
Joanna Whitehall |

Down 8 as well. Did everyone remember Jo's channel? That should heal everyone 8 as well.

Briana Kaddren |
"Here, I can help," Briana remarks as she too channels another burst of healing energy for her friends.
Channel Energy: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) = 6
"There, we can mend anything left using Zee's wand...well, except you Arsith, you're still looking a little rough. One moment..."
Healing Hex (Arsith): 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 4) + 6 = 15
"Okay! Now Zee can mend the rest with her wand," Briana smiles. But the smile quickly disappears as she glances around the room.
"If there's nothing else to find here, we should head back. These rooms have been even worse than the others!"
3rd - Call Lightning, Dispel Magic,
2nd - Cure Moderate Wounds, Silence, Spiritual Weapon x2
1st - Bless, Heightened Awareness, Produce Flame, Unbreakable Heart
Orisons - Create Water, Dancing Lights, Guidance, Stabilize
Wandering Spirit - Life
Spirit Ability - Channel (Su): The shaman can channel positive energy like a cleric, using her shaman level as her effective cleric level when determining the amount of damage healed (or dealt to undead) and the DC. The shaman can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 1 + her Charisma modifier. (2/4)
Wandering Hex - Life Link (Su): The shaman creates a bond between herself and another creature within 30 feet. Each round at the start of the shaman’s turn, if the bonded creature is wounded for 5 or more hit points below its maximum hit points, it heals 5 hit points and the shaman takes 5 points of damage. The shaman can have one bond active per shaman level. The bond continues until the bonded creature dies, the shaman dies, the distance between her and the bonded creature exceeds 100 feet, or the shaman ends it as an immediate action. If the shaman has multiple bonds active, she can end as many as she wants with the same immediate action.
Spirit Magic
1st - Charm Animal (N) or Detect Undead (Life)
2nd - Barkskin (N) or Lesser Restoration (Life)
3rd - Speak with Plants (N) or Neutralize Poison (Life)
Healing Hex Uses: Arsith
Fortune Hex Uses: Arsith, Joanna

Joanna Whitehall |

"I dunno. I think the room with that worm with the two tails we fought was still the worst one we've found, and not just because of what it did to Halli."
Joanna eases the poor wolf pup's nerves as they make their way out after Teldon had finished his search.
"So the only way left is up, right?"

Ziomarra Callinovo |

Zee uses her wand on Teldon and Jo, restoring their full vigor.
Teldon heals: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Jo heals: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Marking off two charges.

Joanna Whitehall |

"Thanks Zee," Joanna says after her friend finishes the job that she and Briana had started. "Well, there's nothing left to do but go up. Anyone have an issue with me and Halli taking the lead and Teldon following behind?"

Teldon Moore |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |

Teldon raises a hand to protest when Zee begins using the wand on him, but thinks better of it and instead thanks her. I'm full now.
To Jo's suggestion he answers, "I suppose that's wise, in case we run into more demons or dangerous creatures, but please don't touch anything before I have a chance to check it for traps or the like."
ready to fall in behind Jo and head up the stairs...

Joanna Whitehall |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |

Hope no offense is taken at the interpretation that Jo's assuming purely for the comedic value.
Joanna raises an eyebrow at Briana's grin, before the other rises to join it and her face begins turning a rather lovely red.
"Ri-right! Up the stairs, into the bedroom—I mean the unknown! Into the unknown! Don't touch anybody– NO! Anything! I meant anything! Don't touch anything until Teldon's looked me ov– IT! Looked it over and disrobed..."
Beet-red and possibly dying of embarrassment, Joanna claps her hands over her face and uses them to muffle the scream of frustration.
"Iomedae help me! I swear this place is messing with my head and enjoying it!"
After a moment, she lowers her hands and sighs before leveling a glare at Arsith.
"Not. One. Word."
After calming down enough that she's reasonably certain she'll avoid anymore slips, she assures Teldon that she'll touch nothing without his permission. The whole way up, Joanna grumbles and disparages the whole ruin. At some points she can be heard saying something about needing to find a boyfriend.

