Shifty PBP Group Delta (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

The long, low corridor is decorated with hieroglyphs and carvings depicting kings, gods, and sphinxes in orderly geometric rows.

The ancient Osiriani hieroglyphs on the hallway’s southern walls proclaim more of Pharaoh Sekh-pa-Mefer III’s deeds and accomplishments in life. Midway down the hall, the carvings depict his death, funeral, and interment in his pyramid. As the corridor continues to the north, the scenes show the dead pharaoh rising as a deity, and continuing his rule over his subjects as a god-king.

Crowe finds a secret door in the west wall of the corridor, halfway down the hall, however, the mechanism for opening the door is a puzzle: five carvings surrounding the door depict five sphinxes, each with a different head: a falcon head, a female human head, a jackal head, a male human head, and a ram head.

Crowe is also firmly of the opinion the door is trapped.

Knowledge(Arcana): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15.

Crowe scratches his head, and steps back.

"Right. Looks we have a job for someone good with traps..."

Valjoen and Mido, front and centre ;-)

'Disable Device' Take 10 = 22 (with Mido assisting)...?

Crowe can tell that the idea here is that there is an order in which to move or adjust the Sphinxes.

With Mido's assistance, the trap mechanism is jammed (a heavy swinging blade for those choosing poorly!)

...but what of the solution? Such a heavy stone wall/door!

"Good job, guys!"

Crowe then starts playing with the tiles.

Well, simple mathematics suggests that there are only 120 possible combinations - eventually, Crowe will get the right one ;-)

First Room: Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Second Room: Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Dioneo is unable to tell more about the first room but states before the heads "How lovely! These are representations of a hieracosphinx, a gynosphinx, a cynosphinx, an androsphinx, and a criosphinx!"

Crowe looks up from his exhaustive trialling of permutations, and smiles ruefully.

"Well, at least we know *what* they are, but I don't see how that helps us work out what order they should go in..."

He then returns to his slow, methodical work.

Dioneo raises an eyebrow and says coldly:

"Well I thought it was an information worth hearing!"

Is there a way we can use the order seen in the corridor, if there was any?

To be clear, I was not having a go at Dioneo; Crowe really has no idea how knowing what the sphinxes are helps.

"Oh, I agree - it is worth knowing; I am just not sure how it helps..."

hmm.. no good ideas here. I'll keep thinking.

"Hmmm. Alphabetical order? Least to most powerful? Order of rank in Osirian noble or religious hierarchies? Shortest to tallest? Do these types of sphinxes appear in any other carvings that we've seen throughout the temple?" Stelikara rattles off several ideas, not really having a strong feeling about any of them.

No problem, Crowe :) Dioneo is a noble scion and lacks tact sometimes. I was really answering in character.

Losing interest in the bloodrager, Dioneo looks at Stelikara and smiles. "Brilliant! Let's try... the ranks of hierarchy, I mean!"

"The obelisks in the other room," Clair says, "are each connected to one of the four elements—air, earth, fire, and water. they were used to summon elementals to assist in the construction of the pyramid. If we decide to head back into that room, for whatever reason, keep that in mind."

Clair listens to Dioneo's explanation of the various types of sphinxes represented. "There are that many...? So... what's are the ranks in sphinx hierarchy, if we're going to try that first?"

Some time passes and you hear lots of clicking as you make countless tries and the blade mechanism triggers, but it triggers impotently. Eventually there is a final click and the wall begins to separate.

***

Carvings cover the walls of this otherwise bare chamber. Two statues of men with jackal heads stand against the western wall flanking a pair of ornate stone doors.

Crowe cautiously moves forward, earthbreaker at the ready, and begins to search the room...

...and after finding nothing again (presumably), moves on to the double doors, and attempts to open them.

Crowe finds no obvious traps nor features other than those already mentioned.

He does see that there is an obvious keyhole on the large doors

valjoen looks carefully at the key hole for any traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

The lock appears to be totally 100% safe to Valjoen.

"I recognize the hieroglyphs on the walls, " Clair says as she looks at the characters. "They're a series of prayers for the deceased's journey into the afterlife."

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

"Hmm... that's all I know about it, really."

Clair also moves up to the keyhole and inspects it.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

"Indeed looks safe. Though I don't remember bringing a key. Crowe, can your earthbreaker break through?"

She quickly takes a couple of steps back, in case Crowe decides to whack the door with his weapon.

Kn. Religion1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Mido nods to Clair.

That would make sense as it appears to be a depiction of Anubis, the Ancient Osirian god of the dead, mummification, and tombs.

Firm plan? :)

"That's very interesting," Stelikara says, "As long as it doesn't depict our journey through the afterlife."

