[3.5 - Group 1] The TOMB OF HORRORS - IC

[Archwizard]

Somewhere under a lost and lonely hill of grim and foreboding aspect lies a labyrinthine crypt filled with terrible traps and not a few strong and ferocious monsters to slay the unwary. Rich treasures both precious and magical fill the crypt, but in addition to the aforementioned guardians, some say a demilich still wards his final haunt. (Be warned that tales told have it that this being possesses powers that make him nearly undefeatable!) Accounts relate that adventurers have an extremely low probability of ever finding the chamber where the demilich Acererak lingers, for the passages and rooms of the tomb are fraught with terrible traps, poison gases, and magical protections. Furthermore, the demilich has hidden his lair so well, that even those who avoid the pitfalls likely will not locate their true goal. So only large and well-prepared parties of the bravest and strongest should even consider the attempt, and if they do locate the tomb, they must be prepared to fail.

Your group has been hearing rumors about this tomb for some time now, and spent a lot of effort researching it to try and discern its location. Finally, after months of exhaustive effort, their question has been answered. Deep in a remote section of the highlands, the hill atop of the tomb can be found.

Armed with this knowledge, you prepare your supplies and head out, with hope and determination that you will be able to successfully discover the secrets this fabled tomb is supposed to have locked away.

After weeks of journey, you finally come to the highlands. Following your map, you navigate them with ease. Then, you come upon a low, flat-topped hill, about 200 yards wide and 300 yards long, protruding from the earth. Ugly weeds, thorns, and briars grow upon the steep sides and bald top of the 60-foot-high mound. Black rocks crown the hilltop. The north side of the hill is fronted by a 20-foot high crumbling cliff of sand and gravel. A low stone ledge overhangs this eroded area, and shrubs and bushes obscure it from observation at a distance.

This hill must surely hide the entrance to the Tomb of Horrors.

Anyone who wishes to may make a DC 21 Intelligence check.

Current Map
http://bfb.bogleg.org/~whitewolf/3E_ToH_1.png

Key:

1 square = 5'x5'
Red Line = Red Tile Path
Orange Line = Bronze Chest/Tile Design
Maroon Line = Prison Door w/ Clawed Hands Tile Design

Note: URL for full map (http://bfb.bogleg.org/~whitewolf/3E_ToH_1_full.png)

[Valwyn]

Intelligence: [roll0]

Also, I forgot to ask before, but can I assume that I have all my buffs? They last 24 hr, so there's no reason why Nick wouldn't cast them each morning. If not, he'll cast everything before setting foot in the Tomb.

Also, Detect Magic, just in case.

Edit: copy pasted roll into spoiler.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile, a thin, peevish warforged clutching a long pole inspects the hill carefully. "Remember, no one touch anything, ever, without my say first. Even with my say, avoid touching anything. We're going to go really, really slowly, because the moment we get hasty is the moment we die." He looks around, timid and cautious, but he still seems a bit excited. Or at least you think he does; it's hard to read a warforged's facial expressions.

Intelligence: [roll0]

[TheDivineWind]

A faintly purple scaled humanoid slowly stretches his arms, "Indeed, and stay close. My power may be the only thing that lies between a sudden attack or a trap and your continuing existence. Do your best to keep within arms reach of me at all times."

Lut keeps to the center of the group the best he can. He then casts Greater Mage Armor (extended with the rod, duration 30hrs), casts detect magic and scans the ground leading up to the mound, and the area around them.


Intelligence roll [roll0]

[Valwyn]

"By all mean, after you." says Niccolo, they young warlock clad in dark armor, with a meat-shields-first kind of smile. He looks around, inspecting the surrounding area.

Rolling just in case we can learn some new info. Remember that he'll be using Detect Magic up to 60 ft away:
Knowledge (the planes): [roll0]
Spellcraft: [roll1]
Perception: [roll2]
Search: [roll3]
Survival: [roll4]

Edit: A 1 in knowledge AND search? :smallfurious: I'm not going brain dead, right? :smalleek: At least my 20 in Survival will hopefully net us something.

[mote]

The eccentric-looking wizard in glasses and pearls smirks, "Don't worry. I won't be touching anything with my own hands unless absolutely necessary."

She takes a hint from the sorceror and casts Greater Mage Armor (Extended - duration 16 hours) on herself.

[roll0]

Deana Westwood (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=325373)
Female CN Human Wizard 3/Master Specialist 2/Malconvoker 4
Level 9
Init +5
HP 47/47
Fort +4 Ref +3 Will +10
AC 11(17); Touch 11(17) / Flat-Footed 10(16)
(Greater Mage Armor)
Str 9 Dex 12 Con 14 Int 16(18)* Wis 10 Cha 14(16)*
*Item enhancement bonus
Light Crossbow +5 ranged, 1d8 (19-20 x2)
Condition: None

Spells Prepared:
Lv0 - Read Magic [2] | Detect Magic | Silent Portal | Stick | Caltrops
Lv1 - Comp. Languages | Identify | Featherfall | Grease | Unseen Servant | Orb of Acid | Nerveskitter
Lv2 - Mirror Image | Spiderclimb | Knock | Benign Transposition | Glitterdust | Web
Lv3 - Greater Mage Armor (Sudden Extend) | Blink | Haste | Summon Monster III | Stinking Cloud [2]
Lv4 - Greater Invis | Arcane Eye | Summon Undead IV | Summon Monster IV (Sudden Maximize) | Black Tentacles
Staff of SM IV [25] charges

[RaggedAngel]

Pile nods, and begins carefully Searching the hillside, moving slowly back and forth in a pattern, taking about six seconds for every five feet of hillside. Pile listens and watches the area carefully for any signs of irregularity or unnatural formations.

Taking 10 on Search for a 29.

Perception: [roll0]

[TheDivineWind]

Lut follows Pile, being careful to step in his footsteps exactly. Every other round he stops and scans the area ahead of Pile, using Detect Magic to look for any magical auras, and the rounds in-between he catches back up with Pile.

[NullShadow]

The scaly creature Known as Lorill Follows closely behind, "Be very careful, I don't wish anyone to leave this world prematurely"

Activates his senses aura, a +2 to spot, listen and initative checks.to all allies within 30' of him

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom Burmor Cylilo chuckles slightly, saying "Ah, yes. Paranoia: The hallmark of someone who's going to survive a short time in the Tomb. Here... " Aldoom concentrates for a bit, and then proceeds to launch elemental after elemental all over the place, in a pattern, covering everything within 70 feet with all four kinds of elemental, everything within 130 feet with Air and Fire, and everything within 230 feet with at least an Air elemental. He keeps his dagger sheathed, for now, hiding the light he can have on a moment's notice.



Int: [roll0]
Running trapfind protocol (Room) for now, even though we're not actually inside. Yes, I'm checking straight up for magic in open air.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisible (ring)

[mote]

Deana follows Pile at a short distance, summoning and resummoning an Earth Elemental to test the ground in front of him after he checks it (*POOF! Clomp clomp clomp clomp! POOF! POOF! Clomp clomp clomp clomp! POOF!*). For now, she decides to help the warforged out a bit with his searching.

Using aid another for Pile's Search checks if I can
[roll0]

Also, added my stat block and spell's prepared to the first post.

[Valwyn]

Niccolo follows after Deana and the rest, using his shadowy wings to stay 1 ft off the ground at all times.

I'll wait for the answer on my first rolls before rolling something else.

[Archwizard]

As you all move carefully about the hilltop, the elementals find nothing, and detect magic fails to pick anything up. You are beginning to think that perhaps you have the wrong hilltop, when suddenly Pile finds something that appears to be a tunnel entrance, blocked mainly by dirt, grass, and some rocks. Exposing the tunnel will require digging.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile glances the hidden entrance to the tomb over, and then looks to the others. "I found something, and I don't trust it. At all. Can one of you get an earth elemental to attempt to open this while I stand ten feet or so away?"

Is it a door that I can open? A blocked passage with a boulder? What kind of check is needed? Open Lock? Strength? Nothing?

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom says "If it's just covered by dirt and rock, how about we scout it first, hmm?" With that, Aldoom gets to 30 feet away from the specified area, Summons an earth elemental, and instructs it in Terran: Husltle through the blockage, come back, and report what you see in there.


Standard: Summon Elemental(Earth).
Free: Talk to elemental in Terran, giving it explicit instructions.
Elemental: Move in, glance around, standard-as-move back out. Earth Glide means blockages of dirt and stone don't matter to the elemental.


Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[mote]

Edit: Nm. Jack and I posted the same thing at the same time :smalltongue:

Will the earth elementals be able to dig, or will it require actual tools to expose the entrance?

[Valwyn]

If we need to dig, Earth Elementals seem to be our best choice. Nick could try to use Eldritch/Brimstone Blast or Baleful Utterance (A.K.A: Shatter) on the rocks, but I'm not sure if it works on regular earth. Probably not if it's loose.

Used as an area attack, shatter destroys nonmagical objects of crystal, glass, ceramic, or porcelain, such as vials, bottles, flasks, jugs, windows, mirrors, and so forth. All such objects within a 5-foot radius of the point of origin are smashed into dozens of pieces by the spell. Objects weighing more than 1 pound per your level are not affected, but all other objects of the appropriate composition are shattered.

Alternatively, you can target shatter against a single solid object, regardless of
composition, weighing up to 10 pounds per caster level.

[Archwizard]

The earth elemental goes through the earth and comes back and replies in Terran, "There's a 30' corridor that ends in two doors behind this blockage."

Anyone can dig with their hands. The elemental will be better at it, but it's still fairly slow going.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut scans the surrounding area, "Let us use the elementals to dig it up. They will be much safer than we would be, and can see if anything is wrong before we could."

Lut pauses, then says, "I know we just searched the whole area behind us... but we should have pile lead us back. That way I can provide us all cover if something happens..."

He mutters to himself, "...**** just got real..."

OOC: Fairly slow going? That's why we have two of them! Also, holy cow. Found that entrance quickly, didn't we? I recall people in the main thread not even making it this far without dieing horrifically. :smallbiggrin:

That's right, Bad Boys II quote. :smallcool:

[mote]

"That's fine. You can watch our backs while we get to work."

Deana summons an earth elemental to begin digging, keeping her distance and instructing it in Terran to let her know if it senses anything suspicious or strange.

Standing 30' away from the EE as it digs.

