(What's your spell save DC, Hatch?) CHA saves: Barok: 18 Applecross: 25
14, so both succeeded, so that sucks. Basically a wasted spell, but at least Hatch knows his spell failed on Applecross so...yeah, totally wasted a second level spell slot.>_<
(What's your spell save DC, Hatch?) CHA saves: Barok: 18 Applecross: 25
14, so both succeeded, so that sucks. Basically a wasted spell, but at least Hatch knows his spell failed on Applecross so...yeah, totally wasted a second level spell slot.>_<
Yeah, both had good CHA stats. Barok's modifier is epic, in fact ...
Hatch, while you're at it, make an insight check. (DM's secret roll: 25) -- oof! I can't lose.
(What's your spell save DC, Hatch?) CHA saves: Barok: 18 Applecross: 25
14, so both succeeded, so that sucks. Basically a wasted spell, but at least Hatch knows his spell failed on Applecross so...yeah, totally wasted a second level spell slot.>_<
Yeah, both had good CHA stats. Barok's modifier is epic, in fact ...
Hatch, while you're at it, make an insight check. (DM's secret roll: 27) -- oof! I can't lose.
(Well seems pointless now, but...)
Insight 4
Hatch sighs. "Well that was useless, no point in asking a fiend anything when he can lie as freely as he wants. Be like having a conversation with a wall for all I could learn."
Certainly not, says Barok. I never deal with such creatures, least of all those who consort with evil deities.
Applecross also shakes his head, grunting: He's no partner of mine.
(Forgot about Bentley... CHA save: 5. At least you can depend on the halfling to tell the truth)
"Well we can only guess to that, neither of you wound up bound to my Zone of Truth spell. The dwarf may have the benefit of the doubt I reserve for most new folk I meet, but I would be hard pressed to take the word of the fiend here. I may be of infernal heritage myself, but I don't think it takes a cleric to realize the sadist minion of the goddess of misfortune is evil through and through." Hatch said, keeping a wary eye on Applecross. He then spoke a threat in Infernal to the fiend, which roughly translated means 'Give me a reason to dice you into cubes.'
Given what Hatch said in common, and the obvious tone of his infernal, Lia takes in a big breath. "So! How about we head back downstairs, maybe hit up Willagee for some drinks," she glances at Bentley, "and maybe relax a little," then at Hatch, "while we work out this next step in the riddle." She gives the same look to Barok and Applecross, before looking hopefully to Lok and Throm for support in defusing the situation.
Despite Lia's attempts to calm the tension, Applecross doesn't seem inclined to back down in the face of Hatch's accusations. Hrmph! So you'll take his word at face value, but not mine? Getting more emotional, he grumbles on: Just because I enjoy your suffering doesn't make me a liar. You'll never solve the riddle until you catch him in his deception, and you'll never do that if you accept everything he says as true...
Bentley has been quietly listening and saying nothing, but now pipes up and turns to Applecross: "Catch him"? Isn't that what you said in the room, that getting - whoever - to admit he lied would take them forever? So maybe he already lied, he just hasn't admitted it! Then with a cheeky grin, the halfling says: Now you can prove you're not a liar. Did Barok say anything just now that wasn't true?
Applecross pauses, with his mouth hanging open. It seems he is caught between 'slowing down' the group and defending his own injured pride. After a moment he blurts out: Yes, he did!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Lia grins at Bentley, and then at Applecross. "Thank you Applecross."
She looks directly into Barok's eyes. "Please, Barok, Aurinax, whoever you are... tell us what you're hiding. Have you dealt with fiends before? Are you not really hundreds of years old? Whatever it is you have lied about surely cannot be worth our freedom?"
Barok stares back at Lia for a few moments, in thought. Then, with a slump of his shoulders, he sighs. If I have ever deceived anyone, I have only done so that I might better serve the principles of charity and virtue. But you are also in need, and I see that only by revealing my secret can I likewise aid you. He turns and walks toward the balustrade that overlooks the central room, three floors below. To the surprise of all, and with a whimper of protest from Applecross, Barok leaps up on to the balustrade, and turns to face the group, balancing there with uncanny dexterity. With a raised voice he declares: Hundreds of years old I am, but a dwarf I am not, as I confess I claimed. Barok Clanghammer I am known in this guise, but my true name is Aurinax!
As he speaks, he stretches out his arms and leaps backward off the balustrade, and in a golden flash of light Barok the dwarf has been replaced with a magnificent gold dragon! The mighty creature fills the three-storey-high space, its wings only half-extended yet touching the walls on both sides, and its swept-back golden horns touching the roof despite it standing on the floor below. Aurinax's voice is low and rumbling, but no louder than before as it speaks again: In this, my true form, I am frequently met with fear and suspicion. Thus I conceal my identity, not for personal gain, but that I may better serve the weak and downtrodden. I hoped for some other way to aid you, but thus hath Lady Doom ensnared me as well as you, that I must disclose my secret. Three hath Lied, and the demands of the curse are fulfilled. Now go with my blessing...
