"The Meat Grinder:" DM Norv's The Tomb of Horrors (Inactive)

Game Master The Norv

"Aye, let's see what other rabbit holes we dig up or at least exhume the last adventurers that died here..."

The gunslinger moves to the north, paralleling the pile of rocks and sand along the cliff face, and moving toward the western reach of the rubble.

I'll take the north-western area and search," calls Ibid, examining the pile of rocks from a distance of ten feet.

perception(visually looking over the pile of rubble and sand): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Azgar shrugs and goes to the southeast to prod the ground some more.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

As Elan prods at another section of the hill, yet another small hole is uncovered, this time by Ibid.'s sharp eyes. When the two clear away a bit of rubble and shine a light on the inside, they find a passageway about 10’ high and constructed from plain blocks of stone. At the far end you can just make out the outline of two doors at the very end of the long corridor.

Azgar's exploration of the southern quadrant turns out to be fruitless, but you now have three possible entrances exposed...

"Confound it! Four passages!" the knight grumbles, tapping his foot impatiently. "Should we take a closer look at these murals, priest? Or take our chances with the doors?"

Ibid calls out to the others, alerting anyone who might not know of the third corridor which as been uncovered.

While looking down the corridor, a crushing sense of inescapable doom settles on the gunslinger, as he thinks, yep, we're doomed...

I fear we can keep peering down these corridors and casting detect magic until Guln comes back in a few days, and we still won't see any traps. How will we know if there are no traps, or if we are simply not skilled enough to see them? Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. I fear one of us is going to have to descend into one of these corridors soon enough, Ibid thinks as a shudder of dread spreads across his body.

Ibid turns to Elan, saying, "I think we're all going to have to focus our various methods of detection on one of these corridors, together, as a group, and when that doesn't turn up any evidence of traps, we'll summon a horse inside the passageway and let it disarm all the traps we can't see. Then I guess I'll crawl inside because I'm probably the least essential member of this party."

"And then when I get maimed by yet another unseen trap, just make sure to kill me quick with an arrow or something, so I don't suffer," the gunslinger says with a wry smile.

Elan looks deeply into Ibid's eyes as he talks and when he finishes speaks, None of us are disposable and none of us can't be lived without. Though there is some horse manure in your words, there is also wisdom. I agree that we should pick one tunnel and concentrate all of our abilities on it. I tend to like the one's with the pretty pictures, of course I always like pretty things as they tend to bring up memories of past experiences from previous trips around the wheel of life.

3 entry points, possibly all trapped and no certainty that we can't find any more. I could use some of my power to at least narrow down our course of action. This Acererak really did not seem fond of trespassers. I wonder what lays beyond this first hurdle. Will we have to make even more uncertain guesses, or was he certain people would not pass this part. Time will tell I suppose.

After having milled over their current predicament in the privacy of his own mind, Quadravos φ gave his opinion on the matter.
"Although I prefer not to summon forth creatures just to let them die horribly, I do concur that it would be the preferable course of action over dying ourselves. If you give me 15 minutes I could prepare some more summoning spells. I might even be able to send creatures into the 3 entrances, without to big of an expenditure of my powers."

Ibid looks to Elan, "I'll focus on the path with the pretty pictures, that sounds like a great plan. Except, I don't think I've seen these pictures yet. What do they depict? And what can I do to contribute? I can see as good as the next man, help light a corridor, and detect if there is anything magical... but I fear you and Quadravos φ can do the same, and better, with little effort."

Ibid next turns to Quadravos φ, stretching to straighten his tight back, cramped from crouching to look down the corridor. "I'm onboard for any plan, just let me know what I can do to help," says Ibid, lifting his musket aloft. "And, please let me know when I can start using this..." he motions to the raised musket, the words 'gentle repose' carved into its wooden stock, "because that's when I'll start to really contribute."

"Well, if you can do those things, then Elan and me can focus on different tasks, but if you'll excuse me for a moment. I will bolster my spell repertoire and see if I can do anything about our current choice of pathway problem."

