GM Jhaeman's PFS1 # 5-23: 'Cairn of Shadows' (CORE) (Subtier 8-9) (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Holding his hand out to pause the group, Two Blades did a check of the north corridor to make sure there was no one on that side before heading to the west.

Two Blades, are you moving to the north or just checking from the intersection?

Grog grips his axe and waits.

that was a long climb

Two Blades disappears down the northern corridor.

Just to keep us moving, I'll assume Two Blades scouts ahead to the north.

Correct
"Looks like another batch of chains going up and down" Two Blades said to the group. "Let's check out the rest of this area before we deal with them. he added before heading to the west.

As Two blades mentions the chains continue up, Khellek's face drops. Then he remembers that he can still levitate. So he levitates up the to ceiling and tries walking along it with his hands.

You can take the youth out of the Varisian schoolboy, but can you take the schoolboy out of the scholar? What an interesting philosophical question.

However realising this is no place for play, he sinks back down again and makes sure Bessie is ready. [i]Next fight I will be more help. Really.[/b]"

Having finished his investigation to the north, Two Blades scouts ahead to the west. Meanwhile, Khellek practices his new levitation magic.

Tucking a blade under his arm, Two Blades made a few motions to magically check the room out further without stepping in.

Cast Detect Magic

Khellek returns quickly to the floor "Well, it goes up another 50'. And I so don't recommend the trip. I felt like those chains were just waiting to wrap around my neck.."

Glowing sigils and audible chimes signify that Two Blades has cast a spell!

"Do we have a fly?"

beats climbing for hours

K Arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
"Hey, there is a body on the table. Looks like it might have something magical on them." Two Blades said as he started to focus on the spell.

"How... recent... a body?" asks Khellek. "I do hope it is not still alive.."

Two Blades continues concentrating on the spell.

Suddenly, the sounds of loud chanting become obvious to everyone in the group! It seems to be coming from the level below you!

Moving us along a bit to keep momentum.

”Well… that sounds not good. I’m all for going to investigate but last time I ended up almost dead going first. So I’m happy to go but not gonna lead the way.”

"Strange, it looks like the magic is coming from the table" Two Blades said.

Khellek advances on the table. "Do you mind if I examine it?"

Assuming Two blades is okay

Khellek also uses detect magic, and arcana/spellcraft to try and determine what the table does.

T10 for arcana for 40. I can't T10 on spellcraft, so that will be a spellcraft: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 33

Khellek lends his own magical insight to Two Blades'.

"Definitely tranformation magic." says the scholar.

"I'd have expected necromantic magic here.. or maybe conjuration given this place reeks of the shadow plane." The scholar fails to suppress a shudder.

"What was it you were saying Ms Leafwing? What doesn't sound good?"

”Can you not hear the chanting from below? Sounds like a some sort of ritual? I doubt it is a good thing. But if you all want to keep searching up here, I’m sure we can just deal with it later.”

"Can someone hit me with a fly? I'll swing down and check it out"

Khellek shakes his head. "Sorry. my hearing is not what it once was." He points back to where the team just ascended. "You hear it from there? Or another way down?"

I think it is back the way we came? The GM stated Suddenly, the sounds of loud chanting become obvious to everyone in the group! It seems to be coming from the level below you! a few posts back.

Grog, I don't think anyone has another fly spell available. Kaya certainly does not.

"I cannot make you fly, sir orc. I can't even make you fall slowly. Sorry."

Kavor Doan casts Shield.

"Sorry, Grog. I have no more spells of flight, nor any scrolls. I can Spider Climb down there but I do not like doing so alone without the benefit of Invisibility, and I believe our resources are exhausted in that regard."

@Grog, you have a Potion of Fly on your sheet. Kavor Doan will go with you if you want.

"Let us look around for some stairs. There has to be something like that or bringing things to this level will be rather tricky" Two Blades suggested.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

It's the end... but I will follow you nevertheless. We need to find the secrets of this place, at all cost. says Jair.

