[pfs] Words of the Ancients (Inactive)

Game Master Matthais777

Ah! Fingers crossed!
Mirror Image? 1 is real!: 1d7 ⇒ 4
Mirror Image? 1 is real!: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Mirror Image? 1 is real!: 1d5 ⇒ 2
Mirror Image? 1 is real!: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Mirror Image? 1 is real!: 1d3 ⇒ 2
Mirror Image? 1 is real!: 1d2 ⇒ 2

WOW! Enora, you might wanna buy a few scratch off tonight! However, that means your subjected to the gaze!

Enora A: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
damage: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 6, 4, 3) = 19
Enora B: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Enora C: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

So you'll take 19 damage at the start of your turn if A isn't dead yet, but better than being dead!
PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Hound C
Hound B
Hound A
------------------------------------------------
Loxx
Deaglan -19
Renas
Enora -7
Min -62

ACTIVE BUFF: HASTE! another five rounds

Thanks GM, these things are vicious. Please kill them fast guys!! :-( Enora has not done a Knowledge check yet. Would like to know if there is a limit to this coming and going of theirs!!

Kn(planes) : 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15 Arghhgg!!!

——————

I really had to think about this round’s post because not knowing how often they can do this jumping means Enora will go full defense.

Enora activates her Prescience ability to see into the near future.

FREE ACTION: Prescience: 6 times per day, at the beginning of her turn, Enora can roll a d20 and then use that dice result instead of rolling any time until her next turn.

Prescience : 1d20 ⇒ 15 Great! GM, if hound A survives until it is their turn then Enora will use this result for her save versus the gaze attack so she does not get 19 damage.
—

STANDARD ACTION:

Enora immediately starts casting another mirror image spell.

Concentration check to cast defensively DC19 : 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Mirror images # : 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

—

MOVE ACTION:

Enora steps back 5 ft and turns one of her spells into raw Arcanist power.

Consume a 1st Level Spell to gain 1 arcane reservoir: Enora can spend a move action to expend a spell slot and gain a number of points to her arcane reservoir equal to the spell’s level.

[spoiler=Status]HP 45/45 | Temp HP 17/24 | Spells: 1st: 4/6, 2nd: 2/5, 3rd: 3/4 | Staff charges 10/10 | Reroll 1/1 | Rod of lesser extend: 2/3 | Wand of CLW: 10/10 | Wand of mage armor 4/5 | Bonded item spell 1/1 | Arcane Reservoir: 6/6 | Prescience: 5/6 | Active conditions: Mage Armor, False Life, 4 Mirror images, Arcane Barrier.

Loxx swings his staff fueled by his rage at the beast attack Enora.

if that one drops, he will attack the other one within his reach.

Attacks at +2 if Enora has a weapon in hand. Damage is bludgeoning and magic.
Quarterstaff (TWF - Main): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24 Damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (4, 1, 5) + 11 = 21
Quarterstaff (TWF - Main): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 Damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (2, 1, 2) + 11 = 16
Quarterstaff (TWF - Main): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 Damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (3, 6, 3) + 11 = 23
Quarterstaff (TWF - Off): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16 Damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6) + 6 = 21

What type of damage does the gaze do? I need to know if it is a type to which Loxx's DR applies.

"Guess these things are hard to hold down." Menas says between a flurry of punches at the hound nearest him.

Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29 damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Unarmed Strike, haste: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26 damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Grab 1: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (16) + 35 = 51
Grab 2: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (5) + 35 = 40
Grab 3: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (20) + 35 = 55

Enora, The gaze occurs at the beginning of your turn, but since your ability is free action, I'll say you "Swapped" the roll I made for you, so you won't take any damage. Loxx, it is slashing damage that bypasses /magic and /slashing, but if your DR is better than that you can fend some of it off.

Loxx brings his staff down like the first of an angry god, striking the enemy over and over again, though it backs away on the last strike, causing the last swing to miss...

Unfortunately for it, it backs up into the waiting arms of Menas, who proceeds to demonstrate that even if it doesn't bleed, you still might be able to kill it, turtle striking the thing viciously before grabbing the thing and snapping it's neck.

