The Mud Sorcerer's Tomb (Inactive)

Game Master baldwin the merciful

"This one is tough!" shouts Gauthier, now a little worried at the state of T'wich.

His hand steadies while the other dances between string and quiver, each arrow flying then landing with a snapping TCHAKT! TCHAKT! TCHAKT!

Flurry of Arrows (PBS, Inspire Courage, Divine Favor, GMW, Corrosive, Deadly Aim, Haste): 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 17 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 - 3 + 1 = 431d8 + 4 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 + 6 + (4) = 29
Flurry of Arrows (PBS, Inspire Courage, Divine Favor, GMW, Corrosive, Deadly Aim, Haste): 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 17 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 - 3 + 1 = 361d8 + 4 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 + 6 + (4) = 32
Flurry of Arrows (PBS, Inspire Courage, Divine Favor, GMW, Corrosive, Deadly Aim, Haste): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 12 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 - 3 + 1 = 291d8 + 4 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 + 6 + (3) = 26
Flurry of Arrows (PBS, Inspire Courage, Divine Favor, GMW, Corrosive, Deadly Aim, Haste): 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 17 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 - 3 + 1 = 431d8 + 4 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 + 3 + 4 + 2 + 6 + (2) = 28

Oh boys! Rey says as she once again travels around the large, thankfully still inanimate, statue in the center of the room, on her way to T'wich. I do believe it's time we address the elephant in the room. Rey chuckles at her own joke, while activating her healing wand again. She sidles up behind T'wich and with her hand enveloped in the healing magic, she gives him a little tap on the rear. A little something from me to you. She smiles, and then ceases playing her battle cry, thinking that this battle is well in hand.

Cure Critical Wounds: 4d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 4, 8, 3) + 10 = 32

The benefits of Inspire Courage will continue for another two rounds due to Reyondelee's feat lingering performance. If she needs to pick up the performance again she will, but I'm guessing in two rounds we'll have these stoners good and down. Then she'll pick up another soothing song to ease those aches, pains, and broken bones.

The group turns their attention on the sole remaining golem, and in short order it fractures and shivers apart under the repeated blows, shattering and collapsing to the floor. The only sound now is the distant thunk thunk as the third golem ascends slowly out of the pit.

I'll rule that Omar and Gauthier destroy it with arrows long before it emerges or the pit disappears.

Once the three golems are destroyed, silence descends once more.

In the secret compartment that the group opened in the black pillar contain a dagger and longsword, as well as a sealed scroll tube.

Well, that was certainly more difficult with those statues moving around and punching and what not. I hate to say it, so I think I'll sing it instead. Reyondelee picks up her lyre and begins strumming a few bars of a bittersweet melody, the tune seems to be a perfect harmony between a cradle song, and a funeral dirge. Ohhhhh statues of stone, can break your bones... I told you so, ooooooh oooooh oohhh, I told you so. But bard's voices are just for show, I told you sooo, ooooh I told you sooooo! She winks at all her boys as she plays, and shakes a little bit of a jig as she performs as well, dancing around the piles of heaped rubble. Perhaps from now on, you'll think where you go, 'cause I told you sooo. Ooooh ooooh oohhh I told you so.

Four rounds of soothing performance.
Soothing Performance: 3d8 + 14 ⇒ (8, 3, 6) + 14 = 31

Feeling the warm blessing knit his battered wounds, "Ahhhh, you've got a nice touch Songbird." He winks.

Twich Omar could one or both of you check this scroll tube to see if it is trapped as for the dagger and longsword unless one of you has a need of it. I would advise waiting until we are out of this tomb before we identify it Sargon says as he makes his way over to the elephant statue.

On the bright side of things at least this big boy has not animated yet

Gauthier exhales loudly as the battle is won, then takes a moment to stretch his tired arms, his eyes wincing the pain he feels in his shoulders.

"Well... These packed quite the punch. We're still stuck though; I don't see a key in the compartment..." he muses with his gruff voice.

"That could have went better, I must agree. I hate to just destroy things all willy nilly. It seems such a waste. Especially if it has some value for us," he says, sadly. The paladin heals himself for the second time, using his Lay on Hands ability.

