GM PDK'S PFS RPG 'TOMB OF THE IRON MEDUSA' (Inactive)

Game Master Purple Dragon Knight

Apparently identical to the other small sepulchers (area E), this structure’s entrance faces south. However, the epitaph on the lid of its central sarcophagus reads: “Marcus Iulius Adella, 3711–3758, Great Patriarch of Our Clan, Died Valiantly at the Battle of Istavala Vale Saving Prince Abelard from the Undead Hordes of the Whispering Tyrant, Earning the King’s Gratitude. Herein Lies Our Claim to Nobility. May Great Woe Befall Any Who Would Violate His Most Sacred Rest.”

know history or nobility: 1d20 + 13 + 1d6 ⇒ (15) + 13 + (4) = 32

"Something's not quite right about this epitaph... the actual Patriarch of the clan was Marcus JUNIUS Adella, not Iulius... A mistake? probably not... a warning maybe that something here is not quite right. Perhaps we should explore further?"

Kel casts detect magic, hoping the strong necromantic aura is not present.

Strong one not present on sarcophagus, but moderate one present on surrounding 27 stacked interment vaults.

Seems unusual, indeed. But is someone leaving us a message or just clumsy at their craft? Or a lure to those less learned than you, Kel? Dora wonders aloud, expecting a ruse of some sort.

Having collected one virulent disease already Thrag studiously touches nothing as he looks around.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24

Mal gives Thrag a hand looking for hazards, but seeing as he saw nothing last time, doesn't expect to find any problems this time.
perception: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (14) + 30 = 44

"There is a moderate necromantic aura on the vaults, but the main sarcophagus seems to have no strong aura like the one that cursed Thrag in the other tomb. I am curious as to the reason for the name being wrong. Is it a ruse to lure us in to investigate?" Kel looks curious as he contemplates possibilities.

First he will use his innate ability to 'analyze dweomer' and concentrate on the necromantic auras for as many rounds as necessary - should only take 1 round if they are all the same. Analyze dweomer: You can observe magical auras. Each round, you may examine a single creature or object that you can see as a free action. In the case of a magic item, you learn its functions (including any curse effects), how to activate its functions (if appropriate), and how many charges are left (if it uses charges). In the case of an object or creature with active spells cast upon it, you learn each spell, its effect, and its caster level. ... should have done that at the first tomb, might have saved Thrag a world of hurt. Sorry

It occurs to him that it might be a trap, so he concentrates on the all the writings he can see and sensing for those he might have missed as well... 'Glyph-Finding': a Pathfinder savant can use Spellcraft to find writing-based magical traps (including glyphs, runes, sigils, and symbols) in the same way a rogue can use Perception to search for traps.

spellcraft: 1d20 + 35 + 1d6 ⇒ (15) + 35 + (1) = 51

Everything 'looks clear' Mal... lol! this room is pretty much the same as the last one, except that there's no necromancy aura on the sarchophagus in this one.

What do you do folks?

any response to Kel's analyze dweomer and glyph finding? see this post: (about 3 posts up)

No aura on the central sarcophagus, and no putrid smell like Building E either; however the moderate auras present on the surrounding 27 stacked interment vaults registers as follows:

Adella Curse
Type curse; Save Will DC 16
Effect The Adella curse has variable effects—when it is
triggered occur, roll 1d20 on the table below. All effects
are permanent until removed via effects like remove
curse, but multiple effects do not stack—if a creature
rolls a duplicate effect, simply reroll.
Roll (d20) Curse Effect
1 –2 penalty on Fort saves
2 –2 penalty on Ref saves
3 –2 penalty on Will saves
4 –4 penalty on Fort saves
5 –4 penalty on Ref saves
6 –4 penalty on Will saves
7 –6 penalty on Fort saves
8 –6 penalty on Ref saves
9 –6 penalty on Will saves
10 –2 penalty on all skill/ability checks
11 –4 penalty on all skill/ability checks
12 –6 penalty on all skill/ability checks
13 –4 Strength penalty
14 –4 Dexterity penalty
15 –4 Constitution penalty
16 –4 Intelligence penalty
17 –4 Wisdom penalty
18 –4 Charisma penalty
19 Madness: The curse imparts a random
insanity (see pages 250–251 of the
GameMastery Guide).
20 Petrification: The victim turns to stone. A
victim restored to flesh remains cursed,
and must make a new saving throw every
24 hours to avoid becoming petrified
again until the curse is lifted.

