ES#6 - The Clockwork Maze (KS) (Inactive)

Game Master phaeton_nz

Gameplay Thread - Dot & Delete - you know the drill.

The long stairway ends in a small chamber. On the north wall, a panel with two bronze levers—one red and one black—is set chest-high in the wall. To the east, an archway leads to an alcove. Distant ticking echoes through the walls, as if several large clocks were operating simultaneously.

There are no visible exits apart from the stairway you came down. Both levers are set to the mid position.

"Greetings everyone. Hope everyone stays safe. If you see me running, please try to keep up." Ebonfeather said with a sly grin.

Seeing the panel at the end of the hallway, he held up his hand. "Let me check it out before we go playing with the levers." he said looking around for traps.

Perception (traps): 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 1 = 25

"Better to be safe than sorry. Both running and pulling levers." leshy warrior says

No traps but looking into the alcove you see that the walls of the alcove are mismatched. Most of the room is finished in masonry blocks, but to the north is a curved wall of bronze. There’s a narrow seam between the bronze wall and the masonry, and the bronze wall seems to be vibrating very faintly.

Just be careful...no telling what nasty stuff might happen if the wrong thing gets pulled, twisted, pushed or whatever. Carlin says as she activates her wand to produce a mystical shield around her.

mage armour...also buying a wand of Magic missile 3rd lvl...2250 gp...

As the rest of you speak amongst yourselves, you begin to notice that the chamber you are in has become noticeably darker and quieter. Your instincts may momentarily tell you that perhaps a cloud has passed overhead, or the others in the room have moved further away from you - but the other occupants are all still where they were before, and you immediately realize that cloud-cover down here is absurd.

You are a little uncertain what is going on, but then you hear a small, hollow voice, slightly quavering yet underlaid with an unnatural resonance, like it was echoing across an incalculably vast distance:

"The Darkness below calls us, a Song of Forever!!!"

How long she's been there with you, you are not certain: A very small, dark, pale, alarmingly thin, disturbed-looking young woman who doesn't seem to cast a shadow so much as snuff the light - and even some of the sound - from around her. She wears drab, but highly serviceable garb that would not look out of place in a Tian monastery, although the glint of mithril can be seen amongst the fabric. At her side are a starkly elegant black-hafted spear and a stingray-leather haversack, into the latter of which she is presently replacing one of those big weird puzzle-books that always seem to be on prominent display at the book-shops at the Grand Lodge..

puzzle-book Intelligence check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

"It's good to be back. Wherever we are. Whoever you are. I am Black Sun."

The last member of the team appears next, a tall woman with an attractive figure. She is dressed in expensive silks and jewelry, but the most attention is drawn to her by a bright and sweet aroma like juicy fruits, causing slight salivation in any person next to her. She is silent and thoughtful, but when she speaks, her voice almost hypnotizes the listener. Her face is hidden by silks for a reason - she is a representative of a rare race of ghorans, humanoid plants. Whether she is afraid of being eaten by people (these acts of barbaric cannibalism are still happening) or simply does not want to draw attention to the group is not clear to you, but in any case, she tries to travel incognito. You know that her name is Alecto, and communicating with her, in addition to thoughtfulness, you note indifference to any knowledge. It seems that intuition means fundamentally more to her than logic.

Black Sun, what a beautiful name. I hope you will light the way for us?

She also nods with pleasure to Knight Thornrose, with whom they recently defended the Grand Lodge from invasion. Plant persons must stick together. While saying this in a soft voice, she gently touches the leshy fighter.

"I guess we have to try things out until we figure out what they do." Ebonfeather said as he started to test out the levers.

Red/Black levers, U for Up, D for Down, M for middle. So UM is Red lever up, Black one in the middle. Start with that and then DM, MU, MD for the first four tests.

A tall half-orc carrying a glaive smiles at each of you with a little bow, but says little beyond introducting herself as Garsita.

Ebonfeather pulls the Red lever up. There is a *click* then *RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE* and you can feel the floor vibrating. Those in the alcove can see a tunnel entrance rotating into view before it lines up with an audible *CLUNK* then it goes quiet save for the background ticking.

Do you continue testing levers?

"Hope that is a good sign." Ebonfeather said as the tunnel moved into view. "Do we want to check it out or keep testing the levers?" he asked the others.

Black Sun, what a beautiful name. I hope you will light the way for us?

Black Sun looks at Alecto with an utterly cryptic expression, craning her neck to such a severe degree one might expect it to snap.

