Basically, if I want to run a one-off short module, if I want to test how I work with a group, if I want to do something short and sweet and at least a little bit wierd... it goes here!
The giants are horrified - certain they've insulted their friend! They would hope that such gifts were not so terrible they should be given back!
While flying...
Though you search, you don't find sign of either Erevel or the animals.
There is but a single place where there are signs of struggle - a number of arrows tossed to the earth, surrounded by an ooze Inarus identifies as having come from abyssal fungus. The two find some minor splotches of humanoid blood - Strix blood - but the patterns are odd and confusing, and it's impossible to tell if whatever made them (likely Golan) survived.
Searching, Usawoti feels Shuvuu - in the direction of the tower.
A powerful tremor shifts through the earth you land upon, tripping up the two adventurers, and encouraging haste.
Heading towards the tower...
You notice the underwater bridge from the tower isle to a small, central isle is nearly crawling with fungus, though they are not only engaged in battle with the dark- and pure waters, but greatly thin out towards the entrance of the tower.
The door of the tower - apparently usually below water level, and only able to be seen with the path revealed - is open. The "obvious" barred and sealed well-warded entrance from Inarus' previous scouting journey is still there - but seems to have no path leading to it, and is just as closed and blocked as before.
A good thirty feet from the nearest fungus or any combat (save, of course, the assaults of pure- and dark waters against each other at the edges of the bridge), the stone alter-like device with glowing intricate patterns - apparently part of both the underwater pathways and the tower itself - rises smoothly from the pathway about ten feet from the door; it has red fluid slowly oozing down and across the surface of the rock, and a horse lying on its side next to it.
Drama! Excitement! Terror! There is an un-moving horse on its side, lots of red liquid, and no terribly "nearby" combat to that thing, as well as an enormous, unguarded, unblocked entrance into the tower.
Tower 'Is that Mope?'Inarus puts his thoughts to voice, while pointing at the horse lying on its side."Is that Mope?" He asks Usawoti while frantically gesturing, as he flies down and hovers 5 feet above the path while checking the horse.
You realize that the blood is aging, quickly. It would have been done a relatively short while after you left.
At the tower: it is Mope, who was dying - seemingly stabilized before you got here, however... at -8 hit points.
It's clear - whoever sacrificed the horse didn't care whether the Mope lived or died, and did the whole thing sloppily. Clearly Mope was cut deeply. That said, someone at some point did a rush-job of patching it up - just as hastily as the sacrifice, and just as poorly done, though it was harder to notice.
at the giants Inarus is right' Usawoti bows deeply, "I apologize profusely, I did not realize they were a gift. I just assumed you did not want me to appear unseemly before the blessed ones. I will cherish these items always, as I do the ones that you cleaned for me."
on the first island. I will keep this armor for our wedding day.' Usawoti carefully takes off the armor and places it and the hammer in his pack. Then he puts on his battle tested gear and casts ‘Magic Circle against Evil.'Drawing his first rod he casts barkskin on himself, using the rod to extend the time. He then casts false life, also. Placing the frost lance where he can reach it he lifts his holy hammer and smile to Inarus, "Is it truly Golans blood? We must continue our search."
in the air no, no, no, no, no' Seeing the same things that Inarus does, Usawoti answers, "I fear it is" As Inarus hovers Usawoti draws his wand and cast cure on his faithful steed. Looking around he asks 'Do you see Shuvuu?" Usawoti reaches out with his empathic link.
perception:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20wow a 2, he must be more choked up than we realize. clw:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 clw:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 clw:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 clw:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 clw:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 that max's him TL do you want a concentration check for the spell casting? I am still moving the boons and such to Usawoti's page, baby steps, taking baby steps...
"It is Golan's blood. Erevel is gone too." The dragon replies sadly. "The ooze is there, Golan isn't. I don't think this bodes well..."
"I am sorry, but I do not think there's anything we can do for Golan, for now." Inarus has a nasty suspicion that the ooze might be Golan, corrupted, but decides to spare Usawoti of the pain of his suspicions.
"We need to get to the tower, so we can fix all,"He gestures at his surroundings, "this. There is no point dallying to win a battle, only to lose the war."
At tower 'Why did they sacrifice Mope? Because he is a keystone? Who or what performed the sacrifice? What did they do to him? Who saved Mope? Erevel?' Questions flash in his head.
He pointedly decides not to tell Usawoti about what they were doing to his horse. 'He already had to go through seeing Mope hurt, I don't want to cause him further pain to let him know some madman used Mope as a sacrifice. "When I get my claws on whoever did this, I'm going to tear him apart. Personally." He growls angrily under his breath.
"I don't see Shuuvu. Can you feel him?" The dragon sets about examining the door for magical auras. Take 10 Spellcraft 28
He also examines the red fluid. Take 10, 33 perception, Take 10 on relevant knowledge check. 26 if dungeoneering.
Inarus: it's mostly horse blood (obviously from Mope), though it has some sort of red algea-like stuff mixed in with it, and, disgustingly, a hint of that dark water icky-ness, and more of that fungal ooze. The door has only some strong various magical auras, but nothing that resembles a specific spell, from what you can tell.
Usawoti: you feel Shuvuu ahead somewhere probably through the open doors, but something is interfering with your connection.
Mope groans, then snorts, grunts, and rolls onto his feet, and then works on standing upright, with a bit of help from Usawoti - good as new, save for some mild scarring where he was raggedly sacrificed and patched up.
A mild squeak emits from somewhere inside Inarus' armor.
