[Outpost I] GM Abraham's CORE Ancients' Anguish

[Oggil Redhand]

Oggil tries, and fails, to hide a grin at the words of the great Paladin.

"Life, Sir Godfrey, is a journey. And the path one walks is always ones own. You and I might both travel a road that leads to Absalom, but should one of us veer aside, it may be that Absalom was never our destination."

[GM Abraham]

Now that the smoke has cleared, you see an open door (formerly a secret door) leading in to the southeast portion of the complex.

Posting likely sparse for the next bit with work, travel, family - will catch up when I can.

[Oggil Redhand]

Oggil cautiously approaches the formerly secret door and then gazes within...
perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30

"As the mists lift, the mountain that was hidden is revealed."

[GM Abraham]

Quote:

Lem - 23 dmg; 2 CHA dmg;

Pookie - 0 dmg; 1 CHA dmg;
Ragnar - 8 dmg;

@Alonso, no the cylinder continues to seem unstable even after you placed the "rebirth" tablet into the first table's cut-out.

Theodore heals his comrades with the power of Cayden, though some remain somewhat wounded.

Ragnar restores his friend Pookie to consciousness.

Oggil looks into the newly revealed chamber. From the doorway, it appears to hold coffins, quite a few of them, twelve in fact.

30:00

[Oggil Redhand]

"Bodies aplenty would seem likely in here. But which one?" he muses.

[Helikon´s PREGEN]

Lem just sneers at the Paladin. "Use others as bait, and almost get them killed. You will be forever Godfrey TCP.
The chicken palaloose.".
He will gladly accept one dose of lesser restauration frlm the others.

[Sir Godfrey]

Godfrey gives Oggil a nod for the grin. "Friend Lem, you are behaving rather out of character. I fear this place is infecting your mind. We should hasten." He rolls his shoulder and heads down the stairs towards the room with the coffins Oggil has found. "I have explained the situation and my rationale, and you are aware of the dangers of adventuring into evil tombs. It is your choice to insult me, but it is disappointing."

Godfrey and his shadow will start scanning the coffin filled rooms for any clues to which holds the last piece to the machine.

Godfrey Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Shadow Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

[Oggil Redhand]

The dwarf nods “[b]disharmony may be the undoing of us all.[b]”

[Theodore~]

"Hrm, body-shaped. Maybe it's something inside a coffin!" Theodore says.

He sweeps his Deathwatch in the room.

[Helikon´s PREGEN]

"Well, its worth a try?"

[Alonso Gallonica]

Alonso calls down the stirs, Anything interesting in that secret chamber? I think we need to do something pretty soon before the place falls down around our ears!

[GM Abraham]

GM Abraham wrote:

Lem - 23 dmg; 2 CHA dmg;

Pookie - 0 dmg; 1 CHA dmg;
Ragnar - 8 dmg;

The Pathfinders inspecting the secret room find a dozen coffins, each containing a single body. The bodies have not decayed at all and look as if they might be alive, with strangely milky-white eyes, but when Theodore casts Deathwatch it clearly reveals that they are dead. Not only that, but when the priest surveys the corpses with his deathwatch-aware eyes, all dozen of the bodies suddenly scream aloud:

If you understand Osiriani:

"Betrayal! Betrayal! Betrayal! Betrayal! Betrayal! Betrayal! Betrayal! Betrayal! Betrayal! Betrayal! Betrayal! Betrayal!"

Then, just as suddenly as the screaming began, it stops and the bodies fall silent once again.

In addition, the coffins also contain a variety of items:
7 potions of X
3 potions of Y
5 different wands
a jar (magical)
a large bronze key

29:00

[Ragnar "Handy" Sorvino]

"Betrayal. Over and over again. Some context would be nice."

Ragnar searches the room while the casters fiddle with the magic gear.

Take 10 for a 27.

[Oggil Redhand]

"If you drop a stone it falls down. Time and time again. "

He pauses, wondering if the message has got through.

"Ask Saruna about what happened to her. I suspect these bodies may have had a similar fate."

[GM Abraham]

Ragnar does not find anything more than has already been described.

[Helikon´s PREGEN]

Using his cure wand to heal himself up.
4Charges: 4d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 1, 1, 3) + 4 = 15
Lem scratches his head for a moment and counts the grooves.
"We found three tables with grooves. The first was for a tablet with rebirth. We found it. The second was fit for a body.
Medium sized?
Last was for a snake biting it´s tail. The Ourobos. This is a symbol for rebirth, for eternal life. We also found that.
I think we need a real body for the last groove.
A dead one won´t work.
Any volunteers?"

[Oggil Redhand]

"To be reborn... wouldn't you have to be dead first?" asks Oggil.

He looks around somewhat reluctantly before offering.

"I am perhaps the best equipped to deal with the risks of this rite. Perhaps I should try lying down."

Unless anyone interrupts him, Oggil approaches the niche and tentatively tries lying down in it.

