DM NomadSage's Emerald Spire (Inactive)

Game Master nomadicc

From your view of the ruins outside, you guess there can't be much more than a room or two remaining from the second floor. The rest is completely destroyed.

The Keg finds nothing that looks safely edible in the mess hall.

The bedroom has no hidden valuables either. The scroll case is lying atop a jumble of scribbled notes that appear to be jibberish. Can anyone read goblin?

The scroll case, however, contains a sheet of parchment on which is drawn a complicated magical sigil in iridescent green ink.

Demon-Goblin's Room

"Goblins write?" Mikos asks incredulously. "What's it say, Rodi?"

To Keg, Mikos further ponders. "There can't be many rooms upstairs. Maybe we should make sure nothing is lurking up there before we start unlocking new areas."

Rodi slides forward and tries to read the Goblish hand.

Rodi spends a few minutes, trying to make head or tails of the goblin shaman's raving. Most of it is nonsensical gibberish and rants that exhibits a love-hate relationship with his patron, Lamashtu. Some stand out exerpts:

Stupid Grulk! Blames me for him smackdowned by Kar-Cloosh! Me?? I should eat his face, but he too big.

I find bits of old auto-shanks around the tower. Mostly enough to put one together. I need a arm!

Clanky is alive! Raiders come back with longshanks meal. I taked the arm and finished.

I find old scroll with funny mark. Cark-Lush told me to bring him old shinies, but how I tell him? Stupid longshanks!

Grulk stupid again! Raiders get spanked by knights, and I get blamed! All he does is hide in smelly tower.

Clanky will avenge me. When he finished, of course. Clanky will smush Stupid Grulk and then tribe is mine! Soon... just need to test him on someones.

Ben listens to the note.

"Perhaps they can write but they are no smarter for it. So, we must watch for Grulk in a tower."

"We should hold onto that note. It proves we found the raiders anyway. Sounds like Grulk is upstairs and he's bigger than a goblin. That could be anything from a hobgoblin to an ogre. Maybe KarKloosh is up there, too. What spells do you have left, Ben?"

'Cark-lush' or 'Kar-Cloosh' remind you of something Sir Ullust mentioned about a Technic League wizard. (link here)

Arcana/Society spoiler above remains untested. Plans?

”Seven charges on the wand for healing. I’ll keep it handy.”

The Keg tucks the wand in his belt and then readies his shield and rapier.

Society: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Ben glances at the sigil but does not recognize it.

Society: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

"Up the stairs then ... after you Mikos."

Plan? We dont need any stinking plan! We'll rely on our great dice rolling...

"Rodi, hold on to my short sword and sunrod and stay close for once. Ben, look alive. That Karcush is supposed to be a wizard if I remember correctly. If things go poorly, it might be good to fall back down the stairs. Ben can grease them to make following us intetesting."

"Speak8ng of, why dont you check the stairs for traps first, Rodi."

"Am I supposed to stay close or check the stairs? If you talk for more than six words, I get bored and think about butterflies. They're so fascinating, aren't they!" Rodi grins and moves up to check the stairs for traps.

Mikos sighs and turns back toward the dwarves that he can't quite make out in the dim light. "Arent there spells that give light? How about helping us out here?"

The Keg breaks a grin, ”Mebbe you should learn to see in the dark. Don’t have light in the mug o’ divine cheer. I’ll be looking inta it fer next time. “

Rodi leading the way, you ascend the stairs slowly and cautiously. The central spire glows with enough green light to see by, although it is still shrouded a few feet from the source. Rodi finds no traps, but after one full circuit, the stairs end at a locked, heavy door.

Map updated... depicted on the inset at bottom-right.

The Keg breaks a grin, ”Mebbe you should learn to see in the dark. Don’t have light in the mug o’ divine cheer. I’ll be looking inta it fer next time. “

"I do appreciate you keeping me alive. I'm just saying it might be easier without me stumbling around in the dark."

Stymied at the top of the stairs, Mikos frowns. "Huh, anyone find a key on one of the goblins? How are you at picking locks, Rodi?"

The Keg bounces slightly up and down, excited, "Oooh, I bet you there's some fun to be had behind that door! Come on Rodi!"

Rodi shrugs and pulls out a lockpick kit, selecting his tools carefully before beginning.

Thievery: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Sorry, I thought I'd posted days ago, but just realized, in fact, I had not.

So, locks are a bit different (and difficult) now... a standard lock requires 3 successful DC 20 Thievery checks, with consequences for critical failures. Since you aren't pressured, Rodi has time to make as many checks as needed.

Also, I think your skill mod is low. My math thinks you should have +4 Thievery = +3 Dex +1 Prof.

Thievery DC 20: Requires 3 successes. Nat 20 = 2 successes. Roll result 10 or less = lose 1 success or break tools if you have 0 total successes.

Noted!

Thievery: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 Failed.
Thievery: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Critical Failed and broke tools. Sonuva...

wow. I see a lot of broken tools in the future. Maybe we should keep looking for a key.

