Ruins of Iobaria: The Reach of Corruption

Game Master Cwethan

"Anything that will cause that thing anguish is worth a try." Kalla agrees.

deception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"KeneDara, happily we have been told this exercise is old, and we can shut it all down. The primordial one and the devil are plenty enough for new finders. We're just here to see if the amulet is still with you so we can seal it in this dank nothing you will now spend the rest of eternity in, Alone, with nothing interesting coming by ever again." there is a delicious joy in her voice that is not faked at all.

"No!! I have the amulet right here! Why would you- was I not making it hard enough to get the amulet off me?" You've got to give me another chance," she stammers.

" You want another chance? Shaine seemed pretty adamant that you weren't adding anything of value to this trial and that he is done putting up with a "whiney sniveling imp"..." Nixoret taps his right foot absentmindedly against the floor and does his best to seem to be lost in thought pondering how he could help this poor imp out.

I am friends with the Dean of Spells though, I bet I can convince her to use you in one of her trials if you'd prefer not to rot away in a solitary void. We'll still need to seal away the amulet, but we can just throw it in a pocket dimension for you and we'll come back and let you know if Sorrina will take you on Nix helpfully offers the imp, and confidently reaches his hand out to the imp for him to place the amulet

Deception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

"Great! Great! Sure!" The quasit* hands over the amulet in a panic. "Just uhh... let me know soon, okay?"

***

"That was much faster!" Master Shaine says with a smile. "Well, next clue: A devil is in this dungeon, a weak but cunning scion of Hell. Those of her kind love make deals and frequently serve as assistants to unwise spellcasters. Well? Off you go."

***

SCHLORP

The imp gives you a languorous smile. "Back for little old me? Shall we make a deal then? I'll give you the amulet, and you get a little extra luck for the next hour. So long as you're careful, there's no cost to you. I just get the right of first refusal for that hour in case of anything untimely."

*Laz misID'd it earlier

"Well that sounds excellent, much more straightforward than the others have been. We will most likely take you up on your offer..." Laszlo's grin becomes slightly predatory. "We should probably nail down some terms first, though. After all, more luck doesn't make it clear if I would get good luck or bad luck. And of course, untimely is far too vague. If I won a coin flip that I wouldn't have, well that is technically an untimely coin flip, but I'm not sure if that would justify anything covered by 'right of first refusal'. Hold on, I'm sure I have some parchment here, we can get this ironed out to everyone's satisfaction." As usual, he begins a frenetic expedition into his bag for the proper tools.

Mostly, I want to iron out the obvious loopholes and ensure that what I'm agreeing to is the spirit of what she's offering: small luck boost for a short period plus the amulet, if I manage to somehow die within the hour, she can take my soul. Also include a non-aggression clause just in case.

Lore (Legal): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

"Sure we can't just mug him?" Kalla isn't trying to be intimidating, just disliking having to talk to devils and demons (especially demons). So the question is really posed to the others.

"Oh yes, yes that all sounds perfectly fine to me," the imp says sweetly, happily agreeing to Laszlo's changes. Laszlo feels a slight shiver as the contract settles onto his soul. The imp sighs, hands over the amulet, and disappears.

Once during the next hour, Laszlo can roll an attack roll or saving throw twice and use the higher result. It shouldn't come up... right?

***

SCHLORP

"Oh my!" Kreighton exults, "That was even faster and- Err... You didn't take the imp's contract, did you?"

Laszlo hands him a sheet of parchment.

"Well actually, yes sir, in a manner. Here are a copy of the terms that I agreed to. If it's not a problem, I would prefer to wait out the remainder of the hour here in your presence. I have full faith in the rest of the party to accomplish any further tasks you might have for us. Oh and if you are concerned about any long term effects on my soul for having dealt with devils... I have served a very evil many for a very long time, I am sure I'm indelibly stained. If I can shield my companions from such a fate, even in something a simple as a trial like this, then it is of no consequence to me."

After a beat, Laszlo's cheery demeanor returns.

