Zinou's Among the Dead (#1-49) (Inactive)

Game Master Zinou

Vordrek nods. "Anyone 'sent by Zyphus' would be a force to reckon with, if indeed he was. Zyphus is a beastly god himself, one who seeks out the death of others. Perhaps we can give this Baillaset what he truly wants, or at least is supposed to want-- an accidental death of his own. But you'll have to take us to him."

With the conversation concluded, Eladrian moves up to the stairs and peers down the underground portal, looking for anything of note.
Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

What are the light conditions down there?

Eladrian peeks down the stairs but sees nothing but an empty entrance hall, so you begin to descend the stairs. Hustavan keeps going on talking about the riches he's going to give Rolando if he survives the journey through the hideout.

At the bottom of the stairs that lead down from the surface is a small room. Two female statues stand in the middle of the room; their arms were broken off and are missing, and their facial features were long ago scraped away.
A small amount of light reaches the room in front of you from above, casting the entire room in shadowy illumination. Three tunnels lead away from here—a wide tunnel to the north and two smaller passages to the west and east. The tunnels are pitch black.

As you get down the stairs, Eladrian, Vordrek, Farg and Torean simultaneously shout out to stop the party as they both spotted a trap before them.

@Everyone: The light conditions are dim light, darkness in the tunnels.
@She Who Waits: Are you still flying or did you stop at the end of the combat?

Zinou! note that Farg has heroism up so his Perception is actually +14

Farg turns to the noble angrily and raises a claw as to strike the man.

Seee that! That's a trap! I told you that you were supposed to warn us about traps! Did I not make myself clear enough? How's you like to take the lead down here in the dark huh?

With that Farg steps up pulls out a set of tools and gets to work.

I'll gladly take Aid anothers here...should Farg fail the check please let me know before rolling for effects as I still have Gallant inspiration to save my arse just in case...

Disable 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33

Ye might want to take a step back just in case this does blow up...

The trap seems to be disabled by Farg's ability.

Farg admires his handy work and grins proudly.

Alright onward then! From my many years of dungeoneering I have learned that it is always best to take the left hand path.

The Tiefling proclaims as he explores the left hand corridor.

I'll keep flying until the one minute duration wears off, so as Farg disables the trap. I have 6 minutes more left of the ability today.

The witch sighs, "Adventurers talking about taking the best route and doing things in the most effective manner. Do they not see what they are doing to world by denying entropy its due?"

Following her allies, she checks to ensure that her mage armor is still active, her headband is snug against her forehead and lets the Young One out to walk for a few moments before putting him back in his satchel.

Eladrian gives Farg a nod of appreciation as he moves past the disabled trap. Entering the room past the trap, he carefully examines the statues and then each hallway.
Perception Statues: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Perception Left Hall: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Perception Right Hall: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Add +3 to each roll for traps
Well.. Glad I got those rolls out of the way!

The witch sighs, "Adventurers talking about taking the best route and doing things in the most effective manner. Do they not see what they are doing to world by denying entropy its due?"

Huh? What you talkin bout Lady?

Thank you Eladrian. @Everyone: Please when you make an action, roll perception checks, it'll be easier for me.

Eladrian spots a small symbol etched into the base of the western
statue. It is a symbol you recall very well: the unholy symbol of Zyphus.

As Farg peeks into the tunnels, he sees thanks to his darkvision that the crypts are all relatively intact, though the bodies were long ago stripped of any valuables. Dozens and dozens of delicately wrapped skeletons are stacked in the alcoves throughout. The crypts are devoid of any light.

What are your light sources?

Don't need no stinkin' light!

Torean carefully moves up, uncertain if Farg really disabled the trap. He glances down the right corridor. "Perhaps the left is the best, but we should try to see where each might lead."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

With a wave of his hand and a few quick words, Rolando conjures a few floating lights to move ahead of the party and illuminate the area.

Dancing Lights

Perception 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

Light is for losers!

"Thank you for the light, Rolando. Should we have need, I also have some torches. I just cant carry one and fight at the same time!"
Eladrian says after pointing out the mark of Zyphus.

"Either way we go, would someone like to double check these hallways? I took a quick look, but a longer study may be needed."

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Seems there's more of us with darkvision than without, haha

-Posted with Wayfinder

Seems there's more of us with darkvision than without, haha

*sigh* Adventurers these days xD

Farg and Torean spot easily a small pile of rocky rubble lies here, all of which collapsed from the ceiling above. Two sets of pale, cold feet stick out from the debris, and a coagulated rivulet of blood oozes forth from beneath it. The trap that was here seems to have activated and provoke the man's accidental death.

My light sources are the lights Rolando summoned. I know, adventurers these days.

"Ah, this looks like a most unfortunate occurrence. But that is what life does to us. Farg, you would be good not to resist the flow of fates."

Farg looks at She who Waits dumbfounded.

He's dead... the tiefling explorer notes.

Torean ignores the babbling witch. He stares at the legs under the rubble. Should we dig them out? Maybe they hold clues to what's going on down here."

If no one objects, Torean will move cautiously to examine the bodies closer and see how long it would take to pull them out.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Just out of curiosity, where is this trap and body located? In front of us on the green rectangle? How complete is the collapse?

It occupies indeed the green rectangle and symbolizes a trap that activated on someone. You can see past the rubble but cannot pass unless you take some time to clear it.

Torean finds that the body is lifeless.

Eladrian steps forward and helps Torean to unbury the body and clear the hallway. Once this is done, be picks his bow back up and prepares to move forward.

