With a clicking sound, the loose floor piece falls away, and the northern wall shakes. Another 20 foot square of floor drops down from the wall to fill the hole,
Is this kind of like a wheel, where the axle is at the join between wall and floor?
Deranged_Maniac_Ben wrote:
... her head is covered in snakes.
Knowledge (Nature):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
I'm guessing that is enough to know that this is a medusa?
Jan averts his eyes, and watches the woman's feet.
Deranged_Maniac_Ben wrote:
"Ssssssso,"
"Are you planning to burn down the lair of the Trasssssssssh ruler, assssss well?"
"Easy now. We do not seek to destroy the Trash Ruler. We just want to comprehend the way things are here. May we pass?"
Gorgons, also sometimes known as Medusae, are a race of monstrous humanoids with snakes for hair. Many legends also tell of gorgons with wings, although the one standing in front of you appears not to have any. The most famous power of a gorgon is their petrifying gaze. A gorgon's petrification does not work on those who see their eyes indirectly, such as in a reflection.
Gorgons can live in most enviroments, but they are most common on the elemental plane of earth and the prime material plane.
Gorgons are somewhat more likely to be lawfully- or evil-aligned than other races, though a plurality are still True Neutral.
Knowledge (Nature) 22:
The origins of gorgons are shrouded in mystery. One legend tells of a slain goddess, who's blood mixed with the tears of her lover to form the race of gorgons. Others assert that the first gorgons were beautiful humans, who were cursed into their prsent form by a jealous magic-user. Still others report that the earliest gorgon was transformed from a humanoid as a reaction to a particularly traumatic experience.
In addition to their petrifying gaze, the bite of a gorgon carries a toxin which drains the strength of its victims, and antidotes are quire rare.
Some legends say that gorgons cease to age once they reach adulthood, whilst others report gorgons dying of old age.
Knowledge (Nature) 27:
Gorgons do not have a sexual dimorphism in the same way humans do. They have occasionally been known to breed with humanoids, and half-gorgons do exist. There is little documentation as to gorgons' normal life cycles, due to their incredibly long lifespan and the fact that non-gorgons cannot observe a gorgon for long without turning to stone.
Earth elementals are an established part of gorgon society, with many gorgons relying on earth elementals for physical labor.
Is this kind of like a wheel, where the axle is at the join between wall and floor?
Yes. A piece of the northern wall becomes the new floor, while the old piece of the floor dips underneath, and a new section of the north wall appears from behind the wall.
"It dependsssssssss on where you wish to passss."
The gorgon hisses back at Jan, and the glow that might be her eyes narrow,
"Nothing and no one shall sssstop you from heading ssssouth from here, if it is arboreansssss you sssseak. Whether you may passss to the north to our...facility, depends on thy intentionssssssss.
Though, I ought to warn thee, the Otyugh Empressss thou shall not find either to the north or the south. "
"Well, tough luck, sssssshort-lived-one. The Charnel Lord isssss not here right now. I cannot ssssssssay when she will be back. But I am here now, and you may ssssspeak to me, in her stead. What...mutual interesssssssssssst have thee?"
Eeeesh, I'm the new arrival, but we nee to keep the game moving, so :D
"Well, for one, I would say the Queen might be interested in expanding her realm, would she not? And as far as I understand, and even though I have only recently arrived here, there are others, or should I say 'other' which seems in fact to be in control - wouldn't she want to be free of such shackles? Do as she pleases? As a Queen would?"
Female Githyanki Direlock (Fear Eater) //Warder (Zweihander Sentinel) 6; HP 51/41; AC 18/T 12/ FF 16; Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +7; CMB +7, CMD 19; Per +10, Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; Terror Pool 1/6
Yessai nods. then in diametric oppostion to her own gesture, disagrees with the cresture.
"We will not speak to thee. We have not desire to have our words misrepresented to her by underlings. I know not that you represent her at all. Give us some surety that you do, or face all [here indicates the entire menagerie of our current party] our wrath - and yes, your face is wrath enough to give us pause."
Intimidate:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
The githyanki rattles her sword at the snake-haired abomination for good effect.
Female Githyanki Direlock (Fear Eater) //Warder (Zweihander Sentinel) 6; HP 51/41; AC 18/T 12/ FF 16; Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +7; CMB +7, CMD 19; Per +10, Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; Terror Pool 1/6
It would appear so. Conversations are...fluid in the Pyramid. Or at least Yessai has found them to be. Either that or combat ensues. Sometimes both at the same time.
Sorry for my delayed posting. The "regular" players haven't been so regular of late. You guys are doing great, a very interesting experience to see others experiencing the Pyramid for the first time, and with our/my player now one of the denizens they are encountering. Well done DMB - shame it took losing Mundarion to facilitate this.