As Aurinax speaks this last, the room starts to fade and blur, then twist and spin. The feeling of disorientation returns as the colors and shapes bleed together, but just as soon resolve again and take new shape. Lia, Hatch, Throm and Lok find themselves standing in a luxurious lobby that welcomes guests who will no doubt enter through the large double doorway of darkness. Through a set of doors on the left can be seen a grand dining room hung with chandeliers and tables set with fine crystal and silverware. Through another doorway on the right is a comfortable bar area with subdued lighting and soft furnishings. And at the far end of the lobby is a grand staircase that branches off to the left and right as it ascends to the floor above. Nearby, a concierge with a familiar face greets them. Why, hello! says Bentley the halfling. I didn't see you arrive. Is there anything I can assist you with?
All players may advance to Level 8.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Hatch was astonished to see the dwarf turn into a gold dragon, more astonished the fiend was right, and not astonished at all when the hotel changed once more.
"Uh, neck's okay, gonna leave interesting scars," Hatch mumbled in response to Lok's question before searching to see if Applecross was still there or had disappeared.
Lia stands there, speechless, a child-ike sparkle in her eyes. "Who could ever fear such a magnificent creature?" she whispers. She pulls out a small notebook and draws a line through something and puts it back, taking a deep breath. She gives everyone a small smile and Lok a nod. She turns to Bentley. "Hello! Would you possibly be able to tell us if anybody is staying on the fourth floor of this establishment?"
Neither Throm nor Hatch can see anyone they recognise, although once Throm catches his bearings he notices that there does seem to be a lot of noise and activity in the hotel.
Bentley turns quite pale when Lia asks who is staying on the fourth floor. Stuttering he replies: Ah, o-only one, m-miss. No-one else wants a room on the f-fourth. No-one else wants to be on the s-same f-floor as ... the devil!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
"Wait just a moment, Hatch said as the others eagerly expressed their desire to rush and meet the next riddle-curse person. "Does this devil have a name? A race? A reason why he'd be called the devil?" Hatch asked Bentley, while tapping on his own curled ram's horns.
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14, so both succeeded, so that sucks. Basically a wasted spell, but at least Hatch knows his spell failed on Applecross so...yeah, totally wasted a second level spell slot.>_<
Sheet I'm using to keep track in this adventure btw
https://ddb.ac/characters/26545899/BU2kih
Yeah, both had good CHA stats. Barok's modifier is epic, in fact ...
Hatch, while you're at it, make an insight check. (DM's secret roll: 25) -- oof! I can't lose.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
(Well seems pointless now, but...)
Insight 4
Hatch sighs. "Well that was useless, no point in asking a fiend anything when he can lie as freely as he wants. Be like having a conversation with a wall for all I could learn."
Throm decocks his crossbow, stows the bolt and inquires,
”So, Barok. Are you a partner with Applecross, here?”
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
”I am not young enough to know everything.” - Oscar Wilde
Certainly not, says Barok. I never deal with such creatures, least of all those who consort with evil deities.
Applecross also shakes his head, grunting: He's no partner of mine.
(Forgot about Bentley... CHA save: 16. At least you can depend on the halfling to tell the truth)
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
"Barok? Is that your name?" Lia sighs. "Well, Barok, how did you end up here? I imagine you didn't have the same experience when you arrived as us."
"Well we can only guess to that, neither of you wound up bound to my Zone of Truth spell. The dwarf may have the benefit of the doubt I reserve for most new folk I meet, but I would be hard pressed to take the word of the fiend here. I may be of infernal heritage myself, but I don't think it takes a cleric to realize the sadist minion of the goddess of misfortune is evil through and through." Hatch said, keeping a wary eye on Applecross. He then spoke a threat in Infernal to the fiend, which roughly translated means 'Give me a reason to dice you into cubes.'
Given what Hatch said in common, and the obvious tone of his infernal, Lia takes in a big breath. "So! How about we head back downstairs, maybe hit up Willagee for some drinks," she glances at Bentley, "and maybe relax a little," then at Hatch, "while we work out this next step in the riddle." She gives the same look to Barok and Applecross, before looking hopefully to Lok and Throm for support in defusing the situation.
Despite Lia's attempts to calm the tension, Applecross doesn't seem inclined to back down in the face of Hatch's accusations. Hrmph! So you'll take his word at face value, but not mine? Getting more emotional, he grumbles on: Just because I enjoy your suffering doesn't make me a liar. You'll never solve the riddle until you catch him in his deception, and you'll never do that if you accept everything he says as true...
Bentley has been quietly listening and saying nothing, but now pipes up and turns to Applecross: "Catch him"? Isn't that what you said in the room, that getting - whoever - to admit he lied would take them forever? So maybe he already lied, he just hasn't admitted it! Then with a cheeky grin, the halfling says: Now you can prove you're not a liar. Did Barok say anything just now that wasn't true?
