"If it's meant to be secret, then it's probably worth exploring!"
"It's a good point. If I was hiding the good loot, I'd put it in a secret place." He reasoned.
You open the secret door and see a passageway heading south around a bend ending at:
L17. PERFUMED TRAP
The air in this room is thick with the scent of expensive perfumes. Dozens of delicate crystal jars and vials are displayed on pedestals of polished pink marble along the walls.
A glass orb that swims with liquid amber light hangs from the ceiling fifteen feet above on a delicate, ten-foot-long golden chain.
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PERFUME TRAP CR 7
Type mechanical; Perception DC20; Disable Device DC25
Trigger touch (perfume vials or glass orb); Reset none
Effect deafness for 2d6 rounds (DC15 Fortitude negates);
burnt othur fumes (the 6 vials disperse into the room and effectively expose each person in the chamber to only 1 dose of the poison; Fort DC18, frequency 1/round for 6 rounds, effect 1 Con drain/1d3 Con, cure 2 saves; multiple targets (all creatures in area L17)
What now?
Moving confidently down he corridor, Elathras wrinkles his nose at the smell wafting from the room. He remembered his mother would occasionally wear perfume, but his aunt would insist she wash it off when she would be working at the Citadel.
The overpowering scent of the perfumes fill Elthras' nose and he finds himself babbling incoherently.
Bharak?
Bharak had seen many a trap in his time. His people were somewhat known for them, and he had been a professional before he had been an exile. But a trap that shot out perfume? That was new to him. He recoiled in disgust as he was sprayed, but that was the only effect it had on him. Perhaps the perfume had been made to target humans? Or perhaps what had hit him had it's effectiveness lessened by age. Whatever the reason, the worse that it did to him was making him ineffectively try to wipe it off.
Umazura raises an eyebrow at the aroma that's just made its acquaintance.
"Outstanding! This passage is hidden and trapped!"
Intrepid squeaks in Axton's ear, causing the mustachioed sorcerer to frown and consider Elathras.
"Are you all right? Can you understand my speech? Hop on one foot if you can understand my words."
Loot:
Full plate (4),
Heavy steel shield (6),
MW Longsword (3),
Light Crossbow (4),
4178gp
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Umazura spots the secret door halfway along the passage, but the trap at the end is triggered before the party can investigate it.
Trap: The hanging globe of glass is a trap. If it is jostled in any way or if any of the perfume is removed from any shelf, the globe explodes with an ear-splitting blast that causes several specially prepared vials on the surrounding pedestals to shatter-each of these vials contains a dose of burnt othur fumes that quickly fills the room once released.
Bharak, please roll to disarm the trap. DC25.
"Wait!" Bharak called out. "Look, up there. See that hanging globe? Definately a trap. I want everyone out of the room while I try to deal with this." He said, eyeing it warily. Once again, this was the type of trap that he was not familiar with. His people made mechanical wonders, with a focus on steel and stone. And Bharak had been a locksmith by trade. This globe? This glass? This alchemy? He was not comfortable messing with it. But he knew that there was very little choice in the matter. And at the very least if he survived it would educational.
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Blinking wildly Elathras looks about confused, babbling incoherently. "The waffles! the waffles! don't feed the halflings, they'll leave foot hair on the furniture!"
His eyes widen as he looks towards Bharak, "Put down the syrup the halflings are coming"
Bharak's tongue stuck out as he concentrated on the task at hand. He suddenly turned and exclaimed "Halflings? What halflings?!" Only for his hand to slip, smacking right into the globe...
Bharak manages to tune out Elthras and his babbling long enough to safely disable the trap.
Treasure:
The golden chain that suspends the glass orb is worth 250gp, but the true treasures in this room are its perfumes.
In all, there are 20 vials of exotic perfume here (Pathfinder Campaign Setting: The Inner Sea World Guide 293), with each vial containing 3 doses of perfume- each vial is worth 300gp. If the trap is disarmed, 3 vials of burnt othur fumes can be safely salvaged as well.
Now things are calmer you can investigate the secret door Umazura noticed.
