Rise of the Runelords Anniversary Edition - Burnt Offerings

[JWallyR]

"Healing himself? Still?!?" Filibert looks back from the stairs, where he and Growler had begun moving to follow Rax's instructions. "I've heard stories of creatures that don't stay dead like you expect them to... Are we gonna have ta chop 'im into little bits, or something gross like that?" The halfling's eyes look up from the creature toward Sminerano, disgust and concern showing at the corners of his eyes.

[Gwynfrid]

"Let's watch him for a few minutes. If he looks like he could revive, I'll try fire", Sminenaro says, still scrutinizing the body.

[Shadowsend]

Spoiler: Rax

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You don't think it's pure regeneration, but fast healing instead. Two of the weapons look like they're masterwork and the other, the dagger, is alchemical silver.

Spoiler: Sminerano

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You think it has something to do with his mutation.

Spoiler: Rax

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The entry east immediately curves downward in a flight of stairs. However, attempting to head downward is futile, as a cave-in is in the way.

Spoiler: Exploration Map

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[MuffinMan]

"Staircase down to the east, but it's blocked - looks like a cave-in of some sort." Rax narrates softly. "A doorway south, and a hallway west... west first." After announcing his intent, Rax continues to slip quietly down the hallway, bow at the ready.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Move west down the hallway until something interesting is found.
Stealth (1d20+7)[27]
Perception (1d20+7)[15]

If Rax encounters a door to the north or west, he'll first listen & check for traps, then try to open it:
Perception (1d20+7)[12]
Disable Device (1d20+9)[20]

Spoiler: Status

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Araxes "Rax" Kellandon
Half-Elf Bard (Archaeologist) 2 TN
HP 15 / 16 Speed ft Init 2
AC 17 Fort 2 Ref 5 Will 4
CMB +3 BAB +1
+1 Rapier +4 (1d6 + 3, 18-20/x2)
Composite Shortbow, +2 Str +3 (1d6 + 2, x3)
Dagger +3 (1d4 + 2, 19-20/x2)
Sap +3 (1d6 + 2, x2)
(, )
Str 14 (2) Dex 14 (2) Con 14 (2) Wis 8 (-1) Int 12 (1) Cha 16 (3)

[Shadowsend]

Spoiler: Rax

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No doors north, and the passageway keeps going west for as far as you can see at the corner.

Spoiler: Exploration Map

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[MuffinMan]

"Looks like a straight shot down the western hallway... I'm taking it." Rax relates quietly. "Move on up to the eastern stairwell, but keep that light out of my way!" He continues padding softly down the western corridor.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Suggest the party moves to the B10-ish area on the exploration map. Rax will move down the hallway until he finds something interesting.
Stealth (1d20+7)[23], Perception (1d20+7)[21]
If any doors are found, check for traps, unlock if necessary, and open:
Perception (1d20+7)[20], Disable Device (1d20+9)[21]

[Gwynfrid]

Sminerano takes his dagger, and grimly gets to the task of severing the goblin's head. He then watches it for a while, to make sure it truly and definitely stays dead.

[JWallyR]

"Let's watch him for a few minutes. If he looks like he could revive, I'll try fire", Sminenaro says, still scrutinizing the body.

Filibert nods uncertainly at his simian companion. "Not a bad idea..." The halfling unceremoniously readies his bardiche, standing ready for any sign of motion from the goblinoid.

[Shadowsend]

After Sminerano removes the mutant's head from its body, the body begins twitching for a few moments, then lies still.

Spoiler: Rax

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As you move east along the corridor, you see that it turns south ahead. As you peek around the corner, you notice it joins another corridor going east west.

Spoiler: Exploration Map

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Spoiler: VUI

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Map edited to adjust the flow of this dungeon.

[MuffinMan]

"Another hallway - looks like it connects with where we were earlier. No way into the central room from here, though... What do you think, go back and check it out?" As he waits for his companions' response, Rax prowls forward, verifying that the passage does indeed connect with their previous location.

Spoiler: Actions & Rolls

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Keep moving west to eliminate the "fog of war" between the current corridor and B3. (B3 is the statue of the angry lady, right?) Then I (and Rax) suggest we move back to B7 as a group and open the door there.

Perception (1d20+7)[12]
Stealth (1d20+7)[20]

[Gwynfrid]

"Looks like we're going deep into the complex now. I'd be more comfortable if we checked the areas we're leaving behind, first. We don't want to get attacked on two sides at once", Sminerano replies over the magical channel.

[Shadowsend]

Spoiler: Rax

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The hallway running West ends in a cave-in. You suspect the other side is connected to the room with the angry statue. To the east the corridor opens into a room with a raised platform along the wall, but you only glanced down that way.

