Aurus looks with consternation at the box for a second, then tentatively begins trying to whistle out the tune on it.
A hidden panel on the box’s side opens. It reveals a scroll collection of a complete symphony written by a Taldan master, now lost to time.
Cloudia checks out the riddle vault, trying to puzzle out if there are buttons to push or things to manipulate that might be a puzzle.
Cloudia doesn't find anything particular.
"Huh! Nice!" Aurus respectfully puts down the box and it's precious contents and peers over Cloudia's shoulder at the riddle box. "Hold it still - what sort of ivy is that?"
[dice=Knowledge: Nature?]1d20
While looking closer at the ivy Aurus finds the individual letters of a riddle cleverly carved in between the leaves on the chest’s lid.
"D-O-V-E?"
"A dove is a white bird, and if a person dove could that be considered a leap of might?"
The riddle vault pops open and reveals a collection of over 40 rare incenses along with a book of instruction. If burned in the proper combination, the incense collection can replicate a single use of incense of meditation.
|
"Woo!" Aurus pumps a fist in the air when Cloudia pops open the third. "That's Torch's minimum requirement done - but I bet he'd be happy if we got one or two more open too."
The half-elf seems to have forgotten the urgency of their quest in the rush of solving riddles and puzzles. He begins peering over Mao's shoulder at the devil-faced one.
Mao examines the features of the box with the golden faces.
Mao examines the box, but he discovers nothing.
The half-elf seems to have forgotten the urgency of their quest in the rush of solving riddles and puzzles. He begins peering over Mao's shoulder at the one with the 3 golden faces.
Aurus also doesn't see anything special.
Cloudia makes an angry face at the angry face to see if anything happens.
Cloudia's acting makes the safe pop open. It contains a collection of ancient stone miniatures of a Viking army from the Land of the Linnorm Kings.
Cloudia tries to play the music found in the chest on the chest using it as a flute.
"How about this? Lukian, care to help?"
Cloudia starts casting repeated acid splashes on the lock of the devil faced chest.
Aurus looks over at Travail. "So this one doesn't have any magic... you got some tools you can use to jimmy this thing open?"
Aurus will pick up and examine... the final box.
Aurus' investigation reveals that the devil’s head can be turned in both directions, like a combination lock, but without numbers to act as a guide.
Botting Travail
"Ok, let me. You are all taking too long."
Travail easily opens the safe which contains a lost treatise entitled “The Inward Facing Circle” written by Coganaris the Wracker, a famed Chelish devil-binder, along with scrolls of protection from evil and protection from good.
Grandmaster Torch reveals that Nessian lairs in a new base of operations nicknamed the Pyramid of the Dog which he has carved out of a ruin of half-collapsed siege towers, just outside of Absalom. He tips you 100 gp
each as you opened all five for him. He reminds you that should Nessian ever discover he disclosed this information, the Grandmaster would view that as “most unprofessional” and would “spread the word.”.
The sun begins to rise for Oathday as you are heading for the Pyramid of the Dog outside of Absalom to stop Nessian before he can signal Black Echelon again. Unfortunately, while you are on the way you see an interchange of flashing green and orange lights coming from the cliffs in the distance. Yargos recognizes its significance instantly: it is one of the final and most important signals. Yargos explains that the lights will send a team of Black Echelon operatives to attack the Metro-Cathedral, an old church of Abadar. Although worshipers of Abadar have traveled to new parishes ever since the earthquake that laid low the Puddle District, the Metro-Cathedral still has one use: every Oathday morning, the priests of Abadar still play the ritual tune on the Metro-Cathedral’s giant pipe organ to remind all of Absalom to honor its pacts.
Yargos explains that according to the codebook, when Black Echelon shuts down the giant organ in midtune, the sudden disruption becomes the signal for Silent Tide; the awaiting Armada is to approach to the city and begin its attack run.
As you are too far from the cathedral to stop the black echelon you decide to press on, fight Nessian and use the abort code. As you approach you hear the ritual tune of the Metro-Cathedral stop abruptly, so you have only a short time before the armada attacks!
With no time left for a subtle approach, you go in full force!
Nessian’s decrepit lair is not a pyramid at all. Rather it consists of four ancient, battered siege towers, three of which have collapsed inward toward the largest, forming a giant, tepee-like wreck. Of the 3 leaning towers only the ground level is still usable, but the center tower has 3 levels (ground floor, first level, 2nd level) (see the lower part of the map). The 2nd level has even has a siege tower bridge.
The barking of a guard dog starts the initiative!
Mao
Aurus
Lukian
Nessian
Warhounder Red
Nessian
Warhounder Green
Cloudia
Travail
Warhouder Blue
Marrow Chomper
It's a big dog. The kind used by halflings and gnomes to ride on, but this one looks quite mean and hungry, so he probably won't take kindly to anyone coming too close.
The dog is chained to a pole.
Certainly not a hell hound. Unless it's disguised very, very well.
The gnome will glare at the palabard Let's see why this guy is so mad. Stop shooting at him he says as he activates his gnomish ability to speak with animals
Hello there! he asks in pupper wupper :)
Botting Mao
Mao double moves closer to the entrance, but keeps out of the dog's range.
Mao hears someone moving on the siege bridge!
As Mao looks up he sees a man with an animated tattoo of a fiery hellhound that seems to leap at the viewer. This must be Nessian!
Nessian shoots an arrow at the monk
Misses due to the mage armor.
Nessian shouts out!
"The enemy approaches from the South East. My dogs of war, attack!"
In the far north, you can hear a door open and a warhounder (red) appears, a crossbow in hand.
An arrow flies from one on the arrowslits in the South Eastern tower towards Aurus.
Hits
Does not confirm
Botting Travail
Travail double moves.
Cloudia starts her summoning spell.
From one of the arrowslits of the South Western Tower an arrow is shot at Travail
Miss
Mao
Aurus
Lukian
Nessian
Warhounder Red
Warhounder Green
Cloudia
Travail
Warhouder Blue
Marrow Chomper (Readying)