GM Erich's 5-23 Cairn of Shadows (Tier 5-9) (Inactive)

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

I'm a master at shooting point-blank with my bow. Plus, I can see very well in the dark. I'm not bad at scouting ahead, either. If you'd like, I can take a front rank position.

Igor nods at Paxal as he is well aware of his order and their reputation for exceptional marksmanship.

"I would advise against splitting up and scouting in this cairn. The historical records indicate that the rooms have a tendency to shift and change. I would not like for anyone to become accidentally separated from the group. If it does become necessary I will send my familiar to look ahead and report back. He can always glide through the walls to find us again."

Paxal you might want to discuss the front rank with Zzorn. Barbarians typically like a charge lane. :)

I'm good wherever. Feel free to put your characters in front of Zzorn.

Notos is good in the middle where she is. She will pull out her shortbow and keep her eyes peeled with her 60 ft darkvision.

I moved a few of us around to place Paxal in the back. Is the positioning good with everyone?

I just moved my familiar back to the second row. He is alright in combat but not the front-line. Does anyone else have a light source other than Igor? So far we have eyes out to 75' past the front line with low-light vision and the light spell.

I'm staying next to Notos for RP and Chosen Ally class feature reasons

Nearing the entrance into the Cairn, you quickly discover that your light sources seem to dull sharply past the portal and do not extend as far as you would anticipate. Ranges are halved...

Moving farther down the corridor, it impossibly opens up into a large hall stretching to some great height, its ceiling too high to see. Chains of every size and length hang from above, filling the space with delicate clinks and slow scraping sounds as they gently sway in some unfelt breeze. The depth and height of the chamber are difficult to assess as the chains obscure vision beyond a few feet, but through the forest of chains comes the sound of strangely slow running water ahead.

The thick curtains of chains hang from the ceiling above, obscuring vision and potentially obstructing attacks. Creatures more than 10 feet apart gain concealment (20% miss chance) from one another, while creatures more than 30 feet apart have total concealment (50% miss chance) from each other while in this room.

Zzorn slowly moves forward, looking out for trouble or traps. Stealth 22

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 Oooooo! pretty chains, dangling... everywhere... whoa!!

Zzorn turns left and heads north.
Left... always left they say! ;)

Moving forward into this room requires brushing against the chains, leaving streaks of rust, oil, and blood on your clothes and armor.

The chains scraping against the ground as you walk are a rude cacophony to poor Tiny Pebble's senses.

Zzorn find a lump of chains lying in a messy coil in front of him. Something tar black seems to ooze from beneath it.

grey spot on map

Malik moves forward with the group. He's trying to identify sounds that are not clangs of metal, droplets of blood, and condensed moisture hitting the puddles on the floor.

"Fascinating place. Not in a good way, however... I can feel the hairs on my neck already."

Gross! thinks Zzorn, keeping his stealth but having a hard time not talking to voice his disgust. He points at the black ooze to warn the others.

================

Zzorn's eyes grow wide in disbelief as Malik starts talking! "Well, so much for stealth, my dear Malik! might as well let you all know now: there's a pile of chains here with some weird black ooze underneath."

Igor is clearly not pleased with the mess left behind by the chains as his magical charm works on overdrive to keep him neat and presentable.

Prestidigitation in action. :)

"What ever they are going to pay us is clearly not enough for this. Death I can handle but this is disgusting!"

His interest is piqued by the black tar and he examines it from his current position.

"Most curious, stay sharp."

Take 10 on Perception is 32, Take 10 on Craft Alchemy is 21, Take 10 on K-Dungeoneering is 20. He has all the Knowledge skills but these seem the most relevant skills to me.

Malik quietly takes out his dagger, pokes the ooze and carefully smells the substance.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

ASSUMING that does not cause anything to pounce at us... He shakes his head in confusion and shrugs. He then makes a quick swiping motion to throw the ooze to the floor and wipes the blade against his boot.

"I'm good with flora. Not ... whatever this is. Come on Zzorn... We have Elby right here.", he points towards his kin. He takes a second to realise what he said, and follows up - "No offense, it's just ... a loud outfit. I'm sure it's very functional otherwise."

Also that was supposed to be whispered. I should have mentioned that, but now that the jig is up...

Igor gently chides the half-orc for his impatience.

"Malik would you please wait for my analysis first before poking and proding everything with a dagger? It could potentially be alive."

Trying to be stealthy in this room will be nearly impossible and yes the Paladin in Full Plate does not help but she is only the cherry on top of the very large sundae. :)

"Given the looks of this place; if it -is- alive, that's probably one more reason to poke it with a dagger. But you make a good point."

