OOC: Feel free to continue posting in the aftermath thread with Foehammer. This takes place a short time after.

About an hour or so passes since the party woke up. Noon rapidly approaches. A messenger in military fatigues eventually hunts down each of the party, informing them that Lord Protector Daratha Shendrel is expecting them.

It seems that a proper command tent had been erected in the courtyard sometime while the party was resting. Inside, the Lord Protector awaits the group from her position seated upon a thick wooden chair. The muted chatter of the various officers around the tent pause as the group enters, only to resume at a more frentic pace. The air inside is musty and slightly chilly, tinged with the faint hint of sweat and worry.

Now dressed in a more formal military uniform, including an ornate breastplate sporting the three-headed boar of the city, Daratha Shendrel gestures with her remaining good hand for the party to take a seat. Her other arm is a bandaged stump. Wooden stools have been set before a large round desk, over which a tactical map of the city and its surroundings have been laid.

"I'll keep it brief," the Lord Protector begins, tapping a spot on the map, "Hyuth's Tower is located in the south-western district, and was largely unharmed by the fire. It has approximately three floors, few windows, and an aerie of sorts from which his gargoyle pets would fly back and forth on the roof."

"I would have preferred to deal with the orc threat immediately. But a divination cast by Silas there," she gestures at a hunched half-elven man in the corner, who seems to be staring blankly into space, "suggested that having you tackle Hyuth's Tower after the Orcs would lead to 'woe'. Silas is currently monitoring the tower itself via familiar, though he has yet to discern anything unusual in the last three hours."

"Hyuth was an ex-adventurer and a skilled transmuter who had been working with us to shore up Triboar's defences for over a year. Beyond his work, Hyuth was reclusive and secretive- though the man had been known to request food from the local taverns, he never let anyone into his tower proper. Aside from meals, Hyuth handled almost all his correspondences via gargoyles. As you can imagine, it made monitoring his activities difficult."

"Whatever he has in there cannot be anything good, especially with the augury results we have. If its anything like that dragon statue you fought last night..." the Lord Protector pauses, then takes a sip from a flask by her desk, "the four of you are the only ones with enough magical acumen and ability to investigate this wizard's tower, deal with his protections and hopefully neutralize whatever 'parting gift' our resident spellcaster has left us. That is my task for you today."

"Silas has identified the following intelligence about the tower," Daratha hands over a dossier to Moira, "review it, and ask any questions you might have. The armory is open to you, though we cannot spare magical consumables at the moment. Men can be dispatched to quarantine the tower, but I would prefer if you did not bring them into the tower itself. Silas himself is needed for our own operations in tracking the orcs and the giants- I would rather ration his divinations if possible, but should you require it, some sacrifices can be made."

The dossier contains a brief overview of the outer defenses of the tower:

1) The tower itself is made of magically reinforced stone
2) The front door is solid oak and enchanted with auras of abjuration amd illusion
3) There is a side entrance, also oak and similarily enchanted
4) There are two windows on the ground floor, four on the second floor, and none on the third.
5) The windows are warded by auras of abjuration, and appear to be made of wood. They are most likely locked or latched from the inside, though Silas's familiar has been unable to check.
6) Hyuth is a skilled transmuter and has been known to be able to magically shape stone and create minor animated constructs. He has been known to employ some means of magical flight and is speculated to be able to teleport or at least move between rooms unseen.
7) Among the items he provided for Triboar's defense, Hyuth was observed to be able to magically improve the toughness of stone, animate weapons and armor as sentries (used in the sewers), create magical wards that detonated in bursts of lightning, fire and thunder, and reshape the very ground itself to swallow his enemies or block projectiles. This is unlikely to be the full extent of his abilities.
8) Hyuth has an unknown capacity with divination magics. If Hyuth has attempted to magically spy on the Lord Protector, Silas was not able to detect it. Similarily, attempting to scry into his tower is something Silas advises against, since it will likely trigger its own set of alarms or protections.
9) Normally, the tower is patrolled by his gargoyles. With the destruction of the dragon statue, no further such sentries were seen in the last six hours.
10) The rooftop aerie is accessible through a large hatch on the roof. The hatch is open, but is warded by an aura of abjuration as well. Silas has not dared to let his familiar approach.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:00, Tue 05 Jan 2021.

U'lin's finger traced several lines over the tower's drawing as various defences and construction points were raised.

"So not an overly tall tower, limited windows to discourage viewing in - he's secretive, reclusive up to no good... I'd expect the windows carrying even worse than the doors, to discourage snooping noses and eyes - actually, if we don't know if the windows open at all - why would a defensive, secretive mage do so? Especially if he can teleport to warded areas, or have his gargoyles simply lift him up - the better plan would be to make them-the windows and doors illusory, and trapped, and have folk waste time and resources there where they CANNOT enter, but can be detected.

"Sewer entrance?  Something I would put in, especially if I was in control of sewer defender placement. In case everything went to pot, and I couldn't risk being seen.  I suppose it depends how far in distance he could move himself.  Well, before at least.

"The aerie seems the best entrance.  We know it is open, and if Zaiya can defeat the ward, we're inside and exploring in likely the safest areas.  Most open area to maneuver and establish a killzone if we need to enter, lure up guardians, and dispatch them in piecemeal fashion.  And we have a retreat route without releasing a horde of trouble through an open door - in case magic overwhelms, and we need a recoup before re-entering.

"I'd also watch for concealed rope-cutters along the wall, if he has such control of earth and stone.  Grapple hook the upper edge, scale the wall, dispel the warding (if we need to do so), and enter, establishing a beachhead/killbox to manage the guardians, clear them out first if possible, and disable traps as we go to clear the tower.

"If we brought a little of the gargoyle stone over with us, say the rune portions?, it might be sufficient a key to open the ward.  Or not - ward's are funny, depending how they are restricted.

"Yes, if all of his correspondences and deliveries were via gargoyle, they must have option to bring in non-living matter without damaging, so the ward could be as simple as protecting versus living, or keyworded.  Between Zaiya's divination mastery, and Moira's skill at disabling traps, we should be good.  And Claire and Moira will teeup the clearing of ambulatory difficulties.

"Having a cordon outside makes sense, and another in the sewers if there is an exit or passage nearby the tower - it could be concealed."

U'lin looked to the party.  "Thoughts?  Or just head out now?"

Delivering breakfast to everyone and gathering up in time to sort themselves out left no real time to discuss plans before meeting the Lord Protector, but such was life.  Frankly Moira was more concerned about seeing everyone fed and ready for what awaited them in the Tower - any matters of service Triboar might ask of them beyond that could wait.

Claire and Zaiya also get a Reinforced Meat Pie, so they get +1 to their saving throws for the next hour as well.

The actual dossier of what was involved with the Tower frankly didn't surprise Moira too much as she mulled over the details and passed portions along to her companions for their own perusal.  Raiding wizard's homes wasn't exactly her forte, but she'd assumed to begin with the place would be heavily warded with magic; mages always saw everything around them as a nail to the hammer that was their spells.  Moira waited until U'lin had given an engineer's appraisal of the layout before she applied her own strategic lean on the information.  "Well, it's a tower, so that means there's gonna be at least one basement level t'contend with..." Even saying that obvious point made Moira shudder as horrid memories from days prior welled up briefly.  She shook such thoughts away and refocused herself to the task at hand.  "Pro'lly not enough time t'build even basic scaffoldin' or siege ladders t'reach th'aerie, but launchin' some lines - chain, preferably - with th'Iron Beetle should do in a pinch.  Gettin' in behind th'ground-level defenses, same as th'Kobold Tower, should work though... 'specially since I'd rather take out any other Gargoyles what might be in there first lest they go berserk.  Lackin' any real knowledge of what we're gonna be up against, it's best we take it as slow and secure as we can afford t'avoid trippin' alarms and gettin' overwhelmed.  Tryin' t'take a tower in full alert's a much harder prospect."



"All th'ones we killed before turned t'dust, so ain't nothin' t'be done there.  Reckon th'blue gem at their heart was likely th'useful part anyway." the Halfling drummed her fingertips against her breastbone demonstratively.  Not that it did them any good by that point.  "What d'ya think of all this, Zaiya?  Reckon' y'can handle unravelin' enough of th'wards t'get us inside?"

With the papers shuffled off to the Tiefling for her to look over, Moira instead drew out her logbook and a bit of writing stick to start jotting her own notes.  It wasn't long before she had a page torn out and offered over to the Lord Protector.  "Regardless of anythin' else at hand, we need some assurances for those we're with.  Here's th'information y'need regardin' our task and cargo - if we don't make it back outta th'Tower somehow, y'see that Thente and Miss Emma's taken care of, and that Miss Stoor's remains get t'Yartar." While she hated to assume the worst, precautions had to be taken.  The slip included various names and locations of people that needed to be contacted in case calamity befell the party, including Doderic back at Amphail and Grand Trabbar Goskin in Waterdeep.

"Mm.."  Zaiya mumbled, intelligence report in one hand and slice of pie in the other, quietly munched on as she sifted through the data and the numbers.

"This must be what I projected as being the bad time..."  She added after a moment.  "A fortified wizard's tower--even one that had its mightiest defender subverted is bad news, and this had a lot of money and time put into it.  Normally I'd advocate 'The first rule of dealing with a wizard's tower is don't', but that's not an option right now given the omens I've been seeing--so we'll have to take it on the chin and try to realign things so that the bad omens fall on people we don't like instead, and that requires boldness..."

She assessed the layout carefully, and tapped her chin in thought, her tail brushing back and forth behind her.  "I think..."

It looked a fucking mess...

"The Aerie, it'd be our best point of ingress"  She allows after a moment's consideration.  "Every other avenue is defended, but the defenses of the Aerie were expended yesterday in the battle, and what remains will be a tripwire defense at best, because the primary defense was the undead forging dragon construct and its army of gargoyles, you know?"

The Lord Protector takes a quick look through the note, eyebrows raised.

"...ambitious. I can certainly promise that men will be dispatched to handle these tasks, should you be...indisposed," the commander sighs, "were things different...no, nevermind. The four of you should focus on the task ahead. We can discuss recompense once you return."

OOC: Any further questions? Any preperations you guys want to make, additional manpower you want to request?

OOC: What's involved with the aforementioned armory?  Is that weapons/armor only, or is it basically access to the standard Equipment/Gear/Tool list from the PHB?  Any limitations there to take into account for the sake of Triboar's wounded state?

OOC: standard equipment gear- kits and everything. No healing potions. No alchemy. Everything else should be loanable- though if you break it Triboar will request payment.

Claire listened for the most part to the subject-matter experts in between mouthfuls of meat pie. It was at times like these that she appreciated eyes being on someone else.

"Hope those grappling hooks'll be sturdy enough to hold our weight," the steel of Claire's breastplate clinked as she tapped on it. "Perhaps those cordoning the tower could have a couple of tablecloths or sommat ready? Better some insurance than none."

OOC: Note that its really difficult to properly affix a grappling hook to the top of a 70ft tall tower by throwing.

I will be requiring Athletics checks to climb the tower- failure would mean said person falls and takes some damage (mitigated by the blankets to an extent). Basically:

1) Athletics check to scale the tower, DC modified by how well you manage to get the grappling hook + rope secured.
2) Success means you're up the tower. Failure means you take damage based on how badly you failed.
3) Since there are blankets, a DC 12 Dex save to properly land on the blankets will be needed. Success results in no damage taken.

EDIT: This was previously a set of grappling hook rules. I decided against it after thinking it over more as rolling in secret does not sit well with me.

To save some time, I'll outright state that climbers kits won't work- the stone around the tower is magically reinforced, and cannot be penetrated by the pitons to secure a person. It also has virtually no gaps or handholds.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:54, Thu 07 Jan 2021.

Daratha shoots a look at one of her nearby aides, who grimaces.

"...the men are loathe to approach the tower ma'am," said Officer explains, "but if you order it...two teams of two each on standby with blankets should be doable."

U'lin looked up from flipping strings from a spoon - leftover from his meat pie? - using a fulcrum of his dagger hilt.  The strings appeared to have small metal splinters attached, and were catching on the lip of a watercup.  He made a few notes regarding his most recent experiment.

"Oh then, they are not approaching the tower, but protecting the townsfolk from approaching it, hmmm?  Perhaps arrange a few barricades at appropriate chokepoints to redirect traffic away.  Which would encourage the guards to not be approaching the tower, but still fulfilling the duty of being there to protect the townsfolk.  Or if we need to relay a message."

After some discussion, two squads of guards follow the armored form of the Beetle to the southwest district (Emma, Tetri and Foehammer having been relocated to other parts of the keep). There, amidst the half-burnt buildings and cloying stench of ash looms the dark gray stone of Hyuth's tower. A cold breeze drifts through the streets, stirring up dust and flakes of burnt wood.

The southern front entrance to Hyuth's Tower is a grand stone door, engraved with what looks like a stylized dragon's head descending upon a mountain range. Bolts of lightning and flame frame the doorway. Above, a small wooden sign labels this as "Hyuth's Residence, Enter at ye own Peril!"

To the east, a much smaller wooden door sits in an alcove. A little brass bell hangs from the wall next to it, underneath a signboard that states "Deliveries Here! Ring the Bell"



Map is divided into multiple sections (please excuse the crude fog of war the polygon reveal is not as smooth as I'd like). The stone tiles "outside" the circle aren't actually there, thats more an artefact of the tileset I'm using.

Top circle is the ground floor of the tower. Bottom circle is the 3rd floor.

Blue lines along the walls are the windows. All of them are made of wood and appear to be shut except for the small one on the second floor. The grey slab to the south of the ground floor is the front door. The brown one to the east of the ground floor is the side entrance.

The green square on the top floor is the open hatch into (presumably) the aerie. It is 70ft above the ground.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:57, Fri 08 Jan 2021.

With equipment gathered and stowed, and the group ready to face their newest challenge, Moira almost found herself about to look forward to the whole expedition.  There was a part of her that enjoyed the challenge presented in Hyuth's looming tower the same way she'd had some level of enjoyment at the Kobold Tower before all the nightmarish horror kicked in - infiltration of a trapped location had a sort of base appeal.  Much the same as picking a lock, really.  It was like a big puzzle box just waiting to be worked open.  The potential of a lot of awful threats waiting for them inside, however, certainly served to put a damper on any lifting spirits right quick though.

As the group circled the tower to get a look about it, the Halfling scoffed through her nose at the side door with its invitation for deliveries.  "Y'know, if we didn't know better 'bout Hyuth usin' th'Gargoyles for his errands, I'd be tempted t'try that just t'see what happens." she thumbed at the sign absently.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:06, Fri 08 Jan 2021.

"I'd rather it there be no one...or no-thing at home to take deliveries." Claire remarked as she attached her small pouches of alchemical trinkets securely around her waist. "Although, there's no harm putting a piece of bread or something while we get set up here. If anything, maybe it'll draw the butler downstairs while we burgle in from the roof."

Claire squinted up at the small flap marking the eyrie entrance, shielding her eyes from the sun's rays. She'd come a long way from climbing the big oak behind the keep with the boys. Shorn of any unnecessary weight, she flashed an upbeat grin at the Beetle crew. "Well, ready as I'll ever be. Fire away!"

Claire will only be bring weapons, armor, healer's kits, dagger, 1 torch+tinder, rope and all potions, alchemical/medicinal trinkets.

Athletics: 21
00:31, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Athletics.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:31, Fri 08 Jan 2021.

Claire, give me your athletics check first. No advantage, DC 13. Guidance may apply.

I'll see what Zaiya checks and examines as well- if her info causes you guys to change decisions I'll let you take back thte check(s).
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:01, Fri 08 Jan 2021.

Perception 14: Moira, an active search of the nearby grounds show a number of footprints that come and go from the backdoor. You also notice that one of the windows on the second floor appears to be half open.

Meanwhile, Claire's long hours of physical training make light work of the exercise in front of her. In under a minute, the priestess has scaled up to the top of the tower, perching herself on the rough, grey tiles that make up the structure's roof. A thick stone hatch lies partly propped open by some sort of metallic mechanism, allowing Claire to peek into the aerie itself. From her spot, the paladin can see what appear to be eight circular stone platforms, arranged neatly next to each other. Each disk is large enough to support a medium-sized creature. The dais on the far right corner appears to have the remains of some sort of statue, partly smashed to bits. The rest are empty.



Claire can also see what might be the metallic gleam of armor from the corner of the aerie, as well as the edge of a large wooden door towards the north. To look deeper, she would need to stick her head through the hatch.

With her behind firmly planted on the ledge, Claire exhaled deeply, hazel eyes taking in the sight below. Smoke yet rose from parts of town, but the sky seemed a cooler hue than it had in the days of burning before. The priestess intoned a quick prayer of thanks to Chauntea, and to Gond - the Beetle's aim had been true and the grappling lines planted firmly.

Craning her neck awkwardly, she peered into the hatch. No gargoyles it seemed. That was good news. Catching a glimpse of metal from within, Claire edged closer to stick her head through the hatch, but recalling the earlier warnings about unknown wards, pulled back. Better let the expert handle this one.

Waving a hand down to the party, she beckoned for the next climber to make their attempt, herself holding firmly onto the knotted rope she had herself ascended by.

Nothing seems to trigger as Claire does so. The next person can attempt their climb with advantage on their Athletics check (or in Moira's case, an Acrobatics (Strength) check). Again, DC 13 to climb up, failure means a DC 12 Dex save or take damage based on how bad you fail :P

If the party votes to send Zaiya first, Zaiya can make those rolls + checks for examining the wards and such. It will be a mix of Arcana and Investigation- roll both if you intend to inspect any of the magical protections yourself. Do tell me if you intend to cast any spells as well Zaiya.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:54, Sat 09 Jan 2021.

Moira leaned back a bit to give her eyes a bit of shade while Claire hoisted herself up the rope.  Frankly, it was quite impressive to be able to just shimmy up as swiftly as she did, even having shed most of her usual load.  "Lookit her go." the Halfling gave a low whistle.  It was in looking up, however, that she noticed one of the second floor windows being ajar.  That... seemed odd, actually.  A prickling bit of suspicion sparked her into taking a second look about the place for the sake of anything her initial glance around might've missed.

Perception already rolled - 14

Since Moira found tracks outside the deliveries door, do they look fresh?  I live in wildfire territory and can attest that, after a big fire, EVERYTHING for miles around is covered in ash.  It should be pretty obvious if the footprints were made last night or this morning?  Similarly, are there any signs of scuffs or marks up on the tower itself, like heading to or from that second floor window?  Moira has a Spyglass now, so she should presumably be able to make out details at a distance if necessary.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:07, Sat 09 Jan 2021.

"And....  Done!"  Zaiya snapped her book closed and looked up, the spell she was piecing together over the course of the past few minutes finally congealing, and giving her sight beyond sight.

As expected, the whole place was a bloody kaleidoscope of colors.

"Alright, help me up, I'll check for tripwires and other wards and see if I can help disarm them as we go along.  Mystra willing, we'll get through this in one piece."

She pulled herself hand over hand up the rope, more of a scamper than anything else, but using her tail as a convienent balancing point helped her get up a little easier than she might have otherwise found it to be.  Once steady, she popped her book open once again, and began her inquisition as to the nature of the defenses, and how they might be bypassed

OOC: Ritual cast Detect Magic over the last little bit, finishing convienently right around now!

16 on the Athletics check to climb, meaning Zaiya gets up to the Aerie without incident.

Investigation check is as standard, rolled a 19

Arcana has Advantage courtesy of my book, which produces a result of 18

@Moira: The footprints are old, multiple tracks on the soft grass in fact. Seems like a rough trail formed from people moving to and from the backdoor on a regular basis. They lead to and away from the backdoor to the main street that connects the tower to the rest of the village. None seem to have been made after the fire, judging from the even coating of ash covering the entire path.