"We should get him out, yes." Vordrek waves his hand almost casually, and the smaller rocks move themselves out of the way.

Casting mage hand on the rubble, which can only affect 5 lbs at a time so it's limited to the smaller rocks.

The witch approaches the man's body, stares at it and calls out, "revelabit" as she focuses on it.

Casting detect magic. Will focus for all three rounds.

Farg folkds his massive arms over his barrel chest and impatiently taps his foot on the ground.

As I said... he'd dead...

Eladrian looks up from the pile of rubble and over at Farg. "Well, I think that its pretty obvious to everyone here he is dead. However, he is still blocking the way, and may have something of interest on him. If you're not going to help, at least keep a guard over us."

If Torean determine's it's safe, he'll continue trying to dig out the bodies. "No telling if these two are cultists or someone else."

Clear away the loose stone, Rolando says, appearing to order his companions around. After a moment, though, his intent is made clear as an invisible force starts sweeping away the lighter rubble while Rolando remains vigilant for danger.

Unseen Servant

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

She Who Waits sees three magical auras. Torean and the unseen servant summoned by Rolando quickly clear the rubble off. It was too heavy for Mage Hand, though.
On the body, you find a scroll which you quickly identify as a scroll of lesser restoration, then a magical ring, and a magical cloak.

Before you, you see a tripped acid-filled spiked pit trap. The pit is 10 feet deep and lined with etched and crumbling metal spikes. A single body lays at the bottom, melted into an unrecognizable mess. The acid that once filled the pit drained slowly into the surrounding rock.
But most awkwardly, you see a giant who seems to wait on the other side of the pit, clearly looking at you. He doesn't seem to threaten you.

What do you do?

"Anyone speak Giant?" Torean waves to the giant, trying at least to portray themselves as friendly.

Of course, Rolando says with a smile before addressing the giant.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

The giant stares at Rolando but doesn't make any noise. You can't tell if it's living or not as he's completely motionless.

"Is it a statue, perhaps?"

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

-Posted with Wayfinder

Vordrek thinks that it's an undead, rather.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

-Posted with Wayfinder

It's a fire giant undead. You can ask two questions.

Nice.

1) Strengths? (i.e. resistances/immunities)

2) Special attacks?

Can I spellcraft the three auras I saw earlier or determine what they were associated with? If not, I'll wait and see what's going on.

Aura 1: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21
Aura 2: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34
Aura 3: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33

Distracted by the need to unravel the mysteries of the magic she found, She Who Waits starts up at the giant on the other side of the pit. She draws her spell components and rod close to her, waiting for its attack. As the moments draw on and it doesn't react to their presence, she relaxes slightly but does not put her gear away.

"Hello?" she says in Taldane. "May we pass?"

Vordrek: DR 5/Slashing, immune to fire and undead traits. No special attack but he seems plagued with a disease you already know from the previous adventure: the Zyphus plague. However, it only affect the dead wounded by Zyphus plagued zombies.

She Who Waits identifies easily the ring as a ring of climbing and the cloak as a cloak of resistance +2.
The zombie wears a half-plate but doesn't answer. He just stands there.

Yeah, it's a zombie :D We could call you the "zombie whisperers" haha

Wow...that guy looks scary... any way we can deal with him from afar. Honestly he doesn't look like the sort of fellow I'd want to get up close and personal with...

"You're wasting your breath. It's undead, it won't answer. Most likely it'll attack us as soon as we reach it. Don't use fire, it was a fire giant in life so it's immune. And don't let it kill you," Vordrek adds with a wry smile.

Once Vordrek relays his knowledge, Eladrian steps up to the mouth of the tunnel and says "Well, theres only one way to deal with this one, then!" as quickly looks for weaknesses and fires his bow.

Studied Target
Attack: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 1 + 2 = 29
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 13

Surprised by the attack, the zombie backs up and disappears into the shadows.

What now?

Eladrian moves quickly up to the corner and checks around the passage, looking for the giant, more enemies, or traps.
Percpetion: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25

"Well, you just made it mad, Eladrian." Torean laughs. "Something tells me it isn't just going to go cower in fear." He draws his axe. "Look out everyone. I doubt this is the only zombie we'll be seeing down here."

The dwarf calls on Torag to grant him an extra measure of protection. A shimmering green field begins to surround him.

Cast Shield of Faith. +3 AC (Total of 23)

Torean has darkvision 60'. He should be able to see which way the giant went (i.e. left or right).

Eladrian turns the corner and sees no giant but a tripped swinging axe trap. The corpse of a human male dressed in rags hangs from an enormous axe attached to a mechanism in the ceiling. green square again

My what an interesting contraption...

Farg muses as he studies the axe trap. the Tieflin then moves on to examine the next hallway.

Perception1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

See map...

I wonder, Rolando muses aloud as he sends his dancing lights to "scout" ahead. Are these deaths really 'accidental' when the cultists chose to set these traps? Regardless, which way should we inspect first?

That sounds somewhat philosophical...I'm thinkin Zyphus is prolly the type of guy who enjoys killing in his name...

Torean: Sorry, I forgot to tell you. He went left on the map, towards the axe trap.

Farg sees nothing but alcoves full of bones, Eladrian and him see something moving in the dark and Eladrian shoots an arrow and hits his target.

Let's hasten things a little.

Suddenly, the giant emerges from the end of the corridor and comes towards Farg, squeezing into the hallway. He stops before Farg, too slow to try to hit the tiefling.

Crypt - Round 1 - Fight - Party's up!
Rolando, Farg, Torean, Eladrian, She Who Waits, Vordrek
FGZ [23]