A scream - several, actually - emits from deep inside the doorway.
Beyond, Inarus sees the hallway extend well beyond the sight of his darkvision, though from what he can see, the ceiling, walls, and floor of the tunnel are effectively transparent (save for the lines of energy running through them, showing the fact that it's a straight line); the transparent sides provide a solid view of a twisting, elaborate and deadly maze of churning passages going in all directions, filled with deadly energies (like the tower above) and twisted elemental or undead creatures of various ilks (each displaying different sins in various capacities) surging through them.
Inarus, one thing your spellcraft can tell you is that this door will not stay open long, and you all know for a fact that the bridge won't... at least not long after the chanting stops. It's up to you two to determine if you want to enter this way, or make your attempt to head in the other door.
You hear the rhythmic chanting behind you, and it's clear the fungal creatures - slowly losing to the invading tides of dark water - are keeping the chant up... likely the only thing keeping the door open, for now.
"Do you think we can get Mope in there safely? Do you know where Shuvuu is?" The dragon looks worriedly at the maze of churning passages filled with deadly energies going in all directions. "We'd better decide if we want to go this way or try the other, the door isn't going to stay open for long."
Out of curiosity - what is the fungus chanting? Yay - Go Tongues!
Perception for safest route through the maze:1d20 + 23 ⇒ (18) + 23 = 41
As a clarification, from this doorway, there is a straight, empty, singular passage that goes more than 60 feet into darkness - though you see dimly "glowing" lines, that, weirdly, don't actually produce any light - that stretch off into the darkness.
From this central tunnel that stretches farther than you can see, there is no obvious way "into" the maze - you can see the maze through the translucent walls, floors, and ceiling, but you can't actually enter it, at least from what you can see.
EDIT: think of it like the opposite of a fish tank. With a fish tank, you can look in and see the maze of coral or whatever. With this, you're kind of like inside of the tank, and looking at the maze outside of it.
The Perception check is enough to realize that the maze seems to be a series of passages that twist about themselves like a plate of stringy pasta, but each sinful and elemental essence you see seems local and unique - "fire gluttony" and "acid gluttony" are kept separate (at least for 60 feet), as are "cold fury" and "cold pride" by way of examples.
With only sixty feet to work with, you can't "trace" the maze, at this time. You'd have to actually, you know, head in to make further understandings possible.
The base of the obsidian spike at the water line above is the width of the island - nearly a half mile diameter (~2640 feet - actually ~2600, as it shaves off a 20 foot border of just dead sand and stuff where the island hits the water line, above you). This part of the tower - lower than that - is even wider.
The fungus is chanting various prayers and such that sound similar to the things you've heard every time one of these passages have been revealed. "I am honest and speak true..." or, "Let not the abyssal scourge..." or that sort of thing. It seems that no more than two or three of them are necessarily chanting the same thing - and there are hundreds around here - but there are groups of two or three that seem chanting the same thing together in different languages.
'At least Mope is alive and Shuvuu is ahead, now to find a safe place for Mope to wait for us.' Still holding Mopes halter, so he doesn't run off, Usawoti nods into the building.
"Shuvuu is that direction, but something is interfering with our conection." Turning and looking back at the island that the were on. "It sounds like the chanting is keeping the door open how long do you think the bridge will remain?"
Nodding in the general direction of the squeak, "They are probably keeping the door open, waiting for us to bring the other key to them. but I wonder if they are finished with Mope as the key to this door. It should be save to send him back, they shouldn't need him any more."
@ Inarus, looking for an opinion here. I think Mope would be safer on the island across the bridge, than in the tower. However Usawoti will need Shuvuu for spells if we are more than a day. What do you think?
I agree with you that Mope is probably safer out there. What I'm worried is that we might need Mope later, because he's a keystone(maybe to fiddle with the controls). And if the door's closed, we can't get him in. Will go for breakfast and mull about it later.
Inarus knows that Usawoti would want to keep Mope safe, and yet is torn between knowing Mope as a keystone, may possibly be required later in the tower. He takes a good look, sizing up Mope's weight. "I'm sorry. I can't carry Mope out of here. He's too heavy." Inarus regretfully informs Usawoti.'And he's too heavy to toss out of here too, besides I don't think he'd survive the fall.'Inarus thinks to himself. "I think he'll be safer in here in the tower with us. The center tunnel looks clear for now. Let's get through it before it closes." He then flies through the centre tunnel(the open, ward free one), while urging Mope to follow him.
Handle animal - come:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
I believe its DC 10 for a known trick. Jack of all trades for bard lets me roll even if the skill can only be used trained :P
It seems like the safest option. Usawoti nods his head, taking the reins from Mopes Hackmore bridle and leads him through the doorway into the tower. "We may as well move forward, and see if we can find Shuvuu." Keeping a keen eye out as they go.
Take 10(28) on perception, dice roll for handle animal if needed handle animal:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Okay, to give a clean and clear set of descriptions, I'm going to describe the tunnel first, and what you see in the mazes of tunnels beyond it. Then, I'm going to go back and mention something you've seen along the way.
Mope gladly comes with you! He's happy to see Usawoti, and, though he's terrified of the strange, noises from the bridge, and clearly out-of-sorts from his other experience, he's more than eager to follow his master.
The hallway continues to stretch for quite some time.
The twisting maze of tunnels filled with sin and destruction visible through the walls of the place shift and flow and alter direction in sudden, labyrinthine ways, leaving new ones visible.
