Kranzer inspects the door again to see if there are any hidden inscriptions or magical triggers. He can feel the magic sapping his strength, making his arms and fingers numb.
[dice=Perception]1d20+7
Afterward, through the haze of magic, Kranzer says, "Hey, sword. You mind lending a hand with some of this magic stuff? You read Thassi...Thassilo...Whatsit? Thassilonian! You read that?"
No no , ...I don't speak Thassilonian! Why are you letting Kalkamedes bounce off the door like that! Oh I do wish you'd hurry up whatever you're doing! He's abou to hurt himself! Do something!
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Before Farlen attempts to decipher the purpose of the wand again, Vulf speaks up, "It seems that we could also use some divine assistance in an efforts to help our friend Kalkamedes. Will you join me in prayer?"
Vulf invites the others to join hands and form a circle, including Kalkamedes if he can be reined over to the circle. ”Torag, Steadfast Father Divine, we appeal to you in this hour of need. For despite our mortal efforts to bring an end to the affliction of our comrade, Kalkamedes, we appear to be at an impasse. “ the cleric begins to pray.
”And so, at this moment, we find ourselves here—in a cavern dark and underground, enclosed on all sides within walls of stone. And also, at this moment, we find ourselves her— behind barriers of metal, our way barred by doors of iron. And so further, at this moment, we find ourselves here—at a loss for solutions, having engaged in considerable toil, but having produced nothing of value.”
”But you, Father Torag, are the Master of the Earth, moving rock and dirt to form Golarion into the shape that you desired. Let not, then, your servants be confined to a dark cavern, but provide us with the wisdom and strength to dig a passage ahead. And you, Father Torag, are the Father of the Forge, striking the earth with your hammer until the great dwarven race was forged. Let not, then, your servants be barred by metal doors, but provide us with the discernment and mettle to reshape their iron hinges to our desired end. And you, Father Torag, are the Divine Creator, for it was your prophecy that pressed dwarvenkind toward the surface to create the world anew after the catastrophe of Earthfall. Let not, then, your servants be condemned to fruitless toil, but help us to engage in productive and creative labor.”
Following the prayer, Vulf takes hold of his holy symbol and offers to lay a hand on each of his comrades, one-by-one to give them a touch of divine inspiration.
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Unsure about the actual magical aspects, Mentys joins in the prayer anyway. "As you have prophesied all that is, and will be, perhaps it is moot to entreat you, Lady Pharasma," he adds, head bowed. "But I do so nonetheless, in hopes that my prayers aren't in vain. All I can ask is that should helping our ally be beneficial or, more likely and if nothing else, neutral to you, show us the right path to do so. Any sign would be appreciated."
Afterwards, the oread straightens up and shakes his head. "I hope that did some good. I'm not as in-step with Pharasma as you are with Torag, Vulf; I'm more of a weapon in her hand. But it couldn't hurt."
Kranzer inspects the platform and the door carefully. He grows weak as soon as he steps on the platform but suffers no long term effects after he steps off. He finds no traps or anything else of interest. In the mean time Farlen has cast his comprehend languages spell.
locus of the Thrallkeepers, servants of the Runelord
of Sloth.”
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In the time remaining Farlen will move into the hall and read the other ruins. "Maybe there is a clue out here." "It could help us with this door problem."
Once he returns, with Hudor and Vulf assisting, He attempts to figure out what the wand does. He first relates what he found out in the hall messege as well.
"Lets do this."
Between Hudor Farlen and Vulf ...the goup eventually figures out that, the wand is a wand of ray of enfeeblement, . The also figure out the activation word to use the wand..But, the mystery remains...how to open the doors? Perhaps the Thassilonian writing offers a clue?
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Farlen states, "We have the two clues." "Plus we know the dais makes strong people weak." "And we have a statue holding a wand of ray of enfeeblement pointed at the door." " This is 'the Black Edifice, locus of the Thrallkeepers, servants of the Runelord of Sloth.'"
Farlen starts to pace, rubbing his chin with his left hand.
"Sloth means lazy, loath to move, or exert energy." "How can all this help with a door that can't be opened because you magically have no strength."
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Farlen states the statue riddle again. "Those that dare believe they are strong enough to oppose us shall learn that their strength is their weakness and our weakness are our very strengths." Farlen paces some more. "strength is weakness and our weakness is our strength and a ray of enfeeblement wand."
"Hmm...."
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Carini prays with everyone, linking hands as requested, but remains quiet, her mind on the strange dias. As the casters continue their study of the wand, she decides to step onto the dias again. She approaches the door, and attempts to open it. She knows she won't be able to get it to open, but is trying to get a feel for the strength that she has remaining.
