Wilen goes to assist with pushing on the door with Kalkamedes, But the doors are incredibly heavy, and the pair just aren't enough to shoulder the door open on the first attempt.
For the sake of reference, the dais inverts your Strength modifier (In Wilen's case, -1 to +1) and it's a Strength check to open the door.
Spells 1st 6/6, 2nd 6/6, 3rd 5/5; Staff Minor Arcana 10/10; Extend 3/3; Focused 3/3; Arcane Bond 1/1; Reservoir 6/10
Oh! I thought there was a riddle type of thing going on to get it open. This is neat though too!
Ilathor gestures for the wand. Assuming Juis relinquishes it, he aims at his own foot. Firing the wand he shudders as the necromantic beam saps him of his meager strength and he collapses onto the black stone dais.
"Companions, I rise before you, stronger than ever!" he proclaims, pushing himself up with his new found vigor. "No door shall stand before our might! But let us make haste, I know not which spell will dissipate first."
________
Ray of Enfeeblement vs Self:1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Strength Check:1d20 ⇒ 5-_- I THINK that's a +4 since Ilathor is at a measly 1 strength, but with that roll, it'll take another go probably ;)
While Ilathor's strength in this situation is quite useful, the iron doors are incredibly heavy, and resist that attempt to open them, even with Kalkamedes's 'help'.
Spells 1st 6/6, 2nd 6/6, 3rd 5/5; Staff Minor Arcana 10/10; Extend 3/3; Focused 3/3; Arcane Bond 1/1; Reservoir 6/10
Ilathor the Mightiest Wizard to ever Wizard lends his ample strength to Lebraerio's.
________
Pseudo Strength! (Aid) vs Lebraerio:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24I mean... he succeeded in aiding... -_-
Spells 1st 6/6, 2nd 6/6, 3rd 5/5; Staff Minor Arcana 10/10; Extend 3/3; Focused 3/3; Arcane Bond 1/1; Reservoir 6/10
"I've studied the theory behind the series of biomechanical movements to achieve it, but never had the fortitude nor substance to execute it prior..." Ilathor admits. "What other feats of strength and mastery of body shall I attempt?"
Kalkamedes' effort also assists in trying to open the door. However, The door is still holding fast, but the give you're looking for is just within reach.
It's close, but not quite. Anyone else went to try to aid as well?
Male Halfling Alchemist 6 | HP 39/39 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB 2, CMD 15 | F+7 R+9 W+3; +4 vs. poison, +2 vs. fear | Speed 20' | Init+3 | Perc+11 | Extracts: 2nd-barkskin, cure moderate wounds (2), invisibility; 1st-cure light wounds, shield, targeted bomb admixture (3) | Bomb: 12/12 | Mutagen: brewed | Active conditions: none
DEX mutagen:
Init+5 | Perc+10 | AC 23, t 14, ff 20 | R+11, W+2 | CMD 17
So, in a game I'm running I just got back my last player yesterday. If somebody has their email (e.g. from the reporting of our last scenario), I'd suggest reaching out to them and finding out if they realize the problem (that they may not be logged in) and seeing if/what they've tried to get back in (assuming that's the issue).
After several moments of effort by the entire group, the massive iron doors finally give way and creak open slowly, leading to an long-unused corridor. Suspended by thick chains, a massive metal cage shaped like a demon’s head hangs over a dark shaft with no bottom in sight. The cage’s door—by all appearances a menacing maw, filled with incisor-like fangs—hangs open to the west. There, a narrow bridge spans the short distance between the ledge and the cage. A small console on the north edge of the bridge bears a single lever. Kalkamedes moves to climb into the cage, which by appearances, seems like it could hold four people into whatever depths it travels too.
Male Halfling Alchemist 6 | HP 39/39 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB 2, CMD 15 | F+7 R+9 W+3; +4 vs. poison, +2 vs. fear | Speed 20' | Init+3 | Perc+11 | Extracts: 2nd-barkskin, cure moderate wounds (2), invisibility; 1st-cure light wounds, shield, targeted bomb admixture (3) | Bomb: 12/12 | Mutagen: brewed | Active conditions: none
DEX mutagen:
Init+5 | Perc+10 | AC 23, t 14, ff 20 | R+11, W+2 | CMD 17
Wilen's eyes widen at the side of the demon-cage-maw.
