Eya looks to the two daemons and can't hide her joy, she looks to the rest of the party, her face beaming, almost as if she's temporarily ignoring her weakened state. She says to them in an excited tone, "You two are greater cuestodaemons! Aww, such nice fur and sharp claws. I've read all about you! Say, you're Hexor and Vexor, right? My friends here are correct, we are here to free the Great Vetra-Kali. Do either of you know how to open this secret door?"
The pair look at the knot as they are addressed, then at each other. Finally one of them shrugs, "It'd be tough to make things worse at this point. Its been most of a century now, pretty sure he's not getting loose on his own, and we can't even get into the room with the seal to do anything ourselves."
"Yeah, I think you're right there. Let's see where this goes."
"Mortals, our only true loyalty is to Vetra Kali, but we are also bound to obey the letter of any instructions given by someone holding the seals that bind us to this plane. That was most recently High Priest Ezra."
One of them holds a single claw up, "We were never actually told to keep our mouths shut, so we will tell you everything we know, on one condition."
"When you do find that seal, I very much doubt we can talk you into not making use of us. Frankly you lot seem interesting, so I can't say we would mind too much. Working on the prime with people like you is always interesting."
"Instead, we ask that you swear that your orders will come with a reasonable time limit of some sort. Better yet have an order that will cause all other orders to expire at some point."
"That way when you guys kick the bucket we're not stuck guarding an empty rat's nest for way too long again."
Eya nods, then replies, "Sure, that seems reasonable. If we accomplish our goals here completely, we will be happy to put a reasonable time limit on your binding. So, what do you know about this secret door here?"
Kiven nods and leaves Eya to make the deal with Hexor and Vexor. He resumes searching the room with Respar, looking for anything obvious like the priest's corpse/skeleton, but quickly moving to what he presumes is a magical door to inspect it and see if it can safely be opened.
The one with brown fur looks to Eya, saying, "All right. Fair warning, we do have ways of messing with you if you go back on your word there, just keep it in mind."
The black furred one speaks up, "Anyways, I'm Hexor, this is my brother Vexor."
"Also fair warning, this agreement still doesn't change the orders we were given, step out of there without countering what we were told before and we'll have to kill you."
"One would think that the order to defend this place would override the order to stay out of that room in a conflict, but hey, we're not the ones that set the priorities."
"Whatever the deal is there, we haven't seen that secret door opened, but over the years we've overheard a few things."
"The big thing we can tell you is that the door leads to two different places depending on whether or not you speak the passcode while opening the thing, no we don't know it."
"The door can be opened without the code, but then it just leads to a fake vault with a small and heavily cursed treasure to captivate would be thieves."
"We can still feel our seals in there, so we're pretty sure that the Mitrans didn't get into the real vault if they found the thing at all."
"We'd like to think that several of them got killed by the curses, but given the overabundance of celestial magic with that bunch, that seems less likely than with ordinary thieves."
Respar pokes around, quickly finding something was odd about the bas relief of Vetra Kali. The three eyes were also buttons. On failing to discover any physical traps, and Kiven confirming there weren't magic traps either, Respar presses all three buttons together, causing the secret door to unlock and shift open by a little.
Beyond is a large room with display cases and shelves. Its ransacked and apparently empty save for a fairly nasty spider infestation.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Hmm, I see. A secret passcode before entry to the real vault. Let's try to look around for any hints," Eya asks everyone. She carefully searches the room for any writing, markings, or drawings nearby that could be a hint.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
After a quick study of the fane again, Blau steps up to the double vault, closes the door and says "Maybe someone needs to say the phrase on the key, and press the stones the way Respar did earlier. Any volunteers?" If that fails to find the hidden vault, he shrugs and let's another try their attempt.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
As Blau provides that insight, Eya's eyes light up as she inspects the jagged key. "This inscription in Abyssal, it translates to the phrase, Hail Vetra-Kali. We can try that as we press the stones!" Eya moves to the stones Respar touched and her voice gets deeper as she utters the words in a harsh, disturbing speech, "Hail Vetra-Kali."
At the same time, she presses the stones in the same way Respar did.
This time, to Kiven's eyes, as the eyes are pressed and the words spoken, the enchantment on the secret door activates.
For everyone else, the door simply cracks open again as before.
The room beyond is identical, but this time is free of spiders, and full of valuable belongings. Chests full of coin line the room, and various artifacts adorn display cases.
