The Forgotten God (Table 1) (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

After some effort - aided by having already gone up and down the area - you're able to ascend to the second floor of the tower. This area looks the way it did yesterday, though it's up the center stairs that leads to the unexplored third floor... and there were a few other parts of the building that you didn't examine yesterday, including the northern part of the fourth floor.

Well lets start with the door on the third floor and work our way up. The sooner we clear this thing the soone we can head to the city.

Nodding in agreement, Orithos starts the trek.

There's only one door on the third floor - a solid one, and sturdily locked, but easily opening as you fit the key from your belongings into the slot. You're now in Room 7 on the map.

Two stone altars, one black and one white, sit at either end of this large chamber, which takes up two wings of the tower on this level. The crumbling remains of wooden benches sag in front of each altar beneath rotting ceiling tapestries. Carved symbols and writings snake along the walls. The burnt corpses of two troglodytes lie on the floor in the center of the room, and it's not hard to see why as two skeletons wreathed in flames dart forward and attack!

Initiative (Enemy): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Initiative (Hadran): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Initiative (Orithos): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

With no hesitation at all, the two of them staggered forward and swung their broken scimitars towards Hadran.

Attack Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Attack Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Neither, however, actually managed to hit...

1d6 fire damage from each skeleton if you're next to them at the start of your turn.

FF AC of 17 looks like one of them got me.

Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

These things burn with hell fire Orithos lets focus fire and bring them down.

Hadran steps away from one of the creatures circling around the other drawing his blade and arching it toward the creatures neck trying to sever its head.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 6) + 9 = 20

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Orithos moved a measure to the side (5 ft. step), so that he flanked the same skeleton as Hadran.

Brandishing his rapier, the fiery one swung for a back bone so that the whole construct might collapse.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Critical Confirmation Roll + Surge: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 7 + (3) = 15
Normal Damage Roll: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Use the below if the critical did confirm.
Critical Damage Roll: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 2) + 6 = 12

Hadran's sword just barely failed to strike the skeleton, instead slicing just to its side before being carefully pulled back. Orithos' blow did manage to stab into the other skeleton... and though it was clearly damaged, it hadn't quite collapsed from the blow. The two undead lashed out once more, each targeting one of the intruders.

Attack Roll (Hadran): 1d20 ⇒ 19
Attack Roll (Orithos): 1d20 ⇒ 14

Neither of the beasts actually managed to land a blow - though their fiery auras continued to burn with endless heat as their jaws chattered up and down.

These cursed things. No man's body should be forced to go on like this. I will put thee to rest.

Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 I assuem we are flanking now. I can't see the map from work :)
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 3) + 9 = 15

Hadrans grip tightens as his frist swing misses. His massive muscels bulge as the regain control of the blade and bring it back around crushing into the abomination.

Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

With flames scorching his brow and forearms, Orithos' concentration was strand. The fiery one knew nothing of a foe who exuded flames in that manner, but that did not mean these creatures wee impossible to fell. Placing a hand and utilizing the flame within himself, Orithos was able to relieve a portion of the burns.

To anyone who was watching, the burn marks and blisters seemed to glow, steam started to ripple out of the wounds, and it seemed the afflictions were melted away.

Lay on Hands (Swift Action): 1d6 ⇒ 3

With a measure of focus restored, Orithos whipped his rapier, which reflected the flames around it, and struck once more, aiming for the spine...

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

...and misses as the skeleton completely dodges out of the way. Using his opponent's reflex to Orithos' advantage, the finessing soldier maneuvered another step to the side and said curtly, "Hadran, ready when you are."

Orithos moved 5 feet to the side so that Hadran can flank it with a single movement action.

I see the skeletons like this.
(H)
(S)(S)
....(O)
The periods are just for moving over my character. If I am visualizing this wrong, go ahead and correct me.

The first skeleton practically exploded as Hadran's blow crashed into it, and flaming bones rained down across the room.

The remaining skeleton dropped its scimitar, then lashed out with a pair of bony claws as it tried to dig into Orithos' flesh.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 for Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 + Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Attack Roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

One of these was even successful - which was actually something of a rarity for skeletons, since as fearsome as they could appear, most of them weren't especially accurate with their blows...

ah so I should have taken another d6 last round. I will add it in here.

Hadran steps to flank the last one as his skin burns again from the hell fire fueling the abomination.

Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 6) + 9 = 18

Hadrans flesh burns and more as he stands close. He takes his sword high over head and crashes it down onto the shoulder of the beast. A firey explosion of bone and then a calm as the flames burn out and bone shards litter the floor.

I hate fire, and the undead. What a horrible combination. You ok Orithos?

I don't know if that killed it, so I'm going to wait for Rednal's verification on that.

The skeletons weren't easily damaged by blades... but raw force was raw force, and the second skeleton collapsed under the force of the blow.

100 XP each.

With that accomplished, you now have the opportunity to examine the room in considerably richer detail - and some degree of safety, since the undead won't be getting up again.

Well that was not expected. I have the ability to find secret doors now as well if you feel I should use it let me know.

Hadran starts searching around the room. 28Perception

I assume we will take 20-30mins or so and each take 20 looking around the room.

As you search, a few things soon become apparent - including an examination of the icons within the chamber, which reveal that this is a shrine sacred to Nethys, the God of Magic. He's shown in both of his aspects - protective and destructive - and various religious tools are still here - they're made of silver, and fairly valuable, though you would have to consider whether or not robbing another god's shrine is a good idea...

There are also two holy symbols of Nethys, both silver, as well as a scroll set atop each altar - you'd need to carefully examine them for specifics, but they're almost certainly magical, and it's unlikely the god this shrine is dedicated to would object to you taking (and, more importantly, using) them.

Sorry got busy at work yesterday or I would have posted again.

Carefully Hadran cast detect magic and finds the scrolls atop the alters. After unrolling them and casting read magic he is able to know the magic set into them.

Looks like we stumbled upon a shrine to Nethys. Maybe this was once a wizard tower. We can take these scolls but we should leave the rest. No reason to have a god upset at us. So you ready to move on Orithos?

Hadran rolls back up the now identified scolls. He hands them to Orithos and starts to exit the room.

The scrolls seem to offer the ability to cast Shatter and Shield Other at the basic level - quite appropriate for things put on display in front of the dual-minded god of magic.

Pocketing the scrolls in one of his chest straps, Orithos follows Hadran out of the room.

"This place gives me an ominous feeling. What other higher beings does this world hold?

Orithos was that an thought or a retorical question said out loud. Normaly thougts are done in Itallics May have spelled that wrong. I'm a horrible speller. And talking is done in Bold I'm not sure if I heard you say that, but if I did I may talk about it a bit :)

Let us finish exploring this place then, so that we may continue in our journey. First we should take care of these burns.

Hadran eyes roll back as he speaks a divine chant. His hand glows with a pale blue light as he gently glides it over his burnt area's they begin to heal and look less severe.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

I have some limited healing magic now my friend. It appears I am regaining strength as we quest. This is good. I trust you can take care of yourself for now. We can save your channel ability incase things get bad in a combat. Now lets head to the next unexplored area in this tower.

The other half of this floor seems to be blocked off, and only accessible from the outside. Other than that, there were some rooms on the floor above (Room 8) that hadn't been examined... plus, of course, the mayor's request about a certain body on the top floor.

Lets start with room 8 then we can go fetch the head.

Cracks in the walls and ceiling of this chamber have allowed rainwater to collect here, flooding the room and giving rise to a profusion of mold and fungus along the walls and ceiling. There's also a truly massive frog inside the room - large enough to scare troglodytes - and it looks hungry. That may have something to do with the collar around its next and the fact that the previous inhabitants of the building were slaughtered not so long ago...

Initiative (Enemy): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Initiative (Hadran): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Initiative (Orithos): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

This thing looks like it wants to eat us. We need to kill it or it could get out and head to the village.

Swift Action Arcane Strike
Charge Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (2, 2) + 10 = 14

Hadran reacts with speed swiftly moving to the creature drawing his massive blade, he leaps and cuts at the creaturs massive head. He lands and has his blade ready to strike again to bring down this massive beast.

Hope that hits FF AC, dice gods paying me back for all the boss fight crits :)

Glimpsing the beast before him was rather startling. Bulbous eyes, and a knowledge that the beast could jump at a moments' notice made Orithos very wary. Noticing the chain, though, relieved a bit of the tension, but nonetheless, he wasn't too inclined to approach it.

That's when Hadran rushed in.

