This mechanism is part of the qanat and should be operable from above and below.
DC20 knowledge (history):
Katapesh’s qanat system was built during the end of the Age of Enthronement as an attempt to provide clean, running water to the then up-and-coming neighborhood of Twilight Gate. The city poured gold into the water system, but after years of complications (including the collapse of a major cistern) the primary investors finallydropped out, forcing the engineers in charge to abandon the project.
For a while, the dry tunnels were a great attraction for adventurous locals, but before long the qanat became infested with all manner of vermin and vagrants. Eventually, the city architects ordered them closed, deliberately collapsing several of the tunnels and sealing the various well shafts connecting them to the streets and buildings above.
| HP 56/60 AC 20, T 14, FF 17 | CMD 26 | F +7 R +9 W +5; | Init +3 | Perc +10 | SM +10
"Any sense in reviving one of the dying, my lady, in an effort to obtain some information?" Zadim inquires of Kyra, but loudly enough for others to overhear.
Male CG Kitsune (in vulpine form) from the Forest of Spirits in Tian Xia | Swashbuckler 1 / Investigator 9 | Resistances: Elec. 3, Acid 3, Fire 2, Cold 2 | Init +8 | HP 94/94 | ‘Serang' Familiar HP 47/47 | Normal: Panache 7/7 | Inspiration 10/10 | Extend Potion 6/6 | AC 28 (30 vs. Traps), T 18 FF 21| CMB +16 (with Rapier), CMD 22 (24 Disarm) | F: +10, R: +18 (+20 vs. traps), W: +12 (+14 vs. illusions) | Boots of Speed 10/10 | Perc +24 (+28 vs. traps), Dipl +19 | Low-light vision | Speed 30 | Active cond.: none
Andor stands in front of the man and looks at him with little emotion.
”I want to believe that you are just doing your job. I want to believe that you actually don’t care about slavery and that you have never taken advantage of a slave. If that is true ... please allow us to make your errors right. Tell us all you know about these slavers’ operations!“
The man licks his lips nervously, ”I just work here, man. Just keeping intruders out, security, you know. Man’s gotta earn a living. I never done nothing with those slaves. Just protecting the storage place.”
GM screen:
bluff:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
sense motive dc15:
This is not entirely true, it seems likely that he enjoyed the power of his job and may even have abused that power. He is saying what he thinks you want to hear. He is afraid.
| HP 56/60 AC 20, T 14, FF 17 | CMD 26 | F +7 R +9 W +5; | Init +3 | Perc +10 | SM +10
Zadim crosses his arms and glares at the injured prisoner. As he does, a finger taps loudly and repeatedly upon the pummel of one of the kukri strapped to his waste.
It can see things, can a third level AC communicate with its owner?
I'm a beastmaster ranger archetype and I have Improved Empathic Link so I can see through it's eyes.
Oh, sweet.
the gecko sees:
at the bottom the shaft arrives at a service tunnel for the qanat, a wide channel flanked by narrow walkways.
The slaver looks at Zadim and quickly turns his head away, addressing Nanny Ahd, "I don't know, just storage for the slaves. We," he gestures at his dead and dying allies, "usually have shifts at the Garden of Chains but every few weeks you have to do a stretch on tunnel duty. We don't go down there: that's for the bosses."
He strains, eyes flickering about, trying to think of something that will earn his release, "They sometimes take slaves down for punishments, to stop them making trouble, make them compliant. It always works, like, always. I don't know what they do though, maybe just being locked away in the dark, sometimes this tunnel feels like it could send you loony, right?" He makes a cracked smile, desperate for some sign of sympathy or compassion. His hands are shaking.
Female N Elf Psychic 5 | HP 32/32| AC 15 T 12 FF 10 | CMB +2, CMD 14 | F: +3, R: +4, W: +4 (+6 vs enchantments) | Init: +4 | Perc: +5, SM: +3 | Speed 30ft | Phrenic Pool: 2/4 | Spells: 1st 0/8, 2nd 3/5 | Active conditions: None.4
"It would take a lot to 'send me loony,' dearie." Nanny gives the guard a penetrating look that implies she has seen things.
