GM TOP #3-03: The Ghenett Manor Gauntlet (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

Can I point out that Khellek has said they are immune to magic. You might want to revise your action in light of that - its easy to miss some of the details in a flurry of posts.

Sorry, I did miss that in a flurry of posts, some people saying cast fireball, others saying no. I'll retcon that one.
Zano starts to cast enlarge person...I'm close enough to cast it on anybody first to call it gets it, it will be done on my next turn, which is a pain for the action economy.
Enlarge person there are 5 of you, please tell me someone wants to hit hard and be a wall, otherwise, I'm almost useless this combat. If nonone calls it, he does nothing for now.

Zano notices the glares from his teammates as he is about to cause massive property damage just to slow down the golems and changes tactics, calling out "Who wants to face these things up close, front and center?"

The creatures shamble into range of attacking Doodle and murgle again. Kyra recognizes the word easily to mean 'Food'. Unfortunately, that term is a bit ambiguous in this context. Are the pathfinders food? Do they want to be served food? Is it the only word the mindless things know?

They clearly do not attack though. Hmmm...

Round 3: Fish Head Soup!
Buffs: Haste 5 rds remain, IC is up, Enlarge Person Pending
Talevia
Zano
Ahmande
Khellek
Doodle
Kyra
GOLEMS

Bold May Act. What next?

Terrain Note: The pillars on the sides of the room and the table/chairs can be moved through. Just treat it like difficult terrain, no rolls necessary.

”Theyve had every chance to attack us, and they haven’t. There’s more to this than just fighting them.”. Doodle was convinced she could resolve this without violence. ”Everyone, stay back. I’m going to try to talk nice to them and pass right by them. If I get mauled, then come try to save me please.”

Doodle steps forward, between the golems trying to pass them. ”I don’t mean you any harm, nice golems. I’m just going to move on by you nice and easy peasy. No violence here. Just friends passing by…”

The creatures raise their arms aggressively into a striking position as she re-enters the room, but allow her to pass. The one to the south turns and keeps a close eye on her. The other two keep watching the remainder of the group.

Round 3: Fish Head Soup!
Buffs: Haste 5 rds remain, IC is up, Enlarge Person Pending
Doodle
Talevia
Zano
Ahmande
Khellek
Kyra
GOLEMS

Bold May Act. What next?

Terrain Note: The pillars on the sides of the room and the table/chairs can be moved through. Just treat it like difficult terrain, no rolls necessary.

Khellek, realising his ploy as a servant maybe was just disrupted by hungry golems... takes his plate and tea, and wincing, quickly serves it to the table, before following Doodle.

Well, this is one for the chronicles. Golems with hunger? I'll be writing that up for sure.

"They're saying the word "FOOD" over and over! yes, please serve these golems food! that must be it! and thank you for staying your hand Zano, even though the proprietor of these halls could no doubt afford the damage..."

Had to take the day off yesterday to do house projects and cleaning. Our house is listed for sale now and we are expecting showings this weekend. It's crazy!

Khellek moves into the hall and sets the tray down on the table. The golems don't seem to care that much about the food, all three watching him closely.

_______________________

Okay, I think I'll call this encounter here. The golems won't attack if you all don't attack first, even though they are supposed to 'look' like they are going to attack. Anyway, y'all did a good job of not just blowing crap up, so initiative is over! Where to next?

"I propose we try the main doors.." suggests Khellek.

"Although, maybe that is expected. I doubt the book would be stashed in a room directly off the dining area."

He gestures for those more familiar with checking doors for traps to lead the way, all the time casting suspicious glances at the golems.

It took Talevia a long moment to relax, slowly removing the arrow from her bow. "Thank Erastil for cool heads." she said, putting away her weapon. "Well done, Khellek."

She slowly moves into the room, allowing those familiar with traps to go ahead.

Deciding to take the route most likely to lead deeper into the complex, the group slips stressfully past the golems and Ahmande checks the double doors over. Declaring them safe, he steps back for Doodle to pull it open.