Loot List
Magic items: Ornate silver belt studded with obsidian, a plain golden ring, An ornate teak wood box holding a glass lens, a walking stick of hard black wood adorned with silver fixtures and green semi-precious stones, Two iron plates both carved in abyssal that read “Aticus” and “Andian”, A carefully packed crate holding a dozen potions of cure moderate wounds (labelled as such in abyssal)
Valuables, a ton (yes, 2000 lbs) of solid silver furnishings -- plates, silverware, goblets, candelabra, circlets, jewelry and the like worth 10,000 gp total, 600 lbs of similar golden items -- worth 30,000 gp, six chests full of mixed coinage from dozens of nations worth 5,500 gp total (approximately 550 lbs of coin)
Respar grins at his companions, and slumps against a wall, letting himself down gently. "Well done, everyone. It appears we've found the funds we need for all the preparations we need to make. If we actually have 2 of the 3 emeralds, that helps as well. Hopefully we can find the last gem,and the people we need to perform the rituals."
Eya grins as she sees the hoard of treasure. "Looks like we've found our funding to repair this place and hopefully hire some good help. I sent word to the Cardinal earlier, and asked for help as well. In the meantime, let's focus on identifying these items and distributing them. Prince Kiven, may I have your assistance? It will go much faster with your help."
Working together with Kiven, Eya casts Detect Magic and begins identifying the items, "This is a belt that improves one's strength similar to the one I made for Abraxxus, though the one I made is more stylish to be honest. Blau, take it. You can make better use of it than the rest of us. This lens greatly improves ones eyesight and makes them more perceptive. The most perceptive among us is Respar. Would you like this lens, Respar? Anyone would benefit of course, but I think you could make the most of it. This ring appears to guard one's mind and true nature. I like this one a lot. My fiendish nature makes me easy to detect by the Mitrans, and the more powerful I become the worse it gets. Still, anyone who needs to deceive others could make good use of this. Finally, this staff...hmm, Kiven what do you think? I can't quite figure it out yet, but it looks powerful. Also, there appear to be 12 healing potions here. Each of us should take at least two then we have 2 leftover. We could give one each to Grumblejack and Celeral or distribute them to two of us. What do you all think? Regarding the control amulets let's test them out."
Putting the belt on, Blau feels the surge of power that increases his strength. As a test, he pummels a nearby wall a few time, grinning as shards of stone fracture and fall from his blows. "Much appreciated, Eya. This will certainly help strike our foes down that much sooner! This hoard will come in handy for our costs and such in protecting ourselves while we perform the needed ritual to free Vetra-Kali from his eternal imprisonment." In reference to the iron plates, he says "I would be willing to test out their control of the demons. Let's see how it goes. Perhaps just one at a time, to be safe?"
Blau takes the offered control plates with 'Aticus' marked on it and walks out to where the daemons are waiting by the doorway. "Which one of you is bound to this plate?"he asks. With the one indicated, he discusses the details with Eya and Kiven, then says "Aticus - I bind you to obey the orders of myself and these people " - indicating Eya, Kiven, Respar and Abbraxus - " And do nothing that will directly or indirectly harm anyone who is in this temple ,right now, any time, as long as at least one of us lives. I release you from all bindings that have been placed upon you up until this moment, except for ones I make."
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?" "Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied ― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
Abraxxus jaw drops as he sees what is behind the secret door. " This is why we do this..." He chuckles and his frills shake. For the next couple of hours he will remain in the room going over the contents. " All the gold this will bring..... I knew it was a good idea to come along with all of you. It was worth Tia convincing me though. " He laughs and holds another item up to his critical eye.
"May I?" asks Kiven, reaching out for the symbol marked .Andian'. Looking it over briefly, he slips it into a pocket while Blau tests out the other symbol.
Regarding the mysterious staff, Kiven remarks "this will take more time to discern the properties of".
While Blau and Kiven handle the daemons, Eya says, "Now that we've found the treasure, this secret room seems like a safe spot to rest for the evening and try to recover. What do you all say?"
Abraxxus nods. " Yes Eya, daughter of Tiadora. That is a most excellent idea. So much wealth here. " He takes a big sniff of the air. " This is something worth fighting over. "
Hexor shrugs as Blau reads out from his plate, "Works for me. Don't forget to do Vexor too."
The group settles down to rest within the small demiplane behind the secret door.
Abraxxus makes a discovery while obsessively inventorying the loot, a small lead lined box tucked into a corner behind the larger chests of gold and silver. On opening it, he finds an exquisite emerald identical to those found before. To Kiven's eyes it radiates with a strong divination aura.
Whatever else is done that evening, the group finishes their rest without incident, other than Celarel waking several times in the night stifling shrieks from the nightmares this place is giving her.
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Eya looks to the two daemons and can't hide her joy, she looks to the rest of the party, her face beaming, almost as if she's temporarily ignoring her weakened state. She says to them in an excited tone, "You two are greater cuestodaemons! Aww, such nice fur and sharp claws. I've read all about you! Say, you're Hexor and Vexor, right? My friends here are correct, we are here to free the Great Vetra-Kali. Do either of you know how to open this secret door?"