Deana Westwood (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=325373)
Female CN Human Wizard 3/Master Specialist 2/Malconvoker 4
Level 9
Init +5
HP 47/47
Fort +4 Ref +3 Will +10
AC 17; Touch 17 / Flat-Footed 16
Str 9 Dex 12 Con 14 Int 16(18)* Wis 10 Cha 14(16)*
*Item enhancement bonus
Light Crossbow +5 ranged, 1d8 (19-20 x2)
Condition: Greater Mage Armor (+6 AC)

Spells Prepared:
Lv0 - Read Magic [2] | Detect Magic | Silent Portal | Stick | Caltrops
Lv1 - Comp. Languages | Identify | Featherfall | Grease | Unseen Servant | Orb of Acid | Nerveskitter
Lv2 - Mirror Image | Spiderclimb | Knock | Benign Transposition | Glitterdust | Web
Lv3 - Greater Mage Armor (Sudden Extend) | Blink | Haste | Summon Monster III | Stinking Cloud [2]
Lv4 - Greater Invis | Arcane Eye | Summon Undead IV | Summon Monster IV (Sudden Maximize) | Black Tentacles
Staff of SM IV [25] charges

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom agrees after receiving the report, and copies Deana's actions, directing his earth elemental to do the same, while also standing 30 feet... although off to the side noticeably, rather than in a direct path, should something come blasting out of the tunnel.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

Niccolo inspects the rocks as the elementals work, wondering if his powers could remove the irksome obstacle and speed up the elementals' digging.

Question: how many rocks are blocking the tunnel and how big are they? Would Baleful Utterance help speed things up? It can sunder objets up to 90 lbs and 45 ft away right now, but I think several castings should be able to get rid of the rocks and let the elementals dig faster.

[Archwizard]

After about 15 minutes of digging, an opening begins to appear. It looks like you could squeeze somebody through with about another 10-15 minutes worth of digging. Creating an opening big enough to walk through looks like it'll take another hour.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom continues to direct the chain of summoned Earth elementals to clear out the rubble, not wanting to chance getting stuck.

Going for the full walk through without issues opening, myself.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut waits patiently for the opening to become fully clear.

[mote]

It took long enough getting here. No sense in getting impatient now. Deana can wait until the path is clear.

But she's taking a look around just in case something's noticed their presence.

[roll0]

[Valwyn]

Niccolo watches as the elementals works, tapping his foot impatiently on the air as he awaits for the entrance to be cleared. He considers the idea of asking someone to make his way through the opening but decides against it. Chances were the tunnel would collapse or they would trigger one of the Tomb's fabled traps, and he was not going to suffer such a delay and possible lost of support simply because of impatience.

He decides to land and go through the contents of his backpack. He rearanges its contents and takes a foot long glass tube with wooden stoppers and holding undeveloped rust monsters. He checks on the glass' condition and that of the creatures, making sure they are getting enough air.

[Archwizard]

Finally, the elementals are done digging out the tunnel's entrance. The empty tunnel stands before you, and looking down the corridor you can see the doorway that was described:

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ToH_Gallery/ToHGraphic1.jpg

The cobwebs block your view of the ceiling and the only light in the corridor is the afternoon sun.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom considers a moment, shrugs, and then proceeds with his normal paranoia routine, checking for magic, and sending elementals all the way down the passageway, not yet entering it himself.

[Archwizard]

No magic is detected, and the elementals walk down to the door and back with no problem. The cobwebs move in the breeze caused by the air elemental.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom nods imperceptibly to those nearby, sends an earth elemental running along the same course, and then has an air elemental attempt to open the door... while Aldoom is still standing outside.

[Archwizard]

As the air elemental opens the door you hear a tremendous rumbling noise, then suddenly the roof collapses, crushing the elemental and killing it instantly. A huge cloud of dust comes flying out of the tunnel. For the moment, it's impossible to see the doorway anymore.

[Jack_Simth]

Aldoom is briefly outlined by the dust, but simply renews the invisibility in his ring to deal once the dust settles a bit. Once the rumbling stops, he says "And this would be why we send Summons first. Shall we clear it out again and see what happens?"

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[RaggedAngel]

Pile moves forward, only through spaces that he's already searched, and then gazes over the destruction and rubble. "Excellent; we've managed to avoid the first of many, many traps. I much approve of your minions, and their excellent dispensability. Now then, let's take a look at this." He inspects the cave-in carefully, making sure not to touch anything without looking over it first.

Still taking 10 for a 29 in all the squares of the cave-in. If he hasn't discovered the cause of the collapse after that, he'll take 20 (2 minutes) for a 39. If anyone helps that'll be a 41.

[Archwizard]

As Pile proceeds into the tunnel, he sees nothing on his initial pass that would indicate what caused the collapse. The stones all appear to be in very bad disrepair though. On the second pass, Pile notices what might be tool markings on some of the stones. Looking up at the now cobweb-free ceiling, it appears that the door triggering a mechanism to release the stones when the door was opened.

The amount of stone released is impressive, 20' wide by 20' deep. Judging by the weight and size of the stone on the ground, it's almost certain that anyone under it would have died.

[mote]

"That poor thing," Deana says, dusting off her skirt. "They don't have souls, you know. Just one chance and that's it."

She snaps out of her reverie, "But I suppose we have more digging to do."

Sending more EEs to clear out the rubble, while standing outside the corridor if that's cool with everyone

[Archwizard]

Pile looks up at the end of the corridor and notices that the door half that was opened got ripped off the wall, and that the other half still closed. The part that was behind the door is blank wall.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile slowly and very, very carefully searches first the floor of the space he is about to enter, then the walls, then the ceiling, before moving on to the next space. When he reaches the door he searches it first carefully, then comprehensively.

Standard Searching Procedure. He takes 10 then 20 on doors.

[Archwizard]

As Pile creeps forward, nothing seems out of the ordinary. Finally, after roughly almost 30 minutes of searching, he reaches the doors. No additional traps are detected, although he does see the mechanism that was triggered by the elemental. The exposed wall that was behind the door seems pretty solid.

30 minutes based on having to move rubble to search the floor, searching 4 5x5 sections, then 8 5x5 sections of walls, plus looking at the ceiling. Searching the doors/wall adds another 5 minutes.

Need others to post what they're doing in that 35 minutes.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom rolls his eyes where none can see, and replies to Deana's "poor thing" comment "That's why we use Summoning effects, rather than Calling effects. Summoned creatures just go home when they get killed, although there is a bit of a detour along the way. But anyway, let's poke around a bit and see if we can't find another entrance..." With that, Aldoom begins a slightly modified version of his searching routine - sending elementals everywhere and checking for magic as normal, but also adding a few other things into the routine: Sending earth elementals a short distance into the ground to check for passages, and then stopping and searching himself once it's determined that there is no magic and nothing blasted an elemental.


Throwing my hat into the search arena. I'm not optimized for it, but taking 10, for a result of 23.

Hopefully the earth elementals will report a clear passage through the ground somewhere, that we can then have them follow to an actual entry. The elemental's "there and back" needed for this sort of probing is 20 feet of depth.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

"What the Hells-!" Niccolo almost drops his Rust Monster Wand when the sound of the ceiling collapsing reaches him. He quickly bags it as the cloud of dust rushes at them from the entrace and brushes it off when it's apparent that there is no danger.

"Yes, Summoned creatures are wonderfully disposable, don't you think?"

Deciding that he should take advantage of his wings, Niccolo takes flight and slowly searches the area from above, hoping to find something that the Elementals missed.

Flying 60 ft above the ground with Detect Magic and See the Unseen.
I'll take 20 (for a total of 25) and Search the hill to see if I find something. Since I'm not touching anything I get a -10 penalty, right? Or was that only when searching a specific item/container/area?

[TheDivineWind]

Lut stands back and watches as the tunnel collapses, the cloud of dust enveloping him and the rest of the party. He closes his eyes and holds his breath for a moment until the air clears, blinking a few times till he can see again.

After the cloud clears, Lut watches from the back and sees that the doors appear to be false.

"Well."

"You know, this place is supposed to be fabled for its traps and trickery. Lets send an elemental through the wall, and have it search in all directions behind where the doors were. Perhaps the wall isn't as solid as we suspect, and is rather just another layer of deception to the tomb."

Lut tries to keep close to the majority of the group, but doesn't enter the tunnel. After a few minutes, his eyebrows go up and he starts to look around the area intently.

"That collapse may have attracted something, lets keep sharp."

[NullShadow]

Keeping mostly to himself Hardscale attempts to follow the party with the utmost care, all the while trying to spot anything that could be potentially threatening.


Perceptions check
[roll0]

[mote]

Deana tsks at disembodied vocie of Aldoom. "But if an elemental's body and soul are one in the same, then destroying the body destroys the soul. Even if it reforms, it's no longer the same creature. Just something to think about."

She distractedly sends an earth elemental to try and pass through the wall behind the doors.

Standard: Summon EE
Free: Debate philosophy with invisible cleric :smallamused:

I'm not sure if elementals can earth glide through walls. It doesn't say anything specific for or against it in the srd, so I guess it's your call Archwizard.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom replies to Deana as he continues his probing search with the earth elementals "Oh, it's a fairly easy matter to demonstrate that it's the same elemental for all practical purposes. See, there's a method for summoning - which most don't use, mind - where you get the same creature every time you summon up one of that particular type. In those scenarios, even when slain, the summoned creature retains full memory. Not that it really matters; a summon is quite safe, in that they actually head home before an actual specimen would be killed."


Seriously: a Summon goes home at 0 HP; a regular elemental dies at -10 HP. Most people just don't care about the distinction...

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[mote]

"Ah, but memories can be deceiving. It's my theory that elementals in fact share a collective 'soul' born of and permeating their home element, which lacks a will of its own, but is capable, by way of constant interaction with intelligent beings on the Material Plane and the concentrated magical energies of the Inner Planes, of absorbing our thoughts and emotions and creating what are in a sense 'personality simulacra' which we then commonly refer to as 'elementals.' In fact, if you read my dissertation on that very subject..." Deana drones on long after everyone has stopped paying attention.

Heh. I'm just messing with you, Jack. Killing time till we can figure out a plan of action.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom replies to Deana while continuing the search with the earth elementals for an alternate entryway "Ah, but if they are just a momentarily broken-off fragment of a collective, then it doesn't really matter if they're fully intact when they rejoin the source, now does it, as in that case, the fragment of the whole is still returned, safe and sound, from whence it came; and thus, there's no particular ethical qualms with 'killing' a summoned creature."


