The Root of All Evil

Game Master Edward Sobel

Not getting into any arguments over this, you are using a greatsword, that is a two handed weapon. the hand broke off if fell to the floor, the ring came loose and Mickey picked it up.

"I can brace the other hand if needed".

"Is this ring magical ?" Letha looks on the inside of the ring for any engravings, then asks Mickey to put the ring on the finger of her right hand, same as it was on the statue.
"About the indentation in the fountain: do we have anything that matches it, like the glass vials, or the plant pots ? Sam, Conner: please go with Tatsuo. Make sure he doesn't run into any trap. Mickey and I will handle the statue".

I believe it has already been identified as a faint magic aura of transmutation magic on the ring

Mickey takes a look at the ring it appears to be a simple brass ring with some elvish markings on the band.

"It has more squigly talk on it. Should I try it? Not sure if it'll fit."
To him it looks like just a brass ring with squiggles. Maybe worth a couple coins worth if polished right.

"If it fits on a man's hand, it'll fit on a smaller one like mine. Now please put it on my hand or give it to me. Or put it on your own left hand, if you prefet that. We dont have much time."

will move things along later tonight. if you have anything you still want to try now is the time. did anyone actually put the ring on?

Letha said she was putting the ring on her hand. And I assume that after that she was probably going to put her hand in the mark on the wall.

If the ring doesn't transmutate my hand into something that fits the "lock", I might need to break two of my fingers, bending them backward so my hand will fit in the hole. If we are short on time, let's assume that Letha takes the ring from Nickey and puts it on (sorry Mickey).

Letha, the ring fits just fine on your finger. there is no outward effect and you feel no different at first.

Mickey shrugs and hands over the ring to Letha.

I guess we're assuming Tatsuo hasn't left yet...?

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

"Felt a sensation in my body. Nothing seems to have changed.
The people that put the treasures here must be crazy."

Blue text means ooc comment. Apologies if that was unclear.

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24"you... your ears are different"

"If it fits on a man's hand, it'll fit on a smaller one like mine. Now please put it on my hand or give it to me. Or put it on your own left hand, if you prefet that. We dont have much time."

You also said it in character

It was clear. :)

"If we don't come back out soon enough, the Pirate Council might decide that we've... failed, and take matters in its own hands."

Letha touches her hand to her ears. "Hm. Pointed ears, but no other change. I like it. But did this ring make more like a some other race, somehow ?"

She walks over to the wall and touches the handprint, making sure to press the two fingers that are too long into it. "If this doesn't work, I'll have to lose some of my fingers".

Mickey shrugs.

"it might require a male, as the captain was or it may even be able to tell alignment, if it does not work for you, might I make an attempt before pieces are removed?"

"Sure"

When Letha removes the ring her sensation of change is removed. her ears return to normal.

Conner then puts on the ring

now that you are looking for it Conner's ears take on a slight elven point to it.

as I mentioned he already looked sorta like a half elf so now he looks even more elven?
"interesting, well then, might as well get this over with" Conner raises the finger(s?) that the pirate was missing and places his hand on the lock.

nothing happens.

apparently you need to actually remove a finger to open the magic lock.

The paladin grunts and pushes on the slot as hard as he can. if/when it doesn't work (it not working is the most likely outcome he swears under his breath in celestial before removing his hand and then the ring from said hand "anyone else want to give it a shot?" he asks, rather undesiring to lose a finger.

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7Know local
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20Perception
Mickey will try on the ring to see if it reacts to him any differently.
"How does it fit all of us?"
Mickey notices it but doesn't consider what it was odd.

"it's just part of how magic armor... and I guess rings, work," he shrugs

Tasuo you have not left yet -- trying to keep the party together before reaching the next room. (you will probably need the whole party there)

When Mickey puts on the ring it does in fact change its size, ever so slightly to be a good fit. (or does your hand change to fit the ring?)

Do my ears not change?

Yes I failed to mention that:

Mickey does take on some slight elven features physically. though they are very subtle, but as you all are now looking for them everyone easily notices them.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Local: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"I don't think we're going to get it to open. Perhaps we should just move on?" Tatsuo suggests from the back of the room.

"Almost done here. I'll need somebody to remove my finger, and somebody else to stand ready with a cloth or bandage to staunch the bleeding."

If nobody volunteers to help Letha, she'll do it herself- but she'll have a very low opinion of the party afterwards. Assume that in that case, she'll be able to loan the most appropriate weapon from a party member.