Applecross pauses, with his mouth hanging open. It seems he is caught between 'slowing down' the group and defending his own injured pride. After a moment he blurts out: Yes, he did!
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Lia grins at Bentley, and then at Applecross. "Thank you Applecross."
She looks directly into Barok's eyes. "Please, Barok, Aurinax, whoever you are... tell us what you're hiding. Have you dealt with fiends before? Are you not really hundreds of years old? Whatever it is you have lied about surely cannot be worth our freedom?"
Barok stares back at Lia for a few moments, in thought. Then, with a slump of his shoulders, he sighs. If I have ever deceived anyone, I have only done so that I might better serve the principles of charity and virtue. But you are also in need, and I see that only by revealing my secret can I likewise aid you. He turns and walks toward the balustrade that overlooks the central room, three floors below. To the surprise of all, and with a whimper of protest from Applecross, Barok leaps up on to the balustrade, and turns to face the group, balancing there with uncanny dexterity. With a raised voice he declares: Hundreds of years old I am, but a dwarf I am not, as I confess I claimed. Barok Clanghammer I am known in this guise, but my true name is Aurinax!
As he speaks, he stretches out his arms and leaps backward off the balustrade, and in a golden flash of light Barok the dwarf has been replaced with a magnificent gold dragon! The mighty creature fills the three-storey-high space, its wings only half-extended yet touching the walls on both sides, and its swept-back golden horns touching the roof despite it standing on the floor below. Aurinax's voice is low and rumbling, but no louder than before as it speaks again: In this, my true form, I am frequently met with fear and suspicion. Thus I conceal my identity, not for personal gain, but that I may better serve the weak and downtrodden. I hoped for some other way to aid you, but thus hath Lady Doom ensnared me as well as you, that I must disclose my secret. Three hath Lied, and the demands of the curse are fulfilled. Now go with my blessing...
As Aurinax speaks this last, the room starts to fade and blur, then twist and spin. The feeling of disorientation returns as the colors and shapes bleed together, but just as soon resolve again and take new shape. Lia, Hatch, Throm and Lok find themselves standing in a luxurious lobby that welcomes guests who will no doubt enter through the large double doorway of darkness. Through a set of doors on the left can be seen a grand dining room hung with chandeliers and tables set with fine crystal and silverware. Through another doorway on the right is a comfortable bar area with subdued lighting and soft furnishings. And at the far end of the lobby is a grand staircase that branches off to the left and right as it ascends to the floor above. Nearby, a concierge with a familiar face greets them. Why, hello! says Bentley the halfling. I didn't see you arrive. Is there anything I can assist you with?
All players may advance to Level 8.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Before greeting “Bentley”, Throm quickly surveys the other people within sight for any signs of recognition or disappointment in our being here.
Perception: 20
Insight: 19
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
”I am not young enough to know everything.” - Oscar Wilde
Lok gives a long drawn out sigh. The barbarian is beginning to miss the outside world quite a bit.
"What use is a god of misfortune anyway." he mumbled to himself
turning to the others, he added
"Glad we got through that part without anyone being injured." the barbarian said, giving a sidelong glance to Hatch
"As we start this inevitable part four of the riddle, we should collect ourselves first." Lok stated aloud, glancing around the luxurious lobby.
"How's your neck? You did take quite the injury earlier." Lok said, looking at Hatch's neck.
Hatch was astonished to see the dwarf turn into a gold dragon, more astonished the fiend was right, and not astonished at all when the hotel changed once more.
"Uh, neck's okay, gonna leave interesting scars," Hatch mumbled in response to Lok's question before searching to see if Applecross was still there or had disappeared.
Lia stands there, speechless, a child-ike sparkle in her eyes. "Who could ever fear such a magnificent creature?" she whispers. She pulls out a small notebook and draws a line through something and puts it back, taking a deep breath. She gives everyone a small smile and Lok a nod. She turns to Bentley. "Hello! Would you possibly be able to tell us if anybody is staying on the fourth floor of this establishment?"
Neither Throm nor Hatch can see anyone they recognise, although once Throm catches his bearings he notices that there does seem to be a lot of noise and activity in the hotel.
Bentley turns quite pale when Lia asks who is staying on the fourth floor. Stuttering he replies: Ah, o-only one, m-miss. No-one else wants a room on the f-fourth. No-one else wants to be on the s-same f-floor as ... the devil!
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Lia just huffs and turns to her friends. "Let's just go pay this 'devil' a visit before I get kidnapped, mind-controlled or worse."
"Agreed." Lok nods to Lia "besides, cant be any worse than that Count."
The barbarian will start climbing the stairs to the fourth floor
"Wait just a moment, Hatch said as the others eagerly expressed their desire to rush and meet the next riddle-curse person. "Does this devil have a name? A race? A reason why he'd be called the devil?" Hatch asked Bentley, while tapping on his own curled ram's horns.