It becomes clear, soon enough, that the denizens of those halls either can't see you, or don't care - certainly, they can't see outside of their own corridor, as Inarus notices one crazed fire elemental hunting and killing anything it can see on a wrath-filled fiery floor... but failing to notice the wickedly "paired" ice mephits cavorting on the (seemingly translucent) floor directly above it. Further, the translucent walls between the tunnels are only a few inches thick, and clearly not made of any sort of stone or earth - those earth-gliding creatures you occasionally see glide through rubble-strewn halls, but treat the walls as absolutes.
It seems that this place is an observation tunnel, of sorts - a manner of watching the various sins in elemental form flowing to their natural conclusion, whatever that may be (but generally involving some form of destruction). In fact, it becomes clear that part of the magic of this tunnel is what is permitting the view, when Inarus notices and is able to watch what is clearly an invisible stalker as it assaults and attempts to devour a mhistu on a floor of gluttony, which, for its part, is attempting to return the favor.
Usawoti can see these things, too, but he doesn't automatically identify them, until Inarus relays the knowledge of what, exactly, it is they're seeing; this can be done almost subconsciously by way of gems. I am, however, going to use Usawoti's Knowledge (geography) and Survival skills - presuming he takes 10 - with solid Aid Another coming from Inarus. Inarus' knowledges (dungeoneering and engineering) help with figuring this out, but couldn't beat the DCs necessary to do much on their own. His Linguistics (+) tongues is needed to figure out what, exactly, the patterns represent.
Working with Inarus, Usawoti is able to more or less figure the "rhythm" of the tunnels - generally speaking, at it's most basic, it's the same pattern as the bridges: wrath, sloth, lust, envy, greed, gluttony, and pride; then it repeats, but with one or two shifts in the pattern to account for the variance in the elements. The elements vary with acid, air, cold, earth, electricity, fire, sonic, and water.
However, these patterns are layered atop one another with different variances above and below you, and again on the other side, creating a weird and terrifying cacophony of deadly forces, even as it creates and almost rainbow-like riot of colors and lights.
I promise, ooc, this is not a pattern-thing you need to figure out or know in-character; it's flavor. To explain, though, on your right when you entered, the "first" tunnel was acid-themed wrath, the second was air-themed sloth, the third cold themed lust, and so on. Above that, at a ~45 degree angle was water themed wrath, sonic themed sloth, fire themed lust, and so on.
What's more, what first seems to be relatively random shifts toward and away from the central tunnel are recognized as a powerful set of integrated runes: it seems that each set of elemental tunnels is in the enormous three-dimensional shape of its own rune of virtue and sin blended with a rune that describes its element. The effect created is kind of nonsense, but, once mentally mapped, recognizable for what it is (as if someone wrote the word "acid" over the word "pride" for instance - it looks like nonsense scribbling, but with solid Perception and Linguistic understanding - and seeing similar patterns elsewhere - you can work it out, together).
Where and how these patterns and creations are established and how the creatures get there, or whatever, is entirely obscured... until you get to an enormous shaft heading up into the pyramid.
The 300 foot diameter hemispherical room maintains a flat floor, but, in a 150-foot diameter center, you can see a ~75 foot diameter powerful, steady pulse of brilliant light below (dimmed by the dark-tinted floor, but still too bright to look at directly). That pulse is surrounded by a device, looking like strange seven-pointed star, each band of which has a different color - and a matching sin/virtue rune; these are within an octagonal "case" - like a chamber - with each wall seeming to be made of a different element or energy type. Each time the pulse occurs, a flare of the light travels along one or more of the branches of the star, and pushes through one of the elemental barriers into a kind of sorting chamber, becoming one or more new elemental creatures of some random type and form, before being "flushed" into a void-like area beyond the wall (extending for another ~75 feet), where it is clearly magically shunted (as if teleported) to somewhere else in one of the appropriate mazes.
The remaining 150 feet of the floor of this room seems to be a siphon of some sort, swirling with light and lights and elemental energy - and probably sin and virtue - that is clearly shunted to the walls, the star, and the pulsing essence in the middle.
Take 10 is not enough to know what this is or is doing. You can always guess, though. ;P
Usawoti, you'd get that you're about in the center of the island. Going at your walk speed, it'd take a little under five minutes to get here from the outer door.
The center of the round ceiling above you opens into 100-foot-wide shaft above youis coveredwith... life. You notice scuttling things within the thick and varied vine-like growths, blooming with flowers, and all sorts of strange life. You notice a number of "landings" - large indentations where one could rest - at various points going up. The top of the shaft isn't visible - thick mist and fog (occasionally with small jolts of lightning?) fills certain parts, and no particular light seems to exist beyond the floor below you, though the "glowing" lines do climb up the edges of this chamber and into the shaft above, quickly hidden by the various thick growths there.
The two of you hear a voice.
Auran:
"What floor?"
I'll need a reminder of buffs currently active after ~5 minutes from the bridge, ~10 from the place you found Golan's fight, and ~15 from the giants. Thanks!
--------
Along the way, along the tunnel, before you get to the central chamber, you notice something: several faint trails of ooze. One rather quickly leads to it seems like the corpse of a small, svelt creature. Running up to it, it is a corpse... but a green and fungal one.
^ None of these images are perfect matches, but make a vague combination thereof to get the gist.
It seems to have oozed from several holes punched by... something, which was subsequently ripped out of the thing; the substance of the ooze is strikingly similar to the leftover stuff you found where it seemed Golan had bled, earlier today - in fact, it's the same kind of substance. You notice a high concentration of red algea flowing from it, as well - probably this creature was a source (though, from the amount, it can't be the only source) of the stuff that was mixed with Mope's blood outside.