"Do you really think we need whatever's in there so badly that we must mutilate your hand rather than come back to it later? For all you know, we might find something useful further in. Like a construct or zombie whose hand we could use. Or we could go buy a scroll to help. Besides, for all we know there could be more requirements to open the door than just missing 2 fingers."

If Letha insists, Tatsuo will honor her wishes and cut off the appropriate fingers, but he thinks it's a dumb idea. Also, before cutting the finger off, he would attempt to sanitize the blade of his tanto and the area around the fingers to be cut off (He has soap and clean water. Also presumably we could probably make some fire, which would also help with cauterizing) and make sure to have as clean of cloth as he can find.

I'm also guessing that none of us have the medical knowledge to re-attach fingers? 'Cause he also has needle and thread.... He also has ray of frost if that would somehow help in keeping the fingers "on ice" so they could be re-attached by someone else later.

"Needle and thread anyone?"
Mickey asks. He could at least try to put her back together if she insisted on mutilating herselfover the chance something was in there.
Mickey has 4 ranks in heal.

Since you two object, I'll chang.e my mind

Just an FYI: only 1 finger needs to be removed: (the index finger of the right hand) I am not counting the thumb as a finger for purposes of this.

game mechanics for the removed finger:

• you take a -1 attack penalty on all dexterity based weapon attack rolls.
• take a -2 on dexterity based skills that require fine manipulation.
• take a -2 on CMD vs disarm attempts.
• this is considered a drawback, so you gain 1 additional trait

hmm doesn't seem too bad.... and you do get a trait for it... I'd do it when it comes to it

"Do it if you like."
He was asking for needle and thread to put her finger back on if he can.

"is there anywhere else that we haven't checked yet? if so we should look there first, then circle back to here, if there is no other way, I volunteer to remove my hand so that others do not have to..." he pulls out a dagger
I'm going to want someone casting stabilize on me

before you do this I would like to hear any ideas from Tenebral. also before deciding please be sure everybody had a shot at the knowledge local roll.

knowledge local for Tenebral: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Sorry, but I'm mostly stumped. It seems as though we're faced with a puzzle whose solution is the loss of a finger, the mechanics of which seems to effectively bollox everything that I do. Either we mutilate one of us or we move on. I'm in favor of moving on.

In the midst of moving/renovating, so I've been busy, and haven't had anything to contribute other than "I've become very attached to my fingers."

good to know, I thought we lost you, I hope things get squared away soon for you and you are able to join us on a more regular basis

moving on is an option, I am sure there will be another opportunity to get that door open.

well I'm the fighter type, and I think I know what you're talking about I'll be the one to lose the fingerConner hesitates a bit with a knife "do we have a cleric of some sort... this will hurt...."

Jaroslav puts a hand on Conner's shoulder. "I yam knowing you but little time, but from brief time I see you wield weapon with great skill. Your job is to make others feel very bad. Whack! Whack! Is needing all your parts for whacking. My job, make peoples feel good. I don't need all parts for that. Letting me take ring? I have been waiting near decade for show what key means. Is small sacrifice. Is the way of North." He breaks into a wide grin, "Besides, will make complete my ring. Finally will join with Fox and Hare." he holds up the ring with his silver key. The fox tail tip and rabbit's foot jingle with the metal.

Letha shrugs.
"We have all lived a long time not knowing what our key meant. And having your own rotting finger hanging around your neck seems a little bit morbid. But the sacrifice is yours, if you want it."

To Conner: "It will be painful, as it should be. And clerics are not the only one who can heal wounds. You are surrounded by people that can ."

new guys and all can try the knowledge local checks as detailed above:

DC 15 and can be made untrained

Agyen scoffs at the idea of removing a finger. "The entire idea is barbaric. Whoever designed this trap is a simpleminded savage."

"It is entirely possible they figured that we would have access to higher tier magic than we have, but whoever is going to take off finger should get to it"

"I somehow doubt that it's a trap so much as a way for Jayce the Three Fingered Swordsman to keep his things safe."

Mickey has been holding onto the ring until they reach a decision.
He kinda likes that odd tall feeling.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 ⇒ 15

Jaroslav suddenly recalls a story he heard while in the local tavern. "Did not creator of tomb use mighty longsword in his three-fingered hand? Much sense it is making for the one to be chopped to also want a mighty longsword. Is logic, yes?"

He turns to Letha, "And finger would not rot, would preserve . . . What fool would let so valuable and powerful a token slip away to become just more soil." He smiles broadly. "Is okay, not everyone understand."