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”I suggest that we use the wand to cast ray of enfeeblement on Kalkamedes while he is on the dais and see if ‘weakness’ gives him sufficient ‘strength’ to open the door.” Vulf declares. Anticipating questions from his companions, Vulf recites his understanding of events.
”We followed Kalkamedes here. In his slumbering state, he is clearly not in control of his own body, but some force is guided him here, to a place of magic – this locus of the Thrallkeepers.” Vulf recaps while thinking aloud. ”A thrall is a servant, perhaps more accurately a slave. So it would seem that these thrallkeepers enchant others to perform tasks for them, presumably so they don’t have to engage in labor themselves. That is certainly in keeping with devotees to the sin of sloth. “
”Torag values honor, planning, personal discipline, and industry. A lifestyle of slothfulness undermines these Toragdan values. Indeed, slothfulness is considered a weakness not just by devotees of the Father of Forge, but also by the standards upheld by many other faiths and disciplines.” the cleric notes. ”This weakness, the thrallkeepers consider their strength.”
”Presumably, a slothful thrallkeeper would never deign to expend the effort to open a door for him or herself, but would have a thrall do it for them instead. Indeed, this would appear to be what our enthralled Kalkamedes is attempting to do.” Vulf points to the wand. ”So, we give him what the thrallkeepers’ claim is their ‘strength’ to do it.”
”I realize the irony in having just sought the strength from my god to figure out how to weaken our colleague, but very little this evening has transpired as I would have initially thought. Besides, there is little harm in trying as the wand most likely will not affect Kalkamedes for even a full minute.”
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Suddenly, Vulf smiles and begins to chuckle, with it starting deep within his belly before moving to other parts of his body. As it grows, his body shakes until the northman's mirth can no longer be contained. "Of course!" he bellows with a hardy laugh. " Counterspelling! It was so simple!"
Regaining his composure, but doing little to contain his excitement, Vulf continues, "The dais and the wand are both transmutation effects. Both, in effect, hold the same spell. If Farlen prepares for someone getting onto the dais, then he can use the wand to counterspell the effect as soon as they begin to be subjected to the dais' spell-like effect. A that point the two spell effects negate each other and the door can be opened!"
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Mentys shrugs. "If that's what you think to be the case, sure. I doubt I'll be of much use on the dais, though; if I get as weak then as I am strong I don't even think I could walk under my armor!"
"If I am correct," replies Vulf to Mentys, "you would not get weak when you get on the dais because the effect will be countered at that very moment by the spell cast with the wand." The cleric glances over at Hudor and gives him a look as if to say, I know get it, Hudor. You're a magic user. But trying to explain magic to one without the gift or blessing is like trying to teach a blind man how to read!
Hudor taps his chin. "Think of it this way. In math, two negatives make a positive. This should work the same way."
Hudor likes Vulf's reasoning in theory, However...He is aware that the effect on the platform is permanent. It doesn't matter if someone is standing on it or not. It always has the strange and strong transmutation aura...therefore there is no spell being cast to make people grow weak.
Kranzer comes down from the Platform panting. He 's all out of energy. The only thing he can explain is, "the Platform seems to use one's own strength against him."
Hudor and Farlen and everyone can clearly determine...that the Platform is manipulating peoples Strength. But, even when it's not, casting an enfeeblement effect. Rather it seems to be reversing a person's Strength.
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"Hmm... I think I might have figured it out. The physically weakest among us should have the enfeeblement cast upon them. And then when they get up on the platform, there strength should increase based on how weak you started."
Hudor looks around to see who the weakest is..."I believe either Farlen or myself qualify for the weakest."
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” ‘Strength is their weakness and our weakness are our very strengths’, “ Vulf recites. [b]”So, it would seem if we identify the thrallkeepers’ weaknesses, then we may solve this. “
”For one, they are devoted to slothfulness, so they will not exert anymore effort to do something than they have to. I suppose they would have a thrall open the door, but that didn’t seem to work as Kalkamedes couldn’t open the door. I’d suggest a greater number of thralls might be the answer, but we only have the one.’ With this theory reaching an apparent dead end, like his last, Vulf moves on.
”We also know that the thrallkeepers exploit arcane magics. So, what is a mage’s weakness? I suppose it would be the loss of his magic ability, then he’d have to do everything on his own. And as devotees of slothfulness, he would want to do it with minimal effort or energy. “
”How does one open a door with the least amount of effort or energy possible?” the cleric asks. ”Do it under a permanent enfeeblement effect and then enfeebling oneself even further if possible.” he speculates while considering the wand.
