-
She can certainly do all of this - and she has - but she's currently left without a light source, so she can't watch the corridor at any length.
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Gandel, Karek, Breach, Halstadt, and Moonpate have all noticed an additional detail:
The final hieroglyph in the tale (the "you") conceals a tiny hols in the wall. It's like a round slot, about four feet off the ground. Easy enough to miss.
"I was in this room when I had ta go through the doorman ta get here. That's a bit interestin'. Another way here. Maybe the doorman ain't as important as he thinks he is." He smirks.
. . . The final hieroglyph in the tale (the "you") conceals a tiny hols in the wall. It's like a round slot, about four feet off the ground. Easy enough to miss.
-
And inside is a simple coin of bronze. It has been stamped or engraved with some kind of symbol.
This time it is Hal who will cast Detect Magic and examine the coin as well as the rest of the area where this hieroglyphic has been scribed.
This time it is Hal who will cast Detect Magic and examine the coin as well as the rest of the area where this hieroglyphic has been scribed.
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The coin radiates magic. The heiroglyphs do not. Nor does the hole, or the area around it.I suppose I ought to again check whether "examine" in this context means touching or picking up the coin. There is only so much that can be noted while it sits in the slot - like what is on the flip side of the coin, for example.
Karek will pick up the coin.
"The coin radiates magic".
Can Hal tell what type Beetle? I meant visual examination.
Karek finds that the bronze coin comes right out of the slot. It is large and has a decent heft to it. Karek has no doubt it is worth something.
As Halstadt continues to concentrate on the coin, he determines the aura is a powerful enchantment, interlaced with transmutation.
Well this is embarrassing. I kinda screwed this up. I've been referring to coin, as in singular. There's actually two coins (plural). Karek has two large bronze coins in his hand.
This is what happens if you don't take the time to read the module carefully.
So the four coins in Karek's hand all look to be quite ancient. Well let's say three in the dwarf's hand, and one spilling from his stubby fingers on to the floor. It makes a nice "ding!" sound as it bounces on the flagstone and begins rolling across the room.
Hal motions to the others to let the coin roll of its own accord, "The enchantment is interlaced with transmutation. Perhaps the story gives us a hint and the coins have some sort of multiplication dweomer. Thoughts Master Pate?"
Actually that rolling coin was probably two coins stuck together. Once it rolls four or five feet the coin appears to split apart, resulting in two coins rolling in crazy arcs as they begin to lose speed.
That leaves Karek with six coins in his hand. Make that five, another has spilled on to the floor, bouncing lazily. They all appear to have the same identical rune on their face.
The two rolling coins begin vibrating lazily on the floor before coming to a stop. When they finally do you can see there are actually four in all.
The singular coin bouncing from Karek's hand, reveals that it too was two all along.
At this point it's getting trickier to keep track, but there appears to be six coins covering the palm of Karek's hand. Oops, make it five, another one has spilled to the ground.
Surely that's the last of it though.
-
She can certainly do all of this - and she has - but she's currently left without a light source, so she can't watch the corridor at any length.
Except! Xerissa casts Keen Senses, which gives her low-light vision. She'll use the light spilling from the room for her cat-like eyes to see as far down the coridore as she can.
Except! Xerissa casts Keen Senses, which gives her low-light vision. She'll use the light spilling from the room for her cat-like eyes to see as far down the coridore as she can.
-
Xerissa narrows her eyes and extends her elf vision down the ancient hall.As she does so she thinks there's something a bit off about the light coming from the room the rest of the Dune Squad is in. She can't quite put it in words though - whatever it is it's very subtle. Perhaps she's just not used to the magical light.
The two rolling coins begin vibrating lazily on the floor before coming to a stop. When they finally do you can see there are actually four in all.
The singular coin bouncing from Karek's hand, reveals that it too was two all along.
At this point it's getting trickier to keep track, but there appears to be six coins covering the palm of Karek's hand. Oops, make it five, another one has spilled to the ground.
Surely that's the last of it though.
-
-----
The coins begin to spill from Karek's grasp, as they become too many to hold in a single hand. As they fall they make a melodious 'clang' - the sound of treasure!
Meanwhile the coins that rolled away earlier are beginning to grow into a tiny pile of loose change.
Hal starts in surprise, "My uncle Groundswell said i never would have made it as a wizard, perhaps he was wrong after all. This may not be a good thing if it continues!" Hal searches the room for another exit or secret passage.
Sooron will cast Detect Magic again, and see if there is anything about the 2 original coins that might distinguish them from the newcomers, either magically or physically. That is if he has any idea which coins might still be the originals.
If he finds no differences, or is unable to locate the original 2, he will insert a coin back into the original slot and see if anything occurs.
Karek is a bit surprised by his new-found wealth. He tries to hand off some of them to the person that happens to be closest, interrupting Hal's search. 'Ere, he says, somewhat embarrassed.
Hurgah takes some of the rapidly multiplying coins from Karek, watching with curious facination as they spill from his massive fist.