Whip in hand, she continues to primarily keep watch on the hallways, while occasionally turning to watch their progress in the room.

Sadly no real way to help open the door.

Mido casts guidance on self and takes 10 on DD for a 20

Mido moves to examine the door and then gets to work with his nimble little fingers.

Mido's fingers get to work...

The Anubis statues come to life and object to his meddling with the lock - by attacking.

R1
Mido
Valjoen
Dioneo
Crowe
ENEMY
Stelikara
Claire

Crowe sighs.

"I would like to be able to say that this is unexpected, but unfortunately, it really isn't..."

He then takes a swing at the statue next to him with his earthbreaker.

+1 Earthbreaker: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29, for 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (6, 5) + 13 = 24 Magical, Bludgeoning damage.

Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28, for 4d6 + 26 ⇒ (5, 5, 5, 2) + 26 = 43 *ADDITIONAL* damage.

One statue is blasted into a pile of obsidian and sandstone.

Try using the earthbreaker on the door after combat. You'll easily bypass its hardness and break through! :)

Valjoen circles around the other statue and flanks it with Mido.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
SADamage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Mido uses the moments distraction to kick the construct.

Attack1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 = 27 Damaeg 1d1 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (4) = 5

R1
Mido - attacks
Valjoen - attacks
Dioneo
Crowe - attacks
ENEMY
Stelikara
Claire

Val manages to hit the thing hard enough to crack off a few bits of stone... not as satisfying ash he'd hoped.

Mido thumps the thing, but only manages to shake off some dust...

Enemy (3)

Dioneo yawns in a corner.

"You don't need my help, I see. Please continue smashing antic sculptures. The Pathfinder Society must love this."

Delay

The statue swings for Mido...

Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Striking the gnome!

R1
Mido - attacks
Valjoen - attacks
Dioneo - /delay
Crowe - attacks
ENEMY attacks
Stelikara
Claire

R2
Mido
Valjoen
Dioneo
Crowe
ENEMY

Crowe frowns.

"If you have any bright ideas on how to encourage the statues not to attack us, I am all ears, Dioneo."

Seeing that Mido and Valjoen are having trouble with the remaining statue, Crowe steps up, and takes a swing.

+1 Earthbreaker: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19, for 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 5) + 13 = 21 Magical, Bludgeoning damage.

"Well I'm not the one smashing them, at least. No need to loose your temper, brave man."

Saying that, a wand of cure light wounds pops in his left hand and he walks calmly towards Mido and taps him lightly in the back with it.

Wand of CLW on Mido: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Statue is damaged, but standing...

Mido notices he lacks the punch to bring down the staue and lets others have fun.

"I can't smash it apart, but let's see if this does anything."

Clair moves to stand south of the statue and takes a swing at it.

+1 Scythe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 + 1 = 10

R1
Stelikara TBA
Claire attacks

R2
Mido (Delay)
Valjoen TBA
Dioneo (Delay)
Crowe attacks
ENEMY

Statue (18)

Hearing combat, Stelikara moves into the room and attempts to pull the statue over with her whip.

Trip Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Unfortunately, she mistakenly strikes at the statue that has already crumbled into dust.

Val attacks with both kukri.

Primary: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Secondary: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

yikes!

Patience will be rewarded you will see young Pathfinders!

Mido cheers on his companions as he heals his wounds.

CLW1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

It lurches at the most recent attacker - Valjoen!

Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

R2
Stelikara
Claire

R3
Mido
Valjoen
Dioneo
Crowe
ENEMY

Statue (18)

Crowe shifts into a flanking position, and continues to bludgeon the statue with all of the considerable might that he can muster.

+1 Earthbreaker: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 2 = 25, for 2d6 + 13 ⇒ (4, 1) + 13 = 18 damage.

A great hit!

Statue (28)

Taking aim at the correct statue, Stelikara's whip snakes out again, to topple that dratted Anubis.

Trip Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

But to no better effect.

R2
Stelikara - still stuck on the last statue :)
Claire

R3
Mido
Valjoen
Dioneo
Crowe attacks
ENEMY

Statue (18)

Clair swings her magical scythe again. "Crumble down already!"

+1 Scythe: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 Damage: 2d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 4) + 4 + 1 = 11

Claire connects well - more stone falls.

Statue (21)

Mido has no way to surpass the DR and will pass...

Dioneo neither. Delay.

Valjoen attacks again! "As if it will help!

Primary: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Secondary: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Probably misses but will post damage just in case I manage to actually hit the huge, slow moving statue.

DamagePrim: 1d6 + 1 + 1d8 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (2) = 5
DamageSec: 1d6 + 1d8 ⇒ (4) + (4) = 8