@Zaiya: With Detect Magic, the difficulty of finding and understanding the wards around the tower drops significantly. Keen eyes trace the outline of the various runes and magical tracery that form the late wizard's protections (Investigation 19 success!). A look around the ground floor reveals the following information (Arcana 18):

1) Door(s)- Abjuration and Illusion magic. The Abjuration is almost certainly a Glyph of Warding for the front door. It seems that it would trigger if the door is forced open, rather than done with the a key. There is a second abjuration aura around the handle/keyhole- likely an Arcane Lock spell. The illusion spell resembles an invisible pair of lips to your magical senses- Magic Mouth perhaps? It triggers if any humanoid stands in front of the door.

2) Windows- also Abjuration. Again two auras- one that seems to be in the center of the window pane, and is reinforcing the entire structure. The other is almost certainly another Glyph, one that triggers if anyone tries to enter from the outside.

Shimmying up the rope, Zaiya takes a closer look at the wards surrounding the hatch:

Arcana 14: Beating this DC reveals the following information:

1) Abjuration - Glyph of Warding again. This one is more intense than the ones downstairs, likely at least 4th level. The trigger seems tied to a verbal password actually. Zaiya can attempt to disable the ward with another Arcana check (DC 18) or a Dispel Magic spell. Failure will trigger the ward :)

EDIT: Same for the other Glyphs, however the DC is lower for the ground floor doors/windows- DC 17

2) A weak Transmutation aura that seems to be tied to opening/closing the otherwise heavy hatch. A similar aura seems to cover the inside of the room.

3) Abjuration, weak - this one covers the entire room, with lines in the Weave that seem to trail off. Zaiya recognizes this as an Alarm spell, also tied to a verbal password. Disabling the glyph would disable the alarm as well.

3) The platforms are not magical

4) Aura of Abjuration from the edge of the door to the north of the room that Zaiya can see from her position on the rooftop. To examine it in more detail, she needs to go right up to the door.

Arcana 17: There is a tiny exception clause to all the glyphs/alarm- beasts that are size tiny or smaller.

---

OOC: I assume Zaiya communicates this to the rest of the party. Who wants to go up next? Any change in plans?
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:01, Sun 10 Jan 2021.

"I don't suppose anyone here knows how to turn really small?"  Zaiya asks, not quite expecting a positive answer.  "No?  Then we're going to have to do this the long way, and that's going to be chancy at the best of times."

She only had the one Scroll to dispel!  And she wanted to copy that!.  So she needed to do this thing manually.

And that was going to be tricky.

"Anyone?  Shoot, didn't think so...  Right, this is going to suck..."

Does anyone want to do anything first? Else Zaiya can go ahead and make the Arcana check to disarm the rune. Claire, what are you doing on the roof in the meanwhile?

"Actually change? No, not so much.  Our time hiding from the giants has given my kind ability to hide, or to appear other than we are, to hide or escape, but it is a short-lived thing, and emergency, not a true changing of one's shape like the great druids are known to do, or the shrinking of folk as war wizards are noted to do." U'lin called back up to Zaiya.

"Zaiya, can Moira's device-disabling be of assistance?  She shut down the magical defensive trap on the dimensional anchor.  Or we could trigger it from a distance, damage the runework?

"If you don't feel confident on disabling the trap, and neither does Moira, let's try the Beetle lobbing up a bigger piece of broken masonry to scratch off the rune from a safe distance - you can stay on one side away, or come back down.

"I have been granted the blessing to attempt to dispel magics, but it is not certain, especially against powerful casters, so I thought to ration its use for a last attempt."  The firbolg eyed the long climb not in fear, but a silent reliving of his last less-than-graceful intrusion.  Ah, the joy of memory.  But as the sages said, every experience was a learning opportunity.  Now, instead of climbing the rope, perhaps one could create a trolley like the miners used, and simply roll and pull one's way up a rope, all the while safely supported in a net of ropes.  Hmm.  A good thought that.  Actually...

"We could also fasten a ..." the jotting commenced into his idea workbook.

"Best see if we can disarm things rather than bust 'em, at least t'start with.  I'd much rather avoid settin' off any back-up defenses this place's got waitin'." Moira noted on U'lin's summary of options as she ambled ahead for the waiting rope with a brisk jog.  After a few paces she tucked and sprang up with a magically-boosted bounce - nowhere near as impressive a leap as the one she'd pulled off in the prior battle against the Stone Dragon, but hopping twice one's own height was still a feat in and of itself.  The Halfling's momentum didn't seem to flag at all as she continued to scamper her way up the side of the tower with remarkable ease, unhindered by the weight she carried or the smoothness of the walls as she used a loping grab-leap-grab tempo to ascend up the rope in a matter of moments.

Up top, it took Zaiya's guidance for Moira to even be able to know where to begin to look for the glyphs.  But just as with every magical trap mechanism she'd encountered prior, the approach was the same; triggers were the same, be they mundane or mystical.  Once it had been explained to her how the glyph functioned Moira set to work with a delicate pick and file drawn from her tool kit.  Though purely mundane bits of metal, they glowed with a polished golden sheen within the Halfling's grip as that same gloss climbed its way up her arms in a slowly emerging rise of creeping vines and not-yet-budded flower designs scattered across her skin.  Where the tools touched even supernaturally enhanced stone, the surface slowly chiseled away a bit at a time, unable to compete with the combination of a skilled hand and divine aid alike.  Most of the glyph was its own contained magical effect - the payload that would erupt if set off.  But like with any sort of bomb or trip, all one had to do was find the triggering line and disrupt it without letting it activate to undo the whole affair safely.  And nestled within the complex string of arcane scripting was that very simple line, where Moira's knack severed it just as readily as she had the Kobold traps prior.

Climbing - Acrobatics using STR score, and a Halfling Luck Reroll
Moira Ruadh rolled 23 using 1d20+5

Disarming the Glyph - Thieves Tools DC 18
Moira Ruadh rolled 26 using 1d20+9

No need for Guidance yet, so I'll go ahead and hold onto that for the next challenge.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Thu 14 Jan 2021.

Cutting the line on a piece of solid stone was easier said than done, but Moira's deft hands do so with increasing ease. As the halfling cuts the glyph, a faint almost non-existent hum at the back of her mind seems to fade- signaling that the ward was fully powered down. With the trap disabled, it is a simple matter for Moira to take a quick peek behind the hatch.

@Zaiya: as Moira disables the ward, the magical aura on the hatch rapidly dissipates, leaving only lingering traces of transmutation magic around the hinges and supports.

There is still an moderate aura of abjuration emitting from the northern wall of the room inside.



The first thing Moira sees are more stone platforms, eight in total, one of them carrying the broken remains of what has to be a gargoyle statue. Further-in, at the corners of the rooms are a pair of tall metallic armors, their surface slightly tarnished from the weather. To the north are two doors- one large, one small, both made of solid thick darkwood. On the south-west wall, scrawled in faded black ink, is a short phrase written in Primodial (Terran):

[Language unknown: LINTHETEDWIL TEDMENHAS]

As Moira takes all of this in, the nearest armor abruptly creaks. Slowly, the figure turns to look in the direction of the hatch. Yet, when Moira catches a glimpse of its face she quickly sees that the inside of the helmet is completely empty.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:02, Thu 14 Jan 2021.

A quick bit of work was all it took and, once assured the glyph was no longer active, Moira poked her head in for a look around.  When one of the armor suits turned to look her way and revealed itself to be some kind of automaton, the Halfling grimaced at the sight.  "Ugh, that's just creepy..."  She lingered long enough for her to make sense of what was in the room and scowled as she shifted back up to regard her companions.

"No sign of any survivin' Gargoyles, but there's livin' armor down there instead.  Don't look especially tough, but y'never know where mages' work's concerned." she gave a brief rundown as she hoisted her crossbow to bear.  "Best we take 'em out quick-like."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:44, Thu 14 Jan 2021.

OOC:
08:16, Today: U'lin rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Athletics .
I'll save the advantage and guidance :)

---

U'lin tidied the corners of his mouth as he finished the last of Moira's delicious breakfasting pie - what a pleasant way to start the day (take2).  Ignoring the spectres of disastrous previous attempts to tower climb, U'lin simply focused on the task before him.  Secure hold, secure hold, stand up.  New glove hold, secure, legs up, boots secure, stand up.  New hold, secure..

In shorter order than expected, he found himself at the parapet edge, and grinned in success as he pulled himself up, and enjoyed the view downwards.  It might not be the top of the world, or hold much view compared to the Spine's minarets, but it certainly felt fine, fine right about here and now.

"Okay, then.  What can we tell of the suits - are there attacks to avoid or focus for better effect?"

---

OOC:
If I were an animated suit of armour...
08:22, Today: U'lin rolled 19 using 1d20.  Arcana.

@U'lin: though not proficient in Arcana and thus not entirely sure on the specific weaknesses that may have been recorded on such creations, U'lin can empirically tell that without a wearer the construct's motions have to be powered entirely by magic. A strong enough Dispel may be able to disrupt the flow of the Weave through the creature, shutting it down for a while. Also, as a living suit of armor they are obviously unaffected by poisons and attacks on the mind.

The firbolg mmm-hmmed a bit, but seemed a little less amazed, though still appreciative.
 "Ah, interesting.  Yes, it doesn't appear any gearworks or special quality crafting.  Simply enhancing the armour with the weave for animation.

"Zaiya, any observations or knowledge to impart?  Clearly we should avoid poison or mental attacks.  Probably not much use trying to blind or deafen it without eyes or ears, hmm?

"I can attempt to disrupt the weave holding it together, or save the spell power if we're going to drop down and try to beat the magical stuffing from it.  It certainly appears to be waiting for us, so I can try the disruption first... but I do have only a few of those at most.  Thoughts, suggestions?

"Do we want to simply shoot them down from up here?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:01, Thu 14 Jan 2021.

Feel free to discuss what to do here or OOC, just need the party to eventually commit to a course of action. People are welcome to attempt more knowledge checks or to look around the area more. But do note that time is passing. I would say about 30minutes have passed between Zaiya's ritual casts and all the skill checks made so far.

Before Moira asks - the armors do not seem to be carrying any ranged weapons. At least as far as you can see from the roof.

The firbolg gestured to the armour on the left, then held his holy symbol.

"Okay, let us ready a volley at the left one, and repeat until down or it repeats, then try the right.  I'll preserve my dispelling blessing until needed.  If they retreat, then we can wait a moment and see if they reset, otherwise we slide down a rope to inside, and deal with them at the door where we can control the flow of activity."

"Everyone ready, together?  On 3-2-1-now!"  The Gondite summoned the dolous sound of remonstrance upon the animated armour, providing a little extra resonance.

---

OOC: though it makes more sense for U'lin to wait for it to be damaged, it's just more in character/scene of the group attacking together, regardless of the mechanics.
14:38, Today: U'lin rolled 11 using 2d8.  Toll the Dead WS14.

"There's Abjuration on the northern wall..."  Zaiya mused.  "Nothing else as best as I can see here though, maybe there's a way I can do something about the animated armor?  But if not, just shooting at them from up here shouldn't hurt, probably."

OOC: Doing an Arcana check to see if Zaiya can discern some kind of weakness or vulnerability in the living armors

Arcana 22: Zaiya knows from her studies (and some entries in her Tome) that Animated Armors are ridiculously resilient- tough, immune to a variety of common status effects like paralysis, charm, fear...etc. Some variants supposedly can be rendered resistant to particular elements, or be warded so as to be immune to specific spells.

Animated Armors also have an intelligence of 1 and near-to-no initiative or creativity whatsoever.

Most creators control them through a series of in-built routines and command words. If one were to figure out the exact wording of their routines, one can easily exploit it. Alternatively, getting hold of their command phrases would allow anyone to control an armor, since most are not really capable of discerning between different voices.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:27, Fri 15 Jan 2021.

"Hmm...  No, let's not attack first"

Zaiya taps her chin, and snaps her fingers, a crack of noise happening inside the chamber, as she looks to see how they react to it.

"These things are usually dumb as rocks, if we can determine their command phrases, we can shut them down, but let's see if they react to sounds or just images first, shall we?"

OOC: Using Thaumaturgy to create a sound somewhere in the chamber, and see if they react to it

Interestingly- the armors react to the sound, immediately moving towards the noise.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:58, Fri 15 Jan 2021.

Moira interrupted the Firbolg's enthusiasm with a hand pressed atop his wrist to give him a moment's pause, then nodded silently over to where Zaiya was experimenting with the armors' behavior.  She just shrugged and set the latch on her crossbow, shouldering it for the moment so the scholar could go about her prodding, though it was clear she thought an ambush would've been preferable herself from the air of patient indulgence she gave off.

"Yea, and how much y'wanna bet Hyuth set their commands in some far-flung ancient tongue, or a cypher of his own makin'?" Moira added as she took a moment to unfurl an extra bit of rope to anchor onto the tower's architecture.  When the party was ready to eventually head down into the aerie, one way or another, the bundle could simply be pushed over inside for an easy climb down inside.  "One of 'em looked right at me when I poked m'head in before, so they can see as well as hear, for whatever difference that makes.  Just distract 'em with some bit of flare and let's drop 'em when their backs are turned, yea?"

"They're too tough and resistant to most forms of attack, but they're dumb as rocks"  Zaiya adds, thinking about the matter, and then snapping her fingers, sending a series of noises to drag the armors off to the side--and hopefully hold their attention there.

"Right, let's try to slip past them while they're distracted"

OOC: So yeah, Zaiya will try to distract the Animated Armors with Thaumaturgy while the group tries to sneak in behind them, and hopefully bypass them.

"I mean... it ain't a bad idea, Miss Zaiya, but they know we're here already and I'd really rather not have a coupla foes at our heels when we don't know what we're gettin' into in th'next rooms." Moira pointed out as she indicated the two different doors in the chamber below.  "Ain't no tellin' if those doors there are locked or trapped, or if there's dangers beyond 'em.  We're in a good spot t'take these things down at pace and remove th'problem entirely."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:39, Sat 16 Jan 2021.

"I don't think you realize what I'm getting at when I say dumb as rocks"  Zaiya replied.  "They don't actually have Object Permanence so much as they respond to stimulus as they arrive.  If we're quiet and stay out of their line of sight and I keep them investigating, they won't even think to prioritize us.  Meanwhile, if we fight...  We risk them having ranged options, and then we've tired ourselves out for little material gain.  I mean, if you all want to just waste twenty minutes and enough arrows and bolts to drown a small army chipping away at these guys, more power to you though.  I don't have anything that'd work though."

"We're headin' into th'home of a wizard especially known for bein' a deft hand with things like those--" the Halfling retorted with a point down at the presently distracted armors "--and have no earthly idea if sneakin' ahead is even an option.  Hyuth wouldn't set guards that were so easy t'get past as that.  So, yea, I'd much rather take this slow and careful and not have any unnecessary risks on top of th'already mountainous pile of risks we're makin' doin' this in th'first place."

That statement, of course, was accented by the shift of her hip to show the extra cases of crossbow bolts she'd brought for the infiltration.  Moira actually did bring enough ammo to threaten a small army with, given the known quality of her own marksmanship.  She looked to Claire and U'lin with a shrug.  "Show of hands, y'two?  Would y'rather try takin' these things down, or slippin' past 'em?" she figured she already knew where U'lin's vote fell, given his earlier eagerness to strike.

Perched beside the open hatch, Claire peeks into the room at the metallic glint, oddly fascinated by what to her was a novel magick, before whispering back in a hushed voice, "Uh...hm. It's a good idea Miss Zaiya, but that means we'd just be leaving them for somebody else to clean up. Tower's all cordoned off, the authorities are giving this their full attention - methinks this may be the best time for the town to take care of this little problem once and for all. Goodness knows what would happen if one of them got out."

U'lin was politely -and silently- shaking his head before Claire had chimed in, but he waited for her entry of opinion before speaking again.

"If it doesn't work, we're in melee with them, instead of dealing them safely from ranged.  That's poor trade.  Especially if they're too dumb to move.

"If it does work, and they are indeed summoned by sound, the second we have anything in way of conflict below... which we expect to happen... we have two more enemies hitting us from behind.  And we have no way to retreat.  And no chokepoint to manage numbers.

"It would be an idea perhaps better suited for a sneaky entry, not a house-cleaning.

"I'm much more of the mindset of clear them out, have a good retreat point, and give us more flexibility in exploring or retreating to recover as needed.  And stealth, I admit, isn't my particular strength."

---

OOC: as before, hit them on 3

OOC: Going with plan fish in a barrel then I take...

Moira's bolt streaks out at the signal, puncturing a joint with a heavy thunk. At same time, U'lins divine magics warp and corrode the steel, eating away at the animating magics powering the moving armor. Both sentinels immediately turn in the direction of the hatch and rush over...!

...only to swing their swords ineffectually in the air. It seems that without additional coverage by the missing gargoyles, there is little the armors can do to harm the party from their position around the hatch. As more attacks and cantrips rain down on the two constructs, the armors continue to move back and forth, circling underneath the hatch in a confused attempt to reach their target. Though Moira's bolts and Claire's javelins seem less effective against the thick steel plates that comprise the armors' body, U'lins necrotic spell corrodes them quickly- the empty vessels having little to no will to speak of to resist the firbolg's magical intrusion.

Finally, after a few minutes of constant battering the last animated armor falls apart, it's body riddled with bolts, javelins and other magics.

I'd say this entire exchange, including the attacks, costs around 10 minutes of party time from the point Claire got onto the roof.

Despite the mild commotion from the party's attacks, no further reaction seems to trigger from the rest of the tower. No reaction that the party can tell, at least.

It is a trivial matter then to lower the rope down to enter the aerie proper. Though...who will enter first?
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:43, Sat 16 Jan 2021.

After a few minutes of battering on the suit of animated steel plate, Claire couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity for the poor thing. Oh well, guess that was that.

"Looks like the coast is clear," she remarks as she pokes her head through the hatch. "I'll go in first."

Lowering a length of rope down the eyrie, Claire clambers down into the room proper, igniting her sword to get a good look around.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:27, Sun 17 Jan 2021.

"Not how I'd have handled it, but what works works I suppose"  Zaiya agrees with a shrug, hopping down from the entrance with a bounce.  She didn't have much to contribute if she didn't want to exhaust herself prematurely, but she flung the occasional bolt of flame down when possible, even if they largely splashed off the armor plate of the constructs.

So most of the time the fighting was going on, she was renewing her ability to perceieve magical fields, reasoning that she'd be better use between the clashes then wasting another ten minutes when the battle was done.

"Good to see that my call about the defenses being depleted up here were on the mark though, with any luck we'll find some clues as to the access codes up here, and we can work our way down while de-activating the defenses"

OOC: Zaiya would have released her concentration on Detect Magic and re-cast it as a Ritual over the course of the fight once it became clear her firebolts were only doing scratch damage, saving us some time in the long run

U'lin briefly weighed the benefits of anchoring a pulley in the party's entrance, but decided if there was significant unloading, that the second level windows would be easier, and the ground floor even better, presuming the doors opened.

The firbolg slid down the rope, joining Claire with a thump beside her.

"It would have been nice to have the command passwords, but I certainly like your idea of finding his magical words of power.  If he is meticulous, and set down the defences and their passcodes, we could save significant time, and ensure that we don't miss anything.  I imagine that we should also be keeping an eye for concealed passages, with his control of stone."

Landing on the disk-like platforms, those inside the aerie can see it to be rather unkempt. Bits of rubble and garbage have been piled around the southern wall, the surface of which is covered in various claw marks. Again, the party sees what looks to be a short phrase scrawled in Terran. The air here is damp and musty, bits of lichen and moss growing between the cracks in the floor.

To the north are a pair of thick wooden doors, one large enough to fit a wagon mounted with a thick bar handle on the bottom, the other sized for a medium sized person with a regular handle on it's right.

