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

Game Master Aldizog

Khellek nods to Sylvester. "A 'B' for Mr Solstar. Right answer, but lacking in justification. ". The elderly scholar turns a withering gaze on the rest of the team. "And verging on a Did Not Submit for the rest of you."

Sylvester nods at the obvious answer. Now if it is the right answer only time will tell.

"Good explanation. I should have led with that instead of jumping right to the answer. All right, it is time to get the show on the road. We have a mission to complete."

As Khellek strikes the third time, a cerulean fog seeps into the area down below.

It coalesces into a spectral map of the dwarven fortress city of Koldukar.

Accompanying this mist is a spectral female dwarf. She smiles as she sees you and begins speaking in archaic Dwarven.

She is a plot device and not an undead of any type. She has no statistics.

Sylvester rides over to Stormy and whispers to her. She is clearly the only person who can speak Dwarvern and will need to take the lead here.

The word of the day is cerulean. It is always good to learn something new. :)

Stormy bows low to the spectral dwarf as she studies the map. in Common she says to the group She is our guide. Someone jot down this map in case it is suddenly lost. She wants to know what we seek. The Stele of this city, right?

Turning back to the spectral dwarf Stormy continues in dwarven:

The spirit motions to the map. She traces a glowing blue line indicating the route to the stele.

Khellek does indeed take out a sketch pad and starts to draw out the map laid out in the fog.

He wiggles his fingers, frustrated at not fully understanding the conversation. Casts comprehend languages

"Take notes my students, take notes. Maybe one of you could sketch the scene and the ghostly guide whose name is Inghild."

He starts to translate the conversation for everyone else.

"Ms Weathers, perhaps you could ask about the year of the fall. And I'm curious about who ruled here then, and evacuation plans. "

He pauses for a moment before adding. "Also, if she knows the way to a library..."

Sylvester finds himself towards the back of the party. He sits tight and waits for Khellek to satiate his curiosity. The gnome knows that the adventure will continue, eventually.

Inghild, you were brave and have been successful in defending this part of your home. We fought and killed orcs on the way here so they still occupy the caverns leading to this place. Can you tell us more of the history of this city leading up to its fall? And my friend here she indicates the historian is a scholar with much training in history. If you know of any repositories of lore or knowledge that should be preserved you should tell us of those as well.

Inghild is able to provide some basic details of the Battle of Nine Stones, over eight thousand years ago, in which the forces of the orc warlord Belkzen overran the fortress city.

Nothing is provided in the scenario, and what I could find seems dubious. Belkzen is described as having rallied "thousands" of orcs for the assault, but Koldukar is described as having a population of 100,000 at its peak with many layers of defensive fortifications. The dwarves lost via designer fiat without any attempt at logic, as best as I can tell.

Inghild's spirit fades away.
All three sets of sealed double doors open; the north one is your path.

A deep chasm separates a large stone platform (where you are) and whatever might lie beyond. On the far side of the chasm, those with darkvision can see massive drawbridges.

On the platform’s floor, an inch-deep depression offers a recess for an unseen bridge to rest. On the eastern edge of the platform there is a small panel of complex but rusty levers and cranks.

Khellek finds it trivial to operate the controls to lower the drawbridge, which lands in the depression on your platform.

Crossing the lowered drawbridge, you come to an unlocked stone door and open it. Following Inghild's map, you make your way through the tunnels for another hour.

Expertly crafted statuary, marvels of engineering, and unparalleled stonework appear time and again throughout the Sky Citadel, and in several places bridges cross large caverns at multiple levels overlooking structures on the caverns’ floors. Because of the recent earthquakes, however, much of the stonework shows damage, and debris litters the once-proud avenues and causeways.

For the most part, there are some minor obstacles (stuck doors, rubble-strewn corridors), but nothing you cannot handle. However, a more significant obstacle presents itself.

A twisted bridge that once must have been an engineering wonder now slants precariously over a vast chasm. Thirty-feet wide and supported by immense stone columns, the bridge extends into darkness. However, forty feet along its length, a section of the bridge has collapsed onto the chasm’s unseen floor. After a ten-foot gap, another section of the causeway slants dangerously against its stone support; beyond it lies an even longer gap before the bridge resumes, not far from a stone landing.

Crossing the first gap might not be terribly hard - it is only about 10 feet (so DC 10 Acrobatics with a running start) - but it may be tricky to ensure a safe landing on the tilted section in the middle without sliding off (a second Acrobatics check). The second gap would be a more difficult jump.

