Tomb of Horrors! [3.5] IC

[white rider]

In the far reaches of the world, under a lost and lonely hill, lies the sinister Tomb of Horrors. Terrible traps, strange and ferocious monsters, rich and magical treasures, and an evil demilich fill this labyrinthine crypt.
Roleplaying, rolls, and other in-class stuff goes here.
Have fun! :smallbiggrin:

You start in a small city, where you have all seen signs asking for people to go on a quest- a quest to find and explore the mysterious Tomb of Horrors...

[Kelvin360]

Looks like I'm in the right place after all. Davben thinks to himself. He glances to the signs and looks to see if there's someplace where one can register their interest...and get a map. He adjusts his gloves and keeps one hand on his sword.

[Daftendirekt]

Garbed in the vestments of a cleric of Olidammara, the gnome sits in the shade of an overhang, observing other potentials approaching the notice and reading it before heading inside. He strokes his cherrywood staff as he thinks, pondering just which of them will actually embark on the task. His feet firmly on the dirt road as he lounges on his barrel, he is ever aware of the multitude of people around him through his innate connection to the earth.

[riccaru]

Brice studies the poster carefully before heading off to find where he can gather a few people and some fresh new supplies. "Probably going to be one of those days..."

[Fan67]

The name of the place. This is what drew Gabriel's attention when he noticed the sign on the outer side of the tavern's door.

"Sounds promising... there might be something useful..."

He was wearing a simple monk's outfit when entered the city. After the long travel it was rather dirty. With a hairless head and one ear half-missing he probably looked more like a homeless vagrant.

Gabriel tore the sign from the door, asked somebody who walked by how to get to the adress, and went there, stopped only several times to ask couple of people about the place he was heading.

Gather Information: [roll0]
Knowledge (local): [roll1]

[Starbuck_II]

Hmm, well, looks like fun and treasure, but I might need a bit of help. Grim said reading the signs. He checked with a few people on the street about the signs before asking at the local tavern.

[roll0]

[white rider]

Both Grim and Gabriel find out that a reclusive old man, who lives in a tower outside the town, is looking for explorers for an expedition.

[white rider]

The various adventurers make their way to the tower, and stand among a line of applicants. As each makes their way to the front of the line, they are tested and quized in turn on their talents by a man in dark blue robes. As the hubbub of talking quiets down with the end of the questions, the man calls out six names.
"Grim! Face! Torian! Gabriel! Brice! Davben! Enter! The rest of you wannabees clear off!"
Following the man, you enter the tower, where he leads you to a room where an old man sits in a chair.
The man gestures to several stools. "Sit."

[Kelvin360]

Davben narrows his eyes suspiciously when his name is called, but heads inside. Once there, he sizes up everyone else and takes a seat. While it'd be very uncomfortable to draw his longsword from this position, he keeps a hand rather close to his left thigh, where a short sword is strapped. Just in case.

[Kelvin360]

"So," He says, giving the room another glance-over for traps or hidden assassins. Unlikely, he knows conciously, but old habits die hard. "Is this going to be a special expedition in some manner, or a standard search-and-grab?"

Spot (For really no reason but Dav's paranoid curiousity): [roll0]

[white rider]

"You will be trying to retrieve a certain gem, which I need as the focus for a spell."
*I'll make a longer post this afternoon I just don't have time right now, sorry.*

[Fan67]

Prior to arrival to the tower Gabriel changed his appearance by donning the chainmain and helmet.
Before entering he also attuned his senses to evil, illusions and lies.
Cast: Divine Insight ; Activate: Detect Evil ; Pierce Illusions is up

He didn't expect so many applicants, but waited thoroughly through the queue.

He quetly proceeded after the man who called his name.
He walked last so he could stay closest to the door, and chose to remain stationary after being offered a chair.

After the others had finalized their in-room locations prior to questiong their probable employer, Gabriel took a look at every person in the room, deciding whether he could risk joining them on any risk involving mission.

He waited until obvious question is asked and said:
"How do you know this jewelry of interest is within the limits of the mentioned tomb?"

[riccaru]

Brice went through the long procession with humble words, only telling them of his exploits when asked directly. As the group files into the room he unstraps his shield, setting it against his chair and his hammer resting across his lap. "The real question is, what sort of spell are you looking to perform?" He asks the man across from him. He too uses detect evil on the room and specifically the individual.

[white rider]

*Nobody detects any evil.*
"The gem is a large emerald, set into a bracelet in the shape of a coiled snake. I need it to test a spell that will remove any and all diseases in a large area. Now, would you like to know the specifics of your mission?

