Bel's Age of Worms [IC]

[redzimmer]

Seramal

Seeing her steam jet has made kobold chow out of the swarm, Seramal hands Casper a potion of healing.

Spoiler: We square now?

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Move to AA13, hand over a CLW potion to the Friendly Giant.

[rax]

Narl

Realizing that he has no chance of getting close enough to aid Tobul at the moment, Narl moves closer and tries to help the dwarf by hexing the awful aberration.

Spoiler: Actions

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Move action: Move to AC 14.
Swift action: Use hexblade's curse on mad slasher. Will DC 13 to negate, or suffer -2 penalty on attacks, damage, saves, ability checks, and skill checks for 1 hour.

[J-H]

Casper
Casper stabs at the mad slasher before accepting the potion from Seramal. He backs up slightly.

Spoiler

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Attack (1d20+4)[21]
Damage (2d6+4)[11]

5' step west and take potion.

AOO if needed (20' reach!)
Attack (1d20+4)[13]
Damage (2d6+4)[11]

[BelGareth]

Casper slices at the monster, dropping it like a sack of pebbles.

[PeacefulOak]

Fardus the Dwarf

Heavy rhythmic thumping accompanied by heavier breathing precedes the arrival of a slightly rotund dwarf. Thick black hair and beard are braided together front and back, hanging long to his belt. A broad rosy nose supports thin wire rim glasses that cover tiny black eyes. A thick staff is in his hands, and as he stumbles to a stop just inside the room he leans heavily on it, panting.

"I say, it seems you've been in some sort of a scrap! What in the name of knowledge is that?" He pauses, scanning the room. "Are any injured? I'd be happy to help. Call me Fardus!" He swings his backpack to the floor, scroll tubes rattling.

[J-H]

Casper

"I've been bit, burnt, and baked. I'll take some healing if it's on offer. My name's Casper, by the way." The human, still larger than normal, stomps over after handing the healing potion back to Seramal.

[redzimmer]

Seramal

The half-orc gives the newcomer a toothy grin, then pouts as the potion is handed back to her.

"Oh sure. You'll trust a dwarf you just met, but not wee, sweet ol' me, big fella?"

She snorts. It's wasn't like she tried to hit him with the spell.

"Well hile an' all that, Fardus, I am Seramal Three-Curses. An' none of 'em are account o' me being half orc."

She gives a look that dares hit m to say otherwise.

[rax]

Narl

His earlier good humour gone, Narl cradles a scalded arm and throws Seramal a sour glance. "And people have the nerve to call me a jinx..."

"Fardus, eh? I'm Narl. Would you happen to have healing to spare for one more?"

[Deophaun]

Rose

"Aye, she's a menace," Rose agrees to Narl's statement, cradling her own burn caused by Narl's alchemist's fire.

"What's the likelihood there are more bugs down there?" Rose pulls out the other oil flask and prepares it with a wick as well. She looks at her glowing sunrod distastefully and throws it into the blackness below. "Does anyone have a proper torch?"

Spoiler

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After healing/preparations, Rose will take point. If we need a rope, we should knot one up for the descent.

Spot: (1d20+4)[16]
Listen: (1d20+7)[18]

Search: Take 10 for 23
Search: (1d20+13)[21]

[redzimmer]

Seramal

"Oi, hold on."

Seramal busies herself waving the unseen servant wand and casting light on a gold piece.

"You, ghostie," she says, handing the sevant the enchanted coin, " walk ten feet in front of us into the darkness."

She then remembers she already summoned a servant.

"Other guy! sweep up those dead bugs."

Spoiler: Duration?

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Says hour/level, I presume cast a 1st-level for the wand crafting, so are both unseen servants still active?

[PeacefulOak]

Fardus the Dwarf

Smiling, the dwarf produces a wand from his bag and brandishes it, murmuring "Crumpet." as he taps first the oversized man and then the more normal sized one.

"Now then, let's see what it is that you were assaulted by." Shouldering his pack once more, he walks over with a steady rap... rap... rap... of his staff.

Spoiler: Knowledge check!

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(1d20)[15] plus:
Arcana +11
Dungeoneering +11
The Planes +11
Religion +13

Used 2 charges on wand of lesser Vigor, 11 hp healed each.

[DrK]

Cyrius looks down the hole with Rose as she readies the rope. "Dangerous down there. Shall we drop some more fire down there to clear the landing for you?" He lokos down and looks at his armour and sighs. "I shall follow you down" He mutters as he sheathes his sword readying to shimmy down the rope

[PeacefulOak]

Fardus the Dwarf

The dwarf coughs, covering his large red nose with a hand as he rises from examining the remains. "Just as I suspected," he says with a clear English accent, "you lot just survived an insect swarm and a Mad Slasher. Seems you went about it in the right manner as well, if I do say so myself. Now then, is everyone all healed up? I am ever so excited to see what this place may hold! Tell me, have you come across anything you didn't fully understand? I'd be happy to take a look for you!"

