GM TOP #4-02: In Wrath's Shadow (Standard, Outpost IV) (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

Angry Magic Tree stands near the base of the bushy statue. ”Chop?” he asks hopefully, one hand on his adamantine axe.

Or she could climb it, but where’s the fun in that? XD

"No chop, Angry Magic Tree! No chop! Lady Heidmarch just want us to clear this place out of monsters so the scholars can come in and study the place. Come now, you can chop what's in the darkness below."

Really? no one here can throw a detect magic on that statue before we move on? come on! what is this group? The Expendables?!? :D LOL

Don't worry, I won't push us along until most players have posted or at least 24 hrs have passed. Though if no one ever casts detect magic or investigates anything, that would make my job a lot simpler.

Sorry, busy day.

Goe Lem carefully examines the statue by magical and mundane means.
Detect Magic, Detect Poison, then skill checks with guidance each.
knowledge religion: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 = 28
perception: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 1 = 16
spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 = 15

Yamasoth you say. Hmm... sounds unsavory. I hate to leave such an idol intact. But I suppose you are correct, the pencil pushers will want to examine it. However, I don't think we should leave it with the offerings. That might give it more power. I think we should more the figures and other offerings away from it, just to be safe.
Though I would rather smash it.

"but the gems?" Finnius asks, "Yes, they usually like to check everything. . . glad one of us can find the magical items though."

Busy day here too. Birseko has Detect Magic too, as well as Detect Psychic Significance. He'll scan the area with both for anything that has been missed.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Gems you said? Sorry, I was busy with this little impatient lady..

he points to Lybna, who hides herself into his shirt

Gems are one of my area of expertise

Eredur eyes have a brief flash of greed as he looks for the worth of the gems, trying to find if they have magical properties too with a simple, basic spell

Appraise, Greed: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 2 = 31
spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Those using detect magic are blasted with an array of sights! EVERYWHERE THEY LOOK THEY SEE MAGICAL AURAS!!! Focusing for a bit, it starts to clear up that every single stone, column or statue has been magically infused. It takes a few moments, but those looking with magical sight recognize the aura to be 'abjuration'.

Abjurations are protective spells. They create physical or magical barriers, negate magical or physical abilities, harm trespassers, or even banish the subject of the spell to another plane of existence.

The gems though, they are actually NOT magical. The dwarf's keen eye recognizes them to be valued at about 25 gold each. There seem to be twenty four of them. This critter has a lot of eyes.

One oddity though, the small golden item hung from an outstretched tentacle actually emanates an 'evocation' aura.

Evocation spells manipulate magical energy or tap an unseen source of power to produce a desired end. In effect, an evocation draws upon magic to create something out of nothing. Many of these spells produce spectacular effects, and evocation spells can deal large amounts of damage.

But nothing appears to be a magical item (Spellcraft is not yet needed).

Would anyone like to climb up the Quipploth statue and recover the golden item for a closer look? If you all succeed, it can be inspected with Knowledge Arcana for more information.

After that, where to next? Rule of 2 is in effect

Zzorn climbs to retrieve the item. Climb 18 if taking 10; can roll if the climb looks harder than an 18 to Zzorn

The item is easily recovered. It appears to be a small golden piece that would fit over the bridge of one's nose. The red cloth appears to be there to help tie it around your head. However, it pretty clearly appears that pieces are missing from it. If found and attached, they might form a full mask or some other type of headgear.

Other than the Knowledge Arcana check, that's about it for this room. Going to bust through the SW brick wall or head down into the creepy darkness?

Angry Magic Tree stands near the bricked-over entrance. "Chop?" she asks again with a hopeful expression.

"Not sure if 'Chop' was part of Lady Heidmarch's instructions... but... I will admit that in a temple without doors, well... having an Angry Magic Tree with an Adamantine Magic Axe is quite the advantage. In other words: do what your heart tells you, my fine raging leshy!"

Chop!: 1d10 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 6 = 18
Chop!: 1d10 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 6 = 23

”Done!” yells the leshy excitedly almost as soon as Zzorn gives permission. ”Ooo, another statue! This one doesn’t have so many eyes.”

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"These statues are getting creepier, but I like this tree's style."

Are those items part of the statue or attached to it? Odd, who would dress a statue?

Does it appear to be an actual statue or a person affected by a form of Flesh to Stone? How really real does it look?

It definitely looks like a statue, though well crafted. Maybe the statue was naked and they were preserving his modesty?

That's odd, to say the least. People here had strange tastes in art..

After Zzorn retrieves the item Birseko examines it carefully.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Neither Birseko nor Finnius know what the mask-like thing might be.

Though glancing at the humanoid statue... the iron facemask there...

Anyone doing anything with the SW room and/or statue there and/or stuff on the statue there? I'll repeat the description of that room. You all might have missed it being in a spoiler.