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Hound C
Hound B
Hound A (Dead!)
------------------------------------------------
Loxx -35
Deaglan -19
Renas -22
Enora -7
Min -62

Loxx has DR 2/- being an invulnerable rager unchained barbarian. So the first gaze did 16 damage instead of 18, eating up all the temp hp from his unchained rage, but no real hp. The second gaze did 14 hp, leaving Loxx at 56/70 hp

Minmaximus: in my opinion Emergency Force Sphere is misused a lot indeed, but now would have been an appropriate time for it. I am going to revive you again, hope you can survive the next round

Breath of Life: 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 1, 6, 3, 7) + 5 = 24

Deaglan kicks-start the wizard again and steps closer to Menas, eyes closed.

"Minmaximus, get behind me!"

If they disappear again I suggest we turtle with Minmaximus and Enora in such a position that no enemy can get at them

The hounds seem to be furious with the enemies that refuse to die and the killing of one of their comrades.

The one attacking Enora keeps at it.

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34
Damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 = 8
1 is real: 1d5 ⇒ 1

Apparently having her sent now, the beast leaps at Enora ignoring her fake images!

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
Damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (5, 5) + 3 = 13
1 is real: 1d5 ⇒ 4

Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
1 is real: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
1 is real: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Enora dances away, letting her images take the other brutal hits.

Sorry about this minmax, consider it a life lesson on needing to keep emergency spells on hand versus nasty scenarios? Maybe? :'(

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (6, 2) + 3 = 11

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (6, 4) + 3 = 13

Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

As minmax is wrenched back to life, the hound wrenches him away again, howling in anger that he keeps having to do this. With minmax gone, the two hounds howl again before disappearing as if at some angle not meant for normal minds into the floor again.

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Hound C
Hound B

------------------------------------------------
Loxx -35
Deaglan -19
Renas -22
Enora -15
Min -77

The hounds seem to be furious with the enemies that refuse to die and the killing of one of their comrades.

The one attacking Enora keeps at it.

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28
Damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (6, 6) + 3 = 15
1 is real: 1d5 ⇒ 2

Apparently having her sent now, the beast leaps at Enora ignoring her fake images!

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 4) + 3 = 15
1 is real: 1d5 ⇒ 5

Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
1 is real: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
1 is real: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Enora dances away, letting her images take the other brutal hits.

Sorry about this minmax, consider it a life lesson on needing to keep emergency spells on hand versus nasty scenarios? Maybe? :'(

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
Damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 3 = 8

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31
Damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 7) + 3 = 18

Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

As minmax is wrenched back to life, the hound wrenches him away again, howling in anger that he keeps having to do this. With minmax gone, the two hounds howl again before disappearing as if at some angle not meant for normal minds into the floor again.

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Hound C
Hound B

------------------------------------------------
Loxx -35
Deaglan -19
Renas -22
Enora -15
Min -77

doesn't Minmaximus get a turn before the hounds go? Otherwise it is just a waste of a BoL and a turn for me and I would do something more useful. Looking at his spell selection he can cast mirror image or greater invisibility (or at least attempt to cast one of them defensively)

Double post?

Menas steps over to another hound before attempting to grab it, "If only they would stand still."

Grapple Defensively: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (2) + 32 = 34
He then takes the hound and slams it into the floor before suplexing it.

maintain for damage: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (4) + 32 = 36 damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
maintain for damage: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (9) + 27 = 36 damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Yup, double post. Also, Deaglan, your right, I didn't have him marked for a turn since he was dead, so yes, Minimax will get a turn, so Minmax you can attempt whatever spell/maneuver you want, and I'll roll appropriate miss chances/whatever you need.

Menas, they are disappeared again (I just moved them off the map, sorry about that) and are no longer in the room. Feel free to retcon.

ACTIVE BUFF: HASTE! another four rounds

Not seeing the hounds anymore Enora erects her defense again to add to the defense of the remaining mirror image.

Casting the ‘mirror image’ spell twice in my view means that first the spell with more images would need to destroyed first but then there would still be the last mirror image from the old spell remaining. What do you think ?

STANDARD ACTION:

Enora immediately casts another mirror image spell.

Mirror images # : 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Currently, 6 and then 1 mirror image in effect.
——

SWIFT ACTION: Enora activates her Arcane Barrier with her inner force again.

Enora spends Arcanist Reservoir to gain 10 temp HP. The first arcane barrier 10 HP are gone and false life is at 9/14 so 19 temp HP of 34 that I had remaining. I will note the 34 in my Status below so it fits to your -15 Damage GM.

