The Red Arm of Absalom - Ongoing Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master GM Red

Thankful for tge bottle he like tge others uses the brown mold contents to keep himself cool under the immense protection of his tatami-do. He takes the lead heading along the passage and indicates to Stalli and the Barbarian to search the doors.

will open oncectgey have checked door

Stali starts searching the doors, spending a brief amount of time on each.

I wonder if this is where the hint about doors comes into play. If so, I’m guessing the one with half a fresco is door four, but am not sure which would be door six.

I'm hoping Gallix the Grand will spare a charge from his endure elements wand, otherwise I need to spend an arcana point and a spell slot for it. If not then no biggy, if we come up against some fire shield type of mobbies I'll hit you with resist fire as well.

When Stali asks him about the armor, Gallix reassures the tengu, "Yeah, you're right. It would normally be a bit much for someone who fights like me. Luckily I've been spending the last few weeks picking up a few new tricks, including learning how to wear this kind of armor a little more comfortably." He gives Stali a wink and a smirk.

Later, as the heat continues to increase, Gallix also pulls out his jar of mold to protect him against the elements. When Stali shows that he doesn't have something similar on hand, Gallix excitedly draws out a wand. "I got it! I got it! Here you go, Stali. Now watch this, Peppers!" He carefully says the command word to activate the wand and bestows the effects of the spell on Stali.

Cast Endure Elements!

“Thank you.” Stali says to Gallix as the spell takes effect. “That will make this a lot more comfortable.”

Mr Peppers watches with a slight amount of interest as Gallix uses the wand, almost like a real spell caster. "You've been training in the arts I see. Do you have what it takes to continue your training beyond neophyte level? Feel free to ask questions of me if you wish to continue this training." He relaxes his lips into the slightest smile before detecting magic throughout the hallway.

Gallix grins a mile wide as Mr. Peppers notices him using the wand. "Yeah, I've picked up a thing or two. Thanks for noticing! I'd love to learn more from you. I don't know whether I'll spend much more time studying magic. It's some tough stuff, and I've spent enough time getting my head knocked around that I'm not sure how much more will fit in there. Haha!"

Stali very carefully examines each of the cast iron doors. The first three are free of traps. Inside of the first there is a small 10-by-10 room containing a single wedge-shaped piece of a mosaic.

The fourth door - the ornamental one - is sealed shut, but it does appear that the three pieces would fit the six-foot-diameter circle in the center of it.

The last three doors, also free of traps, open to rooms also containing three more pieces of the puzzle. You now have six in all.

The mosaic that decorates the hall honors Torag, and consists of thousands of 2-square-inch tiles.

Other than the ornamental door pieces, on the northern wall, Stali finds one tile in the shape of a regular hexagon slightly protruding from the otherwise smooth wall. Marked on map with an X!

"You are a very deliberate individual Stali. I can respect that." He says with all sincerity before stepping over to have a look at the pieces.

K Religion, DC15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 Mr Peppers looks at the pieces but can't seem to recall any extraneous information.

"So we have a puzzle here then yes?"

Puzzled, Stali looks at the doors and counts.

Going over to where he found the hexagon, he says “If there were a secret door here, this would be door six starting from there.” He gestures to the door that is just to the right of the stairs they came in.

He taps his beak with a talon, thinking. “No secret door evident...”

He searchs that area a little more diligently.

Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29
Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (15) + 21 = 36

Knowledge (religion), bardic knowledge: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Gallix sits back quietly while Stali works his magic.

"Well if the door were created using arcane magic then the door would not be secret it would be more of a portal likely? Let us insert the 'key' and see what occurs?"

Stali's determination pays off: He spots the outline of a secret door opposite the wall with the hexagonal tile.

"Is that raised bit a switch to be depressed? Or is our only lead assembling these pieces into the circle? Seems very strange the key to the door was easily accessible behind these unlocked, untrapped doors." Mr Peppers takes a look at the wedges to see if there is an obvious pattern.

“I think the key is that hexagonal piece and the door with the obvious puzzle pieces lead only to a trap.” Stali says, tracing the subtle outline of the secret door he found.

“Shall we test the theory with this secret door first?”

