The Silent Perfection (IC)

[Starbin]

Praz Wavechaser Minotaur Hunter

Praz winced, rubbing his ears a bit to get rid of the ringing. Peering at the statue, he pause for a moment, then grunted, ”Another statue ... I don't know what these are for. If it's supposed to be good, why did it try to hurt us?

Guess we move onward ... unless we should check for more secret doors?"

---

Guess we have one more corridor in this section, right? Praz is ready to head onward

Spoiler: OOC

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HPs: 68 AC: 17 Initiative +3, Pass Dex: 16
Str +7 Dex +5 Con +2 Int -1 Wis +3 Cha +0 / Move 30’
Athletics +7; Stealth +5; Nature +1; Perception +6; Stealth +6
Equipment: greatsword (+7, 2d6S)
Effects: n/a

[Kalashak]

"My father always said you could find the measure of a man in how he keeps his workspace. What does that say about this sculptor, hiding it away behind false walls and ghosts?" Marie idly looks over the tools, absentmindedly pocketing the smallest hammer and chisel.

[WhismurWanders]

Thogran inspects the statue, attempting to discern how long ago the work stopped; how much more exposed was the bottom half compared to the top half?

Spoiler

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History:(1d20+10)[27]

[Bobthewizard]

Miko

Miko picks up the cloak to investigate it.

"This looks interesting. Would anyone like to carry it with us?"

[LurkytheDwarf]

Thogran enters and begins going over the chamber. As he does so, Marie inspects the various tools and discovers the smallest hammer and chisel used only for the finer detail work which disappear into her pocket.

Miko picks up the inky black cloak which unfurls in a wave of shadow which to all indicates a magical nature. In a slim pocket inside the cloak, the former pirate discovers two scrolls: one a generic dweomer which anyone could read to produce a random magical effect [As a one time use of a Wand of Wonder] and the other her particular mystical training instantly identifies as a Spell Scroll of Dream.

Spoiler: Thogran

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Intelligence (History) is not quite appropriate here, and the room offers little clues that spark Thogran's memory. But your passive Investigation score gives you the impression that this statue-carving process is still ongoing to this day, with fresh bare-footed humanoid tracks in the dust across the ground and the tools relatively clean.

Spoiler: Valin

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As Miko unfurls the cloak, you experience a moment of shock. A very similar garment was frequently worn by Erian Jaxmoor.

[WhismurWanders]

Thogran points out the footprints to the others. "The sculptor was working here rather recently. These are strange folks indeed. Dissecting that poor woman, studying orcs, even encountering some affiliated with your good friend, Rodan of Rulk, Prince Valin. Whoever is working here seems to have only limited knowledge of R'Arathis and its people."

[Kvard51]

Valin stares at the cloak, a momentary feeling of fear washing over him. "That cloak belongs to one of my father's retainers, and a very good friend. This sculptor had better pray she is still alive." The grim look on his face lends credence to his words.

We should push on. I mean to find Jax before something happens to her, if I can."

[Starbin]

Praz Wavechaser Minotaur Hunter

Praz nodded and took the lead back to the main chamber, ready to head towards the final corridor. ”I’ll check the dead end for hidden doors first, then we can head down the last corridor, yes?" After checking the hall, Praz returned to the others and nodded towards the last corridor.

A thought struck him as they headed down. ”Does anyone think it strange we are finding things we are familiar with? Strange for a place so far and remote, yes?”

---

Perception - (1d20+6)[15]

Spoiler: OOC

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HPs: 68 AC: 17 Initiative +3, Pass Dex: 16
Str +7 Dex +5 Con +2 Int -1 Wis +3 Cha +0 / Move 30’
Athletics +7; Stealth +5; Nature +1; Perception +6; Stealth +6
Equipment: greatsword (+7, 2d6S)
Effects: n/a

[Esprit15]

”Somewhat? You travel enough, you meet a lot of people,” Trix says dismissively.

[LurkytheDwarf]

Because of the advantage of having encountered an example hidden door already, Praz notices the telltale signs of another one in the south wall of the empty, dead-end chamber. Marie is quick to point out it is right next to the spot where the shadowy figures were huddled.

With the team realigned, the secret door is opened. But it reveals the room of the unfinished statue which the party has already discovered. If the first hidden door was left open, the party can gaze straight through the sculpting room and into the laboratory.