"Perhaps we can discuss ways to provide that poor quasit with better social outlets. He seems in dire need of companionship."

Master Shaine rolls his eyes. "I always summon the quasits last and it never helps. She'd been in there for less than an hour before you arrived; the demon can cope." He pauses. "Err, you did already know she was the demon, yes?"

More seriously he continues. "As to the imp. If you were concerned, then you should know that that will be scored as a success, but I do think that you were foolish in a greater sense. Shortcuts sometimes present themselves out in the field, and it's up to each agent to determine which costs are worth paying for gold, knowledge, or acclaim." He shakes his head sorrowfully. "I would not hope that any of my pupils would wager their very souls on any but the direst of tasks for our Society. As slight as this risk is, is any chance of your soul's damnation worth a point on an exam?"

Kreighton lets his words rest for a moment. "Now I have half a mind to end the exercise right now, but... which one's left again?" He quickly goes through a small scroll, lips moving as he finds his place. "Oh, the inevitable is the only one left? Fine, you can finish. But then you aren't taking another step towards another exercise until that pact is up! I'll find a senior agent to watch you for the hour too, just in case."

"But... oh yes, the last clue: A being of law and order has one of my amulets, It's one of the least of the inevitables, aeons bound tightly by rules and constraints."

***

You plunge through the final active portal into a room that was clearly once a confluence of the various portals that pepper this dungeon, as all five colors of glyph are symmetrically arranged here. Only the red circle in the southeastern corner is currently activated. In the precise center of the room, slowly revolving, waits a winged sphere of bronze and copper set with a single eye.

"Greetings. I should inform you that I have been instructed not to hand over the amulet."

Nixoret turns to his companions and whispers loud enough for them to hear "Looks like this inevitable is an arbiter, as you might guess, there rules are specific and [pauses] rather arbitrary"

Nix step forwards and addresses the aeon "Arbiter, you have been instructed not to "Hand over the amulet", my monk friend here is quite dexterous, I see nothing in your instructions that would forbid you from allowing him to obtain the amulet from you with ... his feet" Nix turns back to his companions and waggles his scaly eyebrows, clearly very pleased with himself that his has found this loophole and excited to see the monk have to deal with his preposterous plan

With an eyebrow raised Sajan looks at Nixoret, "Why my feet? It seems likely I can simply take it from him... with my hands."

Nix lets out an exasperated sigh "He can't _hand_ over the amulet, therefore no hands"

Sajan's eyes narrow before he lets out a sigh. "Fine. I'll see what I can do."

Sajan leans forward, placing his hands on the ground and kicking into a handstand. Then, with great care, he hand-walks toward the inevitable and carefully arches his back, pushing his feet forward to grab the amulet.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

The monocular monadist makes no mention of the monk's miraculous mobility. It just blinks and foots over the amulet. "Our business is complete."

***

SCHLORP

"Excellent, excellent!" Master Shaine cheers at your successes. "Full marks all around, your indiscretion in judgment notwithstanding. After all, it would be churlish to deny you the points you purchased so dearly!"

He gestures to a hulking nagaji at his side, who apparently joined him while you tarried with the aeon.

"This is Narayan Singh. He is between assignments, and has consented to guard your life for the remainder of the hour, Mister Csoka, and to do his level best to seize fast your soul and strike down any psychopomps or devils who attempt to make off with it should some unforeseen disaster strike."

"Hello friends," Narayan gives Sajan, something resembling a respectful nod, then beams at the whole of the party. The snake-man's fangy grin is... unsettling, but seems entirely heartfelt. His jaw juts out over a very short neck, which with his broad shoulders gives him a somewhat squat appearance even though he stands comfortably over 6' tall. "Do not worry. Even againsst the forsses of the Whisspering Tyrant, it was far more than an hour before any of my companions were sstolen by death. Thiss time should passs much more ssafely. Do you know any games?"

***

Feel free to chat with Narayan, but that seems like something that can be comfortably backdated as appropriate

***

After an hour that passes in safety, Narayan bids you all farewell with hearty embraces, and directs you on to the office of Sorrina Westyr, the Master of Spells.