Paxal slings the bow from his back slowly and clenches the grip tightly. He looks around the room and glances upward at the chains that disappear into the misty darkness.
I don't like this one bit.
He murmurs quietly.

He becomes even more nervous while he watches his companions poke at the oozing pile of chains.
I wouldn't do that if I were you.

He glances around the room as his eyes begin to softly glow red. As his eyes adjust to the darkness, he tries to peer into the curtains of gently swaying chains for any movement within.
Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

Notos activates Dancing Lights to try to provide more light for the people examining to substance on the floor.

She also moves back away from the substance, puts away her bow and pulls a strange object from her backpack.

I have a feeling this may come in handy here, she says in a low tone. It is a Haunt Siphon.

The ooze has no smell anymore. Your best guess is that it is the remnants of a long dead creature, one that has liquefied and congealed over countless years on the floor of this still chamber.

Paxal squints his eyes through the thick drapes of chains and spots another similar pile of chains not far away. More inky ooze, as well.

concentration check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Notos tries to illuminate the area better, but her spell struggles and simply fails.

As Igor sees Notos' spell fail he casts a quick incantation himself to see if only magic producing light is impacted.

Detect Magic on the fallen chain.

"Kytons would love it in here with all the chains. We surely are in the right place. There is no doubt about that."

"All this skulking around with chains and oozes is making me itchy."

Elby carefully moves further into the room, keeping an eye out for anything that may jump out at them while they investigate.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6 (+2 for hidden objects, spoiled food, identifying poisons)

But can't see much beyond her own face.

Igor's spell has no trouble functioning but does not indicate any magical auras, save your own.

As the group moves deeper in at least one of you will notice something curious. Moving into the chamber (west to east) the chains are heavy but move freely to allow you to pass, but any attempt to move back to the entrance (east to west), you are resisted as the chains become heavier and almost wrap around you. so, difficult terrain traveling in that direction...

Checking to see if my magic sword generates light: 30% chance; 01-30 means it generates light: 1d100 ⇒ 52 --> nope!

Zzorn pulls out a torch from his pack and lights it, placing it in his buckler hand.

@Zzorn - You decide if your magical weapon generates light or not. The percentage roll is just for randomly found treasure outside of society play.

@GM Erich - Should we advance our tokens square by square or do you plan on fast forwarding us into the action?

Igor searches for any traps as the party advances (Perception of 32).

"I suggest that we take the path of least resistance first. Clearly you are meant to enter the chamber and either not exit or exit somewhere else."

@Zzorn - You decide if your magical weapon generates light or not. The percentage roll is just for randomly found treasure outside of society play.

Incorrect: several GMs have asked me to roll for this before.

@Zzorn - Michael Brock clarified that point in the Pathfinder Society thread. Players get to choose. If you want a roll to determine your decision then that is your choice. :)

As described before, light doesn't seem to be as strong here and doesn't enlighten as far as usual (magical or otherwise).

@Igor Just point a direction and I will reveal to the next "interesting" thing, I'm assuming you are being cautious along the way.

Inching forward toward the sounds of "water", Igor notes that the hall is separated by a slowly undulating stream of shadowy ichor and a small arched bridge.

More piles of oozy chains dot the floor as you progress into the room.

Noticing a hallway(?) opposite where they entered, Elby moved forward and tries to see what's down it.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

But might have more luck if she moved the hammer away from her face.

It is actually a bridge over the strange ichor flowing below.

The giant T stands for "terrific"!

Well, Elby will definitely face-tank that terrific if no one stops her.

@Zzorn - Michael Brock clarified that point in the Pathfinder Society thread. Players get to choose. If you want a roll to determine your decision then that is your choice. :)

I do and I did, but thanks for pointing that out. For the record I would appreciate if you used PMs or the discussion thread for suggestions like these and let the GM inform me on my options, as I'm getting a ruleslawyery vibe from your posts at the moment. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Regards, PDK

Zzorn keeps moving forward, torch in hand. He peers into the newly illuminated areas.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Torch set to 10' radius normal light; 20' radius dim light; centered on Zzorn's NE square intersection.

Zzorn then realizes everyone turned right and headed east, and starts heading back south to rejoin the party...

Notos moves forward, trying to stay in the middle of the group. Does she see anything else with her Darkvision?

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

A bridge. Terrific.
Paxal says sarcastically.
Well, we need to get past this room of chains. Let's keep moving.

Paxal, still keeping a watch on his surroundings, moves slowly across the bridge with the others.