With a sigh, and a brandishing of his rapier, Orithos charged in as well, working to hamstring one of its legs if it maneuvered away.

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 4) + 6 = 11

Before the creature could even react, its body hit the floor, life flowing away. With that, it seems like this chamber is empty of threats - though you do spy something sticking out of the muck on the far side of the room.

100 XP each.

Nice reaction time Orithos. Giant beast like that are unprdictable at best. I think it was best to put it down even if it only ended its suffering. What do you suppose is sticking out of the muck over there?

Hadran makes a few gestures and speaks some arcane words as his eyes light up. He stares at the object as he walks toward it. He tries to fetch or push it out of the muck enough to grab it with getting as little much on himself as possible.

Cast detect magic and go get the object

The object doesn't register as magic - but it doesn't take long to pull it out of the muck and clean it off a little to reveal a statue of an angelic being, carved out of solid jade. It's almost certainly valuable - though you'll need to actually appraise it to find out how much it's worth - and would probably sell well to any collector or dealer in valuables if you didn't want to keep and make use of it somehow. The rest of the room seems clear - except for the door in the southeast part of the room.

"That looks like a good find. We might find a decent price for that in town. In any case, let's pocket it and keep moving."

Such a size for the toad was disturbing to Orithos. Blood slick on the stone and stench wafting off the creature made it rather hard to pace by, but eventually he got far enough to the door so that it wouldn't affect him quite so much. With a short glimpse back at the toad, Orithos felt pity for it. The chains that held it in place cut into its flesh, while the collar around its head dug in so tightly that it was no wonder the creature was distressed. Puddles of waste and bile could be seen clumped between the creature's webbed feet, and jagged bones around the corpse stuck into it quite uncomfortably. Confined spaces and rusted suffering was something he wouldn't wish on anyone or thing.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Orithos' stomach churned at the scene before him, and sorrow began to well up within him. Still, he had to turn away from the distress, and keep his head moving, as is the way of life. No matter how much one suffers, they must keep on going.

Hadran notices Orithos grimace a bit as they walk pass the toad toward the door.

Not seen much in the way of battle my friend. I can say it doesn’t get any easier either. What keeps us going is knowing what we do is the right thing. I’m not saying the frog was evil, but it was raised and kept by twisted evil creatures. To have let it loose upon the world would have been a bad thing. You, I mean we did the right thing. Now lets open this door and see what else we find here.

Hadran moves to open the door.

The door opens to reveal a small chamber - it may have been a storage room at one point in time, but the collapse of the tower has left it open to the air. It's possible to climb up or down the tower from here - and while inhabited, this could have been a good way to sneak up on foes. However, nothing of interest seems to be visible through this door - it's probably safer (and faster) to just take the stairs.

"Let's head back around and up the stairs. We need to check out the remains of the chieftain. I have a nagging suspicion things might not be as we left them."

Yes you could be right. He had more power than such a creature should. Maybe he made some deal with a fiend. Lets be on our guard.

Hadran leads the way as they head up the stairs.

It doesn't take long at all to ascend the stairs to the top of the building, nor to return to where the leader's body had been burned. There is rubble there - placed when the fire was being built - and quite a few ashes... but no sign of bones or other body parts, much less anything you could take back with you. That, of course, brought up an important question... if the Troglodyte wasn't dead, where was he?

First, Orithos tried again to think of any creature he might have a clue about that would explain what was happening here.

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

With a lack of memories reminding him of the predicament he was in, Orithos instead changed his attention to the floor beneath him, for if the body moved, ash marks must have been left behind.

I'll take a ten if allowed. Otherwise...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Gone, you think he came back again after being burned. He is a tough one for sure. I would think he would leave this place now that his slaves and entertainment are gone, but be on guard as I'm sure he is not happy with us.

Hadran will look around the room also for any clues or anything missed.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

You have any luck finding anything over there.

Hadran ask as he looks on his side.

There were no signs of drag marks from the ashes, nor any footprints not your own. Perhaps more relevantly, there was no ruined furniture scattered about the room, either - to the full extent of what's visually available, it seems the troglodyte neither walked out nor pushed the rubble away.

Of course, there was one thing he did during the battle that might account for this - teleportation magic of the kind he'd already demonstrated having could certainly extricate him from the predicament, and probably bring him somewhere safe without leaving behind any easily-followed clues.

