[PFS] GM Lithrac's Thornkeep, part III - The Enigma Vaults (Inactive)

Game Master Cyril Corbaz

Some time has gone by since the Pathfinders ventured into Krenar Half-Face's laboratory and found out about the former owner of this complex - the Azlanti wizard Nhur Athemon. Much of it has been discussed at length with Iliara Starcloak since, and several expeditions to recover the wizard's old apparatus have taken place with great success. The Goldenfire Order rose to prominence, the Pathfinders' pockets filled with gold... they even received a letter from Venture-Captain Adril Hestram congratulating them on their findings and report. The letter also spoke a a special agent who is to come to Thornkeep to oversee the Society's interests in the area. It will be a few days until the man arrives, and Hestram insists on the Pathfinders' continuing efforts to explore the next level of the complex. The agents are strangely very quick to comply - or is it the wish not to have their dreams invaded by the robust figure of their Venture-Captain if they didn't follow the order? In any case, the field agents are starting to make a name for themselves with their discoveries in Thornkeep, and it would be too bad if it stopped then and there.

Rellen has spent some time recently with the Wolfsmane tribe, whose encampment is just outside the town. They apparently accepted him as one of their own, as some visible signs can attest to that fact.

It would be a great idea for you to speak of how your character spent some of his downtime, I don't think everyone has quite finished levelling up/making purchases yet.

Details, details, details. Since the overthrow of Krenar's laboratory, Kort's life seems to have been consumed with details. As one of the few in the Pathfinder Society with any significant training in the conduct of mercantile trade, and at the same time one of the few with some mercantilist training who is able to disarm a poison-thorn trap on a chest, Kort was very busy.

Fortunately for Kort's sanity, none of the continued extraction of the wizardly apparatus(es) from Thornkeep's Forbidden Laboratory was routine. Every day was a new hazard, a new problem to be solved - though sometimes the problems included disentangling three different tally sheets in different languages, with different origins, destinations, and descriptions.

Because many of the apparatus(es) extracted from Thornkeep were mechanical, alchemical, sometimes whimsical, and invariably complex, many of the traders and buyers of the equipment were gnomes. Kort found himself in the unenviable positions of being very familiar with gnomes (and liking them quite a bit), but having a paltry command of the gnomish language. His adoptive extended family had always been kind to him, to the point of not forcing their language on him. His days with them had always included lessons in sorcery - and those principally in draconic.

So with a will, monetary motivation, and to discharge a debt of gratitude, Kort took the opportunity to truly embrace the gnomish language.

Thornkeep Map

Rellen stalks into the thirsty ogre, with an array of new scars, a slightly more feral appearance, and his usual sneer. He nods to his fellow Pathfinders as he makes for the bar and slams a handful of coin down as he growls, "Ale."

A tankard in hand he joins his comrades, tossing back a great mouthful of ale, "All they drink over in the barbarian camp is pissing mead. They can fight though I'll grant, and hard. Taught me a trick or two. I suppose they are not without worth, and Kellid's know how to live free, even if they don't care for Andoran preaching."

Downing the rest of his ale he adds, "Bought more blades, I'm ready. I don't want Hestram in my head again."

Knorrin took advantage of every moment. Most days, he could be found studying and, yes, working in the archives of the Goldenfire Order, exchanging his abilities with magic - of however modest varieties, such as translating, reading magic, mending works, and chanting the chant of the scrivener to copy texts - for increased knowledge of spellcraft and history.

At other free moments each day, he was bringing the light of Sarenrae's redemption to the troubled town, although doing so with few words - usually just a hearty "We're all friends here!" - and more acts. His ministry was healing the injured - mostly bar fights at The Thirsty Ogre - and sick, offering Guidance in tasks large and small, settling disputes, performing burial and other rites, and mending broken dishes. (A prominent holy symbol of Sarenrae on his sanctified buckler or around his neck would be enough.) Eventually, even the local goblins were bringing him small broken pieces of junk for him to mend into slightly less broken pieces of junk.

Most significantly, though, he grew in power with the faith, now becoming able to banish diseases with spells in addition to skill, transforming items into masterworks (especially for his friends), and, however briefly, greatly enhancing the characteristics of himself and others.

He now has a new, magic cloak of resistance, enchanted armor, a wand for Protection from Evil, and more scrolls and vials. With a few exceptions - "Ghost salt", he says about a new rack of bolts - he is armed in the same way, remaining more holy than warrior.

Chasik, takes his leave after the exploration into the depths of Thornkeep. He heads back home, to Cassomir, to help out his father at the docks. He gets his hands dirty and catches up on old times and the things he has done and seen. He tells his parents about going into a complex, and fighting various critters and creatures to do some good for the Society.

