- A contingent of Aspis mercenaries was seen approaching the Bandu Hills from the northwest—the direction of Bloodcove.
- The leader of the group is an Ustalavic aristocrat named Zaril Namoth, who is also known to be an expert tracker and hunter.
Golden Guardian Knowledge:
- Almost everyone at Fort Bandu knows the legend of the Golden Guardian, but no one seems to know anything substantial.
- Since the stories about the local boogeyman have circulated in the region for centuries, most people speculate that the creature is immortal or not a living creature.
Kobolds of Mount Nakyuk Knowledge:
- Until recently, the kobolds have largely kept to themselves. Most local people didn’t even know about the kobolds before the incident with Sharrowsmith.
Averting Eyes:
The opponent avoids looking at the creature’s face, instead looking at its body, watching its shadow, tracking it in a reflective surface, etc. Each round, the opponent has a 50% chance to avoid having to make a saving throw against the gaze attack. The creature with the gaze attack, however, gains concealment against that opponent.
Wearing a Blindfold:
The foe cannot see the creature at all (also possible to achieve by turning one’s back on the creature or shutting one’s eyes). The creature with the gaze attack gains total concealment against the opponent.
A creature with a gaze attack can actively gaze as an attack action by choosing a target within range. That opponent must attempt a saving throw but can try to avoid this as described above. Thus, it is possible for an opponent to save against a creature’s gaze twice during the same round, once before the opponent’s action and once during the creature’s turn.
M.A. Gaskar | Male CG Medium Half-Orc Rogue (unchained/Skulking Slayer/Scout) 1 | HP 7/11 | AC 15, T 12, FF 12 | CMD 15| F +3 R +5 W +1 | Init +2 | Perc +4 | Speed 30ft |Sneak Attack +1d6 | Active Conditions: None
Gaskar pats Ari-Ani on the back and nods. 'The rogue I aspire to be...' he thinks.
Before leaving the room, Gaskar will take a quick glance about.
Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Not seeing much, he'll move down the hall slowly the next door.
Ifrit Summoner 2; Perception -1; 15/15 HP; Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +2; AC 17, touch 14, FF 13 Melee: Elven Curve Blade +5, 1d10+3, +1 fire, Ranged: Ray of Frost/Acid Splash +5 vs touch 1d3
Soleil follows the rogues and gives a big smile and a thumbs up as she notices no one seems to be speaking. She then returns her two handed grip to her sword and looks and listens for something to fight!
Yup, every room seems to have doors out, but they're all "stuck" and take physical effort to get open. But, with no immediate danger I'm not bothering with rolls on those.
Gaskar mentioned moving to the nearest door, sooo...
Gaskar forces the next door on the right open and the room seems... empty?
Perception DC 21:
The floor in the northwest corner is purposefully built of fragile stone that fractures if a Medium creature enters the square. The rubble traps the creature’s foot, and a shallow pit filled with downward-pointing spikes tears at his legs as he tries to escape.
Getting bored at the slow pace Mei looks around and notices the break in the wall. She moves through the rubble to the next room all senses on alert for any surprises.
Perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Moving us on to the last room of this "section". You can still retroactively interact with... whatever is in the room Gaskar just stepped into.
A lowered portcullis blocks off the room to the South from the hallway. The portcullis is old and rusty, and it no longer fits properly in its grooves. It looks like one of you can smash the portcullis down with brute strength. Handwaving a take 10/multiple rolls sequence that adds nothing. Gaskar leans into it with his shoulder and is able to do so in short order.
In this room, spreading out over the breadth of the previous rooms and hallway combined, there is a grotesque dragon face carved in the stone wall. In its gaping maw it has two dozen round holes where its teeth should be.
It quickly becomes apparent that the pressure plates down the hallway are connected to the dragon's face, which used to be a functional trap that fired crossbow bolts at anyone stepping on any of the pressure plates in the hallway. At some point the firing mechanism was disabled.
Craft (traps) or Disable Device DC 13:
You recognize that the trap is merely disabled, not broken. You can repair and rearm the trap in 5 minutes with:
* some spare parts
* 12 Small crossbow bolts
* a successful Craft (traps) or Disable Device check
You haven't come across spare parts that would work for this trap yet, but you do know what you would be looking for now!
