[Gameday XI, PFS1 CORE]#4-25: Glories of the Past Pt 3 - The Secrets Stones Keep (5-9) (Inactive)

Game Master Aldizog

With rolls like that I think that singed has been upgraded to Doodle cooked Pittsburgh style. Crispy on the outside and raw and juicy on the inside. :)

I can help you resist the fire. Not sure why anyone would want a non-magical hammer... unless lifting it opens another door or it serves as a key later.

Because the clerics of Droskar are petty and jealous... does Doodle carry an item worth more than 8,000 GP? Yes, she does. So this will hurt more.

Damage: 11d6 + 11 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 1, 5, 5, 1, 1, 1, 1, 5) + 11 = 38

Fortunately, Fate thinks poorly of the clerics of Droskar.

While a column of fire does come roaring down and roasts Doodlevain, she is not totally incinerated.

That damage is 19 untyped and 19 fire; the Resist Fire blocks all of the fire damage, leaving Doodlevain with 19 damage.

The hammer is unharmed.

The fire does not come again as she steps off the mosaic, and Detect Magic no longer reveals any magic auras on the mosaic.

Sylvester rides Shaggy nearer to the pit but not too close after the sounds and smells of the explosion.

"Doodle, are you alright down there?

"If so maybe you can try using the hammer on the main doors? Maybe it will work."

"Or maybe it will fit into one of the statues and unlock something hidden. We have to find a way in."

This is the try everything until something works plan of attack. :)

@GM Aldizog - Are we pretty confident that there are no secret doors in the room with the mosaic?

The party takes time and searches the mosaic room thoroughly. There is nothing else of interest here.

Sylvester is unwilling to give up yet.

"Alright. We should check the main door and the statues to see if the hammer interacts with it in any way."

Sylvester examines the statues to see if there are any hidden openings of any kind or any place where the hammer might fit in.

25 Perception on a take 10.

Doodle pulls out her healing wand and asks Stormy to do the favor yet again. ”Next time I’m going to request a strap finder specifically,” she grumbled under her breath.

CLW 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 8, 6) + 3 = 24

"You okay Doodle?" Grog pulls out his wand. "I can use this as well"

”Eh, I’m fine. Like I said earlier….trap finding sucks. Anyone else want to give it a go to try and get that dumb door open?”

Is anybody else doing any exploring anywhere?
I do not wish to respond to Sylvester's actions until everyone has had a chance to participate - but we are on a clock here.

Stormy recommends Doodlevain, see if one of the statures can hold that hammer.

”Eh, I’m fine. Like I said earlier….trap finding sucks. Anyone else want to give it a go to try and get that dumb door open?”

"Is the door still magic? If not I can use my crowbar!" Grog gets out his crowbar.

pre rolling.

STR with +2 bonus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

try again if I can

STR: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Doodle takes the Druid’s advice and sees if the hammer was a key by checking the statues to see if it would fit somehow.

Neither Sylvester nor Doodle can find anything to do with the hammer.
And, while I'm not sure where he can stand to brace himself (and nobody had Disable Device to jam the trapdoor), for the sake of moving things along I will let Grog's check proceed.

Grog pries open the stone door just a bit, then a bit more. It had been barred, but he is able to slip the crowbar through the gap and knock the bar out of place.

We are going to be doing theater of the mind for a few days as I am on a trip. Shouldn't be a big problem.

A solid mass of black rock shaped into an anvil overlooks a colossal chamber from atop a balcony. Resting next to the anvil, an elaborate weapon rack that resembles a row of dwarven maidens. The maiden nearest the anvil holds a stone warhammer snuggly within her grasp. The other two maidens’ hands are empty but appear designed to hold hafted objects. Flanking the anvil, two promenades lead to stairways that descend into the immense chamber below.

Looking down into the chamber below...
Several bas reliefs decorate the walls of this colossal chamber. The wall art depicts images of dwarven triumph—smiths forging perfect weapons, warriors defeating savage orcs, clergy venerating dwarven gods, and merchants counting glittering coins—and hundreds of these scenes cover the chamber’s walls. The only surfaces not covered in sculpture are the three sets of large stone doors to the north, east, and west.

Stormy can translate the writing on some of the bas-reliefs. One says “The second swing drove the Dark Smith below, hiding in shame and exiled from the sacred halls.”
This relief depicts a sinister dwarf toiling over a forge, his hammer emblazoned with a mark of a stone arch that contains a burning fire. Khellek recognizes this as Droskar, dwarven god of toil and cheating.

