"We're up here now. Let's search and make sure nothing more from up here an ambush us, then work our way into the cellar. I bet that's where it gets interesting."
Liet-Gar does his checks of the nearby door and Dimple scans for magic. No magic found and no traps appear ready to be sprung so the group does the usual procedure and the brave half-elf jumps in ready to battle!
The large windows of this bedroom offer a magnificent view of the hills to the northeast.
No obvious threats, any searching done? If so, perception checks please.
Stepping into the room, weapon in hand, he scans the area. Feeling safe as nothing immediately attacks and no bugs can be seen...the half-elf lowers the blade and begins to search the room.
Perception:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Calling back to the others, he confidently advises "There's a bed and a desk in here, but little else."
Liet-Gar, Dimple and Kasvot search through the room carefully. Kasvot notices a glint outside the window and takes a closer look. On top of the gazebo he can clearly see a metal key.
It would require going back downstairs and outside and climbing the gazebo to recover, if anyone wishes to do that.
Dimple, looks a bit lower and notices something odd under the bed. Having Mr. Glistening Skin help by moving the bed, she eventually breaks out of her watching the half-elf flexing sinuous muscles to look at what appear to be gouges in the floor. The gouges are old and look to be an attempt at writing that reads in common, 'help me'.
burning hands wand 1 charges, disguise self wand 5 charges, longstrider wand 46 chgs Wands and wayfinder are from confirmation and first steps Hand of apprentice 6 remaining AC 18*, touch 10, flat-footed 18 (+6 armor) hp 51/41 Fort +5*, Ref +4*, Will +5*; +2 vs. enchantments Immune sleep
"Does no one have Mage hand to save ourselves a trip outside"
"...says the wizard. You're the one with the book full of spells for any eventuality." Kasvot casually casts prestidigitation and cleans the dust bunnies from his clothing. "I only know one or two of the most important spells."
Elf, Wizard (Diviner) 6, HP 32, AC:13, FF:13, Th:10, F+5/R+5/W+5(+1 vs fear +2 vs ench), Perc +14, Init +4
It would take longer to alter my prepared spells then it would to walk out and get it.
Since there are so many arcane casters in the group, we probably should have made an effort to coordinate our spells. But I didn't think of it in time.
With a roll of her eyes and a shake of her head, "Oh Pish! I'll go!" Retracing her steps THROUGH AREAS WE HAVE CLEARED!!, the bard heads to the gazebo and retrieves the key.
Dimple manages to easily finds her way downstairs past the dead bug, the dead frog and the invisible supermonster hiding waiting for a tasty halfling but really bad at knowing what their footsteps sound like.
She slowly and carefully climbs up on top the gazebo, collecting the key. It looks quite nice for a key.
Vie doesn't quite notice anything additionally in the room, but when he leaves and looks back down into the prior room his eyes narrow suspiciously. A rug seems to be oddly placed under the piano in the corner and he swears he sees a thin little wire dropping down from under the instrument. You can see the piano best on maps page 2.
The doors are carefully checked over, with no signs of traps or magic. Niza pushes one side open and Fromagalli does the other, showing a clear view of the room inside.
A large, red four-poster bed sits in the northeast corner of this grand bedroom. Many pieces of dusty jewelry lie on a round table beside a fireplace on the west wall. A large glass double door leads to a balcony with a view over hills and valleys to the south.
Vie notices that several items of jewelry on the table appear to have significant value.
GM Screen:
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
But he also easily recognizes the snake-shaped silver necklace on the round table is actually an iron cobra.
Vie:
The Iron Cobra is a Neutral Small Construct. The iron cobra is a simple construct that resembles a hooded cobra made out of metal. The iron cobra is typically used as a bodyguard or guardian of treasure and has a reservoir that can be filled with any liquid poison that the construct then administers with a bite attack. It has Damage Resistance 5/--, Construct Traits & Spell Resistance 13.