At the southeastern corner of this room is a gruesome statue of a man. He is bare chested; scars, brands, and seeping wounds cover his exposed flesh. He stands with arms crossed, hands gripped tightly like a penitent. Blood oozes from his lacerations and he grits his teeth as though in excruciating pain, though the corners of his mouth turn up slightly, suggesting he derives some wicked pleasure from this perversion of his flesh. A strange mask made of iron covers the statue’s face, the metal etched with complicated sigils. A broad belt made of leather and adorned with copper disks girds the statue’s waist.

"Scholars of magic: more loot for you to inspect I say! Proceed while we watch your backs, our swords raised in vigilance!" He looks at the little Angry Magic Tree, and adds, "And our axes held high, as well!"

Birseko examines the horrible statue, both for historical interest and to see whether there is any presence of magic.

Detect Magic, Detect Psychic Significance, +10 for all Knowledges

Birseko quickly notices that the statue and the mask have the same abjuration aura that everything else in this temple has. The belt is a bit different though, it has a transmutation aura.

Transmutation spells change the properties of some creature, thing, or condition.

It also appears to have the aura woven into it in such a manner that it is probably an actual magic item!

A partial mask and another odd mask? they may be related. Let us examine further. Goe Lem walks over and removes the belt and the mask.

spellcraft mask: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
spellcraft belt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Eredur, do you know what these are?

A strange mask made of iron covers the statue’s face, the metal etched with complicated sigils.

Are those sigils some kind of language or more like drawings? i.e. anything that can be translated with comprehend languages?

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

"Hmm, this appears to be magical as well but I'm afraid I can't make it out. Wait, hang on a moment."

Just remembered I get Identify from my Discipline - casts it.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 10 = 35

"Wearing this belt will make one stronger. I'm afraid it won't be of much use to me but someone else might want to wear it."

"What did you say you found in there? a belt and a mask? make sure no curses are on it!" warn Zzorn from the outside, sparring with Angry Magic Tree.

Guessing Birseko's Spellcraft 35 would have detected curses yes?

Birseko properly identifies the definitely not cursed belt. The mask is also definitely not a magical nor cursed item.

Goe Lem moves up to the statue and pulls the items off. He turns around to move back to the group and...

...the teeth of the statue shatter and from within the sculpture’s interior a cloud of superheated air blasts forth, burning all standing within the boundaries of the room.

Goe Lem and Birseko take: 3d8 ⇒ (3, 5, 2) = 10 Fire Damage, no save

___________________________

I generally do a constant take 10 on perceptions and if a player wishes to roll or take a minute for take 20, I'll use that instead. Take 10 was sadly not high enough for either in the room to notice this trap.

___________________________

A few moments pass. A few more. Nothing jumps out. No further burning air.

A small penalty to pay for a nice magic item and an iron mask, though the smell of burning flesh and hair is quite disgusting. The iron mask looks like a completed version of the golden mask piece found out in the other room. Cool!

Down the dark scary hole?

HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLE!

Zzorn looks at the singed Goe Lem and, hesitantly, asks, "So... um... are you planning on using this belt?"

Eredur lends his curative wand to the warpriest so he can heal himself and the half elf

Some like it hot, it seems.

on Birseko
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

on Goe Lem
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

5 charges used, 42 remaining

The group quickly recovers from the burning injuries and Zzorn leads them down the scary dark hole! Their light illuminates a apparently safe room below them. Slipping down the easily traversed rungs of the ladder they see...

The ceiling of this chamber is ten feet above, and its walls are covered with fading frescoes depicting a parade of cultists engaged in grisly acts of self-mutilation involving knives, scourges, and more bizarre implements. The depiction of the ground beneath the repugnant pageant seems to be composed of thick, snake-like tentacles whose appendages and tooth-filled orifices lick greedily at the blood cascading down from the cult figures. To the east, debris from a smashed wall is scattered, spilling into the hall.

Map is up, a hallway outside this room goes to the left and right. Where too? For tracking purposes, mark off three minutes on any durations of spells.

Mutters under his breath, Grr... Annoying traps. Eredur, I'm happy to use my own wand for my wounds, but I will activate yours for you.
As he puts it on, Yes, Since I got burned for it, I can make excellent use of it.

----------------
Goe Lem steps up next to Finnius and pokes his head out to glance both directions. If he can see nothing in either direction he will point to the left. Always go left!

"Left is as good as any way else here, I'd say. Someone should put the belt on- I will if no one else does."

Hrm. I posted earlier and the website gods ate it I gues

When Eredur pulls out his wand Birseko demurs. "It is my turn, if I recall correctly, which I rarely do." I'll mark 5 charges off of Birseko's wand Then he also uses his wand of heightened awareness on himself and offers it to anyone else who would like to use it. And he stashes his earplugs back in his gear.

If everything since the harpy fight really only took 3 minutes then Birseko will still have 1 minute remaining of his mirror image spell.

Birseko looks around him at the surroundings and shivers. "This place is creepy." He scribbles a little reminder note on his forearm: "DON'T come here again!"