I'm mostly just killing time until the DM says "Yes, an exhaustive search by way of checking the first 20 feet of ground for openings does, in fact, eventually find a tunnel from the surface after some hours"

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Archwizard]

The elemental that goes through the wall at the end of the tunnel, when it emerges it reports, "This is solid stone for 20' in every direction." The elementals clear out of the tunnel, leaving a cracked floor where the falling ceiling damaged it.

The party continues to inspect this tunnel, but you can find absolutely nothing at all to indicate that it leads anywhere.

Outside, Niccolo takes to the air inspecting the hill.

Niccolo - Make another Int check, with a +2 circumstance bonus.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom expands the search area, using elementals to probe the rest of the hill, not just the tunnel that was found, starting near the tunnel and running a circular path around it.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

Intelligence [roll0]

Also, Perception, just in case: [roll1]

[Archwizard]

Flying above the hill, Niccolo finds his attention drawn to the black rocks, but he can't quite put his finger on why.

Meanwhile, Aldoom's elementals report the discovery of another tunnel. This one is 70' long by 20' wide by 10' high and it ends in 2 doors.

[Valwyn]

"Just what in the Abyss is that?" Niccolo thinks as he observes the black rocks. He decides to fly at different heights as he circles them, trying to make sense of them.

After studying the formations for a while, he decides to hover in midair as he retrieves writing supplies from his backpack and draws a picture of what he saw as faithfully as possible, hoping that the other members of the group could figure it out.

Rolling for sketch, use whatever seemes apropiate:
Profession (artist): [roll0]
Craft (drawing): [roll1]
Dexterity: [roll2]

Once he is done, he flies back to the group to share his findings.

"I think I found something. There are black rocks on the hill, and I'm pretty sure they mean something, but I can't tell what. I made a rough sketch of them." He turns to Deana, who seemed to be discussing something about Earth Elementals with (Niccolo hoped) an invisible Aldoom. "Would you mind taking a look?" He offers her the book and waits for her or someone else to take it and examine it.

[mote]

"Well, if I were to die tonight, it wouldn't be much solace to me to know my memories would be copied into another body tomorrow," Deana says, still debating with Aldoom as they search the area. "I'd still be very much dead. Not that it's quite the same thing with elementals, mind you, but-"

She stops, interrupted by Niccolo, and examines the drawing to see if they can gain any clue from it. "Oh my, this is quite good. You may be in the wrong profession."

Probing the full depths of my education!
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

[RaggedAngel]

Pile inspects the drawing carefully, attempting to use his abnormal intellect to its fullest.

Int: [roll0]
Arcana: [roll1]
Dungeoneering: [roll2]

[TheDivineWind]

Lut looks over at Pile, then approaches and looks at the image.

"Hey, that's pretty good. Where did you see this? Maybe we can all take a closer look?"


INT check: [roll0]
Another INT check to see if Lut recognizes if those sorts of rocks are normal for this region. [roll1]

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom says, marked to within a 30 feet of accuracy by the location of the earth elementals bobbing up and down through the ground (and closer for those who can make the Listen check to pinpoint what he's saying in Terran), says "I found a tunnel. I'll have it traced out to where it meets the surface in a bit." as he proceeds to do so, mapping it out with more reports from elementals. Between tests, he continues to speak with Deana "Yet, by your own admission: It's a piece of the same collective soul, with the same set of memories. Do you define your personhood by your body only? There are spells that raise the dead with a brand-new body; do you object to their use? Even better: If the memories are implanted at summoning, and the Summon is just a piece of life essence temporarily drawn off of a larger pool, then the elemental simply does not exist as a person until the effect that summons it is completed - and will cease to exist as a person as soon as the effect that summons ends. So instead of surviving for 24 seconds, the elemental that was forcibly dismissed in the tunnel was shorted a mere 18 seconds of existence... and would not have existed at all, were it not for my need to check the tunnel. Even if your theory on the nature of summoned creatures is correct - which I am not admitting for reasons I may expound on later if I see the need - then the use of Summons is still ethically justifiable as there is a full net gain of sentient existence, and no pre-existing sentient is harmed."

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[RaggedAngel]

Fix listens on to the conversation with wry amusement, watching the elementals map the tunnel and commiting the design to his near-perfect memory. "That's all well and good, friends, but I think you're making an interesting assumption; you're assuming that all living, sentient creatures have souls. There are many, I can attest, that say that only fleshy humanoids truly have souls, and that beings such as myself do not." The warforged gestures to his mithral and obsidian body casually. "I can be Raised if I die, and they claim I have no soul. What do you say to that?"

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom replies to the living construct as he continues to map out the tunnel to find where it meets up with the outside of the hill... if it does ... saying "Ah, I'd probably ask where they got that particular bit of information. In the specific case of an elemental, it is demonstrable that such things as Raise Dead do not function, but that other things, such as Miracle, Wish, Limited Wish, and True Resurrection do. In the case of your kind, Raise Dead seems to work... and that particular miracle works by reuniting soul with body. That's sufficient evidence for me for now. If I really cared about it, I'd Commune and just plain ask someone in a position to know. I only debate what doesn't seem too terribly important. The big questions? I go to The Source."

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

"Oh my, this is quite good. You may be in the wrong profession."

"It could have turned out better, but it's difficult to draw when you're flying," Niccolo says smugly, his ego pleasantly stroked. Nevermind that it was unlikely that he'd be able to draw something so precisely again.


"Hey, that's pretty good. Where did you see this? Maybe we can all take a closer look?"

"I saw this while flying over the hill. Can't you use one of your wing spells to take a look by yourself? I might have missed something."



"As utterly fascinating as discussing whether your pet rocks are really alive or not may be, could we focus on getting inside the Tomb? If it will help you finish quicker, allow me to remind you that Outsiders can be resurrected, if you are powerful enough."

[NullShadow]

Rubbing where his temples would be Hardscale interjects "It matters not if it thinks it has a soul or not. It will inevitably discover the truth eventually. Now back to the task at hand... "
He begins to mutter under his breath, "Now, if I were a door to an evil underground lair..."

Pathetic chance at a search check.
[roll]1d20+2

[RaggedAngel]

Pile rolls his eyes and sets to looking and searching like the professional that he is, his focus impressive. "If we work together, by which I mean you let me work and give me occasional help, I think we can find the real entrance to this underground tunnel, which will be much nicer than having to dig all the way in."

Since we're having trouble, I'm going to treat this like an 'encounter' and he's going to use inspiration to use his 1/day boost on Search and Perception. If everyone Aids Another him we can find it.

Search: [roll0]
Perception: [roll1]

[NullShadow]

ugh its a bad night for me i guess
[roll0]

[NullShadow]

"I heartily agree"
He aides Pile on his task

[Jack_Simth]

I have a +15 perception and a +13 search. Aid-another is auto-pass... other than that pesky nat-1 clause in the house rules; so I just need to check two d20's to see if either of them comes up a one: [roll0]

[Valwyn]

"I'd say following Pile's lead is our best chance right now."

Using Aid another to help Pile Search.

[Valwyn]

Originally Posted by SRD
Aid Another

You can help another character achieve success on his or her skill check by making the same kind of skill check in a cooperative effort. If you roll a 10 or higher on your check, the character you are helping gets a +2 bonus to his or her check, as per the rule for favorable conditions. (You can’t take 10 on a skill check to aid another.) In many cases, a character’s help won’t be beneficial, or only a limited number of characters can help at once.

In cases where the skill restricts who can achieve certain results you can’t aid another to grant a bonus to a task that your character couldn’t achieve alone.

See also: Aid Another in Combat :smallsigh:

Search: [roll0]

[NullShadow]

search

[roll0]

[TheDivineWind]

"I'm afraid I cannot fly, despite all the wing motifs! They are all defensive, I fear. I could do with a bit more utility to my abilities, I suppose.

Perhaps our conjuring friend here could conjure up a mess of powerful air elementals that are capable of carrying us? Otherwise, it looks like I am walking~"

Lut doesn't aid in skill checks, but rather keeps close to as much of the party as possible so he may react if need be.

"Let us keep having the elementals survey our tunnels. Ethical dillemas aside, I prefer not to be in a tunnel that can fall ontop of me. Not much I can do to save against that. We should also have them search the ceilings too, see if there is anything that isn't normal on all surfaces of the tunnels. If they can find a cave-in trap before they trip it, maybe we wont have to lose another one?"

[mote]

"As utterly fascinating as discussing whether your pet rocks are really alive or not may be, could we focus on getting inside the Tomb? If it will help you finish quicker, allow me to remind you that Outsiders can be resurrected, if you are powerful enough."

Deana sighs, "Well, it's purely academic anyway. I wouldn't use the spell if I had any real ethical qualms about it. I just feel a slight pang of pity is all. Like killing a puppy."

She decides to help the others in searching.

[roll0]

[Archwizard]

Lut and Deana inspect Niccolo's drawing and combined with looking around the area at the rocks they realize that the rocks are set up in a pattern to make the hill look like a giant, grinning human skull, with the rocks forming the eye holes, nose holes, and teeth.

Meanwhile, Aldoom's elementals show him the entrance to the tunnel they found at the same time that Pile locates another tunnel. Further searching fails to find any more evidence of unusual geography/architecture.

[mote]

"Oh, I see it. It's a skull. Cute." Deana hands the drawing back to Niccolo.

"I'll see what I can find in the tunnel Pile discovered, while Aldoom begins digging out the entrance to the other."

Sending and EE to earth glide into Pile's tunnel and scout it.

[Valwyn]

Niccolo says nothing as he takes the book back. While he tries not to call attention to himself, it is quite obvious that he is not pleased with himself after missing something like that.

[Archwizard]

After about another hour of digging, both tunnels are pretty clear. The late afternoon sun shines into the tunnels.

The first tunnel is the one that the elemental described, a plain brick corridor with a stone floor and stone ceiling that ends in 2 doors.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ToH_Gallery/ToHGraphic2.jpg

The second tunnel is very different, with pigments painted on stone and brilliant colors everywhere. The floor is a colorful mosaic featuring a distinct, winding path of red tiles roughly 2' wide. Various scenes are painted on the walls.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ToH_Gallery/ToHGraphic3.jpg

[RaggedAngel]

Pile jumps in and starts touching things

Pile looks to the others. "Can any of you fly me down there without touching the floor? Or, just lower me with rope so that I can hang without touching the ground? I want to search for obvious traps before I actually touch anything."

