Cosmic Hunters (IC)

[remetagross]

After having sifted through Teru's cellar, Ux Utanar turns to Delja and Myriad.
"Nice to see you back in one piece. Has any of you two found any reference to these two names in the books we have found there, by the way?" The dragonborn embraces the room with a gesture of his arms.
"Anyway, I suppose we are done here. Let's see about all this blood you have found. I hope it's not the blood of a planeswalker. Ereshki, come here. This might be a little disorienting, but trust me."
The dire bat swoops down and lands near its master on her claws, steadied by his hand on its head.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Auto-success on the Handle Animal check for the "come" trick so that the mount follows through even in an unnatural space.

[chaincomplex]

Once again Myriad attunes herself to the sphere, retreading a now-familiar path in its arcane ciphers as winds blow around her, and with a sharp pull she and her compatriots, joined by touch, are brought into its scintillating surface.

The world resolves around them and she once again finds herself in the quiet empty chambers of the other. Where prior journeys were relatively uneventful however, this one was was punctuated by a moment of confusion as the party is forcefully shunted into a small space with Ereshki. The dire bat tumbles awkwardly to the side.

It is a Handle Animal (DC 23) check to prevent Ereshki from screeching in alarm.

It is a Balance (DC 20) check to maintain footing during the tumultuous arrival.

[Geeksthenewsexy]

A sharp intake of breath comes from Myriad as she stumbles from being jostled by the unexpectedly rough transition. Holding out her arm to try to steady herself, she visibly grimaces at the less than optimal entrance. Aaaaand promptly falls on her butt with a wince of pain and embarrassment.

Spoiler: Statblock

Show

Myriad
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2, Level 20, Init 8, HP 222/222, Speed 30' Land
AC 34, Touch 24, Flat-footed 28, Fort 22, Ref 24, Will 22, Base Attack Bonus +16/+11/+6
+4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC) +20 (3d6, x2)
Sneak Attack Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
+5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
Condition Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
Active Invocations & Effects Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
Other Defenses SR 25, Mettle

Spoiler: Automatic Search Check

Show

If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps: (1d20+37)[49][

Balance to keep from falling: (1d20+9)[10]
Listen for indication anything noticed their graceless entrance: (1d20+27)[44]

[Metastachydium]

Delja shifts away from poor Ereshki with nonchalant grace, slipping between Myriad and Ux Utanar. She still has some of it and that's certainly a relief. Still, being able to keep herself from doing the flop is no reason to get all smug. Sniffing the air, she shrugs her cloak off the blade bound to her right and lokks around, listening intently for any noise not made by her her own companions. This place does indeed look off; it might be free of traps, but that hardly means it's truly safe. Someone or something drew blood here and whatever it were, it could still be close by.

Spoiler: OOC

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Listen: (1d20+24)[27]

[remetagross]

Ux Utanar falls head over heels in the least possible dignified way. Still on his butt, he recognizes Ereshki about to cawk frantically at the unnatural experience. Frowning, he whistles a specific tweet at her intention. The dire bat regains its composure, and steadies itself in silence, more or less. That done, and if allowed, Ux Utanar gets back to its feet, patting it.
"It's alright, friend. I'm right here."
Ux Utanar looks around, the hand still on the saddle of his mount.
"So this is it, Myriad. What can you tell us of that place already?"

Spoiler: OOC

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The Handle Animal check is an auto-success.

[chaincomplex]

Delja and Myriad listen attentively for anyone, or anything, that may have reacted to their arrival. Myriad's breastplate gave a solid click as it contacted the flagstone, fortunately not as loud or screeching as it would have been were it not of mithral make or enchanted with easy travel. Between Ux's weight and his thick scales he gave a weighty thump as he tumbled, a noise that would have been heard a room over in the average Cormyrean house, but the walls of this new place he finds himself looks (hopefully) more robust.

There is silence. Delja hears nothing.

Myriad, however, hears something begin to move far behind the southern doors. She can only barely pick up the noise, it is as imperceptible as a mice crawling behind several layers of stone, but hear it she does. First, the sounds of chains clinking; then the strange sounds of something squirming, drawing closer.

Myriad hears somewhere, far behind the thick southern doors, another set of heavy doors swing open.

