Re: Adventure #2 - The Shadow Man

[Malazek]

Moving into the next room, the party finds three large chests. Gumphrey quickly gets to work, first checking for traps, and then disarming them. Once the ancient mechanisms have been disable, he sets himself to picking the locks. After a few minutes, all three are safely unlocked and opened. Inside, you find ...

5,000 Silver Coins, minted with the image of a hill on one side and the head of a monarch on the other. (In total, the coins weigh around 100 pounds)
500 Gold Coins, minted with an August Wolf on one side and the head of a monarch on the other. (In total, the coins weigh around 10 pounds)
1 Emerald (worth around 1000 gold pieces)
1 Sapphire (worth around 1000 gold pieces)
1 Ruby (worth around 2500 gold pieces). It would be worth more, but it's cracked through the center.
1 Jade Pendant, intricately carved into the likeness of a dragon, and suspended on a gold chain (worth around 500 gold pieces)
1 Pair of old leather boots (brown) with elaborate gold and purple embroidery.

[Swifthand]

Talmut will check the treasure for magical emanations, then the era of the coins, to attempt to date the ruins.

Cast Detect Magic, Knowledge: History.

[Alpha Omega]

"This was a nice score, Talmut when your done concentrating do you want to pull this treasure out or finish exploring?"

[Swifthand]

"Let us finish exploring this ruin, and then take our gains back to town."

[Malazek]

Talmut detects a faint transmutation aura on the boots. He also studies the coins, examining the markings and imagery, and determines them to be about 300 years old.

[Swifthand]

OOC - Could i get a spellcraft to identify?

[Malazek]

By examining the boots and studying their design, Talmut suspects the following ...

LEGIONNAIRE'S BOOTS

Aura: faint transmutation (CL 3rd)
Slot: feet -- Weight 1 lb.
Description: These old leather boots are brown with elaborate gold and purple embroidery. They were once worn by an elite Augustine legionnaire, charged with carrying secret documents between the legates. (Legates were legion commanders and provincial governors). Although his name is lost to history, the wearer of these boots was highly respected, proven in battle, and (most of all) "beyond reproach."  When worn together, these boots grant great striding ability and allow the wearer to make great leaps. The wearer’s base land speed is increased by 10 feet and she/he can jump with a +5 competence bonus on Acrobatics checks.

 

[Glitz]

Elodie surveys the heavy chests and says, "If we can drag these back to the entrance, perhaps we can rig up something to lift them up to the horses, similar to how we lifted the urns in the last ruins we visited--but Talmut and Jeremiah, you are both right, there may be more left to discover here!"

When the group is ready, Elodie will head back out into the room with the statues and towards the door (OOC: N4) -- or elsewhere, if the group decides to do something different.

[Swifthand]

Talmut explains the properties of the LEGIONNAIRE'S BOOTS.


"A fine example of Augustine magical craftsmanship, indeed.  Perhaps you should wear them for the interim, Jeremiah?  Better their power be utilized against what lies ahead.  Let pack what we can carry easily and leave the coin until we finish exploring."

Talmut will follow Elodie, bringing up the rear.

[Alpha Omega]

Jeremiah will put the boots on then follow the party.

[Malazek]

Leaving the chests behind (but not the boots) for now, the party continues on. With Elodie in the lead, Jeremiah and Talmut bring up the rear.

When they reach the doors, the find them barred from the other side ... but Gumphrey has no trouble sliding one of his tools between the door and the jam and lifting the beam from its supports. Within minutes, the door is open.

Beyond the door, the party finds a small room much the like the others. Every surface is covered with growth, with a distinct line marking the former water level. The air is musty with the smell of mold and fungus. The wall of the northwest corner, however, has busted loose, revealing a muddy tunnel thick with roots and ivy that seems to climb upward as it twists to the left.

On the other side of the room, the hallway continues on past another side passage and into yet another room. 

[Alpha Omega]

"Lets search this room before we move on to the next. It appears there is some sort of passage to the surface right here as well."

[Glitz]

Elodie takes out a tindertwig and lights it, moving out into the hallway. Peering down the hallway, she says, "I think we're almost back to where we started." At Jeremiah's suggestion, she begins looking around, attempting to find any hidden magical auras in the moldy room.

Cast Detect Magic.


If Elodie does not find anything in the current room, she will move on to the next room and do the same.

