GM Neirikr's "Academy of Secrets" (Inactive)

Game Master Neirikr

"No! Wait! Please, I beg you! I'll...I'll do anything!" she shouts as she falls to her knee as though she were about to fully bow before the Qidim. It is in hopes that in his ego, he halts what he is about to do just long enough to allow someone to try to destroy the barrier. Behind her back, she signals to the group with a hand on her lower torso to continue and not wait. She readies an action to rush him once more and grapple him should the barrier go down. Elann can do nothing but stand there hopelessly, a bomb in one hand and her bottled sunlight in the other.

You said he looked pale like he hadn't seen sunlight in a while. Would such light blind him? That would pierce through the wall of force since it is light, right?

Viridel waves his hand in a dismissive gesture, partially miffed that he had to expend this spell already, utterly blasting away the devil's shield.
"I said yield," he orders the gidim again in a thunderous voice most unlike his own speaking voice.

Dispel Magic: 1d20 + 13 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 3 = 34
This little shit cost me a 5th and 6th level slot...

assuming the dispel worked

As soon as the protective sphere is sundered by Viridels magic, Grym SMASHES the possessed man repeatedly until he's unconscious
or at least tries to. With those rolls I'm not sure Grym SMASHES anything

non-lethal, each hit is accompanied by a bull rush. Grym will 5ft forward if that keeps villain within melee range. If villian gets bull-rushed out of melee range Grym switches to ranged with 14 less damage on each hit
Melee, 2handed PA(-4 +12), Flurry-2
attack#1: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21
Bull Rush +4 vs CMD
damage: 1d6 + 39 ⇒ (1) + 39 = 40

attack#2: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26
Bull Rush +4 vs CMD
damage: 1d6 + 39 ⇒ (1) + 39 = 40

attack#3: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26
Bull Rush +4 vs CMD
damage: 1d6 + 39 ⇒ (6) + 39 = 45

attack#4: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Bull Rush +4 vs CMD
damage: 1d6 + 39 ⇒ (6) + 39 = 45

Bayard follows Grym's example, moving to the possessed man's other side and attempting to (nonlethally) pummel him into submission.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 2 = 16
Damage (Bludgeoning, Nonlethal): 1d3 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Intimidate: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 = 14
Damage (Bludgeoning, Nonlethal): 1d3 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Intimidate: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30

Attack: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 2 = 11
Damage (Bludgeoning, Nonlethal): 1d3 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17
Intimidate: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 2 = 28
Damage (Bludgeoning, Nonlethal): 1d3 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Intimidate: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

Using Cornugon Smash for the intimidate on any hit. Though with those rolls, I doubt I got more than one hit.

The devil stops for a moment to gloat at Laree's apparent desperation, giving Viridel a chance to unravel its magical protections. Before it can react, Wolfe's frail body crumples under Bayard and Grymwold's combined assault, smashing against the shelf and collapsing unconsciously on the floor. Seeing there has been a change of plans, Maganrad intones another protective spell and takes a couple of steps in the room, shielding everyone from possession.

There is a sudden feeling of looming malevolence in the room, even compared to the constant sense of manifest evil that pervades all of Belzeragna. Only Viridel can see a vague blotch of darkness, like ink in water, floating up from the body and towards the ceiling of the library. It is roughly human-sized, but lacks any recognisable features or tangibility, being both incorporeal and invisible to the eyes of ordinary mortals.

The screeching voice, now without a clear source, echoes across the room: "USELESS! YOU CAN NEVER TAKE HIM OUT OF THIS ROOM!"

A sudden miasma, like the foul breath of some mould-ridden mausoleum, begins to fill the space in between Anethra and Viridel's barriers. Soon therein manifests pale green cloud which blocks all vision, making your eyes water with its sepulchral uncleanness.

Those in the hallway can hear the other door into the library rattling as the imps attempt to escape, but even in their multitude the little devils prove unable to budge the heavy iron obstruction.