Um... we don't want to send him down in that thing, right? I don't think it fits all of us. What do you think of going down there ahead of him, and securing him in place for now?
Wilen looks around to see what the group thinks, given the constraints of the "elevator" cage.
Male Human Investigator 6 Init +3 HP 45/45 AC 19 T 14 FF 16 Fort +4 Ref+9 Will +6 Per +10+1d6 Move 30 Insp 5/5
That's quite a good idea. Thank you for volunteering to scout fearlessly while we all wait your return or screams of agony, Willen. It was nice to know you.
Spells 1st 6/6, 2nd 6/6, 3rd 5/5; Staff Minor Arcana 10/10; Extend 3/3; Focused 3/3; Arcane Bond 1/1; Reservoir 6/10
Ilathor steps into the elevator with Nylthe and Aconite. "If you hearing screaming, please make sure the Society remembers how valuable I am to their efforts," he says with a smirk.
Hmm... I suppose one person could ride the top down, but I'd probably insist on a Acrobatics check, and failing that will be bad. It's a looooong way down.
Juis holds Kalkamedes at bay for just long enough for the first four passengers to climb into the cage and for the mechanism to begin the lengthy descent into the darkened pit. Reaching the bottom, the advance party finds another mechanism for operating the lift, as well as a passage leading to the south with a greenish glow coming from it.
Heading down the passage leading a large cavern which seems natural. Palm-sized shards of jagged steel jut from halfway up the walls of this large cavern, bathing the cavern with a dark green light. A set of natural rock columns support the chamber’s ceiling, which rises to a height of twenty feet. A small tunnel leads to the northeast, and several rounded alcoves branch off from the main cavern. A quick study of the space, however, marks that almost every surface is scarred with a great many claw marks. However, the greatest interest to everyone is the inscribed magic circle to the south of the passageway into the chamber. Within said circle is a disheveled pink-haired gnome, who immediately reacts to try and get your attention. "Hello there!" he cries out.
I assume that you all will come down eventually, but will you wait for everyone to come down before entering this cavern?
Spells 1st 6/6, 2nd 6/6, 3rd 5/5; Staff Minor Arcana 10/10; Extend 3/3; Focused 3/3; Arcane Bond 1/1; Reservoir 6/10
"...Hi, what brings you to such an ominous cave, Gnome?" Ilathor responds, paying more attention to the circle and claw marks than the little fellow himself.
________
Check vs Circle?:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35 Spellcraft and Arcana are the same bonus (15), don't know if either is relevant but those are my best guesses. If another knowledge is useful, I've got them all! 13-16 is the range. If nothing horrific happens immediately, he'll detect magic as well.
"Brings me? I'm been trapped here,"the gnome replies, almost indignantly, before shaking his head. "I'm sorry, I've been here for hundreds of years and the immediate suspicion was a little much for me to bear. My name is Koth'Vaul, and I'm desperately hoping that you can let me out of this cave."
"You see, I was an adventurer, until the Thrallkeepers that maintained this Black Ediface imprisioned me in this circle, in order to power the arcane energies here with my fey essences. And while they've died off, the power they used in their workings hasn't. The bonds have kept me young, but they are still bonds. I'd like to just leave, and die on my own terms."
For his part, Kalkamedes's attention is not on the gnome, but a second circle deeper in the cavern, where from here, a figure lies. Upon seeing Kalkamedes, Koth'Vaul genuinely smiles. "Is that? No, it can't... He'd be gone long dead, but your friend there looks like the splitting image of my friend Johanis. He was able to escape, but promised to send help. I guess his oath followed down his family line, and he finally answered the call of his ancestor..." He pauses a moment to seemingly to do some mental math, "... ten generations hence, I believe?"