——

MOVE ACTION: Enora makes a small 5ft step and again consumes one of 1st level spells to regain arcane reservoir.

Waiting to see what Minmaximus does. My 2coppers on combining Mirror Images: I would think that the 6 replace the 1 from the old spell.

Definitely going Mirror Image! Emergency Force Shield feels like a cheat from the obscure book that most players DON'T HAVE and abuse mightily. I refuse to support further abuse.

Min breathes again and casts MIRROR IMAGE defensively. DC 19: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27 for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 images!

It honestly is a fantastic spell though, especially for how squishy casters tend to be. I played through all of Curse of the Crimson Throne with our wizard using it, it saved his life many times.

Menas readies an action: If any enemies appear within 10ft he will 5ft step and grapple them.

Grapple Defensively: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (6) + 31 = 37 +3 AC

Loxx continues his rage and readies a vital strike if the beasts appear again.

Quarterstaff (2-Handed): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36 Damage: 6d6 + 15 ⇒ (3, 5, 4, 3, 6, 3) + 15 = 39
Confirm?: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31 Damage: 3d6 + 15 ⇒ (6, 4, 6) + 15 = 31

Alright Minmax, time to pray!

Hit on 1: 1d4 ⇒ 1
ouch, -8
Hit on 1: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Image popped.
Hit on 1: 1d3 ⇒ 2
Image popped.
Hit on 1: 1d2 ⇒ 1
Ouch. -11

If only you'd gotten a few more images! That leaves you with -57, which puts you just dead still by 2 points. :( Totally feel ya on sticking by your principals for the force shield.

With Minmax struck down yet again, the team begins to circle the wagons, preparing to fight the hounds as they continue the fight.

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Hound B
Hound C
------------------------------------------------
Loxx -35
Deaglan -19
Renas -22
Enora -15
Min -57 (Dead for realz this time?)

No worries. I got prestige for this very reason.

Did none of the hounds appear adjacent to me in order to attack minmax?

Sorry, the retconning can be a little confusing. Minmax died when 3 of the hounds appeared, and you and Loxx killed one of them. The other two attacked minmax and Enora, and we've been trying to resolve whether or not minmax was dead. That's resolved, so the two remaining hounds have vanished, so now your readied action to attack one if it appears within 10 feet of you is engaged, if one poofs within 10 feet you'll snatch it. I'm gonna be up front though, their going to go after Enora first, you can tell their trying to pick off your support team before attempting to fight the giant bruisers.

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Hound B
Hound C
------------------------------------------------
Loxx -35
Deaglan -19
Renas -22
Enora -15

Feel free to plunder my corpse. I have consumables you might find useful.

Deaglan channels to cure his allies

Channel: 5d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 1, 1, 5) = 13

"Trudd forgive me for not being able to protect Minmaximus" the priest intones

With deep howls that make your very cores shiver, the two hounds appear! However, Loxx and Renas are ready and step in to help protect Enora as best they can!

Renas tackles one of the hounds to the floor before it can snatch Enora. As he struggles to get his hands on the slippery hound, Loxx brings his staff crashing like a body slam from a ent, crushing the hound, but not quite breaking it's back.

The first hound snaps at Renas as they roll on the floor, the monk the superior grappler but the hound not willing to give up without sinking his teeth into him.

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 6) + 3 = 10

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17
damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 3 = 7

Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Claw Crit?: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

He manages to keep it's teeth away, but one of it's legs flexs unnaturally and the claw nearly gouges out his eye!

The other attacks Enora and her horde of false images.

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 5) + 3 = 9
Real is 1: 1d7 ⇒ 5
Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 6) + 3 = 11
Real is 1: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Real is 1: 1d5 ⇒ 4
Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Real is 1: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Luckily, fate continues to be much kinder to her than it was to minmax as gnashing teeth and slashing claws rip the flesh of only fake Enoras, leaving the hound snapping at thin air.

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Hound B -70
Hound C Grappled
------------------------------------------------
Loxx -22
Deaglan -19
Renas -35
Enora

I have updated Loxx's hp after the channel. He should only be down 1 hp currently.

