Brag will follow Arbaro and Lem into the labyrinth. Checking for evil and for traps and especially for evil traps.
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The minotaur has two Runechill hatchets and a +2 full plate.
As Arbaro casually breaks open the case, the golden coil inside springs out at the oread.
You can see now the thin coil was not the golden thread but instead is a magical fine chain that is wrapping around Arbaro's throat. He is unable to speak or breathe, but with your help suffers no long-term effects.
When the chain is cast down/destroyed, you see that it is made of pyrite links in a false imitation of the golden thread. The real golden thread is nowhere to be found.
The maze walls are no more than chest high for Arbaro, and he can clearly see the few simple dead ends long before they are an issue. The halflings and dwarves have a slightly harder time due to their height but find there is no punishment for a wrong turn here or there.
Throughout the maze are a few props, like a toy axe, plaster molded bones, and even two mannequins with feathers glued to their arms; placards around their necks give them the names Daedalus and Icarus.
The maze is nonthreatening, and unlike the rest of the crypt, has not been disturbed by whatever foul presence defaced the statues (and likely replaced the thread as well).
After the incident with the rope.
"Well, that was as fun as a hanging."
After the amazing maze.
"Alright crew, where next? I vote we check out Perseus's area."
At the end of the maze, Thurl slumps and says, "That was anticlimactic. I agree Arbaro, might as well just go around the entrance hall in an organized fashion. Maybe we should go slower and quieter in case there are more of those minotaur...Minotaurs...what do you call more than one minotaur anyway?"
"I'm with Arbaro. Let's check out the rooms behind the other statues. Don't forget to check for dangers like fake-gold attacking chains and the like. I think Lem wanted one of the hatchets."
Perseus, who slew a medusa, has a simple door behind him. It is untrapped and unlocked, though there are two large, weeping eyes carved into the frame recently. "Look not, lovers, lest you lay eyes on your living fears..." is carved beneath the eyes in jagged letters.
The door is untrapped, and if opened, you see a short hallway extends ahead, down which you see faint lights flickering.
Brag is unafraid and enters the hallway. Each ally (that would be you dear readers) within 10 feet of him gains a +4 morale bonus on saving throws against fear effects (in addition to any effects Thurl may bestow.
Brag casts Protection from Evil on Arbaro granting +2 to AC and +2 on Saves against evil attacks.
Roccavisk says, "Ever since Slymr's spirit was cleansed from that wicked monastery, I have felt a weakening of the abilities within these relics I carry."
EDIT
"Everyone, be prepared to shield your eyes or you'll be turned to stone maybe? Let's go!"
EDIT
You pass a small closet on the right, its hinges forced from the stonework, and inside are a dozen small shields. They reflect your torchlight like mirrors. Sadly some evil entity has scratched the back of every shield with vicious insults and curses, making the mirror useless and all but see-through.
Ahead, you see that the hallway is not as long as it once appeared; the furthest wall is a floor to ceiling mirror, and is every wall in the next room. A hallway leads north, while to the east is a closed and locked door with those same eyes carved into it.
Lem seeing the reflective shields takes stock, but moves on with resolve. "let's keep moving, thanks for the tip Arboro!"
Thurl taps himself with his last wand and an ephemeral shield of force forms in front of him as he moves farther into the passage.
Thurl rests his hand on Lem's shoulder and says, "I'm right behind you. Lets go through that northern hall before we start opening doors." To the whole group, he says, "Everyone be on alert"
Thurl also pulls out the wand he just bought and heals himself from the previous battle and then stores it away again.
Brag sees Thurl heal himself and regrets his forgetfulness at healing him sooner. The evil in the area distracted him.
"Sorry, I should have healed you earlier.
Lem moves to the north hall as indicated by Thurl.
Around the corner is a room with four statues resembling the four heroes of the central chamber. They are normal sized and stuck in poses of fear and horror; arms raised, faces agape, etc. They are made of marble, as the statues in the central chamber are. In the center of those four statues, on the floor, is a small, head-sized bundle of snakes.
In venom, burnt into the walls, is "A+P" in a broken heart.
"I guess Perseus and whoever A is couldn't work it out. He probably wasn't worth it. Hello in there? How are things? We cleared out the skeletons, so the way out is clear if you were stuck in here."
We weren't exactly quiet fighting all that stuff right outside, so I figure surprise was already out of the question.
"Huh, I don't suppose so Arbaro."
Lem peeks into the next hall and shouts, "Yup, all clear here."
Brag whispers to the party, "I have Flaming Sphere wand. I can use it from back here on that pile of snakes to soften them up a bit before we get too close. What do you think?"
