Gnome's OOTA Story Thread [CLOSED]

"I f we have no better option, I can try asking for directions..." Khessa proposes "I'm still disguised by magic, it should nor be too suspicious, for a drow she-wizard, to ask about the archmage".

The noble drow shrugs. The human was a wizard apprentice after all so she wouldn't even have to play the part. He makes sure to say the password every time there could reasonably be a ward to be disabled.

The inside of the tower is mostly quiet, save for the faint sounds of footsteps in distant chambers, flickering ever burning torches and an almost imperceptible hum of arcane energy. It is not a huge tower, around, but still well built from solid stone and earth. Twisted rune like designs are etched here and there, with all manner of various parchments, scrolls, bottles, beakers, flasks, and boxes of mundane arcane components scattered about.

(Feel free to make a roll of your choice as you begin to traverse the tower, to aid in finding the sanctum, interesting objects, stay quiet, etc)

Quote from Oberon99 >>

The noble drow shrugs. The human was a wizard apprentice after all so she wouldn't even have to play the part. He makes sure to say the password every time there could reasonably be a ward to be disabled.

 (Traydark would only need to say it once as it applies to the entire tower, disabling guards and wards. Like a temporary shut off to the home security system)

The noble drow would use his understanding of drow society to make sure the team gets proper directions to the archmages sanctum.

Persuasion: 10

Khessa keeps an eye out for any unattended magical objects or fragments of arcane knowledge trying to locate them from any clues present.

Investigation: 6 

Lulu Perception (rolled on her sheet): Nat 20 for 28 total

Horkas was intrigued by the many mystical and arcane objects throughout the tower. Even the seemingly mundane objects attracted the artificer's attention, like a youngling in a festival drawn by every new sight, sound, or smell! He tries to hurry along, but tries to determine what purpose every item has! (Arcana check: 22!)

Katryl moves very cautiously through the chamber. Still with the appearance of a prisoner, she makes very sure to stay with the others that are her supposed captors. If she spots anyone, she studies them closely, trying to determine if they seem to be accepting of the group or suspicious. (Insight: 23)

(Haha amazing rolls everyone! Where were those on the stealth check! :D )

Traydark and Katryl stay on people lookout, of which there aren't too many in the tower at the moment that you run into. Another member of the Council of Spiders who, while they don't interfere, looks at you all nervously before hurrying on, after pointing up some stairs, indicating the way to the sanctum. There are a few other low ranking priestesses with their slaves who also cast a curious eye but seem to have better things to do than worry about you for the moment.

There are plenty of books stacked here and there, as well as boxes and crates of various magical mundane supplies, blank scrolls, inks and quills, that sort of thing. They are plenty of other mundane objects around, from necklaces and rings, to small ornate boxes and other curios. The rest of you quickly get the impression that this is a veritable bastion of magical study, with much devoted to more arcane arts, as opposed to worship of Lolth. 

You manage to spot a few things of mention though: a potion of heroism, a batch of oil of etherealness, a scroll of knock and one of cone of cold, a wand of web and a wand of smiles.

Before too long though you are able to find what you sought: a large black marble door with silver etched lining: the entrance to Gromph's sanctum.

Khessa promptly stores the magical loot in her backpack, for future sharing. Every possibile help might count, given the nature of the final challenge...

At the sanctum's door, the blonde arcane warrior points out: "Our password should have disabled magical security - but what if Gromph used some mechanical trap as well?" her blue eyes run to Katryl "Would you like to check?"

The noble drow is somewhat surprised to see clergy in Sorcere. Perhaps they were here on some kind of inspection? 
As the team reaches the entrance to the archmage's sanctum, Traydark stands in reverence for a moment, desperately hoping they would not face Gromph himself in there. 

(The password disabled the spell guards and wards, it did not necessarily disable everything else that might be magical in the tower, it only made it temporarily safe to walk through the halls. Doors and things could still be locked or trapped, those would not have been removed with the password.)

[] OOC: Thanks for the clarification but Khessa can't cast Dispel Magic so she can't do anything about that. Still, maybe Katryl can take care of eventual mechanical traps. 

What is a 'a wand of smiles', by the way? I like that name a lot, but I'm not sure of what the effects of such a wand are. ]]

wand of smiles

A smile forms on Khessa's lips, while she imagines the embarass of a Demon Lord forced to smile for a whole, long minute!

Katryl will walk up to the door, hoping nobody else is looking.  As she grabs her Thieves' Tools she checks if the door has any traps. (Investigate w/Adv due to Tool proficiency: 20, Pick Lock DEX + Tool Proficiency Bonus: 23)

Katryl manages to just find her way around the lock, the arcane manipulations proving a difficult task but finally the catch releases. (Just hit the DC for that!)

The chamber beyond the door is floored in black marble, lined with shelves laden with books and scrolls, and dominated by a broad desk of polished bone. A plush chair covered with lizard hide sits behind the desk, while a smaller and simpler zurkhwood chair sits facing it on the opposite side. A seven-foot-tall obsidian statue of a four-armed, sword-wielding drow warrior stands behind the desk against one wall. Burning red candles are set about the room in holders made from skeletal hands.

"Well done, Katryl!" Khessa pats her genasi friend on the shoulder.

Once inside, the blonde arcane warrior takes out the magical gem she recently acquired and mutters "Duvall!" activating its power. She looks through the gem, to check if anything in the room is different than it seems.

The tall adventurer, finally, if she doesn't detect anything suspicious, begins to search for the Grimoire she came for...