"What, hams? Who on earth - what madman - would keep a cell full of hams in his secret vault with a zombie? Who, or what, are they for....? Logan?"

Logan stares at the hams hanging from the ceiling, momentarily silent.  A hundred thoughts flitted through the rogue's mind, but foremost was this: When we were starving in the gutters, this Aubreck fellow had this much food just hanging out in the cellar?  Silently, he nods at Celene.  "That's what I was thinking.  Why would you mix undead and...cured meats?  I thought we were going to be fighting a jerky zombie.  I'm glad to find it's just..."  Logan prods one of the hams with his new rapier.  "...just meat."  Logan shakes his head and shrugs.  "Maybe they're just crazy?"  Logan looks around.  "I guess the only way to go is back to where we came, and try that door on the north wall."

Assuming no objections from Celene, Logan will go there and once again inspect for traps.

The pair head back to the door in the north wall and repeat the process of Logan looking for traps, but this time there is no keyhole to try and peak through. The rogue states that the door looks safe, and then Celene opens it. On the other side is a short corridor leading ending in another door.

To the north they are able to hear two people speaking. One is a man’s voice, someone of considerable age judging from its rasping tone. The other is a woman’s voice, one that is deeper than normal but with a beautiful sonorous tone although cloaked in a heavy foreign accent.

“I won’t do it. I told you I can’t! Please, don’t make me even try,” says the man.

“Come now my friend,” answers the lady. “How do you know what if it iz impozzible until you at least try it? After coming thiz far and spending zo much time and effort, it seems a zhame to not at least try.” The lady’s dulcet voice is melodic and persuasive, but it appears that the man is not listening.

“No, no, NO! Frak you to hell! Please, no more!” answers the man.

OOC: Actions? You can keep listening or take action.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:30, Mon 09 Feb 2015.

Logan turns to look at Celene and whispers, "I think we should interrupt their little party, what do you think?"  Rapier at the ready, Logan advances to the northern door, ready to break into the room.

Updated map - not that it helps much

Celene replies hushed, "hold for a moment, rash one. We don't yet know what they are talking about, and we might never know if we interrupt. It might be important, and an additional few moments will tell us more?"

None the less, she prepares with her dagger in hand.

Celene wonders who the speakers are. The old man could be Aubreck, but who's steering him? Does the sword itself speak? It's a strange accent, sort of like a hizzing snake.

A soft choking noise comes from the next room and there is the sound of someone falling to the ground. A second later, the man’s voice continues speaking, but in a strange guttural language and in a halting manner as though every word is being forced out of his lips. For some reason that she cannot comprehend, Celene is able to understand the words although she has no idea what the language is.

[In a mysterious guttural language that only Celene can understand: “Oh dark forces from beyond the void. Beings of power, might and chaos. I call upon thee to break through the barrier between our two worlds and tear a doorway into this place. Bring your wrath and terror out into…”]

A deep low humming starts and fills the corridor with a slow base beat. It begins to slightly gain pace as they listen.

OOC: I’m not going to use the language function for everything because otherwise it gets boring for the players who can’t understand. Obviously I expect players to keep character knowledge and player knowledge separate.

So… want to hear more? :D

Celene's eyes suddenly jerks wide open at the gutteral language, and she just manages a short gasp before she forcible pushes Logan along through the door. At her mental call, a searing and soon familiar heat readily starts welling in her core. "We must stop them - now!"

Logan barely has time to react, as he stumbles through the door, managing to keep his rapier at the ready.  "What...why?  What did they say?" is all the rogue manages to say.

"Demon summoning", Celene mutters fiercly, as they quickly take the room in.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:58, Tue 10 Feb 2015.

The pair burst through the door and into the room beyond. The only illumination, besides Celene's torch, is from a slab of rock set into the floor that shines with a pulsating and swirling red light which is expanding as though opening into something. This is also the source of the low humming, which seems to come from the centre of the red light. There is a rough pentagram drawn out on the floor in a red fluid that looks like it might be dried blood.