Quadravos φ walked over to the most level surface he could find in the immediate area and produces two spellbooks from his backpack putting them down on the ground. He sat down and proceeded to leaf through his books. If one looked at all of this, it would seem as if he was going about it in a totally random order. But on closer inspection one could see that there was a pattern in the process.
Quadravos φ will now prepare the remainder of his spells, this would take 15 minutes.
Spells he is preparing :
lvl 0:Open/Close
lvl 1:Enlarge Person
lvl 2:Summon Monster II
lvl 3:Summon Monster III, Haste

Hope I'm not taking to much liberties with this post, if so. Correct me where you wish.

During the time Quadravos φ spent preparing the remainder of his spells, the rest of the group cleared away more rubble at the entrances, no longer needing to crawl to get in or out.

"I shall do some preliminary examinations at the entrances that have visible doors at the end of the passageway. Don't worry, I won't be going in yet. Some cantrips from the threshold should do the trick for now."

Quadravos φ moved over to the tunnel found by Azgar. He started weaving his magic.
Firstly, he cast Open/Close on the doors, trying each of them separately. Although there seemed to be no apparent lock on the doors he expected them to be locked.
Secondly, he moved a bit away from the threshold and cast Spark several times on the spider webs, setting them alight.

After having helped clear out the rubble at the various corridor entrances, some of his time spent unceremoniously chipping away at the soil with the butt of his spare musket, Ibid rises to watch Quadravos' φ graceful motions as he begins weaving magic.

"Not quite as graceful," says Ibid, as he casts light on a rock and tosses it down the same stone corridor which Quadravos φ is focusing on, "But hell, it works."

Next, the gunslinger couches on one knee and stares down the same corridor, and observes the stone floor just past the threshold of the rubble-entrance.

Ibid will take 20 on his perception check to observe the floor just inside the threshold, i.e. the first part of the floor which would be stepped on when the corridor is entered.
Taking 20: Perception(looking at stone floor just beyond the threshold): 1d20+10->(20) + 10 = 30

Lastly, after trying to look for traps or anything out of the ordinary at the enterance, the gunslinger casts detect magic down the corridor once more for good measure.

Ibid's actions are as follows:
1. Cast light on a rock, toss it into the corridor, to make sure the lighting condition is not 'dark'.
2. Take 20 on a perception check on the first stones which would be walked upon if someone entered the corridor.
3. Cast detect magic into the corridor, focusing on the floor, walls, and door.

Quadravos waves his hands, forming arcane signs, and the doors at the end of the shortest hall swing open (somewhat to your surprise). You have a split-second glimpse of a blank stone wall beyond, with no apparent opening--false doors, it would seem.

Then there's a sudden rumbling noise.

A half-second after that, the entire ceiling of the tunnel comes crashing down, ripping the cobwebs away and pounding mercilessly into the ground. Ibid. and Quadravos Phi jump back, startled, as scree pours out the opening and tumbles down the hillside. By the time the dust settles, the passageway is just a caved-in tunnel.

Good thing you weren't inside when it happened...

One corridor down?

Alaric stops his grumbling and sits up in alarm as the passage collapses. "... hrm. It appears you were right, wizard." the knight says, grudgingly. "That leaves us with two more passages to investigate. I'll trust your judgement from here on out. Just lead me to the battle."

Good thing we didn't try that one. I guess you should try the same with the other short tunnel.

Quadravos φ was startled by the fact that the door opened by his spell, but when the ceiling came tumbling down he understood why it worked.
He stood there for a moment looking at the collapsed entry point, brushing off some of the dust that came with it.

If we had been in that hallway, we'd be lucky to have made it out alive.

When he passed Sir Alaric he said, "Let's see if the other doors prove similarly trapped."

When Quadravos φ arrived at the passageway, he beckoned Ibid and Elan. "Could you light up the hallway with some pebbles? As it is right now I can barely see the outline of the doors."

Assuming they throw in some pebbles with light cast upon them, one of which being thrown close to the doors, as to make a clear visual.
Once the doors are clearly visible, Quadravos φ states "This might take a bit longer, as I need to extend the spell beyond its normal reach in order to not thread into the hallway yet." before going to work.
Quadravos φ weaved his magic once more to produce the Open/Close spell as he did before but the patterns were more detailed and intricate this time around.
He did this once for each door.