[mote]

(Since Pile doesn't need to be flown...)

Deana sends an Earth Elemental into the ornate tunnel with the chest to stomp around on every block within 40' of the entrance, on the red trail as well as the uncolored bricks. She stands just outside the entrance, hidden behind the corner (not standing directly in front).

[Valwyn]

"Can any of you fly me down there without touching the floor? Or, just lower me with rope so that I can hang without touching the ground? I want to search for obvious traps before I actually touch anything."

Niccolo takes a good look at the tall Warforged before saying "Don't look at me, the only way I could carry you anywhere is in pieces, but I doubt you're willing to try that." He beginngs to say that someone should cast Rope Trick when he notices Deana sending the Earth Elemental to scout ahead. "Good idea," he thinks, "she might even survive this place."

No, Nick doesn't have much faith in anyone surviving the Tomb other than himself. Which means that he'll be the first to die. :smalltongue:

[NullShadow]

"It appears that that particular creature will discover he has a soul sooner than I thought." Remarks Hardscale while waiting for results.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom continues to work as directed, using elementals to handle the manipulation of objects and the "searching" for traps as he replies to Deana "To be fair, if you're wrong and I'm right, there's still issues - I'm taking a real creature out of it's home for a short time, forcing it to do a particular task, and then sending it home. Taking a hit like these summons will is painful, and most creatures don't really like to be ordered about, so what we're doing isn't exactly nice, but they suffer no long-term harm from it."

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[mote]

"Indeed. It's a form of compulsion to make even enchanters jealous. But that's why I stick to fiends when I can. No messy moral dilemmas there. They can be quite obedient too, once you learn the trick to handling them."

Btw, I don't want the elementals touching that box or the door until Pile gets a chance to search them. I don't want my clumsy EE blowing them up if they have something valuable inside.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile moves forward into the hallway, only walking on spaces that a heavy earth elemental has stomped on. He searches very, very carefully, first visually then by touching. When he gets to the box in the wall he first searches very carefully, then a bit more fluidly, but he'll wait for backup before he does so.

19 visual, 29 non-visual, and he only "touches" super lightly, since it's not like he's rooting through a box or anything. I don't think touching actually applies in this situation, really.

When he gets to the box he searches it visually for a 19, then taking 10 for a 29, then for a [roll0]. If he can he'll wait until he can have some delicious Wings of Cover backing me up.

EDIT- Oh thank god not a nat 1.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut enters after Pile, carefully following in his footsteps so as to minimize setting off a trap. He stops once he gets within 5 feet and taps Pile on the shoulder to let him know he is there.

"Well, lets do this."

[Archwizard]

Pile and Lut make their way down the corridor behind an earth elemental. They all stop at the box. It looks like a small chest made out of bronze. It has hinges on the bottom to allow the front to open. The search of the wall and the box don't reveal anything.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ToH_Gallery/ToHGraphic4m.jpg

[TheDivineWind]

Lut pauses for a second and says, "Waaaait wait wait wait. This is too easy. A chest in a wall at the start of a tunnel? No no no no no. It's going to shoot some horrible soul-sucking death blast or something. Let us continue on our way until we figure we have to open it, hmm?"

[mote]

"Actually," Deana says from outside the entrance, "Step back for a moment and let our faithful friend handle this."

In Terran, she instructs an Earth Elemental to open the chest and let her know what's inside.

[Valwyn]

"Ten gold say the chest is trapped," Niccolo says to no one in particular as he watches from outside as the Elemental moves towards the chest.

[Archwizard]

The earth elemental opens the box as instructed. It looks inside and then turns to Deana and says in terran, "There's a lever in the box, nothing else."

[mote]

"A lever? Seems a bit obvious for a trap." Deana thinks for a moment, "Maybe it's meant to close off the entrance? In any case, I doubt it would behoove us to go around flipping switches with no apparent purpose in this place. Perhaps we should explore a bit further?"

[RaggedAngel]

Pile frowns, and then looks to the others. "Now, I understand that this is a bit foolish, but I came here for treasure, not just to look around and risk my life for nothing. I'm going to search this thing." He takes his time, being very careful, and searches the lever to determine what it does and where it leads to.

He's going to search it for a 29 to figure out what the hell it does. If he can't tell anything with that, he'll search it for [roll0] very, very carefully.

[NullShadow]

"At this rate we might just make it to the door"

[Archwizard]

Pile inspects the box and the lever. It's a lever. The mechanism appears to go into the wall and then disappear... oh wait, maybe... oh yes you see it. It appears to be attached to something in the floor, right where you are standing.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile sighs, and seems a bit disappointed. "It's a trap. An obvious trap. It opens up a trapdoor right where I'm standing. Really, now, I'm almost ashamed. I thought this was going to be hard." He doesn't mention that he almost missed where the lever led too. "Now then, we can move on to the next tunnel or we could have an air elemental pull this lever, then look down the tunnel it creates when the rubble settles. What sounds good to you?"

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom chuckles and says "What's the box made of? We could start scrapping the decore...."

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[mote]

Deana shrugs at Pile. "Maybe it's a trapdoor to the treasure room!" She tells him to stand aside as she summons an Air Elemental to pull the lever.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom makes sure to stand *very* well back.
Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

"Maybe it's a trapdoor to the treasure room!"

"Or maybe it'll cause a tarrasque to show up and eat us."

Taking a hint from Aldoom's transparent (to him) figure, Niccolo stays well behind the entrance and keeps himself a few feet off the floor.

[NullShadow]

"Lets pray thats not the case" remarks Hardscale, all the while backing to a safe distance.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut also steps back with the others and prepares to unleash his defensive energies.

[Archwizard]

Everyone backs towards the entrance and the air elemental pulls the lever. As soon as it does so, you see the floor drop away, and the elemental sort of dips in place by a tiny bit as the air shifts around it.

The section that opens up is a 10'x10' section immediately in front of the bronze chest.

Remember: the corridor is 20' wide.

[RaggedAngel]

Fix nods to his sorcerous friend, gesturing to the newly-opened opportunity to die. "Care to be on guard for me while I go check this shaft out? It's nice knowing that I have a pair of invincible force-based dragonwings ready to prevent whatever horrific thing I may accidentally unleash from eating or dissolving my face." He creeps forward, only touching spaces he has already searched, and then peers over the hole with extreme caution.

[TheDivineWind]

"Sure, as long as you keep an eye out for horrific traps that may have been activated by that switch!"

Lut grins at Pile and follows him in, watching carefully for any danger.

[Archwizard]

Pile looks over the edge of the pit and sees that it is 10' deep with dozens of spikes in the floor. There are bones scattered all over the place, with a heavy layer of dust coating everything.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile nods and turns to the others, shrugging. "It's just a spike pit trap, nothing special. Let me search the rest of this hallway, and then we'll head on to the next tunnel." He then continues to search the hallway one five-foot segment at a time, taking care to look at walls for hidden doors.

His Search is a 29, if he can get an Aid Another it'll go up to 31.

[mote]

Deana looks into the pit and shrugs. "Well, back to business as usual then."

She continues summoning Earth elementals to walk ahead of Pile, stepping on the tiles after he's searched them.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom hangs very well back from the person who's risking actually searching for traps, here. As far back, in fact, as he can while still keeping the trapfinder in sight.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

"Shouldn't we get rid of the spikes? Falling there would be bad enough, but falling into spikes is certain death," Niccolo points out. He does, however, no attempt to get closer to the entrance.

[TheDivineWind]

"Perhaps. I would suggest we keep them in case we could use the pit in combat, but I figure a pit would be just as useful, if not as deadly. Do you have anything in mind?"

[Valwyn]

"I know a few tricks," he says evasibly. "I know how to shatter objects from afar, that would make the trap more survivable, though if any of you fall in there you'll likely die anyway. We could also make some elementals fill it with rocks so the only danger is tripping with it, but I suppose using the trap to our advantage is possible."

[mote]

Deana nods to the warlock. "Good point. We do have plenty of rubble lying around. I'll fill it up for us. Then let's get to exploring before I'm old and gray."

Having EEs dump the rubble we dug out from the entrance into the pit.

[Archwizard]

As the Earth Elementals start to fill up the pit, Pile discovers another pit trap immediately next to this one, directly in front of the painting of the prison door. It appears to be triggered by stepping on it and covers a 10'x10' area.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile whistles. "Stop. Make the elementals stop." Assuming that they do, he then explains that the area right next to the pit trap is almost certainly another pit trap. "Can you have one elemental peek through the wall between the two pits? If there isn't another pit there it may mean that it's a different kind of trap."

[mote]

"Good eye, my friend," Deana says to Pile. She barks an order to the elemental, who then turns and converses with her briefly in Terran.

"Hmm. Unfortunately, the lining of these walls seems to prevent passage by the elementals. Perhaps we should just avoid the pits and move on."

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom says "Honestly, I'd be more inclined to send an elemental through the suspect area, first, and maybe have it try the doors... while standing well back, of course. Especially after that first collapsed tunnel. After all, lots of people trap things they expect people to go through when building a defensive structure."

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

"I agree, we should just send the elementals ahead. That should at least get us rid of any pit traps."

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom begins his scanning routine again along the hallway with the two pit traps, directing elementals to their doom in mass
Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Archwizard]

As you proceed to send elementals down the corridor, one triggers the pit trap Pile found, falling in and dying upon hitting the spikes. As you advance another 30 feet, two more elementals die in pits that open up beneath them.

Okay, so I have finished a map in MapTools. Pardon my not-so-hot art skills. I will maintain the map in the IC OP.

[mote]

"It would seem the red tiles mark the spots that are safe to walk on." Deana looks at the pits in front of the box and the painted door, "Except when they don't..."

She moves forward along the red tiles, keeping an earth elemental 30' ahead, eager to see the end of the hallway.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom says "Nothing quite like establishing a pattern, only to break it, to make people nervous, eh?" as he continues on, sending Air elementals very far in front of the party.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

[QUOTE=Jack_Simth;11866405]"Nothing quite like establishing a pattern, only to break it, to make people nervous, eh?"

"It makes sense. Lull them into a sense of security and then doble-cross them." I think I like this Acererak, too bad we'll kill him when we find him.