[Malazek]

The party searches this room, but finds no secret doors, no traps, and no magical auras. Elodie doesn't find anything in the next room, either. All that's left, it seems, is: the "tunnel" leading up (O2); the hallway that heads back to the very first room (T5-T15); the submerged stairway (WXY19); and the submerged trap door (B25) ... but unless you can breathe (dirty) water now, the last two may have to wait.

[Glitz]

"Nothing magical hidden in either of these rooms. Shall we see where this tunnel leads?" Unless someone stops her, Elodie will head to the tunnel and attempt to climb up. She will keep the torch in one hand, unless it's too difficult of a climb to make with just one hand.

Climb: 7 (1 + 6)

OOC: Assuming that Elodie is unable to make the climb with the torch...

She smothers the torch with the hem of her skirt and attempts the climb again.

Climb: 18 (12 + 6)

[Swifthand]

Talmut will follow up the tunnel.

OOC - Ang is in New York this week so I'm soloing it.  Posting may be sporadic.


OOC 2 - Can I take 10 up the tunnel?

[Alpha Omega]

While the others explore the tunnel to, presumably, the surface, Jeremiah will start pulling the treasure to this room.

[Swifthand]

OOC - Mal, per our conversation Saturday, Talmut will use his floating disk to get the loot out if necessary.

GM Edit: OOC: You're climbing up first, though, right? Let's resolve that before TFDing any loot. Just in case it changes your decision.

[Malazek]

As Jeremiah starts hauling chests, Elodie and Talmut climb the wet, weedy tunnel toward the surface. Almost as soon as they start, they see daylight up ahead. It's a fairly easy climb, with plenty of roots and vines to grab onto, even if it is a bit slippery with mud. Maius and Gumphrey stay behind, to assist Jeremiah.

When Elodie reaches the top, she finds herself just north of the ruined tower and the spot where they entered this forsaken ruin. Talmut is just behind her, waiting for her to move out of the way. As her eyes adjust to the bright light, she realizes there are dead wolves scattered all about the field before her.

[Glitz]

Immediately concerned for the welfare of the horses and worried that something dangerous could be nearby, Elodie whispers to Talmut, "Stay here--I'm going to sneak over to where the horses are and see if they're still safe." 

Stealth: 28 (14 + 10* + 4)

* Activating the magical ring as a free action.

[Malazek]

After Elodie hops to the surface, Talmut can stick his head out and see the wolves for himself.

Magically blending into her surroundings, Elodie moves to the ruined building where you left the horses. Peering through the holes of the ruined wall, she sees that the horses are, in fact, still there. Relieved, she turns to head back to the others ... but then realizes something is different. She does a double-take when she sees it. Is that really there? A sturdy stone cottage seems to have sprung up next to the ruined tower. The side facing you sports a heavy wooden door and the windows are covered by matching wooden shutters. Warm smoke billows from the stone chimney on the back side of the shelter.

[Glitz]

Surprised and curious, Elodie moves towards the house, attempting to see if there are any cracks in the shutters that she might be able to see through.

[Malazek]

Peering in the window, Elodie sees five figures inside. Two are standing near the fireplace, having a conversation. One is sitting at a small writing desk, apparently engaged in some very vigorous writing. Another is lounging on one of the eight bunk beds. And the last is standing near one of the other windows, occasionally looking out, but turning back frequently to throw a few words into the discussion happening by the fire.

One of the figures by the fire is dressed in studded black leather, with a dark hood pulled over her face, and a couple of wicked-looking blades at her side.

The other towers over his friends, but is also much wider and muscular. He is wearing heavy chainmail and fiddling with a massive battle axe. A horned helm helm sits on the mantle; it's probably his.

The one at the window is dressed like a woodsman, with leather pants and a green cloak. He has a crossbow slung over his shoulder.

The writing figure is dressed in burgundy robes, with several pouches and unusual trinkets hanging from his belt. A gnarly wooden staff rests across the desk, as well.

Resting on the bed, the last is dressed in full plate armor. The pendant around his neck resembles a knotted serpent, revealing him as a cleric of Loki.

[Glitz]

Elodie takes a moment to survey what she sees and then turns to sneak back to the tunnel. Once she gets back to the tunnel, she tells Talmut that the horses are fine, but that a mysterious building has appeared. She briefly describes the five figures, and then says, "I thought about knocking, but I don't want to share our treasure...but how will we load up the horses without them seeing us?"

[Alpha Omega]

After Jeremiah is done relocating the treasure, he will move up the tunnel to see what is taking the two so long. "Maius, you and Gumphrey stay here. I'll be back in a second."

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