• Raging: 70/70 + 16 temp
• Gaze (18 - DR 2/-): 70/70
• Gaze (16 - DR 2/-): 56/70
• Channel +13: 69/70

Save vs Gaze (I believe the 2 left are the ones I failed against last time.
FORTITUDE: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
FORTITUDE: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Start with the one on Enora, move the the one being grappled if that one drops.
Quarterstaff (TWF - Main): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16 Damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (1, 4, 6) + 11 = 22
Quarterstaff (TWF - Main): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 Damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (6, 6, 4) + 11 = 27
Quarterstaff (TWF - Main): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 Damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) + 11 = 17
Quarterstaff (TWF - Off): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21 Damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) + 6 = 17

Confirm 2nd attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26 Damage: 3d6 + 11 ⇒ (1, 6, 3) + 11 = 21

Gotcha!

Loxx slams his quarterstaff down, the first hit missing, but realizing that the creature is focused on Enora, he pauses just a second, letting it think it has an opening before bringing it down on it's neck, snapping it with a loud "CRACK!"

His attacks on the other one are a little more careful, not wanting to bean Renas upside the head as he does so, but his second one just barely strikes home as Renas holds it down, though perhaps not as solid of a blow as he might have hoped.

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!
Hound B Dead
Hound C Grappled -17
------------------------------------------------
Loxx -1
Deaglan -19
Renas -35
Enora

maintain for damage: 1d20 + 40 ⇒ (10) + 40 = 50 damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
maintain for damage: 1d20 + 40 ⇒ (13) + 40 = 53 damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
maintain for damage: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (9) + 35 = 44 damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Menas unleashes a brutal chain of grapple/slam combos on the grappled hound!
"No teleporting away this time."

I am at -6 after the channel

Deaglan moves to the side and brings down his hammer, smashing the hound into a fleshy paste.

Power Attack, Haste: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 13 - 2 + 1 = 32
Damage: 3d6 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (6, 4, 2) + 8 + 6 = 26

Confirm?: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 13 - 2 + 1 = 28
Additional Damage: 6d6 + 16 + 12 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 5, 5, 1) + 16 + 12 = 42

Menas slams the hound, over and over again, and howls at him, looking like it's going to disappear... when Deaglan bring's his hammer down on his head, leaving nothing but purple goop where it used to be.

PATHFINDERS WIN! VICTORY!

Silence once again falls over the tower, Minmax's body lying on the floor with the hounds, and Takkit no where to be found.

OMG! :-( that was bitter. Thanks so much for saving my ass guys.

Enora looks at MinMaximus and starts crying ... tears flowing down her face and it is almost hard to breathe.

”Thi ... this is the first time I lost a fellow Pa ... Pathfinder on ... on a mission!!! Ahhhh ... ahhh ... “ she continues crying.

”Wha ... what do we do with ... with his corpse!?“ she says after gaining her composure.

Menas drops the lifeless body of the hound at his feet and walks over to Minmaximus, "Best we get him back to the lodge so they can call his spirit back. Do we have something I can carry him in on my back for now?"

"We will bring his corpse with us. Once we are out of here and we find a jeweller I can bring him back, assuming he wants to be brought back. Unless one of you has an expensive diamond, then I could perform the ritual once I have rested for a night. There is also the issue of the missing Takkit..."

Deaglan helps to prepare Minmaximus' corpse for travel and then looks at portal '19' "We best press onward, we still have a mission to complete"

Enora just nods. Still shocked about the death of her companion.

”O ... okay! You are much more experienced than I am so ... I will stay near you! But shouldn’t we look for our MIA Pathfinder before we use the next prime number?! We need his body!“

"But we do not know how to get back to Takkit! He might have taken a different portal, he might be waiting for us or something else."

Deaglan leans on his hammer "Even if he is dead, the society has specialized teams that can retrieve the body. They are probably better equiped for that task then we are"

"I do whatever you decide! I just believe we have duty to Takkit too. We could check out where the doors lead to and see if we find his body." Enora says a little hesitantly.

With the cultists having been defeated by the dragon, I don't think there is any rush. Perhaps it would be best to return to the lodge, raise our companion and regroup.

Menas turns to Enora, "Better the demon you know than the demon you don't."

”So I have no clear path. If two want to continue to the prime door. So be it!“ Enora says and places herself right behind Menas.

In case we are waiting on me, Menas walks through the doorway carrying Minmax over his shoulder.

Just to clarify, which portal is Menas and the other folks walking through? 19 or one of the other ones?

I wasn't sure of that either.

