GM Ietsuna's Shadow's Last Stand Part 1 - At Shadow's Door (Inactive)

Game Master Ietsuna

Bennett produces his any-tool again. We can use this to pry the door, perhaps?

Bennett gives it a go.

Strength: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 2 = 16

Edwin tries to help Bennett.

STR aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

The trapdoor refuses to give. It is clearly quite well fortified.

"Well, we have already made a pile of noise. Let's keep this party rolling." Tashi reaches for the any tool.

Provided Bennett permits it:

Then takes his time struggling for better leverage.

Strength; take 20: 20 + 4 + 2 = 26

The lock hold firm against Tashi's brute strength.

There must be something else to it. Bennett muses and goes in search of a latch or activation lever.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Bennett looks all around the room and cannot find a latch or level that would open the door, or any other mechanism for that matter.

"We can come back and hack it apart later if you like." Tashi reasons as he eyes Bennett's heavy mattock, gently shielding his own fine katana.

"Let's scout out the rest of the above ground"

Tashi will have a look around the other rooms in the cathedral, keeping watch for other air monsters.

The ground floor is fairly open. There is a choir loft on the southern end of the cathedral so the area of ground floor below it is shown inside the red box.

Edwin goes to the area below choir loft and looks around.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

A splendidly carved marble corridor cuts through the center of this chamber, connecting a pair of huge bronze doors to the south to a pair of colorful wooden doors to the north. Freshly painted images of the sun cover the latter, while a massive barricade of broken shelves and upturned tables blocks the southern doors—clearly the main entrance to the cathedral.

Oddly, the piled furniture actually cuts through not only the arches lining the corridor but also the columns that support them, as if they were insubstantial.

Beyond these arches, two dim stone rooms flank the central corridor, packed with pile upon pile of books, tomes, and scrolls. Although dozens of shelves stand throughout, most of the books are scattered haphazardly on the floor, many torn or otherwise damaged.

Ivan stares at the insubstantial furniture in puzzlement. "It's almost as if they are illusions... But why would someone make an illusion of furniture blocking the door?" Shaking his head in confusion, he scans the area to see if there is any source of evil. Detect evil.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

That's strange. There must be something there, then. Bennett probes with his knocked arrow around the seemingly insubstantial furniture.

The furniture barricading the front door is 100% solid and real. It is the furniture at the south eastern doorway that is not solid as if someone wanted to keep the things within safe and secret.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 3

"Well, if someone wanted it barricaded. Let's un-barricade it."

Tashi will try to clear away the furniture to access the south east door.

Edwin starts helping Tashi to remove furniture.

Within minutes you have the doorway cleared.

Edwin enters and looks around.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Bennett supports Edwin with potential cover fire. His shadow phases around him as he passes through the doorway. He is careful not to disturb anything he has not had someone inspect. Seems this place was valued and could be trapped.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

So you are heading through the eastern door?

Yes, fixed myself on the map.

You find a room stacked with books. Books litter every available surface and are piled 3 to 4 feet high on the flat benches.

If you want to take your time to look around and take 20 for a result of 25 you can open the spoiler above

Bennett will take his time and look around.

Spoiler open for all.

Hmm, some sort of code or combination. May need it for that secret door. Bennett takes a look at the books to see if there is anything of note.

appraise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Let's go to try to use that code!"

Edwin travels back into the main chamber and looks at the trap door and the surrounds area but cannot find anyplace to input the code. There are no tumblers or anything like that.

Let's finish up in here and keep looking around. Bennett takes some time for thorough search.

Take 10 for 15 Perception in this room and move on to room B. I marked on the map if that's alright.

Ivan uses the butt of his pistol to scratch his head in puzzlement regarding the code. "I cain't make nuthin' out o' this." However, when he realizes that the texts in that corner concern the life of Aroden he is careful to treat them reverently and make sure that they are all arranged suitably. Once done with that, he also examines the scattered texts elsewhere to ensure that any religious texts - particularly those pertaining to good deities - are not being desecrated.

