Dang! I forgot to mention that I wanted to wear those sandals... Is it too late for that? Cyrus, seeing the threat, grits his teeth and moves into the room, sickle at the ready, prepared to harvest the undead back into simple death.
if I can wear the sandals, I would spend a ki point to add 20' of movement and be able to attack in the surprise round as well... Your call gm, I forgot to post it so I am ok with paying the price for my forgetfulness :)
Male CG Halfling Bard 6 | HP 33/33 | AC 24 (15 Tch, 21 FF) | CMB +1, CMD 14 | F +7, R +10, W +8 | Init +7 | Perc +11, SM +12 | Speed 20 ft | [ooc| Inspire 16/18[/ooc] | Spells: 1st 5/5, 2nd 4/4 | Active Conditions: Short Sword shrunk
Knowledge Religion:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Miro steps into the room, clearing the way for others, while he draws his dagger. He might not be able to do much damage, but he could make these things easier to hit for someone who did!
Cyrus, tapping into the power of his newly acquired footwear, feels a deeper connection to that inner strength that helped him survive on the streets. He digs deep, getting a little extra distance with each stride, and finds himself close enough to get a swing in with his masterfully crafted weapon.
"Don't fear the Reaper!" He shouts as he lashes out at the grotesque quadraped looking creature.
Mechanics: Spend 1 Ki point to gain 20' of extra movement (swift action), using the power of the sandals to utilize a move action and standard action in the surprise round, attacking vs Flat footed, which allows me to roll sneak attack damage. Weeee!!
Just as an aside, whenever you enter a new dungeon room, I assume you have your default (most used) weapons drawn. You need to tell me if that's not the case... but it's a dangerous dungeon, not a stroll down the street!
Cyrus slices the festrog, James, he's facing with his sickle. Boils and pustules burst on its skin, and the noxious secretions splash Cyrus, burning through his skin in moments.
Cyrus fort save, DC 11:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4
Almost immediately, the burnt skin begins to puff up and suppurate.
Damn. Cyrus, you have Necrotic Boils: Disease—contact; save Fort DC 11; onset 1 day; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Con; cure 1 save. Obviously this doesn't take full effect until tomorrow, but it still doesn't look good today!
Perhaps worst of all, the acidic fluids are staining Cyrus's lovely new wyvern leather sandals!
By the way, with all the labels in the way and so on, it's an absolute bìtch to do the red outline and then the strike through. I'll persevere with the red outline, but I'm just going to delete the portraits once they're dead (or even unconscious and bleeding out). Not worth the pain.
Next up: Ibid, Finarin, Amaranti, Kaisharga, Gunari.
"Careful, guys. Those festrogs spray.... Oh, you already know that. Use blunt weapons, reach or range, in the. The others are ghouls, which can paralyze. Be careful. "
Gunari will use a standard action to use his blessing of good, granting 1d6 extra damage to evil creatures. He then moves forward up to r11, drawing his blade.
Gunari: this is the surprise round, so just a standard or move action please. Cyrus gets both because of the new funky sandals. Unless there's a special ability you have that I've missed? Don't worry, plenty of time to get into battle. Perhaps a charge action next round? I'd let you charge Sid (it's a pretty close approximation of a straight line) if no-one gets to him first or gets in your way.
Male Human (Garundi), Summoner 10, HP: 93/93 | AC: 19[21] FF: 17[19] Touch: 13 | Saves: Fort: +11[+13] Ref: +9[+11] Will: +11[+13] | Perception: +2 SM +0| Init: +2 | CMB: +16 | CMD: 27 | Speed: 30 | Spells 1st: 6/6 2nd: 4/5 3rd: 2/4 4th: 1/1| Wand of MA 39/50(1) | Wand of IH 38 / 50 | Active conditions: heroism 200 min, greater invisibility 10 rounds
"Reach, got it!" Amaranti understands Gunari's warning, and starts running after Cyrus. That boy is fast..."Kaisharga, to me!", the Garundi shouts, realizing he is not going to catch the young ninja.
As everyone gets into position, they are amazed at how little attention is being paid to them by these feeding undead. The putrefied flesh must taste awesome.
Kaisharga is already on the move, sensing its master's will before the command is even uttered. The serpentine body slithers onwards, but is not fast enough to enter combat.
