DM Carbide's Core Emerald Spire

Game Master John Woodford

"Unless, of course, you'd like some justice first. We're in the process of securing this labyrinth ourselves, so I'm sure we'll run into this Klarkosh sooner or later."

”Can you identify any hostile forces in league with your captors?“

"The question still stands, how would you like to proceed? We can get you out of here or you can tag along and help us. Which would you prefer? We will try to find out what happened to your wizard friend either way."
Lybram continues to administer first aid while talking to the guy. "Just let us know and we will help you."

"We didn't see much of the area--came down the stairs, figured out that the red lever opened in a couple of directions, went east, and immediately ran into the brass minotaur. When we woke up, we were in some sort of throne room with Klarkosh, the minotaur, and a couple of green constructs. Human size, carrying guisarmes, and I didn't have enough time to figure out more about them. After Klarkosh decided to imprison us, the minotaur put bags over our heads so we couldn't see where we were being taken, and when the bag came off we were in the cell here.

"As for staying here and helping--I'm not much use right now, even with you patching me up. (And thank you for that, by the way.) No spellbook, no gear--I'd probably just be a burden."

"We can guide you out then. But before we go, it sounds like we are close to your brass minotaur. What do you remember about it? Any immunities and such? Did normal weapons damage it?"

"It didn't seem to resist damage from normal attacks, but its vital areas were well-protected. Fire and force harmed it about as much as I would expect; neither of us had time to try anything else before it defeated us"

I vote we take him out and back to town. Maybe there is a reward for helping him? Either that or we tell him to sit tight and we will escort him out when we are done.

"Sounds like we have heavy fighting ahead. We could get this fella safely out and then return and continue our task.

Second. Don't want him to die in battle.

"Indeed, Lybram, a wizard without his spellbook may need help getting to safety."
To the forlorn wizard she says, " Sounds like you may need to be escorted back to the fort, unless you know of a safe place you can get to."

It's easy to get him back to the fort and return, and nothing changes while you’re gone except that the levers are back in the neutral position.

If we can remember I think we shkuld set the levers to the same positions and head to the North of the room we found the imprisoned wizard.
"Let us move on. After you, Iladora. The brass minotaur awaits. That sword may come in handy cutting the beast's brass hide."
Lybram will line up with magical mace and shield at the ready.
"I am right behind you."

If we can remember I think we shkuld set the levers to the same positions and head to the North of the room we found the imprisoned wizard.

Works for me.

Mrs. Book stocks up on sunrods while at the fort. She preps by casting mage armor on herself and cracking a sunrod and hanging it around her neck.

"Yes, lead on."

"I'm ready when you folks are!"

If there are no other doors leading out of the prison room, Iladora continues to the door at the end of the hall.

Finding no other exits from the prison room, Iladora continues around the corner. There's a door in the south wall of the hallway there, and the hallway turns north opposite the door. Sneaking a quick look north, the ranger sees that the hallway ends at another door.

Viridian motions to Blitz

”Come. “

He scans ahead as the wolf follows

perception : 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24

Following Iladora down the hall, Viridian spots a concealed door.

"I'm all for checking out the secret door next."

Viridian points to the outline and nods to Mrs Book

”By the Green, the secret doors may allow us to avoid some of the traps or guardians .“

"My thoughts exactly. Or equipment to deal with some traps. Remember the gas masks we found up above? They were useful."

After listening at the door and hearing nothing, Iladora opens it. The room on the other side is a bedchamber furnished with a desk and plush chairs, a large bed strewn with pillows, a thick carpet, and hanging tapestries in scarlet and gold. It's warmer than the hallway, doubtless due to the banked coals in an iron stove in one corner.

There is no one in the room at the moment. A visible door can be seen on the other side of the chamber.

"Buff up and go through, I say."

She pulls out a scroll of protection from evil, expecting the worst.

”Sounds like it is time. Blitz! “

Viridian casts barkskin on the wolf and prepares to move into the room and far door

Corbrae sings and some images of herself appear

mirror image: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Ready when you are.

Before the group moves on, Iladora searches the desk for anything worth taking with them.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Merisiel draws her rapier.

Read or not

Lybram prepares to follow mace and shield ready.
"Ready."

Seeing Iladora search the desk, Lybram will check the bed, under the bed and behind the tapestries for hiding persons starting at the foot of the bed and moving clockwise around. On phone and can't move, but put lybram in room with Li'l Fella behind.
perc bed area: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
He motions to Merisiel to check the door.

Viridian and Blitz search/sniff the room as well.

perception : 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35

There's a journal in the desk, written in weak, spidery penmanship. It includes designs for new automata powered by slivers of Emerald Spire crystal, records of exploration of the levels above and a description of plans to deal with what sound like fiendish troglodytes on the level below, and megalomaniacal dreams of dominion in the River Kingdoms with armies of mechanical warriors.

Also in a desk drawer is a key.

There is in addition a locked wooden coffer on the desk, which Merisiel can open given time (which you have). It contains some money and gems, one of the magical green cylinders that allows teleportation from level to level when adjacent to the Spire core, a potion bottle, and a blue crystal cut into a five-pointed star. The bottle and crystal are magical.

Mrs. Book will attempt to identify the magic items using a scroll of identify.

spellcraft to ID potion, identify spell: 1d20 + 9 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 10 = 21
spellcraft to ID star crystal, identify spell: 1d20 + 9 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 10 = 32

"Boy, what a nutter. How bad does your childhood have to be to make you want to enslave your home with mechanical monsters. May Erastil help this one see the light."

"More to the immediate point, where is he? The writing looks like he was not doing well."

"Well if we encounter any of these mechanical monsters, perhaps knowing their designs will help us..." Iladora trails off, inspecting the journal for any exploitable flaws in the automata.

Hoping this knowledge will come in handy!

Having entered the room to look at the journal, Lybram gives the room the once-over searching for secret doors or compartments and looks under the bed.
perception for looking around: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
"Nice little hideaway, but seems kind of lonely. Ones own personal prison so to speak, yes?"

By the Green! These mechanical monsters are unnatural and not to be trusted!

Viridian shakes his head before motioning for Blitz to follow to the far side of the room to look north.

perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

By the Green! These mechanical monsters are unnatural and not to be trusted!

Viridian shakes his head before motioning for Blitz to follow to the far side of the room to look north.

perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

There's nothing else to be found in the room. Viridian is next to the closed visible door to the chamber.

ok , if allowable, use the check on the door and then open it…

I'm not sure we can trust much here, natural or not..Let's open that door and see where it goes

Viridian cracks open the door, revealing another door 5' east, and a room that opens up to the north. However, he isn't able to see much of that room because there's an emerald automaton only a few feet away. Its head turns noiselessly towards him, but it does not immediately attack.

Viridian motions Blitz back and waves to the others, raising one finger count and pointing out the door.

Mrs. Book is standing off to the side of the room, ready to step into view of whatever might threaten the leaders if needed. She beckons the others to the south past the open (secret) door and puts a finger up to her mouth to signal that they should be quiet. She has no idea why, just the Vir seems to think it important based on his actions.

The elf checks the door for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

She nods.

Meresiel, which door are you checking? Note that Viridian already opened the door he's near.

What are people doing?

Lybram lines up behind Iladora ready to move into the next room thru the door opened by Viridian.
"Erastil protect us."
New mace and shield ready, he says under his breath.
Is there anything visible through the door as lybram moves to line up?

Iladora readies herself next to Viridian and the open door.

I will go through it first if no one else wants to.

Viridian and blitz will follow next to Iladora

So you're going to try to close with the emerald automaton that Viridian saw on the other side of the door?