Another says “An ironclad oath is forever kept within the walls of the city she is sworn to keep. Only with the final strike is the duty fulfilled.” This relief portrays a stern dwarf pointing downward with one hand and slamming a gavel with the other, and the Dwarven word for “Oath-keeper” is written on the hammer. Khellek recognizes this as Kols, dwarven god of justice and oaths.

The final relief depicts a stoic dwarf working at a forge and wielding a hammer bearing the name “Kaglemros.” This is Torag, chief among the dwarven pantheon and god of creation. Instead of bearing an inscription, this relief merely has an arrow incised into it that points to Torag.

”Could one of these statues be a place to try to place the hammer,” Doodle asks. She casts Detect Magic just to be on the safe side, when exploring the newly revealed rooms.

"Maybe, hopefully this area isn't trapped!"

"Yes, Doodle. They both look like they can hold a hammer a piece."

"As we only have one hammer perhaps we should descend to the chamber below and go through one of the three set of doors?"

Sylvester looks at the more martially inclined members of the party to lead the party below.

So shall we go through the north, east or west set of doors?

”any door is as good as the next. If one of you perceptive types want to pick a door and examine it, I’ll openit up,” the gnome volunteers.

Doodle walks to the west set of doors and has a peek.

Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Sylvester takes a peek at the west set of doors after Doodle.

25 Perception on a take 10.

He then rides Shaggy to the back of the party.

There are no traps here, but the doors are securely locked. And either magically reinforced or just exceptionally well-made; they are entirely beyond Grog's ability to force open (even with Take 20, a crowbar, and some Aid Another checks).

One statue holds a hammer already.
Another can hold the one that you found.
If there is a third hammer, it must be someplace you haven't found yet.
It isn't inside the statues out front - you searched those thoroughly. And it isn't inside these statues here.

Stormy will begin to search the statue room for secret doors.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

Sylvester nods as Stormy starts looking around.

"Doodle, maybe put the hammer in the statue that can hold it? It is a start at least."

Doodle nods. ”Sounds like a plan,” she says as she moves to the closest statue and attempts to put the hammer in place there.

Grog waits for Dooble to put the hammer in place.

"Let's see what happens"

Stormy finds a secret passage!

A hidden tunnel branches off and turns, coming to a locked door.
On this side of the door there is the desiccated corpse of a dwarf clutching a beautifully carved stone hammer. The Dwarven word for “Oath-keeper” is carved into the hammer’s haft, and the hammer is similar in size and shape to the others you found.

Placing the hammer alongside the others in the statues does not do anything.

What do you do next?

My long post earlier had a lot of information. May be worth re-reading.

Sylvester will examine the three bas-reliefs of interest in the chamber with the doors. He is looking for secret doors or a spot to place a hammer for the three gods.

25 Perception on a take 10.

@GM Aldizog - You mentioned a locked door where we found a carved hammer. What is the door made of?

Usually you do not really need a Rogue but in this scenario one would be handy. :)

Waiting to see if anyone else does anything before I respond to Sylvester.

Doodle still plans to give one of the statues the hammer to see what happens next.

Grog waits by Doodle to see what happens with the statues.

"I'm here if you need me"

"Well, it seems obvious that the hammers should go with their respective deities." sighs Khellek.

"Alternatively, perhaps the only statue with a hammer should have its hammer removed.. But that may have its own risks."

Sylvester will examine the three bas-reliefs of interest in the chamber with the doors. He is looking for secret doors or a spot to place a hammer for the three gods.

The bas-reliefs do not have any spot to place a hammer. Sylvester does not spot any additional secret doors.

@GM Aldizog - You mentioned a locked door where we found a carved hammer. What is the door made of?

Wood.

Usually you do not really need a Rogue

You usually do not *need* any specific character class. Even so, I have found Core Rogue to be a very useful class for PFS scenarios (my only Core Seeker is a Rog12).

Doodle still plans to give one of the statues the hammer to see what happens next.

Placing the hammer alongside the others in the statues does not do anything.

The statues are identical dwarven maidens; it does not appear they they correspond to specific deities.

Once again... you may wish to re-read the long post from 10/5.

Sylvester feels that they are missing something obvious but maybe trying something new might help.

"There is a wood door downstairs and we do not know what is on the other side of it. It is locked but I am sure that one of you big people could break it down."

@GM Aldizog - I can see dipping a level or two in rogue but going all in is quite hard core. I deliberately picked sorcerer over wizard for my only core character for the added challenge but rogue 12 is next level. Good for you for trying it out. :)

I assumed one of the ‘maidens’ near the weapon rack could hold the hammer.