L18. SECRET SHRINE
This black marble-walled chamber's ceiling is lost in a layer of shimmering black fog, while a long golden rug runs down the center of the room on the floor. A rectangular block of polished stone, black with fat blood-red streaks, sits at the eastern end of the rug. Several objects sit atop this stone, and the cinnamon-scented air is filled with a strange, nagging hum like that of a swarm of buzzing insects.
The wall beyond the altar stone is decorated with a detailed mural of a voluptuous demonic woman with bat wings, a serrated tail, legs of molten stone, and a crown of seven horns. Both of her hands are held out to her sides, palms turned up toward the ceiling-a globe of blackness hovers above each palm.
The shrine and the painting on the wall behind it can be identified as being devoted to Nocticula with a successful DC 20 Knowledge (planes or religion) check
A successful DC 20 Perception check made while examining the painting reveals what seems to be a line of letters carved into the painting above both upturned hands but hidden behind the globes of blackness. These carved messages are in Abyssal
The message above the left hand reads: "In deference to Our Lady of Shadows, the following are hereby consigned to servitude within the Lady's Light." The space below is mostly blank-it once listed all of the names of the succubi and alu demons who were imprisoned or bound to the Lady's Light, and as time went on and those demons escaped or perished, their names faded from the carving.
Today, only one name remains: [b]Ashamintallu. (Neither Sorshen nor Nocticula bothered recording the names of the incubi who served.)
The message above the right hand reads: "Those who would seek my inner sanctum need only speak my artist's name."
A PC who succeeds at a DC20 Craft (painting) check (or any similar check, at your discretion) confirms that the art style of the painting of Nocticula matches the style of the mural in area [/b]K8[/b].
What are you doing now?
Sneezing Elathras eyes start to water. Furrowing his brow, Elathras squints his eyes trying to hold back another sneeze as he asks, "Shall we take this stuff with us?"
Once the vials, chain and glass orb is packed away in one of the ruck sacks, he follows Bharak into the next room.
Moving into the marble-walled chamber, Elathras slows down following the rug to the block of polished stone. Pausing near the stone, he looks at the objects as he asks, "Does anyone else think this is an altar?"
Looking up past the alter he see's the mural on the wall. Raising an eyebrow, he asks as he moves closer. "Does anyone recognize her?" As he nears, he notices the line of letters carved into the painting above the upturned hands. Pointing at the letters, "Those are Abyssal."
Nearing the painting, he slowly translates the words over the left hand. "In deference to Our Lady of Shadows, the following are hereby consigned to servitude within the Lady's Light." Following the letters he points to the last name, "That says "Ashamintallu"
Moving to the right hand he blows on the letters clearing some of the dust off, "This says " "Those who would seek my inner sanctum need only speak my artist's name."
He turns towards his fellow Pathfinders, "Any ideas what that means?"
"It sounds like the Runelord wanted only people who knew her well enough to have access to her. If we know the name of her favorite artist, we could probably enter."
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Treasure:
The objects that sit atop the altar consist of a golden cup with ancient bloodstains within (worth 450gp),
a +1 adamantine dagger with a curved blade (also crusty with long- dried blood),
an incense burner bearing a minor magical enhancement that allows it to
constantly emit cinnamon-scented smoke (worth 200gp),
a narrow bronze incense case containing 2 doses of incense of meditation,
a silver scroll tube (itself worth 250gp) containing a scroll of heal,
and an unholy symbol of Nocticula ( a seven-pointed crown wrapped with thorny
vines) made of onyx and pearl and worth 1,000gp.
"I do not, Elathras, but I can tell you the shrine and the painting behind it are dedicated to Nocticula."
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Elena is silent for a while, pondering the revelations. Her eyelashes narrow as her attention is drawn to certain elements of the painting and her artist's eye begins making the connection. "I... think this painting was done by the same figure as the one we saw earlier! What was his name again? Let me check... ah, it read 'Amivadeus Yasrin'!"