The creature is clearly dead and has been for a little while, though not too long, with your high perception checks, it's pretty clear that it simply stopped walking and fell over.
You find half a dozen similar corpses along the way - finally enough to cover what was found mixed with Mope's blood. Each creature has a cavity or three in their body hiding sharp blades.
Feel free to roll 1d4-1 per creature; they have a number of knife-like blades (the size functions as a knife for medium creatures and short sword for small creatures) made from a combination of a strange black metal-riddle obsidian, and what seems to be well-preserved bone reinforced and wrapped in apparently almost taxidermied fungal-wood-leather-stuff for hilts. They were probably once suspended in the liquid ooze in those cavities, but the corpses have lost the fluid to the surroundings, at present. Still, the blades glisten with a thin coating of the stuff.
Mope seems nervous of the corpses, and nearly panics when he sees one of the blades lying on the ground.
Your handle animal checks are more than enough to keep him with you; he does not bolt off.
The knives would function like masterwork knives, if you want 'em, but have double the range for throwing, and deal 1d4-1, instead of 1d4 when you do so.
The last ooze trail thinly continues, for a short duration, after the last corpse to the central chamber (described above) where it just... stops, though there's a mild pool where whatever was leaving it apparently remained for a short time.
-------------------------------
Hope none of that is too confusing. Please let me know, and feel free to ask questions in Discussion.
A very peculiar place, it’s as if we can see the other hallways.’ As Usawoti and Inarus take a relatively leisurely pace moving down the hallway, discussing the various things they see and what it means from their varied knowledge. They begin to realize that there is some form of coloration between the Ruin-shaped corridors and the gates on the bridges.
As the come on the bodies, Usawoti holds onto Mopes reins, reassuring the horse with a carrot. After they have encountered several bodies and Mope seems to settle down a little, Usawoti stops and picks up one of the strange black metal-riddle obsidian blades, wiping it off good he places it in his pack. ”I will keep that to show when I tell this story, otherwise no one will believe me.”
As they come into the center room of the pyramid Usawoti looks around carefully at the flora and fauna growing in the central chamber. After discussing the different things they see he finally asks ”Inarus, do you think it would be safe to let Mope stay here while we look for Shuvuu, then we can start searching for the ‘key’ or do you think we should find out where that voice came from?”
nature:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18To recognize the flora and fauna to see if Mope can eat perception:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31looking for anything that is a real threat to Mope if we leave him Also what direction is Shuvuu from here and does Usawoti recognize the voice?
Active buffs - Heroism(Myself and Usawoti), Daylight, Tongues (40 min)
"This whole place looks like some kind of observation tunnel. But it's one way only. The inhabitants don't appear to be able to see us, or each other." Inarus comments as he peers through the tunnels curiously. "It's almost surreal. Like we're in some kind of alien enclosure where a scientist might want to see how creatures of different elements respond to different sins..."
Inarus is happy to point out to Usawoti all the different sights along the various points of the tunnels, explaining them to the best of his abilities.
Inarus keeps one of the blades that they find off the vegepygmy's. "We might need it later."
He looks at the giant hemispherical diameter spherical room. "How interesting.." He peers at the brilliant pulse of light then watches the flare of the light travels along one or more of the branches of the star. "This is the chamber that was generating all the elemental creatures that we saw earlier. " He speculates out loud."I wonder what the pulse is powered by? Perhaps the death energies of the warring elementals? Or the emotions they generate while fighting?"
"I don't think this place is safe. Besides, Mope is part of the key. I wouldn't be leaving him out of sight, and definitely NOT in the tower. What if one of the other tunnels sprang a leak and let an elemental creature out? It's just a recipe for disaster." Inarus shakes his head."I believe the voice came from the chamber. I'm guessing the chamber functions as an elevator and can bring us to other levels of this tower. And I'm guessing that the top would be where the controls are at."
He waits for Mope and Usawoti to enter the central chamber, then to answers the voice in Auran,"Top Floor."
Usawoti would understand the exchange - if not by tongues, than by the link with Inarus. I should have clarified that before. Sorry. Usawoti does not recognize the voice.
"Error: unrecognized token. Apologies, Masters, I do not know what is 'top' - please explain? Or, if it was not explained to you, yet, you select floors by specification: please choose a <sin/virtue>* and <element/energy>*, or (by name) choose one of the specific floors not associated with one of those combinations. Also, I believe the proper term for us is 'auran' - at least that is the last thing I recall some of your people refer to us as."
* The words in <these brackets> above don't seem to be two different words - the way the voice is using them, they seem to imply the same thing.
There are plenty of plants - many of which you don't recognize, exactly, but which you can mostly guess would be non-toxic. Of course, only a few vines reach all the way to the floor, so Mope has few choices in what he'd otherwise reach. Still, he can nibble on a few of the flowering things; they don't seem poisonous.
As far as threats, there are a number of rather exotic variants of animals and vermin nestled into the greenery of the shaft's walls. Many are surprisingly large and/or healthy looking specimens, with what seem to be specific adaptations for climbing and similar living conditions, though you do see a few exceptionally large goats munching on one of the crevasses. Many of these creatures could pose a threat to Mope, but they don't seem to even notice the lot of you.
It may occur to wonder how, exactly, the entire thing stays so relatively clean... there is precious little evidence of any kind of scat or spoor around.
'Was worth a shot. I don't want to work my way through every single level, its going to take forever' Inarus peers to see the elemental and sin configuration of the highest level tunnel he can see.