[Kelvin360]

"I'd say we'd be overjoyed to know specifics. Though, I don't suppose you have a foolproof map of the place." Any glances in his direction by the spellcasters would indicate that no (perhaps surprisingly), Davben isn't evil. He gives Brice and Gabriel odd glances for staring at the old guy, though.

[Starbuck_II]

So, what kind of reward will we get. I am all for your spell's effect, but the tomb is supposedly dangerous. My life is worth a decent amount. Grim said immediately.
Do you know if the gem is guarded by a specific being or just left there and protected by whatever traps are within?
Grim answered after he thought up his worry. Sigh, gem hunting, if it pays the bills, fine, but the man better be worth his time.
He does wonder why people stare at the old man, no manners he thought.

[white rider]

"Regrettably, I know very little about the place. And yes, it will be dangerous, but I am prepared to reward you handsomely for your services. Will twenty thousand gold on completion of the mission be enough?"

[Kelvin360]

Davben glances at the other assorted adventurers, secretly hoping a better diplomat than he is present. Though, he muses, There's always a need for loophole clarification.

"Do you mean twenty-thousand each or twenty thousand in a pot?" He asks, less out of concern for himself, but to make sure his new companions don't get short-changed.

[white rider]

"Each. This is risky business, and I will see you rewarded for good work."

[Fan67]

Gabriel's question was completely and surprizingly ignored by the old man.
He waited for several more questions to be asked, and when the man said he knows little about the Tomb, Gabriel tried to catch the slightest particle of lies.
Sense Motive (with Divine Insight): [roll0]

"If you claim to have limited knowledge of the Tomb, what makes you think this emerald is there?" - Gabriel asked suspiciously.

[white rider]

Gabriel cannot detect a single lie.
"I used powerful scrying to locate the gem, but I cannot guarantee that it is in the tomb. I know that the lich who created the tomb had the gem, and I assume that it is in the lich's fortress."

[Starbuck_II]

I'm willing to go on the mission, but any help with dealing with a demilich. I've never fought one. Any tips or anything?

Grim said after considering the danger.

[white rider]

"Hit it until it dies."

[Kelvin360]

"Yeah. That usually works." Clearly Davben has no clue what a demilich even is. "Still though, we might want to find an expert somewhere. Anyone in our charming little group a mage?"

[riccaru]

"The real question is, what will you give us to ensure our victory? It would be a shame if we... Didn't make it." Brice asks as he watches the others for a bit.

[white rider]

"As of yet, almost all my funds are being used to purchase the necessary components for the ritual. I can give you each a 5,000 gp advance on your payment, but for obvious reasons I do not wish to give you each the full amount now."

[Kelvin360]

"Count me out of the advance. I prefer to spend an eternity shopping after my work is done."

[Starbuck_II]

Deal me in with the advance, you never know when an extra 5K will help.
Grim said with a smile.

[white rider]

*bags of gold are handed to anyone who requests an advance*

[Kelvin360]

Davben resists the urge to shout 'He has the gold with him! Quick, jump him!' just to see who'd do it and recomposes himself.

"Well we aren't going to find anything just standing around. When do we leave?" It's patently obvious that he's anxious to go for more reasons than just the gem.

[Fan67]

Gabriel did not refuse the gold.
He weighted the bag in his hand and put it into his backback.

"Paying in advance to people who most probably will die is very optimistic of you. This gem might be of great value indeed. Anyway, while you did this powerful scrying on the gem, why don't you scry the tomb itself or at least its premises if the tomb is warded from scrying. Any intel would be of great value, if the place is as dangerous as you said. I doubt it stands with doors open wide. And by the way - what is your name and could you show exact location of the tomb on the map?"

After the coversation is finished and all the information is gathered, Gabriel proposes to decide meeting point and go for shopping. He also asks if anybody can cast teleport spell to jump somewhere near the Tomb or it is necessary to collect 1,125 gold pieces total for the scroll.

[white rider]

"The tomb is here", the man says, pulling out a map and pointing to a spot about a day's journey from where you are. "You can reach there by evening, and be ready to enter in the morning."

[Kelvin360]

Davben resists the urge to slam his face into a wall when Gabriel suggests everyone go on a shopping trip. Once everything is over with, he instead hits the town, asking around about any rumors or tips or, well, anything anyone might know about the tomb.

[roll0]

And also, he gets himself a bagel at one point. Because apparently he likes bagels. Go figure.

[Fan67]

Inquisitor assessed, that spending time on gathering information would be mostly useless, if even their employer, who used powerful divinations, lacks any information regarding the Tomb.