Spoiler: Thogran

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Your comprehend languages spell has ended.

[LurkytheDwarf]

A metallic clatter echoes through the subterranean compound you occupy. Those in the first statue room witness a crabbers' cage tumble down the steps from the lighthouse above into the chamber. It is filled with translucent, alien crustaceans, writhing, and stinking of the sea. A stoppered, metal jug bounces down the steps and comes to rest behind the cage.

From the curving, narrow staircase leading back to the first floor of the lighthouse, a steady monotone voice intones: "More Easterlings? Of course you are; the ratfolk would not dare...

"Take the sustenance and secure yourself in the gaol with the rest. I will deal with you on the morrow after I have collected my thoughts. Perhaps you will be more decorous than your previous ilk." There is a splash, and the constant low rumble of the whirlpool from the chamber above ends. Quiet falls upon the party.

[Bobthewizard]

Miko

Hoping the others follow her, Miko puts the cloak and the scrolls in her bag, and then sets out to explore the stairs to see if she can reach the owner of the voice that just called down, her shield in one hand and a brass belaying pin in her other.

[Esprit15]

Trix shouts in the direction of the voice. ”And just who in the Nine Hells are you!?” She runs up the stairs, axe drawn.

[Kvard51]

Valin follows the others up the steps, but fears it is a waste of resources. The confident voice would not have given itself away so easily if he wasn't either prepared for a fight or prepared to escape. But, if it is to be a fight, Valin would not leave his companions to face it alone.

[LurkytheDwarf]

Jumping over the writhing crab trap and metal flagon, Miko and Trix rushed up the steps to the first level of the lighthouse. Valin followed but with a bit more caution, though perhaps it nagged at him the voice's words, "... in the gaol with the rest." And his thoughts turned to the cloak they had found.

The steep, spiraling stairwell ends in a barrier. The whirlpool in the basin above had ceased, and suspended above Miko and Trix's heads was the same mirror-like liquid blocking the exit. In its reflection, they see their faces, black craters where their eyes should be.

[Esprit15]

Trix glares at the mirroring liquid, before taking out the eyeballs she had collected earlier and tries to feed them into the surface.

[LurkytheDwarf]

Trix pushes the eyes up into the mirrored liquid. Same as before the ripple they create begins to swirl until the whole of the basin is a whirlpool. It exposes the first floor of the lighthouse which is the same as when the party left it, except halfway up the stairs to the second level stands a... man?

The figure is big, easily as tall as the minotaur Praz. Clean-shaven with close-cropped hair, Trix identifies him as the subject of the second, unfinished statue. He wears a red robe with the silver symbol of the ziggurat and four-pointed star in the circle. From head-to-toe, he is soaking wet.

He muses with a hint of disappointment, "Impressive to be both more clever than the last Easterlings..." He turns and looks at Trix and as he does he exposes a graphic sight: a black and ruinous scar runs the length of his head, years and years old and poorly healed; it looks like he took a battleaxe to the skull, a wound which should have killed any mortal man. "And yet still be so very dumb."

The twelve corpses in the alcoves open their eyes and their dry, unyielding gaze falls on Trix.

[WhismurWanders]

Thogran keeps up with the party and braces for whatever might come next. This whole situation was slowly eroding his normally stoice demeanor, growing more intense and more gruesome with each new revelation, but he was sent here on a mission. He wouldn't fail.

[Kalashak]

Marie stares up the stairs, not quite sure what's happening. She decides to follow the others' lead here but keeps the sun blade on and prepares herself for this situation to go awry.

[Esprit15]

"Funny, I'm not the one with damage to my skull," Trix scoffs. She shouts an incantation as she charges toward the humanoid, doing her best to get in the path of him and his escape. The rest of the party would probably notice that as her footsteps approach the man, they go silent.

Spoiler

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Move next to the man, casting Silence, centered on him.

[LurkytheDwarf]

Trix flings her spell and bounds to the base of the stairs confronting the red-robed man. The barbarian chieftain can smell the stink of fresh seawater, the same as the translucent crabs in the cage which had come tumbling down the stairs into the statue room. His lips move in noiseless speech and up this close something strikes Trix as truly unnatural about his movements. Without sound to his words he pauses and his face sinks to expressionlessness.

He turns on Trix and raises huge hands against her.