Viridel gets rid of the gidim's resilient sphere.
Bayard and Grymwold easily batter Wolfe into unconsciousness.
Maganrad casts shield and moves in to keep everyone in the magic circle against evil.

The devil, which is naturally invisible, flies up to the ceiling and casts stinking cloud. That's a DC 18 Fortitude save against becoming nauseated. It also blocks sight, so even Viridel can't tell where enemy is anymore. The extent of the cloud is marked with the green rectangle (spreading around corners as well!).
The imps are well and truly trapped, so no worries on that front!

You're up!

Fortitude Elann: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 (Good save! And Laree is immune)
There is a wincing torment within Laree's face as Wofle is rendered unconscious. The blood alone brings flashes of the innocent boy she left behind. As he lays there crumpled, Laree looks upward with tears streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably. It is no longer a look of fear upon her face, but one of wrath. She pulls out her bombs of force. Laree then throws them at the precise spot it was last seen before casting its spell.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Damage Force: 7d4 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3, 2) + 7 + 1 = 21

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Damage Force: 7d4 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 3, 1, 2, 4) + 7 + 1 = 24

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Damage Force: 7d4 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4, 4, 1, 1, 1, 4) + 7 + 1 = 26

Elann, able to resist the stinking cloud for one round, can feel it trying to affect her. She quickly moves to her master's belt pouch and takes the delay poison potion, rendering her immune for the duration.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22
Bayard coughs a couple of times, but is mostly just annoyed by the cloud obscuring his vision. "Devil farts. Disgusting."

fort, Steel Soul, Glory of Old: 1d20 + 18 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 18 + 4 + 1 = 29

Grym has no problem toughing out the stench but is annoyed at not being able to see any foes to bash.

Fort: 1d20 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 3 = 20

Viridel squints, drifting back to the room and away from the stinking cloud, rising above it--before spreading out his fist, scattering motes of stars to fall upon where the devil drifted.

Casting Glitterdust on the devil, DC 21

"He is revealed to you, heroes!" Viridel calls.

Fort: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Coughing, eyes streaming with tears, Anethra remains focused on the task at hand.

Muttering under her breath, she unleashes a spell to neutralize at least some of the devil's powers.

Casting Purge Invisibility.

Maganrad cannot deal with the fog as well as the rest of the group, coughing and retching as he props himself against the door-frame. Fortunately, maintaining the protective circle does not require any further effort on his part—the enchanter is obviously not in any shape to incant for now.

Anethra and Viridel once again act in concert to strip the enemy of its protections. While the priestess' prayer spreads across the library like a mutter of harsh opprobrium, the elven seer's spell shoots up into the fog, making it glitter in an incongruous display of stellar beauty—in the swirling depths of the noxious gas, one can see brief flashes shimmery starlight as the possession devil moves erratically about the ceiling. Even so, Laree's bombs seem not to find their marks: fragments of plaster fall down from the malodorous cloud, sent flying by the magical detonations, but there is no indication that the gidim was hit by any of them.

Soon there is another burst of magical energy from up above, a cloying miasma of greasy darkness which spreads out through the mist-covered room, drawing out life and snuffing out hope in equal measure. Maganrad holds firm for now, while Wolfe's unconscious body seems entirely unaffected.

Laree's only high attack roll is, unfortunately, foiled by concealment.

Viridel casts glitterdust at the ceiling—it's not immediately clear how it affected the devil, though it doesn't sound happy. I believe that as long as it stays further than 5 feet away, the glitter won't automatically give away its location (though it's now much easier to locate with Perception, since its ability to use Stealth is impaired).

Anethra casts invisibility purge, meaning that anything magically invisible within 65 feet of her should now be visible—of course, the fog still blocks vision, so there's no way to tell whether it worked. (I don't believe that it extends through the walls to the imps, but that's not really relevant unless they find a way out, anyway.)