Sorrina leads you thence from her neatly kept office to a training hall within Skyreach. An odd array of magical fixtures fill this spacious chamber: a wooden platform floats in the air halfway down the hall, a fountain spewing violet water sits in one corner, a wooden scaffolding holding fake walls in place creates a miniature room within the larger chamber, and several doors leading out the sides of the hall have glowing runes upon their surfaces.

"What I have here for you is essentially an obstacle course," says Sorrina, a note of pride in the oread's voice. "Each part of the course represents a different sort of challenge you'd possibly encounter in an actual mission. I’ll only award your final scoring for this trial when everyone has overcome the challenges. So, think of this as a group assignment."

Sorrina gestures to a long table holding a closed satchel. "You aren’t expected to take on all the tasks we have available here. I’ll be assigning you three of them. Your satchel contains a set of tools, including some magical items you would otherwise be unable to access from our storerooms. There should be an item or two that can help overcome all of the possible challenges. Your task is to decide which of these tools suits your group in besting the challenges you’ve been given. Some tools might be more appropriate in certain challenges than others, and some might seem useless for your particular tasks, but there’s no ‘correct’ answer here. I’m observing and grading your creativity and success, not seeing if you’d do something the same way that I might in the same circumstances.

[b]"For the first challenge: sooner or later, you’ll need to ascend somewhere you can’t climb, or battle a flying opponent. Test your skills on a tall platform. For the second: You'll soon discover that not all doors are open to you, and some are much harder to get past than others. Test yourselves against the unyielding door. For your third challenge, remember that you don’t always have to fight your enemies. Sometimes it’s much, much wiser to sneak past them. Just be quiet as you cross the chamber of the slumbering dragon."

She smiles in anticipation. "You may open your satchel now. Any questions?"

The satchel contains 100' feet of rope, four vials of lesser alchemist's fire, a standard-grade adamantine dagger, two scrolls of sleep, a decanter of endless water, boots of elvenkind, a cloak of elvenkind, infiltrator thieves’ tools, a scroll of blink, a scroll of dispel magic, and a scroll of glitterdust

"Do we get to use all the items, or should we attempt to do as you mentioned and try and get one or two items to fit each of the challenges?" Kalla leans in and eyes the lovely cloak. "Hmmm, and we all need to pass the challenges, yes?" she worries about keeping quiet as a group and does not look at Laszlo when she thinks that.

Sorrina nods gravely. "Yes. Success or failure will be judged as a group. You may use as many of the items as you wish, though I must request that they be returned once you are through."

Sorrina leads you all to a section of the room where a wooden platform sits overhead, suspended by four pillars of wood. She explains with an anticaptory air that "The challenge is for you all to make it on top of the platform, using your own skills and tools." Her smile is a challenge. "Without climbing the pillars."

The platform is 15 feet off the ground, 10 feet below the room’s ceiling, and no walls of the room are closer than 15 feet to any of its edges. It is surrounded by a railing on all sides.

"Oh, easy" Nixoret pilfers through the satchel, pulls out the length of rope and walks just to the side of platform. Nix transfers the rope to his offhand and pulls out a tarnished mirror from his belt. The kobold deftly angles the mirror such that he can see platform, squints intently and is suddenly looking at his own reflection from atop the platform. Nix winks at himself and begins tying the rope to the railing on the platform. While helpful atop the platform, the instance of Nix on the ground seems to just be fiddling with a rope around nothing at all.

Upon completion of the knot, Nix throws the rope down over the edge of the platform which results in one rope dangling from the railing and one rope in a pile on the ground at Nixoret's feet. Delighted with his handy work, Nix reaches out and tugs on the hanging rope and/or thin air.

"Well, that's not going anywhere" he says puffing up his chest(s) as the version of Nix on the ground collapses in to a fine dust

"Are you coming?" He calls out to the party with a tongue throughly in his cheek

Kalla looks up, then down, and then snorts out a laughing "What?!?"