Both doors glow with a moderate aura of abjuration to Zaiya's senses. Clearly another set of Glyph spells. There is also a faint aura of transmutation that seem to permeate the doors, walls and ceiling of this room.

Moira had figured that the glyphs and the Gargoyles themselves would've been the primary defenses from anything coming in through the loft, where the Armors would've been for covering the inner doors.  It appeared correct as well since the lumbering automatons were quite helpless against an assault from above - exactly the point of coming in from the back way to begin with.  She didn't savor the idea of having come up from the ground floor only to have to deal with walking right into those things at the end of it all, exhausted and spent of resources.

Once the rather noisy affair was done with, Moira pulled out her logbook to jot down a quick scrawl.  "Lemme just drop word t'our folk below so they know how we're doin'."  She gave a shrill whistle down to the soldiers posted outside to get their immediate attention, bunched up the note into a wad around a single ballbearing for the sake of a weight, and dropped it down to them.

~Tower aerie secured.  Entry and exit point available via anchored rope.  Moving inside - will be unable to communicate, but will try to secure window access on each floor for updates.  If major problem arises, will retreat to aerie for additional report.  Hold perimeter.~ the note read.  Once she had a moment to confirm with a signal or shout with the guards below, the Halfling turned and shimmed her way down the rope into the tower proper.



"Yea, here's hopin'.  Figure Hyuth would have his personal chambers higher in th'tower nearer his Gargoyles, so we're likely t'come on 'em sooner than later this way.  Hopefully it'll save us a bit of grief." Moira agreed.  Once at the bottom of the inner rope, she took a moment to secure it around one of the pedestals to make sure it would remain knotted in place for easier access.



"Good thinkin', U'lin.  Why don't y'self and Claire take a look 'round for such while m'self and Miss Zaiya handle th'exits?"  Moira added even as she set to gathering any of her bolts that might've survived impacting such sturdy magicked armor.

Moira will recover however many of her bolts she can - assuming it wasn't just a general handwave in the first place - and be ready to assist Zaiya with the doors.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:25, Sun 17 Jan 2021.

"There are Transmutation auras on the walls"  Zaiya points out, gesturing where they're coming from.  "The doors are also secured like the entryway to this room was, I'll do what I can to point out where the magic is and how we can get past them"

OOC: @Moira let's assume she used one case of bolts and recovered half. so 10 bolts expended in total.

Alright, anyone searching the room for secret passages can attempt a Perception or Investigation check. Note that you will get different info depending on which check you use.

U'lin note that I am already accounting for your passive Perception/Investigation and will inform you if that spots anything as well. Again, the info this gives is slightly different from an active check.

Anyone checking the doors can attempt Arcana and/or Investigation checks.

Initially on high alert for any magical mischief, Claire slowly lowered her blade as it became apparent that nothing was about to jump out at them from the shadows.



"Looking for bricks what're a little out of place?" she eyeballed the walls. "Can't imagine he'd have much larger than a cubby...but then he was a mad wizard." No telling what kind of cruel design sense a lunatic magician would have - Claire took excessive caution not to touch the walls, let alone get near them...

Perception: 2
13:56, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 2 using 1d20.  Perception.

U'lin kept his shield and weapon ready, but had no objection in a bit of examination first, and gave a bit more time to the animated armours, but soon enough moved along to examine the floors and walls for signs of modification or specialized construction that would indicate a secret passage or concealed place of storage or really anything of special interest.

"A shame he didn't have his armours cleaning the place while away," he opined as he rejoined the group by the door with his findings.

---

OOC: not sure if your post means not to roll w/ adv as was previous the plan, so I won't, but always can if I've misinterpreted.
Secreted secrets of secret?
15:39, Today: U'lin rolled 23 using 1d20+7.  Perception.

"There's other spells for that"  Zaiya muttered, taking her book into hand and kneeling before the abjuration and transmutation auras of the doors, regularly checking and comparing her nots.

"Let's see...  Probably another glyph like before?  But we're well within the defensive perimeter now and at this point too much security is redundant...  Still...  Never hurts to be diligent, you know?"

OOC: I think my book applies for studying this kind of thing?  So Investigation + Arcana with Advantage

Oof, dice gods were not kind

10 on Investigation
13 on Arcana

@Zaiya You are reasonably certain these are also Glyphs of Warding. However the core of the glyph is completely different- a different stored spell perhaps? The framework is also embedded deeper into the wood, and there are some slight variations in the trigger pattern that you aren't sure about. Probably a passphrase again.

The difficulty to disarm...should be about the same? You estimate a it could be higher or lower by 2. It's hard to be sure.

OOC: Also note that the advantage is for Arcana only, not Investigation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:32, Tue 19 Jan 2021.

@Claire - It wall. Hurr.

@U'lin - 23: the stonework of this tower is disturbingly smooth. Normal construction does not work like this.

However, it is because of the seeming perfection of the surfaces that any imperfections stand out. U'lin notices a few tiny holes in the ceiling right above the doors in the northern wall. While a mundane construction might have such marks due to wear and tear, it seems odd that a magically reinforced tower would have such damage. These holes are very likely to be deliberate.

The narrow holes U'lin pointed out while Moira waited for Zaiya's review of the glyphs got a hum of recognition.  "That's always plenty tellin'.  Seen that sorta thing before when y'get spike or dart traps what come zippin' out th'walls.  Most times they just go right over m'head."  One of the benefits of being a smaller type, really - most precautions were made for opposing invaders of greater stature.  Moira once more rolled her shoulders to loosen up and gestured for the others to step aside.  "Alright, y'lot clear back a ways.  Best there be fewer of us in th'blast radius."

The more involved and deeper-set glyphwork naturally required a more cautious bit of effort to undo, though the process of filing and chipping away differed little from before.  After all, the more complex a device was - be it magical or mundane - the more potential places could break.  Moira shuffled amid her tools and withdrew a magnifying glass, which she affixed over one eye with the handle bound tucked under her bandana.  It helped to keep her focus sharp as she worked at a slight bit of range herself; a pick and a keen razor were mounted to either side of a slender metal handle that telescoped out with a twist.  Just the thing for getting at a mechanism otherwise out of reach or, in the present case, working at a bit more than arm's length away to ensure she wasn't in the path of whatever might come out of those curious holes in the ceiling.

I'm assuming U'lin will give Guidance, and that I need two rolls to address both doors.
Investigation for other traps
Moira Ruadh rolled 17 using 1d20

Thieves' Tools vs. DC ???
Left Door: Moira Ruadh rolled 27 using 1d20+9
Right Door: Moira Ruadh rolled 24 using 1d20+9 + 1d4
This message was last edited by the player at 07:23, Tue 19 Jan 2021.

Good catch there Moira ;) Give me an Investigation check to see if you find the second trap. You may apply your already rolled guidance check to this check instead if you like. If you succeed, I will use the second thieves tools roll for disarming it.

EDIT: OOC, reminder that all four of you have Inspiration from the roleplay session with Foehammer earlier.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:46, Tue 19 Jan 2021.

The glyph isn't...too complicated. Done one, done them all one could say. As Moira carefully nicks a specific point in the runework to depower the rune...the magic flickers. Just the faintest click, so minor that one might consider it a trick of the senses. A faint breeze perhaps.

But between Zaiya's senses and Moira's instincts, the two trapfinders realize what just happened- a deadman switch.

As the glyph fades from the Weave a tiny pulse shoots upwards towards the ceiling. Acting almost purely on instinct born from years of dealing with traps, Moira somehow jams the tip of her pick right where the minute channel carved in the grain of the wood lies. There is an audible crackle, a discharge of magical energies that leaves the halfling's fingers numb. The transmutation aura around the room roils-

-and remains still.

Both glyphs on the northern doors fade away. Without the spells supporting them, the wooden doors actually seem to sway a little on their hinges, no other locking mechanisms holding them in place.

Alright, who's going in? And which door? Small regular door or Large garage door?
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:05, Tue 19 Jan 2021.

The shift of energy that prompted such a quick counteraction put Moira on edge as, thankfully, the worst of it was little more than a jolt up her fingertips as she diverted the magical current up her tool rather than letting it go where it intended.  Memories of hastily lunging for lit fuses and unexpectedly disconnected trip latches rushed to mind... no doubt the tower would add plenty more of those instances to her catalogue of experiences.  Moira sighed and flicked her wrist to work the numbness out of her fingers, then stowed her tools back into their places.

"Honestly, with these defenses facin' this side of th'door, I kinda get th'feelin' they were meant t'keep th'Gargoyles outta th'Tower proper in case they ever went wild." she could only speculate on what made sense to her.  Though she really didn't want to think of what damage the trap might've done if it really was meant to overwhelm a stone-bodied monstrosity...

One set of tools were shuffled away while another came out for use.  The Halfling broke a bit of candle wax off and softened it with a roll between her fingers, then wadded it into one ear to deafen that side.  With hands cupped about her other ear she set herself to the hinge seam-side of the smaller door jam to listen for any signs of movement or life that might wait beyond.  They'd made so much noise dealing with the armor that anything beyond the doors would surely be aware of them already, of course, but better to check all the same.

Perception check to listen at the Small Regular Door
Moira Ruadh rolled 10 using 1d20+4

And Perception to listen at the Large Garage Door
Moira Ruadh rolled 6 using 1d20+4

Also, are the doors additionally locked with traditional lock-and-key that would require picking?  Also, do the doors go flush to the floor without any gaps, or do they have any amount of space where something like a mirror could be angled to peek inside?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:03, Tue 19 Jan 2021.

Tucking her ear against the two entry ways, Moira can hear sounds of faint bubbling from the smaller door, and silence from the large one.

Both are flush and sealed with no gaps, however breaking the wards has made them swing freely. They have handles but no locking mechanism- apparently the lock was entirely dependent on the magic.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:42, Wed 20 Jan 2021.

Without any immediate sound of life to warn against, Moira cast a look back at her companions and offered a shrug.  She gestured for them to stand clear so as not to be immediately within the path of the to-be-opened doorway just in case something unexpected might've popped out and set herself to one side as well.  Once everyone was ready, the Halfling drew her swords and used the flat of one to cautiously ease the smaller door open...

The door turns noiselessly on greased hinges as Moira peeks into the next room. The source of the bubbling is obvious - a fat cauldron in the middle of the chamber, simmering with some strange greenish liquid. Light fumes trail from the concotion towards the ceiling, where a small rune seems to absorb the smoke. Scattered against the far walls are numerous workbenches covered in a variety of alchemical ingredients, half-full solutions and strange powders. On the largest desk is an unorganized mess of papers, sketches and notes - Moira can glimpse a few of the drawings stuck on the wall, outlines of what might be the city walls.

At the far end, a large pile of miscellaneous stones in varying sizes and coloration spill out of a undersized crate. Standing in front of the rocks is another animated armor, though this one carries no weapons. Instead, it appears to be wearing a chemical-stained apron and a belt with several odd tools and vials stuck in them.

The room curves towards the east, and Moira can barely see some sort of spell circle etched on the ground, and the side of what might be a bookcase. To see beyond, she would have to step in the room.

Does the Armor show any sign of reacting to the door opening or that it's aware of the party at all?  Also, is it facing the door or is it turned away looking at the rocks?

OOC: It doesn't react to the door opening. Its actually facing the bubbling pot.

Another living armor, it seemed.  That it was apparently sorted as some kind of crafter rather than a fighter didn't ease Moira's wariness, however, and she gestured for the others to ready themselves.  A moment was all she took to brandish her swords and steady her breath.  Around the corner she slipped...

Moira's action kind of depends on how the Armor reacts.  If it immediately twigs to her presence when she enters the room and looks to be aggressive, she'll hurry up to melee with it and then scamper back out of the room to her starting spot to let the others engage as well.

Alternatively, if the Armor doesn't become aggressive, she'll pivot around the left side of the cauldron up as far as the long desk to try and get a look into the rest of the room.

As Moira enters the room the armor's helmet pivots up to face her. However, the armor itself does not move, simply swiveling in place to look at Moira as she goes around the cauldron.

Looking into the rest of the chamber, its clear that the laboratory actually swings around to connect to the eastern side of the tower. At the far north, Moira can see the spell circle inscribed with runes in a mix of spell languages (Arcana check) where a large block of marble(?) has been placed. A pile of tarnished, oddly shape rocks lie scattered next to the spell circle. The stones seem to have fused or melted into each other, forming an unsightly block of malformed rubble.

On the eastern side are rows of cabinets and book shelves, filled with a mix of tomes and what look to be various expensive-looking bottles and jars, all shut behind layers of thin glass panels.


This message was last edited by the GM at 08:34, Wed 20 Jan 2021.

Moira tensed, ready to bound in and strike, but the Armor didn't move against her.  Given how dense Zaiya said they were, she began to wonder if they served purposes other than just guard duty... had Hyuth automated his work?  She knew of invisible servants that mages could conjure out of shapeless force, but that they were temporary and limited in nature.  Presumably a tireless golem of sorts would serve better, if one had the skill to make it in the first place.

As the armor didn't become aggressive, Moira chanced to step nearer.  Right up beside it, so long as it didn't try to lash out, for the sake of getting a better look around the corner.  She was cautious not to step too near to that strange magic circle on the floor though.  No good ever came of toeing into magic circles.

Moira will continue past the Armor to the spot just to the lower right of it.  I believe that's another door I see there?  If it is, Moira won't cross past it in case it's also glyphed.  As before, if the Armor turns aggressive, she'll attack and then bail back out of the room.

OOC: Sounds good, I'm gonna wait for 12 hours or so from this post to see if anyone else wants to chime in or do anything before moving forward.

The armor simply continues to swivel to face the halfling, but does not take any further actions.  Being careful not to touch any of the arcane circles or approach, Moira gains a much better view of the rest of the lab.

Firstly, the the small door seems to connect to a central...room? Shaft? Of some sort in the middle of the lab.

Next, Moira can clearly see the opposite side of the larger door that connects to the Aerie outside.

Shoved against the wall, partially blocking the larger door are a pair of wooden barrels, bound with iron bands. A tiny satchel of white powder lies on the floor, its contents spilled over the stone tiles. To the east is another spell circle, much more complex than the green one in front of Moira. Placed in its center is a small sapphire gem that seems to be embedded into the floor itself. It pulses softly, shedding a pale blue light. Another desk has been dragged in front of the circle, a pile of complex diagrams and sketches in one corner, half a dozen small glass bottles in the other.

Central stairwell, Moira figured, as she spied the narrow fit of the room in the center.  Though the sight of the various magical circles and that particular gleam of blue gemstone sent a chill down her spine as her thoughts instantly flashed back to the Gargoyles, that Stone Dragon, and the awful, sickly sensation of power that had flooded her thoughts when she held the cracked control gem.  The Halfling shook it off quickly and looked back over to the doorway she'd come through.

"Room's clear.  Doesn't seem like this'un's a fighter, but keep an eye on it all th'same in case it takes offense t'us pokin' 'round up here." she called out for the rest as she gestured vaguely at the tool-bedecked Armor.  Her own swords remained drawn - she would be of little use in examining a Wizard's workshop, so best she remain vigilant otherwise.  "Don't use th'broad door - it's got stuff blockin' it.  Looks like this is where Hyuth was craftin' th'Gargoyles, in a manner.  There's mage rings on th'floor, so watch where y'step.  Miss Zaiya?  Can y'check this inner door here and see if it's magicked up as well?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:51, Wed 20 Jan 2021.

"I can take a stab at it"  Zaiya agreed, moving in once the coast was declared clear.  There was a little bit of fiddling about and keeping an eye on the remaining construct...

but it seemed this one hadn't been programmed to attack intruders--good!

Just a little inspection, see if there's anything wrong with the door, and she could go from there!

OOC: Arcana + Investigation.  21 on Invest, 23 on Arcana with the book's help

There are absolutely no traps, wards or even locks on the door. There is a very nice brass handle carved like a dragons claw though.

Auras:

Bubbling Pot: mixture primarily Transmutation
Rune above the Pot: Abjuration
Green Spell Circle: Divination
Blue Spell Circle: Transmutation, Divination, Enchantment
White Stone: Transmutation (weak)
Shelves: bunch of very weak auras (i.e. magical reagents) plus a few stronger ones (Investigation check to rummage)
Desk(s): again, mostly magical reagents.

"Door's safe!"  Zaiya gives a thumbs up, and steps away, her eye dancing over the spell circles...

Well, she wasn't going to tamper with them--not yet--not when they could be full of study.

On the other hand, those shelves...  Who knew what kind of clues she could find there?

She'd need to investigate this!  Thoroughly!

OOC: 14 on Investigation on the shelves

With precious little knowledge of what could possibly explode the second she touched it, Claire literally tip-toed into the room after Zaiya. Hyuth could keep his treasures - she wasn't keen on increasing her wealth at the expense of her fingers. She kept a wary eye on the 'crafter' armour. Up close, its facelessness was a tad disturbing. "Could stand to be a little friendlier, this one."

Giving the magic circle a wide berth, Claire inches up next to the door leading to what she assumed would be the central stairway. "Think it's safe to open?" If this weren't a mad wizard's tower, she'd not have thought twice.

Move: To 1 square south of the green magic circle, just left of the central door.

Looking through the shelves shows them to be full of various magical components, reagents and powders- the sort of thing any enterprising wizards for experimentation. Mostly rare minerals, gem dust and other things that a transmuter would prize.

Zaiya finds ~300gp worth of magical reagents in the cabinet (150gp if sold) that can be used for scribing or item crafting.

In addition, tucked carefully in a corner of the north-most cabinet is are a pair of reddish vials- a pair of healing potions labeled "IN CASE OF ACCIDENTS".

OOC: What's everyone else doing?

U'lin's interested face peered about here and there, and he gathered up the pair of healing potions, giving one to Moira and one to Zaiya.

"No sense having our trapworkers lacking extra healing options."

Looking about, he found several interesting things, but nothing particularly interesting, and so moved to join Claire to help "defend" the door.  Moira needed to clear it first, but then the pair of front-liners could descend - unless Moira and Zaiya needed to see to keep confirming a clear set of stairs.

"Nice"  Zaiya grins as she takes the reagent pouch out.  "I was looking for some gem dust.  I'm keeping this!"  She tucked the pouch into the satchel she had on and turned away.  "Nothing else here I can see that might be useful, was hoping to find some journals or something that might give us insights on the code word, but no joy."

In fact there are two desks covered in writings, diagrams and sketches in the room. A quick skim shows that most of the writings pertain to Hyuth's research into the fields of architecture, geology and alchemy. Digging through all the writings would take a significant amount of time though - most of it is written in the typical scrawl of a wizard that knows they are the only one who ever has to read their own writing. By Zaiya's estimate, shifting through all the papers and books on the desk and trying to find some sort of code word or hint towards Hyuth's thought processes would take anywhere between one to two hours, maybe more.

If the party decides to dig through the all the notes and papers for clues, that would be an group investigation check (as many people who want to participate can). Note that this will take at least an hour, if not more, and will not count for a short rest.

Moira shrugged on that point.  "Miss Zaiya said it was.  Best stand aside all th'same." she gave a look back over to their Tiefling scholar who seemed more eager about looting jewels for all sorts of reasons other than the usual.

"Just be sure t'keep a ledger in mind of anythin' we find.  We gotta report all this t'th'Lord Protector - she may want t'claim anythin' Hyuth owned for Triboar's treasury, or deduct th'value of anythin' we keep outta any pay she might see fit in offerin' us." Moira advised even as she took the potion handed over by U'lin with a grateful waggle of the bottle in hand.  Leave it to a merchant to keep coin in her thoughts while not being so mercenary to have demanded a fee for their help in the first place.  Given the state of Triboar they would undoubtedly want every last gold they could hold onto for the rebuilding process.  "For now, let's keep ourselves movin' light.  We can do a deep search of th'place for valuables after we make sure it's clear and safe."