Spoiler: Exploration Map

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[Shadowsend]

Spoiler: Rax

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The tunnel widens here into what appears to have once been a small shrine, for to the Northeast, steps lead up to a platform of gray stone. Sitting atop the platform is an ancient altar, little more than a jagged block of black marble with a shallow concavity on top of it. This basin is filled with what appears to be filthy water. A voice whispers "Intruders."

Spoiler: Exploration Map

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[JWallyR]

"So, uh, can you hear me?" Filibert's stage whisper hisses in the quiet of the tunnel. "I think Smin's got the right of it. I like a good fight s'much as the next guy, but we're playing for keeps down here." The halfling's head is tilted, as though listening for some far-off echo.

[MuffinMan]

The tunnel widens here into what appears to have once been a small shrine, for to the Northeast, steps lead up to a platform of gray stone. Sitting atop the platform is an ancient altar, little more than a jagged block of black marble with a shallow concavity on top of it. This basin is filled with what appears to be filthy water. A voice whispers "Intruders."

Rax's eyes widen in alarm as he casts about for the source of the voice.

Spoiler: Perception

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(1d20+7)[10]

He begins backpedalling out of the room swiftly and silently, not taking his eyes from the direction of the altar. "Something saw me! Some kind of altar down here... I'm heading back your way. Be ready for anything!" Once he breaks line of sight with the altar room, he turns and dashes back down the hallway, caring little for stealth.

"Looks like we're going deep into the complex now. I'd be more comfortable if we checked the areas we're leaving behind, first. We don't want to get attacked on two sides at once", Sminerano replies over the magical channel.

"Couldn't agree more!" Rax replies breathlessly as he moves. "If nothing's following me, we'll check out that other door!"

Spoiler: Actions

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Move to rejoin the group at the B7 area, then wait and listen for a minute (Perception (1d20+7)[16]).
If it doesn't sound like Rax is being pursued, open the southern door at B7 and check out the central room.
Perception (1d20+7)[20], Stealth (1d20+7)[17], Disable Device (1d20+9)[24]

[Shadowsend]

Rax and the rest of the group retreat to the torture chamber and wait a few moments to determine if anything is following Rax. Nothing presents itself, so Rax heads towards the door to the south with the strange name Xaliasa written on it in Ancient Thassilonian. He hears a slow, repetitive, uneven bump against the door, but decides to open it anyway after checking for hidden devices that might cause harm.

Floating in front of the group is a huge red agate with a centrally carved rune, silently glowing with arcane energy.

Surprise Round

Spoiler: Posting Order

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Filibert and Gilraen have a chance to act. Unfortunately for Filibert, Rax is standing in the way of a charge action. Then the floating rune will act, Smin and Rax will do their surprise rounds, I'll recap the surprise round and Fil and Gil will take full round actions in round 1.

map updated.

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen frowns but doesn't intervene as the mutated Goblin's head is removed from its shoulders. "I will be impressed, to say the least, if he continues to be a problem for us," he comments, as they move onward.

His tension is evident in his gait as the tall Elf prowls the darkened corridors well behind Rax. He shies to the side at comment of the light, and offers a brief "apologies," for the gaffe.

As Rax retreats, Gilraen pesters him with questions. "What saw you? How do you know? You heard some sort of voice?" Gilraen attempts to piece together the puzzle without success, and shakes his head to dispel the distracting thoughts. Just in time, Rax springs the door, and Gilraen looks up, arrow drawn.

Spoiler: Gilraen, surprise round

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Spoiler: Stats

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Gilraen Súrion
M CG Elf Oracle, Level 2, Init 5x2*, HP 13/15, Speed 20
AC 21, Touch 13, Flat-footed 18, CMD 15, Fort 2, Ref 3, Will 2, CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus +1
MW Composite Longbow (+2 str) (32 arrows, +20 cold iron) +5 (1d8+3, x3 )
Long Sword +3 (1d8+2, 19-20, x2)
Steel Lamellar, Heavy Wooden (+6 Armor, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 8, Cha 13
Condition Spells, 1st level: 4/5 remaining
Martial Flexibility: 2/4
Envoy Abilities: 1/1

only 1 standard in the surprise, but 5-foot stepping still isn't an action.
5-foot step to R13, and I don't *think* cover applies, since I'm closer to Rax than the target is. I'm not 100% sure, though.

(1d20+5)[20] atk
(1d20+5)[14] CC
(1d8+3)[10] dmg
(2d8+6)[11] crit bonus

[JWallyR]

Spoiler: Actions

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Due to confusion expressed in Hangouts, I'm going to go ahead and post intended actions, covering both options for DM adjudication.

Option 1: Assuming the given map stands, Filibert will direct Growler back and *away* from the room's door in preparation for a charge in the 1st non-surprise round. Use AoOs rolled as applicable.

