The Rusty Flagon Inn (Inactive)

Game Master Nightfiend

"That sounds fine", Wayilant responded. The cleric gave his ward a small hugs. "Be a good girl, Julie." As Julie walks over to Alina, Wayilant gives the half-elf handmaiden a meaningful look of thanks. "We'll see you soon."

Alina nods in agreement and then takes Julie by the hand and heads out with Talienda.

After thoroughly inspecting the portal, the group heads back through the illusionary wall and down the corridor. There, a wooden ladder reaches forty-foot up into a small square hole, which appears to be a squeeze for the larger members of the group.

Darius pulls out a scroll from his bag. He rolls it out, and reads the incantations written there. Air shimmers around the wizard, forming an invisible armor.

cast mage armor

"All right, I'm good to go up." he says.
"After you, of course." he adds, patting Bryndis on the back.

Gravi looks up the ladder, checking his whips once again crossing his torso. Great I love climbing... he grumbles, pulling out a stone which glows with magical light. He releases it, and it immediately begins slowly orbiting the inquisitor's head. At least we have some light to help us see by. he says, following Bryndis up the ladder.

Bryndís starts up the ladder, a grim expression on her face.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Govrina watches as the others start to climb. While she couldn’t keep someone from falling directly, she might be able to lift an object big enough to catch someone if needed.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Wayilant follows the rest in the portal. Wayilant's player will be out of the hospital tomorrow night.

New map is posted. From what I can discern, current marching order is as follows. (Bryndis, Wayilant, Gravi, Darius, Govrina.) Unless specified otherwise, I will assume that’s the default order.

Reeking of vermin droppings, sagging walkways and cramped stairwells connect the museum’s winding upper levels. Stifling heat fills the sealed-off rooms and crannies, while cracked and rotten boards pop and creak at the slightest touch. Dry-rotted debris lie heaped atop broken furniture and shattered crates in the long-disused chambers. Boot prints make an uncertain and winding trail through the thick dust on the attic’s floors. The footprints lead to a secret door that now stands slightly ajar. Directly south of Bryndis’s current position, a second wooden door remains closed.

Bryndis Perception 22: Aside from the boot prints, which wind their way through the attic and to the secret door, nothing else seems out of place.

Govrina Perception 10: From the back of the group it is hard discern what is going on up ahead. At best, you manage to see Bryndis point at something on the ground but can quite tell what she’s referring to.

(Glad to hear you are on your way home Wayilant. I hope all went well and I wish you a speedy recovery.)

At least we have an easy time tracking him up here. Let me check the door and make sure no one's left any surpises behind for us. And it smells up here. Liotierri crosses the room, following the footprints carefully, and inspects the secret door, making sure no one's left anything behind for them.

Perception, trapfinding: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Should a trap be located:

Disable Device: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Okay those are terrible rolls...

Liotierri waves Bryndis forward, everything's fine, let's see where he went!

While Gravi checks for nasty surprises ahead of them, Bryndís quietly puts her ear to the door beside her for a listen. She's uneasy and can feel the hairs on her body prickling up from the creepiness of the place. Maybe it's just in her mind, but she's certain there is bad energy very nearby.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Not overly nervous, but going with the vibe of the place, Govrina pulls a few copper coins from her ‘ammo’ bag in case she needs them quickly.

Bryndis Perception 15: The room beyond the wooden door is silent.

Darius follows Gravi, and once the inquisitor signals the route to be clear, he peers into the room

Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

"Oh, and orrery..." he whispers to the others. "Impressive."

Once Darius reaches Gravi, he manages to get a glimpse of the orrery before a ten-foot section of the floor collapses. Wood splinters and rotten boards plummet forty foot into one of the lower exhibit halls.

Falling Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 1, 5) = 16
(Both Gravi and Darius need to make a Reflex Save (DC 21) to avoid the fall.

Spitballing here, but if I can 'catch' a falling board with my powers could that small piece of semi-steady floor give them some sort of a minor bonus to their Reflex saves?

Spitballing here, but if I can 'catch' a falling board with my powers could that small piece of semi-steady floor give them some sort of a minor bonus to their Reflex saves?

I would say yes to this with a stipulation and a couple options. First, you would need to make the same reflex save as they do in order to invoke the skill in time. In this particular case, the hazard calls for a fairly high reflex. A 21 reflex save with only a +3 to react would be considered difficult. If successful, it would grant both targets a +2 to their saves. The other alternative would be to spend a Hero point, which would guarantee success and grant either target a +4 to their roll, or both targets a +2. This choice would need to be stated before their roll is made. If stated after their roll is made, then the bonus would be a +2 to a single target or a +1 to both targets.

