Rise of the Runelords Table 2 (Closed)

Game Master ElegantlyWasted

"By the Gods!" exclaims Lackspell, holding the blade out at arms length. "There are fell magics on this blade. I cannot yet tell what manner of magic it is, but it would be perilous indeed for any who tried to wield it. Perhaps the curse on this is what drove Jervas Stoot to his mad atrocities. In any case, it is probably not safe to just leave it laying here. Such things have a way of being found. If no one has any objections, I will take it back into town. Perhaps I may be able to discern more of its magic in time. And we may need to find a way to destroy it."

With that, Lackspell will retrieve a spare sack from within his pack. Rolling the blade up into the sack he will tie it up with some twine and then store the wrapped blade in his pack.

Praetor follows Varak and Arkon closely, his greatsword drawn and at the ready. "By the light," he curses as he looks into the room full of jars. "Whatever foul being now resides in this evil place must be destroyed...Already too many have died."

Praetor steps into the room briefly to look for anything of interest-

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

-but his attention is held by the jars full of eyes. He locks onto them, his head spinning. "I can feel the evil of this place, thick and blinding like a fog." He steps out of the room quickly, feeling his tongue swell and stomach turn with nausea.

"Chrona is right. That blade, this place, they must be cleared and destroyed to the last stone or the evil will live on."

Varak turned from the disgusting trinkets from the mad man, moving from the room towards the door if only to look to Lackspell. Having heard him from the room, he was more than willing to believe a cursed weapon could have brought upon this. Whenever Pazuzu was concerned, things were never to be trusted at first glance. Care was needed even when saying his name, as it was capable of provoking his sight.

"Care with that item then my friend, if you evil the slightest pull at your mind do inform me at once. I have one more casting of my protection spell and it could be what is necessary to keep you safe from those who lurk in the shadows," he offered to the human alchemist, turning his head to look at the others still in the room. "The rest of us will need to tread with care and watch out for one another. The blessings of Apsu will help greatly in disposing of whatever evil remains in this forsaken cabin."

Chrona leaves the room as well, "I hope we find some oil so I cam torch that place, ugh, anything else further down the hallway?"

Lackspell nods to Varak "Thank you Varak, I will keep that in mind."

With that he closes up his pack and lifts it back on to his shoulders.

Stange... the wicked blade is wrapped up and stored away and yet I suddenly feel less safe for having it at my back

As you walk down the hall, you find a podium. Open the podium lies a book. The cover is...wrong, somehow.

Assuming the hallway continues past the podium

Ren moves slowly down the hallway staying in the shadows and watching for anything that might endanger her companions.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

She glances theough the open door but does not go in and carefully moves around the podium being sure not to touch the creepy book. Instead she looks at the podium and farther into the gloom straining her eyes to see what else might be waiting for them.

Activly searching for traps/dangers. GM FYI I have a +1 to spot traps. Not expecting any but better to inform you just in case, as she'll be scouting a lot.
In general she will let the smarter people examine the objects while she stays on point to keep everyone from getting surprised.

Though he does not realize it is bound in skin, Praetor stays well away from the book. "Do not read a word from its pages, lest it corrupt our minds. Madness begets madness, and this foul place is thick with it.

Praetor will try and stay close to Ren and Lackspell. He failed to protect them against the bird creature, and resolves it will not happen again.

kn nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Arkon examines the scene but discerns nothing about the book other than it looks nasty.

"We either take it under the same pretenses as the knife or I destroy it now. I'd rather just get it over with, but there could be a lot of knowledge and answers in there if it doesn't take over the readers mind as Praetor worries... Well, anyone care one way or the other?" Chrona has her free hand hovering near the criminally gross book waiting for the other's input.

Would Spark be able to ignite it or the podium?

Spark would likely do the trick. You can also use Detect Magic or Spellcraft to learn more without risk to yourselves

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Lackspell stares at the book for a moment with a puzzled expression for a moment. "There is something ... odd ... about this book. Unsettling, almost. But still, it may yield answers."

He leans in and looks closer at it. He will touch it if that is required to make a Spellcraft check but not otherwise. He's already creeped out more than enough for one day :)

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

"My first instinct is to burn it, but who knows what fire may do to a demon's book. Perhaps the priest could safely gather information from its pages. If you must read it, just do so silently. Either way, it must be taken or destroyed so it can never corrupt another soul." In Praetor's eyes is a hint of fear. He paces back and forth about the room, his face more pale than usual.

I was not trained to deal with this sort of thing. Our adventure is becoming more complicated by the moment.