Sorry that slowed down. The skulking kobolds were the main encounter of this area (and the choices of how to handle it are somewhat open and interesting). However, despite the various traps that you find not being directly "in your way," it is important what you decide to do about them. So, while we proceed, definitely still decide what to do about the Perception spoiler above.
Ifrit Summoner 2; Perception -1; 15/15 HP; Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +2; AC 17, touch 14, FF 13 Melee: Elven Curve Blade +5, 1d10+3, +1 fire, Ranged: Ray of Frost/Acid Splash +5 vs touch 1d3
Soleil gets mildly bored with nothing to fight and pulls out both of her swords and take some awkward slashes, given that the Elven curve blade is not meant to be used one-handed, while says, "That's right. I'm a samurai. Two swords!"
She can't hit above a 19 on perception, so I'm just role playing her not even trying it.
M.A. Gaskar | Male CG Medium Half-Orc Rogue (unchained/Skulking Slayer/Scout) 1 | HP 7/11 | AC 15, T 12, FF 12 | CMD 15| F +3 R +5 W +1 | Init +2 | Perc +4 | Speed 30ft |Sneak Attack +1d6 | Active Conditions: None
M.A. Gaskar | Male CG Medium Half-Orc Rogue (unchained/Skulking Slayer/Scout) 1 | HP 7/11 | AC 15, T 12, FF 12 | CMD 15| F +3 R +5 W +1 | Init +2 | Perc +4 | Speed 30ft |Sneak Attack +1d6 | Active Conditions: None
Gaskar notices the dragon face. 'What is this?'. Moving in carefully, avoiding any pressure plates (just in case), he goes to inspect the dragon face.
Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
'Nothing'. The half-orc grunts before noticing a pair of doors to the west. 'Kobolds must've come from here.'.
If anyone follows, he'll point at the door and shrugs. "Kobolds?" He'll ask before looking for Kobold tracks.
Unfortunately, on the hard granite floor Gaskar is not able to make out distinct tracks. Some of the prior rooms had thick layers of dust, but the main hallway did not and this room likewise has seen copious and consistent traffic for anything useful to be singled out.
Ifrit Summoner 2; Perception -1; 15/15 HP; Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +2; AC 17, touch 14, FF 13 Melee: Elven Curve Blade +5, 1d10+3, +1 fire, Ranged: Ray of Frost/Acid Splash +5 vs touch 1d3
Seeing the Half-Orc doing something that seems more interesting than just looking for traps and such, Soleil sheaths her short sword and follows him into the room holding her Elven curve blade at the ready.
Ancestor Eidolon 2; Perception +5; 14/14 HP; Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +3; AC 13 (17 w/mage armor), touch 11, FF 12 (16 w/mage armor) Melee: Lucerne Hammer +6, 1d12+4 OR Slams +5, 1d8+3
Seeing that ornery grin come across Soleil's face, Magmara smiles and shakes her head and follows up to the entrance to the dragon face room then steps to the opposite direction Soleil had gone carefully avoiding pressure plates.
LN Male Human (Tien-Min) Magus(Kensai) 6 | HP 53/64 | AC 20(T 16 FT 15 ) |CMB:+8, CMD:23 | F:+9 R:+9 W:+6 | Init:+8|Perc:+6 | SM:+0| | Speed: 30ft | Arcane Pool: 7/8 | Active conditions: None |Concentration: +6
Ki Chin and Mei follow after the others to the end of the hall passing through the crack on the wall. Seeing an odd statue the magus goes for a closer look.
43870-7 | Human (Keleshite) F uRogue 5 | Init +11 | AC 20 T 16 FF 14 | | HP 38/38| F +4 R +10 W +3 | Perc 9; UMD +9; Disable +16; Acrobatics 13; Escape Art. Stealth +12 ; UMD, Sense Motive +9; K (Local) +5;
After puzzling over the dragon face feel free to add any more investigation that you want to do as happening before we move on, the group heads through the double-doors to the West.
DC 10 Knowledge (engineering) or Knowledge (history):
You notice that the architecture is more sophisticated here than the previous area. Despite the millennia that have passed since its construction, the
stonework shows little wear, except where the kobolds have made “improvements.”
Make one perception roll for the following DCs:
Perception DC15:
You sense that there is something lurking in these particular corridors...