There is plenty of time for both Myriad and Ux to regain their footing. Ereshki gently nudges Ux as he pats her, a motion he recognizes as its way of expressing concern over her master.

[Geeksthenewsexy]

Hopping to her feet, Myriad waves a hand sharply at her companions to get their attention and points first at her ear and then towards where she's heard something. Her dagger appearing in her hand faster than most people blink, she darts towards where she pointed even as she fades from view, becoming invisible. Her companions know Myriad runs toward danger far more often than running from it, so the fact she's burning through her limited ability to turn invisible, she must expect a fight, and isn't taking chances with their lives - after all, she's their ride out of this place if things go sideways.

Spoiler: Statblock

Show

Myriad
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2, Level 20, Init 8, HP 222/222, Speed 30' Land
AC 34, Touch 24, Flat-footed 28, Fort 22, Ref 24, Will 22, Base Attack Bonus +16/+11/+6
+4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying +27/+22/+17 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC) +20 (3d6, x2)
Sneak Attack Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
+5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
Condition Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
Active Invocations & Effects Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
Other Defenses SR 25, Mettle

Spoiler: Automatic Search Check

Show

If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps: Room Already Cleared[

Standard Action: Using her 1/Day Silver Key SLA Invisibility (Su) as a 20th level caster - Duration 20 minutes.
Free Action: Drawing her Dagger (Quick Draw feat)
Move Action: Position herself near the door for an ambush. Plan to stay behind whatever it is as it enters to flank it as it spots and goes for her companions.

Move Silently(1d20+33)[44]
Initiative (If Needed): (1d20+8)[9]

[Metastachydium]

Delja grimaces as she's doing her best to follow Myriad's lead in approaching the indicated door without producing too much noise. She used to have a good ear. She's supposed to have it still. No matter, though. She shouldn't be easy to jump, let alone touch regardless. She takes up position opposite where she estimates Myriad to be, slightly off to the side but in plain view of the door, dropping into a stable, defensove stance.

Spoiler: OOC

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Alright, Delja Moves Silently towards the door: (1d20+15)[23]; once there, she drops into Total Defense, raising her AC to 73 (T 64, FF not really a thing).

Initiative, if needed: (1d20+14)[19]

[remetagross]

Ux Utanar almost starts to ask Myriad about what is going on, when he sees her in hurried action. He hops on his feet too, then mounts on Ereshki, patting it back on his way. The dire bat then stations itself square in front of the door, a few meters from it, ready to welcome anything that will go through fair and square.

[chaincomplex]

There are heavy, slick thuds as whatever it is beyond the southern doors approaches. At first only Myriad hears it but soon Delja and Ux do as well. A minute passes, then the noises stop just beyond the doors. The door handles shift at first slowly, then suddenly all at once and the doors are thrown open.

What stands before Ux are two large aberrations in a wide and long hall. Drying gore is caked all over the floors and walls, and along the far end runes embed the floor, walls, and ceiling, though all their patterns look charred, scratched, or chunked off.

The aberrations themselves are large, roughly oblong, rot-grey fleshy things with gaping, slavering maws and tentacles slick with some kind of foul secretion. Each has a single, massive bloodshot eye darting frantically about the room. After a moment the party realizes each of the tentacles also has a mouth on it, or something resembling a cross between a mouth and a suction cup.

A nauseating aura—part actual smell of rot, part supernatural force, the presence of something foul and not of the waking world—immediately hits the party like a jolt of lightning. Ux bears the brunt of its effects—he must make a Fortitude save (DC 20) to avoid being sickened.

The frontmost aberration A1 opens its maw and speaks in what can only be described as a human child's voice. "Would you like to play, little boy?" Its tentacles move about, tasting the air, then its massive red eye centers on Ux. "Come with me, little boy..." It lunges forward.

────────────────────────────────

Turn Order: A2, Player Block, A1.

While the party reacts faster than the frontmost aberration, the aberration A2, poised on a its tentacles like a spring, acts immediately. It chitters nonsensically as its eye flashes with power, and immediately the party feels their senses and motor functions being suffocated by some unseen force. All party members (including Ereshki) must make a Will save (DC 20) to avoid paralysis.

Afterwards, the aberration moves to the center of the corridor at V20.