Lackspell spends a long moment staring at the book, then, very tentatively he reaches out and touches it.

So, not trapped and not cursed? Careful now! Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't there ... how odd the cover feels. Some sort of hide, obviously, though I don't know the type. Don't much like the feel of it ...

Carefully, almost delicately, he opens the cover. Glancing at the first page, then another, then another.

"Interesting..."

He continues turning a few more pages before continuing ...

"Fear not my friends. There is no curse or deadly danger here. It is but a mage's spellbook. I don't recall any part of the story we were told suggesting that Stoot was a mage? Was there someone else here as well? All of the spells I have seen so far however do seem to be from the school of Necromancy, so it's likely that the previous owner was not a nice person. I've seen its like before and although the spells themselves are largely just tools, the people who choose those particular tools to use are often not nice at all"

Have you ever known a mage who was a nice person?

"That said, we need fear no corruption of curse from it. It is possible that I may be able to glean some information from its spells to add to my alchemical formulae. And Chroma, I know little about your form of magic, but could you learn new spells from this wizard's book?"

Sadly, from my perspective, I don't think very many Alchemist Spells are actually Necromantic in nature, so Lackspell isn't likely to get a lot of useful knowledge from it. There might be a couple though. And I guess we could sell it.

You guys also have a magus...

Yeah that's Chrona - whose name I got wrong in my last post again (dammit I seem to have a mental block when typing that - perhaps I need to start referring to her as Miss Agni) - I imagine she will be in a similar position to Lackspell - not many Necro spells on her spell list either... hopefully she finds some though. I've had a quick look at the Alchemist list and I think there might be one first level and two second level spells that Lackspell could conceivably learn. Free spells are pretty cool but I must admit I had a moment of going "dammit why aren't I playing a wizard right now?" :)

Chrona relaxes her hand from the verge of casting Spark and instead lowers it to pick up the book. "I can take a look through it. Being necromancy I plan to never use the spells themselves, but knowledge is power and we may need everything we can get our hands on to bring down this hellhole."
'I remember stories of the likes of these spells but none of the demons I've know have used any of them infront of me.'

She flips through it and then places the book into her bag.

Researching if any spells would be avaliable. Also, since Chrona is Eldritch Scion and her powers come from bloodline instead of study, is she able to learn in this fashion?

So I'd be able to learn 4 spells, not too OP or shabby if it's allowed.

Flipping through the book Chrona recognized several spells from her time imprisoned; Disrupt Undead, Chill Touch, Brow Gasher, and Defending Bone. She's unsure how much she'll gain from the book though, needing to spend more time with it later on.

"Just be wary of the cover, while the book and spells aren't inherently evil, the one who made the book would likely be though do to his choice in decoration," Varak reminded, showing no hostility or desire to destroy the book after it had been properly identified. Still, this place seemed to be crawling with wickedness, and already the priest wished to finish examining the different rooms so that they could be done with this foul place.

Lackspell's news about the book calm the paladin some. "Glean what you can from the book, then destroy it. No part of this wicked place should be left. The cycle of evil will end with us."

Are there any doors off this room, or is the only remaining path back down the other end of the hallway?

Interesting to see the difference between Chrona and Lackspell there - though they both seem able to learn a similar number of spells there doesn't seem to be any overlap :)

I haven't done an exhaustive check through the list yet but I think what he can learn is Phantom Blood, Deathwine, Languid Venom and Skinsend. Of the four I think he would probably want to use exactly zero of them :(

Ren keeps watching for threats from the shadows but can't help but hear the conversation.

N, N .... Necromancy. Is that why this "Longshanks" took the bones? They did leave skeletons by the tomb. I'll have to remember to ask about this after we leave this place...

I honestly find that Necromancy is probably my least used school of magic whenever I play a spell caster. Vampiric Touch sees a lot of use but other than that there isn't much in the first few levels I use. But it does make for great creepy villains :)

I agree - while Necromancy gets some pretty potent stuff at higher levels, the lower levels are pretty ordinary as Lackspell's experience with the spellbook above demonstrates.

After stowing the book, Chrona will continue to the end of this hallway, behind Praetor, Ren, and Lackspell.

The room is basically just a shrine for the spellbook. There is, however, the other hallway still to be explored.

To the other hallway we go..

Lackspell turns about and follows Arkon in the direction of the other hallway.

Chrona heads down the other hallway as well.

GM Wasted, what are your thoughts on Chrona learning from spell books?

Ren heads down the other hallway slowly scouting ahead of the rest of the group, keeping her eyes out for anything that might injure them while staying in the shadows of the rest of the groups light

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Nice!!!!

