The Mud Sorcerer's Tomb (Inactive)

Game Master baldwin the merciful

Omar leads the way down a stone corridor (south), each stone is 2 by 2 ft, and perfectly placed. Omar is wary and scans carefully. At the end of the hall it makes a 90 degree turn (east) and continues for another 40 feet before it turn again (north).

Before turning down the east corridor Omar checks the stone wall (west wall) and he notices a small 2 inch hole that feels threaded. He considers it a potential arrow trap but quickly realizes it resembles a threaded key hole (as if something screws into the thread).

Updated corridor Map

What are you going to do?

Page turn

"Which way, Omar? Maybe we should try out the hallway and worry about the strange holes, later?"

Sargon quickly searches his equipment.

I don't have anything that would fit in that hole, so onward we go

"Yes, without a key, it doesn't do us much good. "

and heads down the corridor watching for any traps.

perception: 1d20 + 29 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 29 + 6 + 7 = 50

Rey jots down the new notes in her map as quickly and accurately as she can.

Craft Mapmaking: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Onward ho!

A row of red marble pillars runs down the hallway leading to this 45 ft tall chamber. Each of the five pillars has a single word inscribed. The inscription is in common and read as follows: "Tzalo", "Shall", "Vanquish," "Her," "Foes."

The vaulted ceiling of this chamber is painted to depict-animal-headed humans with ornate blades, locked together in bloody duels. Turquoise and ebony files frame a long pool of crystal clear water that runs down the center of the chamber. Eight marble statues of tiger-headed humans, naked to the waist and brandishing elaborate pole arms, stand guard vigilantly along the walls of the chamber.

The room's dominant feature, however, is the massive statue in the alcove. The statue depicts a kneeling elephant-headed human sitting back on its haunches with arms outstretched, palms open in welcome. The statue is 20-ft tall from its base to the top of its head. It is naked to the waist, revealing a heavily muscled gray chest. Baggy yellow pantaloons cover its feet. Its huge trunk rears back against its forehead, from which a massive red gem sparkles. Two more dark gemstones asre set into the statue's eyes. Two great stone tusks, one painted red, the other green, jut out of the statue's fanged maw.

Corridor and Room

"Obviously, there's no way that thing will animate and attack us or anything. "

and he takes a scan of the room for any signs of traps.

perception: 1d20 + 29 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 29 + 6 + 7 = 48

Right, I'm certain none of the artwork or statues in here are going to animate and try and remove our heads from our bodies. That would be too obvious, and the Mud sorcerers were never obvious. I'm thinking more likely the elephant statue is just a sprinkler, and it sprays water into the lovely pool in the center of the room.

"Har dee har har, you two. Obviously this is bad. Might be a good time to cast and preparatory spells needed, since we probably have to fight everything in this hall."

Hmm...eight tiger heads and an elephant, the fun never ends

Sargon will delay until the statues animate

The party's mood ranges from sardonic to concerning but the group understands that it must push forward to survive. Sargon begins floats off the ground, invisibly while eagerly awaits to blast anything that animates in the room. Rey nudges the heavily armored paladin forward instinctively using him as her personal body shield. Dragox fills the corridor dutifully with blade in hand.

Meanwhile, Omar exhales and begins to examine the statues and pool. His eyes focus on the heavy elephant tusks, initially concerned about being gored by either the red or green one, then he chuckles to himself: clever. To his eye, it looks like the tusks unscrew.

Sargon as you float up higher you don't see anything in the statue's opened palms but they do seem large enough stand or sit on.

Dragox you notice there are 5 valuable ivory tiles over belly of the massive statue each depicting a single letter: "F", "V", "T", "H", "S."

Rey the ruby in the statue's head has catch your attention as your fingers wiggle with anticipation.

Curious...It appears as if we have our screw key and a poorly hidden message F,V,T,H,S. Tzolo shall vanquish her foes.

No matter how inviting, Sargon does not land in the palm of the statues hand

"Should we arrange that message in a particular way? There is a lot of value in those statues...we need to collect all of that," the paladin says, with visions of armies decked out in shining suits of full plate mail, taking the WorldWound.

What are you going to do?

Dragox you do see quite a bit of potential loot in this room.

Each of the elephant tusks look valuable; the tiger head itself would fetch a handsome price; then there is the ruby in the colossal statues forehead that can feed an army for month, the eyes look like black opals, and the 36 fangs looks like smoky blue quartz. At least to your treasure looting eyes!

Rey takes the time to detect magic throughout the entire room to see if any magical auras are present on any of the valuables.

"Well I don't see any traps, so you are welcome to grab stuff Dragox. "

Dragon reaches up to start pulling down any of the jewels he could easily reach. If he could not get any, he will try to climb to the closest one and see what happens.

Dragox jumps about 4 and half inches off the ground while in his full plate armor, as he reaches for one of the ivory tiles below the colossus navel. His fingers pry but the tile does not budge. If you are attempting to climb up to get tot he gems in eyes and forehead you need to make a climb check for me.

Meanwhile Rey checks the area for magical auras but she does not detect any.

Anyone else doing anything?

Dragox stepped back. "I'm no good at climbing in all this armor. Could I get some help from one of you? How about prying some of those jewels out of the statues?"