"Cook 'um." Arbaro whispers back to Brag as he readies his bow, changing his tactics from diplomacy.
Round Surprise? | HP 52/52 | AC 19 | Lay on Hands 0/7 | Smite Evil 2/3 | Arrows 11/40 | Spells: 1st - 0/1; 2nd - 0/1
Brag tosses the hood of his cloak over his head and pulls out the FS wand. He's careful not to look at the snakes as he moves to within range and let's roll a flaming sphere at the target.
Your attempts at diplomacy fall on deaf ears.
Brag sneaks forward, hand shaking as he grasps the cedar wand, the engravings of fiery circles biting into his hand. Seconds before he flicks his wrist, however, Thurl touches him lightly on the shoulder
The ball of fire rolls onto the snakes. They leap and thrash about but the strength of the flames is too much and they are ignited black smoke churning from their charred skeletons.
As the flaming sphere burns, however, Brag notices the statues twitch and startle at the flames... they turn their marble gazes at the paladin, lower their hands, and smile.
Party is up. AC 14. Four statues are alive.
Galin steps nimblely toward the nearest statue and takes a swing with Quaker, shield at the ready in case they fight back.
Round 1 | HP 48/48 | Advice 12/18 | Awaken Divinity 5/7 | Ki Pool 6/10 | Bardic Performance 7/9
AC: 32 FF: 29 T: 20 CMD: 25 Shield, Barkskin and Mage Armor active
Thurl moves into the room to support Lem against the statues and says to the others, "Keep an eye on our backs!"
Round 1 | HP 52/52 | AC 19 | Lay on Hands 0/7 | Smite Evil 2/3 | Arrows 11/40 | Spells: 1st - 0/1; 2nd - 0/1
Brag hands the wand to Thurl as he draws out his bow and attacks. While he does this, he tells Thurl, "I think you're better off with this than I am."
Brag releases his arrows at the farthest statue (west).
Adamantine Longbow Point-Blank (+1), Thurl enhanced (+2), Rapid-Shot (-2), Deadly Aim (-2, +4 Damage) Attack
Round 1 | HP: 61/61 | Judgements 2/2 | Spells 1: 5/5 2: 2/2 | Perfect Strike 3/4 | Gravity Bow Wand charges 22 | True Strike 1/1 | Blood Scarab 1/1
"Anyone know anything about fighting statues or what in the middle of the room?"
Lem smashes his earthbreaker into the column, the marble chipping off of the construct. The splinters of stone, however, slice into Quaker, sending back cracks into the barbarian's weapon.
Lem's weapon weathers the damage (due to its magic enhancements), but any more damage would have Broken the weapon.
Brag's arrows all hit the column, its slow movements easy to anticipate, but like Lem the attacks do not pierce the marble as well as they would flesh.
Arbaro hits and slays the statue.
Defensive abilities:
Immunity to Magic (Ex) A caryatid column is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance. In addition, certain spells and effects function differently against the creature, as noted below.
A transmute rock to mud spell deals 1d6 points of damage per caster level to a caryatid column, with no saving throw.
Transmute mud to rock immediately heals any and all damage currently suffered by a caryatid column.
A stone to flesh spell does not actually change the column’s structure but negates its damage reduction and immunity to magic for 1 round.
Shatter Weapons (Ex) Whenever a character strikes a caryatid column with a weapon (magical or nonmagical), the weapon takes 3d6 points of damage. Apply the weapon’s hardness normally. Weapons that take any amount of damage in excess of their hardness gain the broken quality.
Statue (Ex) A caryatid column can stand perfectly still, emulating a statue (usually one that is holding up the ceiling, like a carved column). An observer must succeed at a DC 20 Perception check to notice the caryatid column is alive. If a caryatid column initiates combat from this pose, it gains a +6 bonus on its initiative check.
Round 1
The three remaining columns move toward Lem and Thurl, striking with their swords.
Round 2, AC 14, 36 HP
Party is up.
Round 2 | HP 52/52 | AC 19 | Lay on Hands 0/7 | Smite Evil 2/3 | Arrows 8/40 | Spells: 1st - 0/1; 2nd - 0/1
Brag attacks the same column/statue again. "Good Iomedae! What are these things?"
+3 Adamantine Longbow Point-Blank (+1), Thurl enhanced (+2), Deadly Aim (-2, +4 Damage) Attack
Round 2 | HP 48/48 | Advice 11/18 | Awaken Divinity 5/7 | Ki Pool 6/10 | Bardic Performance 7/9
AC: 32 FF: 29 T: 20 CMD: 25 Barkskin, Mage armor, Shield active
Thurl reminds himself what he has learned about these creatures and says to his companions, "Don't strike in melee with weapons you care about, sue others because they will be damaged." .