"Considering what else we saw here, that Sorshen's presumed real tomb was depicted to be below Korvosa, yet there was someone here using that name... and then this list of succubi names bound to service here with only one remaining... wouldn't that mean it's likely that one succubus is the one now pretending to be Sorshen? And consequently the one this leader of the Grey Maidens was so taken by?" The petite priestess looks around a bit uncertainly.
Nodding in agreement with Axton, it did sound like the runelord wanted to limit access, Elathras looks away from the painting towards Umazura as she identifies the creature. Trying not to look uneducated, he looks from Umazura towards Axton, about to ask who Nocticula was when Elana explained the riddle. Smiling as she expounded, Of course Elena would be able to recognize the painting style.
Art was practically all she had talked about the whole time he'd known her. His thoughts wandered to the picture she'd drawn of him, he realized he may have been overly blunt with her. Maye someday he'd have a place of his own, where he could put such mementos and other memories.
Realizing Elena had stopped talking about the painting and was speculating on the nature of the tomb, Elathras refocused on the present. Nodding in agreement, "It's certainly possible." He nods towards the doorway. "Only one way to find out."
The moment Elena says the name "Amivaseus Yasrin" she vanishes from your sight!
There is a moments disorientation and then you find yourself in another chamber?
L19. OPULENT CHAMBER
This magnificent marble chamber is richly appointed. Its domed ceiling is frescoed with an image of a starry night sky, while a thick rug of exquisite manufacture covers much of the floor.
A stairway rises to a pair of double doors to the west, while a hallway leads away to the south. Large alcoves decorated with gold tiles extend to the north and east.
Black marble benches carved to represent coiling serpents sit on the north east and south east walls.
Sadly you are not alone in this room, 4 hideous creatures stand guard at the West and south.
Axton. What are you doing?
"Quickly! We all need to say 'Avimaseus Rasyin!'"
In the silence that follows, Intrepid gives Axton an irritated squeak.
"I mean 'Amivaseus Yasrin!'"
Axton also vanishes from your sight!
Elena, Ashton appears beside you. Yellow & Green turn and attack.
Both run up and attack, but miss
Umazura may now act!
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Axton turns to look at Elena, his eyes sparkling with unmitigated joy.
"Lustspawn! I don't think they're immune to fire!!!"
Axton takes a step away from the Lustspawn in front of him and casts a fireball so that it envoeops the enemy, but not him and Elena.
Intrepid hacks up a fire globule at the target in front of Elena.
Yellow dies in the blast of fire. Green has a burnt spot from the globule.
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Elena gasps in fright at the sudden sight of the equally perfect and hideous creatures, who waste no time rushing her. Fortunately, Axton appears just then in full manic glee. She didn't even have time to question any of it before the barbeque started.
"Oh, thank you so much for saving me! ...Wait, who is going to save you?" She asks the unarmored mustache, now that he'd established himself as the prime target.
"I told the others what to say to follow us. Umazura should be coming right about..."
Raising an eyebrow at the odd mode of travel, Umazura sighs and says, "Amivaseus Yasrin it is then."
Umazura appears besides Axton & Elena.
What are you doing?
Quickly taking in the situation, "Well... this is bad," she says as she steps forward and stabs at the nearest enemy.
Umazura expertly cuts down Green.
Red & Orange shriek and run across the chamber to attack you.
Red just manages to reach Axton and scratch him.
Elena, Elthras and Bharak may now act. What are you doing?
Having seen the others disappear when they spoke the name, Elathras turns to Bharak and shrugs. "Amivaseus Yasrin"
Shifting his cold iron ranseur he steps so he can wield it, thrusting the weapon at the nearest enemy.
Elthras & Elena quickly dispose of the last two Lustspawn.
Loot:
MW Guisarme (4),
MW Studded Leather (4)
Silence falls and there seems to be no other response to your arrival.
L19. OPULENT CHAMBER
This magnificent marble chamber is richly appointed. Its domed ceiling is frescoed with an image of a starry night sky, while a thick rug of exquisite manufacture covers much of the floor.
A stairway rises to a pair of double doors to the west, while a hallway leads away to the south. Large alcoves decorated with gold tiles extend to the north and east.
Black marble benches carved to represent coiling serpents sit on the north east and south east walls.
