This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Wendell grabs the second. "Please do not disturb the circle, anyone. This could be quite the learning experience once our enemies have been dealt with." He'll also start looking around for the apparently enchanted rods the cultists were using.
Wendell grabs the second. "Please do not disturb the circle, anyone. This could be quite the learning experience once our enemies have been dealt with." He'll also start looking around for the apparently enchanted rods the cultists were using.
Perception 12
[OOG: I'll include the two gems in the treasure list at the end of this adventure - don't add anything to your inventory just yet]
Wendell spots nothing but bits of twisted metal among the corpse/debris piles.
Gem in hand, Elaric turns at Guan Hao's words and falls into stride with the fight. "As long as the cult leader survives, his plan - and the danger to Pyrringham - will continue. Best to finish the job now, while he's injured and needing to regroup."
[OOG: If anyone wants to do anything else in the ritual chamber, now's the time. The trail of footprints leads out into the ruins and, until the cult leader is dealt with, you likely will not return to this room.]
With her typical blade-like grin, Mady follows along. "Hell, why not? I've always wanted to stalk power-mad rock worshiping loonies through underground ruins." While the context of her words would suggest sarcasm, her tone is such that you really have to wonder...
She pads silently behind Elaric and Guan Hao, swapping her bow out for a razor sharp stiletto.
If there's any loose earth in the room, Wendell will take a minute to compile it into as close to a 5-foot cube as he can, the scooch it along after the party with Mold Earth.
During the adventure, I forgot that because Gong has access to the Life Domain, his class feature Disciple of Life lets him heal extra damage with spells of first level of hire. As such, Balasar should have recovered 3 more hit points when Gong cast Cure Wounds.
With a running start from across the chamber, Guan Hao lunges forward, cutting the blade of his glaive deep into the skinless monster’s chest. The creature’s howl changes from one of masochistic glee to true anger as the fighter twirls his weapon about and smashes it into the thing's sickening non-face. The crushing blow pulverizes bone, muscle, and brains as it drives the monster down, first to its knees and then to the floor. With a final shudder, the skin-taker lets out one final, maniacal giggle, and dies.
An almost eerie silence fills the room as the sounds of combat cease. While Wendell applies a necklace of some sort to Skoth’s limp form, the rest of the party cast looks around, taking in the horrid details of the monster's lair. All about the chamber, pieces of blood-soaked skin, each cleanly and precisely cut, are stacked on various tables. At the northern end of the room, a large chest with an ornate lock sits atop a stone pedestal and a long wooden table covered in rows of glittering potion bottles sits just beyond. The north-eastern corner has been made into a small library and study area complete with two sets of bookshelves, a cluttered writing desk, and a workbench complete with a smattering of books and papers. In an alcove along the southern wall, strange, scrawling runes glow faintly, their blue light illuminating the blood-stained pages of a large tome open on the table below. To the east, commander Narin’s body, though badly mutilated, is still strapped in place, his skinless extremities twitching faintly. With a terrible gurgling noise, the man’s body suddenly spasms and he coughs out a thick gob of blood. As his head lolls in the direction of the party, one intensely blue eye can be seen staring out from his ruined faced. With a monumental effort, he whispers just barely loud enough to be heard, “Help... me…”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Balasar will search the room for further information regarding the cultists who have been making use of it, and for information regarding who this place originally belonged to.
The party disperses to their various tasks about the room. As Gong tends to the mangled body of Commander Narin, and Wendell moves toward the glowing runes, Guan Hao begins to rummage about for valuables and treasure. Almost immediately, his eyes land on the large, steel-bound chest. Its wooden panels have been etched to look like waves and the metal of its frame shaped to resemble large tentacles encircling the container. The lock in the middle looks elaborate, but Mady suddenly steps forward, a set of lockpicks gripped firmly in her slender fingers. “Allow me.” The lithe rogue peers into the mechanism for a moment before inserting her tools and setting to work.
Back in the study area, Balasar begins to sift through papers and tomes set out in neat stacks on the writing desk. While many of the papers appear to be old documents from the heyday of the ruins, one book appears almost new by comparison. Opening the small, leather-bound volume, Balasar is confronted with bizarre characters penned in a spidery hand. While he cannot read the words, the writing looks vaguely familiar. Something to do with the night everyone had dinner at Bruna’s home…
Across the room, Elaric has joined Wendell as he examines the glowing runes. The runes are very strange; though clearly writing, they appear to move ever so slightly when in the corner of one’s eye. However, when stared at directly, they remain still. With simultaneous exclamations, the two casters turn to each other, identical looks of recognition written across their features. “The aberration tome! These runes are in the same language…”
With a snick, the lock's catches pop free and Mady, standing to one side so that Guan Hao can see, opens the chest.