The gidim casts unholy blight, dealing 25 damage and causing good targets to be sickened for 1d4 rounds (roll for yourself if relevant). A DC 20 Will save halves the damage and avoids the sickened condition. Neutral characters take half damage and are not sickened, and can further halve the damage by succeeding their save. Notably, both Anethra and Wolfe are unaffected. Maganrad takes half for being neutral, and then saves for another half from that.

You're up! Remember that you need to keep making saves against the stinking cloud as long as you remain within its area.

fort, steel soul, glory of old: 1d20 + 18 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 18 + 4 + 1 = 37

will, steel soul, glory of old: 1d20 + 11 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 4 + 1 = 35 12dam

Grym mostly ignores the spells and concentrates on locating the fiend through the annoying fog
perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (15) + 21 = 36

Getting a rough idea of where the fiend is Grym launches a ranged barrage at it

Ranged Flurry-2

miss, high good, low bad: 1d2 ⇒ 1
attack#1: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (6) + 23 = 29
Bull Rush +4 vs CMD
damage: 1d6 + 25 ⇒ (5) + 25 = 30

miss, high good, low bad: 1d2 ⇒ 1
attack#2: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24
Bull Rush +4 vs CMD
damage: 1d6 + 25 ⇒ (3) + 25 = 28

miss, high good, low bad: 1d2 ⇒ 2
attack#3: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30
Bull Rush +4 vs CMD
damage: 1d6 + 25 ⇒ (1) + 25 = 26

miss, high good, low bad: 1d2 ⇒ 2
attack#4: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Bull Rush +4 vs CMD
damage: 1d6 + 25 ⇒ (6) + 25 = 31

Fortitude: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20
Will: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24

As the unholy energy sweeps over him, Bayard sighs and casts a spell. He immediately sprouts incongruous white feathered wings. He then flies 30 feet toward the devil. (Angelic Aspect)

Fort: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Stealing herself against the noxious fumes, Anethra thinks quickly, and unleashes a second, subtler spell.

Bayard and Grim's weapons suddenly gleam with newfound wickedness, their edges turning razor-sharp and weeping black blood.

Casting Badger's Ferocity, targeting Grim's shield and Bayard's weapons so that their critical threat range is doubled under keen.

"Your putrid efforts won't linger around my family another day. The memory of you will be forever gone."

Both Laree and Elann can feel the inky black wash over them, and while it does sting their skin with abrasive violence, it is nothing both of them have not felt far worse before.

Elann moves out of the room and initiates her bottle of sunlight, creating a mote for Laree. This will start the process of dendritic regeneration in case things become far more violent.

(7 damage taken, removed from her temporary HP. This isn't affected by fast healing I believe, so it's just gone.)

Laree will again, pierce through the fog and try to discern where this being is. His invisible form now is clearer to see and she aims true. With a swift gulping of her extract, the bomb-throwing alchemist can better target him. She throws her bombs upward to the roof again and hopefully does not go askew.

Viridel notices the blight strike his allies, but remains hovering high since withdrawing from the cloud of gas.

He contemplates how to assist his allies without entering the fray, and elects to hasten them with magic.
Viridel uses Preferred Spell to turn Heroism into Haste to give everyone the benefits of the spell. This gives Grymwold and Laree an extra +1 to their existing attacks, and doubles Bayard's potential speed.

Guessing that it's obfuscation indicates a weakness to light, Anethra projects a palm before her and lets out a wild call as she unleashed an attack.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
Damage from Searing Light: 5d8 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 7, 4) = 19

Carried aloft by his angelic wings, Bayard rises through the gas towards the ceiling. There he sees what Laree has seen for some time: a glittering, amorphous cloud, reduced to a wisp by his comrades' continued assault. Nevertheless, it continues to lash out, driven by desperation and spite.

Before the paladin has a chance to cut the creature down, it reaches out with its tattered extremities, whispering in his ear a potent curse:

"FALL AS I DID, FOREVER DAMNED!"