”Shall we determine the physically weakest among us and have ” Vulf emphasizes the pronoun in an effort not to offend Carini, try and open the door. "If he can’t do it, he or someone else can use the wand on him.”
Farlen, Vulf, and Hudor all use the wand on themselves while Kranzer, and Carini observe and Mentys keeps Kalkamedes from interfering .When you are hit by the ray the three of you instantly feel weaker..However, as you step up on the platform...your weakness suddenly becomes your Strength! Farlen feels stronger than he ever has..Hudor about the same and Vulf although he feels a little weaker than he normally does...It's defiantly better than being 'off the platform' with the enfeeblement effect still working..And it's a whole lot better than being on the platform without the enfeeblement effect.
All three push on the door as hard as they can and for a second it moves slightly but Vulf.. slips and is unable to help Hudor and Farlen push anymore! After that, the three of you try twice more..but are unable to get a good grip on the smooth steel doors..But, your sure you were close that first time! You step down off the platform to clear your head and think for a moment..All of you instantly feel weaker because the wand of enfeeblement effect, you cast on yourselves a few moments ago. What now?You ask yourselves, "should you keep trying?" Your sure you almost had it...the wand effect will only last a couple more minutes...do you try again? Or try something else?
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Realizing that the three of them nearly moved the door to opening during their prior attempts, Vulf feels frustrated, but eager to try again. ”Who would have thought that trying to be slothful would be so much work?” he bellows. ” Og jeg antar at etter dette vil det ikke engang være tid til å nyte en liten bit med mat!”
Determined to make every effort to complete his given mission, Vulf prepares to make another attempt at opening the door with the help of the two mages. ”Torag is a good of strength and, yet, I have purposely made myself weak.” the cleric laments. ”Let us hope then, that the Master of Industry and the Father of Fortifications will, nevertheless, take pity upon me and answer my prayers of aid. Of which, I suspect, there will be more than a few.”
Grabbing hold of the symbol of his faith, Vulf utters a prayer. ”Father of the Forge,” the cleric implore, ”Though this vessel before you has been weakened, like metal turned molten by the furnaces’ heat, pour your divine energy upon it so that this weakened vessel can act with alloyed strength!”
Vulf is visibly relieved as he feels a familiar warmth come over his body, akin to the ignition of a furnace within him, as he is now confident that his god has not abandoned him.
Satisfied with the results of his prayer, he repeats it first before laying hands on Farlen and then again before laying hands on Hudor.
The northman then accompanies the others to the dais and helps them in their attempts to open the door. ”By Torag! We cannot fail!” he shouts as he heaves the weighty bar.
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Noticing the three struggling with the door, but getting close, Carini flips open her backpack and withdraws a crowbar. Staying careful to avoid stepping on the platform, she approaches and tosses it up at Vulf's feet.
"Here, this should help!"
"I knew I would disarm you eventually, my lady." Vulf responds with a satisfied grin... which quickly fades as he struggles to lift the crowbar up off the surface of the dais.
"Forbannet, stykke jern! Gjør meg ser dum ut foran den fair jomfruen." the northman grumbles with labored breath as he finally manages to get the crowbar up into hands and over to the door.
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Mentys grumbles throughout the whole affair, and likely requires a 'stronger' individual to help him across. "Let's leave this door open. It will make things easier on the way out; besides, it was hard enough for us to find our way inside. Given that, I doubt another random animal will enter and create problems during our short visit."
"...Hopefully short, Pharasma willing. I am not used to this tiredness in my bones."
After several attempts the Magic wielders of the party finally figure out how and when to apply co-operative pressure to the huge metal doors and they swing open with an awful screech of metal rubbing against stone. As soon as the doors swing open..Kalkamedes makes a break for it.. vs Mentys is caught off guard and Kalakmedes lurches forward towards the doors!
Fortunately both, Farlen and Kranzer were keeping one eye on Kalkamedes should he make a break for it..
R 1
Farlen
Kranzer
Kalkamedes
Carini
Vulf
Hudor
Mentys
Kalkamedes surges forward yanking the rope from Mentys hands. He climbs the platform and immediately weakens upon entering that area. Vulf not so weak , having had the reverse effects of the ray cast upon him, turns just in time to see Kalkamedes try and push through him. Kalkamedes blows past the surprised Ulfen knocking him on his rump! Soon he joins Kranzer in the Hallway...He's heading right toward the ledge!
R 1
Farlen
Kranzer
Kalkamedes
Carini
Vulf
Hudor
Mentys