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

Game Master Cyril Corbaz

Seeing that preparations for battle are being made, Choamski will stop his divinations, pull out a scroll and ask for the blessings of Irez.

scroll of bless, assuming initiative doesn't happen before then

Rellen uses his wand of Lead Blades and moves forward, no weapon in hand.

Seeing Rellen moving forward without any obvious sign of submission, the cultists attack. Rellen fights back with mighty fury, joined by his companions. The Pathfinders makes short work of the Razmirans, but they also have to consider the fact that the distressed woman didn't take part in the fight but chose to retreat and cower in a corner of the room until this expense of violence has gone by. With a hesitant voice she implores:

"Mer... mercy! I surrender to you, I do not wish to end up like my former companions, nor do I want to betray the Visitant. Please let me go!"

Knorrin uses orisons to stabilize the wounded and downed cultists as they fall, doing his best to save their sad lives despite the ferocious effectiveness of Rellen and Chasik's onslaught.

Helping to search and disarm each of the cultists, Knorrin asks, "Does anyone have any unknotted rope?" and proceeds to help tie them up. He finishes with detect magic on the entire group.

Turning to the traumatized woman, he tries his best to be reassuring despite recent events and the surroundings. "We don't want you to end up like your former companions, either, and would prefer to let you go - My god, Sarenrae, believes in redemption, after all. But, you must tell us all you know. Who is this 'Visitant' and what has he (or she or it) done to you and your companions?"

"How long have you been here and how did you get here? Is there another key to the iron door, and did you so get by the alchemist?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
He is unconvincing, however, despite his sincerity.

Choamski resumes the divinations of detect evil.

The cultists are quickly tied up, an none of them turn to have an evil aura. However, the woman curls up in utter terror, and is unable to say more to Knorrin.

"Please leave me alone, I won't say more. If I do, he will come back and feed upon my soul!"

"Uh, listen M'Lady, you can calm down. We weren't trying to get you in trouble - and if you're not comfortable with questions we won't ask"

He also turns to his companions.

"Well, they're not intrinsically ethically dubious folk, it would appear. Perhaps just victims of circumstance."

The woman further shuts herself in mutism, her eyes looking in the vague.

Choamski will pull out a blanket and tries to provide comfort.

He then looks around at the surrounding room.

The room is truly immense - a massive vault indeed, it lives up to its name. Of great interest in the room are the various displays. The titles engraved on each display have been translated from Azlanti by Choamski for ease of use.

“Talon of Borvadagen”: (A) This strange, spiked gauntlet is made of weirdly flexible red wood studded with what appear to be shark teeth made of glass. It has room for only three fingers.

“Mithral Rifle”: (B) A damaged firearm made of mithral with four barrels sits on display here. Images of antlike humanoids wielding firearms are carved into the stock. Unfortunately, it looks well beyond repair.

“Bloodstones of Gultariix”: (C) This is a collection of what look like solidified droplets and splatters of blood, 11 in all, arranged on a wooden rack.

“Alien Fungoid Equipment”: (D) This display has recently been looted. Nothing remains here

“Dragonkin Saddle”: (E) This strangely shaped saddle is a saddle built for one very large mount, possibly a dragon.

“Thystian Cat”: (F) This is a strange skeleton of a 12-footlong, feline-like creature with eight legs and a long snout. The bones are partially translucent.

“Deactivated Alien Construct”: (G) The huge mechanical object heaped on this platform is a blasted and destroyed robot similar to those that dwell in the nation of Numeria. This robot was destroyed long ago—its tangled features are vaguely insectoid in shape.

“Dominion of the Black Pod”: (H) This 12-foot-tall pod of strange leathery material is warm to the touch and covered with sharp, spiny scales. Now and then faint lights shimmer within.

“The Hungry Eyes of Melos”: (I) An 8-foot-tall, frosty glass jar sits here. The jar is filled with brine, and swimming within are hundreds of strangely colored eyeballs that trail wriggling, finned tendrils. The eyes themselves open like tiny fanged maws, scratching their teeth against the glass if anyone approaches.

“The Banes of Barad-Shull”: (J) This L-shaped glass case contains three items: a spear crafted from the leg of an immense insect, a bag that looks like a freshly excised stomach, and a bag of cloth.

Apart from the displays, four sets of doors ornate the walls. A massive double door to the south, and simple stone doors to the west, east and northwest.

Remember what the floating thing said, touch nothing. Besides, all these things give me the creeps, as he has a quick shudder at the sights before him.

Choamski grins broadly, revealing gleaming teeth. "Oh come now, what's the worst that could happen? We get attacked my an ancient magical defense system! Isn't that what we signed up for?"

