Tomb of the Emperor Gods -- PbP

Game Master Tarren Dei

Refina finds it is a scroll of raise dead.

Tarren:

Perception, with traps bonus 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

You've got to be kidding me... whichever direction Korian wants to check first.

I meant the dude, Korian was concentrating his magic site on the man himself

Cool. But if we are investigating for traps as you suggested, Ovirid will do so - he's going to check (and likely fail) in whatever direction you indicate. When you are done analyzing what you've learned about that fellow. As a player, I have my thoughts, but Ovirid has no clue and 'out of sight, out of mind' anyway.

Korian, yes, I realized. You did not detect magic on the dude. You detected magic on the scroll he held in his hand. Although, I guess technically, in one round of detect magic you wouldn't have gotten even that much information.

Well, if we were sitting around a table you'd be free to give your player opinions, so, long as our DM doesn't mind, let them thoughts flow freely brotha

Discuss away. You have a few options.

Sykala can return any time during this discussion. I'll try to map out the rooms she saw down below.

Sykala rises like a stony apparition from the floor...and looks bewildered as to why the door is open. She points to herself and then to the hole in the floor.

"Lass - d'ye want 's t' go down th' 'ole 'r d'ye want 's t' go 'at way?" He points through the door.

Although Ixius would prefer to explore on foot before venturing down the hole, he generally follows Sykala's advice.

"Let's drink up and go down the hole."

"Aye, Ah think 'at's 'at she wants. 'o's first? Ah'd be fer goin' if'n ye wish."

"'course, lad, we could be drinkin' yer magic juice 'n goin' through th' door, too, hey?"

After taking a moment to figure out what you all are going on about she waves you off from the pool. Her form grows and takes on the normal tone of skin. Her hair whipping about agitatedly in the unfelt breeze, " Many way down. More room like this. Many more way there." Taking a moment to make sure you all are not going to do something else foolish she turns to the sing song lilting tones of Elvish, (Assuming those that understand translate)"I go to try and find out if something is a trap and you all look like your trying to set it off (she gives a meaningful look at the open door)." Sighing to herself but not waiting for a response she continues, "The hole splits into three. One is a dead end in sand, I marked this with a cross. One leads to a room like this with strange writings on the wall but the pool is dry and empty, I marked this with a line. The third leads to another room like this but the pool is full, I marked this with a circle. The rooms have other holes that go other places but I don't know where yet. I can only change once more for today so we should make it count."

Correction: The third direction goes out to sand. The second branch ends in a room similar to the one you came from in that it has a pool with liquid. The first has a dry pool. (I just want to keep the numbers straight.) There were no ohter branches though.

Correction: The third direction goes out to sand. The second branch ends in a room similar to the one you came from in that it has a pool with liquid. The first has a dry pool. (I just want to keep the numbers straight.) There were no ohter branches though.

It is one hole that branches off in three directions. The third direction goes out to sand. The second branch ends in a room similar to the one you came from in that it has a pool. It has tunnels coming off of it. You can explore this, level if you want but we'll need to take it room by room just like regular dungeon exploration.

Huh, than what did the bolded text mean? If there were no more tunnels or branches?

I wasn't "officially" numbering them or anything. That's just how she describes them. More than happy to refer to them as 1 through 3 to keep them straight. Wouldn't exactly call it a correction though since I was roleplaying it out.

Tarren the Dungeon Master wrote:

It is one hole that branches off in three directions. The third direction goes out to sand. The second branch ends in a room similar to the one you came from in that it has a pool. It has tunnels coming off of it. You can explore this, level if you want but we'll need to take it room by room just like regular dungeon exploration.

Huh, than what did the bolded text mean? If there were no more tunnels or branches?

Ahh, I see. I meant tunnels coming off of the room. I'll remember to call them corridors to avoid confusion.

Oh, ok. So, if I understand correctly now, there are other ways to go off at least the room with the full pool (not sure about the dry pool room but it didn't seem so from the description). Also, the ways to go are full fledged corridors that we can walk down without being in gaseous form.

A separate question: The tunnel that ended in the dead end sand, did it seem collapsed or that it was built and always intended that way?

