Realm of the Dead

[Revlis]

Ethan

To be unnatural is one thing, but to have nature turn its wrath against you... thats something completely different. Ethan thinks to himself in a sarcastic manner, as he shuffles along side his new companions. Somehow, being undead made him feel more alive than he ever felt before. Freedom, unconstrained power, and a couple of fine looking traveling companions would make any existance worth while.

As he walks through the hall, he keeps an eye out for any more surprises.

[Paladin Latham]

Oathbreaker/'Jacob'

With the earthquake, Oathbreaker kicks it into high gear, taking off down the hallway at full speed depending on his undead resiliance and luck to see him through potential traps. Besides, if he ran across enemies he could probably pull off being a surviving gaurd and get the edge before a fight starts, as he's ahead of the party.

[The_Snark]

Alaeth

With the earthquake, Alaeth moves after her sister, casting one regretful look at the guards. What the regret is for, it's hard to say, even for her. She hated to condemn so many to death... but then, they were Thayan. They worked for the same ones who had killed hundreds in an effort to create more undead to spread still more death... Part of her, too, feels that it is a waste to leave them here without sating her thirst first, and part of her is repelled at the notion, and glad that she will be removed from the temptation to do so.

Despite her misgivings, Alaeth does not tarry as she moves for the exit. A thought strikes her silently, and she prays that it not be day outside.

[Belial_the_Leveler]

The iron door opens up to a square, largely empty room fifty by fifty feet in size. The chairs, tables, plates and glasses and half-finished foodstuffs in the room indicate this must be a permanent guardpost housing more than a dozen soldiers and you suspect, from the symmetry of the building so far, that another such guardpost lies in the other side. Persumably, during the fight there would only be a light guard here, soldiers from both guardhouses joining in a single watch. You don't see any beds though so this must not be a barracks. Strangely enough, you don't see any exits in this room at all-at least at first glance.

[Taffimai]

Suzette

After the earthquake, Suzette had increased her speed to match Jacob's. When he stops abruptly after a few paces, she looks up. She is about to ask whether he still feels weak and whether she should carry him for a change, as the lack of obvious exit sinks in. Automatically, her eyes fly towards the ceiling, as if the obvious answer to this riddle is another trap door.

Then she looks about the room more carefully, hoping to see a tapestry or bookshelf that might be hiding a door, or maybe a hatch in the floor somewhere. Finally, she turns her eyes questioningly towards Jacob, hoping that he'll come up with something so she wouldn't have to walk past those guards again.

[Lochar]

Virmas

"Time to get the hell out of here!"

Virmas walks to the walls. Should he be able to actually walk through them this time, he looks for hidden doors. Then he'll look for what triggers them.

Spoiler

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Search the area he finds hidden doors at, or just a plain search.
Search:(1d20+9)[11]

[The Great Skenardo]

Noj
Noj shambles into the ruined room and idly reaches down to pick up a piece of stone, stowing his precious book away in the lip of his boot. He seems...quieter now. And more alert, as he tosses the stone from hand to hand.
"You can move through walls," he says, "Surely you can find the door?"

[Revlis]

Ethan

Ethan looks at the walls of the room, as if inspecting some strange and pecular beast. He glances run up towards the cieling, and down to the edges where they touch the ground.
Finally, he says to no one in particular, "I have seen something like this in the academy. Though in our case, one of the walls was an illusion to confuse intruders."
Ethan focuses for a moment, and then becomes keenly aware of the presence of magical energies around him. Using his new found awareness, he tries to locate any magical effects in the room.

Spoiler

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Using the duskblade's ability of detect magic.

[Paladin Latham]

Oathbreaker/'Jacob'

Oathbreaker and his equipment become insubstantial as he again takes gaseous form, sweeping the room's perimeter and checking to see if he can slip through unseen gaps in the wall or ceiling.

[Belial_the_Leveler]

Both Virmas and Jacob can slip through the inner walls either through the newly-made cracks or through the wall itself as they assume incorporeal form. However, neither can pass through the outer walls at all. It is as if there's a solid surface half an inch before the wall's surface-an invisible, impenetrable surface. It appears the outer walls are warded.