LOH 7d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 5, 1, 1, 3, 3) = 21

T'wich will spend some time looking at the scroll case looking for magic first. He will glance at the dagger and sword to see if they have auras. Then he will check the scroll for traps,

perception traps: 1d20 + 20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 20 + 5 = 34

disable device: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (7) + 28 = 35

"Spend sum time figurin' if those weapons will 'elp us." he mentions about identifying the weapons. Maybe the key or the destruction of the guardians unlocked the doors."

The sword and dagger have magical auras. The scroll does not, nor is it trapped.

"Maybe the locks work now that the compartment is opened? But yeah, first the weapons and scrolls..."

Sargon will examine the now safe scroll, using Read Magic if necessary.

"Maybe the locks work now that the compartment is opened? But yeah, first the weapons and scrolls..."

Good point Gauth, after we finish with this scroll and weapons we can check them out

So we don't want to try and identify the magic on these weapons? Reyondelee says with a puzzled look on her face? Any particular reason why? It doesn't cost me anything to detect magic and use my knowledge to see what's what...

We should identify them Rey, in fact you would be the one that is most adept at this sort of thing Sargon says smiling a little smile

I would usually do this sort of thing outside mostly out of habit

't would be my pleasure. Reyondelee says as she makes her way back to the black pillar to look at the new found treasure. Rey focuses on the dagger first and casts identify , tapping her knowledge of such things to see what she can find out. She then continues using the spell and focuses on the longsword, and finally on the scroll.

Spellcraft for dagger: 1d20 + 14 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 14 + 10 = 35
Spellcraft for longsword: 1d20 + 14 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 10 = 26
Spellcraft for scroll: 1d20 + 14 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 14 + 10 = 29

If K:A would help at all...?

Knowledge: Arcana for dagger: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26
Knowledge: Arcana for longsword: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20
Knowledge: Arcana for scroll: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

Frick! Good thing I went with identify and not just regular ol' detect magic. Those rolls blew it!

Both items turn out to be regular weapons with Nystul's Magic Aura cast on them.

The scroll contained is ancient and brittle to the touch; pieces flake off even as the parchment is unrolled, while several cracks threaten to divide the scroll into thirds.

The ink is faded, but legible in Taalese:

Dancing on the
first great sign
Calls lying blades
for cuts unkind.
The dancer finds
another oom
And suffers here a
watery doom

You're gonna love this, anyone good with riddles? Sargon reads the scroll to the group.

Dancing on the first great sign. Calls lying blades for cuts unkind.
The dancer finds another room and suffers here a watery doom

Is this one of your songs Rey?

Well, I'm sure everyone is going to look to me for the answers to lyrical riddles, right. So I'm just going to think out loud here... 'Dancing on the first great sign,' has got to have something to do with standing on top of which ever of the four power symbols we've seen so far is considered 'the first.' Not sure if that means the first in eminence or the first in the order that they appear. 'Calls lying blades' seems to be a pretty obvious overture to either blades that now lie down unused, or blades that themselves are lies, like shadow blades or illusionary blades. Or it could be these blades we're looking at here, blades that give off the aura of being magical, but that are in fact mundane, which is a 'cut' to our profit margin. If that's the case, it means we've already danced atop the first great sign. Which means that whichever room we go into now is more than likely going to be filled with some kind of watery trap. Or perhaps water elementals? Either way, I'd say we'd better prepare ourselves for defending against water in any form, including ice. I'm guessing that some of the pedestals in this room have inscriptions of the four signs on them. We might need to stand on the correct one in order to open the next door...? Or maybe our elephant friend needs to be moved from his pedestal the correct pedestal?

You're gonna love this, anyone good with riddles? Sargon reads the scroll to the group.

Dancing on the first great sign. Calls lying blades for cuts unkind.
The dancer finds another room and suffers here a watery doom

Is this one of your songs Rey?

"Seems like there's gonna be sum dancin' 'round some blades...probably from the ground. Looks like we will be in flooded room." the dwarf wets his parched mouth with a skin of ale.