Option 2: If DM agrees that it would be reasonable for Filibert (being a fiercely protective cavalier) to have interposed himself between the party and whatever thing was making the observed noise behind the closed door, his first round actions are to attack with his Bardiche before closing into range for Growler to nip at whatever this thing is.

Filibert's attack:
Attack: (1d20+5)[9]
CC: (1d20+5)[16] for x2 on 25
Damage: (1d8+3)[4]
Crit damage: (1d8+3)[8]

Growler's attack:
Attack: (1d20+4)[8]
CC: (1d20+4)[12] for x2 on 24
Trip: (1d20+4)[8]
Damage: (1d6+1)[3]
Crit damage: (1d6+1)[7]

Spoiler: AoOs

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Spoiler: Filibert

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Attack: (1d20+5)[25] (+1 if Cestus)
CC: (1d20+5)[22] for x2 on 25 (+1 if Cestus)
Damage (Bardiche): (1d8+3)[7]
Crit damage (Bardiche): (1d8+3)[10]
Damage (Cestus): (1d3+3)[6]
Crit damage (Cestus): (1d3+3)[5]

Attack: (1d20+5)[11] (+1 if Cestus)
CC: (1d20+5)[22] for x2 on 25 (+1 if Cestus)
Damage (Bardiche): (1d8+3)[6]
Crit damage (Bardiche): (1d8+3)[11]
Damage (Cestus): (1d3+3)[6]
Crit damage (Cestus): (1d3+3)[4]

Attack: (1d20+5)[10] (+1 if Cestus)
CC: (1d20+5)[19] for x2 on 25 (+1 if Cestus)
Damage (Bardiche): (1d8+3)[9]
Crit damage (Bardiche): (1d8+3)[6]
Damage (Cestus): (1d3+3)[4]
Crit damage (Cestus): (1d3+3)[6]

Attack: (1d20+5)[23] (+1 if Cestus)
CC: (1d20+5)[25] for x2 on 25 (+1 if Cestus)
Damage (Bardiche): (1d8+3)[5]
Crit damage (Bardiche): (1d8+3)[11]
Damage (Cestus): (1d3+3)[4]
Crit damage (Cestus): (1d3+3)[6]

Growler:
Attack: (1d20+4)[24]
CC: (1d20+4)[18] for x2 on 24
Trip: (1d20+4)[22]
Damage: (1d6+1)[4]
Crit damage: (1d6+1)[7]

Spoiler: Stats

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Filibert Heathertoe
M NG Halfling Cavalier 2 (Order of the Dragon), Level 2, Init 5, HP 20/20, DR 0, Speed 15
AC 22, Touch 14, Flat-footed 19, CMD 16, Fort 6, Ref 4, Will 1, CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus 2
Double Damage on Charge Lance Melee (1d6+Str, X3)
Brace, Reach Bardiche Melee (1d8+Str*1.5, 19-20, x2)
Enchanted, +1 Cestus +1 Melee +1 (1d3+Str + 1, 19-20, x2)
Breastplate, Shield, Heavy Wooden (+6 Armor, +2 Shield, +3 Dex, +1 Size)
Abilities Str 14, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 10, Wis 10, Cha 12
Condition None

Growler (Animal companion to Filibert)
N/A Wolf Animal Companion, Level , Init 2, HP 19/19, Speed 50
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, CMD 15, Fort 5, Ref 5, Will 2, CMB +3, Base Attack Bonus 2
Trip Bite Melee+1 (1d6+str, x2)
Studded Leather Barding (+3 Armor, +2 Dex, +2 Deflect)
Abilities Str 13, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Condition None

[Shadowsend]

Spoiler: Posting Order

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Rax and Smin 1 standard action

Gilraen's arrow strikes true, causing large cracks in the surface of the red agate. The stone's glow seems to intensify, but as it floats it shifts in such a way that causes the glow to fade back to a low pulsating light. Filibert swings his bardiche at the large stone, but the door restricts his motion and makes his attack ineffective. He then nudges Growler forward, who leaps forward but misses a headbutt that would have sent the stone crashing into the wall behind it.

map updated.

[Gwynfrid]

"Hey, what is that?" Focusing his mind, Sminerano tries to identify the rune.

Spoiler

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Knowledge(arcana) (1d20+8)[19]

[MuffinMan]

Surprise round

"An enemy! Smash it!" Rax cries as he looses an arrow towards the rune.

Spoiler: Actions

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Shoot with shortbow:
atk (1d20+3)[19], cc (1d20+3)[6] (20/x3)
dmg (1d6+2)[6], cdmg (2d6+4)[12]

[Shadowsend]

Spoiler: Sminerano

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The rune was a construct that was capable of casting a single spell repeatedly until destroyed. They would have been much more dangerous in groups or working with other creatures.