Ethan however quickly employs his ability to reveal magics. After a few moments of observation, he can clearly see the powerful abjuration binding the foundations in the crypt below and the outer walls of the complex. Less powerful auras of divination emanate from the crystals in the previous chamber and a faint-obviously masked-aura of illusion comes from a square area in the wall right beside the entry to the guardpost. The area is the same size and shape as the entry to the previous chamber.

Spoiler

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Ethan made his will save against Magic Aura.

[Revlis]

Ethan

Ethan grins to himself, obviously satisfied with the results he had found. Confidently, he strides towards where the illusion is, and stands right before it.
"This wall segment is an illusion, just as I thought… Though I am not sure what lies behind it..." As he says the last word, he puts his hand into it for see if he can pass through it, and if there is a door handle to open. If unobstructed, he will walk through.

[warbacon]

Hellstar

As his keen blood-red eyes scan the new room, he looks up and sees the smoke from the book-burning pile. Ah, of course! The guards were alerted by the fire! Running back through the door and hallway to the other large metal door, Hellstar forces himself to ignore the guards standing there. Poor souls. He could not help feeling bad despite the fact that they almost undoubtedly worked for his enemy.

Turning into a mist, he slips through the cracks at the top of the door, hiding himself in the smoke, and gets a look into the other room...

[Belial_the_Leveler]

As Ethan presses his hand against the door, the illusion vanishes, revealing a heavy brass door with an intricate pattern of symbols on it forming a pentagram in a circle. A cool disembodied voice issues from the door, forming a single word in a questioning tone:
Password?

Meanwhile, Hellstar manages to pass through the crack at the other door and enter a room identical to the other one-if one disregards the slightly different position of the furniture. Like the first guardpost, this too is empty.

[The_Snark]

Alaeth

Alaeth walks slowly about the room, investigating it; she stops, however, as Ethan makes his discovery. The elf glances thoughtfully back the way they came, and then at Myriel, wondering if she is thinking the same thing.

Mentally, a command echoes in the mind of one of the guards. Go through the hidden door. Magic was a difficult thing, she considered. It would be all but impossible to ward against any and all forms of betrayal; in this case, the command was to do something that might inadvertently give away information to an enemy, but it was not a direct interrogation. She could not know whether it would work without knowing the spells used, but it was worth taking the chance; worth it given that the soldiers were murderers.

She has to remind herself of that to make herself do it. Silently, she walks back towards the record hallway, glancing away from the guards—if she has ordered the man to his death, she doesn't want to watch him die.

[warbacon]

Hellstar

Finding the other room in much the same condition, minus guards, Hellstar filters back into the hallway and shifts into substantial form. It is then that he hears the voice, and freezes for a few seconds. As it is clear nothing is trying to immediately kill him, he walks back to the room and is reticent to try to suggest any uses for the guards for the time being. He doesn't want any blood on his hands.

[Revlis]

Ethan

Ethan lets go of the door, and turns towards Myriel and Alaeth saying, "Can we get one of the soldiers to open the door?"

[Paladin Latham]

Oathbreaker/'Jacob'

Oathbreaker re-forms and looks on at the goings-on thinking All that effort just to keep us in and How awesome would it be to have a sentient door to carry around? Not that its exactly sentient per say, but what if? The second thought makes him smile and start seriously looking at the wall around the door.

Spoiler

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Password? CLANG *door attack* Password? CLANG *door attack*

[Belial_the_Leveler]

As Ethan lets go of the door, the diagram flashes blue and unleashes a Lightning Bolt directly at him, almost throwing him to the floor. It appears a password is required so as not to be blasted. The disembodied voice speaks again:
Password?

Spoiler

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35 lightning damage. Roll DC 20 reflex save for half then apply lightning resistance.

[Lochar]

Virmas

Virmas raises an incorporeal eyebrow at Ethan, before looking to Myriel. "Tell your toys that their shift is up, they need to let the next shift in. That sounds non-confrontational, doesn't it?"