"Now I wonder if you'll remember how it feels to be in someone else's power, my boy, after today. Maybe you should take up a trade? Or at least find a more wholesome business to guard, hmm? Lots of opportunities for someone as talented as you, I'm sure."
male Human Chirurgeon 8 AC20(24)/T15(19)/F16/CMD17 |HP 67/67 | Fort:+11;Ref:+13;Will+6 |Percept.+12 | Init.+10 (1/1 mutagen: used bombs 11/15 used) wings 2/7min {heroism, cues, endure elements, shield, mutagen}
Roderick replied This sounds exactly the type of place we need to investigate.
He prepares to sport wings and fly down once the others are ready. in the meantime, He will also prepare and drink a mutagen to speed his movement (dex)
Male CG Kitsune (in vulpine form) from the Forest of Spirits in Tian Xia | Swashbuckler 1 / Investigator 9 | Resistances: Elec. 3, Acid 3, Fire 2, Cold 2 | Init +8 | HP 94/94 | ‘Serang' Familiar HP 47/47 | Normal: Panache 7/7 | Inspiration 10/10 | Extend Potion 6/6 | AC 28 (30 vs. Traps), T 18 FF 21| CMB +16 (with Rapier), CMD 22 (24 Disarm) | F: +10, R: +18 (+20 vs. traps), W: +12 (+14 vs. illusions) | Boots of Speed 10/10 | Perc +24 (+28 vs. traps), Dipl +19 | Low-light vision | Speed 30 | Active cond.: none
Andor is disgusted by the man and his bitterness can be felt.
”I hope you are able to change ... if I see you again working for these slavers then I will kill you. No threats - just facts! Now sleep and dream of your childhood where you hopefully were still innocent!“
Andor punches the man into his body to knock him out again.
”If anyone cares to stabilise him then feel free! Let’s move ... “
We'll call that a flavour-punch: guard is stable at -1.
Operating the mechanism is cumbersome but, having been able to assess it from both ends, you soon master the system and transport yourselves down the shaft.
It is a dc10 strength check to operate so using it in a chase could be fun but right now it's just taking ten.
You find yourselves in a wide wider tunnel with ledges on either side but it soon narrows to a tunnel 10ft wide and with an arched 8ft height. The tunnel continues for 50ft until you reach an intersection. The tunnel continues ahead but a narrower tunnel, 3ft wide and 3ft tall branches off.
Pursue the tunnel you are in, or take the narrow route? Or split the party?
For future reference: orange tunnels are 10ft wide and 8ft high, purple tunnels are 3ft wide and 3ft high.
Roderick finds signs that this passage is used fairly regularly but everything is dry and quiet, with the echo of chambers far beneath the earth.
survival checks if you want to look for tracks.
After travelling around 400ft through the dry tunnels, you come to another junction.
The tunnel continues South, but two more tunnels branch off as well: to the east another narrow tunnel (3ft by 3ft) leads away while to the west another channel like that you are following(10ft wide and 8ft tall) heads into the gloom.
Female Dwarf Barbarian (Invulnerable Rager) 10 I HP 78 (Rage:98)/122 I AC 23 T12 FF22 Fort+13 Ref+6 Wi+6 Ini +1 Per +8 spd 30 DR4/- CLW Wand 50/50 RAGE! used 0/24
Survival:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Brallenera studies the tracks, trying to find out any information
After another 300ft you hit a further junction. Here you can head South, following the tracks, or North. Both tunnels are a similar height and width: 8ft tall and 10ft wide.
| HP 56/60 AC 20, T 14, FF 17 | CMD 26 | F +7 R +9 W +5; | Init +3 | Perc +10 | SM +10
"A split in the path." notes Zadim, as he crouches down to look for signs of the earlier tracks.
Survival:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
"This way, I believe." pointing in the direction he believes the tracks are heading, before he heads out, moving slowly so as not to give away his presence.