Rax's arrow crashes into Gilraen's, causing the rune to shatter and shards of red agate to fall to the ground.

End of Combat

As you look around the room, you notice the crumbling remnants of several chairs and a long table clutter the floor of this room. To the south stand three stone doors, each bearing a strange symbol that resembles a seven-pointed star.

[JWallyR]

Filibert swings nimbly out of the saddle, and prods the red shards with the butt of his bardiche. "Wonder why they kept the thing trapped behind a door. Could'na been much use like that. Maybe it didn't belong to Tsuto and his band."

[Farmerbink]

Gilraen looks around with a nervous expression, particularly directed towards the twice-over mangled and mutilated Goblin. "I do not think Tsuto has the clout with the local Goblins, nor the expertise with magic to engineer this. That voice Rax heard elsewhere has troubled me as well. Something, or someone seems to know we are about- or that someone is who does not belong, at least.

Whatever powers we face.... I think Tsuto was getting involved with forces he cannot have hoped to comprehend. I do not pretend nor presume to understand better."

As Rax enters the room to investigate, Gilraen warily scans the two leading hallways. The whole situation has him more on edge than any of you have ever seen.

[Gwynfrid]

"Gilraen is right. This red stone - an agate, I think - had powerful magic. It could cast the same spell, over an over, on its own! No mere goblin can do something like this. Neither could Tsuto. I fear we may be in over our heads here... Should we report to the sheriff before we progress any further?" Sminerano gathers the debris of the red stone and carefully stores them away in a leather pouch.

[MuffinMan]

"The sheriff? I highly doubt he or any of those buffoons they call deputies are any better equipped than us to handle floating magic rocks." Rax replies from where he crouches, examining the hinges of one of the doors. "If they were down here they'd just get themselves eaten, or at best just get in our way. Speaking of which..." Rax glares at Growler and moves around him to inspect the next door - the wolf for its part responds with a large canine grin.

Spoiler: Actions

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Check each of the three doors for traps/locks, and attempt to disable/unlock if found:
From west to east:
Perception: (1d20+7)[26], (1d20+7)[21], (1d20+7)[18]
Disable Device: (1d20+9)[21], (1d20+9)[29], (1d20+9)[29]

Knowledge (same mod for any) to recall any significance of the seven-pointed star symbol: (1d20+2)[9]

Once the doors are clear, Rax will suggest we start by opening the west-most door first (letting Filibert take the lead )

[Shadowsend]

Spoiler: Rax

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The three solid doors to the south were once prison cells. Within each is a single skeleton of a badly deformed humanoid; one has three brittle arms, another has an enormous misshapen skull, and the third has a rib cage that goes all the way down to its pelvis, with stunted leg bones strewn below its strangely flat girth.

Most of the books and documents in the small room seem to be destroyed beyond repair, but under a broken chair, you see a rolled up piece of papyrus that survived, sealed with a strange symbol, most likely a scroll of some kind.

[MuffinMan]

The three solid doors to the south were once prison cells. Within each is a single skeleton of a badly deformed humanoid; one has three brittle arms, another has an enormous misshapen skull, and the third has a rib cage that goes all the way down to its pelvis, with stunted leg bones strewn below its strangely flat girth.

Most of the books and documents in the small room seem to be destroyed beyond repair, but under a broken chair, you see a rolled up piece of papyrus that survived, sealed with a strange symbol, most likely a scroll of some kind.

"Well, that's pleasant." Rax wrinkles his nose in distaste as the third door opens to reveal another deformed skeleton. "Strangest prison I've even seen (and that's saying something)... Do you think they were locked up because they were deformed, or vice versa? Here- what's this?"

The half-drow stoops to retrieve the rolled up parchment and pauses a moment to examine the symbol before opening it.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Knowledge (any) to identify the symbol: (1d20+2)[15]
If it's not written in Common, Elf, Draconic, or Thassilonian, use Linguistics to try and understand the gist: (1d20+5)[25]

[Shadowsend]

Spoiler: Rax

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The parchment is clearly a scroll written in ancient thassilonian, but you think anyone with arcane training could understand the majority of it.

[MuffinMan]

"It's ancient Thassilonian, all right, but I'm not familiar with these runes and markings. They look like procedures to a spell or incantation of some sort... can any of you make it out?" Rax starts to hand out the scroll to the others, then halts. "Wait a minute - idiot! - I know what to do..." Muttering a few words, he draws a clear crystal prism from his belt pouch and holds it aloft for a moment before crushing it in his fist; a glowing blue trail seems to emanate from the glass shards to both his eyes and the words on the parchment, illuminating each.

Spoiler: Actions

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Cast Read Magic and re-attempt to decipher the scroll.
Spellcraft (1d20+1)[4] if applicable