Redelia's Wardens of the Reborn Forge (Inactive)

Game Master Redelia

After a thorough search of the chamber and everyone is ready to move on, Arcturus kneels in a corner.
"Hold on a minute, everyone."

He hums a soft hymn in prayer.

He reaches into his rations pack and pulls out six hard tack biscuits. He then drizzles a bit of honey on each one. After sticking a small votive candle in one and lighting it, he passes the others out to his teammates.
"Here, everyone. Take one. It's my birthday. Sorry they're just hard tack biscuits, but, they're better than nothing for a little celebration."

Arcturus closes his eyes, makes a wish, and blows out the candle. He then looks at his companions with a sincere expression.
"I am truly honored to have you all as exemplary teammates. I wish all the best for each of you and I greatly appreciate the time we have spent together. Let's take good care of each other and be sure that we all make it out of here alive."

He takes a big bite out of his biscuit and holds it aloft in cheers.
"Huzzah!!! To my wonderful friends, and a happy birthday to me!!!”

"And, yes, Rogar. Lemme have a couple puffs off of one of those cigars."
*cough, hack, cough*
"Mmm. Good stuff! Cheers!"

Arcturus notices a tunnel in the northeastern section of the cavern.
"Looks like a tunnel over here. Shall we check it out?"

"That sounds good to me, Arcturus. Let us proceed."

Slash slips his ring of invisibility off and then back on and vanishes. I'll scout it. offers and flies down the passage as quietly as he can manage.

Stealth: 1d20 + 24 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 24 + 20 = 57

The ceiling of this worship chamber is easily fifty feet high. A fine altar encircled by an eerie iron frame takes up the northern corner of the room. An intricately crafted crystal battleaxe stands blade-up in the center of the altar, its handle set into the altar’s stone. Torches within wall sconces light the entire chamber. A tunnel leads southwest, while a wooden door to the west appears to be the room’s only other exit.

Arush eats a biscuit with pleasure and sincerely congratulates Arcturus on the holiday, but refuses a cigar from Rogar. She is ready to move on, exploring these strange mines, deadly for most of the creatures living on Golarion. If we don't clean this place, probably no one will.

____

After Slash gives the signal that everything is calm, Arush will go inside and inspect the altar.

To which deity is it dedicated?
Religion: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (8) + 19 = 27
Are there traps?
Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24

Slash eyes the axe with interest but is cautious and warns That there looks like bait. No one get too close until we clear it.

He looks for traps first in the general area and then on the altar.

Perception, traps, Entrance to room: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (3) + 25 = 28

Perception, traps, Altar: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (19) + 25 = 44

Note that Slash will wait for Feldel to also search before going in.

The altar is indeed trapped. Touching the battleaxe is the trigger.

The altar is to Hagenti. (you are welcome to look up that deity, in terms of lore)

Slash will attempt to disable trap.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 36 ⇒ (20) + 36 = 56

Slash is pretty sure he got the trap.

"Haagenti, you say?"
Arcturus replies with a look of worry.
"That's the demon lord of alchemy and change. I think he was the creator of the philosopher's stone, which transmutes lead into gold, and the wondrous item is used as his unholy symbol."

"Good work disabling that axe."
Arcturus says in relief to Slash.
"I'm glad I wasn't near that thing to set it off and get caught underneath it.

It does look like an interesting battleaxe. I'll give it a closer look."

Will detect magic on it and try to identify it, if magical.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

The battleax is "an undercutting ax of incredibly fine make." I don't think it is going to show up as magical in any way.

If there are no objections, tomorrow I'll push us forward into the next room.

An Undercutting Axe is magical. In fact, it is a very awesome magical weapon!

"A battle axe is an axe but I've got my pick!"

They say it was Haagenti who helped invent firearms. However, perhaps this is a lie. Arush contemplates the vile altar thoughtfully. But the deeper we go, the more clearly the face of evil emerges.

Assuming it is in fact the magical weapon that Arcturus linked...

"A fine weapon, especially considering the many ogres in here, but I am not skilled in its use."

Slash slowly leans over and retrieves the weapon. He then holds both it and his great axe up in comparison. A little small, but I could use it I guess. You say its good against ogres? It doesn't have any demon taint to it, right? Anyone else want to use it?

Realizing he has no need for such a weapon, Fendel allows the others to determine who it is best suited for.

That is a pretty nice weapon.Wish the DC were higher, as most likely the target you would use the ability on will have a great save. However, hit a spellcaster with it.....??? Just saying that might be a great way to take one out of a fight.

Still half strength damage on a save. Add to that Slash's Strength draining sneak attack and it all helps.

I do have an open 2nd level spell slot. In 10 mins game time, I can have bestow weapon proficiency in my repertoire for myself or whomever would be best for wielding it.