"Let me guess: We're goin' ta drown by coinage, right? We've managed ta survive an insane monk who's practically unbeatable, a doorman who won't die, a multiple headed water beast, and a hosts o' other nasty types. And yet, we're goin' ta die by a bunch o' coins." Looking at the multiple coins, Breach sighs. "Well, it's not the how I figur'd I'd be for goin' out. I'd always thought I'd go out by drownin' in me own ale." He states as a matter of fact.
Hal starts in surprise, "My uncle Groundswell said I never would have made it as a wizard, perhaps he was wrong after all. This may not be a good thing if it continues!" Hal searches the room for another exit or secret passage.
-
Ever pragmatic, Halstadt is the first to begin searching the walls and floor in ernest, studying the simple layout with care as he tries to uncover hidden points of exit.
Halstadt does not find any trap doors or secret portals. But as he carefully feels along the wall, he does find something which could be of note. When he reaches the panel where the parable of the Pharaoh of Numbers has been etched, he discovers one of the hieroglyphics on the wall actually detaches.
It looks something like a backwards "Z". It is about the size of Hal's palm and made of a very hard black stone. Once the glyph is removed, there is an empty cavity behind it in the identical shape. Halstadt examines the depression, but it doesn't have any hidden levers or moving parts. It's just a small jig-saw like hole in the wall, carefully fashioned to hold this one specific symbol.
In the meantime, the pile of bronze coins in Karek's outstretched hand continue to multiply, with coins slowly sliding off and falling to the ground. If you will forgive my prejudices, to many a dwarf or perhaps a Pathfinder, the constant sound of rare coins dripping from Kogan's mitt and crashing to the floor is really quite an exhilarating symphony for the ear.
Sooron will cast Detect Magic again, and see if there is anything about the 2 original coins that might distinguish them from the newcomers, either magically or physically. That is if he has any idea which coins might still be the originals.
If he finds no differences, or is unable to locate the original 2, he will insert a coin back into the original slot and see if anything occurs.
-
Sooron casts detect magic and discovers to his dismay that all of the fast-appearing coins radiate magic - the same aura.When he plucks two from Karek's abundant supply and studies them, they appear quite identical. Perhaps with more time he might find a distinguishing mark.
Karek and Hurgah are now holding the bulk of the coins together. The coins look like they are bubbling up from their hands, like a tiny fountain of bronze discs, showering on to the floor.
Hal motions to Donkor and Karek, "Do you have the original coin? Perhaps placing it in here will stop this madness!"
Karek may or may not know which one was the one he had first.
Intelligence
Perception
He finds the one he thinks might be the first one, dumps the rest of the coins on Hurgah, and gives it to Hal, trying to prevent any confusion when it inevitably doubles.
Sooron tries valiantly to keep his eyes on the first coin.
Perception:
-
"The" coin? Try 128 coins.But, 'No', the marking on the coins is definitely a different symbol than the one which we are referring to as the backwards "Z".
Following Donkor's lead, Karek does his best to ferret out which coin is the one he pulled out of the wall. It is hard to be certain, there must be over 200 coins at this point.*
However, it's possible the original coin is the one most firmly depressed in his palm, weighted down by the reverberations of the other bronze discs.
Showering the half-orc with a deluge of coins, Karek tries to separate his choice.
He's got it! It's in-between his fingers!
Hal motions to Donkor and Karek, "Do you have the original coin? Perhaps placing it in here will stop this madness!"
"Is this yet another blasted curse to contend with?!?
Donkor can't be certain, but there's at least a 50% chance Karek is holding the same coin that he himself has identified as the culprit. That sounds promising.
And it's quite a feat, as by the time Karek has the coin separated, there could be as many as 500 coins in the room - most of which are piling themselves around Hurgah's feet.* The barbarian's clawed-toes have disappeared under the pooling coins. For a half-second Hurgah starts to have a primordial red dragon fantasy, envisioning himself sleeping atop a wondrous hoard.
"What was that last bit of that parable? Something about leveraging this coin. Can you place one or more coins into that symbol in the wall?
Karek passes the coin to Hal. As he does so it doubles in his hand and Karek and Donkor are forced to make another choice. The decision made, Halstadt, or perhaps Donkor, takes the coin and stuffs back into the round slot that Karek first removed the original coin from. And just in time because at this point there could well be a 1000 coins in the room!*
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief.
Then the coin pops out of the hole - or was that a duplicate? Then another. Oh no! The coin in the slot is still replicating.
So are the other coins in the room. They continue to double mercilessly. The room now looks like someone has raked together several small piles of round bronze-colored leaves - rapidly expanding piles.
As you look around you can see that the raw force of mathematics is beginning to pick up steam. . .
"Is this yet another blasted curse to contend with?!?
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"What was that last bit of that parable? Something about leveraging this coin. Can you place one or more coins into that symbol in the wall?
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Do you mean the depression left behind when Hal removed the backwards "Z"?It looks too skinny, but Moonpate gives it a try just to be safe. He can kinda force a coin or two sideways into the recess of stone, but the fit is not natural, nor does it have any effect on the rising tide of bronze.