Moira's vote is to continue on rather than sort through papers.  Since the door was already deemed to be untrapped, Moira will stand to one side and open it with her sword for a lever in her usual abundance of caution, once everyone is ready to proceed.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:28, Thu 21 Jan 2021.

"Alright then," with their arcane expert's go-ahead, Claire took up position opposite Moira, waiting for the halfling to pry the door open, before herself peering down into the next room.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:50, Thu 21 Jan 2021.

"Well, if we're not searching for clues on how to trivialize any remaining defenses, I'm good to go"  Zaiya does frown a little, but...

Well, useless as her magic may be against these constructs, they did need to have her checking or magical defenses and traps.

So it goes.

U'lin paused, consideringly, by the door.

"I was thinking that we proceed inwards, and review the papers afterwards... but now I'm second-guessing.  If we can find even the location of his trapworks and builds, then we stand a better chance in not overlooking something, not wandering into traps, and those by themselves are of merit.  If we can find his disarming codes, that is very much worth it.

"I thought I also saw architectural papers as I walked past the desk.  That speaks more to design, possibly for defences on planning for construction?  If of this tower, I mean.

"If we had two teams working through the papers, helping each other, and setting aside anything we don't understand for Zaiya to examine later - at least we would have a bit of good effort.

"On the other hand, I'm still feeling nice and full from Moira's breakfast pie, and there is something to the movement while well fed.

"We don't want to be here all day...  why don't we spend a quarter-glass looking at the papers just generally, for an idea about the type of work, and we can concentrate efforts if he seems more detailed and focused on preserving information, or ditch the review if it is simply his gathering of bric-a-brac literary sheets?"

---

OOC: I don't see us ignoring the sheets, but I also don't see spending hours on reviewing being anything close to realistic.  Even if we can't find his command words (which would be stellar, I agree), finding where traps were built in, or magical buffering zones to not interfere with other spellwork, etc. - that would be more realistic than reviewing in detail War and Peace - the journal edition.

"Look, I ain't tryin' t'be dismissive of research or nothin'.  But from that divinin' warnin' earlier, we may very well be on a dwindlin' clock if there's somethin' lower in th'tower what's gonna cause trouble sooner than later." Moira tried to be pragmatic in the moment.  "Claire and m'self ain't much use figurin' a mage's notes, so we'd be little more than sittin' on our hands or gettin' in th'way.  Goin' slow and cautious t'contend with a problem is one thing, but we ain't got th'time for sortin' through a mess of papers for there maybe bein' a useful clue."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:37, Fri 22 Jan 2021.

U'lin gathered up what papers Zaiya had not because I'm too pushed for time to scroll back, and stowed them in a folder or book, which he put atop his backsack.

"If we stop for discussions or removing traps and such, then I can pull these out and go through them as we deliberate, instead of wasting time.  Good thinking."

A closer look at the gathered papers by U'lin and Zaiya suggests that the diagrams on the left table seem to detail the architecture of Triboars' defenses. Analysis of the stone making up the outer walls, suggestions for magical additions and several papers on alchemically reinforcing stone and wood.

The papers closer to the blue spellcircle seem to detail the strange dragon construct that the party fought in the warehouse yesterday. Notes analyzing the various parts of the creature and its abilities sit next to several sketches of what might be his gargoyle servants.

Gathering up and skimming the papers takes approximately 10 minutes. Its a pretty thick pile, but not one that U'lin has too much trouble carrying.

In the meanwhile, Moira and Claire carefully nudge open the central door- indeed, the tower appears to have a central stairwell of sorts. Magical lights provide strong illumination around this musty stone stairwell. Two more doorways jut out at regular intervals from the stairwell- one corresponding to the middle floor and one to the ground floor.


This message was last edited by the GM at 04:27, Sat 23 Jan 2021.

Moira took a moment to peek down into the depths of the stairwell and, with a brief glance and shrug back to her companions, took the lead on the way down inside.  She was slow-going about it though as she withdrew the walking stick she had strapped off her shoulder and led with it.  Not a step was taken down the stairs before the next one in line was tapped here and there in a cautionary bit of prodding for any sign of insecurity.

More trap searching as we go!  Does this count as Perception or Investigation?
Moira Ruadh rolled 20 using 1d20
Perception: 24
Investigation: 20

Assuming we get to the next door without incident, Moira will let Zaiya shift to the lead to check for glyphs or other magical stuff on the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:14, Sun 24 Jan 2021.

OOC: Either works and gives slightly different information. I'll use Perception for Moira for this.

Like the chambers before, the stairwell and it's steps are clearly crafted from magic- perfectly smooth surfaces that flow seamlessly into each other.

If there's a trap, Moira does not see one.

"Probably not as many wards and such in here since that'd be damn inconvenient for Hyuth t'manage.  Imagine stumblin' 'round half-asleep needin' th'pot in th'middle of th'night, havin' t'fuss with passwords and nonsense?"  Moira shrugged as she stepped aside and gestured to let Zaiya pass for her own round of investigations on the door ahead.  "Still, let's not take anythin' for granted."

@Zaiya - Detect Magic: Besides an aura of evocation magic that suffuses the entire stairwell, there do not appear to be any auras of magic on either of the doors leading to the other levels.

"There's Evocation energies all throughout this stairwell.."  Zaiya mumbled after looking around.  "Nothing that looks like it might trigger anything, but if there is a trigger mechanism in this stairwell, being inside it would be very unpleasant.

Any additional things Zaiya wants to check? Are you guys going for the middle or ground floor.

My vote's for the middle floor, taking this one level at a time.  Also, does Moira's earlier trap check include the door or was it just the hallway itself?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:17, Sun 24 Jan 2021.

OOC: Included the door

"Well, best we help ourselves outta th'stairwell then."  Moira chimed as she led the way to the next door.  She pulled the same trick as she had upstairs - one ear plugged with wax, the other cupped about to listen beyond the wooden barrier for any clues as to what awaited them.

Perception - Listening at the door
Moira Ruadh rolled 14 using 1d20+4

From beyond the door, in this supposedly unoccupied tower, Moira hears sounds of...sweeping? A broom?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:49, Mon 25 Jan 2021.

The steady swish of what sounded like a broom going about brought a look of passing confusion off Moira's face, though she shook it off promptly.  If Hyuth had enchanted Armors to do things like stand guard and help in his workshop, perhaps he'd made some to handle the housekeeping?  Moira gestured for the others to hold back in silence for a moment before she gently tried the door with a slow, smooth pull to nip a look around inside for herself.

Stealth
Moira Ruadh rolled 20 using 1d20+9
This message was last edited by the player at 04:06, Mon 25 Jan 2021.

Peeking in, Moira sees a wide corridor cast of stone. Small indents in the ceiling shed soft light, illuminating the entire area. Next to the door is a floating broomstick made of wood that appears to be carefully sweeping the grounds. Four sets of doors, two to the north and two to the south, line the otherwise unremarkable corridor.

A magic broom?  Moira felt the urge to scoff at the sheer laziness of it, only to think quickly to the cleaning wand she had up her sleeve.  On second thought she wasn't certain if making such mundane magics was a waste of the awesome arcane power or perhaps a far better use for the stuff than causing explosions and horrible curses.  Triboar may very well have been better off if Hyuth had specialized in making spells for the homebody than whatever nonsense he'd gotten up to with Gargoyles.

"Four doors, two on each side of th'hall.  Looks like we're in th'personal chambers section of th'tower.  Which means these parts are either th'least trapped or th'absolute most trapped." she reported and stepped aside once more to let Zaiya in ahead.  Working in a rotating team for the sake of trap finding was a cumbersome task, but necessary - there was no way she'd know what surfaces were warded herself, after all.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:27, Mon 25 Jan 2021.

Opening the door proper lets Moira and Zaiya get a better look at the doors (and their auras). Each door actually has a little placard hanging in front of them. The pair to the north are labeled "GUEST ROOM 1" and "GUEST ROOM 2" respectively. The south-west door is labaled "STUDY - DO NOT KNOCK" while the south-east one has "BED CHAMBERS - DO NOT DISTURB". While the placards hanging from the guest rooms are made of wood, the ones on the study and bedroom are cast from silver, with far more elaborate font. If removed, they could be sold for 5gp each, or melted down to form approximately 2gp worth of raw silver.

Furthermore, Moira realises that while the doors to the guest rooms have handles and keyholes, the ones to the Study and Bedroom have nothing of the sort, being completely smooth oak doors.

Detect Magic Auras:

-Two Northern doors (Guest Rooms): weak aura of Abjuration on each door
-Two Southern doors (Study and Bedroom): multiple moderate auras of Abjuration
-Broom: weak aura of Transmutation
-Ceiling lights: weak aura of Evocation

Disabling the wards on the Guest room will only require one Arcana check, DC 15
Disabling the Study/Bedroom ones will require two Arcana checks, both of unknown DC, or a casting of Dispel Magic (one for each door).

Zaiya can also attempt an Arcana check seperately for the guestrooms and study/bedroom to determine what the wards might be.

Also, is anyone doing anything about the broom, or just gonna let it sweep away?
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:20, Mon 25 Jan 2021.

"Okay, yeah, as you might expect, the guest room doors are only lightly protected, I'm picking up some weak Abjuration auras there--protective spells.  The other doors though..."  She gestures to the Study and the Bedroom.  "Significantly more potent defenses, two layers of wardings and steps taken to discourage conventional ward removal.

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

"Never a fun thing to do.  I'll get started seeing what I can do with one of them, but this is where things are liable to get dicey.  Should I start on the Study or the Bedroom?"

"Which d'ya think a wizard would put more defenses on?  His bedroom or his library?" it was less of a hypothetical question than Moira intended, given the circumstances.  Normally she'd think one's chambers would have the utmost protection, but one could never tell with how prized knowledge and research was for magic-types.  "Or maybe we should start with th'guest rooms, if they're easier t'disable?  Probably ain't much in 'em, but it'd be good t'get 'em outta th'way at least."

Moira doesn't like messing with magic, so she's just going to leave the broom well enough alone until someone like Zaiya or U'lin says that it's safe to do otherwise.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:42, Mon 25 Jan 2021.

"Study"  Zaiya said without hesitation.

"You are ultimately your own best security, a place to sleep is nice but a wizard in their sanctum is protected by all manner of wards, and can prepare them and raise them accordingly as needed.  The greatest value it contains is not present whenever they're not there.  The study though?  That's where you keep the lore you've accumulated, the secrets you've teased out--it's the place you do all the work that enables everything else you do.  You can't carry it with you because it's too heavy--but one who gets inside can learn everything you haven't committed to memory.  So you protect it, because it's at the greatest risk when you're not there to protect it"

She shrugs.

"So yeah, if I were to gauge which one is better protected, it'd be the study, easily"

"Then it seems the study, then the bedroom are our important places to check.  Not much sense to worry about guest rooms.  Perhaps if a guest room had been mislabeled, and was heavily warded, but that doesn't appear to be the situation here."

The firbolg said hello to the floating broom, but otherwise let the item be.  It could be mundane, could be enchanted with life - why not be polite.

"If this is a time-sensitive issue, the study holds the greatest likelihood of focus of concern then, so...  I would think we start where exists our greatest concern."

Thus the experts had spoken.  Moira shrugged and gestured for Zaiya to go right on ahead with the Study first, in that case, as there was little the Halfling herself could do to assist until the wards were identified.

"Okay, okay"  Zaiya takes a deep breath, stepping up before the door, teeth bared ever so slightly.

"Don't suppose I could get a spot of good luck here?  Because I looked into the future earlier and it did not look good, seriously."

OOC: For all she complains, she gets a 17 and a nat 20 on analyzing what those wards do, damnit, I should have just gone with that!

Ah well, too late now.

27 to analyze the wards on the study door
This message was last edited by the player at 18:46, Mon 25 Jan 2021.

"You're workin' alongside a Hin, love; we're made of good luck." Moira said in half a jest as Zaiya set to her examinations.  "But I got every faith in y'skills without needin' chance involved."

It is difficult- indeed, Hyuth clearly did not want these protections to be easily understood, let alone unravelled. Plenty of misleading runes, redundancies or just plain obfuscating jargon. Eventually though, with the help of her tome and a bit of Hin luck Zaiya manages to get the gist of the protections:

Three main protections:

1) Arcane Lock, keyed only to Hyuth himself. There are no keys, as no one else is supposed to go through. Requires a DC 16 Arcana check to disarm
2) Glyph of Warding x2 One-two punch. First, Hold Person on whoever is in front of the door, followed by a massive electrical explosion on everyone within 20ft of the door. Triggers if anyone tries to force their way in, or if they have the gall to knock. The spell can apparently discern between living and non-living creatures. DC 18 Arcana check to disarm.
3) Alarm spell, alerts...you think this might be the entire tower. Triggers if forced entry is attempted, or (this one was sneaky, Zaiya almost missed it) anyone breaks one of the other two wards first. Is actually trivial to disarm, but is so interwoven with the other two wards that you can pretty much undo it as part of disarming the other two - now that Zaiya is aware of the trick, she can sidestep.

Again, Zaiya can attempt x2 Arcana checks to bypass the protections (or Moira can attempt it with Thieves Tools). Indicate which protection you are undoing when you make the roll. If you fail the check for the Glyph, you trigger both of them at once :D

Alternatively, a single casting of Dispel Magic will remove the entire ward, but trigger the alarm. Two castings of Dispel Magic will remove both (no alarm). The Alarm spell is sufficiently interwoven with the other magics that you can't do a mix of Arcana checks and Dispel Magic casts unfortunately.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:23, Mon 25 Jan 2021.

"Okay, okay"  Zaiya closes her book and takes a breath.  "It's sneaky--real sneaky--there's an alarm that alerts the entire tower woven in with the actual wards.  Can't nail it on my own, but it's a fucker of a defense here.  The Arcane Lock?  It's not so bad. I give myself a fifty fifty chance of disarming it.  The actual offensive trap?  Uh, not so good--it includes a serial casting of Hold Person...  That specific little cheat spell I've used from time to time, like when we took on that big scary bandit chief fellow--and then it fills a good chunk of space with lightning."

She bites the tip of her thumb.  "It's...  Little under fifty/fifty I think?  But now I've spotted the trap, and I think I should be okay, everyone else though should..."

She makes a little gesture with her hand, indicating everyone to back up out of the splash zone.

"But yeah...  Luck, always luck, because if either of these things go off, every remaining battle construct in this tower is going to charge in on us."

OOC:  In case it wasn't clear, I'm fishing for Guidance here :P
This message was last edited by the player at 19:42, Mon 25 Jan 2021.

OOC: If Moira assists with the Help Action and thus remains in the blast zone as well, can she give Zaiya Advantage on the checks and split the chance of the "Hold Person" spell targeting either of them?  And, just in case, how would Inspiration factor in here?  I've got two charges of Inspiration saved up for a rainy day.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:46, Mon 25 Jan 2021.

Yes to the advantage and help action.

50/50 targeting for Hold Person seems like what would happen, based on Zaiya's roll.

Inspiration grants advantage on a roll. You can only have one "charge" of Inspiration at a time- this is intentional, to encourage players to use it instead of hoarding it. I'd like to think I've been pretty generous with Inspiration :P

Sure was one hell of a mad, mad wizard, Claire thought to herself.

Intoning a prayer to Chauntea for Zaiya and Moira's success, Claire stayed just beyond the trap's blast zone, sword at the ready for the worst case scenario.

"We're doing this then?"  Zaiya said, drawing out her Athame and taking a deep, steadying breath.

"Okay!  We're doing this!  We'll start with the offensive trap, because that's the one that's most likely to kill us all one way or the other..."

OOC: Arcana Test with Advantage, two times, the first at DC 18 and the second at DC 16

LET'S DO THIS

25 vs the Glyph Trap (Disarmed!)
19 vs the Arcane Lock (Disarmed!)

Alarm Trap automatically disarmed with each mechanism, we're in!  Thanks for the help folks!

OOC: Forgot to mention this, but at the ends of the corridors are a pair of barrels, similar in size and shape to the ones in the lab upstairs. They slosh a little when bumped into as Claire and U'lin move away from the blast radius of the glyphs.

Zaiya's hands dance over the minute tracery of the Study-room door in a symphony of motion. Seconds pass as the tiefling carefully nudges a circuit here, a rune there. Occasionally, Moira's sharp eyes and honed instincts catch a half-hidden rune, disguised as part of the grain, or a clever double-layered pattern designed to throw off would-be wardbreakers. Seconds turn to minutes, with the only sound being that of the animated broom sweeping away merrily, apparently convinced that Claire's boots were a stain to be expunged from the non-existant carpets.

Finally, with one last notch- the auras fade. No alarm goes off. With unceremonious silence, the door swings open, revealing a very tightly packed study.



The entire study is lit by a soft light emitting from the ceiling, in a manner similar to the stairs. The air here is stale and dry, tinged with the scent of parchment and ink.

Immediately opposite the door is a rather cluttered looking desk parked against the southern wall. Said wall is practically covered in pinned-up papers and diagrams - all centered around a large and rather detailed map of Triboar's immediately surroundings. Criss-crossed lines of colored yarn connect hastily scribbled notes that litter the pinned-up map with frentic abandon. The desk itself is no better, being a messy assortment of opened books, inkpots and wax stains. A single feathered pen floats inches over a long piece of empty parchment.

Right besides the desk is a elaborate set of armor. This one appears to be inanimate- at least, its not moving. The armor is mounted on a wooden platform engraved with a set of dates, and appears to be made entirely out of stone. Each weathered, slightly cracked piece of armor has a little label scrawled with numbers stuck onto it.

Going clockwise from the desk are several tall and heavy bookshelves, each level practically packed with expensive-looking tomes and documents. On top of these shelves are an assortment of trinkets- a glass statuette shaped like a winged kobold, a jar engraved with a bloody eye, a carving of a two-headed dog, an enormous white claw as big as Moira's arm...

A few of these books and trinkets have been placed upon a smaller reading desk near the center of the room, where a plush blue sofa and an empty mug sit. A few more notes and bookmarked tomes lie on the table for easy reference.

To the east of the reading desk is a small spell-circle etched into the stone, surrounded by a thick metal band about 3 inches deep. Right next to it is a heavy earthen jug, lid covered, surface unmarked. The rest of the eastern wall is bare, save for a twelve-inch portrait of a stern, white-bearded man with sharp grey eyes dressed in excessively gaudy robes.

Atop the bookshelves, a pair of floating, bright blue gloves appears to be carefully polishing one of the trinkets (a silvery globe embossed with numerous tiny insects). Much like the broom, the gloves do not seem to respond to the party's entry, merrily continuing with its task.

Auras:
-Ceiling: weak evocation
-Blue Gloves: weak transmutation
-Glass Statue on Shelf: moderate divination
-Other Trinkets: little-to-no auras
-Spell Circle: moderate divination
-Floating Quill: weak transmutation and divination
-Shelves: weak necromancy

Anyone wanting to inspect items in the room can give me Investigation and/or Perception checks. Please specify what you are inspecting/searching for precisely.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:34, Tue 26 Jan 2021.

"Hahaha!  Nothing exploded!"  Zaiya all but shouted as the door swung open.  "That's good!  That's great!  That's....  Oh my."

Now this?

This was a proper wizard's sanctum!

"The most noteworthy things here--from a magical perspective anyway--are the statue over there..."  She gathered her thoughts, gesturing to the statue.  "Moderately strong Divination aura there, the Spell Circle looks to be the same way...  Are they means of communicating abroad maybe?  A dedicated Sending Circle or something?  This would be the place he'd put them..."  She trailed off, and shook her head.  "Well, something to look into later--the shelves apparently have a Necromantic field coming out of that though, which is very curious because that's not where I'd put a life-force manipulating spell.  Could be indicating a trap, could be indicating something else--it's relatively weak though so it should be minor..."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:30, Tue 26 Jan 2021.