Auran:
The floor of the pyramid that is farthest away from this point, vertically. What would be the corresponding element and sin?
He tries to explain to the voice.
"There are goats here, they seem fine."Inarus looks at the place dubiously. "And things for Mope to eat. How strange..a lot of those creatures don't even seem to notice our presence. Do you think it's because three of us are together? Or do they not notice other creatures?" Inarus asks Usawoti.
I'm going to go ahead and give you this: it's because your Perception checks are in the 30s, and theirs are not. That means you hit DC 0 perceptions at ~300 ft., modified for terrain, weather, and the like. Considering the tunnel begins 80 feet up, the very closest ones would need Perception checks of >12 to notice you. Also: who cares, you're pretty far away, and there are lots of more interesting things to look at.
Auran, though Usawoti can get the gist via Inarus anyway:
"There is not a corresponding element and sin at that point."
... the creature says, helpfully, still slightly unclear on the concept, but clearly working on being helpful to the two seemingly oblivious creatures in the chamber.
Forgot to mention Usawoti also has tongues for 40 min. That is my bad. Usawoti has his own buffs, but I ain't gonna track the duration of his. It's his business, afterall. I consider it part of getting used to high level play. I could track for him, but itd be doing him no favours. As the saying goes, 'Give a man a fish, you keep him fed for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you keep him fed for a lifetime.
"Can you feel with your bond, how far Shuuvu is from you?" Inarus asks Usawoti.
Auran:
How about the floor nearest to the highest level? Also, what exactly are you?
Auran, though you both understand, 'cause tongues:
"That is a strange question. I am as we are - as all is that we know is true and not deceptive, just as the two of you are. We are the flow, the <wind/freedom/life> and <air/truth/correct>, as all proper things are; just like you, Masters." it explains, clearly uncertain what you're asking.
Inarus said the "magic" words (figuratively)...
More Auran you can both understand:
Then, "Ah! You say, 'highest'?" it asks. "Of course, just like the others - you mean the 'smoke of delight!'" it seems cheerful. "That would fall under <abundance/gluttony> and <air> or <fire>. We shall take you, now, to the superior one. Simply return to the tunnel when you desire, and step into our collective embrace to move to a different floor." it says with certainty.
Suddenly, powerful gusts of wind whip around you, tiny whirlwinds surrounding each of your extremities and torsos and tails and any other points on your body - and, before you know it, the lot of you are swept up, rapidly into and through several thundery and wet clouds (mild electrical shocks ensue from tiny lightning strikes, but nothing too serious), and you're moved through what amounts to elemental and energetic nonsense.
You are effectively being dragged (but unharmed) upwards by dozens of invisible forces, into moving at ~130 feet per round upwards.
Mope shrieks - huh, horses can shriek, go figure, and freaks right the heck out, but seems otherwise unharmed, and entirely too overwhelmed to be able to do much.
Inarus, based on your Knowledge checks, you're guessing from their language and self-descriptions, they are probably some sort of elemental creatures - probably made from air. They seem innately invisible, like invisible stalkers, but their speed is much too extreme for those creatures.
GM Only!:
+10 innate; +20 true strike; {12*(+2) for Aid Another =} +24; and Improved Drag +2 = +10+20+24+2 = +44+12 = +56. Take 10 for 66 CMB check.
starting strength of 18, but 20 Aid Another checks to gets to STR +40, or effective carrying capacity strength of 58, or ~25,600 lbs. as a "light load" for flying! There is almost nothing that would fit into the shaft that a team of these things can't carry.
Inarus CMD is 35; +66-35 = +31; 31*5 = 155 ft. Add haste to grab 185 ft., plus 1d20*5 ft. (maximum 130 ft.); so it's 135 ft. of travel for them.
Usawoti CMD is 25; +66-25 = +41; 41*5 = 205 ft. Add haste to grab 235 ft., plus 1d20*5 ft... but the maximum is 130 ft., so that's all they can go.
Horse CMD 17; +66-17 = +51; 51*5 = 255 ft. Add haste to grab 285 ft. plus 1d20+5 ft... but the maximum is 130 ft., so that's all they can go.
The creatures in question are conjured and bound magically altered small sized advanced invisible stalker-cum-air elementals with true strike effect (effective for the "Drag" maneuver only), expeditious retreat (called "haste" above), and extremely cursed (as by bestow curse into being useless combatants. HD notwithstanding, they've also undergone extensive training using the hypnotism spell and others, and have been here so long that, all together, they no longer have any desire except to serve as stewards for the "masters" of the place (notably, they have been inveigled such that they perceive anyone who comes through the secret, lower door as an air-element-touched "master" they should follow and serve with their lives), each eager to be better at it's own "job" than the any other at theirs (while presenting the perfect face of subservience to the master, and all getting along).
If forced into any violent action other than carefully and safely dragging or grappling those who wish to go to a floor, or any action other than attending the needs and wants of the masters, they suffer -8 to all such dice rolls, an effective -12 to any given ability score (so effectively going from 18/27/22/18/19/15 to 6/15/10/6/7/3), only has a 25% chance to successfully complete said attempt anyway, and - at any point - must roll twice to determine success (once per hour, only). If they do succeed, they take 10d6 fire damage (reflex for half only a DC 14, but all suffers as under the curse effects), and
They are quite well protected (enjoying all of the following as continuous effects: resistance, peace bond on creatures dragged (DC 14, only lasts while being dragged), shield, mage armor, stunning barrier, escaping ward, miserable pity, protection from arrows, and protection from enemy. All also share each other's pain with shield other - given that there are over five hundred of the things, they're pretty hardy, and damage is spread pretty thin.