GM Zed |

The curving flight of stairs winds around a central pillar until, after several minutes of climbing, it arrives at a grand chamber of polished marble. A starburst pattern in brilliant shades of orange surrounded by flowing script decorates the floor, while the domed ceiling twenty feet above evokes the opalescent interior of a rare seashell.
The writing in the floor is in Thassilonian, although the florid nature of the carvings make the words difficult to read.
DC12 Linguistics Check or DC18 INT Check to accurately translate the writings.
Eight alcoves line the walls — standing in seven are regal statues of imperious figures carved from basalt. The group have read enough and seen enough Thassilonian art to recognise them as the seven Runelords. There are;
- Alaznist, Runelord of Wrath and depicted as a beautiful red- haired woman with a look of fury twisting her expression,
- Xanderghul, Runelord of Pride carved as a handsome, haughty man with arms crossed contemptuously,
- Karzoug, Runelord of Greed and a stern-looking man offering the gift of a golden rose with his left hand,
- Sorshen, Runelord of Lust and, as echoed throughout the Lady's Light, a beautiful, voluptuous
woman, in the act of sensuously opening her robe,
- Belimarius, Runelord of Envy - a plump and homely woman, face twisted in resentment as she looks upon Sorshen’s alcove with jealousy,
- Krune, Runelord of Sloth shown to be a short man with a hooked nose and beady eyes, his shoulders slumped as if in fatigue,
- and finally, Zutha the Runelord of Gluttony - an obese man with diseased, leprous flesh, who hungrily gnaws at a huge haunch of meat.
When one of the group reaches out into the aether, it is clear that each of the statues is radiating strong conjuration magic.
...and, with the stairs not appearing to ascend any further nor any doors in this chamber, the way forwards is not obvious.
Actions?

Ziomarra Callinovo |

Earlier...
At Briana's comment, Zee looks at Jo, raises an eyebrow, and quips, "You can lay your hands on me any time you like!" A moment later, a look of embarrassment crosses her face, as if she just realized she'd vocalized a thought. She then laughs a bit nervously.
Now...
Int check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
"That script is Thassilonian, but it's so stylized, I'm having trouble reading it. Is it art that only resembles writing?"

Briana Kaddren |
"Sorry, I'm sorry!" Briana whispers to Jo once she's had a chance to calm down a little. "I couldn't resist! But you know I didn't actually mean anything by it, right?"
She gives Jo a quick pat on the arm before turning her attention to the room at large, looking around to see if there's any clues besides the writing on the floor - which Teldon is busy translating for them - as to how to proceed further.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Teldon Moore |

"Embrace the Lady and the Lie...both capitalized, like proper names..." Teldon repeats aloud. "I can't be certain, but I suspect that interacting with one or more of the statues will activate a way forward, like we saw with the teleportation room. 'The Lady' most likely refers to Sorshen, so her statue may be involved. 'The Lie' could, I suppose, be an anthropomorphicizing of some deception in the room--possibly that strangely empty alcove--or maybe an obscure title for one of the other Runelords..."
know (history): 1d20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 14 + (2) = 17
Do I know of any reference wherein any of the Runelords are called 'the Lie' or closely associated with lies/deception?

Joanna Whitehall |

On the way up
"No reason to be sorry," Joanna replies to Briana, even managing a weak smile. "I'll probably be laughing about it later. It's just this place has me all out of sorts. My slip of the tongue didn't help at all, either."
The Lady and the Lie
I really, really hope this isn't too metagamey. If it is, sorry.
"Wait, these are the Runelords, right? Each one's supposed to embody a sin? Sorshen's giving everyone a peek. That one," she points to Alaznist, "looks pretty mad, so she's gotta be wrath. That one," she points to Zutha, "is obviously gluttony. I think the other woman's envy, since she seems pretty envious of Sorshen. That leaves pride, greed, and sloth. The guy with his nose up in the air is probably pride. And... huh? I guess the slumped shoulder guy is sloth, which means," her voice turns sing-song, "one of these things is not like the others~!"

