CORE PFS1 10-16 What the Helms Hide PaizoCon Online PbP (Inactive)

Game Master Curaigh

"I'm from Ustalav, so everywhere I've been's normal compared ta that. I been on the same two missions as Merida so far, so same creatures. I got a little more familiar with the giant skunk than I'd have liked."

"What about you, Urgrin? What'd you do before you had the cat here at the Spire ta keep you busy?"

...

Don't have those Knowledge skills either.

Noticing the tracks as Merida points them out, Grigory attempts to identify the creature that may have made them.

Survival (Track): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"I read. Voraciously! Have any books or tomes I might be able to peruse while we're here?". Malakar says with a smile. "Maybe something magical?". Deep down, Malakar hopes one of them is a wizard that may have things they can share.

"And I recently picked up the art of calligraphy. Perhaps I can show you? It's very therapeutic."

I trained to be a guard and constable, but I chose instead an aesthetic life dedicated to pursuit of enlightenment through physical study. But I recognize the work you've both put in here, and as a Dwarf, it warms my heart. I've certainly faced my share of brigands, skeletons, even exploding pumpkin-men... Markus shares with the others.

KNowledge, Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

What do you think it could be? Kobolds down here?Markus asks the others.

...But enough about me. How did you come to be head architect here, Helga?"

My grandda was third generation stonemason. He carved a beautiful woman from stone, which is how he met my grandma. So great was his skill that she came to life and they two fell in love,"[/b] she laughs as if retelling a private joke. "I never met my grandma. But there was carving of her in grandda's place." she pauses speaking, but her eyes are moving as if she is almost done calculating complex angles. Then she shrugs "I guess you could say I have stonemasonry in my blood."

"What about you, Urgrin? What'd you do before you had the cat here at the Spire ta keep you busy?"

"Why, the cat's ma of course!" "No the truth of it is I have done lots and to lots of places. See those houses there? I laid those first stones. And that tower there? There are 457 flat marble slabs on each of the five floors. I know, because I have swept every one of them for year. Gotta stay busy you know. Idle hands & the devil & all that."

Updating maps now, Pathfinders, see slide 6. What would you like to do?

know engineering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Hmmpf Typical Droskar engineering almost like they were trying to drag things down to human levels

Seeing Merida's reaction, Nightkit moves closer to the other woman and whispers What's up Merida?

She too has gone on alert.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

"If I am to shoot any enemy on slide 7 ;-) I need someone to shine a light!" exclaims Merida.

"I forget sometimes you humans can't see in the dark," Grigory whispers. "Lemme peek around this rock a little ta see what I can see before we start shining lights around and announcing we're here."

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Malakar already starts to feel a bit claustrophobic. "Are we sure it's safe in there? What about creepy-crawlies?". He looks around nervously. "What'ya see Grigory?"

errr... yes slide 7.

Merida Bowie: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Tristan Beowulf Derexhi: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12
Markus Stonewarden: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Malakar Wandermore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Nightkit goes into 'hide and sneak mode' as she calls it.

stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Her intent is to get close enough to find out what's going on without being detected.

((Moved Nightkit up to where Grigory is))

"Whatever's farther down there makin' that noise don't know we're here yet," Grigory whispers to Nightkit. "You wanna go let the others know what's goin' on and bring 'em this way? I'll stay here until you get back an' yell if anythin' tries ta come past me."

He grips his greataxe a bit more tightly as he readies for anything that might emerge from the passage ahead of him.

Nightkit nods and goes back to do that.

Markus listens to Nightkit's warning, and grimly follows her back into the tunnels. Looking at Merida, Markus nods, and illuminates the area with his Wayfinder. Everyone set? he asks before moving forward.

Using Wayfinder to cast light so Merida can see too!

As soon as Grigory sees the light from the other Pathfinders or hears their approach over the sound coming from farther down in the cavern, he'll step forward cautiously and attempt to see what's making the noise.

Merida smiles at Markus, then follows him into the tunnels.
She keeps a few steps distance, ready to let the arrow fly towards any threat that the light unveils.

Thank you, Markus! :-)

Tristan casts mage armour on himself and prepares to follow the wayfinder

Malakar follows behind. He tip toes as he tries to step quietly. "Can everyone see?" he whispers, offering to cast light if needed.

Nightkit is in the shadows but using the light of Markus's Wayfinder to see what's up ahead.

Must get me one of those fancy wayfinders too she thinks to herself. Although that light might make me a target

stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Once a statue garden, these halls are cluttered with scorched and shattered stones. Short, dusty pedistals have little to showcase, save for rubble and the occasional stone foot. Several stout skeletons lie beneath the piles of ruin, their brittle bones snapped and scattered.
A single pristine warhammer rests on the floor to the northwest.

Should I check the spoiler within a spoiler up above now that Grigory has moved forward from his previous stopping point?

The description above mostly covers it. I set up a post assuming that everyone went into the room, then realized you may choose not to (assumptions... Right?:) The description is for the room before you enter. The spoiler will repeat for everyone eventually, but if you are entering the room you can. I can add that the hammer is marked H, & the area around it is faintly lit from its reflective polish.

EDIT: the noise seems farther away, barely audible as an echo that has faded. On the surface of the hammer reflections occasionally pass over it, though nothing is in the room to make any such reflections.