"Actually, I would like to come back and look at these, but my main concern is that this "Visitant", whatever it is, might surprise us while we were conducting proper research efforts. I for one don't want to end up like that!" He gestures to the woman in shock on the ground.

Wizzy casts detect magic on the items.. "Perhaps if we can figure out what these things are then we can decide if its worth touching.."

"When we have made the level safe, we should document and catalog each, taking time to detect and identify any magical auras, and then take most to the Goldenfire Order and to the Society for their purchase and study - though a quick scan now couldn't - or shouldn't - hurt. There might, too, be a way the magical defense system can be deactivated or bypassed somehow, like a trap, beyond just the name of its creator."

Knorrin closely approaches the glass of the 'Hungry Eyes of Melos' to determine if he recognizes their origin, and is then startled by the illusion of his face, reflected in the glass, being swarmed over and consumed by the hungry eyes. "Well, maybe we shouldn't take the eyes or the pod, as they seem to have been safe enough here."

"Strange that only one of the displays appears to have been looted. Perhaps there is a reason for that, or perhaps someone - such as our new friends - touched something and were 'purged'.

Should we assume that you'll let us know if there are any relevant knowledge rolls, rather that just trying each on each exhibit?

"There's a thought, Knorrin. Lets just see about that, shall we?"

The red headed gnome moves over to the looted display and sits on his haunches. He studies the display carefully.

Rellen scowls at the displays, "I say we head through the doors first and come back here once we've cleared the rest of the level. Then we can see how good this defence system is."

If nobody objects he moves over to the western door and opens it.

*Ahem*, Knorrin clears his throat noisily in an objecting manner. "Not without protection," he continues, waving his wand with insistence.

"I will say prayers granting Guidance and Resistance over Rellen and Chasik, then cast Protection from Evil over both with my wand. Then I will cast it over myself while Choamski casts Bless over the party. Rellen can use his wand, too, before entry. You will have to act fast before the earliest magics fade, but that shouldn't be a problem with you two."

"Whizzy can then start his performance and I'll fire my crossbow as soon as the door is opened and then get out of your way."

Rellen nods, "Yes, best be ready," he taps himself with the wand of Lead Blades just as the others finish preparing and then opens the door.

"Surely sounds like a plan, but sadly that will be the last of my scrolls of bless."

"Quickly remedied, my friend," Knorrin says, drawing two scrolls from a scroll box. "Here are two more, leaving me with two more for now, as well."

"Ahem, well then! Ready when you are."

All the items displayed are more or less magic. Their auras are varied, and it would take some time to specifically study them all. As for the Knowledge rolls, I'll gladly tell you which is involved if you tell me what artifact has caught your attention.

The door opens without any trouble on... a corridor, devoid of any visible signs of occupation.

Opening a door from the side isn't possible here, see the map. I'll presume Rellen opens it. We're on round 8 of your "list", though some variance may occur since your characters have no way to keep track of time.

"Well, that was anticlimactic..., but let's push on quickly!"

Heh. Somewhere down here, hopefully, unless she was just bluffing us. Still have 42 PfE charges remaining, and some rounds on the current usages.

Edit: Moved everyone up behind Rellen.

Rellen stalks forward and opens the southern door if no dangers present themselves.

"Ahem, something large came from this door and went to that "Alien Fungoid Display". Don't know where it went after. Anybody feel like a salad?" He wrinkles his nose in disgust.

A carving over the door to this room, written in Azlanti, reads, “Enigma of the Sky Seeds.” An upraised dais in an alcove to the south holds a four-foot-diameter geode that’s been cracked into two halves. The inside of the geode glitters with strange green crystals. A mound of green crystalline fragments and twisted strips of flaking green metal lies to the west. Two strange alien creatures, vaguely canine blue monsters, attack the Pathfinders as soon as they open the door.

Initiative order - round 1 (9 of Knorrin's count)
Floggentop <
Rellen <
Choamski <
AA
AA
Knorrin
Chasik
Wizzy, Rellen and Choamski are up!

Rellen bursts into the room flinging a sheath at the weird creatures and pulling his coldiron sword as he moves to strike the eastern blue beast.

Fling Scabbard: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 = 16 Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10
Greatsword PA: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 - 1 = 12 Damage: 3d6 + 6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (5, 3, 4) + 6 + 1 + 3 = 22

"Whoa.. space critters! Don't try any cold, gas or sound, and they don't like salt water!"

