Expedition to White Plume Mountain [PFRPG]

[Valanos]

I believe a 10th level character would have knowledge of the schools of magic, at least the names, and basic functions. Such is why I asked directly about necromancy, as Valanos would believe it may be undead related.

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

Valanos wrote:

I believe a 10th level character would have knowledge of the schools of magic, at least the names, and basic functions. Such is why I asked directly about necromancy, as Valanos would believe it may be undead related.

You however are 7th level...heh. Now, I believe you'd know that there are schools of magic, but don't know much more than the names, even then you might accidentally use invoke instead of evoke. And wouldn't understand the difference between divine magic and arcane magic. Knowledge checks for untrained skills top out at 10, regardless of level.

[Gerant Altidor]

Sense Motive - 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

"Oh come on guys, there MUST be a rational explanation!" Exclaimed Gerange, sword in one hand, huka in another, "Why would...hey buddy, where ya going?"

Sorry about the lack of posts, my comp broke so I can only post from work.

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

"I do not like the blade in the box, I don't trust it. As far as the blade on the wall, it is decoration here, like the furniture, I have no use for it."

"I just want to be free of this place, so I may get home."

[Gerant Altidor]

"Why would you be afraid of just a blade my friend? Tell me the wielder and I'll take care of it!"

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

Gerant Altidor wrote:

"Why would you be afraid of just a blade my friend? Tell me the wielder and I'll take care of it!"

"merely look at it...you shall see"

[Sheridan Barlow]

"Hold on just a moment, don't touch it or get too close yet - necromancy that powerful should not be treated lightly." Sheridan pauses for a moment and thinks, then pulls out a journal. "...inverted ziggurat. Did anyone come into this with a description of Blackrazor or what it was supposed to do? I assume it's not a razor of the shaving variety."
Important question - what size box are we talking about here?

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

Sheridan Barlow wrote:

"Hold on just a moment, don't touch it or get too close yet - necromancy that powerful should not be treated lightly." Sheridan pauses for a moment and thinks, then pulls out a journal. "...inverted ziggurat. Did anyone come into this with a description of Blackrazor or what it was supposed to do? I assume it's not a razor of the shaving variety."

Important question - what size box are we talking about here?

A large enough box to hold a short sword

Searching your memory from 2 days previous, you remember a description of the blade, a blade of dead black, with glittering stars upon it, a dangerously malevolent weapon that can steal souls.

[Valanos]

To DM:

Spoiler:

Was blackrazor a short sword, exact description? It was my mission to acquire anyway, too bad it's not a flail, but it'll be a useful item regardless.

[Gerant Altidor]

"What's so dangerous about a sword with no wielder? Don't tell me it dances around on it's own. And even so, it's in a box. Why haven't you just toss that thing away or bury it somewhere?"

[Sheridan Barlow]

Gerant Altidor wrote:

"What's so dangerous about a sword with no wielder? Don't tell me it dances around on it's own. And even so, it's in a box. Why haven't you just toss that thing away or bury it somewhere?"

"It might move on its own - I've seen stranger things. In any case, it is rumored to steal souls, so touching it without proper safeguards might be unwise."

[Gerant Altidor]

"Then let's get rid of it. We're wasting precious hokah smoking time!"

I am big fan of hookah smoking in real life. Ain't no sword gonna stand in the way of ma character get his share, soul stealing or not ;)

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

Valanos wrote:

To DM:

** spoiler omitted **

Valanos:

Yes, that must be Black Razor

[Jequine]

Jequine keeps quiety in the background as all this goes on, "The weapon is obviously worth a lot, but is it more trouble than it's worth. Hmmm, let these warriors find out for me!"

[Valanos]

What does the box look like, locks, etc?
"Are there magic traps on the box, or simply the strong magic radiating? A weapon that steals souls, any idea how, or is it as the wielder wishes?"

Valanos moves within 10 ft of the box, inspecting it visually, attempting to feel the necromantic energy as well.

[Sheridan Barlow]

"No magical traps that I can see, but I'm not exactly on expert on the subject."

[Jequine]

Jequinne comes forward, but doesn't get very close to the box, not touching the box, she tries to determine if there are any traps.

Perception (find traps) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

a well made but unembellished oaken box, wax and polished to a glassy sheen. there appear to be no other magical auras other than the necromantic aura. Jequine can detect no mechanical or magical traps.

inside the box:

It lies on a stuffed red crushed velvet lining.

[Valanos]

If Jequine states the box is free of traps, Valanos will approach the box. If able, he will use his foot to lift the lid, and peer inside.
(see description in above post).

DM:

Spoiler:

If it is ascertained as being Black Razor, given the description and all applicable knowledge he was given, he will follow orders to retrieve it safely. The intent is to grab the weapon, assuming he knows if it will attempt to control him (ego), and place it in a bag of holding.

If the conditions are met, Valanos will conduct what is stated within the spoiler.

[Jequine]

Jequine retreats from the box, "I found no traps magical or otherwise from my study of that box, but it may still be dangerous, keep on your guard. Even my skills can be fooled sometimes."

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

Valanos wrote:

If Jequine states the box is free of traps, Valanos will approach the box. If able, he will use his foot to lift the lid, and peer inside.

(see description in above post).

DM:
** spoiler omitted **

If the conditions are met, Valanos will conduct what is stated within the spoiler.

you could probably just put the entire box in the bag....without touching it...