"Yes." Is all tall, dark and succinct says.

Stali checks one last time for any hidden latches at the secret door, then goes across to the hexagon. He examines that and tries to figure out how it might be used to open the door.

Not certain what sort of checks you want here...bot them please. If he doesn’t have any idea, he would ask to see the puzzle pieces and see if anyone else has an idea.

GM's gonna gently push you along here.

The secret door has no obvious latches or levers, and the hexagon can be pressed 3 inches into the wall, but nothing happens when this is done, and it slowly slides back out.

As for the puzzles pieces, it's only a matter of time before you attempt enough combinations to solve the puzzle - what appears to be a Toragdan rune. The wedges click into place, and the lock pops open.

This is the double-doors to the east that are now open. Going in full speed ahead?

I think at this point I've used the buffs I'd use for now until I see what's ahead.

Mr Peppers nods in appreciation as Stali cracks the code "Well done my feathered friend. Did you know you've the second feathered guest of the Red Arm? The other was significantly smaller and significantly louder."

Tall, dark and handsome stays to the back of the group, ready to continue ahead.

Gallix uses another charge of his Heightened Awareness wand on himself, helping him to keep an eye out for threats. "What do you think, guys? Should I go ahead and light up? Seems like as good a time as any." Gallix pulls his signature red-tipped cigarette from his chest pocket and holds it between his lips, pausing to think about whether the time is right yet. After some deliberation, he decides to hold off, and puts it away again. "Seems like we've got more looking to do here. Better keep as much of my wits about me as I can."

With the eastern door unlocked and thoroughly examined by Stali, Gallix approaches and quietly pushes/pulls them open.

Stealth, ACP: 1d20 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 2 - 3 = 18

A vast sea of coins, gemstones, and jewelry floods this large room, leaving only a narrow path that winds towards a single dais on the room’s western edge. This vault contains hundreds of brass shavings that resemble minted coins. Pieces of glass and gaudy costume jewelry are also mixed in among the hoard.

Sitting on the dais rests a lone, bejeweled lamp.

Let's see...what's my swim speed if I dive into a pile of gold like Scrooge McDuck? Dang! Can't remember where that was on my character sheet!

"Whoa! Looks like we found the motherlode, folks," Gallix calls out as he catches sight of the unimaginable riches lay in front of him. "So, uh...dibs, I guess," he laughs, before stepping into the room and looking around for any sign of Zahra.

Perception, Heightened Awareness: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15

"Hey, Zahra! You in here somewhere? Like, behind one of these mountains of gold? Hello?"

“When something seems too good to be true, might want to check twice before diving in.” Stali says.

I wonder if it is an illusion?

“Gallix, by most counts that would be door four. Do you really want to be buried?”

As Sirettis sees the room laid before her, she casts Investigative Mind and takes a look for magical auras.

Perception, Perceive Cues: 1d20 + 8 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 5 = 30

Spellcraft, Investigative Mind 1: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34
Spellcraft, Investigative Mind 2: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23
Take the higher roll, which is 34.

"How could this room remain untouched by grave robbers? And wasn't the lamp discarded in a forge? What is this lamp?" Sirettis uses her Flight Hex and flaps her hair to stay above the ground. She's suspicious of the entire layout.

Uesugi waits for directions on what to do next. The gold was likely a lure to let down their guard. He draws his katana and adjusts his weight ready to spring to action.

Sirettis notices something weird about the hoard. It doesn't seem natural. In fact, it isn't natural at all. Some kind of creature comprised of coin and treasure is lying in wait...

Sirettis detects no magical auras, but as she floats over the lamp, she reads an inscription on the hexagonal base of the lamp. Handout #3, also copied below

Mr Pepper's interest is peaked. He steps into the room after Gallix and takes a look around, surprised to not see any delicious magical auras. "That lamp is important? Sirettis, back out and I will try to retrieve it magically..."

Tall, dark and cautious traces his slender fingers in the air and attempts to lift and retrieve the lamp from its resting place once Sirettis is safe.

Mage Hand. 5lbs and must be nonmagical and unattended.

Stali waits, his best sword at the ready.

I have a bad feeling about this...