Eya loves "cute" demons and devils.
@Seath game_die
Eya Diplomacy: 1d20 (20) + 7
Total: 27
The pair look at the knot as they are addressed, then at each other. Finally one of them shrugs, "It'd be tough to make things worse at this point. Its been most of a century now, pretty sure he's not getting loose on his own, and we can't even get into the room with the seal to do anything ourselves."
"Yeah, I think you're right there. Let's see where this goes."
"Mortals, our only true loyalty is to Vetra Kali, but we are also bound to obey the letter of any instructions given by someone holding the seals that bind us to this plane. That was most recently High Priest Ezra."
One of them holds a single claw up, "We were never actually told to keep our mouths shut, so we will tell you everything we know, on one condition."
"When you do find that seal, I very much doubt we can talk you into not making use of us. Frankly you lot seem interesting, so I can't say we would mind too much. Working on the prime with people like you is always interesting."
"Instead, we ask that you swear that your orders will come with a reasonable time limit of some sort. Better yet have an order that will cause all other orders to expire at some point."
"That way when you guys kick the bucket we're not stuck guarding an empty rat's nest for way too long again."
Eya nods, then replies, "Sure, that seems reasonable. If we accomplish our goals here completely, we will be happy to put a reasonable time limit on your binding. So, what do you know about this secret door here?"
Respar offers to help Kiven search. Other than that he needs rest and recuperation from all that CON loss.
Perception 33
Kiven nods and leaves Eya to make the deal with Hexor and Vexor. He resumes searching the room with Respar, looking for anything obvious like the priest's corpse/skeleton, but quickly moving to what he presumes is a magical door to inspect it and see if it can safely be opened.
The one with brown fur looks to Eya, saying, "All right. Fair warning, we do have ways of messing with you if you go back on your word there, just keep it in mind."
The black furred one speaks up, "Anyways, I'm Hexor, this is my brother Vexor."
"Also fair warning, this agreement still doesn't change the orders we were given, step out of there without countering what we were told before and we'll have to kill you."
"One would think that the order to defend this place would override the order to stay out of that room in a conflict, but hey, we're not the ones that set the priorities."
"Whatever the deal is there, we haven't seen that secret door opened, but over the years we've overheard a few things."
"The big thing we can tell you is that the door leads to two different places depending on whether or not you speak the passcode while opening the thing, no we don't know it."
"The door can be opened without the code, but then it just leads to a fake vault with a small and heavily cursed treasure to captivate would be thieves."
"We can still feel our seals in there, so we're pretty sure that the Mitrans didn't get into the real vault if they found the thing at all."
"We'd like to think that several of them got killed by the curses, but given the overabundance of celestial magic with that bunch, that seems less likely than with ordinary thieves."
Respar pokes around, quickly finding something was odd about the bas relief of Vetra Kali. The three eyes were also buttons. On failing to discover any physical traps, and Kiven confirming there weren't magic traps either, Respar presses all three buttons together, causing the secret door to unlock and shift open by a little.
Beyond is a large room with display cases and shelves. Its ransacked and apparently empty save for a fairly nasty spider infestation.
"Hmm, I see. A secret passcode before entry to the real vault. Let's try to look around for any hints," Eya asks everyone. She carefully searches the room for any writing, markings, or drawings nearby that could be a hint.
Perception: 19
Kiven nods at Eya and Respar and helps with the search for a clue as to the keyword.
Perception: 14
Calling again upon Asmodeus' guidance, Blau also aids the hunt for the key to the true vault.
Touch of Law Perception 19
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
After a quick study of the fane again, Blau steps up to the double vault, closes the door and says "Maybe someone needs to say the phrase on the key, and press the stones the way Respar did earlier. Any volunteers?" If that fails to find the hidden vault, he shrugs and let's another try their attempt.
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
As Blau provides that insight, Eya's eyes light up as she inspects the jagged key. "This inscription in Abyssal, it translates to the phrase, Hail Vetra-Kali. We can try that as we press the stones!" Eya moves to the stones Respar touched and her voice gets deeper as she utters the words in a harsh, disturbing speech, "Hail Vetra-Kali."
At the same time, she presses the stones in the same way Respar did.
This time, to Kiven's eyes, as the eyes are pressed and the words spoken, the enchantment on the secret door activates.
For everyone else, the door simply cracks open again as before.
The room beyond is identical, but this time is free of spiders, and full of valuable belongings. Chests full of coin line the room, and various artifacts adorn display cases.