With a knowing look to Korian (still in Elvish), "You want to go look at the writings don't you? I can take elemental form again and lead you there and then make you gaseous again so you can escape after you have examined it. I would only suggest that you and I go to that chamber because I can only help one escape. If we then head to the chamber with the second pool and you or Ovirid deem it safe than we should all go there. Might be a good way around any traps or guardians they have along this main corridor."

Oh, ok. So, if I understand correctly now, there are other ways to go off at least the room with the full pool (not sure about the dry pool room but it didn't seem so from the description). Also, the ways to go are full fledged corridors that we can walk down without being in gaseous form.

A separate question: The tunnel that ended in the dead end sand, did it seem collapsed or that it was built and always intended that way?

With a knowing look to Korian (still in Elvish), "You want to go look at the writings don't you? I can take elemental form again and lead you there and then make you gaseous again so you can escape after you have examined it. I would only suggest that you and I go to that chamber because I can only help one escape. If we then head to the chamber with the second pool and you or Ovirid deem it safe than we should all go there. Might be a good way around any traps or guardians they have along this main corridor."

Both pool chambers have corridors coming off of it. The 'pipe' --better, I guess, to call it a pipe to avoid confusion--that ended in the sand looks like it used to simply exit the pyramid at that point. That point would be far below the level of the desert sand now but, at one time, might have been accessible.

"That's a good idea Sykala, but let's try this- I will take some of this potion with me. I'll then try it first to come back, if it doesn't work, then you can use your spell. In an emergency, I also have one scroll of Gaseous Form." Whenever Sykala is ready, and if the others have nothing to add, Korian will poor a four spoonfulls into an empty flask, then drink one spoonful himself and follow Sykala down if the magic works

When everyone has said their piece the druidess turns back into a stony elemental and sinks into the floor to lead Korian.

To get the effects of gaseous form will take a full draught of the potion but I think you probably have many containers. So, you take four draughts of the potion with you.

Sykala leads you. Where is she going--the chamber with the dry pool or the wet pool? And it is only Korian and Sykala going? You guys split up the party more than any party I've known.

To the dry pool first. I believe the plan is to see what it says on the walls there, make sure it's safe, and then head to the wet pool room where everyone will rejoin. Sykala will be shuttling back and forth as needed until then.

I kind of like the fact that PBP allows different scenes to happen concurrently, very difficult to do in a live game. Although I must admit the little druidess does it far more than I would have ever thought she would when we started.

Refina listens to the tune (Anything she would recognise?)

Refina does not recognize the tune. It seems mournful but majestic. The tune suddenly changes though becoming a series of strangled notes.

Keeping a close eye on the time, Korian explores as much of the corridors as he can while still in gaseous form, starting with the West one. Once he knows (or figures) the spell is close to running out, he makes sure he has time to get back to the dry room. Once in solid form again, he carefully looks around and uses his magical sight. He also considers if arrangement of names has any significance.
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17 +1 for traps
Knowledge(history): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
Knowledge(history): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

As she watches Korian's misty form exit through the corridors Sykala silently shakes her head, this isn't part of the plan! She advances to the corridor entrance to watch him from a distance.

Left behind

Sykala gets agitated enough with Korian's careful examination of the the murals and doors that she disappears back through the stone to the rest of the group. Upon seeing Ovirid, Ixius, and Refina she waves them to quickly follow her.

Um, is Jinx still up here too? And is he small enough to fit down the hole?

Sykala gets agitated enough with Korian's careful examination of the the murals and doors that she disappears back through the stone to the rest of the group. Upon seeing Ovirid, Ixius, and Refina she waves them to quickly follow her.

Um, is Jinx still up here too? And is he small enough to fit down the hole?

Jinx will not be small enough to fit down the hole.

Korian provided for Jinx coming along with him, as always.

As he waits for Sykala to return, Korian experiments with knocking off the tiles, if nothing untoward happens, he removes them all to see what may be seen or understand why they may have been already removed and replaced.

"Down the hole?" Ixius asks Sykala. If the answer is yes, he drinks the liquid and goes down.

She does indeed nod to Ixius' question.

Refina drinks the potion anf follows

Ovirid follows suit.

Let's keep everything in spoilers. You are not in touch with each other right now.

In the pipe