She adds For less than one minute, I could make us all look like the creatures you fought earlier. It could give us the element of surprise if needed.

@Two Blades: You don't see any stairs from your current location. Do you want to move further into the room with the tables to look?

Can someone please move me in to the room. (Can not move him using the tablet) Thank you.

Moved

poop I forgot about the fly potion

Grog moves near the druid.

"Well guess we go this way"

Two Blades moves further into the room, but his feeble light only illuminates more tables laden with instruments of torture.

Meanwhile, filtering up from the shafts, the sounds of chanting intensifies!

To recap, it appears there are no stairs on this level, and two different shafts going back down (the shaft you came up and a separate shaft in the chamber to the north). Everyone can hear loud chanting coming from somewhere below.

”Ok, so I don’t think we can take our time. I see two options. One, we all rush down to check out the chanting. Two, we search up here as quickly as possible, and then go down. The two of us with spider climb can zip down that north room together, any fliers can come too. Remember that we never found a way up other than the way we came, so that north room probably doesn’t exit. The rest search up here. If there is a third option fine, but let’s get on it quick.”

Khellek nods to Kaya.

"Let us determine which shaft the chanting it louder from. I suspect the northern one which we have not yet been down." he agrees.

"I can assist all of you who do not have other magical aid, in a rapid descent."

Happy to cast feather fall on those without another quick way down.

"I suggest those with keenest vision go first, and those requiring light follow afterward."

And those who want a feather fall, just one a round. So highest AC/hp first maybe?

"Option One. I'll lead the way."

Kavor Doan sheathes his axe and begins Spider Climbing down the chains.

He has Shield active, so is AC 25. And keeps Dex while climbing, and is at 76/80 HP with pretty good saves.

Kaya moves back to the intersection and listens.

Perc: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

Lets go to our certain oblivion. I'm ready. says Jair before turning to Khellec and adding I will gladly accept your spell to help me go down gently.

Khellek will feather fall Jair as part of the first wave down.

Given you decend at 60' a round, and spider climb gives a climb speed of 20' (thus a double move gets you 40') - it might pay to wait a round from when Kavor Doan starts down before Jair jumps down with the spell. How high up the chains did we climb to begin with?

Kavor Doan begins climbing down the chains!

I've moved Kavor Doan's token to Slide # 2.

To keep us organised, I'll move us into Initiative.

@Khellek: This level is 150' above the lower level.

Initiative (Round 1)

Two Blades (light, fly)
Kavor Doan (spider climb)
Grog
Jhair (wayfinder light)
Khellek (light)
Kaya (spider climb, light)

Bold should go!

Khellek will feather fall people as they drop down the shaft (Grog and Jair)

"Take care my students. I'll join you as soon as I can."

Kaya announces her discovery, ”The chanting is from back the way we came.”

And as everyone has fortunately already gone that way she follows, her kitty close behind.

Kaya gets down 20 ft and Droog 15 ft. We are 120 ft up, spider climb gives speed of 20 per move so 40 a round.

"I'll wait for you guys"

Grog drinks the potion of fly and moves down 60'

Kaya and her companion start climbing down the chains, while Grog chugs a potion and jumps down! Meanwhile, Khellek stands ready to assist an ally.

@Grog: I've moved your token to Slide # 2. Please don't forget to remove the potion from your inventory list.

Jair and Two Blades are up.

As they go down, Jair concentrates and transforms all her comrades next to her into the strange shadowy creature that Kavor Dan and Kaya have fought.

Master illusion 1/9

@Khellek, Feather Fall can get one creature per level with each casting, so you could get everybody at once instead of one at a time if you wanted and thereby save spell slots.

Jair begins to drop slowly down the shaft, casting a clever illusion spell as she does so!

@Jair: I've moved your token to Slide # 2 and 60' down from the top.
Clever use of the illusion spell!

Two Blades, what would you like to do?

@GM can I make a knowledge check on the creature to perfect my disguise and know what language they speak?

Sure. It'll be Knowledge (planes).