Choamski moves behind Chasik and fires his crossbow.

for when I go

So for rounds 9 and 10, Guidance and Resistance will be active for both (until used)(they should start expiring after 11, if I am correct), and so will be PfE (if applicable) and Bless; I'm not sure about Whizzy's song. I don't know if it is needed, but I'll try to keep track.

Ah, okay, sorry so fling scabbard should be +2, and the greatsword +1 for 18 and 13 respectively - though I'm guessing it won't help much.

Technically if Wizzy started his song on round 7 as you suggested, then he stopped on round 8, and the song is still valid for rounds 8 and 9. You are correct, they'll start expiring at round 11/12 respectively.

Rellen's scabbard hits the creature, but his blade swing is far too wide to hack into anything. 10 damage inflicted.

Choamski lets loose a bolt, but it misses completely.

Initiative order - round 1 (9 of Knorrin's count)
Floggentop <
Rellen
Choamski
AA (10 dmg)
AA
Knorrin
Chasik
Wizzy is up!

Wizzy would have started his inspire.. sorry traveling today

Wizzy starts singing again, emboldening the party's spirits against those critters from outer space. Both akatas prey on Rellen, as he's the only one who dared tread into the room. They lash with bare teeth and tentacles, but none of them are able to bypass the Andoran's armor.

Chasik sees the Akata's lack of interest in him as a sign of weakness, and treads into the otherworldly room to smite one of the blue houds - with success! 7 damage inflicted.

Initiative order - round 1, then 2 (10 of Knorrin's count)
Floggentop <
Rellen <
Choamski <
AA (10 dmg)
AA (7 dmg)
Knorrin <
Chasik
Everyone is up!

Xbow: 1d20 + 3 - 8 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 3 - 8 + 2 = 171d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Crit?: 1d20 + 3 - 8 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 - 8 + 2 = 162d8 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6) + 2 = 13
Firing into melee & soft cover; counting Bless and Inspire Courage

Knorrin moves behind Chasik, drawing and then tossing his cold iron spear into the tentacled horror in front of Chasik. By sheer luck, the spear flies to its target!

Choamski takes aim and his shot goes even more astray. Clearly the presence of these creatures has unnerved him.

Rellen swings his greatsword curses as his aim is poor again, drops his sword and pulls another sending the scabbard flying at his betentacled for.

PA Greatsword: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 + 1 - 1 = 15 Damage: 3d6 + 6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2, 5) + 6 + 1 + 3 = 20
Fling Scabbard: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 16 Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

Wizzy stops his song and hits an Akata with his wand..

Sonic Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1 DC 11 Fort for 1/2 and negate the daze

"Wizzy, they're deaf you dolt! I'm not entirely sure that will work. Here is to hoping..."

I don't actually know if they're immune to sonic, but they are deaf.

Opps lol i guess i missed that post.. Not like it was huge damage or anything..

Knorrin's bolt flies true to the Akatak's head, and the beast reels in pain. However, none of the cleric's companions are able to damage the otherworldly creatures. 4 damage inflicted

The akatas continue their onslaught on Rellen, managing to pierce his armor with a lucky bite going straight to the man's flesh. Fortunately, no other attack manages to break the Andoran's resolve. Crit for 13.

Initiative order - round 2, then 3 (11 of Knorrin's count)
Note: the first guidance, if not used, is now gone.
Floggentop <
Rellen (13 dmg) <
Choamski <
AA (10 dmg)
AA (11 dmg)
Knorrin <
Chasik <
Everyone is up!

Choamski continues to hope for a lucky shot into the melee, but is disappointed once again.

Growling Rellen swings again frustrated at his own lack of accuracy dropping another sword to free another hurling its scabbard.

Greatsword PA: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 + 1 - 1 = 21 Damage: 3d6 + 6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (4, 5, 4) + 6 + 1 + 3 = 23
Fling Scabbard: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 18 Damamge: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

Rellen puts an end to the hostilities with a massive greatsword slash felling one of the beasts and a swift throw of a scabbard finishing off the other.

End combat.

The green crystals in the geode are fragments of a strange metal none of the Pathfinders has ever seen before.

As for the three doors in the corridor, they all bear markings in Azlanti indicating what they could contain.

know arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
know planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
know arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
know religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Apparently he knows nothing about nothing here..

"Well, that was "Enigma of the Sky Seeds"... to our west, "Enigma of the Midnight Sun", to our north "Enigma of the Dark Tapestry". Such cheery names."

Rellen spits blood, and grins, "I'd think you would have figured out how this place works by now, not the Happy Time Fun Halls, The Accursed Halls. Any chance of some healing here, blue bastard bite me."