Handwaving a bit to make up for lost time: the enemy still has some HP left, but I'm confident that between Laree, Bayard and Grymwold, you can finish it off next round. As its last act, the devil attempts to cast greater bestow curse on Bayard, who has to make a DC 23 Will save or be cursed thusly: once per day he must succeed at another Will save or have his alignment shift a step towards lawful evil. The first shift doesn't happen immediately, but a day after the initial save against the spell.

"UUUUSSSSsssseeeeleeeessssssss..."

After another volley of attacks from both far and near, the gidim finally disperses, causing the feeling of malevolence permeating the room to diminish—if only barely so. Wolfe lies unconscious on the floor, while Maganrad hurriedly stumbles out of the library to retch in the hallway. The sickening gas persist, and the imps continue to scrabble behind their walls, trapped for now—but not forever.

We're not quite out initiative, since the wall of force only lasts for about 10 more rounds (fortunately, wall of stone is permanent). Feel free to narrate a couple rounds of action at once if you'd like, but you're still on a timer until you're out of the library or find a way to trap the eastern imps permanently.

Laree pierces the veil of smoke with her eyes and in combination with her companions, they vanquish it. With the final dissipation of the evil entity, she takes in a deep breath and wipes the tears from her sorrowful eyes. She now pays unwavering attention to her poor, beaten brother. With great effort, she will drag his stinking, wild body out of the room and out of danger so that the imps will not have any success at assaulting either them or him. She removes him to where Maganrad stands outside of the gas and falls to her knees at his side.

"Someone should quickly search the room please. Anything of use or information he's gathered might be good for us to have. Perhaps my brother kept notes? That would be like him..."

However, she does not leave his unconscious side and lingers, cleaning his fresh head wound with a cloth. The alchemist waits and does not go about recovering him yet. Elann waits at the doors to close them when everyone is out. This will be before the duration expires on the wall of force.

"We thought he was dead..." she volunteers to Maganrad before continuing, "but part of me knew...I knew he wasn't. My father gave up hope. He gave up on life after Rolfe went missing. I wonder how many others have met this fate after so many years?"

Heal: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 (Make sure he's not brain dead and is recoverable}

Once his head wound is a bit more cleaned, she will prepare an infusion and will pour it down his throat. Her insight into the planes and how they affect the human body was quintessential in her schooling past. With her infusion, she imparts part of herself and hopes that she can overcome whatever effect this place has stained upon her brother.

Casting Remove Curse.
Caster Level+1cold iron flakes+luck: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24 (Targetting a curse that would affect his alignment/mentality)

As it is, she won't know if it works until she heals the poor boy. Until then, Laree will take her grooming kit and groom Rolfe's wild nails, briefly cut back his wild hair, and would beg Viridel for a casting of prestidigitation to clean him and his clothing. If all is well and they do not reside in danger here, she will inquire to the party as to whether they should wake him here or not?

Viridel closes the door to the library to seal away the evil, if marginally so.
He turns to the others, focusing on Wolfe. He grants Laree's request, wiping away the man's soiled clothes.

"He looks older." Viridel says grimly. "How many years have passed, Laree?"

Anethra watches with casual interest as Laree tends to her brother; while her heart is unmoved by the wretch's plight, she's ready to help heal the man if it furthers their goals.

"Let me know if you require assistance, dear. Asmodeus is always willing to bequeath his blessings upon those important to our cause."

"It's been a few years since I've seen him. He entered the challenge last year...and I know he didn't look like this. This is a long period of suffering and torment I see in his skin. He has been prematurely aged by stress, on top of whatever this place has done to him. I have a feeling that time is passing slower here than on our plane..."

She caresses his newly cleaned face and arms, gives his hands a squeeze, and then looks to Anethra when she offers assistance.

"Perhaps I will pluck some knowledge from you as to how to possibly reverse what has been done to him fully...if possible..."

"I don't know what to do. Should I revive him or should we keep him unconscious? I'm afraid he may side with the devils here if we do wake him."

Laree pierces the veil of smoke with her eyes and in combination with her companions, they vanquish it. With the final dissipation of the evil entity, she takes in a deep breath and wipes the tears from her sorrowful eyes. She now pays unwavering attention to her poor, beaten brother. With great effort, she will drag his stinking, wild body out of the room and out of danger so that the imps will not have any success at assaulting either them or him.