Spoiler: Initative

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So if everyone remembers, we are using Speed Factor Initiative (DMG pg 270), and don't forget the initiative modifier table on 271. Everyone is going to state what they plan to do for the turn, roll attacks/damage (should they want to attempt such) and roll initiative, once that's done I'll narrate the results and we'll start again the next turn. Because I don't want this to drag out for three days, I'm going to respond with whoever has posted by late tonight.

INITIATIVE:(1d20-1)[12]

[WhismurWanders]

Thogran backs up away from the dome of silence, and begins casting his own spell. He fishes a small clay hand from his component pouch as he begins incanting, causing dirt and dust to coalesce into a much larger hand adjacent to their adversary to cut off its retreat up the stairway. The hand clenches into a fist once before unclenching and swiping at the stranger, hoping to grab him and hold him still.

Spoiler

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Thogran backs up so he doesn't run into problems with Silence.

Initiative: (1d20+1)[11]
Casting Maximilian's Earthen Grasp

• Components: VSM
• Range: 30 ft.
• Summons a Medium-sized hand which occupies a 5 foot square within range
• The hand reaches for a target you can see, which must pass a DC 15 Strength Save or be Restrained and take (2d6)[7] Bludgeoning Damage
• To end the restrained condition, the target must use its Action to pass a DC 15 Strength Check
• As an action, I can cause the hand to crush a restrained target, or assign it a different creature within range to restrain.

[Bobthewizard]

Miko

Miko springs from the pool into the open area above, moving backwards to allow others to exit. She holds her belaying pin and shoots two eldritch blasts at the man on the stairs, then continues to back away form the zombies in case they start to move.

Spoiler: OOC

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Initiative (1d20+2)[11]

Eldritch Blast: (1d20+9)[27] damage (1d10+5)[10]

Second blast: (1d20+9)[22] damage (1d10+5)[12]

Using lance of lethargy to reduce his speed by 10'.

If he moves forward with his turn, then add repelling blast to move him back 10 or 20' into the area of silence.

[Kalashak]

Hearing a shout and charging footsteps snaps Marie out of her confusion. She darts up the stairs, drawing a dagger in her offhand as she does. Marie briefly takes stock of the situation before moving opposite of Trix and attacking.

Spoiler

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I've never used Speed Factor so I may have messed this up, dexterity modifier+rakish audacity+using a finesse weapon
(1d20+10)[24]
(1d20+10)[23] Sun blade
(1d8+7)[14] radiant damage if the above hits
(1d20+8)[13] dagger
(1d4)[2] dagger damage
(4d6)[15] Sneak attack, if applicable

[Kvard51]

Valin growls low in his throat when he sees the scarred figure. He sprints across the room to face him, "You will pay for what you've done. That woman below didn't deserve her fate, and neither does Jax!"

He stops just out of reach and calls upon the power of his oath, hoping to cower the man before engaging in battle.

Spoiler: Mechanics

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Initiative (w/ Advantage): (1d20+1)[17], (1d20+1)[13]

Move to within 10' and use Channel Divinity: Conquering Presence to force him to Will save (DC 16) or be frightened for 1 minute. If he fails, moveent is reduced to zero due to Aura of Conquest and he will take
4 Psychic damage at the beginning of his turn. Save again each round.)

[Esprit15]

Trix, being unable to speak a spell, simply swings her axe at the man.

Spoiler

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Not sure how AoO work with this, but if he provokes one, Trix will grapple him.

Axe (Magical, Silver):
(1d20+9)[28]
(1d8+6)[11]

(1d20+9)[25]
(1d8+6)[7]

[LurkytheDwarf]

A flurry of activity follows Trix's decisive action.

Fast as lightning Marie leaps to action, springing from the tunnel in the basin and bounding over to the red-robed man. Her Sun Blades cleaves through robe and digs into the strangely resilient flesh but her dagger, though striking true, harmlessly skitters off his skin. Trix follows up with a round of battleaxe strikes that leave long gashes in his exposed arms. Up close, Trix and Marie can tell that he does not bleed.

Valin follows after and though Trix's silence spell does rob his declaration of justice of its impact, there is no doubting the menacing atmosphere which he exudes. Despite the prince focusing his malice elsewhere, even those of the party familiar with him felt an instant of shiver. Of their foe, beside a sideways glance, it brought no change to his expressionless face.

The huge hands in front of Trix balled into fists and came down upon her.