OOC: oops, poor choice of color scheme- the brown sploch on the east wall is the portrait.

U’lin stopped abruptly as he entered the room.  He looked at the painting to one side; frowned slightly, and stepped backwards.  Then forward a step.  Then back a step.  He tilted his head farther, and took a further step back.   Then forward.  Then back.  Then stretched his neck, still tilted, and stepped forward.  And back.

“Oh well done, well done indeed.” he opined, thence to be looking about the rest of the room.  The books seemed of interest, but he refrained from close perusal after Zaiya's word of caution.

“Could the necromantic be something to keep vermin away from eating his paper. Hmm, that would seem more abjuration.  Perhaps something that simply dispatched vermin?  Or traps, yes, just as likely.

“Oh, and there is a secreted door in the eastern wall, just a smidge south of the painting – floor to ceiling.  Over there, see.  Very well fashioned.  You likely all saw it, but I only _just_ so noted it, so thought it wise to relay in case any had not seen it.  I’m presuming his passage between his room and here, in case he was worried about the hall?  It could be a storage place, however, so worthy of exploration either way.”

“Interesting trinkets, Zaiya – do you know what they do, or will that require more study?”

Moira shuffled in with the others for a look about the room.  Part of her was morbidly curious to see what a mad mage's personal study might be like and... well, she was frankly surprised by how mundane it was.  Sure, there were plenty of arcane bits and bobs about, but it seemed even those inclined to fiddle about with the nature of reality still liked cozy creature comforts.  Though the Halfling remained careful not to touch anything as she kept to her spot by the door.

U'lin's shifting about while eyeballing the nearby painting soon had Moira lean to and fro as well, echoing his movement a bit.  She mistakenly thought it was perhaps one of those paintings that always seemed to watch the viewer no matter what angle they were at, which left her a mite surprised when the Firbolg announced there was a door concealed behind it.  "Huh.  Most likely a hidden route next door, yea.  Concealed safes are usually in th'floor - easier t'secure that way." Moira added as she stepped over to have a look at the painting and hidden doorway herself for sign of a mechanism.

Checking the Painting/Hidden Door for traps/mechanisms
Moira Ruadh rolled 18 using 1d20

If Perception: 22
If Investigation: 18

The painting's eyes seem to follow Moira across the room as she carefully approaches it. Meanwhile U'lin, Zaiya and Claire bunch up around the entrance, not quite wanting to touch anything while the Hin worked.

Of course, that's when the painting's eyes stop following Moira and instead crease into a frown.

"INTRUDERS!" the portrait of Hyuth bellows as Moira reaches out to it, "TO ME, MY MINIONS!"

To Zaiya's arcane sight, the auras of the room seem to pulse in a sudden burst of activity. The gloves stop their polishing, turning to point clenched fists at the halfling. Behind, Claire can hear a soft whoosing as the broom hovers menancingly in her direction.

Most concerningly, the ancient stone armor glows. Too late, Zaiya realizes that just as one can hide traps, so can one conceal magical auras. The armor practically erupts with a potent aura of transmutation and evocation as the scrawled scripts fly off its many parts, assembling into a complex spell glyph in its hands. Malevolent red energies fill the statue's hollow body as it steps off the pondium with a heavy thump. The spell glyph in its hands flares brightly, transforming into an enormous stone greatsword that somehow still crackles with electrical energies.

Moira witnesses all this, right before the she gets a rag in the face, courtesy of an angry pair of blue cloth gloves (Gloves grant Aid Another to another enemy attack). The swashbuckler peels away the foul cloth just in time to see the Stone Armor barreling down on her.

With disturbing ease, the animated horror swings its greatsword down at Moira. Thankfully, the rogue's quick instincts and earlier forewarning allow her to barely slide under the blade as it crashes into the wall (Attack w/ advantage, misses with a 15). The second strike crashes into the ground right besides Moira, sending bits of stone and sparks scattering into the air (misses with a 14).

"INTRUDERS! TO ME, MY MINIONS!" the portrait babbels indignantly at the mess.

Meanwhile, outside the study room. Claire gets a face full of broom.

The murderous cleaning instrument clangs off the paladin's armored back (first attack, advantange, misses with a 4) but quickly rallies. Sharp angry bristles try to poke Claire's eyes out, leaving numerous shallow cuts on her cheeks and neck (second attack, advantage, hits AC 19 for 7 damage)

SURPRISE ROUND

Anyone who has a PP of 13 or higher notices the painting's reaction and is not surprised.

Anyone who was not actively investigating anything else (which was pretty much everyone) gets a free Perception check to notice. Unfortunately, both Zaiya and Claire still failed.

Combat Map
Lighting Conditions: Bright Light
Terrain: Tiles

LINK TO MAP

The portrait is a creature. Its basically 5ft off the floor and is currently represented by the little head jutting out of the wall.

The broom and gloves are creatures too.

Initiative:
20 - Animated Gloves (?/?)  [Flying]
17 - Stone Armor (?/?)  [L.I.G.H.T.N.I.N.G]
15 - Animated Broom (?/?)  [Flying]
13  - Moira (33/33) [] <<<<
11  - Claire (32/39) [Surprised!]
5 - Zaiya (32/32) [Surprised!]
3  - U'lin (38/38) [] <<<<
0 - Guardian Portrait (?/?)  []

This message was last edited by the GM at 19:14, Wed 27 Jan 2021.

And, just like that, there was trouble.

Somewhere in the back of Moira's thoughts there was her own scolding voice, along with the simultaneous scolding memory of her Great Uncle Henriek, both chiming in a chorus about never touching anything a wizard's been involved with.  But those 'I told you so' words of wisdom were drowned out by the more immediate focus of the Halfling darting and bounding to avoid the sudden flurry of attacks that came her way.

"Damnation!" for as often as Moira threw herself into overwhelming odds, the proximity of the room was doing her no favors.  Rather than square up with the armor she sprang over its sword when briefly embedded into the stone floor, tucked in a deft somersault to land on the nearby desk.  At the apex of her leap she lashed an arm out with a swift fling to send a bottle of acid to smash into the painting in hopes of destroying the odd alarm system.

Bonus Action: Disengage

Movement: to B-6

Action: Improvised Ranged Attack w/Vial of Acid
Moira Ruadh rolled 11 using 1d20+6

Not sure what kind of AC a painting can have or if it'll have any particular weakness to things like Acid and Fire, but if the attack hits it'll take 8 Acid Damage.

U'lin skirted the circle, tracing it with a firbolg-sized stylus, even as Moira effortlessly flipped out of the way.  Part of U'lin's mind noted that he had done so -and in full armour- when he flipped upside down outside the kobold tower... though there might be something to that the hin had done it intentionally, and without noise.  Something to consider.

Like Moira, U'lin focused on the portrait that seemed to be commanding, or at least activating the items - destroying the painting MIGHT stop the items, if they were bound to follow directions of the wizard-in-lieu, or might simply waste a bit of time - but the chance to resolve quickly was encouraging.

The depressing tone of a dolorous series of bells rang out, a different counterpart to the portrait's yells, but directed right back against it.

The firbolg paused to see the result of it, then held his holy symbol once more, calling through it to summon Gond's spiritual trebuchet, which emerged in all its golden splendor into the crowded room, and set about responding to the threats.

"Claire!  Watch for trouble!  Animated items!" he called out to alert his friend in the hall.

---

OOC:
Std: Toll v. painting
22:00, Today: U'lin rolled 12 using 2d12.  Toll the Dead WS14.

If the acid and toll are enough, spiritual weapon at the armour, otherwise it also at the painting.
22:00, Today: U'lin rolled 22,8 using 1D20+7,d8+4.  Spiritual Wep.
AC22, dmg8

The portrait splutters indignantly as Moira splashes acid all over it's lovely wooden frame. It's furrowed gaze turns to regard U'lin as the firbolg raises his holy symbol-

Portrait Arcana: 3

"Not in MY tower!" it shrieks, and with a gesture the sound of bells is immediately silenced ( Portrait casts Counterspell. Zaiya succeeds on the Arcana check and recognizes it).

Zaiya, would you like to counter the portraits counterspell and let U'lins toll the dead go through?

This doesn't stop the follow up spiritual weapon from smacking painting Hyuth right between the eyes.

"GYAAH!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:03, Thu 28 Jan 2021.

"Why!  Why is this a thing!"  Zaiya called out, entirely lost for words as to what was going on.

Still, if it was going to waste its magic power on a triviality, who was she to stop it?

OOC: Gonna save my spell slots for something more important, but good to know it's a caster!

OOC: INDEED IT IS A CASTER

"INTRUDERS! INTRUDERS!" the portrait repeats, the intonation unchanging despite the gaping tear in its frame, "MINIONS! TO ME MY MINIONS! GET M-GET OUT OF MY TOWER!"

And then the room and corridor fill with a dazzling, multi-colored light.

Portrait casts Hypnotic Pattern on the party, DC 12 Wisdom save or be incapacitated by the pretty colors for the duration of the spell. The broom and gloves seem...unaffected. This is a charm effect.

Soooo...now does Zaiya want to counterspell? :D
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:43, Fri 29 Jan 2021.

"None of that!"

Zaiya's hand flickers out, waiting for the moment, and her own Arcane power lashes outward, grasping at the spell and strangling it unceremoniously

OOC: Reaction to cast Counterspell, as I believe this is less than level 4, the spell is immediately snuffed out

"Tsk!" the portrait waves a two-dimensional hand to point at Zaiya, "THAT ONE. INTRUDERS! GET OUT!"

Both the gloves and the armor rivet on the spot as Moira ducks behind Hyuth's reading table. The portait's screams however, draw their attention towards the tiefling spellcaster.

"ENGAGE ANTI-MAGE PROTOCOLS," the armor screeches, "BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MAGIC STOPS."

Stepping forward, the armor takes a heavy swing at Zaiya- at the same time, the blue gloves shove themselves in her eyes (Gloves aid another on Zaiya). The first blow bites deeply into the wizards shoulder, drawing streaks of blood as electricity courses through her arm (Hits AC 20 for 11 slashing + 2 lightning damage). The follow up cleave then slams into the same arm, sending yet more jolts into the caster (Hits AC 22 for 13 slashing + 3 lightning).

Meanwhile, the broom is still going for Claire, in a manner reminiscent of the old temple matrons it continues to thwack the poor blonde over the head (one attack misses, one hits AC 16 for 5 damage).

ROUND 1 - A Painting Fancy

Combat Map
Lighting Conditions: Bright Light
Terrain: Tiles

LINK TO MAP

The portrait is a creature. Its basically 5ft off the floor and is currently represented by the little head jutting out of the wall.

The broom and gloves are creatures too.

Initiative:
20 - Animated Gloves (?/?)  [Flying]
17 - Stone Armor (?/?)  [L.I.G.H.T.N.I.N.G]
15 - Animated Broom (?/?)  [Flying]
13  - Moira (33/33) [] <<<<
11  - Claire (27/39) [] <<<<
5 - Zaiya (3/32) [] <<<<
3  - U'lin (38/38) [] <<<<
0 - Guardian Portrait (-14/?)  [Moderately Damaged]

No sooner had Moira landed down off the edge of the desk and briefly out of sight did she drop into a tight crouch, legs tense and muscles coiled with the absorbed momentum.  All at once she reversed direction and shot back out low to the floor, sweeping toward the Painting with blades flashing with a trailing gleam of gold that streaked out in the wake of her swings.

Bonus Action: Hide
Moira Ruadh rolled 26 using 1d20+9

Partial Movement: to D-8, where Moira can properly apply Rakish Audacity vs. the Painting

Action: Dual Attack vs. Painting w/Advantage from being Hidden
Main Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 20 using 1d20+7
Off-Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 15 using 1d20+7

Damage: 24
Main Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 12 using 1d8+4
Off-Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 3 using 1d8+1
Sneak Attack: Moira Ruadh rolled 9 using 3d6

Remaining Movement: to B-8
This message was last edited by the player at 21:24, Fri 29 Jan 2021.

OOC: Moira, the main hand + sneak takes out the Painting. Where would you like to direct the off-hand?

Neat.  15 on the off-hand probably can't make it through the Armor's AC, I'm assuming.

Are the Gloves still active and being a hassle after the Portrait dies?  If they are, Moira will instead move to C-7 with her remaining movement and hit the Gloves to try and take them out too.  If they stopped being a threat, she'll just take a swing at the Armor instead to see how tough it is and get its attention off Zaiya.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:49, Fri 29 Jan 2021.

"Huh?" Claire only managed to catch a glimpse of the mischief going on in the study before a very scratchy, bristly assault. Not counting on being assailed by flying domestic implements, she flailed about in confusion, bringing her arm up to guard her face, but getting a bop on the head for her trouble. "What in the-?" she spat.

As though responding to her sudden burst of adrenaline, the priestess' oathblade flared bright in the narrow corridor, cleaving in the general direction of the magicked menace.

Greatsword Attack: 15
15:44, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 15 using 1d20+5.

Greatsword Damage: 11
15:45, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 11 using 2d6+2.

Smite Damage: 10
15:50, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 10 using 2d8.

Greatsword Extra Attack: 7
15:44, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 7 using 1d20+5.

Greatsword Extra Attack Damage: 12
15:50, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 12 using 2d6+2.

With the strange spellcaster painting defeated by Moira, U'lin turned attention to the suit of armour, judging it the greater threat.  The golden trebuchet slid back between Zaiya and the suit, then snapped forward to strike at the animated armour.  U'lin shifted his shield ahead, half-shuffling a foot up to permit the party's wizard an opportunity to slip behind him, and into the hall, while U'lin bottle-necked the doorway.

"Zaiya, behind me, perhaps?  Claire might have trouble attending from the bedchambre - it's not like a simple broom could be much challenge to a warrior of her skill."

As the golden trebuchet arm battered again at the bellowing suit, the firbolg priest summoned his granted power, seeking to drown the alert beneath another dolorous bell.

---

OOC:
Bon: Spiritual Weapon on armour
18:52, Today: U'lin rolled 23,10 using 1D20+7,d8+4.  Spiritual Wep.
AC23, dmg10

Std: Toll on armour
18:52, Today: U'lin rolled 15 using 2d12.  Toll the Dead WS14.
WS14 or 15dmg

"INTRU-" is all the portrait manages before Moira creeps up to it and puts a hole straight through its painted head (Portrait destroyed). Unfortunately, slaying the animated likeness of Hyuth does not seem to deactivate the remaining defenses, which continue to beat doggedly at the party. Moira's follow-up stab effortlessly removes the gloves- the torn silk scattering onto the floor below (Gloves destroyed).

Outside, Claire's powerful smite immediately destroys the broom, shattering the wooden structure into dozens of splinters, some of which stick in the paladin's hair (Broom destroyed. Claire can redirect her 2nd attack + Great Weapon Master bonus attack against the one remaining target if she wishes).

U'lins' spiritual trebuchet slams into the stone armor, while the gong of the bell rings out unimpeded. Yet, as the spells impact the construct a series of minute, draconic runes flare along the rim of its helmet and joints. U'lins weapon simply passes through the armor as if it were not there, while the gong of the bell seems to fade into silence in its immediate area (Stone Armor - immune to force, immune to necrotic).

Zaiya, you may attempt an Arcana check to figure what's going on here. No advantage because you don't have the time to use the book for this.

"Augh!  Zaiya hopped back again and again, dodging past the worst of the statue's assault, and grimacing at the cuts left behind.  "I'm not paid for fighting this kind of firepower!"

Her Athame flashed out, light reflecting off of her eyes as she gets the best look she can get...  But then she strikes out, and in a puff of mist, she's gone, dancing back behind Claire and diving for cover down the hall.

OOC: 13 on the Arcana test--not sure if that qualifies as my Action or not, but regardless, using my Bonus Action to Misty Step beside Claire and then dive out of the way of further attack--at least forcing it to have to eat a lot of AoOs if it wants to keep chasing Zaiya

OOC: It does not, you can still cantrip if you like.

Arcana 13: Seeing U'lins spells have little to no effect sparks a faint memory, a lecture or some snippet- guardian armors enchanted as anti-mage weapons, their protections rendering them immune to a specific set of elements and spells. Different armors would have different immunities...few ways around these protections exist short of brute force or raw power. There was something about weaknesses...but to your horror, that specific part of your memory is a blank. 

OOC: Well, if I can cantrip...

Booming Blade it in the face before Zaiya ollies outie.


06:34, Today: Zaiya Alvina rolled 20 using 1d20+7.  Booming Blade!

Make that 18, I forgot that this required the melee attack roll.  If that hits, it does 3 piercing damage, and if it moves before my next turn it takes 12 Thunder Damage
This message was last edited by the player at 11:36, Sun 31 Jan 2021.

The flash of magicks from inside the room and the sudden apparition of a bruised-looking Zaiya informed Claire that all was not yet well. Snapping out of her initial surprise, her reflexes took over as she dashed inside the room to confront the suit of animated armour.

Not sure if I'm meant to re-roll the extra attack, so please go ahead and use the old value if I'm not.

Greatsword Extra Attack: 13
14:01, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 13 using 1d20+5.

Greatsword Extra Attack Damage: 6
14:02, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 6 using 2d6+2.

GWM Attack: 17
14:01, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 17 using 1d20+5.

GWM Attack Damage: 10
14:02, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 10 using 2d6+2.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:03, Sun 31 Jan 2021.

As Zaiya flees, her panicked stab actually manages to lodge itself inside the armors' elbow joint. Metal screeches against metal before the spell detonates with a crackling booom! (Armor resists the mundane attack and only takes 1 damage, but the 7 thunder damage is not resisted at all) The blow actually staggers the Stone Armor, allowing the wizard to make her timely escape while Claire steps forward with her greatsword.

Unfortunately, the construct manages to parry Claire's strikes with its own weapon (both of Claire's attacks do not hit). Pressing the attack, it first uses its greater stature to shove Claire off balance before counter-attacking with a pair of crackling strikes. The first swipe goes wide (misses with a 13), but the unnaturally fast backswing catches Claire right in the chest. Lightning streaks up the sword and through the paladin's metal armor as it dents slightly beneath the force of the blow (hits AC 24 for 13 slashing damage + 1 lightning damage)

ROUND 2 - A Painting Fancy

Combat Map
Lighting Conditions: Bright Light
Terrain: Tiles

LINK TO MAP

Known immunities: Force, Necrotic
Known resistances: non-magical weapon attacks
Known weaknesses: ???

Initiative:
20 - Animated Gloves (?/?)  [Flying]
17 - Stone Armor (-8/?)  [L.I.G.H.T.N.I.N.G]
15 - Animated Broom (?/?)  [Flying]
13  - Moira (33/33) [] <<<<
11  - Claire (13/39) [] <<<<
5 - Zaiya (3/32) [] <<<<
3  - U'lin (38/38) [] <<<<
0 - Guardian Portrait (-14/?)  []

This message was last edited by the GM at 14:25, Mon 01 Feb 2021.

With little recourse other than to lay on the damage and hope for the best in a hurried dogpile, Moira darted in low once more.  Zaiya had managed to find a gap in the joints, so the Halfling sought a similar goal as she struck across the Armor's legs to try and find weak points about its knees.

Movement: Into melee, then back out again to B-8.  "Fancy Footwork" spares the Opportunity Attack, as usual.

Action: Dual Attack
Main Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 19 using 1d20+7
Off-Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 16 using 1d20+7

Damage: 15
Main Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 9 using 1d8+4
Off-Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 3 using 1d8+1
Sneak Attack: Moira Ruadh rolled 3 using 3d6
Triple 1's on Sneak Attack Damage?!  What vengeful spirit did I piss off today?