Even if somehow freed, the various magic undone, and the spells shattered, it would take many, many years of reconditioning to break these elemental spirits of any of their desires. They simply long to be what they are - they are used to it, and it is comfortable, now. Whether that is a good thing, or terrifying is left for those who discern this truth to decide.
earlier Maybe we can find a safer place for Mope.’ Looking around the place, Usawoti pets Mope on the neck, ”Inarus, maybe we will take him with us for a little bit, see if there is someplace safer.”
’It sounds like the places we want to go all have names’Realizing they do not know the name of the floor they are on Usawoti asks the invisible speakers
I’m assuming tongues will allow
Auran:
”What is the name of this level we are on? In case we want to return?”
goin up ’This is interesting, much different than flying with Inarus, I hope Mope is ok, he’s been through a lot
spells you asked about Barkskin :+ 4 enhancement, 10 min/level, extend, 220 min=3 hrs. 10 min. False life, 11 hrs, 1d10+10 magic circle against evil, 10 min./level, 1 hr, 50 min
"Master? Is... is this a test? Apologies, of course it is. This is the "Beginning of Possibility" as you call it. This is the nadir, the void, the least. This is no-place and the region of nothing. It is where the master's come from and to which they eventually return. It is the doom of such cursed as you, who are bound by fate to return to obsolescence. Is... is that correct?"
... it asks, slightly nervously.
----------------------
When Inarus screams...
Auran:
"I am sorry master, I do not understand."
The hands shift their grip in an apparent attempt to become more comfortable.
As Inarus asks, the voice continues,
Auran:
"I do not know what a 'hawk' or 'elf' is, master - I recognize you are speaking of a creature, but I do not know them. Though, as you wish, I can say that the previous masters also went this way, and also made the loud sounds at first - I suppose that's a new fad? Apologies - it is not my place to question, it is just surprising and fascinating what masters can do over time! If it is not out of place to say, we are delighted to be able to help again - it has been so long since we've seen any of you."
...it rushes nervously, apparently attempting to make up for it's faux-pas... at not having recognized where you wanted to go sooner.
Auran:
"Please let me know if the service I perform is acceptable!" it adds, hopefully, "I seek nothing but masters' satisfactions!"
I'm stopping here, because more than two rounds would pass on your way up...
Inarus tries his best to calm down, as he gets used to being taken for a ride.
Auran:
A hawk is a feathered flying creature. An elf is a two legger like him, but with pointy ears.To which sin and virtue did the previous master before us go to?"
I'm going to dispense with the Auran spoiler tags for my post. You both have tongues running, and I can't think of why I'm still doing so. But it's pretty clear by now, the creatures only speak Auran. XD
"Ah. The previous masters to pass through here went to the same level as you are going now - the 'highest' floor - which, means 'high best' yes?" the voice asks. "Many then went on beyond that, but we are the host that brings from the The Beginning of Possibility, not those who bring people beyond that. Although brazen to say so, I do believe that we are the better servants, though perhaps they, too, may assist you in some inquiry." it adds, smugly. There are a few small, nondescript murmurs (your perception is such that you can't fail: this is generally in Auran, and generally about how 'that one' is probably being inappropriately open, if accurate, about this group's collective superiority - such open obvious pride is probably unseemly), but nothing really objects in any obvious fashion.
After a struggling for a bit, and probably getting help from Usawoti, Inarus manages to describe feathers accurately.
"Ah! Yes, now I understand. The 'feathers' were quite nice. Indeed, that master, too, went to the 'high best' floor - <gluttony>-<air>. The masters seemed pleased we brought them there instead of <gluttony>-<fire>."
At this point, I'm going to wait for Usawoti to post to add more or respond. I think I've been going too fast. Sorry! I'll try and avoid acknowledging things too much to better prevent anyone from being left behind.
no not to fast, I was waiting for Inarus to post, and watched a movie with my wife
helpful description of Shuvuu?
enjoying the flight to the ceiling, Usawoti, tries to understand the peculiar air creatures, "Yes, my smaller friend would have feet and wings and covered with thousands of small objects called feathers, they allow him to fly, but not as beautifully as yourselves."
now "So the previous masters went to where we are going? You say there were many of them and others went on? But they were glad it was <gluttony>-<air> not <gluttony>-<fire>? Did you count how many masters were together the last time they came in?" Usawoti rolls, mid air, facing down to speak to Inarus, "There "Glad it's not fire" do you think it was some of the fungus things or our Elven friend?"
"I think it was Erevel. Though I'm not sure if he'll recognize us if his memories are being tampered by this plaxe." Inarus is now happy to get carried up nowbthat he's pretty certain they're on their way to Shuuvu.
"You're doing your jobs fine," He compliments the invisible airy creatures in Auran."We're not used to being carried so quickly, that's all." He assures them.
"So the previous masters went to where we are going?"
"Yes" the voice responds in Auran.
Usawoti wrote:
"You say there were many of them and others went on?"
"Yes!" they respond in Auran. "We know because we heard on the wind the next carrying."
Usawoti wrote:
But they were glad it was <gluttony>-<air> not <gluttony>-<fire>?
"That is what they said, yes!" they respond enthusiastically.
Usawoti wrote:
"Did you count how many masters were together the last time they came in?"
"I am afraid not, master. We don't pay attention to numbers. Many more than you, though!"
Inarus wrote:
"You're doing your jobs fine," He compliments the invisible airy creatures in Auran."We're not used to being carried so quickly, that's all." He assures them.
