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I cast Summon Monster I(Augment Summoning=+4 str/con, Conjurer's Focus=Standard Action, Duration 1 Minute) on the square left of the viper. I summon a dog [augmented] to attack the viper.
Attack:
Damage:
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The snake moves to bite the vicious attack dog. But it needs to move into the dog's space to do so--it's tiny and has no reach. As it moves into the dog's square, it realizes the fatal flaw in its design and considers, "I should have thought that through."
While the dog's jaws clamp down around its neck, the viper recalls the many opportunities it had to attend anger management classes and realizes that this conflict could have been avoided if it had just tried to get away from these strange creatures. As the dog shakes the life out of the snake's body, its last thought is, "I regret nothing..." Then it goes limp.
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I retrieve the rune-etched key and then examine the chests to see if it fits any of them. Perception
If any of the chests besides the Copper-Banded Box with the aura of illusion seem to match the key, I search it for traps: Perception and then try to unlock and open it with the key if I don't detect any traps.
[ooc]How are Aid Another bonuses handled in PBP? Are they assumed or must they be explicitly stated?[/b]
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This smooth, red lacquered chest looks devious. The solid metal plate surrounding the gaping keyhole pulses with glowing amber runes. When this key is placed within the keyhole of the red lacquered chest, the chest opens without the key needing to be turned.
When this chest is opened, Tacitus can feel that the opened lid triggered something...
A series of mechanical sounds follow--the sounds of clicks and pulley wheels spinning emanate from hidden spaces. The sounds start behind the chest, continue through the floor, climb up the wall, and even across a portion of the ceiling!
A small, golden key pops out from a slit in the 15-foot-high ceiling. It is suspended 6 inches down from the ceiling.
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I examine the contents of the chest.
Harrow, we'll find something for you to smash later after we get out of here. Help me move this table underneath the key. If we stand on the stable, it should be a short jump to reach it with arms outstretched.
If we retrieve the key, I test the liquid in the jar with my club and ascertain whether the key can be fished out with the club or whether it will require more finesse.
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The red lacquered chest holds a key forged into the end of a jeweled scepter. ( ) The jewels and scepter appear exquisite!
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Serwe sees that the gold key hanging from the ceiling has no magic aura.
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Tacitus' club sizzles slightly when plunged into the liquid.
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Okay, Serwe, I'll grab it. The jar with the jeweled brass key seems to be full of acid, my club sizzled on contact. The key must be made of corrosion-proof metal. I have no tools to retrieve it. That makes three keys and two chests, so one must be for the door.
I pick up the jeweled scepter key and climb atop the table to retrieve the golden key. If I am successful I search the steel cube for a keyhole and traps.
Perception:
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Harrow and Tacitus work together to grab the key from the ceiling. Standing atop the table, Harrow is reminded of his horse and feels a bit wistful.
The party seems stymied by the jar of "acid."
Tacitus examines the third 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. The gold key hanging from the ceiling opens this chest. Once the chest is opened, POOF!
And Tacitus, Serwe, and Arrack all now look like big, blue smurfs! An easy spellcraft check reveals that this chest was trapped with a prank! A simple prestidigitation spell turns several party members blue for a while:
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I gaze at my new blue hue.
Serwe, I thought we checked everything with Detect Magic. Ah well, it's just a shame we Harrow couldn't replace his pea green with this lovely cerulean.
I loot the steel cube and then examine the lock on the copper banded chest and the entrance door to determine which one matches the jeweled scepter key.
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"I feel like that illusionary chest may best testing us on some sort of meta-morallity level. Seeing how we deal with 'trust' perhaps? It may be best to leave that one alone if we have what we came for. That is just the opinion of myself, of course. I will yield to group consensus should you all prefer to see whats inside." the darkling woman adds, looking distrustfully at the remaining chest.
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The key at the end of the scepter opens the door to the vault, allowing the party to exit the room at their leisure. :-)
The servant who led the group into the room is among those waiting on the other side. "Pathfinders, congratulations on figuring out the puzzle so quickly! You can keep the map and wand, but please give back any keys you may have."
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I return any keys I have to the servant. We have the map and thus Master Salhar's permission to explore the Salhar ancestral vaults. Let us proceed to our next task. I vote we travel to the docks. I'd like to breathe fresh air after being locked up in this basement.
I ascend the the stairs from the basement.
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The first task on the list is to visit Guaril Karela at his curio shop—The Pickled Imp—in the seedy, harborside Docks district.
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This creepy shop contains myriad odds and ends, most bereft of any discernible use. A number of malformed creatures and creature parts bob in jars on a long, prominent shelf, a tiny fetal devil centered in this macabre lineup. The shopkeeper, a greasy-haired Varisian with a thin mustache, shouts from behind the cluttered counter:
"Ah yes, I see the Pathfinders have arrived. I’m glad Ambrus was able to lend a few of his new recruits to help me. Please come in and let me tell you what I need."
Looking around as if to be absolutely certain no customers are browsing the aisles of knock-off Thuvian burial urns or supposed Azlanti porcelain, he begins again.
"Well met. I am Guaril Karela. A friend of mine has a warehouse near here and he received a parcel on behalf of me and some of my associates, but there’s a problem. See, Master Gelbane had to leave town in a hurry and our shipment is still waiting at his warehouse. Rumor is he ended up in trouble with the law and the place was seized. I heard tell from someone down at the docks that some creep was snooping around his warehouse just the other night, so I want to make sure nothing of mine was taken. He keeps all kinds of things, from beer to nails, in that old pelican, but every now and then he stores something really special. This is one of those cases."
The thin Varisian man has a face that always seems to be sneering, often tilting his mustache like the animated hands of a clock.
"There’s a big crate marked with three crows arranged in a triangle. Inside that crate is a smaller container with a few books and papers in it.That’s the only parcel I'm interested in, and as far as I'm concerned, you can help yourself to the rest of the crate. Honestly, anything else you want in the place too. I’m sure the once things get sorted out, the city will seize most everything else anyway."
Guaril leans forward. In a hushed, conspiratorial tone he continues.
"My associates and I often work with the Pathfinders when it comes to special relics and documents, getting them in and out of ports and across borders where the authorities ask too many questions. Most people don’t realize what they have and frankly many don’t deserve to have it, so sometimes we help take the goods off their hands. If things work out well and you get this done, I’d be glad to talk with you more and help you out with any future endeavors, as long as you help me out too. I’m good at returning favors, trust me."
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I snort derisively. I don't suppose we need to worry about the law, it being a property they seized? Skulking around in basements and warehouses wasn't what I had in mind when I signed up for the Society. We will check the place out, but if the coast isn't clear, we'll have to come back after nightfall. Do you have official papers for this crate? A forgery would suffice--something that we can present to the city guard if they're watching the place.
After hearing the answers, I prepare myself to leave when the other Pathfinders are ready.