Leave a charge arc for Kaisharga if you can, more opportunities next round that way
You damned fool! Ibid thinks to himself as he watches Cyrus charge ahead. You're going to get yourself killed. The next instant the old man has a blunt arrow drawn from its quiver, knocked, and has released it toward its mark.
Your father is going to haunt me forever... the thought crosses Ibid's mind as the arrow sails toward the festrog.
Sorry! I can't move my token, and I'm also not sure where I would be in the room at the start of the surprise round. If I'm right at the entrance, it is possible for Ibid to use point blank shot, but I didn't want to assume I could! If my position at the start of the surprise round is acceptable to use point blank shot, the attack is = 14, and the damage = 4.
Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images
Has anyone noticed the Golem is a bit heftier lately? That is because it keeps eating my posts. GGGOOOOOLLLLEEEEMMM!
"CRY..."Fool
Seeing his friends rush forward, Fianrin drops his scimitar free, moves into better position move drawing his mace part of move using his arcane powers increase the density of the mace swift.
Man, I've had some massive posts chomped on recently. Fat f*ck. Frequent use of preview helps, provided your browser saves post variables.
I've moved Gunari 5-ft forwards (not sure if you can 5ft step in a surprise round, but you can crowd around the door... and I assume you were, so it's fine). Ibid, I've moved you to as far forward as you can be, but no point blank shot I'm afraid. No matter, though, because...
Ibid's arrow strikes true, smashing Sid the Festrog in the back of his head. While the arrow squishes some boils, they mostly dribble pussy liquid down Sid's back and don't spurt out far enough to spray anyone nearby. Sid swats casually at the air behind his head before resuming his meal, totally disinterested in anything else at this point.
Finarin is a whirl of movement as he gets himself ready for action.
The undead diners gradually look up from their feasting, perhaps mildly annoyed at the intruders. They don't stop eating just yet, however.
Next up: Miro, Cyrus, Ibid, Finarin, Amaranti, Kaisharga, Gunari.
Cyrus reels from the spray of the acidic liquid, and gets an uncomfortable feeling that it won't wash off very easily. He grits his teeth and pushes forward anyways towards William the ghoul. He ducks around any reach he might have and takes another swing with his Sickle, hoping to quickly eliminate a second foe before they even get up from their disgusting meal.
Ibid steps forward while aligning his next shot, this time knocking a regularly tipped arrow and hoping to skewer the foul creature. The old man is clearly angry at his friend, but even so, considers attacking the creature before Cyrus in order to help the young man, but decides better of this course of actions in case another vile spray were to coat the rogue.
Instead, Ibid continues to focus his shot on the same target as his last arrow.
Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images
@ Ibid Wow - nice shot! Again at work and cannot see a map so I hit things I can that are still alive er dead but alive - Ophiuchus get out of here!
With arrows zooming by, Gunari invoking his god's blessing, and Cyrus skirting into the fray, Finarin knows he needs to act quickly. He feels a feeling of euphoria settling on him, almost as if he has drunk enough to feel happy and strong, but before the wracking sobs of alcohol induced depression hit, he picks a target and swings.
**EDIT** Cyrus'd! Adding in Finarin's action. Moved Finarin next to Kenneth, since he didn't specify a particular target.
The warpriest of Cayden Cailean wanders forwards muttering a blessing while the Holmesian ranger strides forth, knocks a lethal arrow and lets fly. The bolt flies forth with remarkable speed and accuracy. It buries itself into the back of festrog's skull, continues through to erupt out of its eye and nails its head to its meal. Sid's facial warts spray harmlessly over the nearby floor.
Finarin moves up to the ghoul just beyond the skewered festrog and smashes it in the head with his empowered mace. This time, the creature actually looks up, its meal dripping in hideous stinking strands from its gormlessly open jaw. It makes no move to attack its assailant.
FYI, reach weapons wouldn't have worked (unless I interpreted the rules wrong) - the ability targets the attacker, not adjacent foes. Could have been nasty!