Light dances on the water of the reflecting pool in this large atrium, the ten-foot-high roof above the pool open to the desert sky. A decorative coral formation sits at the pool’s center, its rocky branches reaching out in all directions, moving slowly to create a mesmerizing animated abstract sculpture. On the western wall, three painted statues stand as vigilant guards, each holding two broad blades. In addition to the double doors to the east, eight sturdy doors of oak open into the skylit chamber from rooms along the north and south walls of the atrium. The marble walkway around the shallow pool features a meandering pattern created by inlaid multicolored stone chips.

Peeking inside, Khellek easily identifies the three statues on the western wall as ancient Taldan warrior sentinels, which are typically found in royal tombs. One of the three appears to have been damaged and is missing what is presumably a large gemstone from its damage forehead.

But more importantly, Khellek also identifies the coral sculpture to in fact be a chaos beast pretending to be a sculpture. It does not seem to be aware its disguise has been pierced though.

Ahmande steps forward. "I think this is where I come in." He takes his time, giving the doors a thorough examination. After the tea... and those golems... I trust nothing in here!

Perception, trapfinding, take 20: 20 + 13 + 3 = 36
Disable Device, trapfinding, take 10: 10 + 17 + 3 = 30

"We really want to avoid that coral." notes Khellek.

"LEts try the side door and see if we can bypass this room." He directs the group back into the dining room and points north.[/b]"

Once in the dining area, with the door closed he explains about the perils of the room. Feel free to open spoiler

"Lets try that room to the north."

That arrow is pointed at a giant painting, fyi. Doors are white rectangles.

Khellek decides it is wise to check alternate routes, as said atrium has significant dangers.

Merisiahmande checks the door to the northeast, it also seems safe.

The walls of this storage room are lined with shelving that holds bedding and table linens, a few spare high backed chairs, small tables and a long dresser, cleaning supplies, and other standby items. A pair of extra curtains in need of repair hang on the west wall in the north quadrant of the room, one 'hiding' a locked door.

The door in the next room is pretty obvious on the map and there is no Perception DC to find it, so I'm not even trying to 'hide' it from you. It is locked though.

"Well, this is promising. Merisiel... would you do the honors on the door?" asks the scholar.

He does a quick check through the sheets, trying not to dirty them, just to make sure there is no book hidden among them.

Take ten for...8

Doodle waits for the a okay from the trap spotter before opening the door. If the sign is given, she opens the door for the group. ”Remember! Don’t steal anything and don’t break anything,” she whispers to the others.

Zano stands close by, but still hangs in the back.

Ahmande continues to explore his new-found expertise with traps, examining the door behind the curtain to ensure that it's safe.

"What if the book is hidden in plain sight, but behind an illusion. Is this really a linen room?" he wonders.

Perception, trapfinding, take 20: 20 + 13 + 3 = 36
Disable Device, trapfinding, take 10: 10 + 17 + 3 = 30
Disable Device, open lock, take 20: 20 + 17 = 37

The elf rogue takes a TON of time to inspect the door. It seems to be a finely crafted wooden door, with hinges on the inside made of cast iron. He can even tell that the screws used require a flathead screwdriver, though obviously are not accessible while the door is closed. The lock mechanism is quite basic, though well crafted. Sturdy pins in the mechanism only allow for the correct key to open it.

It is quite easy to spoof though, for one of his skill. The door clicks unlocked and Doodle opens it.

This neatly appointed bedchamber has a ten-foot ceiling. A comfortable but modest four-poster bed, two large dressers of oak, and a bearskin rug decorate the otherwise austere room of cool stone. In one corner, a thick velvet curtain partially hides an ornate tub for bathing and a marble toilet.

The serving woman from earlier is sitting at a wooden desk writing in a large book. She 'eeps' and slams the book shut as the door opens, "What are you doing in my room! It is not a library. The master would be very upset if I or my husband were harmed!" She is obviously concerned for her own safety.