Menas and Deaglan want to continue with the prime numbers. Enora is LN and has Wis 8. She is more interested magical phenomena and will rather comply with the mission briefing than turn back. So in this case she would rather follow group decisions and that means we go through the prime door if Loxx does not veto!

Confirmed, the prime number door, 19 in this case I believe.

The team steps forth into the portal marked "19" and find themselves in a new place all together.

The pockmarked walls of this irregularly shaped room shimmer with a sheen of water that weeps from unseen pores, and vibrant ferns and epiphytes grow from natural cavities and imperfections in the walls. The only truly dry area of the room is an extensive bookcase built into the wall. Three passages lead to the room, though each turns sharply, hiding what lies beyond from easy view. (You are entering from one of these passages.)

Sitting in the center of the large room is a equally large Sphinx, his regal face a mask of boredom. As the team steps around the corner, he blinks and raises his head looking at them, rubbing his eyes with his great paws.

Do mine eyes deceive me? Truly, time must drive even the mighty mad, for I see visitors!

He snorts and lays his head down on his paws.

No, That is silly, it is just another figment of my imagination, surely! I will close my eyes and open them again, and they will be gone, just a fleeting fancy.

He does so, holding them closed for a moment before opening them.

Ah! You do not disappear! The only answers to this riddle then, are that I have gone absolutely mad with boredom, or you actually are here!

He gives a languid stretch.

I think the more pleasant answer is that you are here. After all, if I'm mad, it doesn't change my duty either way does it not?

He chortles and waves a paw at the newcomers.

Welcome newcomers, to my humble abode. Though I doubt you came to visit me... I suppose you came to have some riddles so you can get the treasure?

kn arcana vs. DC 15: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18

Enora looks slightly timid. She looks at her companions.

”The size of this room and the direction that we walked into to get here heavily implies that we are no longer in the tower, or at least not the tower you we on the physical plane!“

Enora then looks at the being in the room.

”Who are you if I am allowed to ask!!“

kn arcana to identify sphinx (I hope kn arcana is correct) : 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

Enora identifies that the beast is a Androsphinx, the mightiest of the common sphinxes. Besides their penchant for riddles, they are known to barter information and conversation for safe passage, not treasure.

The Sphinx languidly rolls it's tongue for a moment.

I am Rarjolapt. I signed a contract with the Runelord of Sloth, Krune, to keep his vault, and to test those who come to seek the treasure within.

He sighs.

I did not think I was agreeing to millenia of servitude... but it didn't go the way Krune planned either, so tit for tat I suppose.

They wave at the room around them.

I've been, and will continue to be stuck here for a very long time I believe. Most... depressing I should say.

He sighs again.

And before you ask, no, I can't tell you how I can get out of the contract. Part of said contract. I can however, guarantee it will be a while still until I meet my requirements for it to be void.

He gives a rather cheshire cat like grin.

While I do not grow hungry here, there have been the occasional adventurer who has managed to get this far, and has made the most delicious distraction.

Enora is still a little afraid.

”So ... so you were imprisoned here for so long? Look, I know you think you cannot be rescued but we are really clever and maybe you need a fresh perspective from our side. Tell us about your contract and your service please.“

Diplomacy aid : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 +4 on the primary Diplomacy roll due to ‘helpful’ trait.

Menas smiles at the Sphinx, "Why don't you tell us a story about a similar occurrence? Perhaps another creature agreed to a similar contract that you could tell us about that is definitely not your contract."

The sphinx chuckles.

A clever little one you are.

He seems to mull it over for a moment.

A dragon was once set to guard a castle, and the horde deep inside. So long as the horde remained within the castle, the dragon could not leave. But the horde was precious to the dragon, after all, a dragon cannot go against his nature, and he could not allow anyone to take it. And so it went, the dragon would burn the thieves that could have set him free by stealing the horde, thus thwarting his own salvation.

He shakes his head slowly.

A terrible quandary to be sure.

Enora is a little surprised about the Sphinx's openness.

"O ... okay! So ... so ... let us imagine that we could have provided the dragon with an alternative horde to call his own ... and thus loosing the horde the dragon was currently protecting would not have been the anchor dragging the dragon down? We are Pathfinders and I can assure you that we know of many potential secret bases - with lots of areas to uncover and learn from - that would be worth the attention of a Sph .... ehh ... dragon!" she says with a sly smile.