Male CG Halfling Bard 6 | HP 33/33 | AC 24 (15 Tch, 21 FF) | CMB +1, CMD 14 | F +7, R +10, W +8 | Init +7 | Perc +11, SM +12 | Speed 20 ft | [ooc| Inspire 16/18[/ooc] | Spells: 1st 5/5, 2nd 4/4 | Active Conditions: Short Sword shrunk
Miro begins singing, inspiring the others to greater levels of badassery. He also moves forward, providing another target for William.
Male Human (Garundi), Summoner 10, HP: 93/93 | AC: 19[21] FF: 17[19] Touch: 13 | Saves: Fort: +11[+13] Ref: +9[+11] Will: +11[+13] | Perception: +2 SM +0| Init: +2 | CMB: +16 | CMD: 27 | Speed: 30 | Spells 1st: 6/6 2nd: 4/5 3rd: 2/4 4th: 1/1| Wand of MA 39/50(1) | Wand of IH 38 / 50 | Active conditions: heroism 200 min, greater invisibility 10 rounds
Hurry, or you don't get any! Amaranti send to his eidolon, and starts sprinting towards the enemy. Holding the lance firmly at his waist level, and putting his full weight to the strike, he charges the ghoul.
Lance, PA, bless, IC:1d20 + 7 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 26 Damage, AS, IC, PA:1d8 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 1 = 15
You should eat more, and grow bigger! I want a mount!
If you and your companions would be more patient, the enemy would come to us. But no, you must charge in and grab the glory. So then you must be satisfied with skewering the enemy by yourself. Now, hold still and let me protect you
Even without sound, there is a note in the serpents speech like it was sighing. Hastily, the eidolon slithers in front of the master.
The brave heroes position themselves around the vicious slavering undead. Miro sings a song to gladden the hearts and strengthen the resolve of his comrades. Amaranti deftly slides the point of his lance through the brain-stem of the ghoul he faces, satisfied as the creature drops to the flesh covered ground. William finds release from his hunger at last.
The remaining ghouls stop their masticating long enough to stand groggily and look around. It seems as though they don't really want to attack, but they will if they must. Then again, perhaps it is simply as though they are just waking from a dream, and are still rubbing the sleep from their eyes. Wait, no, Julian is rubbing puss-filled flesh from his eyes. Still, it's fascinating to watch a group of undead so apathetic about killing such readily available living victims.
So, for the ghouls' actions, they do nothing. I swear, when I first read this scenario I went over the tactics section of this encounter about 5 times. I know they want to reduce the CR a little, but last initiative and almost two full rounds of inaction? I just can't believe it. They're still flat-footed too, by the way. Have at!
Next up: Miro, Cyrus, Ibid, Finarin, Amaranti, Kaisharga, Gunari.
"That's the way you skewer the undead, folks!" 'Shouldn't I be casting or something? I have spells and blessings I haven't used. Beer I haven't drank. Beer... mmmm.... beer...'
The old man loads another arrow and steps closers to the disgusting mound in the center of the room, careful not to end beside it, and aims at one of the far ghouls.
move action: move 15-foot to T9. *token not yet moved* standard action: shoot at Clary, I assume Ibid can see/has line of effect to Clary from T9
Sorry, Gunari, can't crit the undead! Your damage was enough to kill it anyway, though.
Incorrect. That's a 3.5ism. You cannot deal precision or crits to incorporeal undead without Ghost Touch, but you can typically crit or sneak them!
Undead Creature type:
Undead
Undead are once-living creatures animated by spiritual or supernatural forces. An undead creature has the following features.
d8 Hit Die.
Base attack bonus equal to 3/4 total Hit Dice (medium progression).
Good Will saves.
Skill points equal to 4 + Int modifier (minimum 1) per Hit Die. Many undead, however, are mindless and gain no skill points or feats. The following are class skills for undead: Climb, Disguise, Fly, Intimidate, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (religion), Perception, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, and Stealth.
Traits: An undead creature possesses the following traits (unless otherwise noted in a creature's entry).
No Constitution score. Undead use their Charisma score in place of their Constitution score when calculating hit points, Fortitude saves, and any special ability that relies on Constitution (such as when calculating a breath weapon's DC).
Darkvision 60 feet.
Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
Immunity to bleed, death effects, disease, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning.