EDIT: the rogue ninjas me and as predicted...

Lol! Makes locks less trivial and keys more important. When was the last time a locked door meant anything in Pathfinder?

Plans? Brutesmash?

what are the rules on that? We might have to acquire a chisel and hammer rather than break all our weapons.

Mikos sighs. "Well, so much for the easy way. We could wait until someone comes out I suppose or try and break it down. Anyone have a prybar?

Took me a few minutes to find it... Break Open is a use of the Athletics skill. You can make a straight check, or with a circumstance bonus if you use a prybar or other implement. Aid from others is allowed.

"Yer needin' a key?"

The Keg pulls out his expert crowbar.

Das rite

"Now where- nevermind. Just give me a hand with it, Keg." Mikos tries to find some sort of gap in the doorjamb and counting to three, pulls with dwarf.

1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 1 = 14 +2 more with Keg's assist

Ben shakes his head as the rules of the universe conspire against them opening a door.

"Perhaps I should learn to craft keys from magic?"

He prepares anyway.

I need to look up ammo loss now, I fired 3 bolts.

"Perhaps we should knock? Eh, downstairs? Hunt for a key in the danger rooms? "

I'm guessing well need a 20?

"One more try." is there a crit fail?

1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7

guess well find out...

This is awesome! =D

Mikos and the Keg give a steady heave on the prybar. The wood of the door creaks and cracks, opening a small gap but otherwise remaining closed. Mikos resets the bar deeper into the gap and gives another try. With a loud *snap*, a panel of the door splits away, leaving a hand-width hole -- but the rest of the door wedges into the frame, jamming tightly.

The door is now broken and jammed... you can keep trying (with a -2 on the check) or just hack the door to pieces. DM hint: the key isn't elsewhere on this level.

Rodi takes the prybar. "Leverage, human, it's all about leverage!"

Athletics?: 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 - 2 = 5

"Or not. What the heck do I know?"

"Oops. Now this interesting. If there is anyone upstairs, they're going to have a hard time getting out now. We could leave it and let Gulk and Karckle deal with knocking the door down for us."

”If they are on the other side of that door, they know we are here, let’s bust it down. “

"It's arguable that they heard us cracking the door, they'll definitely hear us smashing it down."

sounds like I have to do at least 10 damage to the door three times to break it down? Do I have to roll to hit?

"Could always call up and see if they heard us I guess."

The donor's hardness is 10?

text says wood is 5, but doors are doubled, might just be assuming they're reinforced?

My wooden shield was only 3. Should carry a door around.

Mikos shrugs and attacks the door.

hack: 1d10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

hack: 1d10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 1 = 12

hack: 1d10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 1 = 12

Using the newly-acquired falchion, Mikos hacks at the door. The first swing barely chips it, but the second takes off another panel. The remains of the door sag at an odd angle. As Mikos makes the third swing, an arrow flies out the gap.

Longbow vs Mikos (cover): 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 - 2 = 26; Damage: 2d8 + 4 + 1d6 + 1d10 ⇒ (6, 4) + 4 + (6) + (5) = 25

Yikes! Mikos gains 'Dying 2' condition.

Mikos collapses with an arrow through his neck. The door collapses into pieces around him. "Piss off, human scum! You'll die if you come any further," a gruff voice threatens from within.

Through the shattered door, this strange chamber pulses with the green glow of the column of glass-like crystal that forms the core of the tower. The walls of the room are damaged, and the roof is cracked. The spire in the center juts up, just peaking above the crude ceiling. A canopied bed and side table sit in the southern half of the room, and an archery target stands against the eastern section of wall.

A bugbear archer crouches from his perch atop the bed canopy. He nocks another arrow and draws...

Grulk Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Roll Perception for initiative, and post actions if you beat the above! The spire glow provides enough light to see by. Roll20 map updated.

Oh My! Well, should Mikos survive, that'll make a cool scar. I may have to become the Godfather of Thornkeep.

The falchion clatters to the floor as Mikos collapses, apparently killed by an assassin's bolt through his throat.

Use my Hero Point to dodge death. Status: 1 hp, not dying

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"They heard us."

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Still need Rodi's initiative, but Grulk is going to going to ready a shot. Everyone can post their R1 actions.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

The bugbear stays put, keeping his arrow aimed at the doorway. "You bastards have ruined my whole operation. Who sent you, anyway... Blackshield? Those thrice-damned Hellknights?"

Everyone can post their R1 actions.

The Keg draws the wand of heal and hits Mikos with it.

Heal: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"We were sent by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Goblins. Apparently we have to care about their welfare and moral status now. As for you, we're just looking for a new rug and you're ugly enough for the position."

Rodi dives through the shattered door and bolts for the bugbear! He doubles moves inside and attacks if he can! Rapier vs Rug!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 damage!

The bolt is expelled from Mikos' throat as the Keg directs healing energy into him. The fallen fighter's eyes flutter open and he grimaces as he rasps, "What hit me?"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6