The party disperses to their various tasks about the room. As Gong tends to the mangled body of Commander Narin, and Wendell moves toward the glowing runes, Guan Hao begins to rummage about for valuables and treasure. Almost immediately, his eyes land on the large, steel-bound chest. Its wooden panels have been etched to look like waves and the metal of its frame shaped to resemble large tentacles encircling the container. The lock in the middle looks elaborate, but Mady suddenly steps forward, a set of lockpicks gripped firmly in her slender fingers. “Allow me.” The lithe rogue peers into the mechanism for a moment before inserting her tools and setting to work.
Back in the study area, Balasar begins to sift through papers and tomes set out in neat stacks on the writing desk. While many of the papers appear to be old documents from the heyday of the ruins, one book appears almost new by comparison. Opening the small, leather-bound volume, Balasar is confronted with bizarre characters penned in a spidery hand. While he cannot read the words, the writing looks vaguely familiar. Something to do with the night everyone had dinner at Bruna’s home…
Across the room, Elaric has joined Wendell as he examines the glowing runes. The runes are very strange; though clearly writing, they appear to move ever so slightly when in the corner of one’s eye. However, when stared at directly, they remain still. With simultaneous exclamations, the two casters turn to each other, identical looks of recognition written across their features. “The aberration tome! These runes are in the same language…”
With a snick, the lock's catches pop free and Mady, standing to one side so that Guan Hao can see, opens the chest.
Balasar takes the small, leather-bound book over to Wendell: Does this writing look familiar to you?
The party disperses to their various tasks about the room. As Gong tends to the mangled body of Commander Narin, and Wendell moves toward the glowing runes, Guan Hao begins to rummage about for valuables and treasure. Almost immediately, his eyes land on the large, steel-bound chest. Its wooden panels have been etched to look like waves and the metal of its frame shaped to resemble large tentacles encircling the container. The lock in the middle looks elaborate, but Mady suddenly steps forward, a set of lockpicks gripped firmly in her slender fingers. “Allow me.” The lithe rogue peers into the mechanism for a moment before inserting her tools and setting to work.
Back in the study area, Balasar begins to sift through papers and tomes set out in neat stacks on the writing desk. While many of the papers appear to be old documents from the heyday of the ruins, one book appears almost new by comparison. Opening the small, leather-bound volume, Balasar is confronted with bizarre characters penned in a spidery hand. While he cannot read the words, the writing looks vaguely familiar. Something to do with the night everyone had dinner at Bruna’s home…
Across the room, Elaric has joined Wendell as he examines the glowing runes. The runes are very strange; though clearly writing, they appear to move ever so slightly when in the corner of one’s eye. However, when stared at directly, they remain still. With simultaneous exclamations, the two casters turn to each other, identical looks of recognition written across their features. “The aberration tome! These runes are in the same language…”
With a snick, the lock's catches pop free and Mady, standing to one side so that Guan Hao can see, opens the chest.
Guan Hao takes a quick step back as the chest pops open, then steps forward again to inspect the contents, provided nothing explodes.
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Wendell grabs the second. "Please do not disturb the circle, anyone. This could be quite the learning experience once our enemies have been dealt with." He'll also start looking around for the apparently enchanted rods the cultists were using.
Perception 22
[OOG: I'll include the two gems in the treasure list at the end of this adventure - don't add anything to your inventory just yet]
Wendell spots nothing but bits of twisted metal among the corpse/debris piles.
Guan Hao, meanwhile, points out a trail of bloody footprints leading down the side of the tallest obelisk and clockwise around the ritual circle.
"Our prey leaves a trail. I follow."
He begins walking away, following the track up to the point it might leave the chamber, but no further until others acknowledge or act.
Gem in hand, Elaric turns at Guan Hao's words and falls into stride with the fight. "As long as the cult leader survives, his plan - and the danger to Pyrringham - will continue. Best to finish the job now, while he's injured and needing to regroup."
[OOG: If anyone wants to do anything else in the ritual chamber, now's the time. The trail of footprints leads out into the ruins and, until the cult leader is dealt with, you likely will not return to this room.]