Not subject to nonlethal damage, ability drain, or energy drain. Immune to damage to its physical ability scores (Constitution, Dexterity, and Strength), as well as to exhaustion and fatigue effects.
Cannot heal damage on its own if it has no Intelligence score, although it can be healed. Negative energy (such as an inflict spell) can heal undead creatures. The fast healing special quality works regardless of the creature's Intelligence score.
Immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects or is harmless).
Not at risk of death from massive damage, but is immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points.
Not affected by raise dead and reincarnate spells or abilities. Resurrection and true resurrection can affect undead creatures. These spells turn undead creatures back into the living creatures they were before becoming undead.
Proficient with its natural weapons, all simple weapons, and any weapons mentioned in its entry.
Proficient with whatever type of armor (light, medium, or heavy) it is described as wearing, as well as all lighter types. Undead not indicated as wearing armor are not proficient with armor. Undead are proficient with shields if they are proficient with any form of armor.
Undead do not breathe, eat, or sleep.
Note: Nothing about no critting there. With a lack of a statement that they are immune, they are not immune.
Not being able to crit the undead was actually a 3.5 rule that they did away with in pathfinder... it is actually specifically not listed in the undead traits...
Undead Traits:
Undead Traits (Ex) Undead are immune to death effects, disease, mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, phantasms, and patterns), paralysis, poison, sleep, stun, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects or is harmless). Undead are not subject to ability drain, energy drain, or nonlethal damage. Undead are immune to damage or penalties to their physical ability scores (Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution), as well as to fatigue and exhaustion effects. Undead are not at risk of death from massive damage.
The only thing that cannot be crit are things that expressly state that in the monster stat block (I think oozes fall into this category...) which is also why my sneak attack damage actually works. (sneak attack and crit damage are considered in the same category of precision based damage)
Edit: Gunari out ninja's the ninja. You have learned well my student...
Male CG Halfling Bard 6 | HP 33/33 | AC 24 (15 Tch, 21 FF) | CMB +1, CMD 14 | F +7, R +10, W +8 | Init +7 | Perc +11, SM +12 | Speed 20 ft | [ooc| Inspire 16/18[/ooc] | Spells: 1st 5/5, 2nd 4/4 | Active Conditions: Short Sword shrunk
Miro decides that his companions have everything completely in hand, and thus simply continues to cheer them on.
Cyrus continues to press the attack on the slow reacting undead filth, and rushes along the wall to reach Clary in the back of the room. He pushes his companions warnings to the back of his mind, dismissing them as overprotective commands meant to hold him back.
Seeing the arrow protrude from the unthinking monstrosity's shoulder, he reaches for what might be a weak spot in the foul magic that gives it its unlife.
Attack:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 for Damage:1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Plus Sneak Attack if it still applies (against Flat Footed) Extra SA:1d6 ⇒ 2
As Gunari said, AFAIK undead are suspectible to crits. And sneak attack and precision damage. Hooray for rogues and swashbucklers!
Kaisharga thinks a moment of taking a shortcut through the mound of flesh, but shakes it's headpart, and moves around the pillar.
Bite, IC, bless:1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 8
It's not really the eidolons' day, is it..?
Helpless creatures, enjoying their meal. Is this the best you can offer me, master?
Male Human (Garundi), Summoner 10, HP: 93/93 | AC: 19[21] FF: 17[19] Touch: 13 | Saves: Fort: +11[+13] Ref: +9[+11] Will: +11[+13] | Perception: +2 SM +0| Init: +2 | CMB: +16 | CMD: 27 | Speed: 30 | Spells 1st: 6/6 2nd: 4/5 3rd: 2/4 4th: 1/1| Wand of MA 39/50(1) | Wand of IH 38 / 50 | Active conditions: heroism 200 min, greater invisibility 10 rounds
Amaranti runs after Kaisharga, furious of the eidolon's attitude. Not even really concentrating on the enemy, the Garundi pokes the ghoul, staring angrily at Kaisharga.
Lance, IC, bless:1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 = 21Clary has cover Damage, IC, AS:1d8 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 = 14
Stupid worm, you no good! I send you away, and summon birds! They peck enemy with little beaks much better than you! And they not picky about what to peck, like you!
