[Gameday XIII] #5-09 - The Traitor's Lodge

Game Master Mustaparta

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

"This scene depicts Torag fighting a gorgon."

Anything I might know about either gorgons or Torag that might help me not be judged poorly?

Rogarch takes a moment to notice something strange on the statue.

25 Perception on a take 10.

"There is a weird symbol on its head. It is an inverted pentagram but what does it mean?"

Knowledge Religion check of 15 to identify.

She thinks for a moment to see if she remembers anything about the significance of the statue.

Arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

RawkNRole looks at the statue as well but does not notice anything of note.

Arcana: 1d20 ⇒ 9

DC 18 Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
DC 25 Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

Wither also doesn't notice anything new from the statue.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Arxoias will use her wand of Heighten Awareness and cast Detect Magic on the statue.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Ekanta approaches the altar, the echoes of his hoofsteps delicate yet sepulchral in the silence of the moment; he is tempted to take it up on its offer, but is unsure if it is worth trusting such a thing's judgment.

With Perception checks exceeding 20 you also learn that Torag is off balance and that the gorgon is poised to strike.

Whats the plan now?

Curious, Ekanta wordlessly attempts to right the Torag-figure's position.

STR check?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Result from Detect Magic?
"Torag being off balance, in a dwarf's basement? I smell BLASPHEMY"

Two magic auras can be detected (one moderate, one faint)

While position of figures cannot be easily changed, Ekanta notices its possible to move entire altar with enough force. He would need help to make it move though.

"Torag being off balance, in a dwarf's basement? I smell BLASPHEMY"

"...Or occlusion," Responds Ekanta in his usual disturbing monotone. "This is not rooted. That seems odd for a Dwarven altar. Help me."

I'd like to keep my above STR check if I need to make another one here.

STR check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Arxoias tries to help, but best she can do is to leans against the statue :(

Rogarch adds her considerable muscle to move the stone as does her earth elemental companion.

Is a check required or simply more strong people? You can add another strength 18 and strength 16 creature pushing.

Though wishing to help, Wither still decides to remain some distance away from the others.

This requires a check

Rogarch puts her back into it.

Strength check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

RawkNRole is used to pushing things especially rock things. He puts his shoulder into it.

Strength check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Mika does not think she can help, so she stays out of the way.

"What? Do I look like I regularly lift anything heavier than a book?"

"Let's try again. Come and help me. We're not asking you to lifting anything, just put your body weight to it to move it away."
Arxoias squats down to be at proper dwavern height, then start pushing again.
Attempting new STR check
Strength check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Devaan you asked earlier about gorgons and Torag: You know that gorgon's breath weapon may petrify affected creatures. You also know basics of the faith like Torag's Favored Weapon is Warhammer
RawkNRole, Rogarch and Wither notice the statue contains a trap which releases poisonous gas. Its trigger is a divination spell.

If you want to move the statue by pushing it, two aid checks are needed. This will also trigger the trap if its not disabled first.

Rogarch and RawkNRole stop pushing on the statue as soon as they realise that they might trigger a trap.

"We better disarm the trap on this statue first. Is anyone good at that?"

"Not me..." Wither murmurs in her corner.

Back down from her wasted effort, Arxoias checks her scrolls collection. "Forgot to buy Delay Poison, oops..."

Can we tell whether it is a magical trap or not?

Rogarch wonders if fooling with this statue is necessary in the first place.

"Can we not just ignore this statue?"

Perhaps I am missing something here but do we have to interact with the statue. Can we not continue on our way?

Arxoias sighs and asks the druid to cast Guidance on her. She is going to have a try at this statue, thieves' tool in hand. "Everybody stands back!"
Disable Device: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 = 22

Rogarch wonders if fooling with this statue is necessary in the first place.

"Can we not just ignore this statue?"

Perhaps I am missing something here but do we have to interact with the statue. Can we not continue on our way?

There is no other way forward and Valais confirms this.

Arxoias succeeds disabling the trap and it is now safe to push the statue out of way.

"Good Job. Alright let us start again."

Strength check to move the statue: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

RawkNRole tries to help his mistress.

Aid to Rogarch, DC 10: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

STR check, Aid Other: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18 "PUUUUUSH!"

You eventually make it and the statue moves out of way and descend down. A cage-like spiral staircase of rusting wrought iron descends along one wall of this room. Dim but vibrant green light pulses from two large glass vats that stand from floor to ceiling in the far corners. Powdery rust coats much of the floor, though several lines of footprints crisscross the room. Metal doors lead to the east and west.

Entering the room Valais becomes shocked and dumbfounded. You could almost hear her heart beating.

Ekanta advances a few steps into the chamber, then takes a puzzled look back at Valais.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Arxoias takes out some wands and get ready.
Lucky Number: 1d20 ⇒ 2 and also Heighten Awareness

Devaan checks the room with detect magic (from safely in back of the aprty).

Perception: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9

"Wizard, what do you see?"
Does Devaan Zeleye would like to have Mage Armor? If so he can use Arxoias' wand

Map of the underground level is on Slide 4.
Devaan and Ekanta do not find anything noteworthy. The vats produce dim light as a candle and they're filled with strange liquid, in which air bubbles occasionally appear. Chalk writing along the wall near each vat records various numerical data, but it isn't easy to understand them without context.

Its obvious that being present in this room is deeply horrifying ordeal to Valais and something traumatic has happened to her in this complex. "This is the place where Thurl made me into a monster. I remember how he visited many times taking measurements." she breathes deeply and tone of her voice becomes softer when she mentions Thurl

Arxoias frowns at the horrific scene and asks Valais "And......you don't happens to be the sole experiment subject, do you?"

Devaan has a +1 haramaki, so that would only be a +2 to AC. He wouldn't say no, of course.

"Can you tell us anything about what happened here?"

Added my token to the combat map. I will suggest other do the same so we can continue.
She hands her wand of Mage Armor to the wizard.

Overwhelmed by the large room, Wither stands speechless for a moment. She then casts Barkskin and Owl's Wisdom on herself.

Ekanta checks his sidearm, readies his staff, approaches the eastern door, and looks back at the others expectantly.

Devaan thanks Arxoias for the loan of the wand and uses it just before the other Pathfinders open the door.

"Certainly there were other experiment subjects." Valais says with tears in her eyes

Opening the east door and turning right you find dark hallway which splits into opposite directions some distance away.

Ekanta forges ahead, stopping stiffly at the junction.

"Left, or right?"
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

1 Left 2 Right: 1d2 ⇒ 2 Arxoias flips a coin.
"The crown says right."

Rogarch casts a protective spell on RawkNRole before enchanting herself with a magical item. She then attempts to activate a wand to speed up her reactions in combat. She then puts her equipment away.

UMD DC 20, Wand of Heightened Awareness, Heroism: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 = 30

"Sure, we can go right first."

RawkNRole smiles as the adventure is about to really begin.

Turning to right you arrive in a small library-like room. The walls of this room are lined with steel bookshelves bolted into the polished stone. Books rest comfortably against each other, each given ample room to be removed without risk of damaging the contents within. Two black leather chairs next to the western wall are positioned around an ostentatious wooden table supporting a single glass tumbler. There are two identical, reinforced wooden doors along the western wall.

To understand contents of the books make a DC 22 Appraise, Heal, Knowledge (arcana, planes, or religion), Linguistics, or Profession (merchant) checks

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 The Gunslinger shakes her head, whatever it is, it is beyond the scope of the battlefield first aid course she took.

Rogarch briefly looks around.

Knowledge Arcana, Heroism, Heightened Awareness: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 11