Elan picks up a stone, casts light on it and throws it so it hits the doors. Of course I will help you with this Quadravos

Ibid watches as Elan casts light on a stone as tosses it inside the hallway, and again with eager expectation as Quadravos φ weaves another set of spells. Without realizing his actions, Ibid's hands clench tightly on his legs of his pants, while waiting for Quadravos' φ magic to take trigger some unseen and terrible trap.

Azgar makes his way towards his comrades.

As Quadravos forms the final gestures of his enhanced spells, the doors at the end of the hall swing open, one after the other. Both reveal what seem to be walls of blank stone behind them, with no apparent breaks apart from the masonry.

However, nothing else happens.

Looks like another dead end. We'll have to proceed cautiously down the center. I recommend we look for traps, physical and magical. I do have a spell that will help me find traps just by walking close to them, but it will only last for a few minutes If you think that will help.

"If it lets us break this insufferably slow pace, I'm for it. Come, let's get underway before sundown."

"Well, if you are so willing to move forward in an expedient manner, take this." Quadravos φ said as he threw a 10 ft pole towards Alaric. It showed that he was slightly annoyed by Sir Alaric's remark.
"It's better you use one of these instead of your weapons. Don't want them to get lost in an acid trap now do you? I still got a few spares if it proves necessary."

Quadravos φ then turned to Elan. "I think it would be wise to use your powers now. Let's just hope that if there are more traps waiting after its duration expires, that we can find them with our own sight."

"Hrm. Very well. I'm not afraid of any knave's trick." he sneers, advancing, not without due caution, with the pole in hand. "Let us see what horrors this Tomb has to offer."

Perception (Search for pressure plates): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (Take 10) + 11 = 21

"Don't forget about me, now. I'm the trap guy."

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Ibid looks to across the various members of the group, "Is there anything you'd like to me to do specifically?"

"I could use one of those poles, as well, Quadravos φ. If it will help the group," says Ibid, turning to the wizard. "Or use my standard bag of tricks..."

From behind Sir Alaric and Azgar, Ibid casts detect magic down the corridor corridor.

Quadravos φ took another folding pole out of his handy haversack and handed it to Ibid. "I'm not much accustomed with your style of weapons, but from what I have read about them, one apparently needs to handle them with care, so one of these poles might be better for finding pitfalls and the like. On the topic of what to do, I can only add to check for traps as we all will be doing."

From behind Sir Alaric, Azgar and Ibid, Quadravos φ looked at the corridor ahead of them, paying close attention to any peculiar patterns on the ground first and then to the murals.
Perception(floor): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
Perception(walls): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Relevant knowledges to get any information of the murals?

After casting detect magic to examine the corridor, Ibid gladly takes the folding pole from Quadravos φ, nodding in thanks.

"I'll admit, if this pole triggers a trap, and a few feet are lopped off by a hidden blade coming from a wall or the floor," Ibid begins to smile, raising the loaned folding pole aloft. "I'm just going to fold it back up and give it you, as if nothing ever happened."

The group advances, warily, down the central corridor, the murals on the walls seeming to shift and dance in the light. Quadravos gazes in interest at the murals adorning the walls; they depict all manner of scenes. Some are mundane: cows grazing in a field, a book-filled library. More look grim: slaves laboring at various tasks, a wizard's workroom with dog-headed guardians, wolves stalking through a forest, a torture room filled with cruel devices and an iron door with the hands of some ferocious beast gripping the bars.

The scenes don't seem to represent any particular references to real things; they're fantastical, no knowledge checks needed.

As Azgar, Ibid., and Alaric head down the corridor, Quadravos, the hobgoblin, and the knight all notice that several of the tiles have letters engraved in them, sometimes complete words. It's a haphazard pattern, but before you have the time to examine it or comment, Alaric's pole makes a slightly different thunking sound and you all freeze. Azgar drops to one knee and examines the ground.