"Haha! It looks like we gave up one Seelah in exchange for two Nixorets! That is most impressive, what else can you do with that fancy mirror?" So saying, he walks over and grabs a hold of the hanging rope. "Well, no time like the present. At least it has been over an hour so, if I fall and break my neck, I won't owe my soul to that nice imp Master Shaine had us work with."

Athletics (Climbing): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"I... ummm... this is awkward, but I've not really had to climb anything like this before."

It takes a few tries and a few new blisters for some of the less physically gifted among you, but everyone is able to reach the platform in relatively short order.

"Excellent work as expected, Nixoret." Sorrina affirms with a smile. "Well, no sense in resting on your laurels. Shall we?"

Sorrina brings you next to a side of the hall where an elaborately staged darkwood door stands against a wall. Sorrina explains "Your task here is simply to open the door - a task that won’t be easy, given preparations that have been made to keep the door sealed."

"Pretty door" Kalla says with a half-purring honesty. Slipping her rose glasses to her nose, she studies it up close. "Back before getting the opportunity to be an upstanding, me and mine might pinch past a door or two, but never one as chocolatey as this. It practically screams, look but don't touch."

Which is what she is truly checking for a the moment, whether they can touch and how much.

checking for traps.
perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"I'm sure there are innumerable ways to secure a door, but we've been given thieves' tools, a scroll of dispel magic, and if all else fails an adamantine dagger. I think we'll make quick work of this." Sajan steps forward as if to reach for the door handle but stops himself and steps back for Kalla's inspection. "Right, examining first is wise."

Kalla's examination proves quite fruitful! Though the darkwood door is all but impervious to most force that a person can bring to bear, she notices that the lock itself seems to have been made out of lead - a much softer material. Furthermore, as she examines every inch of the door and its surroundings, she finds a tiny nail at the very top of the door with something metal, toothed, and invisible hanging from it.

There is a kind of impressed air about Kalla as she goes over each and every interesting nook of the door to the others. "I think the way in is through the lock, but I do not understand the invisible thing hanging from the nail. Any ideas?"

"Two ideas spring to mind, based on the tools we were provided. It depends a bit on if we think the toothy thing is living or not. First, we can try to reveal it. If it's living, the scroll of glitterdust will let us know exactly where it is if not what. Otherwise, we can try the scroll of dispel magic, but that seems a bit much and it might be useful in a later challenge. Second, we can try and set it off prematurely. I have some basic concoctions that could probably trigger it from a distance. Otherwise, we can use the adamantine dagger. It won't give use the distance, but it is quite resilient, so it's unlikely to be damaged and has a strong chance to go through a number of the tougher materials used to set such a trap." Laszlo taps his chin, thinking for a second. "Personally, I recommend we set off the trap. What you've described doesn't sound alive and if we set it off from a distance, we can carve through the lock with little to no issue."

"Keys have teeth," Dawn observes quietly. "Maybe it is the key to the lock that is invisible?"

"Three ideas... three ideas clearly spring to mind"

"Oh, I love the idea that it is a toothy key." Kalla practically glows with the possibility. "Okay, stand back." the bard directs, and obeys herself, then uses her bit of magic to grasp the invisible toothy object, lifting it carefully over the nail and then into the lock.

Telekinetic hand

Which is hard since the object is invisible. If she cannot manage to insert and turn, she'll sigh, step up and use her own gloved hand.

The understated wisdom of Rising Dawn proves correct, which along with Kalla's thorough examination earns a nod of approval from Sorrina that Nixoret knows from long experience is to be coveted.

It takes a bit of maneuvering to use an invisible key, but it isn't long before the lock is sprung, the door opened, and the test passed!

***

A smiling Sorrina leads you to an antechamber off the main hall. Lying on the floor and occupying most of the hallway is a large, plush, stuffed dragon.