After helping his father out for a few days, he got in contact with his old teacher Boston Goldsmith. The two of them sparred for awhile. Even though Chasik had a few Society missions under his belt, that didn't mean Boston didn't have his number. Boston knew all Chasik's tricks, but Chasik landed a couple good blows of his own.

After one sparring match in particular, the second one, Boston nearly knocked Chask out old with a perfect blow to his temple. Boston called the fight, not wanting to injure an up-and-comer of the Society, because the Society would have his head. He called for the medic, which applied some non-magical and magic assistance. It was then, Chasik's body responded differently to it. His body seemed to healer and mend quicker than normal, and Chasik wasn't gonna argue. A day later, Chasik was back to his old way, sparring hard, working at the docks hard, and having a cold drink afterwards.

It was at the bar at the docks, he got a note from the Venture Captain, to head back to Thronkeep as soon as possible, there was a mission to undertake.

Chasik, said good bye to his folks again, hoping both he and they would be in good health until the next time they meet.

Chasik, hurried back to Thornkeep, and went to the same watering hole he met everyone in the first time. Walking up to the bar, he saw Rellen, see you haven't changed a bit you cranky ass he says with a smile and a chuckle. Bartender, I will have an ale.

Chasik, will take the ale, over to the table and meet up with his comrades. While, I was away, I better equipped myself to face any challenges the Society wants to through at me. I have better armor now, as he clanks around in his full plate. So boys, anyone else feel slightly forced into this? Better than sitting on our asses all day I guess though, this is why we became Pathfinder. So, when shall we set forth to explore Thornkeep some more.

Irez does test me.

Choamski looks about outside the gates of the Briarwarren. He mouths a silen "Ah-ha!" as he spots what he is looking for; he moves towards a goblin playing with a mess of wires and sticks.

"You there, Brambleclaw! I have come to give you a greater magic then you have ever known before. I bring magic that stays on paper, the secrets of the written word. Do NOT be afraid, do NOT run away and listen to what I have to say!"

At the mention of the written word the goblin screams, dropping the junk that it was playing with to run back into the Briarwarren.

Irez, I will have patience for I must show these creatures the light of the written word.

He sighs dejectedly and ambles over to the Thirsty Ogre. He climbs up on the bench and looks up at Rellen.

"My Rellen, what have you been getting yourself into this time? I'm glad your enjoying your little tussles over at the Wolfmane's camp. Hi Chasik!" He catches sight of a barmaid. "Oh... Miss, some watered wine please."

He pulls out a tablet carved with stone runes.

"Ah Terran. My, such an interesting tongue. Do you know it has no future tense? It is all implied!"

"Well now, I have a few dozen more Azlanti translations, rubbings I took from the first few layers. But I suppose I could put that off if we want to go exploring! That sounds more fun anyways."

Rellen raises an eyebrow at Chasik, and gives a grunt of a laugh not disagreeing with the fighter's assessment, "Been training to use that, how about you? After we finish our next run you should head over to the Wolfmane encampment with me, don't know what they'd make of your tin turtle style, but I'd be interested to see it - might learn something new."

Scratching at his stubble covered chin he growls, "Think we can make any more use of that construct thing? I'm keen to try out my new blades, but if something else can take the punishment for us for a while I'd not refuse."

I am all for it. Not that I don't mind taking a hit, because I can take quite a few, but it would be nice to have something else get beat on for awhile. Give the two Gnomes a breaking from healing my ass every few seconds he says with a baritone laugh.

Floggentop, feel free to post about your downtime in a sort of flashback sequence.

As you enter the third level beneath Thornkeep, a vision of marvel lies in front of your eyes. A ten-foot-wide hallway curves north, where a flight of stairs descends to a corridor leading to a octagonal central chamber. Iron bars separate this room from the eastern and southern hallways, and the floor of the chamber is painted with what appears to be a night sky filled with stars. The northern section of the hall surrounding the central chamber features a single shelf that runs along the north and west walls. Dozens of ancient books sit on these shelves. Simply scanning the spines reveals many intriguing titles written in Azlanti, such as Dreams in Liavara’s Womb, Whispers from the Red Star, and A Myriad Mirrored. The stars painted on the central floor constitute a map of the night sky—a star chart that places Golarion’s solar system at the center and dozens of other smaller stars in the outlying reaches. A phrase is carved in Azlanti over the western doors: “Behold and Wonder, for Beyond Lie Enigmas!”

"Some more exploring - yep, definitely scratch an itch. As much as this merchanting is good for the purse, it doesn't speak to my soul. "

"As for the constructs.. I think they've been dispatched to a Pathfinder warehouse somewhere. Something about burnt out zero-point energy sources, or such twaddle. I'm pretty sure they've been moved out - but let me double check the ledgers..."