Remember, we fought a Mad King to get his staff, braved a maddening vortex to best a Splinter, and before all that, we were following the advice of our decapitated head guide.. Perhaps more than a little of the Pyramid has worn off on us. Though if you ask DMB, I'm not sure he wouldn't say Yessai has been quixotic the whole time. Starting at mid level and being pulled from Sigil to a fractured mystic's mad demiplane is enough to bend any character. Just ask you guys.
Forgeborn map Armorist(Symbiotic Knight) / Incanter 6 || HP 53/60; g
"A small token of your good will could go a long way. We are a lot of great power, free to move as we will among the denizens of this floor. There is much that even a Queen could gain by holding an audience with us. I have a small favor to ask of you, and would mention that you could gain even greater prestige with your Queen should our audience with her bear fruit."
The problem is that Jan doesn't really know enough about the situation to know what he is talking about. Bluff checks would really be more suitable if he is going to give anything away.
Sense Motive:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22... Do I think the medusa is telling the truth? I might have a penalty here since I am trying to avert my eyes.
Jan looks at the others. So they want to speak to the trash queen directly. Hmmm...
"Let us not dwell on the current situation... suffice it to say that we need to speak to the Queen in person. If she is not here, perhaps you would be so kind as to tell us where we can find her?"
The medusa first turns to Yessai, and snarls
"I am underling of none, nor hath I oft'n been mistaken for one. I have known the Otyugh Empress for many decades and do believe I know how she would respond to inquries from thineselves. Nonetheless, if thou hast determined I am unworthy of speaking to you, then be on your way. I shall not be taunted into submission. "
Turning to Jan, she lowers her voice somewhat
"You may find the Otyugh Empress in the Shadow Halls. That is on the third floor of the Pyramid. She may not still be there, as she left for the Shadow Hall more than three days ago for a business matter, and did not plan to stay for long. If you wish to make a postive impression upon her, I'd advice thee to leave thy nasty gith companion, or keep her from shooting her mouth."
Turning once more to Gemheart, she inquires
"A favor from me? Do tell, metal one. "
Jan:
She seems to be telling the truth, as far as you can tell, though she is concealing information.
Forgeborn map Armorist(Symbiotic Knight) / Incanter 6 || HP 53/60; g
"A man's brother was turned to stone. Petrification is not a common effect, and it is widespread lore that one of your kind is capable of such. Another rumor, less widespread that I do not know of it is true, is that the one who did it can reverse it with a simple action."
"I have no more power to reverse petrification beyond that of an ordinary mortal. Whilst some of my kind do, it is far from common. My Queen does have that power--or, rather, one of her followers does."
"If you are uninterested in speaking to me further, I shall ask thee to be on thy way, for mine sake and yours. My Queen is likely to be on the move soon, if she is not already, so you ought to hurry if it is thy desire to find her. Meanwhile, I am expecting guests here, aside from thyselves, so thou had best leave."
"I am interested in speaking to you further" - Krezen presses on with a chuckle - "What do you mean by us 'planning to burn down the lair of the Trash ruler, as well?' - he turns to his companions - "Was there any burning previously carried out?"
Female Githyanki Direlock (Fear Eater) //Warder (Zweihander Sentinel) 6; HP 51/41; AC 18/T 12/ FF 16; Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +7; CMB +7, CMD 19; Per +10, Init +4; Spd 30 ft.; Terror Pool 1/6
Yessai holds her tongue when the medusa returns her 'sauce' measure for measure. Her gaze steely, the gith watches stonily as the others talk to the interfering medusa.
When Krezen asks his question Yessai makes a face like she has sucked on a sour fish stuffed with putrid lemons rinsed in urine.
"Yesss. There was some burning previously carried out. We encountered some spying filth [here casts a knowing and over-obvious sidelong glance at the medusa] and some traps. Fire seemed prudent. And marginally successful. The Pyramid did not, in the end, burn down, nor did we succumb to suffocation."
The gith attempts to give an innocent smile.
"Enough. I wish to treat no further with uppity stone-gazers. We have the information we need. Whether it is of a true nature, I guess we will find out."
Forgeborn map Armorist(Symbiotic Knight) / Incanter 6 || HP 53/60; g
well if trash queen is mobile then we might wanna try to hit her up first then the demon. as far as we know demon is always in the same place. trash queen will want something, maybe she will want us to take care of the demon.
As you discuss I presume in character? Even though you are all speaking ooc, you're saying something equivalent in-character... your options, Hozela offers what information she has:
"I do not know how quickly the Charnel Lord may move around,"
the dragonborn states softly,
"But I imagine it is not very fast, given her kind's usual tendencies. At least, if she is moving around without the aid of supernatural power, which may not be the case."