Igor checks out the integrity of the bridge with his senses and his knowledge of Engineering. Tiny Pebble tries to detect any hidden enemies on the bridge with his tremor sense ability.

(Perception of 32, K-Engineering of 20)

Assuming that all is well he waves the front-liners forward.

@Notos Darkvision isn't really helping here because of all the chains hanging down. Everyone's vision is limited to 15-20 feet at a time. It's just a very creepy place.

Emboldened as time passes without incident, the group pushes onward, finding several more piles of oozed chain along the way and determining the true extent of the chamber.

At the end of this macabre hall, a desiccated humanoid husk stands propped up by chains. blue dot Dozens of hooks of all sizes dig into its flesh, suspending the frail looking corpse a few inches above a throne of rusted iron like some corpse marionette. Its head hangs limp against its chest.

To the north, before rejoining the party, Zzorn discovered another exit, leading into a tunnel without the chain blankets hanging from the roof.

Igor urges the party to move forward as he is eager to depart out of this very creepy chamber into the tunnel.

"I am sure that everyone is excited as I am to get out of this room."

As the wizard says this he recovers a simple spell with a pearl of power. He then carefully stores the spent pearl of power.

@GM Erich - How much time has passed since we entered the cairn from the staging tunnel? I am tracking buffs.

This place is seriously disturbing. I'll be glad when we get this done and get out of here.

She continues to move slowly forward to look at the throne and the body. She wracks her brain to see if she remembers anything about what is here.

Perception, mainly looking for writing or iconography to interpret: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Knowledge (Local) to see what she might know about the humanoid: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Knowledge (Religion) to see what she might know about how the body is strung up?: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Note: Notos doesn't plan to move any closer until the others are moving forward

Very disturbing.
He says in response to Notos.

Paxal nocks an arrow in his bow and takes aim at the gruesome marionette dangling over the throne.
I'm very tempted to plug it with an arrow.
He says out of the corner of his mouth as he squints towards his target.

Paxel, I'm not sure if that will make it better or worse.

"Found a tunnel north of here. Oh my... poor fellow! all these hooks... whatever he did probably didn't deserve such a fate... and if he did, well... that must have been awful..."

@Igor Less than 2 minutes. You have just been moving slowing and searching for danger.

The victim hanging over the throne is a shell of a man, but is still technically alive. As soon as Notos steps closer to examine the body sacrificed at the behest of Zon-Kuthon, a dry coughing breath escapes him, sending ripples of motion up and down the chains that suspend him. Ancient, empty eyes lift to see who disturbs his rest, though he can barely to lift his head and can only speak in a rattling whisper.

"Who... are... you..."

I'll take another perception check for this area as you near him.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Igor looks around.

Perception: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (11) + 22 = 33

(See Invisibility is active)

Paxel, I'm not sure if that will make it better or worse.

I'm hoping to make it better.

"Who... are... you..."

What the blazes?

Tiny Pebble works in concert with his master through their Empathic Link.

(Auto aid on Perception check for Igor with Tiny Pebble +9 bonus results in a total of 35 for Igor.)

If this is not allowed then:

Perception check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Perception LOL: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

"I'm not exactly a model member of my order, but I am fairly sure he should not be doing that."

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Assuming the Perception check doesn't give us any new information. . .

Greetings. We did not seek to disturb any that reside here, but we are looking for the obsidian obelisk. We would appreciate any assistance you might provide, as ask if there is any service we might do for you in return?

Diplomacy, using Perform (oratory) via Versatile Performance: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

And still trying to figure our what is going on here. I would assume Knowledge (Religion}

Knowledge (Religion}: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Igor is able to discern by the subtle swinging of the hanged man, that the chains here (near the throne) must extend far higher to reaches much higher than the rest of the room so far.

"I am the horselord... Telendrak, the last chieftain... to defy Zon-Kuthon, and a prisoner... for more than 9,000 years."

The hanging man summons all of his strength with deep gasps to answer your question. “But you seek... the shadow obelisk! The Master of Chains wears it, and through it he... controls this place. It binds us here, controls... the shadows, and keeps this place... whole. I have seen such... terrible rituals performed... in the shadows, with and without... the obelisk. Such dark secrets... I have seen.”

@Notos The man is being punished by allies or priests of Zon-Kuthon in their traditional ways, which given the nature of that religion, might even be considered an honor if he were one of the faithful.

Paxal steps forward a few paces to address the horselord.
Telendrak, who is this Master of Chains and where can we find them? What can you tell us about them?