I'm assuming the golems/constructs can't be carried forward to the next module, yes? no?

Choamski reads the Azlanti aloud for the group.

"Absolutely amazing! What a place!" Choamski will slowly move ahead, looking at the titles but mindful of hazards.

Knorrin first casts Detect Magic and scans the room for signs of magic.

Then, he carefully listens to the titles translated by Choamski ;-) - jotting down, for now, a few titles on a piece of parchment. Given their age and his experiences with books a fraction of their age, he knows they may crumble at the merest touch. But ..., he can't resist one at the end of a line of books, touching it gingerly, seeking to carefully open a page unseen for - what? - thousands of years?

Wizzy has been spending his downtime training up his bardic skills and making circles around the local bar seen telling tall tales.. He's made himself quite known in the small backwoods town.. When not aprtying it up he spends most of his time at Thornkeep Bindery in service to Farakin Thumbwhistle. He's been working for access to ancient lore not money in a hopes to increase his knowledge of the world around him.. He's also made many attempts to woo one Miss Brishtargera Greenbottle with his knowledge, although he hasn't had much success in that departmetn yet.. Perhaps he can find her some brambleclaw berries along this trip..

To the Dungeon!

Wizzy stares in wonder at the painting, his brains working on what it could all mean.. That is until he notices the tomes.. "Ancient Lore! On now im down for some of that.." Wizzy will approach the books and have a look.. Are they readable or faling apart?

Rellen produces a wand touching it to his thigh and invoking its magics to increase his speed as he enters the Halls again. He listens to Choamski's enthusiastic translations with scowl and furrowed brow and moves forward cautiously scanning for traps and potential dangers.

Take 20 on Perception for a 25. Using a charge from Wand of Longstrider, please let me know if it expires, 1 hour duration.

After a close inspection of the books there, the answer to their question seems to be the most frustrating one: the books will very probably crumble to dust the moment they are taken off the shelf...

As for signs of magic, the star map definitely looks like an illusion made to reproduce patterns of star. The result is simply astounding, the Pathfinders never saw anything like it before.

"Looks like a bunch of potential dust.. Lets move on.."

Knorrin says two prayers over Rellen, granting him both Resistance to harm and Guidance in his search.

"Fancy place. Your mending magics work on these books Knorrin?" Rellen says, squinting at the titles looking for promising words like sword, or battle.

"Oh, I think Kreighton has a spell for this! Where's a wizard when you need one? Sigh... well, we should probably leave these for a specialized team of Scrolls"

Pausing Rellen mutters, "Better safe," and pulls two vials, throwing back the contents of each in turn with a grimace. Then he produces a bundle wrapped in leaves and unwraps a red lump which he pops into his mouth and begins to chew. A minute later his teeth are stained a dark crimson, and his pupils seem larger.

Antitoxin, Antiplague, Barbarian chew.

"Are we going to explore this place or stand around looking at unreadable books? If we are not going to get going, I have work to do back at the Goldenfire Order..."

Knorrin, responds to Choamski's earlier inquiry, explaining, "I had considered, Master Choamski, both the orison known as Mending and the much more powerful spell I have recently mastered known as Make Whole - you may remember that I used it to repair the damaged and destroyed constructs over that one period. (Would that I could have repaired the depleted and destroyed power crystals!) Alas, I have prepared neither for today, and I fear that it may be beyond even Make Whole's power. It may take, well, a miracle."

"As you say, leave them for now, perhaps for the Scrolls."

Knorrin follows Rellen's example, applying a greasy armor ointment, and downing two vials of his own.
Armor Ointment and Antiplague and Antitoxin.

"Now, where were we? Ah yes, asking for the blessings of Sarenrae, to bring light to this dark place..."
Guidance and Resistance again, lol.

Upon entering the octagonal room, Chasik's jaw drops at the sight before him. I wish my dad could see this! Mom too, I guess that is what my dad had in mind when he asked me to see the world.

Chasik takes out a flask, and douses his silver hammer and his normal hammer in it. At least ooze wouldn't inhibit his ability to deal out some pain. He looks at the various book, but he was never much a reader, so he passes on then. He looks down the various tunnels blocked by bars, wondering what is beyond them.

percep: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Kort is very, very taken with the starscape. He hadn't really understood that such fantastic imagery could be created in such a way. This was either the product of an intellect encompassing the stars themselves, or the illusions spun not of things observed, but only of things imagined.

"Books for the scrolls indeed. I'll bet some Scroll somewhere has an extremely specialized 'books don't fall apart' spell they spent decades researching. Fabulously useful.. need such a thing every day." Kort's scoff is almost contained.