Sense Motive could be used here if you are having trouble reading the cues given.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

”Calm down. We aren’t here to hurt anyone. I didn’t like that trick where you all put us to sleep, but you didn’t hurt us and we plan to return the favor. We are just here looking for the right tome. I don’t suppose the one you are looking at is the object of our search is it?”

SM: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

"Our apologies good woman. Unfortunately, your husband forgot to provide us with a map to the library." notes the scholar.

"Perhaps if you could direct us in its general direction, we could avoid such... wanderings off the path."

He pauses. "Oh, by the way... is there a convenient way past the chaos beast in the pool?"

She does calm down as Doodle reassures her that she isn't going to be hurt. She clutches the book tightly and then lowers her gaze, "This book uh... it is just a ledger of household expenses. I can't let you have it, but I suppose I could let you look at it briefly to confirm it isn't what you seek."

She frowns, "You should have asked my husband, he was more prepared to answer those questions. But I think I can give a general layout of the villa. It is a single story, built around a central atrium. The main entryway is to the east where you all came in. Next is the banquet hall you just came through, I assume. Then further west would be the guest rooms, master's suite and library."

She looks confused at the last question, "Chaos Beast? In the pool? I don't know of such a thing. Perhaps the other group left it? Or it is one of my master's challenges. Either way, I know nothing of bypassing it."

"Thanks for cooperating!" Ahmande takes the offered opportunity to inspect the book to the best of his ability, but quickly defers to those with more knowledge of the arcane.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

Ahmande flips through the book, quickly noticing that it is NOT a martial arts manual. It looks like a ledger.

Khellek looks at the book in the woman's hands, and then back at her. As Ahmande moves toward the book he raises a hand. "Are you sure there is nothing else you want to tell us about that book..." he says.

He quickly checks it for any sign of magical auras.

Zano is being quiet, she doesn't want to offend anyone.

"This does indeed appear to be a ledger. Looks like some... ahhh... 'creative' accounting, too. Be a shame if Mr. Passad caught wind of that. These Kalistocrats view the accumulation of wealth as a religious endeavor, no? So fudging the numbers, that would be... sacrilege? Heresy? How would someone like Passad deal with that?"

Intimidate, aid another DC 10: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12
I think we can apply some pressure with this, but Ahmanderisiel isn't the one to lead that activity with his skills as they are.

He offers the ledger to Khellek for further inspection, making sure to keep it out of reach of the woman.

She breaks down crying, "Oh god no, please don't tell Mr. Passad! I just shifted a few coins from the immense wealth here to support the anti-slavery league in Katapesh. Please don't tell the master, he is not lenient with things like this."

"I don't suppose you know a way to keep the guard dogs from attacking us... if we were to avoid that central atrium with the coral/chaos beast do you?" asks Khellek kindly.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

"I mean the anti-slavery league is a very worthwhile cause and we'd not want to disrupt a funding stream for it..."

Seeming that she has at least somewhat of an ally and might not be getting reported, she does share what she knows, "They are very well trained animals and won't do anything to anyone unless they step on the grass. I guess if you could climb over the villa onto the roof or something, that might work. I don't know how you could get back inside though, if you weren't going to use the atrium."

With a sigh the scholar asks "And no secret passages? Or other ways to get to the library from the dining area without going through the atrium? How do guests retire to it when it rains?"

She looks a bit confused, "The Atrium is only open to the sky in the center. Guests would have to climb into the pool to get wet... which would obviously remove their concern about getting wet from rain."

I had to dig into the scenario in a different spot to get that answer, but it is codified that the atrium is only open above the pool.

She adds, "But no, I know of no way other than through the Atrium unless you broke down walls or shattered windows. It is the central hub. Almost all the rooms in the villa open into it."

”Could we leave the house and climb the roof and pick the beast off from range before we explore the rest of the place on that side of the atrium?”