Teldon Moore |

Well, that's what I get for not reading posts carefully enough... nicely done, Jo.
"It seems I've missed the trees for the forest..." Teldon answers a bit sheepishly, "I think you're exactly right, Jo; Karzoug wasn't known for his generosity any more than Sorshen was known for her modesty, that statue is almost certainly the lie."

Ziomarra Callinovo |

"Excellent reasoning! Yes, I think that is the case. 'Embrace the Lady, and the Lie..."
Zee steps toward the statue of Sorshen, examining it for a moment. She then leans in and hugs the statue.
She then releases it, walks to the statue of Karzoug, and does the same...

Joanna Whitehall |

Joanna gives a sheepish smile.
"Hey, I'm lucky I was able to think through that at all." She laughs as she waves away the praise.
Once the alcove is glowing, Joanna and Halli step into it to make it safe for the others.

Teldon Moore |

Teldon grabs Briana's hand and gives it a quick kiss, then gently squeezes it as he says, "I'll see you on the other side."
Reactivating the portal, he follows Jo through and attempts to to discern any dangers at their destination before they become a problem...
perception (take 10): 10 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ 10 + 14 + (3) = 27

GM Zed |

Once more the group are subject to the ancient teleportation magicks within the Lady's Light... only this time, each of those 'travelling' feels something peculiar - some other arcane craft washing over them as they reform somewhere else... The seven stone walls of the small heptagonal chamber that serves as an arrival point are polished to a reflective sheen. A red metal door sits in one wall — the only other feature in the room being a five-foot-wide mosaic of a coiled serpent slightly offset from the room’s center in the floor.
Reorienting themselves in the small room, the friends feel strangely rejuvenated...
Everyone has been subject to a Remove Disease and a Remove Poison effect... they have also been subject to a Dispel Magic effect such that any ongoing magical effects / buffs, etc are lost.
The friends have been here for mere moments when the metal door slams open to reveal a much larger chamber... this room is likewise empty of furnishings. The floor of its two wings are decorated with circular snake mosaics twice the size of those in the smaller rooms. A 3-foot-tall
post capped by a horizontally aligned wheel protrudes from the centre of each mosaic.
...there are three other doors, all forged of crimson metal, leading from this large chamber.
Map update to follow

Briana Kaddren |
"That's different...I feel refreshed somehow," Briana remarks as they find themselves within the small chamber. She jumps as the metal door suddenly slams open, her hand reaching for her mace...but nothing else happens.
"Ah...I'm guessing we should watch our step and watch what we touch? What with the snake motif and all," she asks, peering curiously into the next chamber but waiting for Teldon to give the okay to move forward.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Joanna Whitehall |

Joanna gives Brianna a shrug before she and Halli begin picking their way across the room.
"No idea what the snakes mean. Maybe Sorshen had some odd, uh... tastes." Joanna gives another shrug and turns to Teldon once he's had a chance to look.
"Is it okay for us to go out there?"

Teldon Moore |

"A welcome surprise," Teldon remarks while stretching and twisting back and forth at the waist. At Jo's question, he springs forward and gives the open door a quick check before entering the larger chamber and carefully inspecting the three new doors and the two wheels.
all of these will be at another +3 vs traps-
door 1 (take 10): 10 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ 10 + 14 + (1) = 25
door A (take 20): 20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ 20 + 14 + (4) = 38
door B (take 20): 20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ 20 + 14 + (1) = 35
door C (take 20): 20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ 20 + 14 + (4) = 38
left wheel (take 20): 20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ 20 + 14 + (6) = 40
right wheel (take 20): 20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ 20 + 14 + (3) = 37
that'll take 5 minutes, if anyone else has anything they want to do in the meantime.

Joanna Whitehall |

Joanna will stay close to Teldon to make sure he doesn't get into trouble.
Halli Perception (Scent): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Shadlah Broken-Earth |

I thought taking 20 on a Perception check took 2 minutes?
Without comment, Shadlah finds a clear spot of wall to lean against and pulls a fist-sized chunk of stone from her pack, along with a small rock hammer, and starts hacking off pieces to make a roughly conical form.