Loot List
Magic items: Ornate silver belt studded with obsidian, a plain golden ring, An ornate teak wood box holding a glass lens, a walking stick of hard black wood adorned with silver fixtures and green semi-precious stones, Two iron plates both carved in abyssal that read “Aticus” and “Andian”, A carefully packed crate holding a dozen potions of cure moderate wounds (labelled as such in abyssal)
Valuables, a ton (yes, 2000 lbs) of solid silver furnishings -- plates, silverware, goblets, candelabra, circlets, jewelry and the like worth 10,000 gp total, 600 lbs of similar golden items -- worth 30,000 gp, six chests full of mixed coinage from dozens of nations worth 5,500 gp total (approximately 550 lbs of coin)
Respar grins at his companions, and slumps against a wall, letting himself down gently. "Well done, everyone. It appears we've found the funds we need for all the preparations we need to make. If we actually have 2 of the 3 emeralds, that helps as well. Hopefully we can find the last gem,and the people we need to perform the rituals."
Eya grins as she sees the hoard of treasure. "Looks like we've found our funding to repair this place and hopefully hire some good help. I sent word to the Cardinal earlier, and asked for help as well. In the meantime, let's focus on identifying these items and distributing them. Prince Kiven, may I have your assistance? It will go much faster with your help."
Working together with Kiven, Eya casts Detect Magic and begins identifying the items, "This is a belt that improves one's strength similar to the one I made for Abraxxus, though the one I made is more stylish to be honest. Blau, take it. You can make better use of it than the rest of us. This lens greatly improves ones eyesight and makes them more perceptive. The most perceptive among us is Respar. Would you like this lens, Respar? Anyone would benefit of course, but I think you could make the most of it. This ring appears to guard one's mind and true nature. I like this one a lot. My fiendish nature makes me easy to detect by the Mitrans, and the more powerful I become the worse it gets. Still, anyone who needs to deceive others could make good use of this. Finally, this staff...hmm, Kiven what do you think? I can't quite figure it out yet, but it looks powerful. Also, there appear to be 12 healing potions here. Each of us should take at least two then we have 2 leftover. We could give one each to Grumblejack and Celeral or distribute them to two of us. What do you all think? Regarding the control amulets let's test them out."
Putting the belt on, Blau feels the surge of power that increases his strength. As a test, he pummels a nearby wall a few time, grinning as shards of stone fracture and fall from his blows. "Much appreciated, Eya. This will certainly help strike our foes down that much sooner! This hoard will come in handy for our costs and such in protecting ourselves while we perform the needed ritual to free Vetra-Kali from his eternal imprisonment." In reference to the iron plates, he says "I would be willing to test out their control of the demons. Let's see how it goes. Perhaps just one at a time, to be safe?"
Blau takes the offered control plates with 'Aticus' marked on it and walks out to where the daemons are waiting by the doorway. "Which one of you is bound to this plate?" he asks. With the one indicated, he discusses the details with Eya and Kiven, then says "Aticus - I bind you to obey the orders of myself and these people " - indicating Eya, Kiven, Respar and Abbraxus - " And do nothing that will directly or indirectly harm anyone who is in this temple ,right now, any time, as long as at least one of us lives. I release you from all bindings that have been placed upon you up until this moment, except for ones I make."
“Can you tell me the difference between a witch and a wizard?"
"Sure, a wizard is what they call you when they want to hire you, and a witch is what they call you when they're getting ready to run you out of town.” SunWolf replied
― Barbara Hambly, The Witches of Wenshar
Abraxxus jaw drops as he sees what is behind the secret door. " This is why we do this..." He chuckles and his frills shake. For the next couple of hours he will remain in the room going over the contents. " All the gold this will bring..... I knew it was a good idea to come along with all of you. It was worth Tia convincing me though. " He laughs and holds another item up to his critical eye.
"May I?" asks Kiven, reaching out for the symbol marked .Andian'. Looking it over briefly, he slips it into a pocket while Blau tests out the other symbol.
Regarding the mysterious staff, Kiven remarks "this will take more time to discern the properties of".
While Blau and Kiven handle the daemons, Eya says, "Now that we've found the treasure, this secret room seems like a safe spot to rest for the evening and try to recover. What do you all say?"
Abraxxus nods. " Yes Eya, daughter of Tiadora. That is a most excellent idea. So much wealth here. " He takes a big sniff of the air. " This is something worth fighting over. "
Hexor shrugs as Blau reads out from his plate, "Works for me. Don't forget to do Vexor too."
The group settles down to rest within the small demiplane behind the secret door.
Abraxxus makes a discovery while obsessively inventorying the loot, a small lead lined box tucked into a corner behind the larger chests of gold and silver. On opening it, he finds an exquisite emerald identical to those found before. To Kiven's eyes it radiates with a strong divination aura.
Whatever else is done that evening, the group finishes their rest without incident, other than Celarel waking several times in the night stifling shrieks from the nightmares this place is giving her.