Well, I'm sure everyone is going to look to me for the answers to lyrical riddles, right. So I'm just going to think out loud here... 'Dancing on the first great sign,' has got to have something to do with standing on top of which ever of the four power symbols we've seen so far is considered 'the first.' Not sure if that means the first in eminence or the first in the order that they appear. 'Calls lying blades' seems to be a pretty obvious overture to either blades that now lie down unused, or blades that themselves are lies, like shadow blades or illusionary blades. Or it could be these blades we're looking at here, blades that give off the aura of being magical, but that are in fact mundane, which is a 'cut' to our profit margin. If that's the case, it means we've already danced atop the first great sign. Which means that whichever room we go into now is more than likely going to be filled with some kind of watery trap. Or perhaps water elementals? Either way, I'd say we'd better prepare ourselves for defending against water in any form, including ice. I'm guessing that some of the pedestals in this room have inscriptions of the four signs on them. We might need to stand on the correct one in order to open the next door...? Or maybe our elephant friend needs to be moved from his pedestal the correct pedestal?

Excellent analysis Rey, I too believe that "Dancing on the first great sign" has something to do with the power glyphs we encounterd earlier. I have no clue about "Calls lying blades for cuts unkind." Though I know of magic that can make blades attack someone. "The dancer finds another room and suffers here a watery doom" We are currently Ok if a room fills with water and such. It's that dancer part that has me confused....

'So the two blades we found were lyin' to us, initially we thought they were magical until the truth of the lack of magic was made known. If we had used them thinkin' they were magical, they would have been cuts unkind...no damage to our foe." He pauses. "Looks like we are going swimmin'. So, is there an indication of symbol 'ere? that matches the top one from the oth'r room?

He looks around. perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 20 = 39

"Omar, 'elp us look for the symbol."

Was an elephant a symbol or was the symbol #1 on the map page in this room?

Sargon begins scanning the elephant statue and then the alcoves

Perception: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (10) + 26 = 36

LINK: Prior Post about symbols in this room.

I'm not sure if this qualifies or if we need to look for something else.

The southeast face of the black pillar bears all four mud sorcerer symbols in a diamond.

Well we've throughly explored this room. Let's move on, do these doors open now

Sargon asks the group

"Prepare to git wet." T'wich will go to the door (between "D" and "E") and try the door. "Ready those bows and yer sword." He nods at the half-orc.

The doors still do not open.

"Can anyone use magic to make us breathe water? I can't do that any other way."

"I was going to mention... I know several different prayers who could help, but with different effects and different durations. For example, I know one that would allow me to reduce the level of water. That could be helpful... There is one, a basic one, to allow people to breathe underwater. Let me think... There are six of us... Four hours or so each. I have more potent options as well, if that's what we want. One of the thing that worries is, yes, suffocation, but it's also quite hard to do anything underwater..." Gauthier offers.

Omar waits around seeing if the others come up with a way past the puzzle. I really hate puzzles. he thinks to himself.

Following Grizzly Bear's disclosure, useful...very useful. "Ole One-Eye 'as bless'd you indeed." He lets there be long pause, so his words of thanks sink in. "Unless we 'ave some sort of pitfall trap, you should have a bit o'time to give us your blessin' He touches various potions and oils on his bandoleers. "Thought I had a potion fer breath'n water but I must've used it."

When I was collecting diamond I sold off the potion of water breathing.

Rey takes a thorough look around the pillar again, and then takes a long inspection of all of the pedestals that the stone golems were standing on. Here's a guess. She says as she looks around. I bet each dais has a marking on it somewhere, they are arranged in such a way as to resemble a diamond. I think, perhaps, if we spin each dais so that the symbols match the formation of those here on the black pillar, it will open at least one of the doors. Though, that requires us to also decide, or at least prove by trial and error, which of the corners of this room is the 'top' of the diamond. Ya think? She says with a quizzical quirk in her brow, throwing out anything she can think of because she is stumped as to how to continue, unless it is to go back to the bell chamber and try her original idea. Also don't forget Sargon's life bubble spell is still active, so even if water comes flooding out of there, we will all be able to breathe. As she looks around she sketches on her parchment, sometimes tapping the quill on her tongue as she thinks about the various details of the room. I hope I don't accidentally open the door, and have water come flooding in.

