[PFS] GM Rinaldo's Night March of Kalkamedes (4-19 CORE) Table 1 (Inactive)

Game Master The Great Rinaldo!

"Please tell me I'm not crazy! Maybe someone's talking to Kalkamedes in his sleep and I'm starting to hear the same voice." Moria's face reflects suspicion and fear.

Xusius says, "No, zou are not crazy, Moria. I too heard zat voice. I have no idea where eet came from zo."

If we have rope Xusius will tie them up, but if not he will give a Gallic shrug of the shoulders and leave them lying on the ground while he joins the party.

"So this is the quality of agents these days. And they wonder why he stopped working with you people."

As you pay closer attention, the voice seems to be coming from near Flaith.

"Flaith, didn't you take one of Kalkemedes belongings? A sword if I remember correctly?" Moria eyes the paladin's extra sheath.

Flaith draws the sword and looks at it skeptical.
"Do you..speak!"

Xusius walks up to Flaith as she draws the sword and speaks to it.

[ooc]I remember I did a really good Spellcraft roll on the sword and identified it as a +1 Allying longsword with a crack in it plus something else Xusius could not figure out[ooc]

"I wonder eef ze zing I could not identify as part of zis sword was a zource of intelligence. Zat would be a good zing."

Xusius pauses thoughtfully as he gazes at the sword intently.

With the sword drawn, it is clear the voice is coming from it. "I may be broken and not so good as a sword, but I still try to look after him. My name is Gamin the Misforged. I have had this flaw since I was first created, so I'm not as good a weapon as I might be, but Kalkamedes found me and has been my friend for many years. I'd really appreciate it if you didn't get him killed."

Flaith smiles and shrugs.
"Well we try you know. We try! Do you know what happend to him?"

"This is truly a magnificent find." Zordlon scratches his chin, "Do you think Kalkamedes will let us take it back to the archives and examine it?"

"Gamin is it? Do you where he is going or what is summoning him to this place?"

"We'll keep him safe don't worry"

Moria eyes the talking sword warily. "Well met, Gamin. Everyone, Kalkamedes' vigor has not reduced in the slightest. May we continue this conversation as we walk?" The dwarf struggles slightly with the rope and looks back at the still-disabled bandits. "Plus I'd rather not let them see us talking to a magic sword when they wake up."

Moria does her best to hide her nerves; magic never did quite sit well with her, even though she knew how necessary it was. She hopes to keep her focus on Kalkamedes for the time being.

"I have no idea what is going on, but I'm glad you brought me along. And I agree, we should press on."

As if to punctuate your thoughts, the two color-sprayed bandits begin to stir, though they are still suffering from the effects of the spell.

Let me know if you are doing anything else before resuming the march. I'll assume any further conversation takes place once you are a bit away. Tell me when you are ready for me to move us to the next scene, after you've done any healing or other spells you need to.

I'm ready

I could have sworn I posted something. Something like having to sheathe Moria's sword to keep hold of the sleepwalker better and listening warily.

Xusius says, "Let us depart and sojourn forth to find ze reason for zese late night wanderings."

He then addresses the sword as they walk down the path.

"Zo, do zou have any inkling as to why zour master is going in zis particular direction? Were zere any times in ze past when zou and heem were going zis way? Zink carefully and maybe we zhall uncover some clues as to ze reason for zese night walks."

Moria sheaths her sword to better keep hold of the sleepwalker's leash. Are all Pathfinder missions like this? I suppose I should expect to see more magic than back home... She listens to what the sword has to say, curious, but somewhat suspicious.

You resume walking and leave the bandits behind. Another half hour passes and you finally come out of the woods. The light of the sinking moon washes the sub-alpine valley ahead in silvery light. A squat, stone bunker crafted of dark rock sits nestled among the low trees, its domed roof barely peeking out from above the leafy canopy. As a cloud passes over the moon, the entire structure seems to fade from view, leaving a momentary void before the moon’s light again illuminates it. Only a single entryway mars the smooth, windowless facade of the lone building.

The building resembles the drawing you found in Kalkamedes' stove, and he is heading directly toward it.

It has been about six and a half hours since you first set out.

Moria gasps. "I don't remember seeing this on any map! Where even are we?"

Xusius smiles grimly, showing bared teeth as his elven ears perk up at the sight of the building.

"We are where we need to be. Whatever eet ees zat zummons our zleeping mon ami, zis ees where we weell find eet. Be on guard!"

Xusius checks to make sure his Mage Armor is fresh and holds his Wand of Magic Missiles in his left hand.

Seebonickk holds his sword tight.

"I'm watching Xusius!"

Gamin says, "I realize I'm not a very good weapon, but you guys need all the help you can get. If someone holds me, I can use a bit of magic to help you out."
If wielded, Gamin can cast guidance once per round on the initiative count of its wielder. This requires the wielder to use an action to touch the target. Gamin can also grant +1 enhancement bonus to any weapon in line of sight; this is a free action for the wielder. He can also be used as a +1 longsword with the broken condition; if he gives away his +1 to someone else, he does not have it that round.
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It sounds like you are approaching the building, so ...

Xusius refreshes his armor and holds a combat wand at the ready. You carefully approach the building, with Kalkamedes making a direct line for the door.

A ten-foot wide stone archway, its keystone inscribed with a seven-pointed star wreathed in ancient markings, offers ingress into an unlit corridor built of cut stone blocks. Weathered script snakes its way up and down each side of the entrance.