[Paladin Latham]

Oathbreaker/'Jacob'

Oathbreaker thinks to himself A talking, magic blasting door. I'm pretty strong, I bet I could wield it if we could tear out its frame... Weighing the possibility of getting blasted vs. the awesomeness of a talking, blasting improvised club Oathbreaker's chaotic nature will win out and he will attack the stone around the door trying to pry it out.

Spoiler

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Just so you guys know, I fully expect to get blasted for this. Even if it does work I fully expect the magic in the door to fade as its a dungeon feature. Still, Oathbreaker doesn't know that and it would be pretty awesome if it did work.

[Revlis]

Ethan

Ethan is surprised at the aggresive retaliation from the door. He turns to mist, moves a short distance away from the door, before rematerializing standing up. Cluthing at where the lighting has struck, where obvious burn marks have appeared.

"Well, that was unpleasent." Ethan says at the door, while something bordering on rage flushes through him. His eyes remain fixed on the door, as if challenging it to strike him again.

Spoiler

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Reflex Save, DC 20 :[roll]1d20+6[/roll]

[Revlis]

Spoiler

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Sorry for the double post, had problems with the dice in the previous one.
Reflex save, DC 20: (1d20+6)[18]

[Belial_the_Leveler]

The guard commanded by Alaeth places a hand on the door-then vanishes. Alaeth recognises a minor transposition effect-and the fact that the door either recognises the guard from previous uses or that thinking of the password while touching the door is enough. Since she's commanding the guard mentally, Alaeth realises thinking the command is enough-but that won't get any of them through the door. The 'door', obviously made to be a permanent barrier, can't physically open ofcourse. But that would mean somehow corpses-and newly made undead-would have to be taken in and out of the lower levels, perhaps by another route perhaps by this very door. The guards seem able to open the door-can they also take people through it?

Before Alaeth has time to share her speculations with the rest of the group, "Jacob" decides to try to break the wall. While his attempt is ineffectual with his diminished strength, the door flashes once warningly. Perhaps actually damaging the wall might have an unfortunate result from the door...

[Paladin Latham]

Oathbreaker/'Jacob'

"Did you all see it flash at me? It definately flashed at me! It CAN think! Wierd!" Realizing that he is no match for this door, Oathbreaker backs off to consider his options. It's Just like that one time...

Flashback Time!: "So I just have to get through this door and I've passed the test?" a teenaged Oathbreaker asks. "yes my student" his sensei says is his usual calm demeaner. "Thats EASY!" the rash Oathbreaker exclaims as he approaches the door "When there is fire in me then I am still cold; When I own your true love's face then you will not see me; To all things I give no more than I am given; In time I may have all things and yet I may keep nothing. What am I?" it speaks. "Open up you stupid door!" Oathbreaker hastily exclaims as he attempts to wrestle with the handle of the reflective portal. A pause, and then a ZOT!, as a ray blasts the teenager from the door "OW! What the F***!" he responds in agony "What am I?" the door repeats. "I'll show you what!" the youth shouts as he draws his Large Warmace and attacks the doors frame. A ray shoots from the door and the boy sinks to his knees in weakness "What am I?" the door continues...

Three hours later: Oathbreaker weakly steps through the gap in the freshly demolished wall, his master on the other side looking in astonishment at the door that had fallen out of its demolished frame. "So did I pass the test?" a weary and panting Oathbreaker asked. "No my student, you have failed to gain wisdom" His sensei shakes his head sadly and walks away. "This test was stupid" Oathbreaker grumbles as the door asked "What am I? behind him.

The images in Oathbreaker's head form again into a scene much later...

Two Years Later: Oathbreaker sees an image of himself fighting shadowy figures with a very strange, huge reflective axe as his dojo burns behind him. The blade must be the size of a door he thinks, strangely he can also remember it talking as he fought "What am I?" *FLASH!* <- magic errupting from axe "What am I?" *FLASH*.