With her typical blade-like grin, Mady follows along. "Hell, why not? I've always wanted to stalk power-mad rock worshiping loonies through underground ruins." While the context of her words would suggest sarcasm, her tone is such that you really have to wonder...
She pads silently behind Elaric and Guan Hao, swapping her bow out for a razor sharp stiletto.
If there's any loose earth in the room, Wendell will take a minute to compile it into as close to a 5-foot cube as he can, the scooch it along after the party with Mold Earth.
Gong will quaff another of his Potions of Healing before the party makes the final push.
HP recovered: 7
Balasar will drink his last potion of healing.
HP recovered: 5
During the adventure, I forgot that because Gong has access to the Life Domain, his class feature Disciple of Life lets him heal extra damage with spells of first level of hire. As such, Balasar should have recovered 3 more hit points when Gong cast Cure Wounds.
With a running start from across the chamber, Guan Hao lunges forward, cutting the blade of his glaive deep into the skinless monster’s chest. The creature’s howl changes from one of masochistic glee to true anger as the fighter twirls his weapon about and smashes it into the thing's sickening non-face. The crushing blow pulverizes bone, muscle, and brains as it drives the monster down, first to its knees and then to the floor. With a final shudder, the skin-taker lets out one final, maniacal giggle, and dies.
An almost eerie silence fills the room as the sounds of combat cease. While Wendell applies a necklace of some sort to Skoth’s limp form, the rest of the party cast looks around, taking in the horrid details of the monster's lair. All about the chamber, pieces of blood-soaked skin, each cleanly and precisely cut, are stacked on various tables. At the northern end of the room, a large chest with an ornate lock sits atop a stone pedestal and a long wooden table covered in rows of glittering potion bottles sits just beyond. The north-eastern corner has been made into a small library and study area complete with two sets of bookshelves, a cluttered writing desk, and a workbench complete with a smattering of books and papers. In an alcove along the southern wall, strange, scrawling runes glow faintly, their blue light illuminating the blood-stained pages of a large tome open on the table below. To the east, commander Narin’s body, though badly mutilated, is still strapped in place, his skinless extremities twitching faintly. With a terrible gurgling noise, the man’s body suddenly spasms and he coughs out a thick gob of blood. As his head lolls in the direction of the party, one intensely blue eye can be seen staring out from his ruined faced. With a monumental effort, he whispers just barely loud enough to be heard, “Help... me…”
With combat ceased for now, Gong will make his way over to the mangled commander and once again cast Spare the Dying to stabilize his condition.
Arcana check on the runes: 22
While his more learned companions concern themselves with medicine and arcana, Guan Hao rummages the room looking for valuables.
Perception: 19
Balasar will search the room for further information regarding the cultists who have been making use of it, and for information regarding who this place originally belonged to.
Perception: 20
Elaric also examines the runes.
Arcana Check: 16
Not sure why the roll isn't working so we'll try again!
23
The party disperses to their various tasks about the room. As Gong tends to the mangled body of Commander Narin, and Wendell moves toward the glowing runes, Guan Hao begins to rummage about for valuables and treasure. Almost immediately, his eyes land on the large, steel-bound chest. Its wooden panels have been etched to look like waves and the metal of its frame shaped to resemble large tentacles encircling the container. The lock in the middle looks elaborate, but Mady suddenly steps forward, a set of lockpicks gripped firmly in her slender fingers. “Allow me.” The lithe rogue peers into the mechanism for a moment before inserting her tools and setting to work.
Back in the study area, Balasar begins to sift through papers and tomes set out in neat stacks on the writing desk. While many of the papers appear to be old documents from the heyday of the ruins, one book appears almost new by comparison. Opening the small, leather-bound volume, Balasar is confronted with bizarre characters penned in a spidery hand. While he cannot read the words, the writing looks vaguely familiar. Something to do with the night everyone had dinner at Bruna’s home…
Across the room, Elaric has joined Wendell as he examines the glowing runes. The runes are very strange; though clearly writing, they appear to move ever so slightly when in the corner of one’s eye. However, when stared at directly, they remain still. With simultaneous exclamations, the two casters turn to each other, identical looks of recognition written across their features. “The aberration tome! These runes are in the same language…”
With a snick, the lock's catches pop free and Mady, standing to one side so that Guan Hao can see, opens the chest.
Balasar takes the small, leather-bound book over to Wendell: Does this writing look familiar to you?
Guan Hao takes a quick step back as the chest pops open, then steps forward again to inspect the contents, provided nothing explodes.