Spoiler: Trix

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(1d20+7)[22] for (2d8+4)[8] magical blundgeoning damage.
(1d20+7)[12] for (2d8+4)[14] magical blundgeoning damage.

For each hit, make a Constitution save (DC 10 or half the damage whichever is higher) to maintain Concentration. You are with Valin's +5 save aura

Miko Daitan emerges and recognizes that the area just above the basin is within the magical silence. She jumps back to the half of the round chamber away from the stairs up, where she can give voice to her magic. Unfortunately, the remaining corpses in the alcoves are scattered across the whole of the room and not easy to avoid. Still, she casts two eldritch blasts which strike the enemy, searing black marks into his red robes.

Thogran emerges from the tunnel only long enough to cast his magic and retreats back inside for cover. The earthen hand forms behind their foe and attempts to grab him.

Spoiler: NPC Saving Throw

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Magic Resistance
(1d20+4)[20]
(1d20+4)[5]

Of the twelve corpses in the alcoves surrounding the chamber, four lurch forward. Though their movements are jerky and uneven, three cross the distance to the mass melee around the stairs to the second level of the lighthouse. Two close on Marie and the third approaches Valin, their rotting fists and dreadful glares falling upon both. A fourth, the only one on the far side of the chamber to animate, shambles over to Miko striking out for her as well.

Spoiler: Marie

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Corpse #1
(1d20+5)[17] for (2d6+3)[13] bludgeoning damage plus (3d6)[11] necrotic damage. If hit make a DC 12 Constitution save.

Also, make a DC 11 Wisdom save against a fear effect.

Corpse #2
(1d20+5)[16] for (2d6+3)[6] bludgeoning damamge plus (3d6)[12] necrotic damage. If hit make a DC 12 Constitution save.

Also, make a DC 11 Wisdom save against a fear effect.

On all the saves you benefit from Valin's +5 save bonus.

Spoiler: Valin

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(1d20+5)[19] for (2d6+3)[10] bludgeoning damage plus (3d6)[12] necrotic damage. If hit make a DC 12 Constitution save.

Also, make a DC 11 Wisdom save against a fear effect.

Spoiler: Miko

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Roll an Intelligence (Arcana) check.

(1d20+5)[14] for (2d6+3)[11] bludgeoning damage plus (3d6)[9] necrotic damage. If hit make a DC 12 Constitution save.

Also, make a DC 11 Wisdom save against a fear effect.

You are outside Valin's Aura of Protection radius.

Spoiler: Everybody

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I'm going to see what kind of hits land and who makes what saving throws, then I'll say what conditions any may be facing and set up the next round. Then everyone can dictate their actions and roll.

[Starbin]

Praz Wavechaser Minotaur Hunter

Praz followed the others back to the room they first entered, but the portal was gone! In a flash of insight, Trix pulled out the extra eyes she was carrying and managed to open the gate once more. But before Oraz could react to the situation or the strange figure lurking on the stairs, his companions leapt into combat.

The minotaur hesitated, uncertain what was going on. But when the large man shrugged off several blows without flinching, and the dead began to attack the others, Praz clenched his teeth and moved to engage, his doubts pushed aside. Marie was as being attacked by two foes, so Praz moved forward with his giant blade and attacked.

---

Advantage on initiative: (2d20)[16][17](33)+1=18. Move to help Marie, attack one of the chumps on her.
Attack 1 - (1d20+7)[20], Dam - (2d6+4)[11], Attack 2 - (1d20+7)[22], Dam - (2d6+4)[11]. Add (1d8)[1] if Praz strikes a target at less than full hp.

Spoiler: OOC

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HPs: 68 AC: 17 Initiative +3, Pass Dex: 16
Str +7 Dex +5 Con +2 Int -1 Wis +3 Cha +0 / Move 30’
Athletics +7; Stealth +5; Nature +1; Perception +6; Stealth +6
Equipment: greatsword (+7, 2d6+4S)
Effects: n/a

[Bobthewizard]

Spoiler: Miko's check and save

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Arcana: (1d20+3)[5]

Wisdom Save: (1d20+4)[13]

[Esprit15]

Trix grins as the withered man shrugs off the weapon blows. She silently shouts at the man and swings again.

Spoiler

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Initiative: (1d20+3)[18]

Attack: (1d20+9)[11]
Damage: (1d8+6)[11]

Attack: (1d20+9)[17]
Damage: (1d8+6)[11]