Ilathor:
Things aren't adding up here. First of all, you recognize a magic circle for containing outsiders. Judging by the elements in the circle, you'd bet the warding is for something chaotic, evil, or possibly both. However, you're also aware that this circle is slowly losing its power(after who knows exactly how long, but you'd guess minimum thousands of year.) Secondly, The name 'Koth'Vaul' has roots in Abyssal, making it a very odd name for a gnome. Speaking of that, You're aware of the gnomish phenomenon known as the Bleaching, which afflicts any gnome that doesn't seek out new experiences and sensations. Being trapped here should have forced some evidence of that, but he seems completely healthy. Finally, His timeline is really off. The Thrallkeepers were Thassilonian, which disappeared thousands of years ago, making it impossible for Kalkamedes to be a mere 10 generations from this Johanis.
Lebraerio:
Things aren't adding up here. First of all, The name 'Koth'Vaul' has roots in Abyssal, making it a very odd name for a gnome. Speaking of that, You're aware of the gnomish phenomenon known as the Bleaching, which afflicts any gnome that doesn't seek out new experiences and sensations. Being trapped here should have forced some evidence of that, but he seems completely healthy. Finally, His timeline is really off. The Thrallkeepers were Thassilonian, which disappeared thousands of years ago, making it impossible for Kalkamedes to be a mere 10 generations from this Johanis.
Juis:
You recognize a magic for containing outsiders. Judging by the elements in the circle, you'd bet the warding is for something chaotic, evil, or possibly both. However, you're also aware that this circle is slowly losing its power(after who knows exactly how long, but you'd guess minimum thousands of year.) Secondly, The name 'Koth'Vaul' has roots in Abyssal, making it a very odd name for a gnome. Finally, His timeline is really off. The Thrallkeepers were Thassilonian, which disappeared thousands of years ago, making it impossible for Kalkamedes to be a mere 10 generations from this Johanis.
Nylthe:
You don't know much about what he's saying and he seems on the level, but you recognize a magic for containing outsiders when you see one. You're also aware that this circle is slowly losing its power(after who knows exactly how long, but you'd guess minimum thousands of year.)
Wilen:
You don't know much about what he's saying and he seems on the level, but you recognize a magic for containing outsiders when you see one. Judging by the elements in the circle, you'd bet the warding is for something chaotic, evil, or possibly both. However, you're also aware that this circle is slowly losing its power(after who knows exactly how long, but you'd guess minimum thousands of year.)
Male LN Human Oracle of Lore 6.1 | AC 21 (T 13/FF 18) | CMB +5 CMD 16 (FF 15) | HP 33/33 | Init +1 | Fort +3 Ref +6 Will +6 | Perception +0 | Languages: Common, Celestial, Draconic, Undercommon | Clouded Vision (Cannot see beyond 60') | Darkvision 60' | 20' Speed |Think on It: 1/1 | Spells 1: 6/7 2: 5/6 3: 0/4 | Active Conditions:
Juis looks at the gnome-looking person in the magical circle.
He points at the creature, "LIES! BEWARE my friends. That circle is designed to hold a chaotic and evil creature for outside of our reality. Also, the name 'Koth'Vaul' has Abyssal roots not gnomish roots. And finally, The Thrallkeepers were Thassilonian who disappeared thousands of years ago, make Kalkamedes way to young to be only 10 generations from this Johanis."
Drawing his weapon, he looks menacing at the demon.
Male Human Investigator 6 Init +3 HP 45/45 AC 19 T 14 FF 16 Fort +4 Ref+9 Will +6 Per +10+1d6 Move 30 Insp 5/5
Your mascarade failed miserably, and your story is full of holes. You aren't a great deceiver, aren't you? A gnome should have at least partially bleached, trapped in this place for so long, without anything new to do.
Spells 1st 6/6, 2nd 6/6, 3rd 5/5; Staff Minor Arcana 10/10; Extend 3/3; Focused 3/3; Arcane Bond 1/1; Reservoir 6/10
"AND I!" Ilathor the Mighty says, balling his fists on his hips. Again. "Can confirm every word they've said! Come, let us waste no more time here and shepherd our ward ever on to his mysterious destination!"
Swaggering about with his elbows pointed parallel to the floor, the Elf and his invisible lats side shuffles around the others and makes his way to the edge of the chamber.
________
I don't know how long the strength flip effect lasts, but Ilathor just can't seem to shake it ;) Must have been a compulsion in there too! GM, can we do anything to strengthen the circle?