There's a trapdoor here, about 10'x10' square. Almost certainly some sort of pit trap, very cunningly disguised. The pole hasn't done anything--it may require more pressure to set it off.

Outlined in red on the map.

You've stopped between the murals depicting the wizard's workroom (left side of the map) and the cows in a field (right side). The pit occupies a space in front of the beginning of the torture room scene.

Feel free to rearrange yourselves on the map as you like!

Quadravos φ was gazing at the Wizard's workroom depicted on the wall. When he was trying to look at some details more closely the group found the pit trap. "So it seems we have found the very first trap of this corridor."

Quadravos φ returned to the image he was inspecting. He took a step back when his eyes fell on a particular detail.
"Azgar, when you are done with the trap in front of us, could you inspect something for me?" Quadravos φ pointed his quarterstaff to a specific part of the wall, namely a pair of robed, wolf-headed figures that were painted on the wall holding an elaborate bronze chest between themselves.
"Although not obvious at first, that chest is an actual box imbedded in the wall. I would like to be certain it is not trapped before taking it out and inspecting its contents."

"Yeah, sure thing. Give me a minute." Azgar Prods at the trap.
Disable Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

Assuming I don't kill myself on the trap, I search the box for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Elan casts detect magic on the box to make sure there are not magical traps there.

Though Azgar pokes and prods at the assumed pit trap for several minutes, he can't quite figure out how it works...

Crappy roll and you still came close. You can try again (perhaps with an assist for safety?) ;)

Standing to take a break from the pit in front of him, Azgar turns his attention to the chest. A cursory examination reveals that it can't be pulled out--it's a cavity built into the wall more than an actual chest--but the front does hinge downward. The opening mechanism seems to be a tiny stud on the top of the chest that will unlatch the door. Azgar's sharp eyes, however, notice a tiny pinprick in the stud that, on closer examination, proves to be a poison needle trap. The needle will prick the finger of anyone pressing on the stud, but if you use something else to press it, you should be safe.

Elan detects no magic in or around the chest.

"Damn near stopped my heart." the knight complains, as Azgar works to disarm the trap. "Hrm. Shall we go around?"

Not sure how much I can help with the box. Alaric could open it with his pole at Azgar's direction.

The old man cranes his neck to look over the others and see the box imbedded in the wall. Noticing that Elan has already cast detect magic, the gunslingers turns to the knight.

"Go on, Sir Alaric," Ibid says with an almost inaudible chuckle. "Give it a poke."

Ibid also has a 10 foot pole (thanks Quadravos φ), so I can attempt to poke open this box too. I just don't want to overstep my bounds within the group :)

And I'm a coward

Alaric shrugs, clumsily attempting to open the box with a few tentative jabs.

After a few stabs, Alaric manages to depress the knob. There's a tiny click of the mechanism, and a hiss and thunk as the needle shoots into the end of the pole; when the knight lifts the pole away, the needle comes with it. The front of the chest flips downward with a clunk, revealing the wall cavity.

As far as you can tell, the box is...empty?

"Seems empty. Going to check something, just to be certain."
Quadravos φ looked at the wall cavity, wondering if it might have a false bottom. Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

He took out his cold iron dagger and moved it around slowly in the cavity, searching around for a possibly invisible item. Basically, moving it around and checking if he feels any pressure against the dagger or something like that.

As Quadravos φ pokes and prods within the seemingly empty recess, the gunslinger turns back down the corridor leading further along the hallway.

"While you're poking around in there, Quadravos φ, I'll just check ahead," Ibid says, extending the 10-foot pole and prodding the floor leading further into the corridor. The old man makes sure to press and apply pressure to each area of the floor with the pole where his companions might step. When a sector of corridor is clear, the gunslinger steps forward and begins again. All the while, keeping a keen eye on the floor before him.

perception(examining the floor before stepping forward): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

... and with a roll of one, that total's a gentleman's 11... it's was nice knowing you all :)

Two things happen very nearly simultaneously:

First, Quadravos's prodding reveals a tiny metal lever hidden at the back of the "chest." There are no markings of any kind on or around the lever.