How do you proceed?

Grog get his rope out. "Someone want to jump. I'll hold the rope and tie yourself off."

Doodle volunteers to cast Fly on herself and tie off the end of the rope on the other side, to make the journey across the first gap easier. If that works, she’d volunteer to do the same for the second gap as well.

Sylvester steps up with an idea.

"Perhaps you should cast your Fly spell on someone stronger and bigger like Grog and then he can simply fly the group across?"

Grog has a maximum carrying capacity of 520 pounds in the heavy load category. That should cover everyone in the party possibly including the big cat as well.

Doodlevain flies across and ties off a rope.

While it is still somewhat tricky to navigate, she helps the entire party get across.

A sixty-foot-wide set of doors is built into the solid stone wall. Geometric designs cover much of the doors’ surface, and deep grooves that might have once held metal inlays are now empty. A smaller set of doors better suited to everyday use is built into the larger portal.

As you approach the doors, a Magic Mouth speaks.

Sylvester turns to Khellek to translate the strange message.

"This is one strange place."

Assuming that either Stormy translates or comprehend langauges is still running.

Khellek eyes the magic mouth with distaste. "I have never enjoyed riddles. They seek to hide knowledge rather than spread it. Twist words into unusual meanings rather than impart clear information."

Still, he ponders the words. "Folgrit is the wife of Torag. She is known to have born several children."

"Dwarves are not ones to hoard knowledge, they hoard gold! It looks like another security measure if you ask me."

Sylvester casts Detect Magic and uses his keen eyes to search for traps.

25 Perception on a take 10
Detect Magic is cast

"I wonder if it is an allusion to smithing. 'Constantly beaten, while I am burning'." he mutters.

"Perhaps a sword.. or we are talking dwarves here, so an axe? A bloodthirsty killer? Hair turning from gray to red... what turns red as it ages?"

”How about the stuff dwarves make weapons from? Maybe steel, maybe iron? It turns red when it’s heated, best I know,” Doodle says, shrugging her shoulders when the clue is read to her.

"Certainly it starts out grey before being heated and turning red." agrees the scholar.

"But it only becomes a bloodthirty killer after being forged. I think we may be missing something. Ahh.. aged iron..rusts which is often a reddy colour. I'm still not convinced by the womb of Folgrit.. but maybe she is viewed by some dwarves as the mother earth. Try saying "iron" in dwarven, and see if it opens." he suggests. "Iron comes from the earth, can be forged into weapons and rusts red. I think you have it ms Montafescue."

Stormy is the only one who speaks Dwarven... let's see what she does.

Earlier she points out the missing inlay in the stone might be the work of Rust Monsters.

Stormy translates for the group. She thought of Iron and rust as well. So she will say in dwarven Iron.

The doors open at Stormy's answer to the riddle.

Another tremor shakes the cavern.

Shining columns, exquisite statuary, and elaborate dioramas of battle scenes adorn this majestic hall. The figures stand in small niches in the walls and range from dwarven infantry to mounted cavalry riding all manner of beasts.

Gold filigree, metallic plates, and ornate steel inlays decorate every aspect of the grand hall. Pristine marble floors run the chamber’s length, and halfway down the hall, twin flights of stairs sweep up to an elevated walkway.

Orbs of magical light rest in sconces along the walls of the chamber, and at its far end a large stone stele is visible.

Please place your tokens on the map, near the double doors (on either side you wish).

"Alright, people let us do this. Keep your eyes open as something interesting is going to happen."

Sylvester waits until everyone is ready with all of their preparations and actually entering the room before putting up additional arcane protection.

Mirror Image, CL 6: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

I have not played this one before but there has to be a fight coming. If not now then when? :)

I do not like all the statues. Stormy will cast Detect Magic as she looks into the room.

Is the extended heroism still running? I'm assuming so, but wanted to check.

Khellek eyes the doors behind the team. "We should close these to stop rust monsters getting into here... although I'm not sure whether all these metals are subject to normal rust... a rust monster.. who knows?"

Or maybe I do. Do rust monsters rust all metals or just iron/steel?

Is the extended heroism still running? I'm assuming so, but wanted to check.

You cast it after the three-hour journey through the tunnels? Then yes. It has only been a bit over an hour since then.

Khellek eyes the doors behind the team. "We should close these to stop rust monsters getting into here... although I'm not sure whether all these metals are subject to normal rust... a rust monster.. who knows?"