That effect was only up on the dais before the door. It's gone now.
Koth'vaul takes the poking of holes in his story... rather poorly. His face contorts in fury before he spits out, "Fine! Illvaster! End these pests! Time will free me just as easily!"
In response, a bubbling begins from the pool in the other corner of the cave, from which swiftly emerges a dragon in the size of a horse, it's black scales still glistening from the stagnant water that it arises from and an iron band on one of it's horns. Following close behind the dragon are a trio of what look to be undead claws of some sort, which scatter toward the 3 closest figures: Aconite, Ilathor, and Kalkamedes(who continued his stumble toward the figure lying on the floor).
Lebraerio swings wildly at the hand, but it clangs on the ground behind it, while Juis begins to buff the party. The dragon, meanwhile, moves to the closest target, Ilathor, and reaches forward to give the arcanist a rather powerful bite.
Male Halfling Alchemist 6 | HP 39/39 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB 2, CMD 15 | F+7 R+9 W+3; +4 vs. poison, +2 vs. fear | Speed 20' | Init+3 | Perc+11 | Extracts: 2nd-barkskin, cure moderate wounds (2), invisibility; 1st-cure light wounds, shield, targeted bomb admixture (3) | Bomb: 12/12 | Mutagen: brewed | Active conditions: none
DEX mutagen:
Init+5 | Perc+10 | AC 23, t 14, ff 20 | R+11, W+2 | CMD 17
Wilen moves to the near wall and slinks along it, cautiously approaching the gnome's circle. He backs into a shallow depression, and pops one of his extracts.
[move] 20' [standard] consume extract of true strike
Spells 1st 6/6, 2nd 6/6, 3rd 5/5; Staff Minor Arcana 10/10; Extend 3/3; Focused 3/3; Arcane Bond 1/1; Reservoir 6/10
"AH! MY STRENGTH FADES!" Ilathor yells as the Dragon almost eats him. Stepping away from the scampering hand, he snaps his fingers and disappears from view.
________
Dragon (Arcana):1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35 Crawling Claws (Religion):1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20 Vanish! GM, I've included knowledge rolls for our two types of foe with my best guess for applicable knowledge based on what you've provided.
Okay, You recognize the claws as an advanced form of Crawling Hands, an type of undead that while easy to kill, some variants are known to grab a hold on folks, climb them and strangle the unwary. (1 additional fact, anything particular you want to know?)
While the dragon looks like a young adult black dragon, which should mop the floor with you all. Spell Resistance, darkness at will, breath weapon of acid, freightful presence: The works. However, something's off. It's moving a little funny, and that bite should have triggered a instinctual terror in all of you, but it didn't. Arcana isn't the proper knowledge check for this, for once.
Aconite misses with the first couple attacks, before finally gaining purchase, and tears the waterlogged dead flash apart with claw and horn. As Wilen watches from afar, and Ilathor fades from view, Kalkamedes mindlessly continues his trek to the far end of the chamber, 'chased' by one of the hands, which gets a hold of his leg and claws it up a bit, while the other remaining claw tries to attack Lebraerio, but fails to get past his armor.
Both Juis and Lebraerio try to deal with the Claw on Lebraerio to no avail. The Dragon, however, moves forward and chomps down on Lebraerio this time, drawing blood from the detective.
Male Halfling Alchemist 6 | HP 39/39 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB 2, CMD 15 | F+7 R+9 W+3; +4 vs. poison, +2 vs. fear | Speed 20' | Init+3 | Perc+11 | Extracts: 2nd-barkskin, cure moderate wounds (2), invisibility; 1st-cure light wounds, shield, targeted bomb admixture (3) | Bomb: 12/12 | Mutagen: brewed | Active conditions: none
DEX mutagen:
Init+5 | Perc+10 | AC 23, t 14, ff 20 | R+11, W+2 | CMD 17
Wilen peeks out from his shallow alcove and lobs a bomb at the gnome.
Bomb attack Illvaster (true strike), F damage, splash F damage:1d20 + 9 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 20 = 482d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 6) + 5 = 126 = 6Darn, one away from a crit, and the confirm would have been guaranteed with TS :P
He then rushes to the other side of the opening to rejoin his team.