As he keeps himself two feet off the ground, Niccolo takes a better look at the designs on the walls without actually touching them. That's what the Elementals were for.

Detect Magic
Search: taking 20 without touching = 15
Perception: [roll0]

Remember that he has Darkvision and See Invisibility

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom replies to Niccolo "Hmm? Oh, there's a number of reasons for traps, and how they're set up determines details of that nature. In an area where people live, you'll want traps that can easily be bypassed, or don't harm the locals; negative energy traps, poison traps, and a lack of air around undead or constructs - and, of course, there's a number of effects that natively do not harm the caster which can be used. In that instance, a line on the ground is somewhat sensible - part of the 'easily bypassed' aspect. The traps here are not built that way. This is not a place people live; this is a storehouse visited only rarely, or perhaps by magic and not actually needing the door, or perhaps as a lure to get people killed. But the way this place is designed? Don't expect to see many opponents, unless they're of the sort that can simply sit there for a long time - undead, constructs, outsiders, elementals, and the like."

The invisible presence of Aldoom considers a moment, and then asks Niccolo "By any chance do you know the spell Lesser Planar Binding? There's a beast we might find useful that I can keep under control, readily enough."

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

"I know that," says Niccolo as he keeps examining the walls for clues. "Tombs, temples, towers and ruins tend to have traps that their guardians know how to avoid or are immune to. Filling a room with, say, poison traps is no problem if the guardians are immune to poison, as you say. I'm actually expecting to find plenty of undead and golems. I was just saying that making one feel safe is a good way of killing them. Earn their trust and they'll lower their guard around you. And when that happens, all you have to do is get rid of the bodies."

"No, I don't." Niccolo keeps ignoring Aldoom, focusing on the walls. "I make a rule of not summoning infernals unless I need them, and I'd only summon them when I'm in control of the situation, not when I'm in danger of being attacked. You should ask Deana, she seems to know plenty about summoning and binding Outsiders."

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom says "I'm actually referring to a particular elemental, not an infernal; the Thoqqua, specifically, as it can tunnel."

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Archwizard]

The images on the west wall are of various scenes. Some are outdoor scenes such as a field of grazing cattle; another is a copse of trees with several wolves in the background; another is slaves of various races, including some you don't recognize (such as pig-headed humanoids), doing field work. Others are indoor scenes: a library filled with books, a wizard's workroom, a torture chamber. Others are just furniture and other pictures. The east wall is just tiled black.

As the elementals move forward, another immediately falls into a pit on the path. Ten feet after that pit, another one opens up underneath another elemental, also on the path.

At the end of the corridor the path splits, with one fork going into the mouth of a demon's head, the other leads to a mist-filled archway.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ToH_Gallery/ToHGraphic5.jpg

The archway is about 5' wide and 7' tall. It radiates strongly of Conjuration magic.

Darkvision, regular vision, see invisible, low-light vision do not penetrate the vapors.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/ToH_Gallery/ToHGraphic6.jpg

The demon's head is about 5' wide and 7' tall, the mouth opening is 3' diameter. The demon's head radiates strongly of Necromancy magic.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom says "Oh, look. Two obvious choices, both of which require heading into something where we can't see what's coming. Gee... nope, not dangerous at all!" Aldoom's voice just drips with sarcasm before he continues "So, who's up for seeing if the things can safely pass back and forth through the mist?" With that, Aldoom directs an air elemental to step through the misty doorway, and to immediately step back and report on what it saw.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

"Oh. I usually deal with infernals. It's tricky, but I find it more rewarding. I still think Deana would know more about this than I do. Normally I use a scroll or ask someone to cast the spell for me."

"This looks interesting," he says as inspects the paintings of the library, the wizard's room, and the torture chamber.

Inspecting the three scenes separatedly:

Search on all three (taking 20 with a penalty): 15

Perception - Library: [roll0]
Perception - Wizard Lab: [roll1]
Perception - Torture Chamber: [roll2]

Knowledge (Planes) in case the pictures ring a bell: [roll3]

"Well, duh. In case you haven't noticed, the Arch has a strong aura of Conjuration and the devil-thing a strong aura Necromancy."

[mote]

"Summoning fiends is something of a specialty of mine," Deana nods. "Unfortunately, mastering the technique caused me to fall behind in my general conjuration studies. I haven't learned the planar bindings yet."

As the Air Elemental goes through, Deana studies the misty door, attempting to apply her knowledge of conjuration.

1d20+20

[mote]

Oops. [roll0]

[Archwizard]

The elementals that go through the archway do not come back, they simply vanish from sight.

The scenes on the walls appear to simply be scenes from a building, most likely all the same building since many of the little details such as architecture and decor appear to match.

Archway: Yup. It's Conjuration magic! You think....

[Valwyn]

It looks like all the rooms are in the same building. Maybe they are rooms we can find in the Tomb? Niccolo thinks as he glides away towards the rest of the group.

"Your pets aren't coming back. Can you tell whether the Arch unsummoning them or if they are dead?"

Spellcraft to gain info on the Arch: [roll0]
Knowledge (Planes) to gain info on the Arch: [roll1]

Niccolo looks at the statue of the devil, going through his planar and arcane knowledge to try to identify it and it's necromantic magics.

Spellcraft to gain info on the Devil and the Aura: [roll2]
Knowledge (Planes) to gain info on the Devil and the Aura: [roll3]

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom says "Not something I can distinguish, no. Hmm... both are obviously magical, though; anyone mind holding still for a few hours while I try to properly Identify the two magical devices?"

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Archwizard]

Aldoom and Niccolo each inspect the archway and the devil's head, trying to apply their magical knowledge to the situation. Unfortunately, their training is unable to help them this time, and no information is gained.

The devil does appear to resemble a Bearded Devil.

[Valwyn]

"I don't know what that thing is," he says as he points to the devil, "but anything with a strong aura of Necromancy can't be good. I bet it'll suck the life out of us or turn us into zombies or something."

He turns to face Aldoom. "You need to touch it to Identify it. Send an Elemental to tamper with it before you touch it."

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom chuckles and says "That's already in the plans. I was mostly checking the time constraints before attempting something I very much know will take two hours. With that out of the way, though..."

After checking to make sure the magic is incorporated into the face and the frame of the door, Aldoom directs an elemental to touch the big nose on the face, and the lower-right glowing gem on the doorway, to make sure the thing is relatively safe to touch.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Archwizard]

The elemental touches the devil's nose and nothing happens. Aldoom does notice that as he watches the elemental, the mouth of the devil does seem unusually black.

As they turn towards the arch, you notice that the stones are glowing. The one on the bottom left glows yellow, the one on the bottom right glows orange, and the keystone 7 feet above glows blue.

The elemental touches the orange stone and nothing happens.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut carefully keeps up with the rest of the group, silently studying the two doorways as they enter their view. His detect magic spell revealing the magical auras to him as they were revealed to the others. After pondering the two gates for a few moments, he returns to the mural and examines it carefully, pondering some sort of connection between the two.


I got no freaking clue. Let's let the dice roller check if I'm smart.
Intelligence check: [roll0]
Spellcraft check: [roll1]
Knowledge Arcane check: [roll2]
Charisma check: [roll3]

Why a Charisma check? Because I may be so suave it translates into brilliance. :smallbiggrin:

-edit- Jebus, or not. :smalleek:

[Archwizard]

Lut examines the patterns on the walls, but the tiles there hold no new information for him.

[Jack_Simth]

After seeing that the elemental is not fried by the gem that seems to be part of the doorway, the invisible presence of Aldoom begins his casting to Identify the doorway, chanting in a strong voice and waving his invisible fingers around in preparation for touching the door at the same spot the elemental did.


Casting Identify the first, the frame on the misty door, touching it by the same gem the elemental touched.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

Not trusting either the Devil or the Arch, Niccolo rumages through his backpack and produces a wand. He activates it and proceeds to inspect the corridor.

Using Wand of Detect Secret Doors to check the corridor. UMD 16 + Decieve Item lets me use any wand without having to roll. Each charge has a duration of Concentration up to 1 minute. He'll cover the whole hall and find out whether there is a secret door or not. If there's any, he'll focus on the door and get as much information as he can. Let me know how many charges that uses up (hopefully only 1 or 2).

[mote]

Deana shrugs. "May as well try the other door."

She sends an earth elemental to walk into the mouth and come back.

[mote]

Not even waiting for the elemental to come back, Deana voices an idea.

"I wonder, could the colors on the bricks represent energy types? I would think blue for cold, orange for fire, and yellow for electricity. Perhaps if we channel the appropriate energy type into each one, the mist will clear."

[Archwizard]

While Aldoom begins to work on casting his spell, Deana sends an elemental into the devil's mouth. As soon as it begins to enter the mouth, it is instantly, and utterly, destroyed.

At the same time, Niccolo pulls out his wand and inspects the corridor with it. There seems to be something off about the prison door mural, but further time spent there reveals nothing. Other than that, nothing is found.

You use 2 charges of the wand.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut looks over as the elemental enters the demon head and watches it get destroyed. Something strikes Lut as he watches this.

"I am no wizard, but I do recall hearing of necromantic spells which could kill creatures with a single thought... However, only a transmutation spell I've been interested in could reduce a body to ashes... You two were discussing summons and their natures... could any of what we have seen been caused by the nature of a summon?"

Lut listens to the response, and proceeds to pull a bolt out of his quiver, and cast light on it. He then tosses it on an open section, using his low-light vision to see along most of the tunnel

[Valwyn]

"I wonder, could the colors on the bricks represent energy types? I would think blue for cold, orange for fire, and yellow for electricity. Perhaps if we channel the appropriate energy type into each one, the mist will clear."

"Could be," says Niccolo as he wings his way down the corridor, inspecting it. "Let me know if you need fire."


"I am no wizard, but I do recall hearing of necromantic spells which could kill creatures with a single thought... However, only a transmutation spell I've been interested in could reduce a body to ashes... You two were discussing summons and their natures... could any of what we have seen been caused by the nature of a summon?"

Niccolo says nothing to this, letting Deana and Aldoom handle the questions on summons. When he arrives at the section of the wall depicting the prison door, his wand signals him that there is a door hidden behind it, but refused to give any other information.

