Kulloda quietly climbs the stairs ahead of Finnegan re-entering the tower. On the second floor is the rakshasa, standing at a table set against the curved, stone wall. The staircase continues up and there are a couple of doors on each side of the room, which is about half the size of the large space where Finnegan and the rest of the party are currently walking through on the floor below. Kulloda is currently crouched behind a display case of archaeological artifacts. it is glass on its top but offers sufficient cover for the moment.
On the floor below, Finnegan turns and waves the party to follow him into the foyer of the tower, which takes up the entire first floor. A single staircase following the curve of the wall leads up. A wardrobe stands underneath the stairs and there is little else here, excepts some unlit torches on the walls.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kulloda frowns at the sight of the rakshasa and the sounds of the others entering the tower below. Then he smiles as he gets an image of himself leaping out from behind the case and jumping on the rakshasa. But that would defeat the purpose of coming in here in the first place.
If there's a route to take to sneak past the rakshasa and enter one of the side doors, Kulloda will do that.
Stealth: 23
If not, he'll continue up the stairs to the third floor.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tristan inclines his head in a polite nod to Finnegan as he leads them into the tower. “Then let us adjourn to the parlor.” As they walk through the tower, Tristan keeps a watchful eye on his surroundings, noting the best place to drop a magical sensor later. Perception: 26.
As they walk, he keeps up an idle chatter, distracting Finnegan while also trying to slip in a serious question or two. “Not everyday you see a rakshasa as a doorman, even for a wizard. Are the other gods from hell keeping an eye on you?”
Kulloda frowns at the sight of the rakshasa and the sounds of the others entering the tower below. Then he smiles as he gets an image of himself leaping out from behind the case and jumping on the rakshasa. But that would defeat the purpose of coming in here in the first place.
If there's a route to take to sneak past the rakshasa and enter one of the side doors, Kulloda will do that.
Stealth: 21
If not, he'll continue up the stairs to the third floor.
Kulloda quietly slips through the door on the right while the rakshasa has his back turned. The room within is a storage space with shelves of boxes and archaeological clutter. There is no other exit, except an extremely narrow window with fixed glass inset in it to allow light in.
Tristan inclines his head in a polite nod to Finnegan as he leads them into the tower. “Then let us adjourn to the parlor.” As they walk through the tower, Tristan keeps a watchful eye on his surroundings, noting the best place to drop a magical sensor later. Perception: 15.
As they walk, he keeps up an idle chatter, distracting Finnegan while also trying to slip in a serious question or two. “Not everyday you see a rakshasa as a doorman, even for a wizard. Are the other gods from hell keeping an eye on you?”
"He is no doorman," Finnegan says, irritation returning to his voice. "He and his god have a vested interest in my success. He and the others make more interesting company than any employee I have ever had."
He does not even acknowledge Dog as he slights the goliath's parents.
The entryway room is obviously a high-traffic area but it is not one in which people will linger much, except perhaps at the door as the rakshasa and Finnegan both did while addressing visitors. The second story appears to be a kind of museum. The rakshasa stands here, turning to acknowledge Finnegan as they round the staircase to reach the main room. There are no chairs and it seems unlikely that people stand about here, except to gawk at Finnegan's collection of Mage War history on display. Two rooms exit this space, one on each side. The stairs continue up on the north side of the room to the third floor, where the parlor is said to be.
Not having a clue what he's looking for, if anything, Kulloda examines the boxes and clutter for anything that looks like it might be related to this cage he's heard the others mention the miserable little gnome wizard is working on.
Does the place seem the same as when he lived here? Dog stays quiet, waiting for the gnome to start waxing eloquently about the cage plans, and preparing to ask him outright if he does not.
Not having a clue what he's looking for, if anything, Kulloda examines the boxes and clutter for anything that looks like it might be related to this cage he's heard the others mention the miserable little gnome wizard is working on.
Perception: 22
There is nothing about the cage in here. It is likely too important for storage. He does notice that a number of boxes have been recently opened and some of the contents removed. Glass jars, copper wire, and other components have been stripped from old artifacts or taken from a cluster of similar objects.
Outside the door, he hears the muffled voices of Finnegan and the rakshasa talking. The voices eventually fade as they apparently walk away.