Construct Traits
Spoiler:
Low-light vision.
Darkvision 60 feet.
Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).
Immunity to bleed, disease, death effects, necromancy effects, paralysis, poison, sleep effects, and stunning.
Cannot heal damage on its own, but often can be repaired via exposure to a certain kind of effect (see the creature’s description for details) or through the use of the Craft Construct feat. Constructs can also be healed through spells such as make whole. A construct with the fast healing special quality still benefits from that quality.
Not subject to ability damage, ability drain, fatigue, exhaustion, energy drain, or nonlethal damage.
Immunity to any effect that requires a Fortitude save (unless the effect also works on objects, or is harmless).
Not at risk of death from massive damage. Immediately destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points or less.
Elf, Wizard (Diviner) 6, HP 32, AC:13, FF:13, Th:10, F+5/R+5/W+5(+1 vs fear +2 vs ench), Perc +14, Init +4
Careful folks. That 'snake' is a guardian for the jewelry or possibly the whole room. It is harder to damage than you might expect and it is probably poisonous.
"Well, I guess it depends on how much we want the loot, then, huh? I'm never of a mind to leave wealth behind, and the Sarini's sure don't need it now."
Logically speaking, it probably isn't guarding the room since Vie is inside and hasn't been attacked. As to its purpose, trigger or anything else, there isn't a way to know without being the owner of the snake that gave it the commands. But you have it mostly sussed out already as these constructs are often given commands to guard things/locations or sometimes assassinate specific targets. Maybe it's just inactive? I mean... that's totally a thing that a seasoned pathfinder would expect, right? :P
Oh, the last one is most definitely an option. Enough votes to support ignoring the snake for now so we'll move along. Can come back if you all want later.
Liet-Gar searches for traps, Dimple scans with her magics and all seems totally safe!
Niza rips the door open and the brave pathfinders up front can see dozens of once-fashionable outfits hang in three large closets set against the north wall. Two red folding screens covered in dark stains partially hide a lavish bathtub of gilded porcelain.
No obvious threats looking in from the hallway, what next?
Taking the time to search the worthless washroom proves to be quite valuable as Vie discovers the middle wardrobe has been treated with an alchemical substance to preserve the contents inside from bugs and rot.
Four noble's outfits of varying sizes fill up most of the wardrobe and a thick fur cloak the remaining space. When the items are removed to be looked over, behind are two small objects wrapped in red silk. Opening them up you discover a cold iron morningstar and cold iron dagger.
Dimple quickly scans the group of items, discovering an aura of magic on the cloak. She relays this information to everyone.
Female | HP 46/46 | AC 19, T 14, FF 16 | CMD 16 (13FF)| F +6 R +9 W +9; +2 vs. fear | Init +9 | Perc +13 | Speed 30ft | Bard Spells 1st 6/6 | 2nd 4/4 | Bardic Performance 24/24 | Cleric Spells 2/2+1 | Channel 1d6 7/7 | Active Conditions: |Agile Feet 4/4 | Bit of Luck: 4/4 | Reroll 1/1
Dimple drags a chair from the other room, setting it near Liet-Gar. She then takes the cloak. Standing face to face with the half-elf, the gnome wraps the azure garment upon the warrior's broad shoulders. She looks at him. "Wow! Such beautiful eyes... er..I mean, this really brings out your eyes." She stares just a moment longer before getting back to work. Dimple seems a bit flustered as she takes a moment to afix the clasp. "Have to be careful so it doesn't fall off. These older ones tend to be a bit finicky." She pats each shoulder simultaneously. "All done!" She hops off the chair, "Why is this house so warm all of a sudden?"
Just guessing about the cloak, but I believe LGZ has the worst saves.
It's a fair guess, but this is a pretty evil place. Maybe it is cursed? I'll go ahead and bot Niza on her spellcraft roll to see if we can resolve this and move along."