If we leave the stacked internment vaults alone, the curse won't affect us, or will it trigger by us just being in there or adjacent?

Who knows, really? :)

Kel will tell the others what he has learned... "It seems the vaults have a moderate necromantic curse associated with them. It can do a lot of different things, something unique to each person. Anything from driving you to madness or making you weaker or more susceptible to other effects... it's very random. I suggest if we go in, and perhaps we should investigate the central sarcophagus that appears not to be cursed, we best stay away from the vaults."

Curses... of course in a tomb there are stupid curses

Mal investigates the central, hopefully uncursed tomb, but before getting closer says MarcuS JUNIUS Adella, we investigate at the behest of your antecedents and mean no disrespect

Don’t be a spiteful bastard and curse us... I’ll grind your bones to dust

”If there is no suspected benefit to entering the small crypts compared to the risk of becoming cursed, then I’d certainly vote for checking the main hall next.“

"I'm with Dora. Cursed isn't quite the immediate benefit befitting checking out a ton like this. Yet, anyways."

Maybe on the way out if there's an opportunity. The society has many curse breakers available, for a price.

Mal notes that the central sarcophagus does not appear to be sealed by mortar. You can see a clear seam running all around it and the lid is probably just held down by gravity.

Torag blessed me with much, but I’m not much for lifting ... A hand Thrag or Brother?

Take 10 on perception for traps before we pop it open

Glaube will take a moment to cast guidance on Mal, Thrag, and Brother to give a small boost to their next roll.

Better not be like the last one.

Str, Guidance: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10

"Be a damn shame if it was."

Str also guidance: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Mal askes Torag for guidance instead l, which may not have been wise as he is unable to lift even his end.
str: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Seeing the others struggling, Sahess puts her back into it.

Str: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Dora urges Rusty to push it as well.

C'mon, boy! Help them out here

STR: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Kel holds his breath if Rusty's efforts seem to be enough to push the lid open... as much in anticipation of what wonders might be within as in terror of what miasma might be released. He holds a kerchief over his mouth and peers in from behind his veil.

The sarcophagus opens when the mighty wolf puts his shoulder to it, and is revealed to contain a flight of stairs leading down to a long, winding tunnel...

The cleric asks, "Stealthy or with light?", and he gets ready to activate his Wayfinder.

"I have some scrolls of what I'm told are of the spell Darkvision. I would not mind if someone capable of casting it does so."

I am sorry Captain. I am not able to cast those scrolls. Dora shrugs.

She turns back to Glaube.

I for one would need light, and so would Rusty. But it may be best if we follow up from behind, as Rusty could block the way and may be squeezing into this tunnel.

How wide/tall is the tunnel actually?

I might not clank with every step, but I doubt I can slip by anything that's actually watching. Might as well light it up if you can't see.

Thanks to the wonders of armor training Thrag has a whopping +2 Stealth

I for one would need light, and so would Rusty. But it may be best if we follow up from behind, as Rusty could block the way and may be squeezing into this tunnel.

The cleric nods, takes a step away from the entrance, and activates the wayfinder to provide light. He still has a scimitar in one hand and a wand in the other.

Though the light comes from a non-divine magical item, force of habit gets him to murmur a quick prayer: "O, Everflame, light our way in the darkness."

Kel offers "I can read those darkvision scrolls for anyone who needs them... that will extend the time they'll last as well. But if we're going in with light, might as well save them for now...Though light can be extinguished. I'll leave it up to you. A little light is fine for me... until the darkvision is needed that is. I am unprepared for that today myself, but if we rest later, I'll rectify that lack."