It is now the Player Block.

[remetagross]

Ux Utanar and his mount ward off the effects trying to impede them. The Dragonborn steadies himself in his stirrups, and locks gazes with the unholy monstrosity before him. He answers its call with a clear and calm voice.
"Who are you, what are you, where do you come from, and what do you know of the whereabouts of one Master Teru?"

His lance springs to his hand while Ereshki slowly rises above the ground in a precise flutter of wings.
"Don't come forward with violent intention or you will meet violence in return. You have been warned fairly." Ux Utanar steels himself for the oncoming assault and tries to keep both creatures's movements in his field of view.

Spoiler: OOC

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Ereshki takes a full-round action to take the "retreat" action and move up her movement without provoking AoOs. Since her maneuverability is perfect, she can move in any direction with no minimal forward motion, so she rises 5ft above the ground.

Ux Utanar takes a free action to unsheathe his lance (because it has a lesser crystal of alacrity, which grants Quick Draw with some other benefits). I'm not sure of my AoO-fu, but as far as I remember, free actions do not provoke AoOs.
Then a standard action to ready a breath attack if the A1 aberration moves one square forward. That breath attack will be a 100ft long line of electricity dealing ((7d8)[34] /2 ) damage, Ref 30 for half damage. That should cover both creatures. If any takes damage, for (1d4)[1] rounds it is also entangled and will take an additional 1d6 point of electricity damage at the beginning of that number of Ux Utanar's future rounds. The cooldown for the breath weapon is (1d4)[3] rounds.

Aberration A is designated as the target for the Shield Block class feature of Ux Utanar, which increases his AC to 39 against that foe specifically.

In addition to this, Ux Utanar threatens for AoOs in a 10ft square around him, thanks to his lance and his shield spikes, even if the foes make 5ft steps. Tumble checks to get past him without AoOs suffer a -20 penalty. In case Ux Utanar is allowed an AoO, he attacks with his lance: to-hit (1d20+31)[49] and damage (1d8+5)[9]. Ux Utanar uses the Standstill feat so that in case he hits something, no damage is dealt, but instead the opponent makes a Ref save of 10+damage dealt and has to stop moving at once in case of failure.

[Metastachydium]

Delja greets the newcomers with a surprised and, yet, strangely appreciative nod. You are ugly, aren't you? she wonders aloud, as she springs forward, slipping under the dire bat and dances through the door to skirt around the frontmost creature and get behind it, while resisting the urge to do a facepalm as Ux Utanar begins to inquire about Teru's whereabouts.

But then, at least he didn't politely introduce himself this one time. That's got to count as an improvement of sorts. She better just sting the uglies for now.

Spoiler: OOC

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So, Delja has Swift Tumbler, and so, she can Tumble and still move 25' to set up that flank. Here's a Tumble check: (1d20+27)[41]
If she gets through without incident, she'll ATTACK A1 from behind, fighting defensively (her AC drops from 73 to 71 (T 62) or 79 (T 70) if she provokes an AoO): (1d20+26)[29] for (1d6+20)[21] adamantine magic and piercing plus (1d6)[4] cold and (1d4)[2] force.

[Geeksthenewsexy]

With a flash of steel, Myriad pops into other visible spectrum once more, now flanking the creature Delja targeted, dagger snaking out and stabbing at its flesh repeatedly. "This is my special key! It unlocks your insides so they become your outsides!" she says cheerily with a disturbingly cheery grin on her currently dwarvish face.

Spoiler: Statblock

Show

Myriad
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2, Level 20, Init 8, HP 222/222, Speed 30' Land
AC 34, Touch 24, Flat-footed 28, Fort 22, Ref 24, Will 22, Base Attack Bonus +16/+11/+6
+4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC) +20 (3d6, x2)
Sneak Attack Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
+5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
Condition Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
Active Invocations & Effects Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
Other Defenses SR 25, Mettle

Spoiler: Automatic Search Check

Show

If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps: Room Already Cleared[

Move Action: 5' step from door adjacent to the doorway opposite Delja to flank.
Full-Round Attack
Dagger Attack One (Flanked) (1d20+29)[48] for (1d4+10)[12] piercing damage + (1d6)[3] Vampiric damage & (8d6)[25] Precision dmaage.
Dagger Attack Two (Flanked) (1d20+24)[40] for (1d4+10)[13] piercing damage + (1d6)[1] Vampiric damage & (8d6)[27] Precision dmaage.
Dagger Attack Three (Flanked) (1d20+19)[28] for (1d4+10)[14] piercing damage + (1d6)[4] Vampiric damage & (8d6)[27] Precision dmaage.
Dagger Attack Four (Flanked) (1d20+14)[27] for (1d4+10)[13] piercing damage + (1d6)[3] Vampiric damage & (8d6)[26] Precision dmaage.