Sargon will continue to fly around invisibly keeping an eye on things.

I'm not much good at prying jewels Dragox

The big half-orc paladin's gaze falls on Omar.

Magic or not, Rey is wary of prying things off of the statues. I'm not doing it. Even the absence of magical auras doesn't convince me that thing isn't coming to life if I touch it wrong.

It appears as if one of these tiger heads unscrews

Sargon will unscrew it

Sargon cautiously and slowly unscrews the tiger's head. Dreading every rotation. He lifts the head and peers inside a hollow space there are two ornately adorned scroll cases, both cases come scrolls, there and a tile that is inscribed in Taalese: Ivory blade, crimson sword, leads thee to the hidden hoard.

Three scrolls total: Bulls strength, augury, and purify food and dring.

You can make a knowledge: dungeeonering roll to try to figure out the riddle.

"I suppose I can try. "

climb: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28 then he will pry out the gems with his adamantine kukri trying to avoid touching the gems with the blade since it would cut them.

Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Ivory blade, crimson sword, leads thee to the hidden hoard. This have any meaning to any of you?

Anyone with know: dungeoneering can make that attempt.

Omar you shimmy on up the statue and are able to pry the big ole ruby from it's forehead. It looks quite valuable to you.

Ruby 5000 GP value.

"See? Nothing to worry about! Let's collect all those pretty little gems, and get moving again!". The paladin was actually quite relieved something didn't animate and attack them.

Rey will use her skills as a Lore Master to figure out the riddle. Sargon, what do these Taalese words say?

Once Sargon gives her the info she'll take 20 on the K:Dungeoneering check.

Knowledge:Dungeoneering: 20 + 19 = 39

Rey perks up proud as peacock.

I've got it! An elephant's tusk is ivory right? We need to unscrew the red (crimson) tusk and use that as the key to get to the hoard. Rey smiles, but then immediately frowns. Though, from what I've seen of this tomb so far, I doubt it's really just that easy. More than likely unscrewing the tusk is going to start a flow of caustic acid into the room, and we'll all end in a heap of bleached bones and magic weapons.

Omar are you going to unscrew the red tusk?

So far the looting is going smoothly.

Sure, Omar unscrews the tusk.

I believe this is a puzzle, a deceptively simple one at that. I believe we need to arrange the tiles like such T,S,V,H,F. Would anyone like to do the honors?

Omar unscrews the crimson tusk and hands it back down...everyone else stands read for the statue to move, but it remains inanimate. Sargon's voice breaks the tension.

Dragox moves the tiles around as requested by Sargon. "What's the worst that could happen, right?"

In response to Dragox's question about what is the worst that can happen.

Acid shower: 50d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 3, 5, 1, 3, 3, 4, 4, 1, 6, 6, 1, 3, 3, 6, 4, 3, 6, 3, 5, 1, 2, 1, 3, 3, 6, 5, 5, 2, 2, 5, 4, 2, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1, 6, 6, 6, 4, 3, 3, 2, 3) = 168

"Hmm, this might be the key to another spot. "

which side fits the hallway?do I need to remove the tusk?

"Hmm, this might be the key to another spot. "

which side fits the hallway?do I need to remove the tusk?

I assumed you removed the red one that Rey mentioned. Are you going to unscrew the green one too?

The whole tusk unscrews and you think will fit screwing into the secret door thread.

He might as well do both.

He might as well do both.

Just so we are clear: The whole red tusk unscrews {Like a threaded bolt)from the statue. You believe it will screw into the secret door lock in the hallway (Like a nut).

I want to make sure everyone is on the same action. So here is quick recap of where the game stands:

Rey has advised to unscrew the red tusk as it could be the key that leads to the treasure hoard. She has not mentioned the green tusk.

Omar climbed the statue and took the ruby in the forehead and opal eyes. He then removed the red tusk. I have not had you remove the green tusk yet. I need you to confirm if you are going to do that or not.

Sargon has given directions on the tile puzzle: T,S,V,H,F.

Dragox is depressing the tile letters per Sargon's directions.
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Dragox pushes the tiles in the order that Sargon directs. The belly rumbles: Tzolo Shall Vanquish Her Foes. The a secret door in the statue's stomach opens inward, revealing a corridor.

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With that set-up what are you doing next?

I will remove the green tusk.

I say we let Omar finish his hijinks and then we can head down that corridor.

Rey takes a moment to jot down the details of the room and the puzzle on her map, which, even though they appear to be about to gather a hoard of treasure, she considers to be the real treasure of this adventure.

Craft Mapmaking: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Proceed when ready gentleman. I'm right behind you.

As Omar unscrew the green tusk a greenish-yellow vapor sinks quickly from the head of the statue, clinging to everything as it moves. The acidic odor burns and leaves a ghastly taste.

Everyone needs to make fort save DC 20. success means 1/2 con damage.
Cloud Kill con damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

fort 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33

As a swift action, the paladin uses his Lay on Hands ability on himself.

LOH 7d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 6, 3, 1, 3) = 21

Everyone needs to make fort save DC 20. success means 1/2 con damage.

Cloud Kill con damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Everyone has Life Bubble up, does this prevent the damage