Hero Points

Ref: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Ce pana mea? Just as he peers in, Darius suddenly sinks through the floor. The smell of rotten wood clearly tells the analytical mind why this is happening. If he only had less of an analytical, and more of a responsive mind, he might have had grabbed the edges of the hole and prevent the fall in the first place.

But no. No acrobatic swings, dodges or rolls to avoid falling. Instead, a loud crash, followed by very long set of curses. The words might be from some very shady corner of Varisian vocabulary, but their rough meaning is easily figured out.

Govrina gasps as she reaches out to the debris falling and her mists envelope a larger chunk of rotting debris, making them it as stable as an iron log. Athough it may be too late...?

I would have spent the hero point in advance of their rolls, and divide the bonus between the two. For a +2 to both. Sorry Darius, I tried.

Wayilant tries his best carefully help Darius up from the hole in the floor. Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Wayilant tries his best carefully help Darius up from the hole in the floor. [dice=Reflex]1d20 + 2

With a 50' length of rope, helping them back up into the attic shouldn't be an issue. That, or they could simply return to the ladder. The five-foot by ten-foot hole in the floor may pose a challenge, depending on how you decide to overcome it.

Wayilant takes the rope from his backpack, and lowers it down to Darius. The cleric asks the Bryndis for her stern muscle and general assistance.

Before she's going to start hauling people up by rope, which will surely put weight on the floor, Bryndís checks what remains to see if it's sturdy enough to trust.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Darius struggles a bit with the rope, not ever being one for much physical activity. But finally manages to climb up, accompanied by long not verses formed of, and only of, curses.

"Thank you, friends. I am alive. Not well, but alive. And I have to say I hate this place already."

I was thinking the more physically able people would've jumped to the room before helping Darius (and possibly Gravi) up. Although the room might present new dangers...

Also, did we have a wand of CLW or similar easy way of healing?

We are still waiting on Gravi's Reflex roll too. Right? As far as hauling anyone up, all we have to do is tie a rope around somebody and I can haul anyone who weighs less than 400 lbs up without a problem using the rope. I can up that to 4000 lbs if I push myself. Yes I have a wand of CLW, but it is not fully charged and was meant for emergencies mainly.

In order to move forward, I’m going to make Gravi’s save.

Gravi’s Save: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 = 26

Just as the floor beneath the two adventure’s feet gives way, Govrina manages to focus enough of her energy to bring the process into slow motion. It’s almost as if the remainder of the rotten boards are refusing to accept their fate and simply fall to the ground. Quick as a cat, Gravi manages to press off of one of the Simi-floating boards and then pull himself over to the secret door. In doing so, he manages to avoid the fall. Unfortunately, Darius was not as lucky. In a heated panic, the arcanist grabbed for anything he could get his hands on while loudly reciting a number of colorful profanities. In the end, he was unable to get hold of anything, which resulted in an impact that could be heard fare above. Between the debris, and the distance the arcanist fell, there is little doubt Darius suffered a painful tumble.

Bryndis: Perception 29 Moments after the fall, Bryndis begins inspecting the edges of the hole that now covers a five-foot by ten-foot section of the floor in front of the secret door. After a detailed inspection, she concludes that the remainder of the floor is sturdy enough to support a solid load. In addition, she also noticed a fifteen-foot-long scaffolding in the lower exhibit hall. Multiple boards running the length of the scaffolding look as if they could be used to cover the hole.

Soon, a hemp rope descends down into the room below. With Bryndis and Wayilant both securing the rope, Darius makes an attempt to climb it. The process becomes daunting, considering the rope is unknotted and difficult to keep hold of. Soon, the rope beings pulling Darius up. When Darius looks up, expecting to see the two adventures pulling heavily on the rope, he is caught a little off guard when he sees nether pulling on the rope at all. In fact, the rope seems to be doing all the work on its own.

This leaves Gravi at the secret door’s entrance and the rest of the group on the other side of the hole. Darius has made it back up into the attic, by the use of the fifty-foot rope and Govrina’s ability. Govrina can remove a hero point. To the best of the group’s ability, the walkway seems secure. I don’t believe anyone has engineering, but I could be simply overlooking it.

Apologies, life's been really real for the last week or so!

That was, well, exciting. There's a thing over here, I don't know what to call it and are those boots? beneath it? He casts about without moving to see if there is anything in the room, Can you think of a way over here? I can probably make the jump back, but I'm not necessarily the one you want poking at odd mystical things here. he asks.