Also it is the area causing a wariness in the war priest (a successful Perception

Nightkit looks suspiciuosly at the hammer. The whole setup screams TRAP in large glowy letters. She waits to see what her companions do.

Well I could always summon a friend next to the hammer

Prepares to cast (from arcane bond)summon monster I(celestial Dog) next to the hammer unless anyone objects}

Markus looks over at Nightkit, Any sense if that's really a trap? Sure looks like one... Tristan, maybe wait a moment to see if we can figure it out; we don't need a deadfall or something alerting whatever was making all that noise ahead. the dwarf only mildly objects to the plan.

Tristan stands ready to be amazed by a better idea

"Someone or somethin' was just down here makin' noise. Like they were workin' on somethin'. That's why I waited here and sent Kit back for the rest of you but it sounds like whatever it was gone deeper in the cave now," Grigory tells the others.
"Maybe what they were doin' has somethin' ta do with that hammer?"

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"I... I could shoot an arrow at the hammer. Let's see if something happens then!"

Merida will focus on the hammer and then on his surroundings including the ceiling above the hammer.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 6

You shooting that arrow or what

Kinda guessing with that perception he may have missed the arrow being shot

Shooting an arrow has no effect beyond a colorful spark and an echo of steel on steel.

Perception checks have successfully identified an area of concern. The choices (at this point) are to avoid the area or risk entering it. If you are avoiding it there is nothing else in this room & I will move you to the next fork. :)

Well, is it worth trying to summon something there? Markus asks Tristan. I'm unsure of it, but that could be a clue we're looking for.

Tristan does wait for another dissenting voice and summons a celestial dog

Nightkit just shrugs

If we all keep to the walls and go around it ... we should be okay she says quietly.

"Uh, is it magical? Only one way to tell!"

Malakar looks at the hammer and casts detect magic.

I am not 100% sure I am getting this right, but it seems the party (2 for 1 against, 1 debating, 3 silent) is mostly for examining the hammer further

The ritual finished a beautiful hound from the place of angels appears near the hammer. As it approaches tail wagging, several dwarves bearing the symbol of Droskar appear and draw their hammers.

One of them begins to mutter incoherently before turning his weapon on his brethren. Then, one by one, they all break into a riot of muttered gibberish and violence until one remains standing. This dwarf looks to the warhammer in his hand and states, “This weapon struck no enemies, only my brothers and sisters. I have failed...”

This survivor then backs away towards the east, begging for his life, as a female dwarf in a domino mask approaches him. She draws a blade and cuts him down. His body drops and . She turns towards the angelic hound and glares at it, crystal tears trickling from her eyes.

The dog needs to make a Will save.

The female dwarf, then moves off striding through the wall. The dwarves bodies fade away one by one, leaving in their place the skeletons on the floor. The final survivor is the last to go, with his final breath he repeats "...struck no enemies." The warhammer slips from his lifeless grip. Then his body also fades. Leaving the warhammer on the floor just as you found it.
Knowledge religion

knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

I am curious as to the meanings of this vision, 'struck no enemies' is very specific. Should we take the hammer with us? the dwarf asks the others.

"What if it makes us start fightin' each other like them? Might be best we leave it."

The hammer did not detect as magical to Malakar's catsing. Markus gets no more insight. Perhaps someone else might?

will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
know religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Tristan knows nothing

Whether the dog is barking or whimpering GM knows

Anyone else have training in Knowledge (Religion)? Grigory's not very knowledgeable about anything yet.

Knowledge Religion untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 14

If we are allowed to aid another untrained, Merida can take 10 to do so:

Aid Knowledge Religion untrained Take 10: 10 + 2 = 12

If Grigory's and Markus' rolls counted as aids to Tristan as well, we would be at a result of 16 which would beat the DC...

Malakar is not a religious scholar and just gawks at the scene before him. "At least the hammer isn't magical." He shrugs

To aid one must be able to make the check. Knowledge checks are Trained only. Though their are always exceptions, this isn't one of them. :)

Merida and Grigory think the hammer is safe to handle now that the figures have disappeared. Markus and Tristan also see no harms. Indeed the party is able to approach the hammer with no further incidents, except for the occasional echo of someone working that emanates from the hammer.

The celestial dog quivers uncontrollably after the crystalline stare from the lady in the domino mask.
Shaken condition. What is the duration of your summon spell?

Search more? What now, where to?

"Shiny!"

Merida picks up the hammer.

I'm not sure what to make of that ... some sort of vision of what happened here?

Still I'm wondering who that person in the mask was.

She steps forward into the chamber.

Malakar shrugs. "There's no magics in here. So nothing interesting."

He follows Nightkit into the chamber though.

Is magics the only thing you find interesting? Nightkit asks, with a sly smile.

"No... I find many things interesting!". He stutters, thinking what else he finds interesting, then noticing the warhammer. "I find hammers very intriguing, you know."

Hmmmmm Nightkit ponders with a smile. Just wondered. Last time there was a halfling guy in my party, he was following me around like a love sick puppy. He nearly had a nosebleed when I had to go for a dip in the lake to get the item we were after. She snickers at that, obviously teasing Malakar. I guess it's a bard thing.

There is a snickering behind you. "Making a halfling blush? Does that count as a craft," Urgrin winks at Helga.

Meridia is holding a masterwork hammer.