Way to go, Ren!

Praetor's knuckles are white from overgripping the hilt of his blade. He stays behind Ren and moves deliberate and slow, hoping to not blow her cover with his clanging armor but ready to charge to her defense.

The priest would follow the group close, letting his symbol lead the way with its holy light, recasting the orison if needed. His eyes would narrow as they approached the new hallway, wondering if he is where they're encounter the evil responsible for this madness. If so, he and his companions would deal with the wicked creature.

Chrona, I'm going to say no, I forgot that you were eldritch scion :p

The other hallway leads to a set of stairs. The stairs go even further downward. Light is hard to come by here, but thankfully, Varak has his holy symbol shining defiantly in the encroaching gloom.

As you descend, you begin to hear the sound of moving water. The stairwary opens up into a cavern. The cavern floor is slightly sandy, and you can see why. The cavern leads out to water. Depending on when you were there, you might have to swim, but luckily, it's low tide right now. There are two paths out of the cavern. Down the left path you can see the barest hint of moon and starlight. That's likely a way out to the surrounding waters.

The right path is dark.

Right... we have a few with darkvision

And no shortage of light sources :)

You certainly do! But even those with darkvision see nothing but the cavern sixty feet away.

"Well, this is inviting.." Chrona sends her two light globes into the eerie right path. She likely recasts the spell as well, keeping it fresh!

Ren stays still long enough for the others to see her and points to herself and then to the right path.

She slowly makes her way down the right path continuing to stay hidden and checking for dangers as she goes.

When she gets to the exit she will look out and try to see what she can see outside but not leave the tunnel.

I'm assuming as nothing has changed the same rolls still apply but if you want me to roll stealth/spot again I will.
The idea is to scout not to engage anything on the beach

Correcg assumption, Ren :)

You continue walking down the path. After a while, the path opens into a similar, but much smaller, cavern like the one you just came from. There is a heavy wooden door worked into the stone wall here.

This is related to something I was going to do earlier but anyone who has the skill, give me a knowledge religion roll please

Ren sneaks up and quietly listens at the door.
She also looks for any signs this door has been used recently.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

unfortunetly she is so nervous she can barely make anything out over the beating of her heart. So she sneaks back to the whole group and reports all she has seen.

This is related to something I was going to do earlier but anyone who has the skill, give me a knowledge religion roll please

You may take my silence as admission that I do NOT in fact have the skill :)

I don't have it, oddly it's not a druid class skill

Arkon is with the group allowing Ren her scouting without interfering

No signs of the door being used recently, Ren. The group now knows of it's existence.

Chrona stands with most of her weight on left leg, leaned back with her right hip pushed out. Her blade lies across her left hand and she runs her thumb over the sharp edge perpendicularly. "I'm not opening that first, I poked the bird kid remember?"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

She says with a frigid stare, that also speaks 'Don't f+!! with me.'

The priest couldn't help the sigh as he saw his friends cold stare, shaking his head before returning his gaze to the door. One minute she was flirty, the other a blaze with rage. It seemed fire was more than just in her blood. Still, he had intended to walk into the room first anyways, and as he approached the door, held his light up bright. "To returning then.." he said, letting his voice rise some as he pushed at the doors to enter.

Know(Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

With the others informed Ren returns to the shadows watching both to make sure nothing creeps up on them from behind and what happens as the rest of the group goes through the door.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

The paladin smiles at Chrona, though the look she returns is equal parts ice and fire. I have to be careful of that one. She can be a best friend one minute and a worst enemy the next.

He moves towards the door to lead the foray, but the Lizardfolk is closer and pushes it open first. Praetor is fast on the heels of Varak Suur, ready to charge in towards whatever peril awaits, his greatsword drawn and ready to strike down any evil within.

He thinks of the words every Dawnguard must say. I will be the light in the Darkness. I will seek out evil and destroy it at the source. No mercy for the wicked.

Kn Religion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 Forgot i had it as a background skill

Arkon walks past Chrona and shakes his head..he follows the others. Orz following closely gives a little hiss and then dashes after.

Bluff: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

Lackspell tries his best to cover his reaction to Chrona's sudden seeming anger but fails. He looks clearly unsettled as he backs away a step.

Gods! Maybe she is one of them after all. That sudden switch to anger. I never understood... never knew... Dammit! Calm down... You can't run away now... it's so dark in here... hate not being able to see... when we get back to town though... perhaps it's time to move on again...

He licks his lips nervously and forces his gaze away, focusing on Varak as he moves up to open the door.