[Alonso Gallonica]

Alonso emerges from the room with the strange shadowy column at the mention of having found a load of loot. Hmm, that's a lot of wands he mutters as he sorts through things. I wonder what got the bodies all riled up? Also, what the hells going on with their eyes?

He shakes his head as he begins testing the bottles.

Take 10 on perception for the potions for 30

He mutters a quick spell to detect magic and begins to sort through the rest.

Spellcraft wand 1: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29
Spellcraft wand 2: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32
Spellcraft wand 3: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20
Spellcraft wand 4: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36
Spellcraft wand 5: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29
Spellcraft jar: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24

As he finishes he turns to Oggil, Not so fast lad, that space looks like it needs a body, we could use one of these poor souls or one of the ghuls before one of us gives it a try. However, it is charged with vampiric touch so I suspect it will need a living body...strength of body or will probably wont help with such an effect.

[Theodore~]

Theodore stands near Oggil at the ready to help him should something terrible happen.

I'm assuming others want to join us when we decide to actually try and do it?

[Helikon´s PREGEN]

Lem will of course be there to aid with spell and mind.

[Oggil Redhand]

Oggil waits for the others to gather around. "So what does a vampiric touch spell actually do?" he asks as he gets into the impression.

"Forewarned is forearmed, but any defences you could provide me would be appreciated."

[Alonso Gallonica]

Alonso sakes his head, not that anyone can see as he floats there invisible. The spell will drain your life into the stone, there is nothing you can do to protect yourself or prepare for it, you must simply endure the pain.

[Oggil Redhand]

"Stone Endures." noted Oggil. He relaxes as much as he can in anticipation of the trials ahead.

[Ragnar "Handy" Sorvino]

"Let's check upstairs before we start sacrificing anyone to dark gods."

Ragnar will stand by the stairs and wait.

[Theodore~]

Think it's already been done XD

[GM Abraham]

Sorry for the delays in posting - my trip was more hectic than expected - posting should return to a normal rate now.

Alonso easily identifies the various items in the coffins:

7 potions of Cure Serious
3 potions of Remove Curse
Wand of Break Enchantment (5 charges)
Wand of Freedom of Movement (7 charges)
Wand of Lesser Restoration (14 charges)
Wand of Searing Light (13 charges, Caster Level 10)
Wand of Shield of Faith (42 charges)
Jar of Restorative Ointment

@Lem, yes, the groove on the second table appears to be about the right shape for a medium sized body, though I'm sure that a halfling-sized one would also be able to fit into it. :-)

Ragnar looks up the stairs and sees that there appears to be a bit of exterior light entering into the entire complex from there. (Hence my resolution of the whole "dim light" issue.)

Oggil climbs bravely into the impression on the second table.

Before proceeding, please tell me what you are doing with the tablet you found in the library and the ourboros torc.

[Helikon´s PREGEN]

We put it into the grooves.

[Alonso Gallonica]

Yes, I believe we have already inserted the torc and the tablet.

If'n none of ye mind I'm a gonna drink one of them there remove curse potions and try n get rid o these troublesome curses on me says Alonson who has now started to unconsciously stroke his beard on a regular basis.

Remove curse CL check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

[GM Abraham]

Alonso successfully removes the curses from himself.

With the torc and the tablet already in place in their respective tables, Oggil bravely climbs atop the remaining table. As soon as he does so, he feels his life force being depleted.

Vampiric Touch vs Oggil: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 2, 4) = 20

Although highly unpleasant, the effect does not continue indefinitely and he is able to rise from the table, a bit weaker perhaps, but in no mortal danger. More importantly, his presence in the table seems to have provided the final trigger needed to stabilize the pulsing dark cylinder, which now slowly subsides its trembling, and with it, the shaking and convulsing of the entire building finally comes to a peaceful end.

[Oggil Redhand]

Oggil grits his teeth against the pain, remaining as stoic as a dwarven monk possibly can be.

He arises, and grins evily for a moment. "Well, I don't seem to have become a lich."

Climbing out of the table, he stands and flexes his fingers, waving them in a "magical" manner before declaring "azah kar zothreomm bexwen" and gesturing in a magnificently magical manner.
perform(act): 1d20 ⇒ 14

Sadly, nothing happens.

"Alas, a stone, even when dropped in a birds nest, is still a stone, not an egg."

[Sir Godfrey]

Sir Godfrey, despite having absolutely no training in the healing arts, puts his fingers to Oggil's wrist and checks his pulse. "I do believe you are still alive, friend Oggil. So yes, you appear to not have become a lich, though you look a bit worse for the ware. Rather admirable of you to take on that burden, but we shall fix you up!"

Sir Godfrey motions to Alonso. "Our smart friend there has identified several potions that ought to do the trick rather well to start with."

[Oggil Redhand]

"The teaching of the Olut are tougher than any eons old necromancy. " smiles Oggil.

He does however quaff a healing potion.
CSW: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (5, 5, 5) + 5 = 20

"And this one removes curses?"
He drinks that one too.