Would normally gain HP equal to Vampiric damage dealt. Ineffective because she is at full HP.

[chaincomplex]

Delja, supernaturally swift as she is, repositions before the aberration can react and strikes true. Foul, steaming goop pours out of the wound she inflicts. The aberration screams continuously with the uncanny voice of a human child. Immediately after, Myriad fulfills her spoken promise: her flurry of strikes vivisects the same aberration into its constituent parts, large chunks of silently quivering flesh, soon to fall inanimate. It is gone.

Undeterred, perhaps not even cognizant of its partner's demise, the other aberration A2 unleashes a full attack on Delja while muttering repetitively in a child's voice, "The girl eats the snail in the garden. The girl eats the snail in the garden." Four slams and a bite with one of its tentacle mouths—all of which Delja dodges with the very grace and effortlessness of the wind. It slithers back 5 feet.

It is now the Players' Block.

[remetagross]

"Now, if you keep trying to harm us, we have to answer." Ux Utanar knows the knight code has been followed here: the abominations have had their chance to stop assaulting them. He spurs Ereshki onward and roars out a cry of challenge:
"Face me now, or die for the Platinum Dragon!"
Letting his shield clang to the floor, he seizes his lance with both hands and tries to plunge it right through the monstrosity's eye as Ereshki comets forward to crash into the thing, flying right above Delja.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Ereshki takes a full-round action to charge at the monster.
Ux Utanar: swift action to issue a Knight's Challenge to the creature (it will not work if the creature's CR is less than 18), +5 morale bonus to to-hit and damage for 17 rounds.
Standarc action: charge attack with Power Attack -6, to-hit: (1d20+27)[28], damage (multiplied by 4 by using a lance, and a Valorous Weapon, and Spirited Charge), (1d8+25)[28] x4

[Metastachydium]

Thoroughly satisfied with how much her muscles still remember from the good days of old, Delja shifts back cautiously in pursuit of the creature, trying hard not to step into the goo. It doesn't look like something she would like to have on her skin. Ux Utanar crashing into the creature while bellowing religious slogans just a mere foot above her head, on the other hand, is much more impressive a sight. She has to give the knight this much: he has style.
You need help with that? she calls up, quizically and in a manner much less solemn, punctuating the question with a quick succession of measured stabs.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

5' step and full-attack on A2, defensively for AC 71: (1d20+26)[38] for (1d6+20)[22] adamantine P, (1d6)[2] cold and (1d4)[4] force;
(1d20+21)[28] for (1d6+20)[24] adamantine P, (1d6)[2] cold and (1d4)[1] force;
(1d20+16)[19] for (1d6+20)[24] adamantine P, (1d6)[1] cold and (1d4)[4] force;
and (1d20+11)[17] for (1d6+20)[22] adamantine P, (1d6)[1] cold and (1d4)[4] force.

[Geeksthenewsexy]

Twirling her dagger with a flourish and slightly unnervingly maniacal grin, Myriad dashes past the remains of the slain abomination, circling around her companions to feint and stab at the second enemy.

Spoiler: Statblock

Show

Myriad
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2, Level 20, Init 8, HP 222/222, Speed 30' Land
AC 34, Touch 24, Flat-footed 28, Fort 22, Ref 24, Will 22, Base Attack Bonus +16/+11/+6
+4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC) +20 (3d6, x2)
Sneak Attack Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
+5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
Condition Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
Active Invocations & Effects Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
Other Defenses SR 25, Mettle

Spoiler: Automatic Search Check

Show

If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps: Room Already Cleared

Move Action: 30' to get within melee range.step from door adjacent to the doorway opposite Delja to flank.
Free Action: Feint (automatic take-10) Bluff = 60 vs Sense Motive check or become flat-footed (if not immune).
Stabdard Action: Dagger Attack vs A2 (1d20+27)[47] for (1d4+10)[12] piercing damage + (1d6)[6] Vampiric damage & (if not immune to Feinting and if they fail Sense Motive DC 60) (8d6)[42] Precision dmaage.
NOTE: Natural 20 on attack roll. Rolling to confirm crit for double damage in OOC thread.
Would normally gain HP equal to Vampiric damage dealt. Ineffective because she is at full HP.