With Mr. Tall, Dark & focused doing a mage hand to retrieve the lantern, D. prepares a blast, in case anything unpleasant shows up.

"Hey, so, can I take some of this gold or what? I know you guys are all skittish about it, but nothing's jumped out at us yet. Seems okay to me." Despite his eagerness to set himself up for retirement, Gallix waits for confirmation from Sirettis and Peppers before helping himself to his 'pension'.

Stali just shakes his head back and forth at Gallix’s antics.

How does this chaotic group stay alive?

How can this go wrong, let me count the ways. Cursed coins, illusions hiding the real trap, poison on the coins...

The lamp shifts from side to side Mr. Peppers' invisible hand begins to apply a pulling motion to it. The mage hand takes hold, and as soon as the lamp rises from its dais, the mass of coins littering the room begin to move into a huge pile and take shape. Two arms, two legs... A massive, fifteen-foot tall creature composed of coin, glass, jewelery rises up and holds its fists out. The lamp guardian has arrived!

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
D, Gallix, Mr. Peppers, Stali, Sirettis
Creature
Uesugi

Kn. Arcana DC 19 on this treasure troll.

..or something I’ve not heard of...

“A coin beast? That is a new one to me...” Stali says as he moves up to it and slices it with his sword.

Spring Attack, so even if it has combat reflexes it doesn’t get an AoO

+1 Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Slicing damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Sneak Attack damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 5, 2) = 16 Disoriented -2/-4 Attack penalty

"Oh!" Sirettis backs away as a golden monstrosity emerges.

Knowledge(Arcana): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Creatures of these types tend to be mindless, so Sirettis wants to confirm its Resistances and Weaknesses.

For now, though, she casts Heroism upon Sir Uesugi.

D. goes invisible and takes position in the east.

"Whaaa----?!" Gallix shouts. "Who could've seen that coming?!"

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 Sigh...

Gallix hustles up behind Stali, dashing across the piles of gold as his special shoes from Petrello carry him over the uneven mounds. As he comes into striking distance with the troll, a wide grin spreads across his face and he shouts, "I'm gonna buy a house with you!" He leaps up and slams his fist toward the creature's 'eyes' or their equivalent, then continues with a barrage of strikes.

10ft step (see Outslug Sprint); Brawler's Flurry, Combat Expertise, Outslug Style, Lunge in effect.
AC28 from Combat Exp/Outslug this turn.

Flurry Dirty Trick (Blind/Dazzle?), CE: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 13 - 3 = 24
Flurry AdCestus, CE: 1d20 + 12 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 12 - 3 = 12 Damage, Outslug; Shock: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 121d6 ⇒ 2
Flurry MCestus, CE: 1d20 + 7 - 3 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 3 = 16 Damage, Outslug: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 = 15
Flurry AdCestus, CE: 1d20 + 7 - 3 ⇒ (13) + 7 - 3 = 17 Damage, Outslug; Shock: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 111d6 ⇒ 2

Mr Pepper's eyes widen a bit as he sees the coins transform into an overgrown creature "This was expected. But damn that this is big..." He double takes as Stali and Gallix rush in before even hearing about the creature.

K Arcana: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32 Special Attacks and Defenses I guess if Sirettis has the resistances covered.

Mr Peppers relays the relevant info before waving that root around and bending time.. in their favor alone. Haste on EVERYONE! Then takes a step back... just in case.

Sirettis knows this is an animated object and has construct traits, but lacks any special resistances or weaknesses.

Mr. Peppers finds the hoard equally boring, lacking any special attacks, though it does have the Amalgam special ability, making it immune to critical hits, flanking, and precision damage.

Stali's dueling sword dices up a glittery bracelet, while Gallix goes all out on the huge treasure nest. Gallix kicks some loose treasure into the living hoard's face, but it only jingles off of its body in a rain of gold. He's so distracted by the wealth of wealth that he misses all three punches.

Stali watches a shadow grow large below his feet as two giant fists are brought down towards his feathered head...

