beast. Only the most cunning of men have avoided demise by a trap. I want to be clever. So i would listen every night to the traveling bards so i would know what to expect when i became a pathfinder. "
Trippen sighs in nostalgia "And what about you? When did Desna speak to you? And why did you not join the traditional clergy?"
Trippen converses casually with Terrill as he approaches the grounds to the orphanage. He intents to speak with Gilga to see for himself what she is like. But only after the medicine has been stored or given to those that need it.