[Valanos]

That's a reasonable idea. I was thinking in character what he would like to do, a test of wills, to hold it for himself, feel the power. I know that's not the norm with such games, but rp is what I enjoy.

Valanos will approach the box, pick it up, and place it in his bag of holding, unless stopped.

"Safe keeping"

[Jequine]

Jequine watching Valenos, "I thought you were going to open it? What are you doing?"

[Valanos]

"If the halfling shies away from it, and it has strong necromantic energy, I wish to ensure it is safely investigated."

"Is anyone willing or able to dispel any effects from such a weapon if I open the box, or touch it? It needs to be checked, I was thinking doing so later would be safe, and it would be undetectable within the bag."

Valanos stops before placing the box in the bag of holding, places it on the floor, and readies to open it, and peer inside. He looks at the spellcasters, waiting for their actions.

[Sheridan Barlow]

"I'll stand ready with a dispel, but against magic that powerful there's no guarantee it will work. Gerant, do you have another of those potions of protection from evil? That would be a good added defense."

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

Valanos wrote:

That's a reasonable idea. I was thinking in character what he would like to do, a test of wills, to hold it for himself, feel the power. I know that's not the norm with such games, but rp is what I enjoy.

Valanos will approach the box, pick it up, and place it in his bag of holding, unless stopped.

"Safe keeping"

Then by all means, RP your interaction...if you want to test your will versus the blade, do it.

[Gerant Altidor]

"If the blade quires a wielder to steal souls, then not touching it is the best idea. We've limited resources and should conserve them for the fights to come. Just put the blade away lads, this hokah will soon die out. Let's enjoy it while it last."

[Jequine]

Jequine quietly backs into the shadows.

[Valanos]

Valnos will place the box in the bag of holding.
He will be ready to use it if a major opponent appears, and it is needed.

"Shall we proceed, or are we waiting here?"

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

Valanos:

You hear in your mind, wield me, I am Black Razor, I could make you powerful, I have many powers, together none could stop us.

Black Razor has been acquired for the lodge.

The little halfling pipes in, "Take me with you sir!, or I'll never escape."

[Valanos]

"What can you offer halfling? What skills do you possess that will aid us?"

[Jequine]

A female whisper comes out of the shadows, "Do you really think we can trust him? Can he answer that?"

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

"Well, I can offer a reward, nothing much, perhaps 500gp each"

Go ahead and make sense motive rolls if you want.

[Sheridan Barlow]

Sense Motive 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

[Valanos]

"You still haven't stated if you have any skills. If you have no abilities, you're a liability, and if so, dead weight on us. What use is gold when the goal is to survive?"

sense motive 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

Sheridan Barlow wrote:

Sense Motive 1d20-1

Seems to be telling the truth.

"Lovely, you're a right git aren't you Chelaxian? Not a compassionate bone in that suit of iron, I'd be better off with a construct. Perhaps someone else would like his share of 500 gold?, just get me out of the mountain...I'm a merchant, perhaps I could sell you to Keraptis? What do you think my skills are..."

[Valanos]

"Finally an answer. I will agree with a majority, so let us be off then, with the merchant ideally."

[Jequine]

"To be fair merchant, 500gp seems cheap for your life and freedom, but for now it will do. I say he joins us, for now."

Xaldinaar:

Jequine will discuss with the merchant his willingness to become a fence for any goods the group decide to sell, such that he will pay 85% the real value of the object, rather than the normal 50%.

[Gerant Altidor]

Gerant nods his head on letting the halfling join them, eager to get going.

Does anyone have detect evil or true seeing? Wouldn't hurt to double check any stragglers we pick up.

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

Jequine wrote:

"To be fair merchant, 500gp seems cheap for your life and freedom, but for now it will do. I say he joins us, for now."

** spoiler omitted **

"500 gold pieces to each of you...I'm a simple merchant, not a dealer in magical artifacts."

[Valanos]

Assuming a majority agree to escort the halfling
"Let us be off then, where to now?"

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

So are you taking the halfling? that's what I'm waiting on...

[Valanos]

I'm awaiting group concensus, we have a majority now, so I will make the call.

"We have a majority vote, come along halfling, freedom or death awaits."

[Jequine]

Jequine, nonplussed by the merchant's reply, never the less says, "Tis one soul we've saved from the darkness down here, maybe he will repay us by more than gold in the future, he may not kown what he is capable of." Loudly she says, "OK merchant, be careful, we are not returning straight to the surface, there maybe many trails ahead, there maybe death, if you choose to come with us, it is on your own head. We will escort you, but may not be able to protect you, we will do the best we can."

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

You could probably escort him to the entrance, since it's very close to the crossroads...

You manage to work your way back to the crossroads, taking a rest before you reach there, you wonder if the traps are reset...

[Jequine]

As they retrace their steps, Jequine checks for any traps that might have been reset.

Perception (Find traps) 10 + 13 = 23 taking a 10 each time.

[Valanos]

If the merchant is escorted back, Valanos will be rear guard, alternating watching forward and backward at irregular intervals to not create a pattern for anyone watching.

[Sheridan Barlow]

Sheridan will spend the walk back chatting to the merchant, catching him up on world events and gossip over the time he's been trapped here.

[Xaldinaar the Ancient]

Sense Motive DC21:

after talking to the halfling at length, something seems off about his story, perhaps he doesn't seem to be a merchant, but after you left the room your head seemed to clear and little holes in his story started to appear.

[Sheridan Barlow]

If that was directed at me, Sheridan can't make a Sense Motive check that high.