”The messages seem to talk about the second and third strike. Should we use this hammer to deliver the first strike so to speak? Maybe hitting it on the anvil? Any ideas?”

I assumed one of the ‘maidens’ near the weapon rack could hold the hammer.

Yes, they can, but merely placing the hammers in the maiden statues' hands does not do anything.

"Sure, try it out Doodle."

Doodle allowed the group to move away and tries to bang the hammer on the anvil. ”For the record, this mission stinks,” she says as she bangs them together.

Not loving the puzzles, Doodle?

Well, anyway... with which hammer does she strike the anvil?

Sylvester chuckles at Doodle's reaction recounting the mission to date.

"The duplicitous orcs, the doormat turned pit, the exploding forge and now the inane riddle."

"Don't hold back you know you love it."

Sylvester then thinks for a moment about the problem at hand.

"Try using the ornate fancy hammer. You know the Oath-Keeper."

"Final Strike...duty fulfilled. That sounds about right to me for a dwarf."

"If that does not work then we can mix it up. Play the drums on their silly anvil with these hammers."

The order of the hammer strokes could be Torag, Droskar and then Kols but then again something bad might happen if we use Droskar's hammer. I just don't know what these crazy dwarfs want or what might happen.

Doodle shrugs at the other gnome’s advice. ”Your guess is probably better than mine. I’m fully expecting to get blown up again, either way,” she says as she uses the fancy ornate hammer and strikes the anvil.

Stormy adds Each hammer seems to represent, or belong to a deity. Maybe strike the anvil in order of importance of the Deity. That means Torag first I think.

One stone warhammer was already in the grip of one of the dwarven maidens. It can be removed and is similar in size and shape to the others. It bears no inscription.

One was found below, on the trapped mosaic bearing the symbol of Droskar.

And one was found in the secret passage, bearing the inscription "Oath-Keeper," which is also seen in the relief depicting Kols.

Sylvester shrugs.

"Who knows what these crazy dwarves were thinking. It could be Torag, Droskar and then Kols or it could simply be Kols. Really there is no way to know without trying it out."

"So let us start hammering!"

Sylvester steers Shaggy well away from Doodle and the anvil in case holy retribution is rained down upon her.

I have no idea at all what will happen if anything but Sylvester has an active imagination. :)

@GM Aldizog - If you could please put up the map on the slide that would be great. Seeing is believing. :)

Sylvester shrugs.

"Who knows what these crazy dwarves were thinking. It could be Torag, Droskar and then Kols or it could simply be Kols. Really there is no way to know without trying it out."

It is basically spelled out for you. There is absolutely a way to figure this out other than trial and error.

"Look Doodle try the hammers for Torag, Droskar and then Kols. That is my reading of the meaning of the inscription."

With an incomplete translation it is not obvious if all three hammers have to be used or the hammer of the Oath-Keeper three times. It might seem obvious from the position of the GM but from the player's position it is not. So mathematics and the brute force method will come into play should this not work out. With three hammers the universe of possibilities is not large. :)

I'm not sure how much more obvious you want it to be.
You are also presuming that nothing bad happens if you use an incorrect sequence.
Which may or may not be true.

"Hope you're right!"

Sylvester gulps hoping that he does not reduce his fellow gnome to cinder and ash with his decision making skills. Of course Sylvester and Shaggy are well away from Doodle and the anvil just in case he is in error.

"Me too Grog! But what choice do we have? We have to try something."

With 80 hit points (and her energy resistances) she is going to be fine. But for RP purposes we should not assume that. :)

@GM Aldizog - Could you please put up a map of the area on the slide show when you have a free moment.

Khellek sighs.

"It is obvious. Read the inscriptions. Honestly. Students these days. Here give me the hammers."

He points to the two inscriptions.

“The second swing drove the Dark Smith below, hiding in shame and exiled from the sacred halls.” - then to Droskar's hammer "Droskar is #2"

Then he points to “An ironclad oath is forever kept within the walls of the city she is sworn to keep. Only with the final strike is the duty fulfilled.” Then he points to the duty fulfilled hammer. "Kols"

"By the process of elimination that leaves Torag as #1, which is no surprise for the king of the dwarven pantheon."

The elderly scholar is more than happy to back up his scholarship with taking the risk of hamming the anvil with the appropriate hammers. However he does find lifting them somewhat difficult.

He starts to hammer away: Torag, Droskar, Kols. If I get zapped, I'll stop.

Doodle’s eyes opened wide as she looked on the old timer with admiration. ”I hope you are right, Khellek!”