"Nobody's ever asked me to do that before; are you certain you need light? Perhaps it's just habit-forming."

Ebonfeather pulls the Red lever up. There is a *click* then *RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE* and you can feel the floor vibrating. Those in the alcove can see a tunnel entrance rotating into view before it lines up with an audible *CLUNK* then it goes quiet save for the background ticking.

Okay, this is starting to feel like MYST!

Every feature on Black Sun's face seems to widen with realization.

"We're in a giant puzzle-box!!!" She exclaims with enthusiasm. "We should find out what we did before we do something else!"

She begins heading in the direction of the new tunnel...

Stealth: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32

...and before the rest of you know it, seems to completely disappear!

Black Sun discovers it turns 90 degrees to the left before emerging into another brick clad room.

She also nods with pleasure to Knight Thornrose, with whom they recently defended the Grand Lodge from invasion. Plant persons must stick together. While saying this in a soft voice, she gently touches the leshy fighter.

Thornrose waves to Alecto "Agree, that is vital to survival of plant life. Should we test another combination of levers or explore the tunnel?" leshy grunts

"I guess we are going to check things out. Let me join Black Sun. Give us a minute and then follow along." Ebonfeather said, heading down the hallway.

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

Garsita hangs back a moment, as requested, while the stealthy ones scout ahead.

If you need back up, just let me know and i'll come in blasting... Carlin says as she waits for the go ahead. she scans the room with her arcane sight for any magical auras.

detect magic while i wait

Black Sun continues advancing, and peeks around the corner into the new chamber....

Black Sun sees the following:

A variety of artwork and keepsakes are displayed on the walls of this chamber: a tapestry depicting a royal court, an oddly melted lump of iron on a pedestal, a fine heavy mace hanging on the wall, and a broken staff lying on another pedestal.

I presume you're looking into the new chamber that has been exposed

Black Sun, yes, because I'm a plant and I need light! But while she's saying this, wayang is already disappearing into the shadows...

What an unnatural place. She's shivering. Ans casts mage armor from the wand btw.

Black Sun reappears, almost as if from nowhere, before those who'd stayed behind.

"Come! We see things! Wonderful things!"

"It may be unnatural, but we ain't strangers to such things! What did you find there, Black Sun?" excited Thornrose turns his attention to new chamber and approaches carefully

my post got eaten damg it!

Well, at least I can see in the dark...I can make light if needed...Carlin says as she moves up.

Those in the trophy room, make perception checks.

perc: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Carlin gets a 'Hello hello hello, what do we have there then' moment. There's a secret door in the northeast corner.

Perception-Traps?: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 1 = 32
Joining the others, Ebonfeather checked to make sure no surprises awaited them.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

There's no traps on the secret door but that lump of melted iron and the broken staff sure looks suspicious.

Garsita moves to join her companions.

Carlin examines the iron and staff using her magic sense.

detect magic..any spellcraft rolls i need?

Yes, there does seem to be an electrical trap there - it just requires something to complete the circuit.

"Let me check things out, it might be a possible trap" Ebonfeather said as he made his way to examine the staff and lump of iron.

Disable device: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Ebonfeather manages to disable that trap without shocking themselves.

Carlin also discovers that the mace is magical.

Wait...this is enchanted... Carlin says as she concentrates to see if she can figure out anything special about the weapon.

spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Alecto flaps her eyes around. It's all so strange and amazing. No roots, even though we're underground... (int -3)

Garsita sees if she can notice anything more.

spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

It seems to be a +1 heavy mace.

Well, it might be good to have...if something needs a good bonking...a bit heavy for me... Carlin says with a show of her(lack of) muscles.

sorry...just gt internet back...crap time to go down..on a holiday weekend...lovely...

"Might as well take it with us in case its needed. Where to next?" Ebonfeather asked.

Unless someone wants it, pack it in my Handy Haversack.

That was the question I was about to ask.

Garsita gestures for one of her companions to take the mace; she has no interest in it.

"What about the...lump? Did not someone say it was magical too? I thought I heard someone say that..." Black Sun looks around, suddenly a bit more confused than normal.

"I can take that mace, might be useful against some enemies." Thornrose says

Knight Thornrose, in that case, would you mind opening the north door too?

You go North. ((More of the map is exposed))

perc: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24will move tojen when at comoiter unless someone moves me up..if so tia...

Carlin points to a slight crack.

Another door...place is full ofbthem apparently...

The leshy storms in without noticing anything out of ordinary.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9