Sorrina whispers, "You need to cross the hallway without waking the dragon. If he does wake, you must appease him, lest he devour you all with his stuffed, satin, pillowy teeth." Her voice is deadpan but it can't quite disguise her enjoyment in describing the challenge. Dropping her stage whisper she adds that "If the stuffed dragon attacks you, you fail the trial. I will direct the plush creature’s actions to mimic those of a real dragon, so you should choose your tactics accordingly."

Very quietly Sajan addresses his team, "Let's plan carefully, what do we know about dragons?"

Warfare Lore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Hoping Warfare Lore might be helpful here, as knowing how to deal with large beasts such as dragons comes in helpful in a world like this.

Nix looks to the group solemnly Dragons, my people have passed down knowledge of dragons for as far back as our kind have existed. I know their ins and outs, their deepest fears and hidden weaknesses. I have the very blood of dragons running through my frame. Their magic courses through my horns and their claws are affixed to my feet

Esoteric Lore: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

lol but maybe I don't know that much about them :P

"Nothing." Kalla gives her answer with confidence. But then shakes her head "Well, I know plenty of songs and tales about them, but they are complete horseshyte at best. Though the more bawdy ones might entertain the fluffy beast."

Recall Knowledge is a Secret roll - so maybe those rolls went better behind the GM screen ;-)

The more learned among you know that dragons are complicated creatures, fueled by all manner of different sources of dread power there are more true tales of dragons' capabilities than one could ever untangle - even before the falsehoods are blended in! However, you know that they are as a rule famously sharp of senses and difficult to affect with certain magics.

A follow-Up question each can be asked by Amelia, Dawn, Laz, and Nixoret

Hope for success, but plan for failure. Should we wake up this "beast" how should we approach it? Laszlo begins estimating the size and apparent development of the dragon.

How old would a dragon of this size be? Or if that's covered by my initial success, what level of intelligence would that equate to for a red dragon (i.e. dumb beast, smart beast, able to converse, etc.)?

As the others think, Kalla starts to rock a bit from toe to heel, clearly having too much energy for scholarly musings. "How about the scrolls of sleep? Do they work on dragons? Or fake stuffed but very cute plushy dragons?"

Dawn ponders the question.

Follow up question is are dragons immune to sleep?

"I don't know if there is a clever trick to this challenge like there was to the prior two challenges, but I see three paths forward for us." Laszlo lifts his index finger and begins counting of options. "First, basic stealth. We sneak past without waking him. I am not the most skilled in that and will happily follow the lead of those better equipped, but I think this should be our primary approach. Second, negotiation." Laszlo pauses briefly at this and flushes with embarassment. "I believe our last set of challenge proved I am also unsuitable to guide this approach, but presently, I'm not sure what we could offer for safe passage. Which leads me to the third option: Chaos." A joyous grin spreads across Laszlo's face.

"If we cannot keep the dragon asleep, then we will want to overwhelm his senses. He cannot attack us, if he does not know where we are. One of us can use the scroll of glitterdust to distort his vision. To overcome his senses of smell and hearing, I suggest we set up piles of our extra clothing behind the alchemist fire we have and break the vials with stones or other thrown weapons. The noise and light will hopefully draw his attention and the scent should hopefully hold it. I can also create a small smoke cloud, but I would have to be close by to ignite it. Finally, we can activate one of the more aggressive options provided by the decanter of endless water and toss it to the other side of the dragon. I don't have a particular goal with that, but it should certainly be distracting." Laszlo composes himself briefly. "But of course sneaking past should certainly be our first plan."

Kalla opened her mouth, then shut it. Complicated plans had a habit of slipping off her brain, like melted butter on a warm round bun. "Okay." she decided, since Laszlo seemed to know how to keep the butter on.

Kalla looks out over the expanse of the twenty feet or so she would need to be quiet (something she is not prone to being much of ever) and sighs. Moving away, she takes off her pack, her belt purse, pendants and necklace, anything that might rattle. She steps about a bit in her boots and decides that they thunk too much so she takes them off as well.

"Best to get this over with." she whispers in singsong spell like voice, giving herself a little guidance in this time of need.

stealth: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 1 = 19
stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 hero point to fool a stuffed dragon
stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Once she is over without incident, she Quietly celebrates like a mute madwoman and then waves to the next person ready to come across.