Perception DC20:
It seems to be towards the Western edge of this area.
Perception DC25:
You detect the specific location "something" is at (If someone gets this I'll mark it on the map).
Just five feet from the double door, a granite statue of a human woman stands in a running pose. The head of the statue is turned to look over her shoulder, her face locked in a silent scream.
DC 12 Knowledge (geography):
You recognize that the woman is Keleshite.
DC 15 Knowledge (local):
You recognize that her gear is typical of Aspis Consortium scouts working in the Mwangi Expanse.
M.A. Gaskar | Male CG Medium Half-Orc Rogue (unchained/Skulking Slayer/Scout) 1 | HP 7/11 | AC 15, T 12, FF 12 | CMD 15| F +3 R +5 W +1 | Init +2 | Perc +4 | Speed 30ft |Sneak Attack +1d6 | Active Conditions: None
Gaskar crouches down and inspects the architecture. "Hmmm" the half-orc says as he runs over the stone wall. He'll point at Ari-Ani then point at the architecture.
But before he can move on, Gaskar stops in his tracks, then puts his finger to his lips as a signal to be quiet. He then points west and pull out his flail.
Ifrit Summoner 2; Perception -1; 15/15 HP; Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +2; AC 17, touch 14, FF 13 Melee: Elven Curve Blade +5, 1d10+3, +1 fire, Ranged: Ray of Frost/Acid Splash +5 vs touch 1d3
Soleil watches the Half-Orc move around and do lots of weird pointing and gesturing, but then he points and pulls out a weapon, and the Ifrit gal smiles.
LN Male Human (Tien-Min) Magus(Kensai) 6 | HP 53/64 | AC 20(T 16 FT 15 ) |CMB:+8, CMD:23 | F:+9 R:+9 W:+6 | Init:+8|Perc:+6 | SM:+0| | Speed: 30ft | Arcane Pool: 7/8 | Active conditions: None |Concentration: +6
"What an odd statue." Ki Chin wonders out loud as he gazes at the terrified expression on the statue's face. "I wonder what it is called."
Perception:1d20 ⇒ 18
The magus suddenly tenses as he nears the doors. "I sense...something is waiting for us beyond these doors." He unsheathes his katana and holds it ready to strike.
43870-7 | Human (Keleshite) F uRogue 5 | Init +11 | AC 20 T 16 FF 14 | | HP 38/38| F +4 R +10 W +3 | Perc 9; UMD +9; Disable +16; Acrobatics 13; Escape Art. Stealth +12 ; UMD, Sense Motive +9; K (Local) +5;
Active on Ari-Ani:
Longstrider 1hr
Perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Take 10 on Local = 15
Ari-Ani nods to Gasker as if to signify that she hears it. The then tries to sneak closer.
Does Ari-Ani indicate what she knows of the statue? Asking explicitly since you're all trying to be quieter right now, but the statue does tell yo something :)
Check your marching order on the map and let me know how far you want to go towards what you hear, or any other details about how you want to approach it. Whatever you hear, it's all the way past that rubble on the map.
43870-7 | Human (Keleshite) F uRogue 5 | Init +11 | AC 20 T 16 FF 14 | | HP 38/38| F +4 R +10 W +3 | Perc 9; UMD +9; Disable +16; Acrobatics 13; Escape Art. Stealth +12 ; UMD, Sense Motive +9; K (Local) +5;
M.A. Gaskar | Male CG Medium Half-Orc Rogue (unchained/Skulking Slayer/Scout) 1 | HP 7/11 | AC 15, T 12, FF 12 | CMD 15| F +3 R +5 W +1 | Init +2 | Perc +4 | Speed 30ft |Sneak Attack +1d6 | Active Conditions: None
Gaskar silently moves west a few feet to the first set of doors and sees if he hears/sees anything.
M.A. Gaskar | Male CG Medium Half-Orc Rogue (unchained/Skulking Slayer/Scout) 1 | HP 7/11 | AC 15, T 12, FF 12 | CMD 15| F +3 R +5 W +1 | Init +2 | Perc +4 | Speed 30ft |Sneak Attack +1d6 | Active Conditions: None
Gaskar silently moves west a few feet to the first set of doors and sees if he hears/sees anything.