[chaincomplex]

Ux's charge misses the aberration as it quickly prances out of his path. "Where are we, papa?" it squeals. Ux notes that the aberration did not seem to respond to his challenge.

Delja's flurry strikes once, tearing grey flesh and chilling the wound as the aberration manages to dodge the other strikes. She notes that it does not seem to be hurt by the chill.

Then Myriad moves in and delivers the final strike, a brutally precise attack piercing deep within its eye. As its foul, dark blood splashes everywhere, it seems to almost survive the blow and begins to crawl away, but the vampiric negative energy imbued within the changeling's blade takes effect and after a violent shudder, it falls dead.

────────────────────────────────

The battle is over. For the moment, at least. Across the hall of broken runes the party now finds themselves in, the sounds of chains clanking behind the southern doors promise more. They do not approach; they wait for the party.

[Geeksthenewsexy]

Even as she flicks her blade out to rid it of gore, Myriad's eyes take on the faint glow of her Detect Magic ability and she begins a circuit around the room, pausing at doorways to double check for traps bot magical and mechanical. Holding a hand out to her companions as she does so to indicate they shouldn't meander as she works to secure the room, she pauses at the sound of rattling chains to tilt her head and listen before resuming her circuit around the room.

Spoiler: Statblock

Show

Myriad
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2, Level 20, Init 8, HP 222/222, Speed 30' Land
AC 34, Touch 24, Flat-footed 28, Fort 22, Ref 24, Will 22, Base Attack Bonus +16/+11/+6
+4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC) +20 (3d6, x2)
Sneak Attack Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
+5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
Condition Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
Active Invocations & Effects Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
Other Defenses SR 25, Mettle

Spoiler: Automatic Search Check

Show

If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps: (1d20+37)[38]

Checjk for Traps (Roll in spoiler above)

[chaincomplex]

As Myriad methodically moves about the once-elegant stone-and-brass hall it is clear none of the runes, which may once have shone with magical power, are potent any longer. These runes are inscribed into the floors, walls, and ceiling with a brilliant blue mineral, but they have long since been defaced by what looks to be a combination of persistent clawing and powerful slams. It is a Spellcraft check to try to discern their former purpose.

Besides the runes there is mixed, dried gore over much of the middle and far end of the hall, now coated with a fresh new layer of the foul grey guts of the two aberrations the party just slew.

Myriad finishes her sweep. There are no mundane traps, and interestingly enough, all the doors leading from the hall are unlocked despite possessing similarly intricate locks to those of the arrival chamber.

Heavy chains continue to shift behind the southern doors.

[remetagross]

Ux Utanar sheathes his lance, dismounts and pats Ereshki. He is impressed by the combat prowess of his two comrades once again. He speaks in a low voice, though the rumble of the fight must have warned whatever creatures are waiting for them anyway.
"Well done all, that was swift and effective! But there seems to be more..."
Once Myriad has secured the area, the dragonborn goes back to fetch his shield, and by whispering the command word, the shield starts floating in the air right next to him.
"These creatures didn't seem powerful enough to annoy a planeswalking mage, though. They must be some sort of byproduct of the real threat in that place, don't you think? Any idea of who these chain sounds can come from?"

[Metastachydium]

Delja wipes the the dismal fluids off her face with a thoroughly unimpressed grimace as she watches Myriad snoop about. She has a clear preference for goos of a more natural sort. Ux Utanar's a lucky fellow to have had the bat block most of it for him. As Myriad wraps up her examinations and the knight voices his own assessment, the nixie nods energetically at first in agreement (these sacks of pus would be little more than a speed bump for a wielder of magic), but she quickly finds things to disagree with as well. Who? Try what. she murmurs, flicking her eyes between the changeling and the dragon, before gesturing towards the southern door with the point of her sword. Clean up now, search later? she asks eyeing the others expectantly. She's finally back in the fight and, for all the goo, it feels good. She'd rather stay on the offensive.