Winded by the square blow to her chest, Claire stumbled back a step, but not before reflexively raising her guard. For someone used to the mass and motion of traditional swordsmanship, duelling the magicked armour was unintuitive - the thing was shaped like a person but didn't at all move like one.

The priestess' next strikes sought to match the construct's unpredictability. With no wasted motion, the tip of her blade darted from a feint straight into its empty faceplate, aglow with radiant energy.

Greatsword Attack: 20
14:35, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 20 using 1d20+5.

Greatsword Damage: 8
14:40, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 8 using 2d6+2.

Smite Damage: 10
14:41, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 10 using 2d8.

Greatsword Extra Attack: 24
14:35, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 24 using 1d20+5.

Greatsword Extra Attack Damage: 8
14:40, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 4 using 2d6+2.
14:40, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 8 using 2d6+2.  Reroll 1s.

Total: 16 physical, 10 radiant damage.

As the armour shrugged off or completely ignored his attacks, U'lin summoned forth a radiant glow of piercing golden light... but had to pull back on the power of the blast as first Moira, then Claire dodged into the close combat.

The word thrummed with power, rippled in the space - not against the walls, but against the life forces present, ebbing comfortingly around the party, and... well, just a touch less, perhaps against the armour suit.

The firbolg did not feel particularly threatened by the construct, but certainly it had marked Claire and Zaiya, so leaving the item unattended would not be wise long-term.

---

OOC:
14:02, Today: U'lin rolled 3 using 2d6.  Word of Radiance CnSv14/2d6.
Alrighty!  Almost as good as Moira.
Mr. Armour - Please make a save or take 3! damage radiant.

*Note to self - need more devastating power to gain a bit of battle cred for U'lin

"Right!  Right...  Okay, this is...  Safer?"  Zaiya gasped, wincing at her injuries.  "Much safer, really, this is just a better place to be in general.

Now what could she do though?

Thunder seemed to work, but also required her to get in close and fuck that.

Actually, how was she supposed to deal with a monster like this anyway?

With a moment to breathe, she took her book in hand, and began to review what she had just seen.

OOC: Taking my action to try and do an Arcana check on the armor, to see if I can discern any way of beating it

23 on the Arcana Test

U'lins' radiant glow suffuses the armor- and seemingly does little to nothing (Con save 18, pass). Claire and Moira's hits however, are a lot more effective- the sudden barrage by the duo making it difficult for the Stone Armor to defend itself. One of Moira's strikes manages to actually crack the armor's joints (19 hits for 12 magical piercing damage, 15 misses), while both of Claire's heavy swings crash against its body, radiant light leaving deep furrows in its structure. Where the paladin's blows struck, tiny fractures can be seen (Both 20 and 24 hit for a total of 26 damage).

Meanwhile, Zaiya's book fills with information on what she knew regarding these deadly weapons. Their immunities to various elemental types and/or spells, resistance to non-magical attacks...and an unorthodox but surprisingly common weakness: shoddy construction.

Helmed Horrors, as her book terms them, are prized and valued by mages and mage-killers alike. The issue is that they are notoriously difficult and expensive to make, especially in modern times. Done properly, a Helmed Horror has no true weaknesses - being immune to a tailored list of spells, possessing potent armor, flight and prewritten tactics. In practice however, most magi cut corners, or are unable to maintain the complex spellwork that goes into their construction. "Lesser" Helmed Horrors are identifiable by the exposed pieces of the arcane script powering them (usually showing up after a good dent or two). Much like the more common Animated Armors, these intricate runes can be targeted with a dispel magic or similar, surpressing the armors protections or even incapacitating them if the dispel is potent enough.

Alternatively, one could also take a magical weapon and repeatedly apply heavy force till the armor is a broken heap on the floor.

---

Unaware of Zaiya scrutinizing its weaknesses from around the corner, the Stone Armor continues to focus its attacks on the biggest threat- the paladin whose magical blows have dealt more damage than the rest of the group combined. With mechanical precision the construct makes two swift swings at Claire- a rhythm the paladin has evidently picked up, as she narrowly dodges the first attack and the subsequent backswing (12 and 15 both miss Claire).

ROUND 3 - A Painting Fancy

Combat Map
Lighting Conditions: Bright Light
Terrain: Tiles

LINK TO MAP
No real changes to the party position this round, so the map is the same

Known immunities: Force, Necrotic
Known resistances: non-magical weapon attacks
Known weaknesses: ???

Initiative:
20 - Animated Gloves (?/?)  [Flying]
17 - Stone Armor (-46/? Moderately Damaged)  [L.I.G.H.T.N.I.N.G]
15 - Animated Broom (?/?)  [Flying]
13  - Moira (33/33) [] <<<<
11  - Claire (13/39) [] <<<<
5 - Zaiya (3/32) [] <<<<
3  - U'lin (38/38) [] <<<<
0 - Guardian Portrait (-14/?)  []

This message was last edited by the GM at 06:26, Thu 04 Feb 2021.

Moira, as it just so happened, was apparently quite keen on the idea of applying a judicious amount of percussive maintenance on the various supernatural mechanicals that plagued Triboar of late.  Amid the broad swings and flares of magic that went back and forth much higher in the air, gleaming trails of gold light flickered about in rapid paths as the Halfling continued her hit-and-run tactic.

Movement: Same as before - into melee, back out after with "Fancy Footwork" avoiding Opportunity Attacks.

Action: Dual Attack
Main Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 26 using 1d20+7
Off-Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 10 using 1d20+7
Hit and a miss.  Dang, one off from getting a Crit.  >_<

Damage: 25
Main Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 9 using 1d8+4
Sneak Attack: Moira Ruadh rolled 16 using 3d6

The ring of two solid blows on the construct's armour plate and the harmless whiz of its failed ripostes sent a thrill of adrenaline through Claire. Emboldened by the brisk feeling of having the initiative, she attempted to whip her heavy blade under its guard, aiming to crack the construct open at the gap between its waist and belt.

Greatsword Attack: 17
14:32, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 17 using 1d20+5.

Greatsword Damage: 11
14:34, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 11 using 2d6+2.

Greatsword Extra Attack: 11
14:32, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 11 using 1d20+5.

Greatsword Damage: 9
14:34, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 9 using 2d6+2.

Zaiya scribbles a few more notes in, and looks up, frowning.

"You guys got this?"  She asks, peeking out from the side of the door "I've got nothing that'll work on it aside from my scroll, and I don't want to waste that if you've got it under control!"

Just for good measure, she whips a firebolt out.

For good luck.

And also because she may have found a good opportunity to set the stage for someone else.

OOC: Move to line of sight with the Helmed Horror (Lesser), whip a Firebolt at it. 22 to hit, and a whopping 18 damage (Before resistances/immunities anyway).

More importantly, I dictate that its next saving throw rolled a 3, have fun U'lin!

And scooching out of LoS after the action is done to where Zaiya was before.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:06, Thu 04 Feb 2021.

Midround-Update

In fact- Hyuth's sentinel does not seem to have been tuned against fire! Zaiya's bolt actually scorches off a good chunk of the stone forming one of its "shoulders", exposing yet more runic script to the open (hits, deals 18 fire damage). With the Stone Armor focused on parrying Claire's strikes (both 17 and 11 miss), it does not notice as Moira sneaks up behind it to apply "percussive maintenance" to its new wounds, the rapier flaring with a golden light (26 hits, takes 25 damage). The construct staggers as the glowing script on it flickers...! (Stone Armor is now Heavily Damaged)

U'lin...you're up :)

U'lin's golden flame flared again from his holy symbols, blasting out an arc of power that crashed into the helmed horror.  It certainly didn't have the punch of Claire's strikes or Moira's precision, but it somehow seemed to strike much better than before, or perhaps simply perfectly timed, thanks to Zaiya's aid.

---

OOC:  It seems such a shame to use that on a cantrip, but I cannot see blowing a big spell when we may be leaving the city today, and without them for ages!

21:52, Today: U'lin rolled 8 using 2d6.  Word of Radiance CnSv14/2d6.

Once again the golden light flares around the firbolg. Once again, the Stone Armor ignores it (Con save 23 passes). The construct's pattern changes- swings turning wilder, heavier as it seeks to take down at least one of the intruders with it. Lightning crackles as the armor batters down on Claire. Once. Twice. The first strike is parried, but the second, much heavier strike sends the paladin sprawling onto the ground on (Two attacks, 14 misses Claire, 16 hits for 12 slashing and 4 lighhtning. Claire is now unconscious.)

Due to the initiative order, if Moira does not heal Claire she will need to make a death saving throw and pass on her turn (unfortunately, U'lin goes after Claire). That said, the Armor is heavily damaged...

ROUND 3 - A Painting Fancy

Combat Map
Lighting Conditions: Bright Light
Terrain: Tiles

LINK TO MAP
No real changes to the party position this round, so the map is the same

Known immunities: Force, Necrotic
Known resistances: non-magical weapon attacks
Known weaknesses: ???

Initiative:
20 - Animated Gloves (?/?)  [Flying]
17 - Stone Armor (-89/? Heavily Damaged)  [L.I.G.H.T.N.I.N.G]
15 - Animated Broom (?/?)  [Flying]
13  - Moira (33/33) [] <<<<
11  - Claire (0/39) [Unconscious] <<<<
5 - Zaiya (3/32) [] <<<<
3  - U'lin (38/38) [] <<<<
0 - Guardian Portrait (-14/?)  []

Moira's not really in any position to make a Medicine check right now, so let's just focus on "healing by means of killing the dangerous thing before it can inflict harm".

"Claire!  One of y'two, get her outta there!" Moira cried out as Claire was battered to the floor.  The sudden escalation of danger drove the Halfling on to strike harder than before as she threw herself past the furniture once again to slam into the automaton.  Rather than bound away, however, she stuck around to give the lumbering creation a new target in lieu of focusing its attention on her companions.

Bonus Action: Stealth, fishing for a crit

Action: Dual Attack
Main Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 25 using 1d20+9
Off-Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 12 using 1d20+7
Hit and a miss

Damage: 13
Main Hand: Moira Ruadh rolled 9 using 1d8+4
Sneak Attack: Moira Ruadh rolled 4 using 3d6

As Moira ducks and weaves behind furniture, trying to get a surprise attack on the armor, she realises that the construct's invisible gaze tracks her even through the furniture, in a manner reminscent of the Animated Armors from the upper floor (Moira is unable to hide as armor somehow still has full vision of her). This does not dissuade the Hin's attack however, and the golden rapier actually sends the construct shuddering back, runes flickering in and out (Hits, Armor is Heavily Damaged). The Stone creation pivots, turning towards Moira with its greatsword raised- it seems that in terms of getting its attention, Moira has certainly succeeded.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:46, Sat 06 Feb 2021.

U'lin sighed as the armour appeared to ignore every type of magic at his disposal.  Necromantic draining energies, the radiant holy energies, arcane force - nothing seemed to penetrate the wardings.

He stepped overtop the paladin, sheltering her with his body, and his shield protecting her from further harm.

"Moira, behind, me; use ranged.  Zaiya - help Claire out!  Fight around me as a shield." he called as he stepped forward, delivering a tentative swing of his magical hammer.

---

OOC:
Std:
09:06, Today: U'lin rolled 13,4 using 1D20+6,d6+3.  Hammer +1.
Oh, that looks like a huge whiff.

Bon: 09:06, Today: U'lin rolled 7 using 1d4+4.  Healing Word.
Heal Claire for 7hp

The good news is that healing essentially means Claire doesn't need to worry about the death save. The bad news is that she still effectively skips her turn, since init order matters for this sort of thing.

Also just to clarify- the armor hasn't demonstrated immunity to radiant damage, it just keeps making the Con save vs the cantrip :<

A 13 is a miss.

Zaiya- looks like it's up to you to finish the Armor before it goes for someone else!
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:30, Sat 06 Feb 2021.

"Fuck a raggin' duck!"  Zaiya spits--a horrifyingly base curse as she pops in from the shadows again.

"Oi!  Ugly!"  She yells out, power gathering between her collected hands.  "Why don't you just have a taste of something like this!"

She hurls her power into its teeth, a lance of heat crashing into its helm at distressingly close range.

OOC: Moving into LoS again, firebolting it in the face.  Hit with 21, did 13 damage.

If it's still alive, and attacks, Zaiya will Shield if that helps her, and if she takes a hit and goes down, she'll use her Racial Hellish Rebuke on the way down to try and drag it down with her

And with that curse- and subsequent bolt of fire- something critical inside the Stone Armor gets melted to slag. The construct staggers, sword held high- then groans, creaks and finally collapses to the ground. Whatever arcane energies holding its limbs together fade, as the guardian and its sword quite literally fall to pieces all over the study-room floor.

Once again, the tower is silent.

[Combat END]

Whew! What's everyone gonna do now?

Also, back when Moira was examining the painting - right before it attacked, the Hin noticed what might have been a switch embedded in the wall behind the portrait.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:09, Sun 07 Feb 2021.

In the moment of quiet that settled in after the construct finally heaved its last, the silence was quite immediately broken by Moira's gasp of outrage.  She rambled some string of what was bound to be nonsense to the others' ears, though familiarity gave the insight that it was likely obscenities in her native tongue.  "Mages!  Daft, addle-witted mages!  Who th'hell makes shit like this?!" While she risked offending her own magic-using companions with such curses as she shifted back to Common, her outright befuddlement over what they'd just had to fight hopefully directed the blame more accurately.

Rather than just vent her frustrations at the ridiculousness of what they'd just faced, Moira quickly hopped across the back of the fallen armor to check on Claire and help the poor woman up.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:13, Sat 06 Feb 2021.

U'lin seemed rather unflummoxed about his lack of anything approaching effectiveness in the fight, and simply assisted Moira in helping Claire regain her feet.

"Now, make certain that you drink more water for the next couple days.  The healers always said that when someone invariably drove a spike in foot, or fell from a tree, or really any injury, so it seemed appropriate here.

"I should think that the wizard's anti-mage protocol seemed more focused on anti-priest, but might have been a deception or somesuch.  The talking painting - now that was quite new - and it countered my small cantrip, did you see such?  Much surprising.

"Ah.  A shame really - I was hoping those gloves would be capturable to keep the warwagon tidy for your brewing, Claire, and your cooking, Moira.

"I had expected more ... well, something, to be found here.  Unless the room has the nasty surprise, we're at even odds of needing to clear the entire place into the basement for anything by way of helpfulness."

Despite his waiting for magical items to be cleared by Zaiya, and traps and doors to be cleared by Moira, the toe of U'lin's boot nudged the armour and sword, looking for craftsmanship details, seeing if the former might assist in protecting Claire, and the latter in serving as another piece to her arsenal - or just decorative stonework.  One never knew where giant runes were to be found, in the first place, let alone in circumstances when giants had been in trade or cahoots with the former tower owner.

OOC: U'lin you can give me a Perception check to look for potentially useful pieces in the bits of armor littering the floor.

OOC: sure.
Sadly, not a great roll.
08:22, Today: U'lin rolled 13 using 1d20+7.  Perception.

"T'be honest, I'm shocked that he armored the damn thing against fire of all things"  Zaiya muttered, lowering her hand and relaxing.  "It's the most common cantrip in the business!  It's like he didn't expect to take on another wizard at all!"

She pouted then, and stepped back in the room.

"So, who's for a minute to get a breather?  I'm not keen on exploring any further right this second"

"Kept it vulnerable against fire in case he needed to defeat it himself, I should think," U'lin opined as he poked about the rubble.

Claire sat up from where she had been floored by the animated armour's terrific body blow. Sucking in a stinging breath, she rubbed gingerly over her ribcage, feeling the pain fading as U'lin's mending magicks worked swiftly. She blinked, first at the halfling standing over her, and then at the scattered pieces of armour around. "Great Mother, that hit hard for something made out of thin air," she grumbled while Moira helped her to her feet. "My thanks U'lin, though I'm afraid I may have to trouble you to hammer out yet another dent."

"Let's hope that was all - last thing we need is a whole gang of those..." she pauses to pick a broom splinter out of her hair, "...iron butlers waiting in his basement."

"Yea, I ain't gonna try t'make sense of anythin' a mage does or doesn't figure, least of all someone like Hyuth.  Fella was clearly off." Moira groused on the matter as she leaned her weight to help leverage Claire up.  "Miss Zaiya's right; everyone take a bit t'mend and breathe."

Short rest ahoy!

As the party takes a breath in the lull after the battle, Zaiya and U'lin gather the notes from Hyuth's laboratory to study. An hour of persual and discussion reveals more information about the mage's experiments in his tower:

-Hyuth's speciality seems to be in animation and reinforcement. Most of his notes discuss his research into the creation of animated constructs, finding ways to improve their intelligence and strength.

-To that end he seems to have been working on alchemical formulae to reinforce inanimate materials like wood and stone, as well as runic sequences to embed more complex commands into constructs.

-Curiously, many of the notes in this line of research appear quite old and untouched. The papers also seem somewhat disjointed, with entire pages that seem to be missing.

-Hyuth has also been working on wards for the town - reinforcement of the town walls, Glyphs of Warding at key locations, populating the sewers with constructs...etc. He seems to have considered these jobs "unfortunate grunt work" and a "reliable but tedious source of funding".

-Hyuth's other focus seems to be archaeology - specifically in the excavation and restoration of ancient constructs. The dragon statue was one such item that Hyuth has been studying extensively, apparently excavated from a set of ruins in the Raurin Desert. The notes also mention a potent stone armor "acquired from traders from the North" that might be "a deriative or similar work..."

-His notes list the dragon statue's myriad abilities, including lightning breath, regeneration, and a (broken) capacity for flight. The ability to create gargoyle minions was apparently a side effect of his own attempts to create his own gargoyle servants based off the statue.

-To that end, Hyuth adapted his earlier research into construct intelligence and essentially modified the dragon statue's "core" such that it could control and animate other constructs. Regular stone gargoyles however, proved difficult to control and insufficiently intelligent to perform more than simple tasks, even when slaved to the dragon statue itself.

-The last few entries are scattered musings on potential alternatives to improving construct intelligence. Of note is a hastily scribbled and circled line:

"Why create what already exists?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:21, Sat 13 Feb 2021.

U'lin's discussion was interested in the construct creation, but the reinforcement of wood and stone was especially interesting to him, whereas the 'why create' comment had produced an angry frown, and a fierce snort of disgust, shaking the current handful of offending parchment.

"What a fool.  Without creation and improvement, the world would be bland and stagnant, sterile.  Just.. fah.

"These... there are missing pages.  Destroyed? Or hidden away in another workplace or vault?
His most interesting techniques appear to be research long before his obsession with magical construct control.

"He could have had far better control by fashioning a mechanical construct - much like that most excellent creation at the Temple in Waterdeep.  Some magical enfusing or enchantment for additional effect or protection - well that makes sense, and would be in keeping with his earlier work.  The control of intelligence.. hrmm.  Ill work there.  Feels much like the tales of sorcerer apprentices offloading their menial work.  Weren't you talking about such the last fire, Moira?"

"Okay, so, we're checking this thing out then?"  Zaiya asks, groaning as she gets back to her feet after restoring her magic detection once more.

"With any luck, it'll be a way into the bedroom that won't try to kill us I suppose."

OOC: Arcana and Investigation, both with Advantage I believe.  Arcana because of the analysis, Investigation with Help

Mediocre results, 19 on Arcana, 17 on Investigate

U'lin slid over the desk, in case it was needed to help barricade the door, or to help block an opponent's movement options, then settled his shield, and readied for trouble.

Of course, once settled and ready, one really had little to do whilst the others readied, and the firbolg's gaze wandered about the room looking for trouble or interest.  He drew upon Gond's guidance, for such seemed a wise plan in all occasions.