You can with Stealth. That immediate action is reasonably a take 10. Moving towards the source of the noise or "presence" detected to the West is not.
Ari-Ani whispers to the team what she knows about the statue. A Keleshite Aspis woman, with gear typical of a scout working in the Mwangi Expanse. She seems to have been caught off-guard and put in quite a situation here.
The party still senses something to the West...
Gaskar moves only a short distance, peering into the first room. The reek of dung and sweat permeates this small room. Heaped in a corner, there is a pile of cement pellets, and in another corner lies a grotesque, stuffed leather bag with two oval patches sewn on it. Upon closer inspection, it’s easy to notice many bite marks on it.
DC 13 Handle Animal:
You deduce that it has been used to teach a creature the fetch trick.
DC 12 Knowledge (nature) or Survival check:
You realize that the pile of crumbly cement pebbles is actually dung.
"Li Ki Chin, if given one, I would guess the title of the statue would run something like: "Death by Petrification." And I doubt it was purposefully crafted by an artisan. Very worrying of our future prospects here!"
"Looks like someone's been teaching a big animal to Fetch something." Talethia whispers. "And, uh, those stone pellets over there look like dung... Anyone know what kind of creature poops stones?"
43870-7 | Human (Keleshite) F uRogue 5 | Init +11 | AC 20 T 16 FF 14 | | HP 38/38| F +4 R +10 W +3 | Perc 9; UMD +9; Disable +16; Acrobatics 13; Escape Art. Stealth +12 ; UMD, Sense Motive +9; K (Local) +5;
Active on Ari-Ani:
Longstrider 1hr
Ari-Ani whispers back, "Probably the same type of creature that can turn people to stone."
Ari-Ani checks the leather bag. [ooc]Take 10. FYI, someone should cast detect magic on the room.[/oooc]
M.A. Gaskar | Male CG Medium Half-Orc Rogue (unchained/Skulking Slayer/Scout) 1 | HP 7/11 | AC 15, T 12, FF 12 | CMD 15| F +3 R +5 W +1 | Init +2 | Perc +4 | Speed 30ft |Sneak Attack +1d6 | Active Conditions: None
'What were those kobolds raising?' Gaskar ponders a bit before moving on, further west. He'll stop at the next door and examine it for traps then listen at the door.
Do you do anything else with the leather training "toy"?
Gaskar doesn't hear anything else at the moment. As far as he or anyone else can tell, the "thing" hasn't moved from where they first sensed it. The door in front of him seems safe enough, so he opens it.
Animal hides and furs have been laid out on the six dwarf-sized stone beds in this room. A crude set of dice lies scattered on the floor.
A number of weapons have been stashed in a pile to the north.
DC 12 Survival:
You notice that only three of the beds have been slept in recently.
Ifrit Summoner 2; Perception -1; 15/15 HP; Fort +0, Ref +4, Will +2; AC 17, touch 14, FF 13 Melee: Elven Curve Blade +5, 1d10+3, +1 fire, Ranged: Ray of Frost/Acid Splash +5 vs touch 1d3
Soleil looks around the room seeming mildly disappointed as there are, again, no foes. However, Magmara comes over and quietly suggests she detect magic to see if there are any interesting goodies, and Soleil's face brightens up as she says, "Oh yeah! I forgot I could do that!"
Before leaving the room, Talethia wants to see if she can figure out, from the look of the leather bag, what real-life thing the creature has been getting trained to Fetch. Or anything else she can see about the bag.
Soleil does not detect any magical auras in the immediate room. As far as Talethia can tell, it was the bag-toy itself that the kobolds used to train the creature. It's currently unclear if they were successfully transferring that to any other item.
Are you leave it there or taking it with you? When ready, feel free to join Gaskar in the next room.
M.A. Gaskar | Male CG Medium Half-Orc Rogue (unchained/Skulking Slayer/Scout) 1 | HP 7/11 | AC 15, T 12, FF 12 | CMD 15| F +3 R +5 W +1 | Init +2 | Perc +4 | Speed 30ft |Sneak Attack +1d6 | Active Conditions: None
Gaskar waits patiently for his companions to join him before venturing further into the room.
Talethia decides to take the fetch bag with her when she leaves the room. It might be a good distraction if they run into the toy's owner somewhere up ahead.