Second, Ibid., distracted by the clang of Quadravos's dagger against the lever, looks back and accidentally takes one step too many. As his foot descends on the next section of the floor, he feels it start to give way underneath him. The rest of you hear a shout, and look over to see Ibid. just barely pinwheel away from the lip of an open pit, which closes back up as he manages to fall back into the corridor.

Based on the glimpse you got of it as it started to open beneath you, you'd guess that this pit, like the one Azgar found, is 10' square. Also lined with nasty-looking spikes at the bottom.

Just barely made it through on a Reflex save...lucky. This time. ;) New pit outlined in red on map. In case it comes up, you CAN avoid the pits by stepping diagonally between them.

Ibid, unless you're in a hurry to die, why don't you be patient and let's see what the box does first.

Obviously shaken by the near fatal mistake, the impetuous gunslinger stands motionless at the foot of the trap, staring blankly ahead. He lifts the brim of his hat very cautiously so as to not alter his balance and wipes the newly formed beads of sweat from his brow with the sleeve of the jacket.

"I located a trap for everyone," Ibid says, trying to act fearless, but betrayed by a high-pitch crackle in his voice and the thousand-yard stare down the corridor. "I might need a change of pants though..."

I might need a change of pants as well...

Azgar gapes at the new pit trap. "Gods above, what have I gotten myself into?" He sighs, and starts prodding at the newer, spikier trap. "A little help?"

Disable Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

Fortunately, now that Azgar has seen a trap in action, he has a bit of better luck attempting to disarm this second one. He manages to sever the counterweight that shuts the trap and then tie off the remaining cable, resulting in a trapdoor that, while wobbly, is walkable.

Color of the second trap changed to green on the map to indicate, "Walk here, it has been made safe, nothing bad could happen to you if you were to traverse it." :P But actually you are successful.

"Well, it seems there is a tiny lever inside the cavity, but seeing the traps we have been coming across, I'd like to have it checked before activating it.", with that said Quadravos φ inspected the lever before letting Azgar have a peek at it.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

"I'll just wait here, shall I?" Ibid says, watching with great expectation as Quadravos φ examines the recess.

The gunslinger stands nervously, rooted in place, not wanting to move an inch for fear of opening another pit trap... and more specifically, the gunslinger does not move for fear of dying horribly, by having iron spikes pierce his body, rending his flesh and bone.

"But, is there anything you'd like me to do?" Ibid asks Quadravos φ and Azgar, "While I do my best not to get us all killed."

"Well, you could help me close the other trapdoor. If we don't, we'll probably get shoved down it at some point." Azgar turns and starts fiddling with the remaining pit.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

"I hope you'll believe me what I say, I'd like nothing more than to help you, Azgar," Ibid says gently over the hobgoblin's shoulder, as the creature works diligently to disarm the second pit trap. It is clear, the old man does not want to speak loudly or cause Azgar to lose concentration on his behalf. "But I've never been trained how to do what you do... I would certainly set off the trap if I attempt to touch it."

"I don't mind being the one who walks across it first, after it's been disabled, in order to test out your handy work," the gunslinger says with a smile.

I don't have any points into disable device, so I don't think I can aid another on this check. Sorry, Azgar.

Elan ponders for a moment and says, I can provide spiritual comfort. Oh Pharasma, please grant your blessing upon these mortal men and ensure their hands so they don't end up in yours before their time. Elan then smiles at Azgar and Ibid and winks.

That'll save us... Ibid thinks, looking back to the Samsaran. I didn't realize that had such a sense of humor.

"You're a funny guy," says the old gunslinger, grinning mischievously.

Alaric snorts, and peers at the snaking red tiles down the hallway. "If I were a betting man I'd say the traps snake all the way down the hallway. There's a good chance they follow the same pattern, but let's not get foolhardy. Gods above, if this Acererak would meet me in the lists instead of cowering in this tomb, I'd have his face in the dirt before he could blink."

Alaric turns to Azgar, chuckling inwardly as the knight reports to the jester. "Good work so far. Shall we press on?"