Does the place seem the same as when he lived here? Dog stays quiet, waiting for the gnome to start waxing eloquently about the cage plans, and preparing to ask him outright if he does not.
There are definite differences but much is familiar. The bottom floor is largely unchanged. This second floor is a bit different, filled with more artifacts than were once displayed here. The parlor, where they head next, has a few new pieces of furniture but is relatively unchanged.
Before heading up to the parlor, Finnegan and the rakshasa exchange some words. There is a tense deference in Finnegan's tone and choice of words.
"Do you know if there is any tea prepared?" Finnegan says.
"I do not think so," the rakshasa says.
Finnegan is silent, holding his tongue until he has organized his words. "It is no matter. I think we shall be fine without tea."
The rakshasa returns Finnegan's gaze for a beat, then nods in approval. "I would like some myself," he says. "You shall have some ready once your guests have departed."
"Thank you, Rusmaku," Finnegan says. "We shan't be long."
The party ascends another flight of stairs, arriving at a small landing with two doors. Dog knows the parlor to be the right door, where Finnegan leads them. The rakshasa continues to climb to the fourth floor where the kitchen resides.
The party, save for Kulloda, find seats around the comfortable room. It is well-lit with natural light from a large, curved window dominating the outer stone wall of the tower.
Finnegan gets down to business. "So, you would help sway the gods in my favor? What do you need to do so?"
Kulloda looks at the open boxes and almost kicks them but remembers he’s sneaking around and manages to just barely get his normally simmering hotheadedness under control.
Once the voices move away upstairs, Kulloda comes out of the closet and heads up the stairs, pausing near the next floor to determine where everyone has gone and then moving to any “quiet” doors to take a look in.
Tristan gives the second floor a good look, focusing on the desk the rakshasa is standing at, noting the best place to drop a magical sensor for later. Perception: 14.
As they continue up the stairs to the third floor, Tristan responds to Finnegan “The others? You have other assistants as well? And which god of the hells do they serve, other than the god of ambition of course?” History (are rakshasa's affiliated with any specific god of the hells or just your all purpose fiend?) 15.
Upon entering the parlor, Tristan makes himself comfortable. “Ah, right to the point. Well, I guess there is no idle talk with a god after all.” He leans forward “We know for a fact that other gods are willing to change their votes to you upon the completion of certain..errands. We have not yet committed to do these. If we were, what would you offer? How would the Kingdom benefit from having a god of ambition, how would we?” As they talk, Tristan looks around the parlor to determine if it is as unused as Finnegan claims, or if there are indications the room is used for meetings or other functions. Perception: 21.
Kulloda looks at the open boxes and almost kicks them but remembers he’s sneaking around and manages to just barely get his normally simmering hotheadedness under control.
Once the voices move away upstairs, Kulloda comes out of the closet and heads up the stairs, pausing near the next floor to determine where everyone has gone and then moving to any “quiet” doors to take a look in.
Stealth if needed: 27
At the top of the stairs, Kulloda can hear Finnegan and the rest of the party getting settling in to awkward conversation on the right. The door on the left is silent. Inside, he finds a library empty of any people but filled with books and scrolls. A small desk in the corner is scattered with scrolls about, and by, the mage Kalazath (who designed the divine trap Finnegan is building). Much of the notes are technical or written in multiple languages, sometimes changing within the same sentence. One particular journal left bookmarked on a side table next to a small, comfy lounge chair describes Kalazath's intention to catch the Traveler in his trap and drain them of their divine power.
Tristan gives the second floor a good look, focusing on the desk the rakshasa is standing at, noting the best place to drop a magical sensor for later. Perception: 14.
It really seems as if it could go anywhere out of sight. He has very little time to make the choice...
As they continue up the stairs to the third floor, Tristan responds to Finnegan “The others? You have other assistants as well? And which god of the hells do they serve, other than the god of ambition of course?” History (are rakshasa's affiliated with any specific god of the hells or just your all purpose fiend?) 15.
"They are not so much assistants as protectors of our collective interests. Most of them represent Bhaal," says the gnome.
Tristan knows that rakshasas have also historically associated with several other hells, including Bane, Loviatar, Mask, Shar, Beshaba, and Cyric. Associating with Bhaal is no surprise, however.