Thurl strikes with his fist to see what the result might be.
The wand had 10 charges I just used the first one. There are 9 remaining.
Brag slays one of the statues, crumbling the construct into dust. Thurl's fist slams against the caryatid column but does nothing but rattle his hand.
Arbaro and Lem are still up.
Round 2
Rage 12/14
hp:76/85
Seeing Quaker looking frail after that first hit, Lem drops it while moving to the next foe, pulls out his greataxe from the first foes and swings at the one in front of him.
Round 2| HP: 71/71 | Judgements 2/2 | Spells 1: 6/6 2: 3/3 | Perfect Strike 2/4 | Gravity Bow Wand charges 21 | True Strike 1/1 | Blood Scarab 1/1
Arbaro comes around the corner to lock the statues in his sights. He takes aim at the uninjured one in hopes that his arrows do the trick.
Perfect Strike:
Lem hits the construct, injuring it.
But his axe cracks down the haft.
Arbaro hits the second, uninjured column, flaking marble chunks off of the statue, but it still stands.
Round 2
The columns attack Lem and Thurl.
Round 3, party is up.
Round 3 | HP 48/48 | Advice 10/18 | Awaken Divinity 5/7 | Ki Pool 6/10 | Bardic Performance 7/9
AC: 32 FF: 29 T: 20 CMD: 25 Barkskin, Mage Armor and Shield active
Thurl strikes again at the creature in front of him and his blow lands on its head, but Thurl only manages to break flakes off of it.
Round 3| HP: 71/71 | Judgements 2/2 | Spells 1: 6/6 2: 3/3 | Perfect Strike 2/4 | Gravity Bow Wand charges 21 | True Strike 1/1 | Blood Scarab 1/1
Arbaro aims to soot the yellow with the first arrow, and then the green with the second.
"We're shooting at rocks! It feels like I'm firing at my own people!"
Round 3 | HP 52/52 | AC 19 | Lay on Hands 0/7 | Smite Evil 2/3 | Arrows 6/40 | Spells: 1st - 0/1; 2nd - 0/1
Brag five-foot steps closer to Arbaro and targets the Yellow one with the first arrow and the Green one with the second. If either is still needing to be killed, the third arrow is theirs.
Adamantine +3 Longbow Point-Blank (+1), Thurl-enhanced (+2), Rapid-Shot (-2), Deadly Aim (-2, +4 Damage) Attack
Round 3
Rage 11/20
hp:68/85
Thurl barely scrapes off some of the caryatid column's marbleflesh, while Arbaro's arrows bring them both to within breaking point. Large cracks shoot up and down the statues from the inquisitor/monk's arrows. But with the grace of Iomedae, Brag delivers the final destructive blow, splitting the two columns in half like old pottery.
Lem swings at their broken bodies, smashing the marble pieces beneath his axe. As he destroys the remnants of the constructs, he makes a white dust cloud from the smashes bits, cloaking him like a foggy morning. He emerges from the pulverized marble coating hairy head to hairy toes in white marble-dust.
Roccavisk casts mending on Quaker, the wood and metal resealing the cracks caused by the statues.
You hear a bodiless voice scream throughout the crypt, "Stop it!"
Arbaro checks around for the source.
"Who said that? If you wanted us to stop smashing, it's kinda too late. They're all smashed to powder... What do you want?"
Lem discards the broken battle ax and, "Thank you Roccavisk, not sure what I would do without this in good condition at my side."
Lem looks around less perceptively than Arbaro.
Brag takes a moment to detect evil to see if he can locate the general location/direction of the bodiless voice.
Brag checks the room for any hidden passages or doors.
'I'm getting low on arrows. I'd like to replenish as soon as I can."
Arbaro hands over a dozen regular arrows from his magically spaceship quiver.
”Here, I’ve got extra. They’re nothing special, but they’ll work.”
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*spacious
But I’m leaving it as canon.
*spacious
But I’m leaving it as canon.
"Arbaro, thanks for the arrows. I have 3 blunt arrows, 5 flight arrows, 5 smoke arrows and 1 +1 arrow, if you need any of these. And now, 14 regular arrows.
You're ruining my desecration of Theseus and all he stood for. How can I corrupt his legacy if all you do is fix what I so carefully destroyed?" the voice says. It is a feminine voice, dripping with spite. Arbaro can tell from his acute hearing, and Brag from his divine powers, the voice is coming from the southwest of your current location.
There still remains the closed door back in the mirror room, and well as the southern half of the crypt behind Heracles and Bellerophon.
"Who are you? Why are you desecrating this place?"
Arbaro moves towards the unexplored mirror door.