[warbacon]

Hellstar

Hellstar had honestly expected the door to swing open. Clearly, the designers were smarter than that. "Well that was interesting. Clearly they didn't provide us with a doorknob and hinge but instead set up a door which is reasonably impassable to intruders. They must have gotten us into here somehow. Maybe a chute?" He paces around the room a bit double-checking for obvious exits but finds none. "Or do you think that the magical effect works for the guard and anyone he is touching? Myriel, Alaeth? Would you," he says crossing the room, "tell one of the guards to pass through the door with his hand clasped to my shoulder?" He stands waiting, positioned right in front of the door but not touching it.

[Ramos]

Myriel

The sorceress nods to Hellstar then commands one of her guards to take him through the door.
We'd better refrain from telling them what to do exactly-it may be the wrong thing to do. A vague description can make them rely on their own knowledge-not our commands.

[The_Snark]

Alaeth

Alaeth nods distantly, concentrating on the link between her and the guard."Be careful how you think out the orders, as well," she murmurs. "A small change in the wording could kill them if it sets off the wards." She still didn't know whether the spells set on the guards prevented them from doing anything that might be construed as intentional betrayal, or if only demands for information triggered the spell. She also sends commands to the other remaining dominated guards, telling them to come.

Spoiler

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Concentrating on the guard as a standard action to receive sensory input, as per the spell.

[Belial_the_Leveler]

The vague command does not activate the binding on the remaining guards and Hellstar manages to cross the door along with the guard. It seems that, being undead, you are supposed to pass through it-though with an escort. The minor teleportation takes Hellstar-and soon the remaining of the party as well as the one dominated guard that had to escort you all one by one into another very large chamber, perhaps as large as the crypt below. Though the chamber is a mess after the earthquake, its contents are far more interesting than anything you've met below. Dozens of single-table alchemist's labs with half a dozen half-spilt and still brewing alchemical concoctions on them fill the room with chalk boards hanging on every wall full of arcane formulae, calculations and finalised rituals. Several drawers and cupboards have been put to use as storage for spell components and arcane substances and more than one spellbook can be seen lying around. The wooden door that leads to a great staircase and, persumably, the floor above is hanging from its hinges, the wall around it half-broken by the earthquake. In many of the storage areas and lab tables small fires with red, yellow, green and even black flames can be seen where the earthquake disrupted unstable experiments and dozens upon dozens of glass containers have been spilt on the ground, the liquids they once contained slowly eating holes into the floor. It is clear this once was the central lab where all the necromantic research took place, complimenting the chambers below where the experimentation and application of knowledge gained here was done. The great lab now lay in ruins, the majority of experiments and arcane supplies destroyed but a great deal could still be salvageable.

At that point, Suzette, the last in the group, crosses through the door having confiscated several shortswords and crossbows, studded leather armors and a few shields from the guards, leaving behind the foodstuffs and the various personal items she found as well.

Spoiler

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12 shortswords, 12 studded leather armors, 3 crossbows, 120 bolts, 3 bucklers from the guards. You'd better search this room too. I took the liberty of taking you all through the door-eventually you'd cross and there isn't anything else to do below anyway.

[Lochar]

Virmas

"Ladies, gents, and those who've lost the parts to care, let's start looking. I'd love to be able to use some of this stuff against our local, unfriendly, creators." Virmas starts rifling through drawers, shelves, and generally anything he can find. "One of you that can see magic stuff, tell me if I miss anything, would you?"

Spoiler

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If we're not really in a rush (yeah, right), he'll take 20 for a total of 29.

Otherwise...
Search: (1d20+9)[15]

[Paladin Latham]

Oathbreaker/'Jacob'

"Yes, lets look for treasah!" Oathbreaker exclaims happily (theres nothing like stealing from people who've wronged you, and it warms Oathbreakers cold, cold heart to do so)

Spoiler

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take 20 on search for 30 total. If Oathbreaker sees his reflection he will clean his face off with a rag or something.

Edit: Oh yeah. No reflection duh...