[rax]

Narl

"Yes. Her." Narl replies with an absolutely straight face, nodding at Seramal.

[Deophaun]

Rose

Rose turns to the dwarf, surprised by his strange accent that she has never heard in Faerun before, swollen red welts from fire and acid clearly visible in silent answer to his question. "Something I don't understand? Based on everyone else who's wandered in the past few minutes, I take it the wizard sent you. Perhaps you can tell us what we're supposed to be looking for? Did he tell you that, by chance?"

Rose watches the unseen servant move into the pit carrying the glowing coin. "Thanks, but can't light a wick with a coin. No one has a torch? Cyrius?"

[redzimmer]

Seramal

Comprehension lights up Seramal's face, now that the woman slowly and clearly explains her need.

"Oh, a light as in means to strike tinder! Why din'tcha say so?"

Rummaging in her disorganized pack, she tosses Rose a flint & steel.

"Standard tomb raider gear. I'll want it back, by the way."

[PeacefulOak]

Fardus the Dwarf

The dwarf once again flourishes the wand, tapping Rose on the nose and saying "Crumpet. Now then, all better in moments!" He glances around, casting a sly glance and a chuckle towards Narl and Seramal.

[rax]

Rose
Rose watches the unseen servant move into the pit carrying the glowing coin. "Thanks, but can't light a wick with a coin. No one has a torch? Cyrius?"

"What exactly, do you need a torch for, Mistress Rose? Your sunrod and Mistress Seramal's unseen servant should provide light aplenty down there."

[Deophaun]

Rose

The spark of magic leaps from the tip of Faruds's wand to the tip of her nose, causing her to sneeze. Still, the feeling of pain ebbing from her burns is worth it. "Thank you."

"Those bugs weren't afraid of the light," she says to the Hexblade. "Fire is another matter."

[J-H]

Casper

"Thank you." The human smiles at the dwarf after being healed. "There are some strange transportation chambers here, and this puzzle with colored lights. It doesn't make much sense to me as a tomb."

[redzimmer]

Seramal

"Well I can see fine enough. I'll call if it's safe!"

Gripping the rubble as best she can, Seramal switches to darkvision and shimmies down the pit.

Spoiler: Into the breach!

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(1d20+1)[3]
Or, I could take 10...

And promptly loses her grip and falls to the floor below.

"I'm okay!"

[rax]

Narl

"That's true. Good thing I have more alchemist's fire in my pack then. Assuming we're not going to be making a habit of standing around in the middle of a beetle swarm, of course," he replies with a sly smile.

The sound of Seramal crashing down into the pit distracts Narl from further conversation. "Well, that answers the question of who goes down the pit first. I suppose someone had better check to see that she really is okay." Thrusting his flail uncomfortably between his torso and his backpack, Narl begins to climb gingerly down into the pit, with his magical watch lamp providing light.

Action: Climb, taking 10. Total 11. No DC given, so I hope that's enough...

[Debatra]

(As stated in the OOC, it seems my other post didn't go through.)

As the new arrival steps forward, Tobul introduces herself as he starts handing out healing. "Tobul Amshem, Captain of the Brass Prices."

"Er... I could also use one of those."

[PeacefulOak]

Fardus the Dwarf

Fardus raises an eyebrow at his fellow dwarf's state. "You must have a pair of brass pieces indeed to have taken such a beating. Here, one for now... Crumpet. And another one in a minute and you'll feel right as rain."

Glancing over as Seramal disappears into the hole, he shrugs and turns to look around the room, pondering as to the nature of the space and its origins.

Spoiler: OoC

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Two more wand charges used, assuming nothing happens in the next minute.
Knowledge History (1d20+5)[20]
Lore (1d20+3)[11], plus 2 more if my Ancestral Knowledge feat applies to the Lore feature.

[BelGareth]

For our new friend:

Spoiler: knowledge arcana or history

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Spoiler: DC 10

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The glyphs don't seem to be formed from a common alphabet, although they are reminiscent of arcane symbols representing elemental air.

Spoiler: DC 15

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The glyphs don't seem to be formed from a common alphabet, although they are reminiscent of arcane symbols representing elemental air.

They represent names, with each referring to a single individual. The glyph on the arcane apparatus at area 2 probably represents the seal of the most important or highest-ranking of the three found in the Whispering Cairn. The glyph on the sarcohpagi is the lowest-ranking of the three.

Spoiler: DC 20

Show

The glyphs don't seem to be formed from a common alphabet, although they are reminiscent of arcane symbols representing elemental air.