At the southern end of the congregation hall, an ornate choir loft sits twenty feet above the ground, joined to the narrow balcony encircling the nave and dome. The richly decorated wall panels depict scenes of strangely dressed men, while the low marble balustrade shows human figures celebrating. Many of these scenes have suffered recent damage, with stone shards and a broken bannister littering the floor. Several smashed glass cases line the room, numerous swords of widely varying styles and construction poking out of them.

Along the Cathedral’s south wall, a ten-foot-wide rose window glitters with the sun, bathing the loft in light. A number of red figures surround a strange white shape against the window’s blue background. A spiral staircase leads down and a pair of doors lead east and west.

Ivan, the texts are unmarred.

We know this place keeps secrets. Bennett runs a hand along the wall looking for more secret doors and such.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

No relevant knowledge skills. If there are no imminent threats or pressure to continue, Bennett could take 20 again..

know. religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

"Looking at the scene in the rose-glass window I suspect that the scene should depict the raising of the Starstone, but the figures’ hands are positioned in such a way that they appear to be lowering the artifact instead of raising it."

For the purposes of keeping track of everyone, Edwin and Bennett have gone up to the choir loft. Where is everyone else? If we have one group investigating one area and another in another I just need to start using spoilers or something to keep them straight.

I was assuming I was following along with Edwin and Bennett. I figured we could set up the tokens on the map when it became relevant.

Sounds absolutely reasonable. I'll shuffle everyone up into the choir loft

As the last of you shuffle into the loft you think you see the window twitch slightly as if readying to leap.

Combat Round 1 - Bold May Act

Ivan
Tashi
Bennett
Miseria
Edwin
Enemy

"Did anyone else see that window twitch?" Tashi asks as he brings his sword up in an uncertain guard against the window.

Readied Attack; mwk katana, Power Attack, two handed
attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Is there supposed to be something to represent the twitching window on the map?

Rose window = pink square

Not like we've been quiet so far. The thought of sharp shards of broken glass flying through the air intrigued Miseria, so she slashed at it with the rippling blades of her urumi.

Urumi: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Bennett raises his bow preparing for an offensive action to target.

readied bow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Ivan also readies to shoot at the enemy creature as soon as it leaps towards any of his friends.

Swift action: spent 1 Grit to activate Focused Aim deed to add Cha to dmg
readied action, mwk pistol vs touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 Precise Shot, so no penalty for shooting into melee.
B dmg, Focused Aim: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Using black powder and bullet as ammunition

Edwin takes out his sword steps 5 ft. closer to the enemy and tries to hit it.

longsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Tashi and Miseria both swing and miss as they try to strike the strange animated window.

Bennet and Ivan fire and their projectiles thuds into the picture, dealing some damage, but not as much as would be expected.

Likewise Edwin makes a vry nice attack, but not all of the damage goes through.

The window leaps at Edwin slamming into his head.

Slam: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Combat Round 2 - Bold May Act

Ivan
Tashi
Bennett
Miseria
Edwin
Enemy -6

Bennett lines up his stationary target and fires off two shots.

longbow rapid shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

longbow rapid shot: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Bennett's shots both strike, hitting the frame and staying stuck in it.

Combat Round 2 - Bold May Act

Ivan
Tashi
Bennett
Miseria
Edwin
Enemy -16

Standard Action Attack; mwk katana, Power Attack, two handed
attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

"Smashing windows? This is not going to make a good tale...

I'm on mobile :( can you move Tashi up.

Combat over.

Tashi smashes the animated window and it falls to the floor in pieces.

Now that you have a chance you look at the swords in the shattered cases.

One sword lies against the east wall. It is slightly longer than the others and has a wolf-head hilt. Those who are familiar with weapons recognize it as a bastard sword.

Bennett looks over the weapons. Seems the hobgoblins left the weapons behind. And the massacred party goers didn't use them to defend themselves. Something is odd here.

Bennett grabs the bastard sword and weighs it in his hand. This may come in handy. He stores it for now.

know religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

"The sword looks nice."

"Ok guys! What now?"