"Thank you!" replies the voice. There is some murmuring and something about a sucking vortex and blowing them away, and other such comments.
From the context, it seems the voices are pleased that you are pleased.
After about a minute of travel*, you are deposited at a forty foot-wide ledge that is over a thousand feet high*.
* With take-10, between both of your Knowledge (geography) and Survival skills (with Aid Another!), and Inarus' Knowledge (dungeoneering) skill, you figure your about half-way "up" the spike.
"We are pleased to be of service!" the voices say. "Please recall our service, later, and be sure to step into the embrace of those nearby as soon as you need to go somewhere! They are not quite as excellent as we - they are not trained to know when you talk to them."
"If we need you, is there a way to request for you again?" He asks them in Auran. "How do we call the embrace of those nearby if you're no where to be found?"
"Holy Sh*t!" Inarus exclaims as he looks downwards finding himself 1000 ft above ground level. 'Good thing I can fly...I wonder how Mope is feeling about this though.'
Inarus looks up what there is above the ledge, and also if the ledge leads to any tunnels.
I will note that Mope is freaking right the heck out, and partially hyperventilating right over there... his movements are stiff, and he is rather terrified of, you know, everything.
"If we need you, is there a way to request for you again?" He asks them in Auran. "How do we call the embrace of those nearby if you're no where to be found?"
"Simply step into the travel path, again, and request that you be brought to The Beginning of Possibility for us, specifically, or, in general, simply speak the name of the floor you desire. Farewell!" says the voice.
The wind blows past you, quickly.
Inarus wrote:
Inarus tries to calm Mope down, but probably makes things worse, growling in his draconic voice.
Mope backs away from the dragon, half-tripping in terror.
Calling to the wind creatures "Thank you!" Usawoti turns his attention to the horse.
'I need to keep Mope calm, till we find a place he can wait for us.' Patting Mope on the neck, Usawoti pulls another carrot out of his pack and feeds it to the stallion, "Calm my friend calm."
handle animal:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Usawoti then begins to looks for something that appears to be a door or passageway.
The landing itself is - like all the walls visible through the greenery - seemingly made of an obsidian-like substance with throbbing lines of energy of some indeterminable kind. A quick look by Usawoti is enough to tell that it looks like the plants' root systems (those that have more standard ones, at any rate) seem to be drawn to the energy lines - the others simply somehow find minuscule cracks to attach themselves to in a myriad of places.
A mild dampness is the order of the day.
The entire place is thick with greenery - while the edge and its length are easily noted, the "back" (for there must be one) and sides quickly grow so thick with vegetation as to be invisible - indeed the plateau-like area is a little difficult to navigate.
This is by technicality. I know Inarus has woodland stride, and I think Usawoti does. Even if he doesn't, he can still get through, but beyond ~15 feet it's tougher.
The landing is covered with a mild fog, which combines with some sort of cloyingly thick smoke with a heavy, heady scent (a tad sweet) that has no obvious source. You feel mildly hungry. You also smell the sweet and pleasant scent of freshly bloomed flowers - flowers which are, clearly, visible all around you.
Usawoti does wonders to calm Mope, and the carrot especially seems to help, although the horse is still terrified of pretty much everything that isn't Usawoti and this tasty carrot, at present.
In relatively short order, Inarus finds the back of the landing, and locates a well-sealed hatch with no obvious entrance, though he feels the rune of gluttony on his body (acquired from the bridge) throb in time with the energy lines radiating out from the hatch.
He also is suddenly able to see through the hatch into a spiraling vortex of air and gluttony - all manner of aromatic and olfactory enjoyments - drugs, potpourri, perfumes, plain wood smoke, wind scented by flowers, bands of exceedingly oxygen-rich air wait, what's that?, completely 'dead' air, rotting stenches, greasy fumes, and more - floods every portion of the tubes, creating a powerful, emotional roller-coaster-ride, not to mention potentially deadly locales within. And, of course, the air-and-gluttony-themed creatures.
Of course, as Inarus realizes, "fantastic treasures" and "indescribable experiences" await as well.
As a breeze picks up, Mope quickly calms and relaxes surprisingly well.
Inarus tries to figure out how the energy lines on the ledge work - do they transport him somewhere else?
As far as Inarus can tell, they are part of the structure - possibly powering it, possibly carrying out obscure tasks related to the whole bit of whatever. It's impossible to say.
They certainly don't transport Inarus anywhere the way he pokes at it, though. They do lead to different places - sometimes (often) they're untraceable and sink into a wall and disappear. Other times, they seem to lead to either a pattern on the all or floor, or something like the sealed hatch.
Would you like me to just tell you what the wind creatures were trying to imply for your transport? Or do you wish to figure that (or something else) out? I'm not trying to be overly obscure, but I'm trying to do things in character. That said, Inaus was quite intelligent and potentially sociable prior to the upgrade, and is technically more so now. Similarly, Usawoti is relatively insightful. That said, they could be alien enough in mindset for misunderstandings to have occurred. You can certainly play around with things, if you like.
Inarus tries to put the rune of gluttony on his body onto the sealed hatch. "I think we want to get the hatch open. My guess is it leads to the tunnels where Shuuvu is."
If it doesn't work
He tries to fiddle with the hatch to get it open.
UMD hatch:1d20 + 22 ⇒ (12) + 22 = 34
I get the impression the windy creatures are actually the elevator + elevator master, and the landings are levels (you speak corresponding sin and element to access the various levels). From the levels you need to find a way into the tunnels(probably by hatch), and see what's at the end of it.