They represent names, with each referring to a single individual. The glyph on the arcane apparatus at area 2 probably represents the seal of the most important or highest-ranking of the three found in the Whispering Cairn. The glyph on the sarcohpagi is the lowest-ranking of the three.

The letter forms look similar to an ancient glyph-language called Vaati, which some unorthodox scholars consider the original written form of Auran.

Spoiler: DC 25

Show

The glyphs don't seem to be formed from a common alphabet, although they are reminiscent of arcane symbols representing elemental air.

They represent names, with each referring to a single individual. The glyph on the arcane apparatus at area 2 probably represents the seal of the most important or highest-ranking of the three found in the Whispering Cairn. The glyph on the sarcohpagi is the lowest-ranking of the three.

The letter forms look similar to an ancient glyph-language called Vaati, which some unorthodox scholars consider the original written form of Auran.

Vaati is an Auran word meaning "Wind Duke", and refers tot eh legendary Wind Dukes of Aaqa who forged the Rod of Seven Parts. A book called the Chronicle of Chain, falsely attributed to a princess of elemental air, records a full roster of the Wind Dukes present at the Battle of Pesh and a general record of what took place there.

A comprehend languages spell might reveal the personal glyph-names.

Spoiler: Comprehend languages

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Glyph on the Sarcohpagi = the Hero Zosiel
Glyph on the Base of the apparatus in area 2 = the General Icosiol
Glyph found throughout = Architect Nadroc

--ʕ*ʔ--

Seramal

Climbing down the shaft with half orc abandon, she finds hand hold after hand hold, the acidic beetles having burned and ruined the shaft after the cave in had caused much damage, so much so, that it was easy for her to descend. She wasn't paying attention however, when she got near the bottom, and let go (or slipped). It was farther than she thought, and she hit at an angle with the debris below her, twisting her left ankle. (-10 speed and Non-lethal Damage - (1d4)[4], penalty lasts until damage is healed).

Looking around she sees more bas-relief figures like before.

Dozens of the figures, similar to the one on the sarcophagus lid in the room above stare disapprovingly from the walls here. Many sport crossed arms and stern expressions. A few of the statues' heads are missing, and some have huge chunks torn out of them. Others have a weird melted appearance, as if they'd been sprayed by something terrible. A large glyph that looks like a stylized arrow points down a short corridor to the north that leads to a four-way intersection.

--ʕ*ʔ--

Everyone else.

You hear a thud, followed by a curse as Seramal lands badly on the rubble below.

Spoiler: Map

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Map

[PeacefulOak]

Fardus the Dwarf

Wincing and then chuckling at the sound of the half-orc falling, Fardus turns back to Rose. "So, tell me what else you have found here! I'm certain you must have encountered some strange and majestic things. That fine looking staff you have there, for instance!" He winks, the gesture slightly exaggerated by his spectacles. "I am a scholar and a historian, and deeply interested in the nature of a place like this!"

[Deophaun]

Rose

Rose hands the staff to Fardus and nods in Narl's direction. "He seems more familiar with the people who built this place. I'd ask him for his insights. But the most important thing to know is this place is designed to treat intruders like us unkindly, as the old piles of broken bones attest. Step lightly, and don't touch anything I haven't checked."

Rose takes her own advice and cautiously descends into the depths. Reaching the bottom and seeing the melted stone, she recovers her sunrod, ties it to her belt, and asks again. "I would really, really like a wooden club with a wad of pitch-sodden cloth on one end set ablaze. A torch, if you would."

Spoiler

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Begin checking for anything suspicious up until the intersection:

Spot: (1d20+4)[12]
Listen: (1d20+7)[19]
Search (Take 10): 23
Search: (1d20+13)[25]

[redzimmer]

Seramal

"Luthic's nether lips! HEY GUYS!! THERE'S MORE STATUES DOWN 'ERE!"

She gingerly steps on her tender ankle; deciding she will live, she picks up the lit coin her vanished servant dropped.

Spoiler: I presume the Invisible Servants were out of range

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Er. I put my spoiler in the title.

Not willing to wait for the dwarf with the magic stick, Seramal downs a healing potion.

Spoiler: CLW

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(1d8+1)[7]

"If any of you'se can't climb, I can help you out. With my magical prowess!"

[PeacefulOak]

Fardus the Dwarf

Taking possession of the fine old staff, Fardus seems startled at the request. "Oh, I do apologize! I was so caught up in learning about this place and healing that I didn't hear your request." He pulls a torch from his pack, strikes flint to steel, and hands the burning torch to Rose. "Far beyond a fair trade, but I'm sure we'll even the balance at some point."

[BelGareth]

While you talk, the invisible servant sweeps up the dead bugs as best he can without a broom....which isn't very well at all.

The other one grabs the coin, and promptly disappears down the hole. Seramal finds the glowing coin on the ground next to her.