Cyrus did indeed get sneak attack damage (didn't need to check that one up... don't know what I was thinking re: crits). Since he killed his creature, I've put Amaranti on Clary instead. Not sure if you had enough movement, but you only needed another 15ft so hand-wave hand-wave.
To the sound of joyous, beautiful singing, Cyrus hooks his sickle under the ghoul's chin and tears its neck out. Clary flops over and spasms once before becoming nothing more than a dirty, stinking, puss-covered corpse.
While Kaisharga has trouble with his targets, Amaranti deftly steps over Clary's corpse to poke Julian the Ghoul - hard. The lance punctures Julian's chest and stamps a hole through whatever dried up dead thing passes for its heart.
Congratulations! Your effectiveness and damage output is such that you destroyed them all without them getting in a single action. This round, they would have acted but with the staggered condition... and they call this a CR 4 encounter. *scoffs*
In the now quiet room, the only sound is the pumping of necrotic fluids from the enormous. scar-covered fleshy mass in the center of everything. An aura of evil exudes from the thing, and the companions feel totally ill at ease near it.
Next actions please! We are, for now, totally out of combat. The thing in the middle of the room does not move to attack in any way.
Male CG Halfling Bard 6 | HP 33/33 | AC 24 (15 Tch, 21 FF) | CMB +1, CMD 14 | F +7, R +10, W +8 | Init +7 | Perc +11, SM +12 | Speed 20 ft | [ooc| Inspire 16/18[/ooc] | Spells: 1st 5/5, 2nd 4/4 | Active Conditions: Short Sword shrunk
Miro studies the undulating mass in the center of the room with a sick fascination, trying to figure out its source or purpose.
Miro can't quite figure out what this is - save to say that it is like nothing he's even heard of before. It definitely seems to be animate, but definitely more undead than alive.
Miro perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
The gaping wounds that were left by the gorging ghouls seem to be healing up as Miro looks at them, but they form horrid and vivid scars. Later discussion with Gunari will no doubt let you know that healing naturally (with scars) rather than completely healing over indicates fast healing rather than regeneration which further means that this thing can be destroyed.
Miro sense motive:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Remembering the scene they came upon when they first entered, Miro recalls that the ghouls couldn't seem to help to help themselves when eating the flesh of the monstrosity, and it appeared to make them groggy.
The flesh pile is clearly supernatural, and a quick casting of detect magic by the astute bard reveals an almost overpowering aura of necromancy.
Male CG Halfling Bard 6 | HP 33/33 | AC 24 (15 Tch, 21 FF) | CMB +1, CMD 14 | F +7, R +10, W +8 | Init +7 | Perc +11, SM +12 | Speed 20 ft | [ooc| Inspire 16/18[/ooc] | Spells: 1st 5/5, 2nd 4/4 | Active Conditions: Short Sword shrunk
"Perhaps some holy water, if someone has some?"
Miro will go and inspect the door and the area around it while his companions figure out how to kill the strange mass of necromantic flesh.
Okay, just going to run with this... doesn't say it's immune to crits, so (as per conversation before) it isn't.
Gunari slides his rapier deep into the enormous necrotic polyp. Its skin resists, causing him to do less damage than he'd expect and the wound immediately starts to heal. However, the healing takes longer than it would take Gunari to make another stab.
Teaming up, the group easily manage to outpace its healing by dealing damage to it. As the companions go about the grisly task, bits of flesh fall off the thing and dissolve into gelatinous puddles of semi-translucent, foul-smelling gruel. After a few minutes (that seem like hours), the team has reduced the creature (if so it can be called) to nothing more than a thick liquid that runs slowly from this room and into the pool in the previous room. It heals no more and is no more.
By the way, I don't think anyone has holy water. If they do, an experimental drop here and there reveals that it's just as effective as it is on any undead and doesn't bypass the fast healing. Don't waste the resource.
With the horrific creature gone, the eery walls are noticeable once more. Strange, regular lines run up each of the columns, incredibly smooth and precise. The large, stone door to the northeast is one perfectly square slab. It is unlocked, but will require more strength than usual to open (move action and strength check DC 8, you can take 10).