You might want to make a Religion check, too, Hadran.

Orithos did you mention something about the trogg and his religion. If you share what you know maybe I can recal somthing.

K. Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 +2 if Orithos aids.

Thinking back over everything you saw, the powers the Troglodyte displayed, and his overall demeanor, several things are apparent - the Troglodyte wasn't merely in possession of various powers, he was possessed. A devil-bound creature is no normal being, and can only be slain by a silver weapon or pure goodness wrapped into an attack, stopping its regeneration before it's slain. Anything else will - at best - be a temporary inconvenience.

The real problem is fulfilling those criteria... though it's certainly possible that you could get some help in town if defeating this foe isn't within your current resources. The jade statue, in particular, could probably be traded for something useful if you brought it to a priest or cleric of some kind.

Well Orithos looks like we cleared the place out. We don't have any way to track the beast, but if it holds a grudge and can teleport it may find us in the future. We just need to watch our backs. Shall we go my friend?

Hadran starts to head down the tower and back to the village.

"Yes. Hopefully, the creature is after us, rather than the folks of the village. I would hate it if we were the cause of their suffering."

After a bit more time - and climbing - you're able to make it back to the village... which, incidentally, is starting to look rather more populated now that the people outside of the big city are returning to a location that's proooobably safe. Several of them greet you, wide smiles on their faces, as you arrive.

A shiver of uncertainty ran down his spine as he pondered what these people would think of him when they found out the results of their efforts. Orithos believed in the preservation of life, and so, he hoped the possessed creature that Hadran and he had slain the day before would come after himself rather than the village.

Peace had to be maintained, though, so, the fiery one brought up a hand to wave, and then began looking for the Elder.

crap it didn't show me the updates, I was wondering why no activity.

The tower has been cleared. If you have the man power I would take it down and use the stone to make some new structures here in your village. Remember the name Hadran and Orithos. Let those that would do evil to innocent know they will be punished.

Hadran waves and enjoys the cheers of the crowd.

It doesn't take very long to find the elder of the village - he's still at his house, and looks more than slightly interested as you return. "How did things go?" he asked, clearly anticipating good news from the two of you.

Finding the cheers to be more annoyance than actually necessary, the fiery one lit a quick grin and wave slip, and then, headed straight to their leader's attention. The walk was agonizing, though, since, they hadn't exactly finished the job.

Scratching the back of his neck, and making sure not to set foot in the elder's house, Orithos shook away the weariness, frustration, and nervousness, so that he could actually get his message across. After taking a breath to start his speech, a sneeze broke out behind him.

Turning around, Orithos found half of the village standing behind Hadran and he, almost spilling over their own excitement to hear the news.

Turning his attention to the elder, Orithos asked, "Might we speak in private? There is much we need to discuss."

The elder nodded and simply closed the door behind the two of you once you'd entered the house. "Did something happen?" he inquired.

I will let Orithos explain as he has more elegant words than I.

Hadran takes a seat.

Taking off his shoes at the doorstep, and bowing his head in frustration, Orithos replied, "The body was nowhere to be found. Hadran and I have come to the conclusion that the creature that lead the troggs was marked by another not of this world. We have also come to the conclusion that the creature, if it does strike, will come after us rather than you and the villagers, so you need not fear."

That creature had been quite difficult, even for Hadran to plow over, and seeing as it had risen from a state of smoldering ash sent shivers down Orithos' back. To everyone else in the room, the fiery ones' flaming hair seemed to dim to the luminous shade of embers, while his skin darkened almost to the hue of ash.

"I apologize most sincerely and shall promptly leave this village as soon as possible, for as long as Hadran and I stand within your presence, you and everyone else are in danger."

The elder grimaced at your words. On the whole, he seemed like a responsible man... and he shut his eyes for a moment, then opened them again. "You come back when you've dealt with him and let us thank you properly." he said, staring at the two of you. After a moment, though, he moved up to one of the shelves and took down a small box, setting it on the table and opening it to reveal an exquisite golden ring with a fire opal prominently displayed in it. "If you're going to meet someone of importance in Katheer, you'll need to bring a gift." he said gravely. "This will suffice for anyone short of the Satrap himself. Take it."

This is too much elder, this may be better served in helping your village. We are honored by your offer, but respectfully decline.

Hadran stands and give a bow.

Now we realy should be on our way.