Instead Gabriel decided to go to the market and buy several scrolls, which might be useful in the dungeon, but are not so frequently used to be always memorized.

After that he heads to the meeting point and waits for the rest of the team to hit the road.


List of Purchases:

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/7299/tombofhorrors.jpg

[white rider]

Davben hears dozens of small rumors about the tomb, but nothing of note. The only definitive fact that is repeated over and over is that noone has returned from the tomb- ever.

[riccaru]

Brice goes and buys one thing. Diamond dust worth exactly the amount in the bag. Afterwards he arrives early at the meeting place, waiting for the others for a proper introduction.

[Kelvin360]

Before heading to the meeting place, Davben investigates one last thing;

Descriptions of adventurers who had gone in recently.

[roll0]

[Starbuck_II]

Grim decides he shall see if he can't hire some flunky/minions to help carry his gear or protect him (if they die, they die they die for a great cause: him)

[roll0]
Can I hire NPC or PC hirelings?
If I had a choice of NPCs: an expert of all knowledges might be useful (yes danger pay), an adept might provide extra spell power (healing, attack, buffing), and warriors will be a seconary meatshield (in case multiple enemies).

[white rider]

Davben hears that not many adventurers have entered the tomb lately, but one party, the swords of Evengard, entered about a month ago. Three strong warriors, two mages, and a hired trapfinder entered, but none have returned.
Grim finds that one can hire porters, but the local adept refuses to let his apprentice enter.
You can hire a porter for 300 gp, and a warrior for 1000.

[Starbuck_II]

Grim advertises that he will pay any hireling 1/2 upfront and is willing to hire up to two porters and two warriors if want the job. He wants one elf if possible (their ability to just know where doors are is useful).

After finding these he goes to meet the others at the meeting place.

[Kelvin360]

"I see you found some friends." Davben raises a brow when Grim arrives with his hirelings in tow. He's doing a routine check of all of his gear, but apparently he's done it so many times that he can root through his pockets while scanning the landscape. Maybe for bandits, maybe for flying velociraptors. Who knows.

[Starbuck_II]

Aye, they charge a bit, but I think extra help will be useful.
Grim said with a smile.

[Kelvin360]

Davben does a quick headcount of the group. "Where's the p- Oh there he is." He mutters a few things to himself and then glances over at the entrance.

"Hope no one has any regrets. We ready?"

[Fan67]

Gabriel patiently waited for the rest of the group to gather.

"I cannot help but notice, that the gnome, who most probably was the arcane part of our endeavour, is gone with the money. While I consider myself a very proficient spellcaster, without arcane support our chances of survival in that tomb are dim."

Also the inquisitor thought the group should keep a low profile on that mission, and was ... disappointed that Grim brought the whole troupe along, but Gabriel didn't say anything on that matter.

[Kelvin360]

"I guess the employer isn't going to be happy he paid up front then. Then again, maybe he's late." Davben seems to realize he actually just gave someone the benefit of the doubt, and blinks. "Probably not, though."

[Starbuck_II]

Gabriel patiently waited for the rest of the group to gather.

"I cannot help but notice, that the gnome, who most probably was the arcane part of our endeavour, is gone with the money. While I consider myself a very proficient spellcaster, without arcane support our chances of survival in that tomb are dim."

Also the inquisitor thought the group should keep a low profile on that mission, and was ... disappointed that Grim brought the whole troupe along, but Gabriel didn't say anything on that matter.

Well, a few others I hired will have to make up for the loss of the arcane caster, I guess. I attempted to hire a caster when I was looking for followers, but the only applicant was told no by his teacher. Why don't we wait a few hours, but if he isn't coming see how far we can go without the gnome, worse case we wasted a few hours at the tomb if we find a situation where we can't go further without him.
Grim said with a sigh.

[riccaru]

Well, a few others I hired will have to make up for the loss of the arcane caster, I guess. I attempted to hire a caster when I was looking for followers, but the only applicant was told no by his teacher. Why don't we wait a few hours, but if he isn't coming see how far we can go without the gnome, worse case we wasted a few hours at the tomb if we find a situation where we can't go further without him.
Grim said with a sigh.

Brice walks up quickly, being late from finding a place to find diamonds. Poor jeweller. Sold all that diamond just to see his cutting work smashed in front of him into a fine powder.

"Are we all set?

[Kelvin360]

"The gnome's late or vanished. If we're in no hurry and really need him around, I could try to track him down but...I can't exactly guarantee his cooperation. If he's just taking his time we could wait around and braid eachother's hair..." He grimaces. "But that's something I don't generally look forward to."