What are you doing now?
Wiping the blood of the sinspawn off of his ranseur on it's cold dead carcass, Elathras furrows his brow poking the thing with the tip of his weapons. "Sinspawn, right?"
As he looks around the opulent room, he notices the two exits, turning to the others he asks, "Stairs or hallway?"
Wiping the blood of the sinspawn off of his ranseur on it's cold dead carcass, Elathras furrows his brow poking the thing with the tip of his weapons. "Sinspawn, right?"
Axton's mustache twitches as he ponders a deep thought.
"It's curious that they are still active after all this time. How are they receiving sustenance? Or have they recently been reawakened?"
As he looks around the opulent room, he notices the two exits, turning to the others he asks, "Stairs or hallway?"
"Probably the stairs. The Runelord teleported guests to this point, so the way forward must be a receiving hall of some sort."
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Captivated by the beauty and splendor of the room, Elena quickly makes to scribble a sketch of it, not partaking in the immediate search. "It's probably the magic of the Runelords sustaining them? Just like that magical lake of healing back in magnimar that replenished itself even now, when the doors were closed for thousands of years," she answers Axton without looking from the notebook.
"H-hey, wait for me!" She calls out, seeing the party already move up the stairs...
As you move closer to the great doors at the top of the stairs you begin to make out noise. The sound of a large party in full swing-delighted laughter, spirited music, the clinking of fine crystal, and the murmur of a large
crowd-becomes increasingly obvious the closer you come to the doors.
Lots of noise behind the doors. What are you doing?
Nodding towards the doors at the top of the stairs, Elathras smiles and asks, "Should we crash the party?"
Axton casts invisibility on himself and his familiar.
"Yes!" he responds to Elathras.
"If we can subtly crack the door open, we can send Intrepid in to investigate," Axton offers.
The party can hear the invisible rat squeak, and it sounds decidedly alarmed and questioning.
"Nothing here has to make sense. Powerful magic and whatnot." Bharak said as he went about trying to quietly get the door cracked open enough for the invisible rat to get through.
Axton instructs Intrepid, who could suddenly start communicating with Axton last level, but neither remembered until just now, to go in and count how many people are in there, how many are wearing armor, and how many are wearing just normal clothes. And then come back quickly and tell him.
There is no sign that anyone has noticed the door being cracked open as you peek inside.
L20. THE GRAND BALLROOM
This cavernous hall is made of marble, with two rows of pillars carved to resemble tree trunks supporting the ceiling thirty feet above. The frescoed ceiling is painted to depict the canopy of foliage such trees would produce, and a star-flooded sky, full moon aglow, peeks through the boughs here and there.
A lavish rug, colored burnt orange shot through with threads of gold, runs the length of the room.
Two great tapestries of rich burgundy hang from the sides of a balcony on the east wall that overlooks the ball room from a height of thirty feet, while at the opposite end of the room, four statues of a beautiful woman guard a large stage.
A grand masked ball is in full swing. Dozens of men and women dressed in fine clothing dance to the music of a small orchestra on the stage, while just
below the stage sits none other than Runelord Sorshen herself on a ruby throne, clad in a scandalously revealing gown.
The invisible Intrepid slips into the room and reports back to Axton almost immediately!
"They aren't real. This is all an illusion!"
What are you doing now?
Watching as Bharak opens the door, Elathras stands very still, hoping the invisible wizard and his invisible rodent would be able to provide them with information.
"Outstanding work!" Axton floods his familiar with positive reinforcement.
Aloud, but still invisible, he says, "Intrepid has figured out that these people are just an illusion! This party isn't really here."
Bharak peeked in, still holding his breath. ”Right…” He said, with some uncertainty. ”Let’s check then.” Taking a rock, he lobbed it at Runelord Sorshen herself.
The range is far to great for Bharak's throw to reach Sorshen. As it clips through one of the revelers the image fades away. Leaving one annoyed looking Lustspawn alone in the Ballroom.
She spits a curse or two and immediately becomes Invisible.
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Bharak, Elthras, Axton & Elena can now act. What are you doing?