Embra Morsk nods to each of you as you introduce yourself. "The Pathfinder Society does not have any representatives in town, but they wish for the Emerald Spire, an underground dungeon of unknown age, to be explored. I am your contact here in town, and I have been provided with funds to take care of your room and board while you are in town between levels. You are to bring any interesting items you find to me, and I will pay the proper taxes on them and send them back to the Society. I will also be able to help you acquire any gear you need. I have arranged for you to spend the night at the Juliver Arms. My friends there will take care of you. Please come back here in the morning so I can provide your last minute instructions."
You make your way to the Juliver Arms, where you settle in for the night. In the morning, you reassemble at the Red Shield Tavern. Embra explains that the Emerald Spire is an enourmous tower of green glass that is over the top of an ancient dungeon. Your assignment for now is to explore the first level of that dungeon, and then return to make your report. Embra provides you with a map to help you find the Spire.
Any questions?
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"Fiery hands! Awesome! Wait, who's Ragathiel? I'm confused, you're his Hand? But you're not fiery like me, but you are red.... Ooohhhh, I get it now."
Sheepishly, Ahraq sets his breakfast down and extends his hand in greeting to Raga. "Sorry Modesta's not well. Welcome aboard, Raga."
He then returns to what's left of his food, and addresses their honorary VC. "So, um, ma'am, are there any reports of what kinds of critters are at this Tower, or anything weird, or special? You know, like, is it haaauuuunted?" he asks while grinning ear-to-ear. "Or are we just clearing out vermin?"
[b]"There is no telling what you may encounter in the Spire. Each level may be completely different from the others. There are no specific rumors, other than of magic and of bandits.
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"One should never underestimate their foe. With a shot of luck, even an ant can take down a giant." replies Baku, with a grin.
Nodding to Ragathiel, he offers "Well, it was thoughtful of her to send another in her stead. Pleased to meet you. With all this fire about, lets remember not to burn the world down."
"How many have ventured into the spire before us? Aside from bringing the artifacts to you for dissemination, any peculiar laws we should keep in mind about this place? Specifically those regarding our venture into the depths below?"
"Many have tried to explore the Spire, over the past few centuries. Most don't return. It also appears that the residents of the Spire, at least in the top levels, frequently change. This is why I cannot tell you what to expect."
"In terms of laws, the only one that you need be concerned with is that all artifacts and treasure brought into town need to be taxed, but I will take care of this for you. Here is your license from the Hellknights to explore. You may of course use treasures you find while still in the Spire."
The retired adventuress smiles at Khana. "There are rumors, but nothing is actually known. The story says that what we can see is not the actual Spire, but just a glass cover, and that the true Emerald Spire is a magical crystal that goes deep down into the world. Whether it's true or not, I can't say for sure."
You say farewell to your honorary venture captain, and follow the map she gave you to the Spire. As you emerge from the Echo Wood underbrush, you find yourselves staring up at a ruined keep guarding a broken central tower, all made of smooth, green glass. It’s obvious that a grand battle took place here many years ago, and the clearing around the ruin lies barren, with sickly weeds struggling to rise from the magic-blasted earth. Melted chunks of twisted glass pepper the ground, lending a green hue to the clearing’s light. Despite the damage, however, the glass of the keep itself seems to have avoided the ravages of time, with those pieces that survived the initial cataclysm unmarred by pitting or cracking, clean of moss and other clinging debris. At the top of a steep dirt path winding up through the rubble, a doorway opens onto darkness, its entrance seeming to steal light into its inky depths.
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Shaking his head as the near the spire, Baku mumbles "Beautiful place...least it would be if someone came and picked up all this broken glass."
Glancing towards the paladin, he smiles "So you are more than just a pretty face, eh? Yes, it is wise to take caution and look ahead. If you are comfortable with the role, by all means. Mind your findings so we may document in full upon our return."
You carefully walk around the outside of the broken tower.
Near the other side of the tower, you find a little-used path that ends in a wall that doesn't look quite right. When you examine that bit of wall more closely, you find that it is a screen of canvas and wood that has been painted to look like the wall. When you push the screen aside, you see a narrow passage that is quickly lost into darkness.
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Khāṇa takes a deep whiff of whatever might be down there....
[dice=Scent-based Perception]1d20+8[/dice]
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After she points out the hidden door, Ahraq watches Khāṇa sniff the air at the entrance and waits (impatiently) for her to give the all clear.
"Coool, a secret tunnel! Let me know when it's clear, and I'll lead the way! It's obvious he's excited and eager to get going, and perhaps he can be forgiven for not using his "inside" voice when others are trying to be sneaky.
Khana smells only dungeon smells, with perhaps a distant whiff of goblinoid creatures. The tunnel is too twisty to see much until you get near the end of it.
You follow a tunnel which is shored up by rough timbers. It ends in a small space cleared through a pile of rubble. Going through this small space, you find yourselves in a curving hall which has been badly damaged. There are intact doors to the north, east, and south, as well as a large double door leading west to the core of the tower.
Khana finds nothing else new.
Khana carefully looks over the door and finds nothing, so Ahraq opens it and you move inside. You find yourself in a room full of cots and other shabby furniture put together from scraps of wood and canvas. You find yourselves almost overwhelmed by the stench of rotting food, probably dairy of some kind. As you enter, six goblins stand up from the cots and prepare to attack you. One of them tosses behind him a chunk of cheese that seems to be the source of at least the worst smell.
Bold may post:
round 1:
Raga
Baku (and Hera)
goblins 1
Yroh
Arahq
goblins 2
Elado
Khana
The other goblins shriek as Raga brings down one of their friends.
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Swallowing back the bile welling up in his throat, Baku mumbles a few words in a far away tongue. "تدنيس الأراضي مثل هذا ؟ جرب هذا للحجم!" With a flick of the wrist, a glob of acid flies across the room.
"Herra, take down the one with the yellow hat!"
"Defile the lands such as this? Try this on for size!"