Rey is going to take 20 on a perception check on the black pillar, then on each of the individual dais, sweeping off any rubble necessary to get a good look at them, and rotating them around to discover their possible uses. She will also use her craft:mapmaking to draw this room with as much detail as possible, including the arrangement of the symbols as they appear on the pillar, the writing from the scroll in both Taalese and common, and the details of each dais.

Perception: 20 + 23 = 43
Craft: Mapmaking: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Is it possible to crit on making a map?! That was a sweet roll.

To move things along, I'm going to take Rey's post and run with it.

Rey discovers that both diases to the south can now be turned freely, and that while one spins forever with no result, the second turns four times counter clockwise and then clicks and suddenly feels looser, canting over to the left. With the help of the others, they lift the pedestle up and reveal another niche within the base from which a noxious and vile cloud emerges to swirl around the room.

Everybody is immediately glad for their life bubble.

Soon the cloud dissipates, and they find in the new niche fifteen 100gp gems, two 500 gp gems, a platinum statuette resembling the cat-headed golem worth 750 gp, two vials and a scroll.

No more mud sorcerer markings are evident.

The elephantine statue towers over you all, still pointing imperiously at the sole open door in the room, the one through which you came.

Great find Rey, Omar Twich would you check to make sure there are no traps on the items and Rey could you identify them. I certainly would appreciate it Sargon says eyeballing the elephant statue again.

My guess is if there is a way out of this room, this big boy here is the key. Dragox Gauthier could you assist me in turning this thing.

Let's spin it and listen for a click

Edit: Sorry got ninja'd by Sargon.

Thank goodness for life bubbles, eh gents? Rey says, as she takes a few steps back and waits to see if the treasure is in fact protected by some trap or other. Once that stuff is deemed safe, I'll certainly look for magic and try to figure out what use they are. Dragox, you are welcome to my share of the treasure... Wars to fund and all. Besides, this map she says as she puts away her parchment and quill, is much more the treasure I came for.

Omar will give them a look over to make sure they are safe.

perception: 1d20 + 42 ⇒ (20) + 42 = 62

That'll do! :)

I surely hope so.

*sweeps arms out umpire fashion* Safe!

Oh yeah! Life bubbles... Exactly what I had in mind. Gauthier reflects as he is reminded of the obvious by Rey, then by the gas filling the chamber.

"Still, water could be a powerful enemy, as it would prevent us from moving easily and using most weapons. If you allow me, I'll use the time to meditate and prepare some prayers to deal with this clearer threat. Mmh?"

If everyone is ok, I'll prepare Control Water and Genie Kind.

"By all means, please do. I hate being soggy. Must be part of my Osiriani upbringing. "

'Desna's blessin' gives me a limited amount of freedom of movement each day, so that'll help me git out of a pinch." He pauses. "Think we need to close the other door before one of these," He motions to the locked doors, "...will open?" He pauses then adds, "Seems if the creators of this death tomb wanted to drown someone it's be easier if the door was closed."

Gauthier gives T'wich a worried look, but doesn't add to the pessimism.

"Think we need to close the other door before one of these,"

Ok Twich, sounds like a plan

Sargon will attempt to open the west door(The one between D&E after Twich closes the door

T'wich closes the door, yet the west door remains unopenable.

Omar will take a close look at the west door to try and see what it is made of.

perception: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (13) + 35 = 48

Sargon clearly frustrated moves over to the one feature not yet interacted with and attemps to spin the elephant listening for a click or something

While you guys are fumbling around trying to open doors, I'm going to check out these two vials and this scroll. Rey says and then casts detect magic, focusing for the full three rounds necessary first on one vial, then the other, and finally the scroll.

Knowledge Arcana Vial 1: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24
Spellcraft Vial 1: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
K:A Vial 2: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (8) + 19 = 27
Spellcraft Vial 2: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
K:A Scroll: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38
Spellcraft Scroll: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

If necessary Rey will cast Read Magic on the scroll, if that makes it easier to figure out.

Serendipity.

As Omar steps up to the door, frowning and scrutinizing it, Sargon rotates the great elephant so that it spins to point at the western door.

The door clicks, opening.

Rey detects the following:

Potion of cure serious wounds, and elixir of madness, and a scroll of globe of invulnerability.