"Hey! I think I found a way out of here!" he shouts to the others. "There's a secret door behind the picture of the prison door!" The warlock raises a fist to knock on the door and listen whether it's hollow or not but decides against it. Better let Pile handle it.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile holds up his hand for moderate silence, and then proceeds to carefully check the door and the wall around it, taking about six seconds or so before affirming his conclusion as to the trapped/not trapped nature of the door, and if it is a true door or a decoy or fake.

Taking 10 for a 27, per usual.

[mote]

"I am no wizard, but I do recall hearing of necromantic spells which could kill creatures with a single thought... However, only a transmutation spell I've been interested in could reduce a body to ashes... You two were discussing summons and their natures... could any of what we have seen been caused by the nature of a summon?"

"Necromancy is far from my specialty," Deana shrugs. "A sufficiently powerful enervation effect could look similar to disintegration, I suppose. In any case, a summon's body vanishes when it takes enough of a beating to kill it, so it's hard to say either way."

She waits for Pile to inspect the door.

[Archwizard]

Pile's inspection of the mural reveals it to be... a mural. He can find no indication of it being anything other than a scene painted on tiles and plaster.

[mote]

Deana summons an Air Elemental and instructs it in Auran, "Give that painted door a good push for me, would you, dear?"

Hoping it's really that easy :smalltongue:

[Archwizard]

Floating above the pit trap, the air elemental pushes on the prison door mural. Nothing appears to happen.

[mote]

Deana sighs. "It may be time to check the other hallway, gentlemen. Unless anyone has any other ideas?"

[RaggedAngel]

Pile frowns, and holds up his hand again. "There's no way in heck I'm letting a secret door get by if your wand says there's one here. Give me a minute." He begins searching meticulously, taking every effort he can to determine if there is indeed a door behind the wall.

Taking 20 for a 39. Can I get any Aid Another on that?

[Archwizard]

As Pile continues to probe the mural, he begins to notice that something is in fact off about it. There is definitely no door in the mural (besides the painting of one!), but.... The wall isn't hollow, but knocking on it does sound very slightly different than you'd expect.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile glares at the wall, which seems to be taunting him as best it can. "I am the best in the world, dammit, and this plaster will not defeat me." He turns to the others. "I need help, just a bit of it. Just take a look at this wall, a quick, precursory glance, and tell me what you think. Any little thing could be the piece I need to figure this out."

He has a 39, if three of you help that'll be a 45, which is an [Epic] check. If that's not enough, we weren't meant to find it.

[mote]

Helping!

[roll0]

edit: lol, 2 nat 1s in a row. Going for the record!

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom continues his casting to Identify the doorway


It's an hour-long spell. And I *did* ask first. Sorry.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[TheDivineWind]

Lut stands behind those searching the wall and prepares to cast his defensive spells.

[Valwyn]

Niccolo takes a better look at the wall, hoping that not being earthbound would let him see this from another angle.

Search: [roll0]

[Archwizard]

Deana and Niccolo both go to aid Pile, but Deana manages to distract Niccolo badly enough that neither one is very much help.

[Valwyn]

"Damnit, Deana! Stop getting in the way!" Niccolo snaps as the spellcaster distracts him.

Sorry, Mote. I know it's not your fault. :smallsmile:

Frustrated, Niccolo starts to back away from the painted door. "Everyone! Make room! I'm going to open that door!"

Backing 60 ft (or as much as possible) from the painted door towards the Arch and the Devil. Nick will wait until the area is cleared before starting, so feel free to try to stop him or say/do something.

[Archwizard]

As Deana, Pile and Niccolo play with the mural, Aldoom finishes his spell. The Archway seems to be Conjuration (Teleportation), permanent, and has 2 different states. One is the current, misty, state. The other is activated by pressing the glowing stones in the proper sequence: Yellow, Blue, Orange. No other information is obtained.

[Jack_Simth]

As the invisible presence of Aldoom finishes his casting, he says "Do you mind holding off on the destruction of the property for a moment? I *might* have the key to this gate... but we do need to back up a ways, for safety."
Then, once everyone backs up, he directs a short series of air elementals in pressing the gems in the proper sequence, from 130 feet away.


Aldoom Summons an air elemental at 30 feet, has the elemental take a move action for 100 feet (hence, 130 feet away), and a standard to push the gem... then the air elemental dissipates due to ending it's turn out of range (30 feet). Repeat for each gem in sequence. Takes 3 rounds, total.


Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Archwizard]

The elementals push the stones, each one flashes slightly as it is pushed. After the third stone is pushed the mists vanish.


Map a tiny bit, not really worrying about exact positioning of you guys atm, you're all far away from the Archway/Head and near the Door Mural.

[mote]

"Well, well. Nice work," Deana says, surprised. "Guess who's going in first!"

She sends an Earth Elemental through the archway to explore a 30' radius around the door in the next room, and takes a peek inside (not passing through the arch yet, of course).

[Valwyn]

Niccolo interupts his preparations. "Property damage is part of my area of expertise, you know."

He watches as Aldoom orders the elementals around and rises an eyebrow as the mist clears. "That was it? All we had to do was push the shiny rocks in a certain order? I was expecting something a bit more complicated." When he's done ranting, he turns to the others. "We still have to check the secret door."

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom invisibly shrugs, and says "Oh. Well, I'm probably not quite as good at it, but I can do property damage too. We wanted to demolish the painted door, yes? Don't be close..." With that, Aldoom stands 30 feet from the painted door, and starts killing it with fire.

Fiery Burst; 5-foot burst of Supernatural fire, usable at-will, for 1d6 per level of the highest Fire spell kept in reserve (5d6, for now). By default, deals half damage to objects (before hardness). I've got a spreadsheet for quickly calculating how long it'll take to get through a given object - basically just brute-forces all potential rolls, figures out the average damage that way (including hardness and the potential penalty for damaging objects), then figures out how much time it takes. Two sources of damage will obviously cut it roughly in half. I could also have a Fire elemental pound on it, but that's ... not likely to do much.

Oh yes, and attacking objects doesn't break invisibility. Just creatures.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[NullShadow]

"Well, now we are getting somewhere aren't we" Hardscale says while bringing up the rear.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut keeps with the rest of the group and watches as they defeat challenge after challenge.

"Sooner or later, we'll be attacked by horrible creatures, and it'll finally be my turn."

[Valwyn]

As Aldoom begins his attempts to reveal the secret door, Niccolo decides to help. Blasting it to pieces was his idea after all. "Make room, people," he says as eldritch energy gathers around his hands.

Nick backs 60 ft away (or as much as possible) and begins blasting the wall with Eldritch Blast for 5d6 damage (is there a way to roll just 50% other than using less dice than normal?). I don't think we have to roll, right? As long as the others stay back, Nick and Aldoom should be able to "open" the door. And it's not really moving, so no attack rolls are needed, I think. In case I'm wrong:

Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]

Attack: [roll2]
Damage: [roll3]

Attack: [roll4]
Damage: [roll5]

Attack: [roll6]
Damage: [roll7]

Attack: [roll8]
Damage: [roll9]

PS: plaster can't be all that tough, in my opinion at least.

[Archwizard]

Niccolo and Aldoom combine their blasts and make short work of the mural. Behind it is a plain, wooden door.

Does Deana care if the elemental follows the red path into the archway?

And sure, plaster isn't that tough. Plaster with adamantium mixed in and magically reinforced is extremely tough. Fortunately, this plaster seems to be more on the normal side.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile holds up his hand when they reach the door, imploring them to stop. "Please, I should be able to open this. Let me check it out, and see if it's trapped with an Alarm spell or something before we just blast it open." The slight warforged moves forward, searching the door very carefully, taking his time with the matter.

Take 10 for a 29, and if he finds nothing he'll take 20 for a 39.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom invisibly nods, almost expecting people to see it, as he stands very well back from the rogue attempting to search for traps and disarm the lock.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[RaggedAngel]

The invisible presence of Aldoom invisibly nods, almost expecting people to see it, as he stands very well back from the rogue attempting to search for traps and disarm the lock.

Factotum, silly. Much more awesome than Rogue. :smallwink:

Oh, and "The invisible presence of Aldoom" makes me laugh every time I read it. Just lettin' you know. :smallsmile:

[mote]

Does Deana care if the elemental follows the red path into the archway?

Since we're checking out this other door, I'll have it stay on the red path for now, go 30' into the room and have a look around.

[Archwizard]

Pile gets onto the ledge between the pit and door, and balancing very carefully, inspects the door. After a very thorough search, Pile returns to the main part of the floor and reports that he cannot find anything unusual or suspicious about the door.

While Pile is searching, Deana's elemental walks along the path through the archway, and as soon as it gets beyond the threshold, it vanishes.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom sighs and says "Of course. Shall we have one *not* follow the path?" and Aldoom then proceeds to have an Air elemental do so, while Aldoom stands 100 feet away, summoning the elemental at range, directing it, and having it Hustle through the door and hopefully back.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Archwizard]

Aldoom sends his elemental through the archway, and as soon as it gets beyond the threshold, it vanishes.

Niccolo is listening to Pile's report on the door when suddenly an air elemental appears at the mouth of the tunnel. After a moment, it vanishes.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut gathers around the others and chews on his lips.

"That door was excellently hidden. Behind, I might add, a mural of a prisoner in a cell. Call me paranoid, but I think I should follow behind Pile this time."

Lut focuses for a moment and casts Detect Undead, and concentrates while slowly spinning so he gets a full a thorough sweep of everything within 60' (in all directions and up/down, stopping when he gets any hint of undead and waiting for a full scan. He starts with the door (which, if it is a normal wooden door, he should be able to scan through it) and then proceeds around them, ending back on the door, and then releasing his concentration and proceeding with the group.


http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/detectUndead.htm
Quick reference if need be. The spell should last another 9 minutes after this, as long as I'm looking at it. As a rule of thumb, I'm looking ahead unless I state otherwise, though if we come to a fork in the path, I check each way for as long as the spell works.

[Valwyn]

"Did someone else just see an air elemental appear at the entrance of the tunnel before disappearing again? Maybe stepping into the Arch while not on the path teleports you outside?" Niccolo musses.

"So now that we know that the door isn't trapped, shall I do the honors, or do you want to use your pets?"

By doing the honors he means blasting away. He could just fly over the gap and open it, but where's the fun in that? :smalltongue:

[Archwizard]

Lut scans up, down, and every which way. He sees no indication of any undead, even on the other side of the door.