[Geeksthenewsexy]

Twirling her dagger idly in her fingers, Myriad shrugs and answers quietly, "Byproduct or not, We should clean the place out of any unwanted elements regardless so we can investigate in peace. Plus, I'm totally going to try to take the portal object with us. Who wouldn't want their own pocket dimension?" Gesturing around at the goo, she waffles her other hand, "And the goo can totally be cleaned out later. Better to investigate at leisure rather than camp in this guy's office until someone else comes in and finds the portal object and possibly us inside and starts asking questions we don't know the answers to yet. But, making it safe to investigate should be our first priority, I think."

As she is speaking, her off-hand raises and her Warder's Keys bob over to both the eastern and southern doors. Fingers twitching as she controls them from afar, they proceed to lock both doors as she positions herself by the western door. As her tools slip themselves back into her haversack, she nods to her companions, having secured their rear as she prepares to sweep the area room by room, starting with the eastern door.

Spoiler: Statblock

Show

Myriad
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2, Level 20, Init 8, HP 222/222, Speed 30' Land
AC 34, Touch 24, Flat-footed 28, Fort 22, Ref 24, Will 22, Base Attack Bonus +16/+11/+6
+4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC) +20 (3d6, x2)
Sneak Attack Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
+5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
Condition Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
Active Invocations & Effects Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
Other Defenses SR 25, Mettle

Spoiler: Automatic Search Check

Show

If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps: Already Cleared

Silver Key class feature 'Crafty Hands': The ability to manipulate mechanical devices with your mind, allowing you to make Open Lock and Disable Device checks at a distance of up to 60 feet. Activating this ability is a move action, after which you make the appropriate check as normal. You can move and manipulate objects weighing up to 5 pounds (including your warder's keys), allowing you to use any bonuses that such objects add to your checks.

Open Lock check to lock Eastern Door: (1d20+33)[49] (Can/Will Repeat or Take-10/20 as needed. Mod is +33)
Open Lock check to lock Southern Door: (1d20+33)[42] (Can/Will Repeat or Take-10/20 as needed. Mod is +33)

[chaincomplex]

Two satisfyingly weighty clicks and the eastern and southern locks' unseen complications snap into a shut state.

Myriad is now standing by the western door.

[Metastachydium]

Delja blinks twice, quite confused. Druce. she says slowly. I grew up in a swamp and liked it. Cautiously picking her way around the body of the slain creature, she walks past the side doors and towards the southern one, stopping just short of the section with the runes. By clean up I didn't mean tidy up. I meant kill everything that moves and isn't us or Teru.

[remetagross]

Ux Utanar nods appreciatively at Myriad's telekinetic command.
"I'm always impressed when I see that trick of yours." He approaches the southern door and gently knocks on the door as if to ascertain how secured it is. He turns to Myriad and Delja.
"But do you all think whatever creature is behind that door will be stopped by a closed door? Tell you what Myriad, if we carry on to the west, I wouldn't be so confident in thinking our rear is safe. Do you have any kind of alarm system, maybe? Else, I can ask Ereshki to stand guard here for us," and he strokes his dire bat that has happily flewn by his side. The dragonborn moves up to the changeling and looks towards the nixie.

"At any rate, I'm not sure I'm fond of your plan, Delja: what if after that creature, there is another one, and then another one, and...we'll never make progress if we keep waiting for them to come to us, right? What do you think?"

[Geeksthenewsexy]

Shrugging, Myriad nods towards the now-locked doors, "Monsters usually don't use keys and thieves' tools. More the 'break the door down' sort. Which should make plenty of noise, if they can use tools or have key with those tentacles, I wouldn't mind if Ereshki stays too, but dying mule should make plenty of noise. Or at least give Ereshki time to warn us while it is being murdered." Reaching into her Survival Pouch, she yanks out another magically conjured mule. Patting it on the head, she shoos it towards the middle of the room. "Just....uh....bray loud if anything tries to eat you? We're counting on you, Mule #2!"