---

OOC:
use desk to help barricade doorway
U'lin takes bottleneck.
Perception about the area

12:58, Today: U'lin rolled 21,20,1 using d20+7,d20+7,d4.  Perception.
Perception 22

A careful check of the switch with detect magic reveals no additional auras behind the painting. Looking around the both the hidden door and the switch itself, U'lin does not find anything that might be additional mechanical traps. It seems that for once, this passageway in Hyuth's tower is free of traps.

Is Moira pressing the switch then?

Once all was confirmed as safe as it could be, Moira gestured for everyone to take a distance away from the switch panel to wherever they felt secure at.  The Halfling herself plied the most quintessential Ol' Reliable of trapfinder tricks: the trusty stick.  Traditionally speaking, it would've been a 10-foot pole, but there was no way she'd be able to wield such with any ease even if it was the collapsible style.  A 5-foot staff was the best she could manage as she withdrew the rod from where it was strapped along the side of the pack, worked it out to full arm's length, and used it to prod the concealed switch.

Moira presses the switch!  Preferably from at least 5' away and diagonally adjacent to the door rather than right in front of it.  I brought all this random shit for a reason and I'm going to use every last bit of it!
This message was last edited by the player at 20:29, Mon 15 Feb 2021.

With a soft click the hidden door unceremoniously slides open, revealing a well-lit bedroom.

An enormous, plush bed with silken sheets and fat pillows sits in the center of the room, flanked by a squat mahagony coffee table. A softly glowing nightlamp and the silvery statuette of a dog have been placed upon said coffee table. The hard stone floor is carpeted with an expensive-looking green and gold rug of Durparian design. A 10ft wide landscape painting of the Raurin desert hangs from the northern wall, showing a lonely caravan trudging its way through a valley of deep purple crystals and swirling sand dunes. To the east of the room is a 10ft tall wooden cabinet with polished brass handles, each shaped like dragon claws. To the north of the cabinet are another two doors, both unmarked, each with their own dragon-claw handle. To the south is the window (OOC: the light blue line), currently shut and closed behind a set of ruby-red curtains.



Auras:
Nightlamp radiates an aura of moderate evocation
The dog statuette radiates an aura of moderate divination and illusion
The cabinet radiates an aura of minor abjuration

After a moment of waiting for some sort of minor disaster to befall the lot of them when the door came open, Moira finally unclenched and poked her head around to scope out the newly revealed room.  A passing look here and there had her scowl at the furnishings.  As a merchant, it was often her role to find and supply the nicer things in life for a well-paying customer.  But, as a Waukeenar, needlessly lavish displays of personal wealth were somewhat offensive to her sensibilities.

"Honestly... even raw wool and silk from Dupar'd cost a small fortune just gettin' 'em here, let alone a fine rug..." the Halfling groused as she sidled her way into the room and leaned to begin rolling up the carpet into a tidy bundle that could be set safely aside in a corner for the time being.  It may have been a rug, but it certainly wasn't meant to be tromped on by boots and dirty feet.  "Miss Zaiya, can y'check th'windows and interior doors for any more magic traps or locks?  If th'window's safe, I wanna get it open and signal t'th'boys outside on our progress."

"Lamp is decently strong Evocation, could just be a sustained light spell, could be something more sinister..."  Zaiya begins, scanning the room.  "Cabinet is minor abjuration--probably a magic lock or an alarm, and the dog statue is...  Decently strong divination and illusion?  Is it a messenger of some kind?  I'd have to poke around closer to be sure ether way"

Claire frowned over the uncovered notes, while the herbal compress she had stuffed under her tunic began to take effect. "Such a...macabre practice. Ought not to play around with life that don't grow on its own."

"I'm no expert on magical affairs, but given that he's got somewhat of a hobby of digging up old stuff, I'd wager he found something that the giants wanted. Sure their parley ended badly for him, but I'd not have figured fire giants for the 'talking' kind. Curious. Here's hoping there are some answers somewhere around here," she remarked as the party prepared to enter the bedroom.

Short rest: Recover 11hp
18:13, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 11 using 1d10+1.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:38, Wed 17 Feb 2021.

As Moira enters the room to roll up the carpet, the dog statue begins to bark! The alarm starts at a soft growl but quicky ramps up, louder and louder with each passing second...!

Moira jolted with a sudden start as the dog statuette began yapping away like an actual guard dog.  At first she didn't quite know what to do as she looked about for any sign of other objects in the room leaping to life like they had in the previous chamber but, without wasting more than a beat, she quickly yanked a sword free.  Another swift swipe of gold traced through the air as she brought her blade down on the little sculpture to dash it off the table and into the wall, hopefully with enough force to destroy the alarm.

Now the real question here is whether that was an alarm against intruders, or if Moira just destroyed Hyuth's alarm clock in the most aggressive application of the snooze button possible.  ^^

Moira's quick actions silence the barking, though the heavy crash as the statuette is smashed to pieces doesn't help much.

If Zaiya wants to study the pieces, an identify spell would be able to figure out its function. Its too broken otherwise to decipher.

OOC: alright, what do you guys wanna search? the bedroom? or more of the study?
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:40, Wed 17 Feb 2021.

The ruins of the noisy statuette earned a scoff and a scowl out of Moira.  It probably could've been disarmed more neatly but, after what they'd just gone through in the room prior, she didn't want to take any chances.  The Halfling looked about the room suspiciously for anything else that might jump up all a sudden and gestured for the others.

"C'mon, let's give this place th'once over.  Miss Zaiya, if y'please?  I don't wanna have t'smash up anythin' more than necessary if we can disable it otherwise."

"Ack, what a waste, but if it avoids us another fight, so be it."  Zaiya shrugged, pulling out her book and beginning to draw on the ground with her athame "This might take some time to set up, so if you folks want to get to work collecting and studying the information we already have?  That'd be great."

OOC: Beginning to ritual cast Identify

Zaiya are you casting identify on the broken pieces of the dog statue?

@Moira I've already given Zaiya the auras, unless you want her to study the objects in the room specifically? Anything more detailed, I'll require investigation or perception checks on the item in question

OOC: I was hesitating for the sake of giving Zaiya a chance to Arcana check/disable things, in case they'd trigger alarms or such.  We know there are auras on various objects around the room but not specifically what they'll do when interacted with.

As usual, Moira's ready with the Help Action.

"Should we check the ... privy?  Sitting room?  Oh - perhaps a library or somesuch?" U'lin gestured to the other two doors of the room, shaking his head at the waste and time of magical effort on such inanities.

"It is difficult to reconcile such pamperings with an augury of great peril, but there are other chambres, I suppose."

...And while he waitied for Zaiya, U'lin poked his nose through the study, its books, trinkets, and desks covered in diagrams.  The firbolg called out each of the items in turn, in case it peaked interest of the party doing other tasks, but, courteously, did so in a conversational volume.

"... A treatise on impacts of different coloured dyes as it applied to impact on personality of animated..."

U'lin if you're searching the study while Zaiya ritual casts, give me an Investigation check and a Perception, both made at Advantage. You may apply guidance on this.

Do you have any particular info you are digging for? Or things you are searching for?

Note that you will get as much info as you can in a 10min search window. More people can join in the search if they like.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:39, Thu 18 Feb 2021.

Seeing U'lin poking around the study, and in the absence of the dog statuette, the lack of any imminent danger, Claire lowered her sword, joining U'lin's search in the study. Erring on the side of caution, she looked for anything that may be of interest to the more learned members of their group.

Perception: 10
12:08, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 10 using 1d20.

Investigation: 10
12:08, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 10 using 1d20-1.

oh, relics of great and wonderous power.

U'lin would be looking for clues of the BBEG/danger or "password: shutdown" for trouble/defence, but what would be most interesting would be crafting/construction/things that would help his smithing and crafting.
U'lin's player is all over magical items to create drooling :)

15:48, Today: U'lin rolled 15,18,3 using d20+2,D20+0,d4.  Investigation.
15:47, Today: U'lin rolled 8,17,2 using d20+7,d20+7,d4.  Perception.
Percep19
Investig21!  Oh my. 

Claire's search of Hyuths study does not turn up much- books, scrolls...a glance through the bookshelf and some of the recent tomes the wizard was persuing suggests a strong interest in the local geography. Lots of parchment and notes relating to the history of the area, some sort of treatsie on geometry...

Perhaps the most useful thing Claire discovers is a little scrap of paper tucked into one of the books. The parchment displays a sketch of the steel circle on the ground near the door. Scribbled along the margins are what might be instructions - something about divination and scrying and focuses. (The steel circle appears to be a magic circle of some sort related to divination. The command words are written on the paper, but the handwriting is absolutely atrocious. An identify spell on the circle will reveal its functions, as would an Investigation check to guess the command words from the handwriting. Note that an you won't know how high the DC is, or whether the command word you learn is accurate...)

U'lin on the other hand, focuses his attention on the mess of papers on the desk. Of immediate interest is a thin cloth tarp covering the wall above the desk. Moving it away reveals...an even bigger mess.

What seems to be a map of Triboar and its surrounding regions for miles has been pinned to the wall. Bits of string in a multitude of colors connect dozens of tiny pins that have been placed all over the map. The strings weave and intersect at numerous points- the center of which seems to be on Triboar itself.

The notes themselves seem to be a jumbled mess of cross references, observations and ramblings. In the short ten minutes that U'lin glances through them, it seems that they are discussing...leylines? Places of power, where the flow of the Weave is condensed. Several cross-referenced historical records detailing how the leylines around and inside Triboar are utterly unremarkable in anyway- which is, according to Hyuth, exactly what is so remarkable about the location. Perhaps the only organized stack on the desk is a set of carefully curated notes that seem to describe...well, many things related to the sealed trove under the warehouse:

---

Rubbings taken from the Anauroch ruins all utilize an extremely ancient dialect of Draconic. Statue itself is less than a hundred years old, but based on designs that date back thousands of years! Initial divinations suggest references to the mythical Dragon-Giant war.

---

I knew it! The designs were too different to be considered a true draconic creation. The idiot cultists that moved in afterward misunderstood everything. Granted, the craft is impeccable, and I have yet to figure how to replicate the breath functions, but the writings reference a giant weapon, not a draconic one! Golem crafting was always more the purview of humanoid cultures anyway. What need would a dragon have for statues in their likeness?

---

“Voarex” -> Death, “Ragoth” -> Sky “Ker’uthrax” Giant(?) Titan(?)
Some sort of (Giant) superweapon? Dismantled, if the pictograms are anything to go by. A pact/treaty/geas. Multiple layers of protections/seals, lots of flowery diplomatic lingo.
Fragments may yet remain. List of potential notable abilities:
-“inverted the sky” – some sort of reverse reverse gravity spell?
-“death bloomed, a sun-like void” – disintegrate, but as a wave?
-“thousand claws glanced off…melted scales, even those of Flame” – some measure of bypassing elemental immunities/resistances (makes sense for an anti-dragon superweapon)

---

Cross-reference notes: 12.11a, 51.b1, 74.1, 33.c
-long-lasting seals of power require mythal-level power sources. leylines?
-with sufficient time, leylines would adapt, however scarring in the geological activity would be evident with close scrutiny (earth elementals? Spirits?)
-Sword Mountains (closest resemblance after accounting for millennia of wear)  ---> Dessarin --> Triboar (circled)

-UPDATE: something changed recently, a blip in the Weave. Leyline activity is massively disrupted in the region.
-It was under the town this entire time! I cannot believe my luck. As my tutor, Archmage Bringhilham would say, “success is two-thirds skill and four-thirds whoring myself out to Tymora“. Bringhilham was never really good at Math. I blame the chaos magic.

---

-These protections are ridiculous. Recording for future reference: multiple elemental summons, six glyphs of at least fifth level, an antipathy spell, some variation of imprisonment that incorporates dimensional folding with mending spells to create a self restoring seal… The weakest seems to be some sort of continuous psychic attack that is laughable easy to resist but extremely annoying- I have managed to shut it out with some temporary mental wards, but the “attack” is particularly persistent. Despite tirelessly casting dispels on the wards for a month, I’ve barely made any progress.

---

-Wards are keyed to giants. Variation (or maybe a progenitor?) of the blood-seals nobility are so fond of.
-Frost Giant blood has demonstrated 30% effectiveness in weakening the seals. Fire Giant blood may be more appropriate as they were culturally the war smiths. Draconic blood caused a chain-reaction of spells that destroyed three gargoyles and one of my retrieved golems. NOTE: swap in force protection seals to remaining helmed horror.

...I wonder what Storm Giant blood would do?

---

Investigation 15 or higher:

In addition, as U'lin begins to organize the notes, the firbolg notices a section of the desk that seems a bit...more hollow than the others. Feeling along the grain, U'lin immediately recognizes a cunning mechanism built into the wood itself that hides a secret compartment (classic gnomish design). Pressing the points on the frame just here and here creates a soft click as a section of the desk pops up. Inside the drawer are several rolled up pieces of parchment, a small leather-bond tome, and an enormous ruby the size of Moira's fist (worth approximately 500gp).

Investigation 20 or higher: Etched into the cover of the tome, so faint as to be invisible, are faint tracings of what is most certainly a Glyph of Warding.

@Zaiya

Identify: the dog statuette was apparently a potent (if fragile) magic item and had several functions:

-Alarm: the statue would bark at any non-construct, non-Hyuth creature to enter a 20ft radius (not bypassing walls). The same alarm could be set to trigger after a set amount of time. Yes this also doubled as an alarm clock. The statue requires 10 mins to be bound to a location, and does not function if removed from its bound location.
-Blindsight: the statue could detect invisible and hidden creatures in its bound location.
-Animation: Once per day, an arcane caster touching the statue may, as an action, expend a 4th level spell slot and hurl the statue to any point within 30ft to transform it into a stationary ghostly hound as per the Faithful Hound spell. The hound behaves exactly as if the caster who expended the slot had cast the spell. Should the hound be dispelled, the statue shatters and is lost forever.

Unfortunately the statue has been broken into multiple tiny shards. Repairing the enchantment would be pretty costly, at least a thousand gold pieces in raw materials, maybe more.

---

@U'lin

Incidentally, the ink and quill on the desk are clearly magical. Should U'lin bump or move either object while sorting through the desk, he discovers that the quill seems to...float over the inkwell, moving with the pot.

"Oh, hmm, magical tie between the inkwell and stylus," U'lin noted after his finger tried gently nudging each in different directions.  "Certainly helpful in note-taking where one was using both hands in exploring or manipulating devices, or where many schema were being spread across the workspace, hmm?  Or copying... hmm.. though I should think that since mechanical strokes make the letters, one could arrange different levels of gears with letters or runes of meaning if consolidating speech... challenge is the absorption of input.  There was an interesting design in Waterdeep that had been working on sensing vibration, so an activation could be... oh I'm wandering again, my apologies.

"I do like papers and learning, mmhmmm.  The stringwork.. seems random, yet patterns - ah!  leyline energy, perhaps?  Best guess, mmhmm.  Okay, talking about his dragon construct, looks like that was work of dragon cultists, using ancient work, then he took over their work to modify for his own use in attempt of control.  Encouraging - shouldn't be many like them around, in that case.

"Ah!  Voarex/Death, Ragoth/sky, Ker'uhrax/titan.  Voarex Ragoth Ker'uhrax.  The 'Death Sky Titan', or the 'Sky Titan of Death' - yes, that sounds more the cadence.  Looks like we have a name for the ancient construct.  Discussion of the geas and pacts regarding breaking it up.. some of the observed powers a powerful magic that reversed gravity around it!  Oh my.  Handy in smaller, controlled purposed I would imagine, but grossly destructive in a broader beam or aura.  Oh, interesting.  A disintegration wave or sphere 'death bloomed like a sun of void'.  Looks like anti-dragon focus, as we expected... ability to bypass elemental immunity or resistance to its attacks.

"Yes, those strings are likely leyline patterns - though active, or deduced of ancient is unclear - his recording measurements and co-ordination of cross-referencing is poorly done.  I should think a cross-referencing chart or index would be helpful, or a book of authorities and referencing web if a broader collection of integrated work, hmm?  Yes, the seals require mythal-level sources of power -oh, I'd say so, with antipathy avoidance magic - we can confirm that - multiple elemental summonings - seen that - six glyphs of fifth order or higher - oh my.  An imprisonment with dimensional folding.. I'ver never even heard of such things... ah, to help restore and repair the seals.  Hmm.. if they require that much power, and nothing was done to cloak the magical power, they ought to be findable by tracking the leylines, for well.. yes, I see that is what he was doing.  But what if the land changes or powerful battles were fought - leylines were historically big impacts in magical power, but less involved in mechanical creation... ah, yes.  The the leylines restore over time, but that restoration shows in a scarring of sort, so where elemental or spiritual activity is high, it's a sign of restored or restoring leline.  Yes, that is what led him here to Triboar!  Ah.  So the theory appears to hold.

"Oh, interesting.  He wasn't certain.  Something disruprted the Weave, and that change allowed him to find the piece beneath Triboar.  He certainly wasn't making much progress.  Though he did find that giant blood appears to help weaken the seals - how did he come across that, I should wonder?"

The firbolg tapped the desk as he waded his own thoughts, then perked up again.  "Oh... now look at that.  Alternate flows of thought occasionally bring new observation or creative interest, hmm.  See now, this flow of grain is a classic maker's mark - certainly gnomish design, the work.  There should be a trigger point to the right of a knot.. ah here! Oh good.  More parchment - let's see, are these more important notes or scrolls?  Big ruby - my, that must be several hundred golds worth - Moira?  What's the value of this?  Oh!  A book?  Perhaps a journal?  Oh let's read tha-"  U'lin's fingers stopped before his mind clued in consciously.  "Oh, no.  Not a warding on a hidden book inside a concealed desk behind warded doors within a warded tower?  Very interesting.  But after the warding is removed.  'Book for Zaiya to remove the warding!'

"Aah... what was that Claire?  This... a scrying or divination circle of some fashion?  The upstairs circle, I should think? Zaiya, you're probably going to want to examine this - could be keywords, or words of power, or at least something of interest if you should ever be considering placing such a one into the Beetle."

"A book he felt he needed to ward?"  Zaiya hops up, and dusts her hands off.  "Also, good call with the statue, it would have turned into a spirit hound if left alone too long even if it didn't attract security.  I could probably restore it, but it'd cost more than it's probably worth."

A shame, but it couldn't be helped, there was probably no sneaking up on that.

"Let me take a look at that book and see if I can do something about it then."

"After what happened in th'study, I'm just gonna smash th'hell outta whatever bits-and-baubles start yellin' from here on out, no questions asked." Moira might have thought otherwise if she really understood just how valuable the statuette was to the right market, but pragmatism overrode finances as far as she was concerned.  Besides, it wasn't like the tower didn't have plenty of potential riches to gather.  The Halfling gave a low hum of surprise as U'lin produced a hefty gemstone from a concealed spot in the desk and gave it an appraising heft for its weight.

"Mn... raw ruby, untreated... good color..." she withdrew her magnifying glass once more to take a much closer look as she held the gem up to the light.  "Y'could get several times more for it with a skilled jeweler t'finish it, but on its own?  Four, maybe five-hundred gold t'th'right buyer at this weight.  With how much Hyuth was into stone work with his magic, I wouldn't be surprised if he's got a whole heap more gems 'round here somewhere."

Moira handed the ruby back without much concern and turned once more to scrutinize the room.  No doubt there were other hidden treasures and trinkets about, but looting every last valuable wasn't a priority at the moment.  While the others went about their own searches she sidled her way up to the open archway at the north end of the room and cautiously leaned past to see what was in the further alcove.  Possibly a privy, like U'lin mentioned, but only one way to find out.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:33, Sun 21 Feb 2021.