Upon entering the parlor, Tristan makes himself comfortable. “Ah, right to the point. Well, I guess there is no idle talk with a god after all.” He leans forward “We know for a fact that other gods are willing to change their votes to you upon the completion of certain..errands. We have not yet committed to do these. If we were, what would you offer? How would the Kingdom benefit from having a god of ambition, how would we?” As they talk, Tristan looks around the parlor to determine if it is as unused as Finnegan claims, or if there are indications the room is used for meetings or other functions. Perception: 21.
The parlor is definitely dusty but it has seen some recent activity. The chairs have moved at least once prior to the current meeting. Finnegan considers Tristan's question for a long moment.
"You've asked me this before. Or one of you has," he says, slowly. "All I have in this tower and my holdings elsewhere serve no celestial purpose. So they will be yours. All I require is the votes...and an assurance of no meddling from those who would stop my ascension."
He pauses again and, for a moment, it seems as if he is done. Then he continues. "The kingdom would not benefit, though nor would it suffer, from my ascension. Gods serve more than a single kingdom and kingdoms cannot pray to gods."
Kulloda frowns at all the scrolls and the books of technical information. He almost growls at it all and is a moment away from pounding his fists through the desk when he remembers why he's there and stops.
Instead he opens up his bag of holding and sweeps everything off the table into the bag and then tosses the book on the side table in as well.
He gets ready to leave, but then he thinks of his new little friend, Gash and he turns back to the bookshelves and decides to appropriate a few more random books and scrolls and dumps those into the bag as well.
"Gash like these," Kulloda says to himself.
Kulloda then listens at the door again to see if he can here anyone on the other side (Perception: 7 )
His frown deepens as he tries to decide whether to climb more stairs or take what he's found so far and head outside.
If he doesn't hear anything, he will exit the room. If the others are still talking in the next room he'll head up the stairs to the next level, quietly.
"Wouldn't Bhaal, Bane, Mask, other gods helping you with this task be threatened by a device that could trap a deity and use their power against their wills? Ambition is one thing, risk another, but..."he trails off, not wanting to call the man a fool to his face.
"Wouldn't Bhaal, Bane, Mask, other gods helping you with this task be threatened by a device that could trap a deity and use their power against their wills? Ambition is one thing, risk another, but..."he trails off, not wanting to call the man a fool to his face.
Finnegan laughs. "I'm not sure it would be powerful enough to do more than annoy a god in his own plane. No, Kalazath designed this specifically with the Traveler in mind."
Kulloda frowns at all the scrolls and the books of technical information. He almost growls at it all and is a moment away from pounding his fists through the desk when he remembers why he's there and stops.
Instead he opens up his bag of holding and sweeps everything off the table into the bag and then tosses the book on the side table in as well.
He gets ready to leave, but then he thinks of his new little friend, Gash and he turns back to the bookshelves and decides to appropriate a few more random books and scrolls and dumps those into the bag as well.
"Gash like these," Kulloda says to himself.
Kulloda then listens at the door again to see if he can here anyone on the other side (Perception: 7 )
His frown deepens as he tries to decide whether to climb more stairs or take what he's found so far and head outside.
If he doesn't hear anything, he will exit the room. If the others are still talking in the next room he'll head up the stairs to the next level, quietly.
Stealth: 24
Kulloda cannot tell if anyone is outside the door but chances it when it seems quiet. Thankfully the landing outside is free of anyone. Sneaking up the stairs, he comes to another landing. The sounds of a busy kitchen come from a pair of centered double doors. There are no other places to go except up, or into the kitchen.
Dog's eyebrows rise. "Wow, so the Traveler is either very dangerous and annoying and worth such effort... or Kalazath, and you, are canny enough to see the opportunity of a god wandering the mortal plane."
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Kulloda quietly climbs the stairs ahead of Finnegan re-entering the tower. On the second floor is the rakshasa, standing at a table set against the curved, stone wall. The staircase continues up and there are a couple of doors on each side of the room, which is about half the size of the large space where Finnegan and the rest of the party are currently walking through on the floor below. Kulloda is currently crouched behind a display case of archaeological artifacts. it is glass on its top but offers sufficient cover for the moment.
On the floor below, Finnegan turns and waves the party to follow him into the foyer of the tower, which takes up the entire first floor. A single staircase following the curve of the wall leads up. A wardrobe stands underneath the stairs and there is little else here, excepts some unlit torches on the walls.