Twirling her dagger in her fingers, she places her free hand on the door and waits for her friends' signal that they are ready to sweep the room beyond.

Spoiler: Statblock

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Myriad
Female C/G Changeling Rogue 3 / Silver Key 10 / Invisible Blade 5 / Warlock 2, Level 20, Init 8, HP 222/222, Speed 30' Land
AC 34, Touch 24, Flat-footed 28, Fort 22, Ref 24, Will 22, Base Attack Bonus +16/+11/+6
+4 Steel Deadly Precision Vampiric Dagger of Parrying +27/+22/+17/+12 (1d4+10 (+1d6 vs Living), 18-20/x2)
Eldritch Blast (vs Touch AC) +20 (3d6, x2)
Sneak Attack Denied Dex or Flanked (+8d6, -1d6 to cause Bleed)
+5 Easy Travel Glamered Mithril Breastplate of Nimbleness (+10 Armor, +6 Dex, +2 Deflect, +6 Misc)
Abilities Str 22, Dex 22, Con 22, Int 26, Wis 18, Cha 26
Condition Awake, Alert, Unencumbered, Healthy, Disguised (Dwarven Locksmith/Explorer named Drucilla Kundarak)
Active Invocations & Effects Beguiling Influence, See The Unseen, Detect Magic
Other Defenses SR 25, Mettle

Spoiler: Automatic Search Check

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If Myriad gets within 5' of a mechanical trap, she automatically makes a Search Check. I will simply include this roll in every post so as not to slow down the game pacing. As she has 'detect magic' active at all times, this can also be used if she detects anything that looks remotely like a magical trap as well.
Search For Traps: Already Cleared

Handle Animal to just get the mule to stand in the middle-ish of the room: (1d20+11)[20]

[Metastachydium]

Delja sighs with a hint of resignation in her voice. Words seem to fail her today again and again. Look, I never said we should wait; quite in the… she closes her eyes for a second to make a dismissive gesture with her left. You know what? Never mind. She throws a quick nod in Myriad's general direction as she shifts beside the door, opposite the changeling. We'll do it your way. So, she sighs again. Whenever you're ready, I s'ppose?

Spoiler: OOC

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Let's Listen: (1d20+24)[42]

[chaincomplex]

The survival pouch mule gives its summoner a melancholic look as it settles down on the half-crumbling stone floor of the hall. It is clearly less than pleased being hoof-deep in viscera, and it very nearly bolted when Myriad handled it.

Myriad swings the heavy west door open. Beyond, the party sees a passage made for humanoids. Two closed doors flank the way and the end terminates in a sharp turn south.

Delja first hears only the muffled moving chains to the south, though after a moment of concentration she hears... something... down the west hall, like whispers only that she cannot make out words among the noise.

[remetagross]

Ux Utanar pats Ereshki and indicates the room to her with a swipe of his hand. He looks at her in the eye, flatters her neck, and takes a soft, encouraging voice. He gestures to Delja, Myriad and himself.
"Alright Ereshki, I am now asking you to perform a difficult task. If anything other than us three enters this room, you must warn us of this. Emit your fiercest cry so we will hear you and come to help you...and the poor mule. Is that understood? If you perform well, you will have a weasel. Guard," and he takes his whistles to produce the sound Ereshki has learnt means she needs to guard some place, "and warn!" and he mimicks a direbat cry.

Once the mount has understood what is asked of her, she flies upwards to the ceiling and comfortably hangs herself upside down, squeaking happily.

The dragonborn comes forward, unarmed but his shield still floating near him.
"All good. I'm ready too, Myriad. Waiting for you to proceed."

Spoiler: OOC

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Ux Utanar tries a DC 25 Handle Animal check (and that is an auto-success with his +26 modifier) as a full-round action to "push" Ereshki to accomplish an animal trick she does not know: the "warn" trick from Complete Adventurer (which needs the "guard" trick as a prerequiste, and Ereshki knows that one).

Warn (DC 20): An animal must know the guard trick. The animal reacts to new creatures coming near without any command being given, using any or all of its senses. The exact warning sound given varies is chosen at the time of training and cannot be changed. If the newcomer does not stop after this warning, the animal attacks. As part of the training, the animal can be trained to ignore specific creatures (such as the trainer’s allies).