Slam: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (18) + 21 = 391d8 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Slam: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (13) + 21 = 341d8 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
D, Gallix, Mr. Peppers, Stali (-28), Sirettis
Animated Hoard
Uesugi

Mr Peppers peaks his head from around the corner and sees a cloud of feathers floating towards the ground I don't think that bodes well for Stali?

He opens his palm and unleashes a barrage of missiles at the walking down payment on a new spellbook.

Casting Magic Missile: Caster Check/Damage: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 234d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4, 3, 1) + 4 = 15

Gallix sidesteps clear across the room and continues his full-on assault of the treasure-beast, but now with the added speed granted by Mr. Peppers's spell.

10ft step; Brawler's Flurry, Combat Expertise, Outslug Style, Lunge, Haste in effect.
AC29 from Combat Exp/Outslug/Haste this turn.

Flurry AdCestus, CE, Haste: 1d20 + 12 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 12 - 3 + 1 = 30 Damage, Outslug; Shock: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 121d6 ⇒ 4
Flurry MCestus, CE, Haste: 1d20 + 12 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 12 - 3 + 1 = 13 Damage, Outslug: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 10
Flurry AdCestus, CE, Haste: 1d20 + 7 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 3 + 1 = 24 Damage, Outslug; Shock: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 = 161d6 ⇒ 5
Flurry MCestus, CE, Hasted: 1d20 + 7 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 3 + 1 = 25 Damage, Outslug: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 = 15
Flurry AdCestus, CE, Haste: 1d20 + 12 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 12 - 3 + 1 = 13 Damage, Outslug; Shock: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 131d6 ⇒ 6

Of course I roll three crit threats on the monster immune to crits!

Sirettis hesitates. This tight room and the mindless creature devastate most of her options. But if it's a construct...

Sirettis flies into the room and unwraps a piece of parchment, revealing a Symbol of Healing . In the shape of a red arm.

"Gaze upon the symbol, and feel your wounds close." Stali feels the bruises close, healing 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (8, 3) + 9 = 20 hit points.

If I got this right, the construct isn't healed by positive damage. For the next 90 minutes, you can take a one-time heal of 2d8+9 hit points. As far as I can tell it activates as soon as you need healing. I think.

D. flings two balls of dark energy at the treasure golem.

Rt, overflow active, burn bonus, haste: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 1 + 3 + 1 = 34 Dmg, burn bonus: 5d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (1, 1, 4, 2, 3) + 2 + 6 = 19

Rt, overflow active, burn bonus, haste: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 + 3 + 1 = 19 Dmg, burn bonus: 5d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 4, 3) + 2 + 6 = 23

Hasted attack.
Rt, overflow active, burn bonus, haste: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 1 + 3 + 1 = 27 Dmg, burn bonus: 5d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 6, 4) + 2 + 6 = 26

Bummer, was hoping to actually have a chance to be effective for once. No sneak attack, so no debilitating strike.

Stali says a quick “Thanks!” as the healing from Sirettis takes care of most of his wounds.

“How smart are these creatures?”

As he asks this, he attacks with his sword again.

+1 Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword, haste: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 1 = 18
Slicing damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
+1 Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword, haste, extra attack: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 1 = 15
Slicing damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
+1 Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword, Second Attack, haste: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 = 26
Slicing damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"Most constructs follow simple instructions. I assume this one was placed as a guardian to bait greedy treasure hunters."

“Guesses as to if it will switch targets or attempt to follow a single target?”

"If i were it, i'd attack whichever is within my reach."

"Then again, it's not -me- who will receive a pummeling in return."

katana 1st strike '2hand'+p.a: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 14 - 2 = 25
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 6 = 18

katana 2nd strike '2hand'+p.a: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 - 2 = 12
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 6 = 12

Don't forget to add +2 from Heroism.

The treasure beast drips coins and cracked jewelry when D looses three bolts of pure energy on it, and Stali's blade clangs through its ankle, making the animated object have one leg shorter than the other. It's Uesugi, however, who cuts down the beast, littering the ground in coins, glass, and whatever else the guardian was comprised of.

Out of combat!

With the guardian out of the way, the lamp is yours for the taking. What will you do with it?

As the coins clatter to the ground, Stali says “Good! That thing hit hard and there was no avoiding the attacks!”