Slash is proficient with all martial weapons so he is good.

OK, team, what's the final decision on the weapon? I'd like to keep us moving.

Arcturus slides the crystalline Undercutting Axe into his belt. He says a prayer over the bodies of the dead ogres to wish them a safe passage to the afterlife.

"Alright. Let's move on...
Southward?"

I would like to suggest moving in a counterclockwise direction from here.

Slash, who was holding the weapon, euyes the cleric for a moment before handing him the axe. Better make use of that. he grumbles under his breath.

I suspect Slash will swing the axe more as he has not option to use spells but this will spread out melee damage a little more, which can be good. IF we come up against a Big Bad that is also a giant Slash may borrow the axe. :)

Slash, who was holding the weapon, eyes the cleric for a moment before handing him the axe. Better make use of that. he grumbles under his breath.

I suspect Slash will swing the axe more as he has not option to use spells but this will spread out melee damage a little more, which can be good. IF we come up against a Big Bad that is also a giant Slash may borrow the axe. :)

Oh! So sorry! Wasn't sure you wanted the axe. By all means, it's yours.

You move into the last remaining room in the current corner. There, you find a human-like woman, clearly a leader, and six human men. She moves towards you and greets you, clearly curious about what you are doing here.

party token moved on map into new room

Definitely not expecting to encounter another group of adventurers, Arcturus pauses with a dumbfounded look. After a moment, he holds up a hand in greeting.
"Uh... Hello there. I'm, uh, Arcturus, Blessed Blade of Shelyn. And these are my friends."
He introduces each of his teammates in turn before continuing.
"We're looking for one of our colleagues that got lost in this mine a couple months ago. Arvanor is his name. You wouldn't have happened to come across a lone scholar wandering these mines recently, have you?"

Slash remains both silent and invisible as he watches the new group for hints of their intent.

Fendel watches and listens with interest.

Perception: 1d20 + 28 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 28 + (4) + 2 = 38
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 30 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 30 + (4) + 2 = 50

Ranalus will follow Fendel's example - watching and listening to the responses of the other group.

Perception: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (14) + 35 = 49
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21

The woman laughs scornfully. "Nope, no sign of them. Maybe the ogres dealt with them. They're good with trivial problems."

She seems awefully at home here to be an adventurer...

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

"Do you manage the ogres lady?"

Rogar is blunt.

Does a Sense Motive of 50 give any insight other than she seems comfortable here? Any subterfuge?

Fendel continues to study the crone as he ponders non-verbal clues.

She hasn't lied to you, and she is not yet hostile, but wary and watching you. She is also amused by you.

She tells Rogar that the ogres are servants of her employer. (this strikes you as truthful)

Rogar puffs on his cigar. Pulling it out of his mouth he continues.

"Who yah working for?"

I'm waiting for Arush to pipe in before I continue. I'm at a loss for words on what to say.

Ok. Moving on...

The woman laughs scornfully. "Nope, no sign of them. Maybe the ogres dealt with them. They're good with trivial problems."

Arcturus can sense that these people are not the congenial company he was hoping to meet.

"I'm not going to tell you about my employer without a good reason. Now, if you'd agree to help me with a harmless ceremony, I'll tell you what I can. And my employer has the ogres for minor problems, and me for larger ones..."

Arcturus' eyes narrow in suspicion.
"Ceremony? What type of ceremony?"

"Oh, don't worry, It will mark whichever one of you participates as a loyal servant of the Lord of Transformation, granting you power beyond your wildest dreams."

The hackles rose on Slash's neck as he thought Yea.... no.

"The Lord of Transformation? Huh. Interesting."
Arcturus tries to remember if that title sounds familiar.
Know: Religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Ranalus likewise contemplates the deity's title.
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
He doesn't recognize it, but doesn't care.

I am Feysworn. I serve Count Ranalc the Betrayed, and he has granted me power beyond my wildest dreams.

He says nothing.

Rogar tries to remember about the Lord.

Who was that guy??

know religion: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

She's referring to the demon lord Hagenti. This may be wht her compamions seem the have had various body parts replaced with metal.

Arcturus suddenly remembers,
"Haagenti!!! The foul demon lord!"
He hops back into a defensive stance and holds his glaive pointed at the horned woman.
He raises a hand to cast a spell.
It depends on the enemies' position on what spell he's going to cast.

"Oh."
Ranalus seems thoroughly unmoved by the revelation.

Demon lord. Okay.

He watches Arcturus. A spirited one, isn't he?
Now, if it was Asmodeus, there would be a different reaction... but Ranalus regards the demon lords as generally irrelevant.

Just to double check, it sounds like none of you are interested in her ritual, or making vague bargains with a servant of a sinister deity?