There is only one person in the room, not two. An old man is on his knees to one side of the red swirling rock, chanting out a series of words in a strange guttural language in a voice that is almost screaming. The man looks pale and decrepit, as though he has not slept in days.



In his hand the old man holds a sword - and what a beautiful weapon it is! Just as Vorsh described it is a mithral blade with a ruby set in the hilt, but he had not described the exquisite workmanship that had been put into its making. It has an ornate guard and a blade that glistens in the torchlight with unmistakable perfection. Logan is no expert, but he suspects that he could get enough gold from selling it to buy half of Shadowshore.




This message was last edited by the GM at 19:18, Tue 10 Feb 2015.

As he takes in the scene in the room, Logan does a double take, and turns to face Celene for a moment.  "Was he talking with...the sword?"

Turning back to Aubreck, Logan draws his shortsword and yells: "Aubreck!  Stop this!  Put down the rapier!"  Looking worried, he prepares to knock Aubreck out.

If Aubreck keeps chanting, Logan will attempt to knock him.  (Non-Lethal damage)
14:32, Today: Logan rolled -2 using 1d20-4. Non-Lethal Attack .

Aubreck jerks in surprise and his chanting looses its pattern. The red light in the gate immediately fades, leaving Celene's torch as the only light in the room. The man falls to all fours and makes a choking noise as though he is having some sort of fit that is so strong he can't even breath. A second later his right hand shoots out with the sword still in it.

"Well hello little friendz. My name is Czarine Valor..." says a beautiful woman's alto voice that is the same as what Logan and Celene had heard before, and appears to be coming from the sword! "...and well done on interrupting this little charade. Your timing is good. I am afraid that old Aubreck here was never going to be up to the challenge of making the zeveral hours on incantations necezzary to properly open the gate - I really am done with thiz old fool! Zo you win. I zurrender myself to your good keeping."

Aubreck lowers his arm to the floor and opens his hand so that the hilt of the beautiful weapon is resting freely in his palm. His head is turned away and it would be easy to grab it before he could react.

This message was deleted by the player at 21:59, Tue 10 Feb 2015.

Logan allows Celene to act.  The young rogue has seen magic, but is unskilled in its use.  He eyes the humming, shining rock with particular distrust, glad that Celene is here to lend a hand.

Quickly, Logan sheaths his rapier, pulls out the leather from Celene's pack and holds it open, ready to catch the rapier.

---

Readied Action: Catch Rapier, wrap in leather.

---

HP: 1/9 |  AC: 17/14/13 | CMD: 14 | Saves: 0/6/2
This message was last edited by the player at 21:59, Tue 10 Feb 2015.

OOC: oh crap, just spotted a mistake!! Mage hand can only lift nonmagical objects! Ok, new plan coming up!
This message was last edited by the player at 21:51, Tue 10 Feb 2015.

Celene puts a calming hand on Logans shoulder.

"Hold back, I'll try and pacify him properly."

Intrigued by the initiated ritual, Celene tries to determine what summoning Aubreck was attempting to cast.

Assuming Logan allows Celene to act, she intones an enchantment, while gesturing as if blowing something from her palm towards Aubreck, trying to finally grant the poor man some much needed sleep.

If this succeeds, she asks Logan,"Can you poke it away from him, and I'll take out what we brought to take it, and wrap it. Be careful!"

---

Free : Speak | Swft : | Move : | Stnd : Cast Sleep

---

HP: 7/7 |  AC: 11/10/11 | CMD: 9 | Saves: 0/0/+4

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L1 Spells : Detect poison
              Daze
              Flame Burst (special - as Acid Splash but a fire orb instead)
              Mage Hand
              Detect Magic (1/1)
              Light (1/1)
              Prestidigitation (1/1)
  L2 Spells : Charm person
  (2/3)       Sleep
  Abilities : Flame lance (4/7)

This message was last edited by the player at 21:58, Tue 10 Feb 2015.