Ibid and Miro simultaneously notice some specific engravings upon the wall that grab their attention. Studying them more closely, they notice that they are actually carved upon a hidden door. The writing appears to be made up of regular shapes interacting with one another. Different length lines originate from the precise center of each shape, radiating out at exactly 90º each time, but in different directions. The lines occasionally intersect and occasionally turn at 90º, but always terminate in the exact center of another polygon or circle.
Linguistics, DC 15:
The writing on the door is ancient in origin, and conforms to no known syntactical structures.
Heading to the southwest corner of the room, Gunari inspects the rubble with his keen understanding of structures. He estimates that it would be safe to clear the rubble from the tunnel (ie. it won't collapse any further) and that it would likely take about six hours if everyone pitches in. The work will be very noisy and exhausting, to say the least.
Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images
GM Damo wrote:
The parchment Venture-Captain Benarry passes you reads:
Thrennt’s log claims he hid the Orb in a side chamber connected to what he called the ‘hall of the flesh eaters’ and then collapsed the entrance to keep it safe. So, I’m giving you some picks and shovels since you might need to do some digging.
I’m certain there are multiple levels to this tomb, so keep good notes, and document anything you find that might help future expeditions. Check around the top level, but don’t go any deeper than you have to to find the Orb. Remember, you only have three days to do this before the columns start moving again.
The Orb of Stars is a solid sphere made of a dull copper-colored metal inlaid with dozens of star-shaped moonstones, rubies, and blue sapphires that mimic the stars of the Cosmic Caravan
"Gentlemen, our ... mandate is quite clear. I say we first secure this .... level, by securing this room. I will set a trip wire up across the ... south entrance, and can guard that. I purpose ... another guard the north west entrance while the rest ... shovel. We can rotate through shifts of guarding and ... shoveling. Once we have the orb, we can decided about the ... secret door."
Male NG Elf Magus 8 | HP: 57/57| AC: 22[21] (16[15] Tch, 16Fl) | CMB: +6, CMD: 22 | F: +9, R: +10[9], W: +8 | Init: +6 | Perc: +9, SM: +2 | Speed 30ft | Arcane Pool Point 8/9, GM Reroll: 1/1, Pearl of Power: 1/1 | Active conditions: Fatigued, Shaken, Haste; 5 images
Walking over to Cyrus Finarin puts a gentle hand on is arm, "A .... moment if you will". He turns towards Gunari and adresses his friends.
"Gentl" he stops himself and lets out a quick breath. "Brothers, in these last encounters you both rushed ... headlong into danger. Gunari you with the ... madwoman, and you Cyrus here with the .... undead. Don't mistake foolhardiness with .... bravery. We could have avoided those cannibals ... with some simple rations. And Cyrus if those undead decided you were better tasting than .... that 'mass', we would have been hard pressed to catch you. I implore both of you to be more ... prudent in the future. I have grown .... attached to you both. In my long elven years, I have seen many of your .... race, be born, live and die. I pray that your .... time comes when your hair is fully grey and not unnecessarily rushing into ... danger."
I love the scolding, I was hoping someone would say it, it fits. Cyrus is going to vote for the secret door first, what if it leads us to the orb? :) we could save ourselves a bunch of digging...
The thought of digging does not appeal to Cyrus. While Finarin makes an impassioned speech about caution and tripwires, the Kelleshite tries the secret door instead, some time around "attached to you both".
Beyond the secret door is a narrow set of steep stairs descending into darkness. After several dozen feet, the stairs end in a solid stone door carved to resemble an immense scowling face.
By the time Finarin says "not unnecessarily rushing into danger" Cyrus has moved into the secret alcove, descended the stairs and is inspecting the door. It is very solid, and the lock on it is impossible to open via any means the companions have at their disposal (it is later discovered that it has an arcane lock or similar effect on it).
The lock is disable device DC 50, the door has hardness 8, 90 hit points, Break DC 40. I think this was included because the author's RPG superstar entry was a mega dungeon, and this is the entrance to the more dangerous levels. It also fits with the flavor of the adventure, of course, that there is much more to explore in the Gloomspire than can be covered in a scenario.
As a reminder, digging out the landfill will take 6 hours and exhaust the participants. It will also be heard throughout the level - smashing on hard stone for hours has a way to reverberate through walls, even thick strange ones like these. If something is in the next room, they will definitely hear you.