[Alonso Gallonica]

Alonso raises one eyebrow at Oggils boast. They do say that pride often goes before a fall lad and Osiriani necromancy was plenty powerful in its day. Lets not get cocky. Now, I do believe we found ourselves a key, how about we look for a lock to fit it into?

[Oggil Redhand]

"Untempered steel breaks faster than tempered." notes Oggil.

Then after a moment e reluctantly acknowledges "But when pushed hard enough, no temper will hold.".

[Theodore~]

Not thinking of anything wittier to say, Theodore says "I'll drink to that..." He checks his cup. "Guess I'll just swig the remainder then."

"Glad the place isn't going to cave in on us anymore." With that, Theodore is ready to move along.

[GM Abraham]

Quote:

Lem - 8 dmg; 2 CHA dmg;

Pookie - 0 dmg; 1 CHA dmg;
Ragnar - 8 dmg;

Oggil removes his damage and the curse that was affecting him by drinking two of the potions.

What would you like to do now?

[Oggil Redhand]

"Let us finish searching the urns and see if there are other clues that remain here?" suggests Oggil.

The dwarf looks rather relieved at having the curse relieved.

[Ragnar "Handy" Sorvino]

"You didn't turn into a lich and we weren't forced to kill you. So I guess that worked out. Do we read more slates or explore more?"

[Alonso Gallonica]

With the place secure for now let us explore and see what we have preserved. Alonso floats into the central hall, having a little more time now he scans the area with detect magic, checking out the urns to see if there is anything of interest.

We should probably decide who gets the various wands. Alonso has no UMD so can only activate the Break Enchantment one. I would suggest Theodore takes the shield of faith and searing light, Ragnar the freedom of movement and Auriferous the lesser restoration.

[Oggil Redhand]

Auri is in a different game :-(

[Theodore~]

Actually, we probably should use the Scroll of Lesser Restoration on Lem right now.

Theodore takes out the scroll found and uses it on Lem.
Lesser Restoration (Lem): 1d4 ⇒ 4

Also, those injured should probably heal up ;)

I'm happy with the Shield of Faith and Searing Light, even though I have 4 Shield of Faiths prepared LOL

"Let's go upstairs?" Theodore starts heading that direction.

[Alonso Gallonica]

Oggil Redhand wrote:

Auri is in a different game :-(

Doh!

Ok, lets head upstairs but save your scroll Theodore, use the wand we found instead.

With that the sound of fluttering robes will be all that is heard as Alonso floats invisibly up the stairs to have a look where they lead.

Assuming nothing interesting pops up on his detect magic scan

[Ragnar "Handy" Sorvino]

Freedom of Movement lasts 70 minutes. We could cover the whole party.

[Alonso Gallonica]

We could, do we want to use it now or wait?

[Theodore~]

Think I misremembered which item we got with Lesser Restoration. I use whatever appropriate item we found. ;)

[Oggil Redhand]

"The insects benefit from the shade of the trees as much as the animals." notes Oggil, gesturing toward the wand of shield of faith.

"Though I see little threats here presently. We didn't see those ghouls before they sprung upon us either."

[GM Abraham]

Quote:

Lem - 8 dmg;

Pookie - 0 dmg; 1 CHA dmg;
Ragnar - 8 dmg;

Theodore uses the wand of Lesser Restoration they found to remove Lem's charisma damage.

Alonso examines the urns, finding that they appear to contain a fortune's worth of gold items. There are 13 vases and you estimate that each probably contains about 3000 gp worth of objects. Each also weighs about 60 pounds.

Theodore leads the way up the stairs. From the top of the stairs the party can see that there is an opening in the walls, leading to the outside (hence the availability of dim light earlier). From the opening, you can see that you are at the same height as the tops of the two pillars of stone outside. With a running start it would probably not be very hard to jump.

[Theodore~]

"Leap frog? I was never good at leap frog?" Theodore's statement seems to make sense to himself. "I might just zip over there instead if we need to go that way."

I have no idea why I chose to have Death Ward prepared over Air Walk.

[Ragnar "Handy" Sorvino]

As far as I can tell we have no reason to jump around on pillars except to reach a spot we don't know exists yet. If we do see that area to the NW then Ragnar would rather walk over there and use rope to climb up.

[Sir Godfrey]

Being as there is nowhere left to explore, Sir Godfrey climbs the stairs and approaches the opening, considers the pillars for a moment and then tries to sling Theodore over one of his shoulders. "Come along, friend Theodore, as a proper warrior I eat three dozen eggs a day and practice on the Sarenrae training course afterwards. This shall be no challenge for me, even carrying you!" And whether or not Theodore lets himself get dragged along Godfrey will trot to the lip of the hole and jump from one pillar to the next without breaking stride.

Once there he'll give the other agents a report of what he sees.

Godfrey has a +18 to jumping, so he can't fail either of those distances with a running start.