In particular, the pile surrounding Hurgah is starting to flow up to his knees. At the same time you notice the sound in the room. The once soft crackling of the coins as they 'clink' against one another has been increasing in volume, commensurate with the raw number of coins. It may soon become hard to hear in this room without shouting.
That's just what 2048 clinking coins will do.
That's just what 2048 clinking coins will do.
-
Wait! You've just discovered you get better volume with 4,096.
With a look of annoyed frustration Hurgah dumps the coins he is holding. He turns to Moonpate and Donkor,
Curse or spell, what does it matter, if we are all going to be crushed by coins. Can any af you dispel the magic that is making the coins double?
"i can remove a curse but not dispel magic. I have an idea everyone drop the coins and let us remove ourselves from the room,perhaps lack of living contact woll dispel tje magic effect!"
Hal holds the portion of the wall pulled out with him when he leaves the room.
Sooron does have dispel magic, and will happily cast it next, taking a few steps away from the multiplying coins first so they don't disrupt his concentration. Any advice on where I should target this spell would be appreciated. He will attempt to target his best guess as to which the original coin is, unless something better presents itself. Barring that, could someone perhaps try to lever the backward z into the original hole and wiggle it around a bit? Maybe it's a kind of key?
"I can remove a curse but not dispel magic. I have an idea everyone drop the coins and let us remove ourselves from the room,perhaps lack of living contact will dispel the magic effect!"
Hal holds the portion of the wall pulled out with him when he leaves the room.
-
Seeking to rally the Dune Squad to try a different strategy, Hal swiftly moves to exit the room and join Xerissa just outside.
When Morgrym gets to the archway, there is an awkward moment as he suddenly straightens up and comes to a sudden stop. What has happened to his coordination that he can't even make it out through the door jams?
Having interacted with the illusion, Halstadt immediately sees it for what it is. The doorway has been sealed off with a wall of stone - one that Hal has just body slammed right into. A clever illusion is concealing the stone wall, making appear as though you can walk right out of here any time.
He won't be walking out of here that way.
Hal's encounter may have been comical, but nobody really noticed. Everyone's attention is focused on the 8,192 coins in the room.
Sooron does have dispel magic, and will happily cast it next, taking a few steps away from the multiplying coins first so they don't disrupt his concentration. Any advice on where I should target this spell would be appreciated. He will attempt to target his best guess as to which the original coin is, unless something better presents itself. . .
-
Sooron's best guess, is that the original coin - if there is such a thing - is the one Karek gave to Halstadt, which Hal inserted into the round slot. It's still there, spitting out a duplicate on to the floor every couple of seconds.
Barring that, could someone perhaps try to lever the backward z into the original hole and wiggle it around a bit? Maybe it's a kind of key?
-
Halstadt has it and was exiting the room with it. Though he appears to have reconsidered, coming to a sudden stop in the archway.The coins are so numerous there must be more than 10,000!* At this point they almost thinly coat the entire floor of the room. The biggest pile, centered on Hurgah, is almost reaching the half-orc's waist.
Hal turns back to the Dune Squad. "Wall of Stone! We are trapped! Potentate, can you dispel this wall?"
Sooron whispers a swift prayer to his goddess to end the deluge of coins, and casts Dispel Magic.
Caster Level Check
** spoiler omitted **
Hal turns back to the Dune Squad. "Wall of Stone! We are trapped! Potentate, can you dispel this wall?"
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Hal does not know if remove curse will work here. He doesn't feel particularly cursed, but you just never know. He would have to try to find out.Hal is not certain Moonpate heard his question over the clang of coins!
P.S. Yes, on review, I suppose it should have been +12. Fortunately, you were successful either way.
Sooron whispers a swift prayer to his goddess to end the deluge of coins, and casts Dispel Magic.
Caster Level Check 1d20+8
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Unfortunately, Sooron's spell is not powerful enough to halt the coins.In the course of casting he discerns that he is dealing with a permanent magic item, not a mere spell effect. What that means in practical terms is that even if he rolls high enough, a dispel magic spell will not be enough to dispel the magic of the coin permanently. It will only render it inert for a short period of time (1d4 rounds by the spell description). Though 1d4 rounds of quiet may prove very useful.
** spoiler omitted **
Hal turns back to the Dune Squad. "Wall of Stone! We are trapped! Potentate, can you dispel this wall?"
"HEY! What's going on in there!!!?"
"All you smart fellows had better start thinking of a way to get us out of here - fast. How about all those doodles on the wall, do they give some sort of clue - and what about that Z thing you pulled out?" Hurgah growls.
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No, it's all been pretty quiet. Nothing to write home about. Isn't Xerissa watching for dangers coming down the hall ahead of her?Obviously there's an illusion masking the fact that the entryway is no longer there. Xerissa, however, has not really interacted with it until perhaps now. We'll say when Hal slams into it she might hear something which let's her know. But she'll need to make a DC 16 Will save. Otherwise she's still on wrong-facing guard duty.