[TheDivineWind]

"I don't see any undead critters in the area. Assuming the door isn't lead lined, we should be clear of any nasty undead beasts. Can't say much about constructs."

Lut stands back, but keeps within 5 feet of Pile.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom says "Of course. Well, let's see..." and then Aldoom checks the previously-concealed door as per his proceedure, scanning it for magic, and getting well back prior to having an Air elemental attempt to open it.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Archwizard]

No magic is detected on or near the door. The air elemental attempts to open the door only to find it locked. Pile steps up and easily makes short work on the lock.

[Jack_Simth]

With the lock out of the way, the invisible presence of Aldoom stands well back from the door, and directs an air elemental in attempting to open it.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Archwizard]

The air elemental opens the door, revealing a plain stone corridor 10' wide by 20' long that ends in another wooden door.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom invisibly blinks, shrugs, and continues his trapfinding method, summoning an air elemental to go through the now-open doorway, then summoning an earth elemental into the revealed corridor, and walking it down to the other wooden door and back... as well as checking the area for magic, of course.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Valwyn]

Another door? Well, that was disappointing." Watching as Aldoom sends another elemental to scout ahead, Niccolo stays away from the new corridor. No sense in waiting in range of a shower of acid or poisoned darts.

Basically, he took a peek at what was behind the door (without entering the corridor) and now he stays away from it (current position (3K) on the map is fine by me). I don't know if it matters. Remember that he always stays 1 or 2 feet off the ground.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut moves up with the rest of the group (to K1).

[RaggedAngel]

After the elementals run through the room Pile gives it a careful and thorough search, though he only takes about a minute to get to the end of the hallway.

Searching every square for a 29.

[Archwizard]

Neither Pile nor the elementals detect or reveal anything other than a stone corridor.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom proceeds according to schedule, directing an Air Elemental to attempt to open the door... while Aldoom himself stands back, around a corner.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Archwizard]

The elemental opens the door, revealing a 20'x30' room. In the northwest corner of the room is a statue that looks like a 4-armed gargoyle. There are two wooden doors in the southeast corner.

I'm assuming the elemental is reporting details like the doors in the corner to you, since nobody can actually see them yet. The star is the statue.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom, not seeing any particular reason to chance walking over the pit himself until they've hit the limit of range for this technique, directs the elemental to pass through every square in the room, and directs subsequent elementals to open both doors.


As it's less than a 130 foot path, we can totally do that "around corners and describe" bit with an Air Elemental, yes, as it can get there, and back, in a full-round action, and thus avoid dissipating long enough to say what it saw.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[TheDivineWind]

Now that they have finally breached a room instead of a number of halls, Lut positions himself between H4 and G4 so that he has a clear view down the hallway. He readies his action and holds them so that he may act on a moment's notice.

[Archwizard]

The elementals report that both doors are locked.

[mote]

"Interesting," Deana says, moving just outside the door. She begins summoning Earth Elementals to test the statue.

Moving to H(-3). Having Earth Elementals yank on each arm of the statue.

And some Knowledge checks couldn't hurt I guess.
[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

[Valwyn]

Niccolo begins to wing his way into the room to see whether the statue was magical or not but stops when he sees Deana sending elementals to test it.

Probably for the best, he thinks.

As he watches the elementals approach the statue, Niccolo tries to recal anything he might know about it.

Know (the planes)
Spellcraft [roll1]

Seeing Lut take a defensive position, Niccolo adjusts his position and decides to prepare himself for a fight.

Moving to 4K (still 1 foot off the ground). Reading an action in case the statue or something else comes through the room and attacks us:

Brimstone Blast: DC = 20 Reflex or 2d6 extra fire damage for 1 round
Attack Roll: [roll2] pleasedon'trolla1pleasedon'trolla1pleasedon'trolla 1
Damage Roll: [roll]1d20+5d6 fire damage
Spellresistance: [roll3]

[Valwyn]

Damage Roll: 1d20+5d6 fire damage

:smallsigh:

Let's try again (no, I don't know why I added a 1d20):
Damage Roll: [roll0] fire damage

[Archwizard]

The elementals pull on the statue's arms, but nothing happens. Both Deana and Niccolo realize that a 4-armed gargoyle is very strange. Neither has ever heard of a living creature like that, nor any form of mythical or divine being that matches that description. Very strange indeed....

[RaggedAngel]

Pile looks at the statue intently, then he turns to his companions with a shrug. "We can't loot that. I vote we just blow it up in case it happens to be some sort of gargoyle or elemental in disguise. Safety first."

[Archwizard]

As Pile stares at the statue, he notices that it has a collar studded with gems around its neck.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile holds up his hand, intrigued. "Scratch that, hold up, I noticed something. I'm going to do that thing I do with this statue." He moves over to the statue cautiously, searching the ground he walks on, before giving it a careful once-over, paying close attention to the collar.

Search for a 29 and if that turns nothing up, he searches for [roll0].

[Valwyn]

"I don't trust that thing. I say we blow it up and then search it for anything useful."

I can't just shatter it piece by piece, right? The head and arms can't be heavier than 90 lb. If it is possible, I'd like to use Baleful Utterance to sunder it to pieces, but I think this is the same thing as trying to use it to sunder the rocks at the beginning.

[Archwizard]

As soon as Pile sets foot through the doorway the statue roars to life!

{table=head]Character | Init Roll | Spot
Pile | [roll0] | 1
Lorill | [roll1] | 2
Aldoom | [roll2] | 6
Lut | [roll3] | 5
Deana | [roll4] | 3
Niccolo | [roll5] | 4
Gargoyle | 7 | 7[/table]

[RaggedAngel]

Pile reacts rapidly to the gargoyle's sudden movement, whipping his crossbow up and shooting the monstrosity in the face as quickly as he can. He adds a bit of thought to the blow, putting the bolt in a likely weak spot. He then snaps another bolt into the crossbow and fires again, scoring another good hit, though he isn't sure if it pierces the monster's skin. Acting with a surge of inspiration, he whips his hands forward, chanting something that sort of sounds like a spell. There is a surge of power, and a Web blooms forth, filling the room with sticky goo and potentially trapping the gargoyle. He then quickly steps back behind the door. "So. That sucks."

Attack 1: (1d20+17)[25] Damage 1: (1d8+8)[9]
Attack 2: (1d20+12)[24] Damage 2: (1d8+8)[14]

Cast Web, Reflex DC 19, centered on F-8, which should fill the room but not reach Pile.

5-foot step to G-4, to get out of it's line of sight, though current the Web blocks that.

[Archwizard]

Pile's bolts fly true, both slamming into the gargoyle. However, the wounds created close up instantly: the first one completely, the second one most of the way.

Then, the Web fills the room. The web starts to attach itself to the gargoyle, but it manages to cause some to slip free and avoid being completely entangled by it.

[mote]

"Aw, you ruined the view."
Deana steps back to the first doorway while pointing her thin spiraled staff at the web-filled room. A creature appears among the webs that looks like the unholy union of a porcupine and a starving tiger. She hisses an intimidating command at it in Abyssal.

Move: Move to (G,0)
Standard: Use Staff of SM4 to summon Howler to (G-H,6-7)
Free: Bluff check to control/buff evil summon monster
[roll0]
(anything but a nat 1 wins)
Free: Command Howler to attack in Abyssal

Howler (Sheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aixraw5eutLrdExEU3JlYTNtTEZvYkNsTENfMHY2V kE&hl=en_US#gid=0))
(-2 attack; -4 Dex from being entangled)
Standard: Bite Gargoyle
[roll1]
[roll2]

[Archwizard]

The howler appears, and hearing Deana's command, it snarls and attempts to bite the gargoyle. However, being unused to fighting in the midst of a web, it misses badly.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut hears the commotion and readies a split ray'ed Scorching Ray, empowering it with his spellshard. He holds the energy as it wells up in his body, waiting for an opening.

"Pull out of there, we can't get to you from here! Make sure you get down if that thing comes into my sight!"

Assuming they do, and the critter comes after them, Lut hisses words of power and focuses the energy in his body into three flaming rays as he can get a clear shot. If he can't get a clear shot, he holds his attack until he does.

Ranged touch attacks (3):
1: [roll0]
2: [roll1]
3: [roll2]

Damage
1: [roll3]
2: [roll4]
3: [roll5]

[Archwizard]

The gargoyle lets out a vicious scream and hisses "DIE!" in Terran. It then proceeds to attack the howler.

{table=head]Attack Type | Attack Roll | Damage Roll
Claw | [roll0] | [roll1]
Claw | [roll2] | [roll3]
Claw | [roll4] | [roll5]
Claw | [roll6] | [roll7]
Bite | [roll8] | [roll9]
Gore | [roll10] | [roll11][/table]

Crit Rolls if needed: [roll12] [roll13] [roll14] [roll15] [roll16] [roll17]


The gargoyle's claws tear the howler limb from limb, the pieces dissipating as the summon is undone.

Surprise Done, Start Round 1

[RaggedAngel]

Pile turns from the monster, now blocked by the webbing in its way, and moves down the hallway as quickly as he can. "We need to get some distance on this thing! If it catches us in close quarters it can rip us apart!" He then moves down the hallway as quickly as he can, attempting to put as much space between himself and the monster as possible.

Move to H0, then Jump (He autosucceeds) to H3, then move to L1.

[mote]

OOC: Assuming NullShadow isn't gonna do something nuts like rush into the webs, I'm just gonna post now.

"I'll do what I can to hold him back."

Deana points her staff at the doorway, conjuring a giant wolf. "Get ready to fight that beast if he gets in range, honey," she tells it in Infernal. "If you fail to trip him, then step back!"

Standard: Summon Fiendish Dire Wolf to (G,H;-2,-3)
[roll0] (All but nat 1 wins)

Dire Wolf (Sheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aixraw5eutLrdGQzZ1VnSldnNTRzMnFKUkJRdWNte EE&hl=en_US#gid=0))
Standard: Ready action to bite+trip as soon as Gargoyle gets in range, if bite or trip misses, take 5' step back
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
Free: Trip if bite hits
[roll4]

Will I have to roll a jump check to get over the pit? If so, I'm staying put for now

[Valwyn]

"A monster. Oh, joy." Niccolo flies over the pit and hovers 1 feet off the ground next to Lut. The sorcerer was a decent abjurer and his new position allowed Niccolo to blast whatever came charging at them.

