Lost Lab of Kwalish

(Right. We’ll give Sam and Huarache some time to post their actions. Since Barril shares their initiative, by all rights they could make it to the fireplace before he does. They were already on their feet. But like I said, if nobody gets to the secret door before Barril does, he’ll suffer the flames, at least for a little while, while he tries to get through.)

(OOC: So the high priest somehow got down the stairs on his move action then and out of the blast from Etrigans fireball, is that correct? If Etrigan saw the high priest was unnaturally fast and probably should get out of range I would argue Etrigan wouldn´t have used the fireball at all.)

<If I knew what bitcoin would be worth today I would have kept mining it in 2015.>

<Only the manifest mind has seen beyond the fire at this point.  The priest was standing right in front of the fire at the start and has a movement speed of 30 ft.  He made it to the stairs and got a radiant ball thrown at him. As he only saw him take one step theough the secret door, Etrigan probably has a limited guess as to his speed though.

So, for Etrigan to know that he shouldn't cast fireball, he would have only to guess that the priest either didn't walk into the next room and stop or that he didn't keep going in a straight line.  All he did was turn left once behind an opaque divider and use normal movement.  

Sometimes in-game time is weird, though.  Like, he took 6 Seconds to make 2 attacks and move 30ft.  Does that mean we don't see manifest mind throw a radiant ball until the end of the next 6 seconds, after a fireball has been cast, at which point Tess can tell Etrigan the priest's location, or do they happen at the same time so Tess can dynamically call out to the others what the manifest mind sees: "He's heading left, down the stairs!"?

I tend to imagine and describe things as unfolding simultaneously in a round, but I try hard to keep the mechanics in line with the RAW and SA.  I think the casting was already underway at the very least, so the spell slot is burned either way, and since I ruled no PCs were harmed by it, I think it should stand>

"Yes, you will each have a new steward, one for you Hebediah and one for you Emmanuel. But first we have the pressing matter of Arse-Sagart. Now go!" Etrigan/Thessalar commands the Demogorgon.

<Is he pointing? I'm thinking thus means go away. He's definitely not crawling through a roaring fire.>

"Everything you say is a pressing matter?  What about my matters? You just like him best.  If his steward was gone, you'd make him a new one right now!" The ettin whines.

(OOC: Well hopefully Sam or Huarache will open the secret door soon. This servant of Thessalar seems particularly unreliable though. I don´t really see Etrigan/Thessalar and the Demogorgon going on this discussion now. Do you want a roll of some kind or is the Demogorgon just bent on not helping out.)

<I just role play him like he's any 2 of my own kids.>

  He's not super inclined to help, and I already told you who is downstairs so if you still want him to come with you, I guess you can roll for it.  Relevant skill based on role play TBD by PC dialogue.

I will open the door when the fire disappears 

“everyone ok nobody need heals” 

<I literally gave the party a hundred keys and showed them how to use them to open the secret door to access the Act's climax and nobody opens the door *sigh* Huarache maybe?>

I apologize for not opening the door sooner; yesterday and today have been pretty hectic. Huarache will open that door.

Your money or your life?

It's any gem or a self inflicted wound: piercing or slashing.

Quote from Wile_E_Coyote >>

Your money or your life?

It's any gem or a self inflicted wound: piercing or slashing.

( I’m sorry, but it took until this post for me to understand that a self inflicted wound will lower the flames and open the secret door.)

Barril will rise (half his movement), cut his forearm for 5 hp damage (action) pass through the fireplace(rest of his movement), and hide with his previous stealth roll (bonus action). This will leave him with his reaction, should he need it on the other side.

(On second thought, can he utilize his reaction to bar the secret door open and keep the flames from rising? That would be worth losing his reaction and bonus action hide for, to help everyone else pass the threshold.)

<It's a blood sacrifice to Moloch. I don't ont think you can bar the door open- it's not a door..  and the PCs wouldn't know the blood thing would work, but I don't see how your supposed ro guess that.

I do think everyone can make it through on a single sacrifice, so I could have just said yes.  But this way you don't have to use your reaction.>

The flames subside as Barril's sanguine offering is consumed in the graven brazier.

Doors open.

Seeing the flames lowered by Barrils sacrifice Etrigan/Thessalar makes one final attempt to get the Demogorgon in line. "You will have all the stewards you want if you just kill Arse-Agard before he gets away. Now go after him!" He commands the Demogorgon. Intimidation:20

(OOC: Thanks Barril :-) I could see a number of reasons for Etrigan/Thessalar having advantage on this roll, like for instance it is the Demogorgons creator ordering him, but if you don´t agree just go with the first roll :-) Or rather, if you don´t think he has advantage, Etrigan/Thessalar will use a luck point to get that advantage :-)

"Fine." huffy the ettin, "But I'd better have my steward before dinner."

He then proceeds to squeeze his way through the fireplace 

<he'll head down the left stairs when you're ready, not sure if you want to check out the stuff on the right first, though.>

Barril will stay hidden in the shadows glancing in both directions down the hall, waiting for Etrigan's direction.

Perception: 16

Assuming Tetrevess informs the rest of the movements of Arse-Agard Etrigan/Thessalar decides that the high priest either got away or is waiting down those stairs. Either way he decides it prudent to examine the passage to the east first making sure they won´t miss any buttons possibly hidden that way. "Wait here." Etrigan/Thessalar says to the Demogorgon as he reaches the top of the stairs. "Let´s investigate this way quickly." He then messages the others and proceeds to the southeast and enters area 29. Perception with help from Grygaxx looking in particular for the last three buttons:12

If possible, Barril will ascend the wall and follow along from the ceiling. He will utilize all of his movement, 40', to keep up. He will stop short, if it is appropriate, and attempt to hide in any shadows on the ceiling at the end of his movement. He will also be on the lookout the whole way.

Perception: 25

Stealth: 29

Gear and equipment related to exploring the underground lake are stored in this private chapel. Search and salvage gear are normally assigned to the lizardfolk charged with searching the subterranean lake for gems. Before entering the lake, the lizardfolk are blessed by the high priest in front of a smaller version of the statue of Moloch, modified to resemble the thessalkraken by having its arms changed into tentacles and its mouth filled with long needle-like teeth.

Treasure

In addition to mundane gear, this area contains a folding boat, a helm of underwater action, and an incomplete apparatus of Kwalish.

Barrill sees the sane thing from a higher vantage point.