As he puts it on, Yes, Since I got burned for it, I can make excellent use of it.

Zzorn nods to Goe Lem, saying, "It never hurts to try, eh old chap? If we're still in this dank place tomorrow, and the belt hasn't turned you into a female dwarf, would you consider letting me try it then? if the belt has turned you into something that's bearded, then... I will gladly give up my spot. I think Angry Magic Tree would look even scarier with a goatee..."

Angry Magic Tree helpfully pushes a few of the branches that comprise her face together in some semblance of a beard. ”Like that? Wait, I thought we were talking about beards. Why would I wear a fancy goat on my face?” He glares up at Zzorn suspiciously.

I don't see what's wrong with being turned in a dwarf, even a female one. For most, it would be an improvment. For all, an honor.

"Ah, my young plant friend! a goatee is a style of beard, not a goat, but it *IS* named after the vile beasts, somehow, as it is perhaps favored by devils and other admirers of goats... forget about the whole thing. With that axe, you don't need to look like a goat to drive your point across! bwahahaha!" answers Zzorn, slapping the live bush on the back, shaking some leaves in the process.

Looking at Eredur, he concedes and shrugs, adding, "I'm Ulfen, but I shave that thing. I'm on first name basis with most most of Taldor's barbers. Sorry Eredur. I'll never understand how you could sleep with that thing hanging from your face. After a week in the woods I feel like scratching my face out and I start to consider howling at the moon..."

"Heh. Beneath this helmet I remove ALL the hair from my face and head- it's the only PRACTICAL thing to do."

Angry Magic Tree leaves the tall folks to talk about their pruning habits and wanders out into the hallway to look for something more interesting.

Zzorn follows the crazy walking tree before before he walks into a trip wire and motions for the others to follow.

Perception to look for traps or hidden foes in the room Angry Magic Tree is in: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

The group moves into the hallway and to the north. It curls around into another long hall, heading back to the west. But the statues...

To the north, on a raised platform, stand leathery brown statues of withered and emaciated humans poised as though attentively observing passersby. The statues have a grim, realistic appearance, and each one is flayed and modified in a unique way.

The figures have their throats and wrists slit and most of their mouths are sewn shut. Some of them have their forearms separated between the ulna and radius, splitting even the fingers of the hands to create additional appendages. Others have portions of their skulls removed and replaced with a different, leathery material. Some have modifications to their torsos, in which the ribs have been split, pried out, and sharpened to points. One figure in the middle of this display sits with its arms raised, palms out. Its teeth have been pulled out, filed to points, and then embedded into its hands.

______________________

The larger room opening up ahead of the group to the west continues the horror.

The wall decorations of cultists engaged in horrific rituals continue into this large chamber. Ages-old blood stains the floor and walls in dusty flakes. A mosaic similar to the one in the temple above covers the floor, partially obscured by dozens of naked corpses scattered across the floor.

The west wall appears to all to be actually a separately crafted barrier to something beyond. It will take some hacking (and a lot of noise) to clear the way on (probably what AMT had to do to the brick wall the level above).

Those are petrified corpses not statues. Disgusting.
heal chk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
These were at least partially flayed then mummified. Yeah, these people had a lot wrong with them. Careful, one might be a mummy that moves.

Zzorn looks at the naked corpses...

Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

...and can barely stand the sight of them due to the mutilations and due to their dishonor in death.

"That's no way to die. Down in some underground cult, cheeks facing up and away from your kin. Whatever they did while alive, this is no way to face eternal rest..."

Zzorn takes out a pair of white gloves from one of his noble attires, puts them on, and carefully begins to line up the bodies in a more respectful manner. Discarding the gloves carefully and tossing them to the side, he then takes out a blanket from his kit and cuts it down to smaller rectangular pieces, and covers each corpse's privates with the cloths.

"There, this should do, until the Pathfinder scholar team shows up and organizes a more permanent burial for them."

Birseko takes the note on which he had scribbled a warning to his future self to avoid this place and underlines and circles it several times.

Eredur looks at Zzorn with approval

The noblest things are sometimes the simplest. Your gesture brings respect to the departed. May the kindness of your heart soothe the pain of their souls.

Zzorn nods, "One can only hope, Master Eredur. Seems like the same story everywhere the Society sends us: some poor, starving sods are labeled 'cultists' after making one - or a series of - bad mistakes a Starday night and following that weird priest, who was buying everyone drinks, back to some underground dark chapel and then swearing something bad over a dark document for a few gold pieces. Of course, some of them are in the know and probably deserve what they got, but I'm willing to bet that most of them would probably not choose to come down to a place like this if life was going the way they had planned..."

Zzorn pauses for a bit, then looks back at Eredur, clenching his fist, and adding, "Now, there's nothing like finding the bastards that are responsible for such evils and paying them back in kind, don't you think?"

We agree. Such vile acts shan't go unpunished. There will be a reckoning.

Angry Magic Tree nods, ready for the Wreckening.

Bust through the west wall or go back the other way?