Wolfe is surprisingly heavy, considering his apparent emaciation. Even more concerningly, as soon as his body starts to cross over the threshold of the library, he is whisked away by some unseen force, reappearing on the floor near the middle of the chamber. Even in his unconscious state, you can hear a slight whimper of discomfort or pain escape his slackened lips...

I'll assume first aid takes place in the library for now, with some more handwaving in regards to extract preparation and whatnot. We're still on a clock!

Heal: 4 + 10 = 14 (Make sure he's not brain dead and is recoverable}

Once his head wound is a bit more cleaned, she will prepare an infusion and will pour it down his throat. Her insight into the planes and how they affect the human body was quintessential in her schooling past. With her infusion, she imparts part of herself and hopes that she can overcome whatever effect this place has stained upon her brother.

Casting Remove Curse.
Caster Level+1cold iron flakes+luck: 7 + 17 = 24 (Targetting a curse that would affect his alignment/mentality)

Laree has trouble diagnosing her patient. Any physical damage he just suffered is, fortunately, entirely non-permanent, and even his long-term deprivation might be treatable with enough time—however, whatever malady of the soul Wolfe is suffering from appears to go beyond a simple curse. Even with the proper application of the anti-imprecationary tonic, there is no appreciable difference in the half-elf's condition: blackened veins bulge against chalk-pale skin, and his body temperature seems to be higher what any normal mortal could reasonably endure. Above that he just... feels different, in some indescribable yet deeply fundamental way.

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (11) + 29 = 40 Can't fail. Beating almost double the DC, and being a master metamorph, there is no known way she can undo this?

If there is no cure for his affliction by remove curse, the remove curse should work on whatever is cursing him, which should be whatever is binding him to the room, or am I wrong? Is this also part of the metamorphosis and not dispellable? She's going to essentially have to leave her brother here??

Will: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

As the fiend attempts to curse him, Bayard merely stares sternly at it, before ending it's existence with a stroke of his mighty axe. He descends again, touching down suprisingly lightly, given his size.

Viridel is surprised at the binding of Wolfe's body to the library, and studies him with Detect Magic, ignoring the wrathful cries of the innumberable imps in midair.

Arcana: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (10) + 25 = 35
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (17) + 25 = 42

"Young Wolfe...what aid I can give to you, I shall."

Viridel studies this phenomenon and tries to find a way to break the binding of Wolfe to this room, or if he gravitates to something that can be moved. If a Dimension Door (or anchor) spell would overcome this effect and allow him to leave the room.

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

"It would seem your brother is irrevocably touched by this plane, darling." Anethra studies the man with obvious interest. "I've heard rumors that kytons originate in such fashion; perhaps your brother's fate is to serve a more glorious master. This need not be seen as a calamity."

Rising and sweeping her skirts back, Anethra glances about the library with annoyance. "Regardless, he is still much himself. I can tend to his physical ailments, and then we should proceed with our plans."

DM, I'm not sure which healing spell is most appropriate: Restoration Greater or Heal?

Hey Buddy... Why dontchya come with us? The wall holding back those imps is gonna fall real soon. I think you've spent enough time with them don't you?

diplomacy lol: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11

See the discussion thread for Q&A.

Anethra lays a hand on Wolfe's forehead, imbuing him with the reinvigorating might of the Pit. The half-elf snaps back to wakefulness, fully healed of his bruises and somewhat more lucid than he was under the gidim's influence. Tears stream down his face as he tries to comprehend what is being said to him—Laree's calming touch is all that is keeping him from losing his train of thought entirely.

"I'm sorry," he whimpers, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I... I can't leave until I've found my spellbook, but those... those damned imps keep moving things around! It's maddening. It's in my contract. Oh, I know I shouldn't have signed it... but I was so desperate! I can't stand it anymore. P-please, won't you help me look? I'm so, so sorry..."