Kulloda frowns at the sight of the rakshasa and the sounds of the others entering the tower below. Then he smiles as he gets an image of himself leaping out from behind the case and jumping on the rakshasa. But that would defeat the purpose of coming in here in the first place.
If there's a route to take to sneak past the rakshasa and enter one of the side doors, Kulloda will do that.
Stealth: 23
If not, he'll continue up the stairs to the third floor.
Tristan inclines his head in a polite nod to Finnegan as he leads them into the tower. “Then let us adjourn to the parlor.” As they walk through the tower, Tristan keeps a watchful eye on his surroundings, noting the best place to drop a magical sensor later. Perception: 26.
As they walk, he keeps up an idle chatter, distracting Finnegan while also trying to slip in a serious question or two. “Not everyday you see a rakshasa as a doorman, even for a wizard. Are the other gods from hell keeping an eye on you?”
DM shield:
1: left door available, 2: right door available, 3: stairs available, 4: time runs out
2
Kulloda quietly slips through the door on the right while the rakshasa has his back turned. The room within is a storage space with shelves of boxes and archaeological clutter. There is no other exit, except an extremely narrow window with fixed glass inset in it to allow light in.
"He is no doorman," Finnegan says, irritation returning to his voice. "He and his god have a vested interest in my success. He and the others make more interesting company than any employee I have ever had."
He does not even acknowledge Dog as he slights the goliath's parents.
The entryway room is obviously a high-traffic area but it is not one in which people will linger much, except perhaps at the door as the rakshasa and Finnegan both did while addressing visitors. The second story appears to be a kind of museum. The rakshasa stands here, turning to acknowledge Finnegan as they round the staircase to reach the main room. There are no chairs and it seems unlikely that people stand about here, except to gawk at Finnegan's collection of Mage War history on display. Two rooms exit this space, one on each side. The stairs continue up on the north side of the room to the third floor, where the parlor is said to be.
Not having a clue what he's looking for, if anything, Kulloda examines the boxes and clutter for anything that looks like it might be related to this cage he's heard the others mention the miserable little gnome wizard is working on.
Perception: 22
Does the place seem the same as when he lived here? Dog stays quiet, waiting for the gnome to start waxing eloquently about the cage plans, and preparing to ask him outright if he does not.
There is nothing about the cage in here. It is likely too important for storage. He does notice that a number of boxes have been recently opened and some of the contents removed. Glass jars, copper wire, and other components have been stripped from old artifacts or taken from a cluster of similar objects.
Outside the door, he hears the muffled voices of Finnegan and the rakshasa talking. The voices eventually fade as they apparently walk away.
There are definite differences but much is familiar. The bottom floor is largely unchanged. This second floor is a bit different, filled with more artifacts than were once displayed here. The parlor, where they head next, has a few new pieces of furniture but is relatively unchanged.
Before heading up to the parlor, Finnegan and the rakshasa exchange some words. There is a tense deference in Finnegan's tone and choice of words.
"Do you know if there is any tea prepared?" Finnegan says.
"I do not think so," the rakshasa says.
Finnegan is silent, holding his tongue until he has organized his words. "It is no matter. I think we shall be fine without tea."
The rakshasa returns Finnegan's gaze for a beat, then nods in approval. "I would like some myself," he says. "You shall have some ready once your guests have departed."
"Thank you, Rusmaku," Finnegan says. "We shan't be long."
The party ascends another flight of stairs, arriving at a small landing with two doors. Dog knows the parlor to be the right door, where Finnegan leads them. The rakshasa continues to climb to the fourth floor where the kitchen resides.
The party, save for Kulloda, find seats around the comfortable room. It is well-lit with natural light from a large, curved window dominating the outer stone wall of the tower.
Finnegan gets down to business. "So, you would help sway the gods in my favor? What do you need to do so?"
Kulloda looks at the open boxes and almost kicks them but remembers he’s sneaking around and manages to just barely get his normally simmering hotheadedness under control.
Once the voices move away upstairs, Kulloda comes out of the closet and heads up the stairs, pausing near the next floor to determine where everyone has gone and then moving to any “quiet” doors to take a look in.
Stealth if needed: 27
Tristan gives the second floor a good look, focusing on the desk the rakshasa is standing at, noting the best place to drop a magical sensor for later. Perception: 14.