Following Kalla's lead, Nix grimaces as he unwinds spools of esoterica from his person and stashes them with the parties belongings.

Nixoret recalls the his childhood in the sewers beneath Absalom, a youth spent creeping and crawling to escape the notice of creatures that might see a young Kobold less as a brave monster hunter and more as a light lunch. Nixoret lowers to all fours, and raises himself up to the tips of his claws. He looks back at the remaining group "Be careful, Sorrina has keen eyes and is an exacting judge." he whispers before taking off

stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 Hero Point
stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 Welp :/

Sajan carefully takes a few steps forward before noticing his allies carefully removing their gear. After taking a moment to consider, Sajan decides wisdom is greater than pride and follows suit.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 Hero Point
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 For the record, this is the re-roll. Oof.

The stuffy moves, grumbling repetitively and beginning to stir as Sorrina gives you all a stern look.

Turning to those who haven't crossed yet as the stuffy shifts and snarls in its 'sleep' she mouths, "Well?"

don't forget we have the elven cloak someone can wear!

Laszlo dons the Cloak, intending to shore up what is likely the greatest stealth weakness in the party and carefully begins to tiptoe across.

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 + 1 = 20
Stealth Too: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 + 1 = 21

Stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 121d20 ⇒ 20
Hero Point: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Sorrina smiles in pleasant surprise as Laszlo and Dawn glide across the corridor with nary a sound. She claps and the plush dragon stops feigning sleep, looking at you all with a cocked head and a toothy grin.

"Well done, Agents. I might recommend that in the future you make fuller use of the items, but I certainly can't argue with results. That said, the moment you pause to appreciate the past overmuch is the moment in which time has fled. Marcos will meet you at the, training arena." She clarifies to Nixoret, "The adjunct to the Irorium. Could be good to stretch first."

***

As you enter the sand-covered amphitheater, Marcos Farabellus greets you with his arms extended out wide. "The Trial of Swords is a bit simpler than those of my fellow deans," he says merrily. "Since I'm the Master of Swords, I want to see how you lot use your swords! Or axes, or bombs, or what have you. Now, don't worry yourselves; this is all nonlethal, wouldn't do to take our newest prospects off the map before they have a chance to do anything for us, eh?" He laughs. "This arena is under a ritual effect that stops any of these fights from getting too out of hand. Mind you, you can still be knocked unconscious - gets you some nasty dreams here too - and if you all go down, it's not getting you good marks here, so do try and 'kill' your opponents first, eh?"

He points to the other side of the arena. "You'll face three waves of foes, emerging from there and charging down the field at you. You'll have ten minutes or so to rest between waves, enough to patch yourselves up. Good luck!"

Marcos hauls himself up into the otherwise empty stands, finding a seat without a back that can accommodate his weapon harness, and gives a nod to an assistant stationed by the entryway opposite you. Moments later, the opposite gate begins creaking open and high-pitched cries in Draconic tumble from the darkness. Marcos calls down to the arena "Let me extend my thanks to the Society's allies, the Sewer Dragons, who wished to lend their assistance in today's event!"

A quartet of kobold warriors emerge to be your opponents, lightly armed with spears and slings. They chatter among themselves in Draconic, then more loudly call out, "Yikess! Well that hass to be Nixoret over there, huh?! You know I never forget a fasse, but that'ss an exception I'd be willing to make!"

Please Confine All Fighting to the Sand
Littering is Forbidden
The Bold may Go!
Dawn
Nixoret
Sajan
Daymok
Wynok
Kalla
Lyrok
Laszlo
Bairnok

Dawn begins to make her way across the arena. She calls upon the fey spirit she invoked earlier this morning, and a mask of unearthly beauty settles over her face.

Stride, Stride, Cast nymph's grace

Sajan steps forward cautiously, putting a pillar between himself and his opponents. Ready to strike, he waits patiently for others to act.

Stride, Ready Attack - First in range