"I don't believe that," she coldly replies to Anethra. "While he has suffered, I am certain there are spells and methods to reverse this. He doesn't deserve it. If one wishes to choose to follow such things, then so be it, but I know him, he wouldn't have wanted to."

When his eyes snap open and he voices his concern over his spellbook, she looks into his eyes. Could he lie to her? They didn't have much more time.

Sense Motive (Discern Lies): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

"What do you intend to cast out of it if you do find it?" she asks. "Or will it just let you leave this room?"

Viridel likewise studies Wolfe's expression for deceit or anything unusual.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33

Viridel casts his eyes around the library, studying the place.

"I can scry for the book if I have its description, Wolfe," Viridel says. "Describe it to me, and we might be able to extract it out of this...veritable cloud of devils.

Wolfe seems a bit addled, but entirely—desperately—honest.

"What do you intend to cast out of it if you do find it?" she asks. "Or will it just let you leave this room?"

Wolfe shakes his head. "No, no spells... I'm just supposed to... find it, touch it. Then I can... leave, f-finally."

"I can scry for the book if I have its description, Wolfe," Viridel says. "Describe it to me, and we might be able to extract it out of this...veritable cloud of devils.

"It's been so long," moans the half-elf. "It's... uh... it has darkwood covers, with gold... with gilded scrollwork. Laree... Laree got it for me, when I started... l-learning magic. D-dad always said I should write copies, just in case, but I... I really liked that book."

Through the mist Laree can see Maganrad, still sickened by the noxious fumes, leaning on the door-frame and holding out the grimoire you found earlier in the laboratory across the hall. He looks as if he wants to say something, but also seems to be on the verge of vomiting.

Laree doesn't answer him. She just runs her hand lovingly through his hair and nods to show she will help. In the meantime, she will be letting Virdel talk to him. She will move over to Maganrad. With care, she lightly touches the ulfen's arm. Laree holds out her other hand for the notebook.

"Your face looks green with sickness...You need to get out of this area and recover." He looks like he is going to say something to her and she will wait but if it is easier, she just asks him, "Can I give this to my brother now that you've prepared some spells from it?"

If he hands it over, she will return with the book to Wolfe.

"We found it in the other room. They've been manipulating you, making you think the books are switched around, but you never would have found it."

Such torture almost makes her want to tear up again and he can easily see it on her face. It then is replaced by a forced smile. "Shall we get out of here dearest brother?"

Bayard stands by silently, watching for any indication that the barrier holding back the imps is faltering.

Viridel nods, and says, "We must away, young ones. We have barely scratched the surface of this hell."

Maganrad waves off Laree's concerns, motioning for her to focus on Wolfe. She barely has time to present the spellbook to his brother before he lunges for it with a desperate howl. It takes a moment for her words to sink in, but when they do, he bursts into manic laughter, which is soon followed by more sobs. He is able to be led out without further issue.

You make your exit into the hallway, and the heavy iron doors are closed behind you. Soon you can hear the sounds of imps scrabbling on the other side, unable to budge it with their meagre strength.

After Laree has escorted his brother out of the room, he collapses to his knees and clutches the book against his chest in something of a fugue. He seems eminently relieved by his escape, but also maddened by the revelation of the futility of his decades-long search in the library.

Maganrad—after getting over his nausea—leans closer to address Laree.

"I can look after him," he says quietly and motions to Wolfe, "make sure he does not wander off or get into trouble. You need to focus on getting us out of here."

If Laree objects or alludes to the dangers of baby-sitting a hell-corrupted lunatic, he counters, "I had to drag my father home from the mead-hall many a time as a child, and he was quite a bit burlier than your brother."

Where to next?

Now that he is clean, trimmed, and free, she sits close as he collapses to his knees. When he is a bit more relieved, she brushes his hair lightly with her fingers and says, "Come brother...we are getting out of here, to fresh air and sunlight, where you can taste the goods of the world once more."