As they continue up the stairs to the third floor, Tristan responds to Finnegan “The others? You have other assistants as well? And which god of the hells do they serve, other than the god of ambition of course?” History (are rakshasa's affiliated with any specific god of the hells or just your all purpose fiend?) 15.
Upon entering the parlor, Tristan makes himself comfortable. “Ah, right to the point. Well, I guess there is no idle talk with a god after all.” He leans forward “We know for a fact that other gods are willing to change their votes to you upon the completion of certain..errands. We have not yet committed to do these. If we were, what would you offer? How would the Kingdom benefit from having a god of ambition, how would we?” As they talk, Tristan looks around the parlor to determine if it is as unused as Finnegan claims, or if there are indications the room is used for meetings or other functions. Perception: 21.
Dog's waiting for an answer to Tristan's query, but he wants to ask what the plan is for Finnegan to find the Traveler in order to trap him.
At the top of the stairs, Kulloda can hear Finnegan and the rest of the party getting settling in to awkward conversation on the right. The door on the left is silent. Inside, he finds a library empty of any people but filled with books and scrolls. A small desk in the corner is scattered with scrolls about, and by, the mage Kalazath (who designed the divine trap Finnegan is building). Much of the notes are technical or written in multiple languages, sometimes changing within the same sentence. One particular journal left bookmarked on a side table next to a small, comfy lounge chair describes Kalazath's intention to catch the Traveler in his trap and drain them of their divine power.
It really seems as if it could go anywhere out of sight. He has very little time to make the choice...
"They are not so much assistants as protectors of our collective interests. Most of them represent Bhaal," says the gnome.
Tristan knows that rakshasas have also historically associated with several other hells, including Bane, Loviatar, Mask, Shar, Beshaba, and Cyric. Associating with Bhaal is no surprise, however.
The parlor is definitely dusty but it has seen some recent activity. The chairs have moved at least once prior to the current meeting. Finnegan considers Tristan's question for a long moment.
"You've asked me this before. Or one of you has," he says, slowly. "All I have in this tower and my holdings elsewhere serve no celestial purpose. So they will be yours. All I require is the votes...and an assurance of no meddling from those who would stop my ascension."
He pauses again and, for a moment, it seems as if he is done. Then he continues. "The kingdom would not benefit, though nor would it suffer, from my ascension. Gods serve more than a single kingdom and kingdoms cannot pray to gods."
"That is the trickiest part," Finnegan says. "I am still figuring it out. Presently I am focused on the device."
Kulloda frowns at all the scrolls and the books of technical information. He almost growls at it all and is a moment away from pounding his fists through the desk when he remembers why he's there and stops.
Instead he opens up his bag of holding and sweeps everything off the table into the bag and then tosses the book on the side table in as well.
He gets ready to leave, but then he thinks of his new little friend, Gash and he turns back to the bookshelves and decides to appropriate a few more random books and scrolls and dumps those into the bag as well.
"Gash like these," Kulloda says to himself.
Kulloda then listens at the door again to see if he can here anyone on the other side (Perception: 7 )
His frown deepens as he tries to decide whether to climb more stairs or take what he's found so far and head outside.
If he doesn't hear anything, he will exit the room. If the others are still talking in the next room he'll head up the stairs to the next level, quietly.
Stealth: 24
"Wouldn't Bhaal, Bane, Mask, other gods helping you with this task be threatened by a device that could trap a deity and use their power against their wills? Ambition is one thing, risk another, but..." he trails off, not wanting to call the man a fool to his face.
Finnegan laughs. "I'm not sure it would be powerful enough to do more than annoy a god in his own plane. No, Kalazath designed this specifically with the Traveler in mind."
Kulloda cannot tell if anyone is outside the door but chances it when it seems quiet. Thankfully the landing outside is free of anyone. Sneaking up the stairs, he comes to another landing. The sounds of a busy kitchen come from a pair of centered double doors. There are no other places to go except up, or into the kitchen.
DM shield:
6
Also, Kulloda has secured for Gash, quite by accident, 8 spell scrolls. They are:
Dog's eyebrows rise. "Wow, so the Traveler is either very dangerous and annoying and worth such effort... or Kalazath, and you, are canny enough to see the opportunity of a god wandering the mortal plane."