Since I don't want to get trapped in the Web (which would take a double move action anyway, assuming I can get past the wolf), I'm taking a move action to 4H (next to Lut) so that he can aim at the Gargoyle if it gets in range. If you rule that I don't have line of sight to the corridor, I guess Nick will shove Lut a little towards 4G, though I think friendly characters can use the same square (or space, in this case) without issues.

Ready action: blast Gargoyle.

Attack roll: [roll0] (60 ft range) pleasedon'thitPCspleasedon'thitPCspleasedon'thitPC s
Damage roll: [roll1] untyped damage
Spell Penetration: [roll2]

[TheDivineWind]

Lut gets himself ready to hold his action until he has LOS, and unleashes his preemptive attack from earlier!

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom walks over to where he can see through the doorway, summons an elemental, ordering it to move into the breach and attack should the wolf become unsummoned.


Move: (I,1)-> (I,2) -> (H,3) -> (G,3) (15 feet by D&D maths)
Standard: Summon a Small Earth Elemental pop-up target at (H, -1). Lasts 4 rounds or until slain
Free: Order earth elemental in Terran
Elemental Standard: Ready to move up to block the Gargoyle's path should the wolf unsummon.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[Archwizard]

Str Check: [roll0]

Man, a 3?

The gargoyle struggles against the web, but doesn't manage to move at all.

Round 1 Done, Start Round 2

[RaggedAngel]

Pile continues to quickly move down the hallway, giving the more magically-inclined room to work. He heads as far as he can away from the gargoyle, effortlessly leaping over any pits in the way. He chooses to walk on only previously-searched squares, and when he can move no further he turns to face the monster should it escape. "When it comes out I can Enfeeble it, yes. I vote that we get as much range on this thing as possible. We can always backtrack, there's no need to be heroes."

Double move as far as he can. Jump, if he needs it: [roll0] [roll1]

[mote]

"I happen to like the tactical advantage of the hallway, actually."

Deana tells her wolf to stay the course in Infernal, then speaks the command to activate her boots, teleporting across the pit with a loud thpop!

Standard: Activate dimension stride boots to teleport to (H,3) (1 charge)
Free: Command summon

Dire Wolf (Sheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aixraw5eutLrdGQzZ1VnSldnNTRzMnFKUkJRdWNte EE&hl=en_US#gid=0))
Standard: Ready action to bite+trip as soon as Gargoyle gets in range, if bite or trip misses, take 5' step back (unless the elemental is still there, of course).
[roll0]
[roll1]
Free: Trip if bite hits
[roll2]

[Archwizard]

Pile jogs down the hall, easily jumping over a pit in the way.


Pile is now off-map in X1. I maintain a fullsize map on my computer, but displaying that here would be huge and a pain in the butt. If you guys don't mind a giant map in the thread I can put the full map up.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom stands ready to replace his summoned meatshield should the need arise.


Standard: Ready an action: Replace the Summoned Earth Elemental (Via Summon Elemental) with another one should the first be removed somehow (such as Dismissal, HP damage, or some other means).
Move: Nada.
Swift: Nada.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)

[TheDivineWind]

Lut continues to hold his action for a clear shot. His optimal shot would be to wait until the summon gets destroyed and let loose the shot before a backup summon can be put into place.


Hopefully the last rolls will still count. I liked those rolls! :smallbiggrin:

[Valwyn]

Niccolo still glares at the hallway, expecting something to erupt in any minute.

Sorry I took so long.

Still holding an action to blast the gargoyle if it breaks free from the web. Also:
Perseption: [roll0] in case he hears or sees something suspiciousahead of him.

[NullShadow]

Lorill waits for the perfect moment free of obstruction to spew a line of acid at the monstrous foe.

Does the creature appear to be made out of stone?

[Archwizard]

[roll0]

The gargoyle rips through the web spell and slowly moves forward towards the doorway.

Re: Stone, its skin does have a stony appearance and texture, but it moves more fluidly than any stone construct you know about.

End Round 2, Start Round 3.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile runs over his available magical power in his head, and he selects a spell he thinks will blunt the gargoyle's offensive power. He chants a few words, holding off on releasing the spell until after the gargoyle appears.

Readied action to cast Ray of Enfeeblement. He uses Inspiration on the Str damage roll.
Ranged Touch attack: [roll0]
Strength Damage: [roll1]
He should be a kitten after that hits him.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom sees that the stone beast hasn't even gotten to the summoned critter, yet, and so casts a spell to avoid falling into the pits. Meanwhile, he keeps the summoned elemental to its readied action.


Standard: Cast Air Walk on self. 90 minute duration.
Move: Meh.
Swift: Meh.
Free: Direct earth elemental.
Earth Elemental Standard: Ready action to move into place should the wolf go away.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)
Summon Elemental: 3 rounds remaining.
Air Walk

[mote]

=Reposting from OOC thread=

Deana sighs impatiently as the gargoyle fumbles through the webs like a lost child. "I guess I could lend him a hand."

She pulls a small candle from her pouch and recites an incantation as three fiery hounds appear around the gargoyle. On her command, flames engulf the creature and vaporize the surrounding webs. She nods to the dire wolf, telling him to stay the course.

Btw, I'm at (H,3). You forgot to move me :smalltongue:

Standard: Cast Sudden Maximized Summon Monster IV to summon 3 (1d3) Hell Hounds from the SM3 list to (H, -4), (G, -4), and (H, -6)
Bluff - (1d20)[18] (all but nat 1 wins)
Free: Command creatures

Hell Hounds (sheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aixraw5eutLrdEhXN2Y3MTRvQUVaYzZua3JFclpUW UE&hl=en_US#gid=0)- 38hp each)
Standard (All): Fire Breath, 10' cone, 2d6, DC 15 Reflex half
HH1 - (2d6)[9]
HH2 - (2d6)[2]
HH3 - (2d6)[7]
Plus Fire Damage - (2d4)[7] for catching him in burning webs

This should also clear out all the webs around the entrance to the room.

Dire Wolf (sheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aixraw5eutLrdGQzZ1VnSldnNTRzMnFKUkJRdWNte EE&hl=en_US#gid=0))
Standard: Ready bite + trip if gargoyle gets in 5'
Attack - (1d20+13)[22]
Damage - (1d8+15)[16]
Trip Str Check - (1d20+13)[21]

[Archwizard]

The hellhounds appear and bathe the gargoyle in flames. It manages to twist its body around to avoid the getting fully caught in any blast.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut keeps holding his attack for this round, waiting for a clear shot.

[Valwyn]

"It's getting a bit crowded here. How about we split up and attack it from both directions?" Niccolo suggests while preparing eldritch energy to blast the gargoyle.

Standard action: Eldritch Blast if the gargoyle gets in range. Which should happen if it moves any closer to the wolf.

[Valwyn]

re: IC/warlock, The gargoyle is 50' away, Eldritch Blast has a range of 60'. So blast away.

Show time. :smallcool:

Noticing the four-armed creature among the summoned creatures, Niccolo takes his chance. Muttering unholy words, the warlock raises his skull-shaped scepter and fires a ray of dark purple and black energy through it.

Attack roll [roll0]
Damage roll [roll1]
Spell resistance [roll2]

(By the way, the scepter part is fluff. I'm not using one of the charges)

[Archwizard]

The ray of energy hits the gargoyle and dances around its form, causing the gargoyle to snarl in pain and rage.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut grunts, "Indeed, it is a bit crowded here... Deana, if you would be so kind as to switch me places, I have a bit to send towards that thing as well." Lut begins to pull energy to him as he begins to craft the spell in his mind in a technique he has practiced for years and years.

Assuming Niccolo switches places, Lut unleashes that spell he's been waiting to unleash for awhile. From the earlier post (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=11944795&postcount=206):
Three ranged touch attack rolls:
25, 14, 26
And their corresponding damage rolls:
25, 21, 20

[Valwyn]

"Make it count," he says before making room for the sorcerer.

Move Action (which I didn't take before): fly upwards so that Lut has room to attack but Nick can descend for another attack without too much trouble. If not possible (or too much of a pain to keep track of), he'll move to 4E. Hopefully the rest of the party will take a hint and get out of the pit-filled area.

[Archwizard]

The gargoyle roars and attacks the hell hounds. Its first two claw attacks hit the first hound and rip it apart. It then turns to the second hound and the next two claw attacks rip that one apart. It finally focuses and the third hound, shredding that one as well.

After it finishes with the hounds, the gargoyle steps to the south, lining up with the hallway.

Okay, new map up. Party's turn.

[RaggedAngel]

Pile continues to wait for the monster to appear in the main hallway, his crackling Ray of Enfeeblement charged and waiting for the change to drain away some of the beast's hideous power.

Not much room to wait outside, so he'll remain down the hallway, holding his action.

[TheDivineWind]

Lut (finally) barks out the words of power and feels the energy he had pulled to him rush out of his fingertips in three brilliant flaming rays. The beams arch towards the creature, hungry for fuel to burn.

[Jack_Simth]

The invisible presence of Aldoom considers, walks up to the cieling, and readies his action to replace his earth elemental should it fall.


Move: Straight up "Invisible stairs" as permitted by Air Walk. 1/2 rate, so as much as 15 foot altitude gain. What's the cieling, again?
Standard: Ready action to replace the Earth elemental if it goes away.
Elemental standard: Ready action to move into the gargoyle's way if the wolf goes away.

Aldoom Burmor Cylilo (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=324704)
M LN Human Cloistered Cleric, Level 9, Init +3, HP 57/57, Speed 30
AC 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 15, Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +9, Base Attack Bonus 4
Supernatural, 5-foot Burst Fiery Burst (At-will) Reflex DC 18 half (5d6 fire, NA)
Continual Flame on blade Dagger +4 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Turn Undead 1d20+3 (2d6+10, )
Mithril Chain Shirt, Mithril Buckler (+4 Armor, +1 Shield, +3 Dex)
Abilities Str 11, Dex 16, Con 14, Int 13, Wis 16, Cha 13
Condition Invisibility, CL 3 (Ring)
Air Walk
Summon Elemental, 2 rounds remaining

[Valwyn]

From his new position, Niccolo steels his will and readies himself to let the monster have a taste of the Hells.

Standard action: Ready Brimstone Blast.
Attack: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1] fire damage
Spell resistance: [roll2]
Also, if the gargoyle fails a reflex save (DC 20), it takes 2d6 fire damage on the following round