Okay y'all indecisive folks: pick a direction to go in. Once two of you agree, I will assume the whole group agrees for the sake of keeping things moving.
At this point we have parted ways, actually. From my previous in-character post:
Jan Carpenter wrote:
After parting ways with the Medusa, Jan turns to the others.
...
Moving on, since nobody has spoken up in-character:
"Let me make sure I understand your goal. You need to gain information about the Trash Queen? Hmmm... is speaking to her directly the best way to do that? That way you will only find out things she wants you to know."
"Wel, from my part I think there is no better way to know about 'someone', than meeting that 'someone' - Krezen chuckles - "Also, I am VERY curious to meet the Trash Queen - seems like an unique creature"
"I suppose... but if you wanted to know things like where she keeps her secret treasure or if she murdered the mayor, I doubt she will tell you. It depends on what exactly you want to know."
"I have no objection going to meet her, but it also might be smart to do a little sneaky probing while we know she is not in her lair."
Once the group has made up their minds, the long-time Pyramid residents lead Jan and Krezen north, past the sahuagin's chamber, and towards the Grand Stairs, which lead to the second floor. A wide set of stairs rises before you, up into the gloom above. The stairs wrap around the walls of this room, leaving a deep pit in the middle. The walls of this vertical hall are made of marble, while the stairs are made of a dark ebony.
There are four sets of stairs--the first leads to a landing step. The landing step, and the next three flights of stairs, encircle a deep pit in the center of the room.
The entire chamber is dimly lit (low-lighting), except for the pit which is very dark, even to darkvision.
Perception, 21:
The third flight of stairs has several seems in it.
Perception, 26:
The third flight of stairs has hinges in it--it can give way and fall out when it is stepped on.
Yessai, Gemheart, and De'arv'ki:
Last time you were here, you observed a set of hinges on the second flight of stairs which could allow them to fall away when stepped on. However, the hinges do not appear to be present now.
The first time Yessai, Gemheart, and De were here, they were met by a pair of icy devil-shaped gargoyles, which they destroyed. This time, a trio of larger gargoyles sit perched on the landing steps, each with a pair of fiendish wings. These golems appear to be carved entirely out of animal bone.
Knowledge Arcana 17:
These creatures are bone golems, less common variants of stone gargoyles. Gargoyles are generally mindless (and hence have no alignment). They are also immune to almost any magical effect that allows spell resistance. Bone gargoyles, though, are not immune to magic which normally only works on animals, even if it allows spell resistance.
Knowledge (the planes) 19:
Gargoyles may be crafted to resemble specific creatures, and these golems bear the likeness of Osyluth devils, hellish inquisitors who appear as skeletons.
Knowledge Arcana 22:
There is are spells and methods that can give bone gargoyles some capabilities of the creatures they are crafted to resemble. These seem to have the wings of Osyluth devils, and may or may not have other abilities of fiends (you can't tell just by looking).
Knowledge (Arcana) 27:
There is a small possibility for bone gargoyles to spontaneously gain sentience, and a personality mirroring that of the creature it resembles. This is extremely rare, and no one understands why it happens, or how to predict if it will happen.
Here is a map of this chamber.
White is the pit, you can't see anything down there. Grey is flat floor. Orange is the edge of the room you are coming out of (the door is at the line between the orange and grey). Blue/Purple/Red are stairs: blue is the top of a staircase, red is the bottom. Note that the blue and red are still part of the stairs--the 'landing step' is grey. Black are surrounding walls.
Jan looks at the golems, and pulls back into the entryway.
"Do you know about these guys?" he says quietly to the others.
Assuming nobody tells Jan that they are friendly,
"Give me a moment."
Jan takes a few moments to himself, murmuring and making small gestures with his right hand. His skin seems to become coarse and hard, and his staff gains a faint greenish glow.
well those of us who saw the traps before do not see them in the places they were, and at least Gemheart has perceived no new traps
Did you make a perception roll? Jan failed his roll (natural 1) but there are spoiler tags for making a DC 21 and a 26. There's also Knowledge (arcana) checks and you have that too. I don't see any rolls in your recent posts.
I'm basically ready to move ahead but would prefer for everyone to jump in and make their perception and knowledge rolls before engaging.
As you speak to each other, the gargoyles abruptly break their silence.
"Intruder!"
"Intruder!"
"Intruder!"
Each one turns towards you in succession, and starts to move its wings. Their wings seem to be moving in slow-motion, taking several seconds to be lifted once. These gargoyles do not seem particularly fast, at anything.