I have Engineering at +6. It’s the skill I get access to from being a telekinetic.
Know(Engineering): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Gravi: No worries, I assumed as much. That's why I took the liberty. I normally try not to impose a GM roll on anything damaging or harmful, but I will step in on occasions like this, when I need to move things forward. I suppose it would have been worse if I failed the roll. )

Govrina Knowledge Engineering 9: The floor seems structurally safe. Although its crossbeams look to be sold, most of floor's planks appear to be old and warn. You surmise that it should hold firm under normal load, but you wouldn't recommend doubling up on any one spot. The part of the floor that broke, did so due to being worn out. The floor's supports, which firmly run on both sides of the walkway, seems structurally sound. (Moving forward, I will note the fact that you have that knowledge covered. Thanks for pointing it out.)

Govrina will pass on the floor's structural info to all the others.

Bryndís tells Govrina about the boards on the scaffolding below.

"Can you pull them or float them up here so we can cover over the hole?"

Nodding, Govrina easily floats the largest pieces and carefully sets them safely nearby for Bryndis.

"Just be careful. Too much weight in a single place could cause more to collapse. It might be easier to simple rope off this area until they can send someone up here to repair things."

Govrina moves the two fifteen-foot planks from the scaffolding up into the attic. It doesn’t take long before they’re across the ten-foot-long beach in the attic’s floor. Now, with a clear path to the other side, the group is able to proceed across the two wobbly boards.

"Nicely done, 'Rina", Wayilant nods.

Bowing gently to Wayilant's complement, she smiles and waves the others to cross like a doorman at a count's castle.

"This way to the hors d'oeuvre, ladies and gentlemen! Mind your feet! This carpet is delicate."

Bryndís expects that most of the others will want to stare at the door and ponder over it for a while, so she no need to crowd to the front where she will be in their way. She waits.

"Good job, Govrina! Now, if you don't mind, I'm not going first (learned my painful lesson)" Darius says, dusting his clothes which have picked a slight grey tint after the fall.

Now feeling like backup is there, Liotierri crosses the chamber, examining the metal thing in the middle of the room.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Surprise Round (You may take a standard or move action during this round.)

Gravi (23)
Unknown (10)

Gravi is up

Gravi (Bot) Unsure about what’s going on with the corps on the other side of the room, Gravi decides to make his way across the wobbly boards and out of the secret room.

Almost immediately after the inquisitor exits the room, the sound of something striking the wall can be heard.

Round 1

Gravi (23)
Govrina (22)
Wayilant (16)
Darius (14)
Bryndis (11)
Unknown (10)

The rest of the group is up.

So Gravi went into the orrery room, and heard/saw something and then fled out of the room?

Wayilant holds his holy symbol aloft as he walks the wooden blanks to enter the orrery.
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
"If there is anyone here, show yourself!!"

So Gravi went into the orrery room, and heard/saw something and then fled out of the room?

More or less, yes. He would have likely explained what he saw, which was the corps turning green and erupting with boils. Shortly after vacating the room, the sound of something striking the wall could be heard from your location. Sorry for the delay, I wanted to give Gravi ample time to reply on his own accord. Because there hasn't been a post since June 7th, I chose to move him out of the room to avoid any further delays.

Being in the back of the group, there is little Govrina can do but wait. She does frown at the sound of whatever is in the other room. She stands ready to blast something with a coin she pulled earlier…

Bryndís has no idea what's going on, but the broad theme of Gravi's exit is "very bad". She maintains her position, but draws her weapon and readies herself to meet anything that might be coming out of the room after Gravi.

Start Rage, Hold attack.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Attack:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Damage: 2d6 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (5, 4) + 9 + 1 = 19

"What is going on in there??" Darius shouts. But he keeps to his decision, he is not going in first, nor among the first.

Delay, and act after the unknown

Shortly after Wayilant enters the room, everyone receives a horrific vision. In the vision, a withered humanoid figure with an elongated, pointed tongue bursts forth from a gray door and grabs the then-living Swarez, subsequently tearing him apart with its jagged claws and teeth. As the terrifying vision fades, the monster hisses, “The gate shall soon open!”

After the horrific assault, a moment of peace comes over you while you see yourself standing outside the museum over a grave with a headstone that reads "Andrew Swarez."

After the vision fades, an elongated green projectile shoots out of the corps towards Wayilant. The green acidic projectile strikes the Orrery and sizzles as it drips from the device to the ground.

Corps (Attack): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
(Acid Damage): 2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Round 2

Gravi (23)
Govrina (22)
Wayilant (16)
Darius (14)
Bryndis (11)
Unknown (10)

The party is up. I’m going to assume Gravi’s player is distracted and thus afk. I will shadow him until he returns. Gravi, if you return, please feel free to jump in at any time.

Round 2
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
The cleric knows he experienced his first haunt. Knowing the Slayers are now in Ustalav, haunts might become more commonplace.

Wayilant's revelry is ended by the wayward shot of acid from the corpse. "Aaah!" The caydenite exclaimed.

What skill would you use to identify the corpse and it's traits?

Can the rest of us even see what is going on?