"Let me have a brief look at these doors - fancy inscriptions, and a fabulous illusion - perfect distractions. Choamski, care to help me defang the maw of wonder?"

Kort carefully inspects the door for any hazards.

As no imminent peril is going to befall the party - or so says Kort - Chasik decides to open the massive doors in front of him. This thirty-foot-diameter room seems something like a silo — the domed ceiling rises twenty feet above, and the floor drops away into darkness below. A ten-foot-wide stone bridge with no railings crosses the shaft to a hall and door in the opposite side, yet a one foot-wide gap separates the bridge from either hall. Below, two additional archways lie in the north and south walls of the shaft, thirty feet below the level of the upper entrances.

On the bridge appears a strange, ghastly creature. The figure appears as a vaguely humanoid monster with the deformed head of a fanged bird and two coiling serpents for legs. It speaks to the Pathfinder briefly, then stands still in wait for an answer.

Kort looks expectantly at Choamski, seeking a cue.

Knorrin looks expectantly at Choamski, seeking a cue.

Applicable knowledge GM Lithrac?

Knowledge (Arcana or Religion)

Choamski has Azlanti, too, of course.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Choamski snorts thoughtfully.

"What does the ugly thing say?" Rellen asks, looking to Knorrin and Choamski.

Know Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Know Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"It's apparently the doorman. It's asking "By whose leave do you seek the Enigma Vaults?". I told it "Nhur Athemon". Errr... mostly. I may have added a few adjectives. You know how wizards love their flowery titles..."

Reacting to Choamski's strange, long-unheard words on the surface of Golarion, the ghastly apparition answers:

"Well, that was easy. It said "Then you may pass, yet touch nothing, lest you be purged.”"

"Well, at least until we touch something. We tend to do that. "

Any luck with the knowledge rolls?

-Posted with Wayfinder

That was the spoiler of my post before. You passed the Religion one.

"Seems that was some sorta arcane defense designed to look like a ghost.. Thats all I could figure out though.. Shall we procede?" Before doing so Wizzy will pause and drink his own Antiplague/toxens.. He will also douse himself in Vermin Repellant..

That was the spoiler of my post before. You passed the Religion one.

Sorry - The perils of trying to do something on the go. That sounds like the Arcane roll, though. Any luck identifying the critter? Since I remembered the description from the ISWG, maybe my character remembers it, too, with a K(Religion) of 26 (Planes has the same modifier)? Since it is probably just 'flavor', I'll mention it.

"It is not a ghost but an arcane defense of some type from long ago; more about such I cannot tell, and I do not have the power to Dispel it."

"I believe it represents Abraxas, the 'Demon Lord of Forbidden Lore and Magic'. Indeed, that would be a fitting patron for the former master of this place, and a fitting guard for the so-named 'Enigma Vaults'. 'Touch nothing lest you be purged' and all." Despite himself and his faith in his god, Knorrin feels very small in front of the demonic presence.

"And..." Knorrin pauses and forgets what he was going to say. *Sniff sniff* ...Vermin repellant... Ugh.

Rellen snorts, "Well we will keep that in mind until it becomes mildly inconvenient," and with that he strides across the bridge scanning carefully as he goes and examines the door for traps - hopefully alongside Kort - before attempting to open it if there are no obvious hazards.

Take 20 Perception.

Praying for Guidance, Knorrin pauses on the bridge to look downward and upward with his darkvision.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16

Nothing can be seen upwards or downwards in the pit - it goes way further than dark sight can see. As for Rellen, he hears a faint sound of clatter on the other side.

"I hear something, be ready," Rellen says, touching himself with his wand of lead blades before opening the door.

If the door seems like it will be locked, he will wait on the wand use.

Either you activate the wand and enter, or you don't. Choose.

If it looks like the door has a lock I don't activate it, if it looks like it does I do. I cannot see the door but Rellen can and has just taken 20 searching it so I hope that is reasonable. I'm waiting for information.

As Rellen inspects the door, Knorrin stands ready with his crossbow, alternating between scanning upward and downward for danger.

Chasik, stares at the visage before him. Not understanding anything it is saying, he just stands there, warhamemr drawn at the ready should shit hit the fan and a fight ensue. He does breathe a sigh of relief, when the visage disappears, without anger shown.

So, don't touch anything. That seems fair enough, but I don't see us going anywhere unless we open a door here and there. So friends, shall we proceed, as he clangs forward to the door with Rellen, while he looks around, from side to side, seeing if anything is visible.
perception: 1d20 ⇒ 19

"Yes Pathfinders are really good at not touching things... " Choamski rolls his eyes at Chasik.

He moves up besides Rellen, readies his crossbow, and takes a look at the door.