Khellek nods, takes off his glases and polishes them again.

"My apologies, I only had a glance and the brilliance of the light reflecting off the beautiful pool you keep must have distracted me from noticing the roof."

Do I know if the chaos beast has to live in the water, and if so, what the range of its attacks could be? I'm wondering what our options for skirting around the outside of the atrium are.

It’s not aquatic, so likely no requirement to stay in the pool. It’s a Large creature with natural 10ft reach.

"Welll.. " sighs the scholar.

"Maybe it is a challenge like the dinner guests.." he says, looking at the woman.

"I take it you know about them ?" he asks.

"But... as our hostess here didn't know about it, likely it is this other team that has arrived. I suppose we have two choices - stealth or violence. I don't suppose any of you have the ability to let us all fly?" he asks hopefully.

"If, as appears likely, we must fight it." he starts.

"Then, obviously I will aid with Bessie and some enchnatments. I also can haste folk. And I can provide some words of inspiration as well."

He almost smacks himself in the head. "My, I am getting forgetful. Now... I can provide some long term assistance to two of you. Maybe you Merisiel? And... who would be our strongest fighter? Doodle?"

Should have thrown out an extended heroism on two of you and myself ages ago.

"If there were only one door in the Atrium, I would suggest that we try to save our strength and not fight the creature." Talevia said, thoughtfully. "There are too many doors leading out of the Atrium so I don't think that we will have any other choice but to engage."

"My talents are with the bow but I can take the point with a sword if necessary."

Heading to battle the beast then? If so, go ahead and cast your buffs and make your plans for prepared actions. Most likely you all will get a chance at a surprise round, but for now just plan out your buffs and strategy, thanks! Pathfinders very rarely get an opportunity to do extensive battle planning, so please take advantage of it.

"My good lady... the size doors off the atrium... do they just go go guest rooms? With no connections from them? And which of the doors at the far end of the atrium leads to the library? The one on the left, or the one on the right?"

She scrunches up her nose, trying to think through the question.

"If you enter the atrium from the dining room... the back left door would lead to the master's study. The library would be off that to the right."

Buff, enlarge person for whoever wants it, it will last 7 minutes, assuming he don't cast it too early before the battle, it will last you through the whole battle.

The scholar continues to probe for information. "Would the back right hand door at the atrium (as seen from the dining room) then take us straight to the library without going through the masters study?" he checks.

Turning to the pathfinders he adds.

"With the element of surprise, and the right preparations, I think we could make it past the pool without a fight at all. That would seem to be the intent of Passad."

”No, that leads to the master’s bed chambers. There is no path from there to the library.”

"Okay, so back left it is." says the scholar, relieved to have reliable directions.

"Friends, Pathfinders, Companions. I propose we make haste to the Dining area and from there, haste to the study, avoiding if possible any interaction with that rather unpleasant Chaos beast. "

Proposed route marked on map.

"I like it. Moving swiftly without being seen is something I do exceedingly well these days. I will lead the way; hopefully the door we want isn't trapped or locked!"

Right, assuming everyone is in agreement, the plan is that I haste everyone and then we high-tail it through the atrium to the indicated door. And we hope the woman isn't lying and the door is not locked or trapped. Between a surprise round and haste there is a good chance we can get through (at least this time) without a fight at all.

"Remember, this beast maybe another of Temel's pets that we don't want to be harming..." he stresses.

Doodle nodded, concerned but she didn’t have a better idea of her own.

Sounds like a good plan. Other than the haste though, I need to know what other official buffs are activated before you all go. I’ve seen talk of enlarge person and heroisms, but I need to know on whom and if those are actually cast.

Before preparing for the run, Khellek shares a quick pep talk with the group.

Khellek uses extended heroism on himself, doodle and Merisiel.

I suggest we avoid enlarge unless we can't avoid a fight, as that will make getting through the door harder and lower ACs if it gets some AOOs on us.