Upon hearing Gamin state that, Xusius says, "Eef zou are not going to use ze sword in combat, eet might be a good idea for someone to hold ze weapon zo zat eets advantages could be better employed as needed."

He also uses his Perception to look about.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Perc: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

Taking 10 for 15 to perception

"Be wary everyone, many animals pass through the doors here."

Moria scrutinizes the tracks trying to identify them. Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Seebonickk looks at the carvings.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
linguistics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

“Enter the Black Edifice, locus of the Thrallkeepers, servants of the Runelord of Sloth.” Zordlon says while moving his fingers across the carving. "Interesting. Mention of the Runelord."

"And it looks like animals have been making this place home. A lot of prints in and out of here" Zordlon pulls out a scroll, "This does not bode well."

Activate scroll of mage armor

Zordlon recognizes the script as that of ancient Thassilon, and though he doesn't know the language, he is able to puzzle out the meaning of the inscription.

After translating the words and noticing the tracks, you enter the building. A wide corridor with a gentle slope down makes a sharp turn up ahead.

Who is holding Kalkamedes and how much lead are you giving him? Who is carrying Gamin, and is he in hand or sheathed? Go ahead and put yourselves on the map in the corridor.

Flaith has Gamin in her hand and has Kalkamedes leash in her shield hand

Unless it is a buckler, you can't hold anything in your shield hand. Your character sheet shows you with a light shield. Someone else will have to hold either Gamin or the leash if you have your shield out.

Moria was holding the leash after the last battle, and she would give him 10~15 ft slack

no prob. I usually use a heavy shield in larp

OK, so Moria has the leash. I need everyone else to tell me how you are entering the area.

Seebonickk follows Moria.

After all of that, I realized that the next encounter is optional, and am going to skip it. The dire skunk is not currently in the room. ;-)

With Moria holding the rope, Flaith walks alongside Kalkamedes, holding Gamin in one hand and her shield in the other. Turning the corner, she sees steep stairs descending into a room, whose only other entrance is sealed by a massive set of iron double doors that block passage to the east and rest upon a dais of glistening black stone.

To the west stands a statue of an elderly, robed man carved from the same dark stone, and in his hand he brandishes a slender golden wand that points toward the door. Ancient script winds around the statue’s round base, and dried leaves, dirt, and small animal bones are scattered about the room.

As you move in, Kalkamedes tries to get up onto the dais with the iron doors.

I assumed you would hold Kalkamedes back. Let me know if you let him continue onto the dais.

Xusius will move into the room and towards the statue, examining it with a careful search.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

He will also look at the script.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

After all of that he will use Detect Magic in conjunction with his Spellcraft skill.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

If Xusius can take the wand, he will do so.

"Zordlon, eet ees a Wand of Ray of Enfeeblement. Do zou weesh to use zit?"

The wand easily comes free from the statue.

linguistics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"I can not make this one out" Zordlon says reading over the runes. He then walks over to Xusius and takes the wand. "Of course my friend. This may come in use later."

Moria has been holding Kalkamedes back off the dais, suspicious of the black stone.

Moria shrugs as Zordlon examines the runes. "If we can't figure out what it says, let's open the doors and continue, shall we?" Moria offers the leash to anyone who would take it. (If no one takes it she will quickly tie him to the statue)

She tentatively walks onto the stone, waiting to see if something springs to life.

Moria steps up onto the dais, and immediately feels as if all of her strength has been sapped. She can barely carry the weight of her gear, and her arms rebel at trying to rise up to pull on the door.

"What sort of trickery...?" Moria struggles to remain standing, yet still is determined to try the door. When her arms fail her, she looks down at the ground, back at the door, and stubbornly tries again.

With a force of will, Moria raises her arms to the handle of the door and tugs, but the door doesn't budge.

She steps off of the dais, and within moments her normal strength has returned.

Moria falls to her knees once off the dais, and pants her frustration out as she tries to figure out what happened.

Her player has some theories, but I'm not sure if she could figure it out just yet

"That platform... sapped my strength... My own clothes felt as an iron maiden, crushing me..."

"That is strange." Zordlon approaches the doorway and begins to detect magic.

knowledge arcana if relevant: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

After detecting magic, he will attempt himself to open the door.

Zordlon sees that there is a strong aura of transmutation on the dais. He steps up, and immediately feels a similar sensation as Moria, though not nearly as severe. His limbs are weaker than usual, but he doesn't have to drag himself the way she did. He attempts the door, but also finds it stuck too tightly to open.

"Hmmm...it appears to be transmutation. Which has a lot to do with making things weaker or stronger than one is. Maybe this door is triggered to make those who are stronger weaker. With the wand of enfeeblement right there, I can only assume that you need to be weaker to open the door." Zordlon thinks out loud. He looks over to the other wizard. "I am not a transmuter myself, however, do you agree this to be the course."

Seebonickk searches the area for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Seebonickk gives the room a thorough review, and finds nothing dangerous - assuming the large rodents that have been nesting here don't come back.

Seebonickk moves over to the door and tries the handle.

"I'm not super strong!"

if new trap Perception roll needed

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Seebonickk steps up onto the dais, and has a similar experience as Zordlon: he feels weakened, but not nearly to the degree Moria felt. He is unable to open the door.

"I'm no magic user, but after seeing two people built better than average as well as myself step up and be weakened, maybe that wand is there as a 'key' of sorts." Moria muses. She can't help but laugh. "As one keeps a spare key under the door mat. How simple, yet not."