'At least he is settled down a little. this place makes no sense, how could plants grow like this, it isn't natural, of course what have we found here that is.' Before entering the jungle Usawoti looks up into the air hoping to see a ceiling. Still keeping Mope near, Usawoti follows Inarus into the odd jungle. Once the locate what appears to be a door, Usawoti watches as Inarus attempts to open it, pointing out; "Once the door is open we can decide if it is safer to leave Mope out here or take him with us. Though I think out here might be."
perception:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19What a terrible roll, is there a ceiling?
I believe you are right happy wind things = elevator and dual names = level, the question is if it is a large room or a hall with rooms or just a hall and if or where it comes out. If we leave Mope and it has a separate exit then we need to make our way back to this room and come back here and get him. Which should be reasonably easy, unless of course the whole place starts to fall apart once we grab the 'key'
Inarus easily opens the vault by will, as soon as he considers his mark (which glows like the nearby energy, briefly, but the same color as the gate).
"no wait" a shy, feminine voice tries to mention, but the door opens quickly and suddenly a powerful vortex of wind begins sucking everything nearby into the wind passage beyond.
Vortex!:1d20 + 31 ⇒ (10) + 31 = 41 If that hits your CMD, you're drawn 5 feet towards the opening per point it exceeds your CMD. Fortitude DC 31 for half. Every 5 feet between you and the opening, lowers the above by -5. Usawoti, you're 25 feet away, and Mope is 30 ft. If sucked in, it's a DC 31 Reflex to escape. Fortitude save and Strength check.
A bit late, to edit the above, I'm afraid, but I figured I should let you know about this link and some of those to follow.
Soooo...
Warning: although none of the links that I will provided are pornographic, some are rather... risque. As sometimes happens in Pathfinder art (though most of these are not official) there are some barely or entirely unclad females (though censored by way of hair or convenient topography or some such nonsense that doesn't exactly work in real life, but permits the artist to get away with it).
I will attempt to have such links be marked with a * for your awareness - feel free not to follow them - I had a problem visualizing what was being discussed, otherwise, hence the images. Apologies, if that's not your sort of thing, and, again, it's entirely unnecessary to check them; it's just for visual reference.
Well that's a miss! I didn't have time to figure this out, earlier.
Sorry!
A bundle of thorny whip-like vines snakes forth and attempts to grip Inarus, but slides off of his armor, as the serpentine dragon is drawn in towards the newly opened hole.
GM Only:
Rounds!:1d4 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 Reminder to me: it grows by 5 ft. per round.
Now that I have time and ability to check - my internet is working well enough so that I can, you know, read stuff - the 16 CMB v. your CMD is not enough to drag you in. Also: hmp; because Mope is 5 ft. further away, neither is he (though he's too frightened of the ledge to go away, either).
Man: a GM doesn't have fun~! XD ;D
Mope whinnies in fear, but stays close to Usawoti.
"Hi, who are you?"Inarus asks the female voice as the vortex draws him closer. "Did you see a small feathered creature flying around, and do you know where he is?" He asks her.
Hm. I see how it looks. She is actually on the same landing you're on - she appeared as if out of thin air from among. You are being drawn away from her, instead of towards her.
She seems confused that you would be asking such questions at a time like this...
"Sorry, milady, I currently have an appointment. I'll be back to speak to you, later!" He waves to her, letting the vortex take him, wherever. "Usawoti, you coming?"
Those images don't bother me. I'm female in RL. So. Not if there are any parts that I don't have...
how much does the woman look like the dead creatures who's knives freaked out Mope? causing Usawoti to believe they are the ones who sacrificed him.
'Who is this woman? Is she safe to leave Mope with?' As Usawoti feels the vortex drawing him, he hangs on to Mopes reins, resisting the wind for a moment. Hearing Inarus beckon, Usawoti also follows the draw of the vortex, making a clicking noise for the horse to follow, hoping to bringing Mope with him. Shrugging his shoulders as he leaves the platform, he turns and addresses the flower child. "If you want to speak to him you may need to follow us."
She does not resemble them at all. Though she has green hair, and is pretty, that's about the extent of the similarities: they were androgynous, and she is... definitely not; they had green eyes, and she purple; they had four fingers, and she five; they had green skin, and she has bronze skin with green "highlights" under her eyes; they were small sized, and she's a medium sized woman inside the blossom of a large flower with long thorny vines she seems to control.
As an aside... are any of you actually, you know, trying to convince her? Or just shrugging and moving on, seeing how she responds? Either way, her first response is:
"are you all insane" she breathes in her fearful voice.
What happens next depends on how and in what context the two of you are speaking at her. Persuasion, happenstance, hostility - I'm afraid I can't tell, at present.
"Sorry milady, I think our friend Shuuvu is in the vortex, and we need to get to him! Is there anything wrong with the vortex?" Inarus asks her, totally clueless.
As an aside... are any of you actually, you know, trying to convince her? Or just shrugging and moving on, seeing how she responds?
thanks for the info. I realize they both are 'plant people' would there be any type of roll for Usawoti to make to come to an informed opinion as to whether they are together or not?
Usawoti is just matter-of-fact informing her, he doesn't care either way which she does.
how much time do we have to actually speak to her, the vortex seemed imminent
I think it'd be knowledge nature. But since I told the GM I'd be taking 10 for all knowledge checks, if I don't get any info, I'll just assume I failed the check. Not as if I'm a wizard with astronomical knowledge checks, anyway