Teldon Moore |

edit: posting an answer to Shadlah’s question in discussion. However, in looking up the answer I discovered that you can’t take 20 to look for traps... so, i’ll Take 10 on each thing first to check that, and then take 20 to look for other stuff (I can do another set of rolls if you want or you can just subtract 7 from the rolls I made)?

GM Zed |

As the group orient themselves, the giddiness from the teleportation slow to subside this time, Teldon goes about the business of exploring their surroundings... but he hasn't got too far, engrossing himself in the possibility that there are traps triggered by the hinge mechanisms of one of the doors, when a door to the south crashes open...
...and striding through, another Gray Maiden, this one in extravagant regalia that surely sets her out as a high ranking officer. Standing with her sword drawn, her muffled voice is full of rage... and, apparently not having seen Ziomarra, she challenges the group, "Who are you? Sorshen’s latest pawns? Her newest playthings?"

Teldon Moore |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |

”Uh, the latter,” Teldon answers looking up, ”playthings. Our mistress, as you know, appreciates variety and, well, it seems I have something to offer that none of your women have. You can lower your sword, Oriana, there is no danger here.”
bluff (assuming this is stressful): 1d20 + 11 + 1d6 ⇒ (14) + 11 + (2) = 27

Joanna Whitehall |

Oh Teldon...why?
Joanna covers her eyes with hand before letting out a sigh.
"Can't we be straightforward, just for once," she begs plaintively, just under her breath.

Arsith D' Abariane |

Arsith whispers back to Jo
I appreciate straightforwardness and honesty, but you don't have to be truthful and sincere to a potential foe, Jo. Would you answer the truth if someone eager for a fight asked you what your greatest weakness was?

GM Zed |

It is the comment from Teldon which seems to enrage the woman the most, with a voice like thunder she curses him, "Fool... you have been deceived!!! Let me welcome you to this cursed place with all the fury that you deserve!!!"
Her sword raised, the heavily armoured woman readies to charge the nearest foe...
Initiative for Party and Enemy
Shadlah, Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Arsith, Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Briana, Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Ziomarra, Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Teldon, Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Joanna / Halli, Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Oriana, Initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Initiative Order
Joanna / Halli then
Oriana then
Shadlah, Arsith, Ziomarra, Teldon and Briana
Joanna may act now. Note that I probably won't bother with a map for this encounter - it's just you folks, one Gray Maiden and a relatively non-descript room!!!

Joanna Whitehall |

Before she can reply to Arsith, things go downhill. Shield out and her other hand pulling the helmet from her head, Joanna steps between the Gray Maiden and Teldon.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
"You're the last of your troop. Only Helanda and a few others remain alive. Do you wish for us to fight yet another Gray Maiden? Please, calm down and lower your sword. We do not wish to fight."

GM Zed |

Although the Maiden is exceptionally quick to anger, the mention of Helanda - as well as the fact that few of her companions remain alive - stays the woman's blade. Lowering her steel again, her voice is still harsh... but is now laced with some small amount of self-doubt, "Helanda yet lives? And the rest of my sisters? Some have been spared the ravages of the depraved Lady of this place?"

Joanna Whitehall |

"Yes, we managed to save her from the hag that was torturing her. I tried to save as many of the others as I could when they attacked us, but most of them were beyond what help I could offer." Joanna's eyes meet Oriana's as she speaks. She lowers her shield and lays a hand on Halli's head while the wold eyes both Shadlah and Oriana warily.
"I need to warn you though, one of us fell afoul of some ancient trap, and, well. After we ran into Gnaeus Gnaru and he turned on us, she wound up in a clone of Sorshen," she tells the Gray Maiden. "I know I'm asking a lot when I'm asking you to trust us, but you have my word as a Knight of Iomedae that Ziomarra isn't Sorshen, despite appearances."