"I can feel my way without eyesight, the dragon in me leads me onward, but the rest of you might want some light or the magic darkvision." She can't read the scrolls, however, so it's fortunate that she doesn't personally need them.

Glaube offers to cast guidance on the first PC who goes in.

Assuming you're heading downstairs, please confirm order of march on the slides. Thx.

Mal is happy to take point, as our resident trapspotter

Thrag will stay a step behind Mal. He can swing over Mal's head without penalty.

The stairs lead down to a chamber nearly a hundred feet below the rest of the necropolis. These catacombs are composed primarily of narrow, low-ceilinged (8 feet) corridors riddled with burial niches. Some host one or two full skeletons in tattered rags; others are packed with bones stacked in an artful, if grisly, manner—one niche may hold nothing but thigh bones, another jawbones, another an array of vertebrae. Some of the walls feature decorative brickwork, others are adorned with frescoes, and still others have bones and skulls mortared into place as though they were the most convenient and mundane building materials. The air is stale, and all areas are lit as though by flickering torchlight, though no such illumination can be found.

Looking in the large chamber north of the stairs' landing, the walls of this room are brick. The ceiling is much higher here, rising to twenty-five feet above, and from its center hangs a ghastly chandelier, made entirely of skulls and bones. A pair of tapestries flanks a corridor that exits to the east, so ancient that the fabric retains only hints of the original color and the scenes they depict are insubstantial.

Written on the stone above the archway seems to be some sort of phrase, although letters seem to be all strung together. The phrase written above the exit from this room reads: “SOONENOUGHYETOOSHALLSLEEP.”

The room’s lone sarcophagus is made of plain limestone and the fitted lid is without mortar and somewhat askew, as though replaced in haste. Carved in its surface is: “Marcus Junius Adella, 3711–3758, Hero of Taldor, Patriarch.” Along the lid’s edge are the words, “While my bones rest peacefully here, the guardians need not protect me.” Within is an empty burial shroud—the body is missing.

So much for resting peacefully.

Thrag keeps his eyes peeled for the mentioned guardians.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25

"I'm getting really tired of all these bodies not being where they are supposed to be. It was fun the first time, I'll admit, a nice little mystery, but again? Does the whole family have a problem with staying in their final resting place?" The Captain joked, but joined Thrag in looking around.

Perception: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (2) + 33 = 35

Dora keeps her eyes alert as she rides Rusty down and through the halls.

Yes, it seems they are cursed to unrest or undeath. Neither is a curse I'd want to have.

perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

Why take all the bodies from the tombs... I worry about necromantic activities

perception : 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (13) + 30 = 43

@Dora: I noted that you are bringing your wolf down in these catacombs. Please be aware of the the following rule ref. squeezing.

hopefully Rusty has the narrow frame feat?

"'Tis true, a curse to never rest in death is a horrible one... that's why I steer away from most necromancy magic, though some is handy from time to time."

Kel examines the room, the empty sarcophagus and the forgotten burial shroud inside. He gets a sudden image in his head of naked undead running around and can't decide whether to shudder or laugh. He keeps the thought to himself.

He scans the room for any other exits, hidden or otherwise... and for magic as well.

perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (14) + 25 = 39 +1 to find traps

"That someone would risk the wrath of Pharasma for this does not inspire a great deal of confidence in me. There are certainly easier grounds to plunder, and easier corpses to claim. To come here, they may be more powerful, like that ghost we had seen." She doesn't say dealt with because it was plain that they didn't so much deal with it as survive it, and she had carefully practiced politician's speech.

duly noted. Rusty does not have narrow frame. If long stretches of narrow halls - she will just absorb him into her hosteling armor.

What do you do? if you wish I can just drag the whole party from one room to the other, using the listed marching order if you encounter anything, and using Mal's Perception check (already rolled) if any traps occur? @Dora: for expediency let's assume your wolf stays in this current room as all passages are tight in this one.

Nothing to do but head deeper. Mal, you still taking point?