Lost Lab of Kwalish

Ooc: I am botting Leann here. If this is objectionable,  let me know and we can make adjustments. 

Leann orbs the halfling's cage and stands aside, allowing him to escape his confinement.  The halfling contemplates Leann's intentions for  moment, then rushes toward her.  Leann takes a ready stance and bangs her sword against her shield.  

Intimidation: 23

The halfling sidesteps her, Making for the door and running off leaving only the half-orc behind with the party.

"Gee," Omiy comments on the halfling's stupidly brave and mindless attempt to attack Leann, "they really are crazy... alright." She sizes the half-orc up and down, making sure they have no intent to attack after Leann's display of authority, "should we keep on going?" She asks her companions.

Anyone who looks to Omiy as she speaks might notice the metallic liquid in the Rod of the Mercurial she carries is now all collected on one side of the crystal vessel.  Ro reach this building you followed the path tonthe west bluff, the Rod is pointing est, where there is another bluff with two buildings atop. A path leads past the central abbey to the Easr bluff, past one building then the other.  (Marked 4 and 7 on your map, respectively)

"Let him out." Leann says with a shrug. "If he attacks we can knock him out, then just leave him to get out on his own. She opens the next cell.

Intimidation check: 10

When the cage is opened, the half-orc rushes for Leann, but soon finds himself dissuaded from engaging, likewise running for the daylight beyond the walls kf his confinement.

Ooc: So, where to next

We follow the Rod, I suppose.

Following the pull if the Rod, you walk past the first building in the East bluff, as the liquid metal still pools toward the east.  As you approach the further building, the Grand Master exits via the main door. He sees you in approach but seems to have other matters to attend to woth more urgency S he takes wing and heads West, flying out of sight as he passes the cliff behind the building you stand before.  

He looks different than before, though. Where previously he was all bone wrapped in a robe of skin, he now seems to have a thin skin covering his body.  Anyone may make an Arcana check (I miss some skills from 3.5 at moments like this where I would call for a specific kind of knowledge check)

17

Huarache seems to recall apiece of lore, and only now realizing that this is the save creature he's been dealing with.   Somewhere he had heard of a gaunt bony creatures residing in the nine hells: 10 foot tall creatures with dry, sickly skin that seemed tautly stretched over every bone in their body. Despite being 500 lb (230 kg) creatures, their frames were incredibly gaunt husks so emaciated that they seemed skeletal.Their tails were those of giant scorpions while their heads looked like menacing skulls. The putrid stench of rot surrounded their fearsome forms."

Huarache realizes that this creature without skin, who flayed the flesh from the faces of all the monks in the monastery, had once had skin of his own and it seems he has now gotten it back. 

You realize the importance of uncovering what was in the building the bone devil just left, you press on. 

This chamber resembles some horrid combination of a tanner’s, an alchemist’s, and a butcher’s. Knives and other implements lie scattered about, razor sharp and streaked with blood and gore. Bottles and canisters of preserving chemicals are heaped up on tables and shelves, many of them leaking or spilled. Barrels identifiable by their sharp smell as powerful tanning acids stand open against the walls, beneath rows of hanging chains.

A limp, leather-clad figure is curled against the wall beneath the chains. A metal table with leather straps sits in the middle of the room. Hanging on the walls around the table are a number of grotesque leather masks.

Leann takes up a position at the door, not entering, wanting to keep an eye out for the devil as well as let the others in to look over the area first.

Omiy exchanged a look with others, she walked into the room and approached the figure curled up against the wall. She winces at the sight of leather masks.

"Hey," she calls out, poking at it, "who are you?"

Upon investigation,  Omiy notes that the figure on the floor is actually a set of leather armor.  Strange rituals have repurposed the body of a flesh golem into this partially sentient suit of leather armor. While wearing this armor, you gain a +1 bonus to AC and to saving throws against spells and other magical effects. In addition, you gain the following properties:

Immutable Form. You are immune to any spell or effect that would alter your form.Lightning Absorption. You gain resistance to lightning damage. Whenever you take lightning damage, you gain 5 temporary hit points.

Anyone who can see it now the metal in the Rod of the Mercurial pools toward the leather armor.   In the curve of the room,  a square compartment sits open, a heavy metal panel of identical dimensions sits on the metal floor beside it.  It appears do be empty, notable free of any dust or debris, suggesting it was only recently opened.  

Huarache pulls out some tools, his new pearl, and his shield as he cautiously approaches the armor to ritual-cast Identify on it.

As Huarache Omiy and Leann investigate the leatherworks, a clattering metallic sound approaches along the path that you followed to this bluff.  Creaking and hissing of mechanical parts punctuates the heavy footfalls that soj d like a forced March of a dozen or more men..  You see two creatures emerge, covered in heavy armor and from their metal shells protrude all manner of sword spears and pikes. Impaled on these are corpses, some those of monks slain in the battle earlier, others seeming quite ancient and desiccated.  The pair of cadaver collectors approach.  

There will be a map, the order of combat is everyone's outside, plus Leann who is in the doorway, then the CCs, then Huarache and Omiy,.of whom the former is coplmeting ths identify ritual (see #2477 for results).

Huarache, if he sees this dangerous thing, is going to stop; he's not using a spell slot, so it doesn't matter if he stops early. If he doesn't, he's going to continue the eleven-minute process until he learns that anything's wrong.

Quote from Shonisaurus >>

Huarache, if he sees this dangerous thing, is going to stop; he's not using a spell slot, so it doesn't matter if he stops early. If he doesn't, he's going to continue the eleven-minute process until he learns that anything's wrong.

Let's say Huarache finishes the process just as the things come around the corner, still putting you on the inside.  Nobody has surprise here, we're just constructing initiative.

Alright, cool.

"Looks like it's just a piece of armor..." Omiy says with a shrug after she finds out there's no person under the leather at all. She picks it up and inspects it, not something that she needs but perhaps will suit some of her companions. She sees Huarache come inside and lets him do all of his magic-magicy thingy with the leather.

Hearing some rattling sounds rising behind them, Omiy whips her head around and sees those two giant mish-mash of creatures approaching them, "yo, what in the world??" as she instinctively draws her sword.