Logan allows Celene to act.  The young rogue has seen magic, but is unskilled in its use.  He eyes the humming, shining rock with particular distrust, glad that Celene is here to lend a hand.

If Celene's sleep spell is sucessful, Logan inches forward, and uses his own rapier to knock the weapon from Aubreck's hand.  Quickly, Logan sheaths his rapier, pulls out the leather from Celene's pack and picks up Aubreck's rapier using the leather.  Moving quickly but carefully, the rogue wrap ups the rapier like a holiday present, tying it tightly with the rough string.

---

Readied Action: Catch Rapier, wrap in leather.

---

HP: 1/9 |  AC: 17/14/13 | CMD: 14 | Saves: 0/6/2
It doesn't matter too much if this isn't combat and you're not moving, but Sleep is actually a full-round spell.  I always forget that.

OOC: Huh? Too many rules details, overload... headache... :-)
This message was last edited by the player at 22:20, Tue 10 Feb 2015.

Celene, what was the spellcasting check for? The DC of his save is 10 + spell level + ability modifier. In this case the DC = 10 + 1 + 4 = 15. Also, sleep is a level 1 spell, not level 2 like noted in your status bar.

15:17, Today: Dungeon Master rolled 13 using 1d20+3. Aubreck spell resist versus sleep.

As soon as Celene finishes casting her spell the old man slumps forward until he is resting on his stomach. His snores make it clear that the spell has been successful. Logan is ready to snatch up the blade, but to his surprise it flies up into the air until it is level with his head.

“Well my friendz, I see that you came prepared! There is no need to hide me away. Young man, young lady, take a ztep forward to carry me out of here. It will be zo much easier…” The blade continues to talk in its beautiful voice and the blade begins to flex from left to right in a slow motion while buzzing slightly. Both the thief and the novice begin to feel that the sword is making a lot of sence.

I need a DC14 will check from both of you please.

Logan swayed a little, considering the rapier's honeyed words.  He spared a quick glance to Celene, to make sure she was resisting the rapier's words.  "Czarine Valora, is it?  We're not going to fall for your tricks.  You might as well give yourself up, so we can do our job."  Without another word, Logan bolted forward, trying to catch the rapier in the leather.

---

Standard Action: Catch Rapier, wrap in leather.

---

HP: 1/9 |  AC: 17/14/13 | CMD: 14 | Saves: 0/6/2
09:36, Today: Logan rolled 20 using 1d20+2. Will Save.
So, is this an attack roll against the rapier?

No, if you both make the will save then it will be easy enough to catch the rapier - it isn't that agile and can't attack by itself. I see Logan saved, if Celene fails then you two will need to roll for iniative and see what happens first - Celene grabs it or Logan captures it.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 241):
Yeah, I was going to try to make a more complex post where I had conditional actions, but realized it might be easier if I just waited for Celene to post.

Celene slowly walks forward to the floating blade. "Your suggestion is very impressive, Czarine Valora, but we will take you on our terms." Celene tries to distract the rapier with her talking, long enough for Logan to jump it.

quote:

19:29, Wed 11 Feb 2015: Celene rolled 14 using 1d20+4 ((10)).

Whew...

The spell*craft* was to recognize the summoning taking place, e.g. what spell, what creature were they contacting etc.

---

Free : speak| Swft : | Move : | Stnd :

---

HP: 7/7 |  AC: 11/10/11 | CMD: 9 | Saves: 0/0/+4

Special Notes:

  (De)Buffs :
 Conditions :
  L0 Spells : Detect poison
              Daze (enchantment +1 DC)
              Flame Burst (special - as Acid Splash but a fire orb instead)
              Mage Hand
              Detect Magic (1/1)
              Light (1/1)
              Prestidigitation (1/1)
  L1 Spells : Charm person (enchantment +1 DC)
  (2/3)       Sleep (enchantment +1 DC)
  Abilities : Flame lance (4/7)

This message was last edited by the player at 18:46, Wed 11 Feb 2015.