The group moves up, checks the next door and Niza pulls it open.
This dormitory-style bedroom looks tidier than other rooms in the building. A hunched figure wearing a maid’s uniform is sitting on a small bed in the northwest corner of the room. Its head tilts with a clicking sound towards the doorway, but doesn't seem to be looking directly at anything. It asks, "I don't know you, why are you here?" It has a pair of sharp scissors in her hand.
If you enter the room:
You may make a Knowledge: Nature check to identify the figure.
Kasvot moves through the hallway, squeezing around people until he comes up to the doorway so he can see in. Stepping inside to make room, he holds his hands out towards the figure in a non-threatening gesture, keeping the table between him and the creature. "My friend is right; we're investigators. Did you know the Sarinis? Can you tell us what has happened here?"
You aren't quite sure, but it isn't a human. Maybe some sort of fey creature?
The creature's blank looking eyes turn towards Kasvot as he enters, regarding him carefully. It seems indifferent but very intrigued by the visitors, "Oh you know who lived here? I just came recently. Tell me about them!"
The 'maid' squeezes the scissors in its hand a couple times.
*Snip*
*Snip*
You can attempt to recall information about the Sarini family with K: History or Nobility. Or you can make shiz up with Bluff or Perform Oratory. Any of the checks get a +3 bonus from earlier research efforts, but please only one check or one aid attempt per person.
burning hands wand 1 charges, disguise self wand 5 charges, longstrider wand 46 chgs Wands and wayfinder are from confirmation and first steps Hand of apprentice 6 remaining AC 18*, touch 10, flat-footed 18 (+6 armor) hp 51/41 Fort +5*, Ref +4*, Will +5*; +2 vs. enchantments Immune sleep
know nobility:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
"I knew that but did you know..."
Vie and Fromagalli will share the intiial exposition but will essentially end in a draw unless some one else can come up with the better knowledge roll
"What did the mayor say about them? I'm sure she told us something..." Kasvot reaches for some memory of the family they were investigating, but can't come up with anything. No ranks in either!
The creature (I may have said she once, but it's quite androgynous and so far only Kasvot has gotten a decent look at it) listens raptly as you share many details about the Sarini family, including some quite horrific information. When done it replies happily, "They sound fun!"
It seems to look around a bit, very light clicking and clacking noises being made as the body shifts. It turns back towards the group, "Have you seen my baby? Is she safe?"
The head quirks again towards the doorway, "Alone? Oh no, she's just resting in the nursery next door. I just figured maybe you checked on her. IS SHE SAFE?"
Snapping out of his daze...having been fingering the cloak and considering his eyes. The half-elf nods slowly.
"Scream if you need us" he whispers to the fellow half-elf.
Moving down the hall, he tugs his trusty weapon out slowly and points to the door. "I know it's supposed to be a nursery, but hard telling what that thing considers a child"
Dimple and Liet-gar step over to the next room, check the door for traps and magic. Finding none they turn the knob and push the door open to see inside.
The creaking sound of a rocking cradle echoes in the room. Dolls, wooden figurines, and clockwork toys lie abandoned on a table.
NG Gnome Wizard 5 & Rogue 2 | Perc: +14 (+1 vs. traps), Low-Light, SM: +2 | HP: 72 (-0) (+X Temp HP) | AC/Tch/FF 20/15/17 (+4 Dodge vs. Giants) | F/R/W +7/+8/+6 (Evasion, +4 vs. illusions) | CMD 17 | Init: +2 Active conditions: False Life? | Speed 20ft | Spells in Profile, Telekinetic Fist 6/6, Shirt ReRoll 1/1
Niza, curious about what kind of 'baby' the creature would have, decides to follow Dimple and LGZ. "Hey, what do you guys see?" she asks. Albis's wings flutter at the sound of the rocking cradle.
Sorry for my absence, everyone. It's been a crazy month. Hopefully things have settled down now.