She stands and offers him a hand up to come with them. At the sound of the flurried bashes against the door, she jumps, but hearing the imps fail at getting through, she laughs lightly to her brother.

"That must be a refreshing sound. I'd imagine it hurts to hit that door so hard. Payback for however long you stayed down here. They are going to starve to death in there...a long, slow death." she nods and moves over to the other, beckoning him to come with them. When she checks on Maganrad, she is hesitant, but at his words, she relents and nods.

"I too will keep an eye on him, as best I can. I don't expect you to take this burden on yourself. I came for him. He may struggle with things along the way. If worse comes to worst, we can always place him in my portable hole...," although she doesn't seem to like the idea that just came out of her mouth.

As Laree An gets her brother situated Grym ponders going through the double doors or doubling back to the lone unexplored door in this hallway.

just to be thorough, let's double back and check that door before going through this double door here.

unless there are any objections Grym leads the group back to the single door on the southern wall of the western most part of the hallway

perception, checking for obvious traps before opening the door: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35

Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 28

Bayard assists Grym in checking for traps.

Viridel assists the rest in checking for traps and encourages the party to carry on.

1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 31

What's the hold up?

Having taken a moment to recover, the group continues to explore the hallway. Maganrad assumes custody over Wolfe, taking him gently by the hand and keeping him a few steps behind the vanguard. The Ulfen re-introduces himself and begins talking to his fellow student about their shared experiences at the Acadamae. There is no magic involved, but something about his voice, its depth and sing-song cadence, exudes a near-hypnotic calm—obviously, there is more to an enchanter's art than just spellcraft. This assumed familiarity calms the half-elf to some degree, though he remains quiet and skittish.

Deeming the heavy iron door to be untrapped, Grymwold shoulders it open. Beyond is a scholarly office, albeit the office of a very messy professor: tattered books and broken furniture lie strewn across the floor, with only a desk and a few bookshelves having weathered the destruction. More strangely, there are osseous spurs protruding from the dark wooden panels that make up walls, curving up and down like the broken ribs of a giant. Where they pierce through, rivulets of rancid blood trickle down, pooling on the floor amidst the debris. In a bizarre contrast to the clutter, there are bones from dozens of creatures resting in elaborate piles on nearly every surface—entire humanoid skeletons taken apart and stacked up neatly, with the skull from each sitting on top, staring into the room with vacant, hollow eyes.

Beneath each pile of bones sits a small iron plaque engraved with phrases in various languages and scripts—all of them are desperate and fragmentary, as if someone's last pained thoughts had spontaneously etched themselves into the metal. One of the largest and most elaborate skeletal constructions lies upon the desk, and its plaque has tiny writing scrawled over its surface in precise, swirling Infernal text. It reads:

"This is no Hall of Wards but a Hell of Magic. The Breaching is a sham. Flee, if you can, before the whispers drive you mad."

Perception: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (12) + 30 = 42

The bookshelf is where Laree immediately heads once the room is considered cleared. She takes in the various titles; some of which she is certain she doesn't wish to continue existing in the realm of literature, but it is here she finds a crevice and a scroll.

"Here we are...Look at what it says here..." she doesn't read it aloud, as she is unsure if the mentioning of its name will hold power here and draw it to them. Viridel and Anethra can discuss who wants to the scroll of banishment. She will pass it along as she examines the various plaques. It almost reminds her of a museum but what she'd expect one to look like were she be in hell (which she is). "Poor souls..." she mutters under her breath. She then moves to go give her brother a loving hug, once again, filled with the overwhelming happiness that he is not like these poor souls. When her hug is through, she will move to the loose papers and investigate to see if there is anything further that they can use to help them with their freedom from this place.

Elann watches with sentinel-like eyes toward the rib-looking decoration.

Viridel's eyes light up with inner elven magic...

Casting Arcane Sight

...and they fall upon the plaque.

"No..." he whispers, drifting closer. He says nothing for a long time.

"I had hoped I might find you as Laree found her brother," he says softly to the skull.