[ooc]Or maybe I do. Do rust monsters rust all metals or just iron/steel?

Khellek definitely knows that, while rust monsters prefer iron and ferrous alloys, they can also consume mithral, adamantine, gold, platinum, and any other kind of metal.

Stormy detects the aura of a magical item somewhere among the statues at the far end of the room (and at the outer edge of her spell's range).

Magic somewhere in the back, almost out of range. she says as she concentrates to try to determine the number of auras.

Doodle will lead the group forward. She stows her spear, hoping to keep it safe from the threat of rust monsters.

Could someone place Doodles image on the map, please?

I got you on the map Dood!

Fethril looks towards the warriors, "If you don't rush off, I can enhance your size for any impending physical conflicts we may face."

Will cast Enlarge Person at the soonest opportunity IF there are any takers. Otherwise I will open up with Bless.

"Given the amount of metal in here, I cannot see rust monsters being able to get in. At least so long as we close the doors behind us.."

He looks around in amazement at the hall, taking out a sketch pad and starting to make odd drawings of the room and its inhabitants.

I got you on the map Dood!

Fethril looks towards the warriors, "If you don't rush off, I can enhance your size for any impending physical conflicts we may face."

Will cast Enlarge Person at the soonest opportunity IF there are any takers. Otherwise I will open up with Bless.

Grog will take the Enlarge. Please bot me as needed tomorrow

Sylvester looks at the party.

"So, is everyone ready to proceed into the room?"

Was hoping for a little more info from Detect Magic.

One moment. Stormy uses wands to cast first Longstrider and then Shilelagh. She then nods that she is ready to enter the chamber. Telling Shade to "stay" she asks Who is going with me? She will then step in.

Seeing the other preparing for trouble, Khellek gives up on closing the door. "Just don't blame me if those rust monsters come up from behind." he mutters.

"Or destroy all these treasures before we come back this way.. .which is more likely."

He makes sure Bessie has a bolt loaded.

Still, that doesn't stop him muttering. Then, horror of horrors, there are suddenly... more Khelleks.

mirror image: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

@Stormy - sorry. The magic item has a moderate aura of transmutation. You would need to get closer and find the item to know more.

Please move yourselves on the map. Nothing happens as you immediately cross the threshold...

Doodle will lead the way as usual. Would someone please keep advancing Doodle on the map? Thanks!

She looks for anything weird as she advances.

Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Sylvester rides Shaggy up to the door as both Doodle and Stormy bravely enter the room. He peeks in the room as well to see if anything interesting is happening.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

Mirror Image is now up on Sylvester as people actually enter the room and are no longer dallying in the hallway.

Anticipating trouble, Fethril takes a moment to cast a spell.

Casting Enlarge on Grog before he enters.

The scholar(s) also enters, pausing at the door to take a brass rubbing for a moment.

As Doodle approaches the staircase, two of the larger statues turn their heads to look at her.

These are constructs; as best as I can tell, constructs do not radiate an aura for Detect Magic.

They speak in a grinding voice:

"Be careful my students. Those statues are golems... I suspect based on clay rather than stone. They are all but impervious to magic. But look at those iron parts of them... if we could bring rust monsters in here... well.. then that might be interesting indeed. Ms Weathers, what did they say?"

They ask us to speak to them of "the riddle of stone". Stormy replies. Anyone know of such?

Is there any relevant skill check here?

"I don't know of any riddles as such of stone." sighs the scholar.

Then thinks a bit longer

"Well, stone is both strong and fragile. That may be the basis for a riddle. They often play on contradictions and such " he considers.

Sylvester shrugs at these arbitrary riddles. He agrees on the tact that the bard is taking but is not sure how exact their wording needs to be to satisfy these clay guardians.

"Yes stone can defeat iron weapons but be washed away by water with enough time."

"Reply as best you can in the dwarf tongue and hope for the best."

@Khellek, there are some facts listed about the "riddle of stone," but no DC. So I will decide on an arbitrary DC. Do you wish to roll or use Lore Master? Knowledge (History).

I'll use Lore Master on this for T20, which gives me a result of .. ahh.. 50. History is Khelleks area of super specialization. Slightly less if I don't have time to consult some history books. But if they have any DC that high, I'll be very upset with the scenario!

Stormy will wait for Khellek's answer and repeat it in dwarven.

@Khellek - there is no DC given for this information, so perhaps I am not supposed to give it to you. But with a 50?