"It seems to me you did find him," says Anethra flippantly, moving to stand alongside Viridel and peer at the skull. "The problem rather seems to be one of timing. You're too late."

She moves on, around the desk, ignoring Viridel's response, only to pause as if recalling something and look up.

"Oh. Wait a second. You might be late, but I am always right on time." And so saying she draws forth a brilliant gem the size of her fist, its glimmers and purity wholly at odds with the foul nature of their environs, and sets it to spinning upon the palm of her hand.

"See? We followers of Asmodeus are not utterly without heart. Let us see what we can do, and we shall talk later about repayment."

And so saying she crushed the diamond within her clasp and calls out a word of terrible power.

(Casting Resurrection on Marius' remains.)

"It seems to me you did find him," says Anethra flippantly, moving to stand alongside Viridel and peer at the skull. "The problem rather seems to be one of timing. You're too late."

Viridel flicks his eye to leer at the Asmodean priestess, but says nothing. His throat was too constrained.

"To think I once doubted you," he whispers to the skull as Anethra moves around the desk. "I once feared that our differences would be settled by combat. You have not failed me or di--"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 17 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 17 + 4 = 30
He stops suddenly, eyes flicking to Anethra, sensing a wave of power about to wash over them.
She--wouldn't, he thought.

"Oh. Wait a second. You might be late, but I am always right on time." And so saying she draws forth a brilliant gem the size of her fist, its glimmers and purity wholly at odds with the foul nature of their environs, and sets it to spinning upon the palm of her hand."See? We followers of Asmodeus are not utterly without heart. Let us see what we can do, and we shall talk later about repayment."

And so saying she crushed the diamond within her clasp and calls out a word of terrible power.

Viridel's voice is caught in his own throat, and he takes a step back in stunned surprise.

Laree can feel Viridel's pain, and even her brother would know it to some degree as Viridel is a close member to their family. She pairs with swift anger at Anethra's comments, but internally has some conflict as she has seen the mage's intent. Her intent is to be free of this place, and will do anything to secure that. Sure enough, when she offers to bring Marius back, Laree almost smiles, but knows better than to give the woman too much credit. Will it work? She wonders. In either case, she moves over to place a soft hand on the elder's shoulder in sympathy.

Anethra touches the gem to Marius' skull, intoning her dark prayer to the God-Fiend. However, much as with the body of Illia Ean, the power builds and wanes, but fails to raise Viridel's apprentice from the dead. His soul appears to be beyond the reach of even such a powerful supplication.

The Asmodean does note a difference from when she attempted to resurrect Illia: her soul felt like it was nearby, but actively held back from returning, while Marius feels more distant, almost non-existent—there is little to no tug at the end of the fishing-line, as it were.

There's enough collective know-how in the group to infer the following: assuming that time of death is not an issue (i.e., Marius died within the last 130 years of "local time"), Marius' soul is likely bound by an infernal contract, or has already been transformed into a devil. In either case, bringing him back would require wish, miracle or divine intervention (or the annulment of his contract before resurrection, if applicable.)

Neither the diamond nor Anethra's spell slot are expended.

At the spell's failure, Laree again comforts her old teacher.

"At least we have his body here. There is no apparent sign here that he did submit and become something else. Perhaps if we bring part of him with us, there is some spell you can devise to undo this evil once we are out? Or, if we are lucky, a contract concerning him will have been left in here..."

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (6) + 25 = 31

Laree slides her hand from Viridel's back and moves over to the desk. Her and Elann scan it and the room for anything else of interest; in particular a contract concerning Marius. If nothing is found, they then will focus on what they must do--get her brother out of here.

Let's go, all! :) Next room?

Before proceeding to the double doors Grym heals himself of some lingering minor wounds
CLW: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (5, 8) + 2 = 15

Grym leads the group to the double doors at the east end of the hall and after inspecting, opens them to see what awaits beyond
perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (19) + 21 = 40

Byard stays just far enough behind Grym so that they do not obstruct one another's movements.

Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

The dwarf does, however, obstruct his vision.