@Zaiya, same deal - DC 16 Arcana check to disarm the glyph

Peeking through the door on the northeast, Moira discovers it is indeed a privy- and a bathroom from the looks of things. An enormous wooden tub sits in the center of the tiled floor, surrounded by a few small shelves containing soaps, oils and other bathing luxuries. Embedded into the bottom of the tub is what appears to be a bluish pearl. A thick fluffy towel hangs from the side of the otherwise empty basin. To the south of the room is a wooden counter with thick marble bowl fixed on it. A polished mirror hangs above the basin.

A second wooden door leads into the privy itself. The scent of pine and mint drifts out from the location.

All in all its possibly one of the most over-the-top bathrooms Moira has ever seen.


This message was last edited by the GM at 00:45, Sun 21 Feb 2021.

"Right, someone want to give me a hand with this?"  Zaiya asked.  "I don't want to damage this book given its possible value as being the most well protected book at the back of a pretty hefty series of defenses"

OOC: Asking if anyone can give me Assistance with this roll to get 'dat Advantage.

Guidance also wouldn't hurt

Moira just shook her head in silent disappointment at the surroundings she'd uncovered.  An overly lavish privy on the second level of an enclosed tower.  "Mages..." she rolled her eyes.  Couldn't just do their business in a hole like the rest of folk did.

Zaiya's call for assistance drew Moira back on task and she ambled over to lend a hand.  They'd been a good team for disabling such defenses so far, after all.  "Yea, lemme get th'fine work tools out..."

Moira is there to give 'dat Advantage.

OOC: Rolled 24 with the advantage, book picked successfully!

With a few drops of oil, her arcane sight and a careful application of her athame, Zaiya is able to safely undo the magic on the glyph. As it fades away, Zaiya is able to open it- revealing several dozen pages of numbers, notes and dates. This seems to be a ledger of sorts, tracking transactions and purchases between Hyuth and various entities across all of the Sword Coast. Most of it appears to be for arcane materials- scribing inks, gem dust, small precious metals- but some of the entries seem a little more...vague. "Three barrels of salted fish from Luskan" has to be a code word of sorts.


Tucked between the pages are also several carefully-folded letters, already open. A hastily scrawled set of calculations sits on top of the pile:

Record Of Offers:

-Giants? Fire Giants? Stone?
-Arcane Brotherhood (Milia Frostbrun): 5000 gold pieces, 10% upfront for inspection
-Cult of the Dragon (Sister Mondath: 3000 gold pieces to destroy it (note to self: probe potential offers for dragon guardian golems)
-Red Wizards (High Evoker Jos): 6000 gold pieces to pretend to destroy it but give it to them (concerning that my courier was intercepted like that…)
-Zhentarim (The Snail): 3000 gold pieces, 3000 gold pieces of credit in the black market for reagents, first-class seat at the Luskan underground slave auction next Fall.
-House Hunzrin (Captain Vaklim): 4000 gold pieces and access to rare Underdark reagents at a discounted price.
-Gauntletgrym: ? (note to self: track down what happened to courier, lack of response is strange)

The letters below seem to match the offers recorded. Of greater interest however, are the three that do not - made of expensive white paper and a black-and-red wax seal shaped like a jagged centipede.



Besides the book and gem, the hidden alcove also contains several rolled up pieces of parchment of varying sizes and age, each sealed with a ribbon.

EDIT: Apologies, got my notes confused.

One of the parchments isn't rolled up. Its scribbled with various names and seems to have been written over time, judging from the inconsistent handwriting quality and ink:

TODOs:
-replenish water (DONE)
-renew window wards >>> latrine <<<
-repair fireplace block IMPORTANT
-order more manacles
-how to reduce desecration caused by blood

NAMES TO SCRY:
-Daratha Shendrel: protected, too dangerous
-Othorvir: MARGASTER, KEEP AWAY
-Ghelryn Foehammer
-Goblin Escapee (green, fuzzy hair, use hair clippings)
-Milia Frostburn: harmless
-Sister Mondath (human(?) Noticed the scrying. Constant darkness)
-Urlam: Zhent
-The Snail: blocked
-Red Wizard Jos: (very dangerous to scry, indirect methods)
-Captain Vaklim: blocked
-Cyanwrath
-Draac Xorlarrin: Asshole
-Thargun Skullcrusher: (orc warchief) in position

PASSWORD HINT:
-The Croctus through the Seasons
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:20, Sun 21 Feb 2021.

Skimming through the ledger over Zaiya's shoulder (a feat accomplished only by hopping up onto a chair, first) held Moira's attention for a few moments.  Though the more she read the darker her expression turned.

"Sonnuvabitch... I shoulda kicked his corpse a few times when I had th'chance." she glowered, having apparently taken some greater context from the vagaries in the ledger list.

Cults: 18+7
Politics: 16+7
Drow: 4+4+7
Factions: 3+7

-Daratha Shendrel: High Protector of Triboar, you guys know her
-Othorvir: never heard of him. Margaster however, is the name of a powerful and influential noble-house based in Everlund, with branches in Silverymoon and other cities. Zaiya has heard rumors in arcane circles that they dabble in demonology. At least, many of their rivals have "mysteriously disappeared" over the years.
-Ghelryn Foehammer: Smith of Triboar, you guys know him
-Goblin Escapee: I wonder who this is? ;)
-Milia Frostburn: Arcane Brotherhood. Zaiya hasn't heard of Milia, but the Frostburns are long-time members of the Arcane Brotherhood, a neutral and some say mercentile order of magi that covets knowledge, influence and power. Hyuth seems to have traded with them extensively. The Frostburns in particular are based in the Ten Towns of Icewind Dale, with a specialization in the production of magical amulets and rings.
-Sister Mondath: Never heard of her, but the party is aware of the Cult of the Dragon.U'lin has heard of the name "Mondath" before. Many years ago, she was an apothecary that studied under the same gnomish masters U'lin did. Her research focused on the extraction and infusion of magical properties via alchemy. U'lin only knows she left the tutelage of the gnomes after some sort of massive scandal that was since covered up. Whether this is the same Mondath, now a member in the Cult of the Dragon influential enough to make large purchases, is hard to say. Though it is strange that the cult still seems to be active...
-Urlam: Moira has actually heard of him- from eavesdropping on the guards in Triboar actually. Urlam is apparently the local information broker in Triboar. That he is a Zhent is...new, but not surprising.
-The Snail: Has a reputation in the criminal underworld as a point of contact for the Zhentarims'...shadier businesses. His exact location is unknown, but letters and questions addressed to him always find him eventually.
-Red Wizard Jos: Zaiya has not heard of Jos specifically, but she knows that "High Evoker" refers to someone just a few rungs below a Zulkir. The Red Wizards have been quiet recently, focusing less on schemes and plots and more on their economy and trade with the other cities of Faerun. Or so they claim.
-Captain Vaklim: Seems to refer to a drow merc captain? No idea about the specific name, though it is likely connected to the offers Hyuth was getting from the Drow.
-Cyanwrath: Claire has actually heard rumors of him- a half-dragon mercenary known for his brutality in combat. Leads a band know as the Stormclaws, very elite, very expensive, always honors their contracts to the letter. Disappeared recently.
-Draac Xorlarrin: Xorlarrin is the name of another Drow House. Moira and Zaiya have heard of them - they apparently trade in rare Underdark reagents and less-savory spellcasting services.
-Thargun Skullcrusher: Skullcrusher was the name of the war chief that Daratha fought in Triboar.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:15, Sun 21 Feb 2021.

Zaiya: Nature 22

The Crotcus is a rare flower that blooms in winter instead of spring. Its brilliant violet petals are highly sought after by alchemists as an ingredient in cold medicines.

OOC: Does anyone (Claire?) want to search the study further? There are still numerous books and trinkets on the shelves, the spell circle + note.

Moira, the bedroom still has that unopened door. No one has really searched the bedroom yet either.

OOC: Was there any indication of magic on the door, or is it safe to check for mundane traps?

No magic on the door. The only other enchanted item in the bedroom is the cabinet (and the window I guess)

Hyuth having been up to no good was obvious by that point, but his private notes really painted a picture of just how broadly reaching his corruption and traitorous ways were.  Moira heaved a disgusted tone out the side of her mouth and hopped down to pace about for a moment, too immediately angered by what she read to focus on anything else than just being mad.

"Those mentions of 'salted fish' and 'preserved goods' in th'ledger's smuggler cypher; it's code for slave shipments.  On top of that, Hyuth had steady contact with th'Zhents, th'Dragon Cult remnants, th'Houses of th'Underdark, and th'flippin' Red Wizards of Thay?  Damnation... th'High Protector had a cancer rottin' out her city long before Hyuth invited in th'Orc and Giants t'wreck th'place." the Halfling cursed over it all.  Worse still was the question of exactly how much the High Protector actually knew of such things in the first place.  Moira had gone to great lengths to ensure that the Zhentarim couldn't dig their claws into Nightstone to begin with, but it was a simple fact that they'd already taken deep root in with every major city in the region.  More often than not they were literally welcomed eagerly by city powers with more ambition and greed than scruples.  It was entirely likely the High Protector knew of their presence and turned a willing blind eye.

The more she dwelt on it, the more frustrating and upsetting it became.  Ultimately Moira just settled into angry grumbling as she sought something more productive to do with her temper.  Normally she'd go and cook something or do some sparring exercises but, lacking that, she refocused on the tasks at hand.  There was still the bedroom to sort out and she went to check the door for any sign of tricks or concealed mechanisms before she'd dare try and open it.

Checking for Traps
Moira Ruadh rolled 13 using 1d20+4
This message was last edited by the player at 04:19, Sun 21 Feb 2021.

The eastern door does not bear any traps- it does not even seem to be locked. Opening it reveals a large walk-in closet with numerous comfortable robes in a variety of colors and styles. Most seem to be made out of silk. While expensive, the actual style of the robes is horrible- a mishmash of colors and gaudy trim that the owner likely thought would be impressive, but altogether just creates a kaleidoscopic mess.

By Moira's estimate, the robes likely cost a pretty penny, and there are dozens of them. Selling second hand robes of this design would be tricky. They may be easier processed as raw materials.

The sheer complexity of Hyuth's intrigues, involving such a variety of people and factions as she had never heard of before, made Claire's head spin. It was one thing to know that the Zhents were evildoers from out-of-town, but another to find evidence of their tendrils curled around another town a world away from home. Never mind the Cult of the Dragon and the mythical, to an average peasant at least, Underdark realms.

There was at least one new name Claire recognized, "Cyanwrath? Guess Hyuth had some designs on, or with, the Stormclaws. Looks like he hadn't quite gotten around to spying on him yet though. Guess he had some nasty job lined up for that lot..."

Scarcely having the bandwidth to comprehend the disturbing implications, Claire neglected to search the study further and instead opted to tag along in the reassuring presence of Moira as the halfling set about investigating the room. While Moira methodically poked around the nooks and crannies of the room, Claire stood by with a gloved hand fidgeting nervously over her pommel.

"Say...do you think it'd be a good idea to tell them everything we've found here? This whole business seems a little - too hairy for my liking. I'm not afraid for myself, but Thente and Emma..."

"Sorry, Claire - what do you mean about what not to share?  Let's keep talking as we check the last piece of furniture.  I'm presuming that we are not discussing the details of defeating the vaults, but speaking of the dangers, and the wretch's efforts and duplicity here certainly seem something important to share.

"Oh.. or did you mean about the clothing?  You're welcome to take some if you like, but I'm sure Moira can find much better quality garments for you.  Moira said they were fancy, but... The colour combinations... ughk, but perhaps he had some colour blindness?"  The firbolg shook his head, gathering up the papers for safe transport.

"Hmm... or was he perhaps trying to create animated attire, and trying the colour impacts on personali.. no, this seems just horrible, horrible taste.  Although I'm more inclined to a nice smithy colour or warmth of the robes or forgelight, but... ah."

"Pfft, no silly! I don't mean the clothes!" Despite the gravity of the situation, Claire couldn't quite restrain a peal of laughter.

"I mean, my gut just tells me we ought to be careful who's listening in when we give our report. That's a laundry list of some mighty dangerous sounding gangs right there. I'd not be surprised if at least one of em's got a mole or two in the Keep."

As she shuffled about amid the closet, Moira held out the end of a long robe that was a gaudy splash of colors akin to a peacock that had attempted to turn itself inside out and failed halfway through.



"I can't tell if it's 'cause Hyuth was a mage or 'cause he was rich.  Y'get enough power or money and suddenly y'lose all sense of good taste." the Halfling snorted derisively even as she continued to sort around in the closet to shake down various outfits, thump her knuckles against interior walls, and so forth.  Claire's voiced concerns about who they'd reveal their findings to, however, were given a nod in agreement.

"Y'got th'right of it, love.  Figure we show that book t'th'High Protector and nobody else.  She knows her city better than we do and th'security breach would be in her own folk.  Best she handle it.  Don't speak a whisper of any such details." she gave a momentary lean out of the closet to catch U'lin's gaze specifically, given that he was the chatterbox of the group.  "Then, for our own safety, we keep what we read under our hats.  As far as anyone outside this room's concerned, we didn't find no book of incriminatin' info, yea?

That said... maybe make a copy of all that while we got th'chance."

Perception or Investigation?  Moira's checking around the closet for items that might be inside pockets or shoes, hidden under hats, concealed behind false panels, and the like.  Just mundane searching for the moment.

Rolling with assumed Advantage since Claire said she was tailing Moira to help out before.
Moira Ruadh rolled 1 using 1d20 (Halfling Luck Reroll)
Moira Ruadh rolled 9 using 1d20
Moira Ruadh rolled 18 using 1d20

If Perception: 22 (13 if no Advantage)
If Investigation: 18 (9 if no Advantage)
This message was last edited by the player at 23:59, Mon 22 Feb 2021.

OOC: Both perception and investigation apply here

Unfortunately, aside from a lot of lint and some dried petals for scent, Moira does not discover anything of note inside the pockets of the robes, nor any additional secret passages in the closet. It seems that the room is just what it is- a walk-in closet of bad taste.

In terms of things left on this level - theres just the guest rooms.

Magical Auras wise, theres still the cabinet, the statuette trophy inside the Study, the inkwell/qull on the desk, the iron-bound circle on the studyroom floor.

Inside the bathroom itself, the main magical aura appears to be on the bathtub (Conjuration) and the privy (also Conjuration).

Oh there are also several rolled up pieces of parchment inside the drawer, next to the diary. They glow with a weak aura (no school)
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:37, Tue 23 Feb 2021.

"Probably for the best to limit this"  Zaiya observed.  "Our job isn't to stay here indefinitely after all, hand it off to someone who knows better and we'll call it a day."

She does look back at the book though, the entrance on a flower.

"That password clue...  I know  a Croctus flower blooms in winter instead of spring, and it's used for cold medicines, but I don't get how 'Through the Seasons' fits into that."

"The Croctus through th'seasons..." Moira repeated the clue aloud to turn it about in her head, though she just shrugged after a moment.  "Somethin' t'do with th'flower bein' a bud through most of th'year, maybe?  I dunno.  Figure we just keep at it th'same way we have been so far and don't count on gettin' some easy code word that'll make this place any less weird."

Just out of curiosity, are the petals in those robe pockets from a Croctus flower?  I honestly have no idea if it would be even a little relevant, but straws are being grasped for.

The guest rooms are weakly protected - a single arcane lock and a much less well-hidden alarm spell. With practiced hands, Zaiya and Moira easily disable the protections, revealing a pair of sparsely furnished gust rooms. A single bed, desk and chair along with an empty chest for valuables. Both rooms share a single common washing area, with the same enchanted (though smaller and unscented) privy. Though the rooms appear to be well-cleaned, neither seems to have been used in a long room- possibly never.

OOC: As a reminder, these are the things the party is leaving upstairs for later:
-locked cabinet with a weak abjuration aura
-broken statue shards
-glass kobold statuette with divination aura on trophy cabinet
-floating ink quill and ink
-enchanted spell circle in the study
-rolled up parchment pieces in the hidden desk drawer

Heading down the stairs, Moira makes a careful check for any traps- and finds none in the stairwell. The ground floor opens into -of all things- what appears to be a dining room.

An elaborately-patterned Dupari rug lies under a wood and glass table in the center of the room. A single plush chair with velvet cushions rests at its head. Several smaller chairs with significantly less plush cushions have been stacked in the north-west corner besides a heavily varnished teak piano. Hung above it are a pair of fine elven scimitars with elaborately carved wooden handles mounted against a polished brass plate.

The entire room is lit by the soft glow of a glass chandlier hanging from the ceiling, ten magically enchanted candles casting gentle shadows around the dining area. A single antique armor of polished steel sits in the corner next to the stairwell. It does not appear to move.

To the west and south are a pair of thick, oaken doors. To north-east- two pairs of expensive velvet curtains, drawn closed over the windows behind them. Outside, the party can hear faint sounds of the Triboar Guard as they patrol the area, waiting for the group's return.



Auras:
Piano - weak aura of Illusion
Chandlier - weak aura of Evocation
Windows/Curtains - moderate aura of Abjuration (as seen from the outside as well)

How does the party wish to proceed?

With the same amount of caution supplied so far, Moira also felt the same amount of frustration she'd developed in Hyuth's choice of decor when she realized he'd gotten an even bigger Dupari carpet in the dining room.  She actually bit her gold-colored knuckle to silence a whimper and had to turn away from the sight.

"He put a Dupari silk rug under a full length wooden table where y'eat at?!  I don't care if he had magic t'tidy it; that's a bloody sin, it is." While Moira didn't think the High Protector would simply let the party keep Hyuth's belongings rather than taking the lion's share - if not all of them - for Triboar's benefits, she did hope to at least be involved in the reselling.  Purely for spite's sake and to see such items put to better use!

The frustrated merchant set aside her qualms for the moment and steadied herself to continue as she drew her tools out again.  "Probably won't be as many defenses down here since he had servants and deliveries workin' th'ground floor.  Keep y'eyes open for cellar doors or such.  Gotta be a basement below and likely there's a hidden door in th'stonework where th'real troublesome stuff's kept."

Checking for traps on the doors, again assuming w/Advantage from Help
West-side door: Moira Ruadh rolled 14 using 1d20+4
South-side door: Moira Ruadh rolled 24 using 1d20+4

Moira does not detect traps on either of the doors. Her senses do notice faint sounds of movement from the south-side door- cloth brushing against wood in a rhythmic pattern.

With no sign of obstructions to worry about, Moira pressed her ear to the seam of the doors to listen for any signs of activity.  Though she scowled at the southern door after a moment. "I swear, if that's another piece of enchanted house ware..."  the Halfing grumbled before she cautiously opened the door to peek her way through.

Stealth
Moira Ruadh rolled 21 using 1d20+9

---

Retcon roll, if required.  If the party would've wanted to unlock the cabinet I got mixed up on, Moira's Thieves' Tools contribution is:

Moira Ruadh rolled 12 using 1d20+9

I don't think she could reasonably get Help on that since it's technical work, but Guidance might be useful to toss on there.

OOC: consider it so, of course.

Locked Cabinet Upstairs: Thieves Tools w/Advantage + Guidance
Moira Ruadh rolled 12 using 1d20+9
Moira Ruadh rolled 27 using 1d20+9
Moira Ruadh rolled 4 using 1d4

Total: 31
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Thu 25 Feb 2021.

Peeking into the south-east room, Moira finds...a kitchen.

A rather large but empty one actually. There is an elaborate stove at the far end of the kitchen, set with polished pots and pans that seem like that have never seen a day of use. Several shelves stocked with glass bottles containing numerous (probably expensive) spices, all largely unopened. A barrel of fresh water in the corner, and a long preperation table with a few leafets stuck on it, held down by several small egg-sized stones- cirtines perhaps?

Another animated glove appears to be busy wiping down one of the shelves.

Two more doors lead on to the east.

---

OOC: Good thing too, the DC was 25 :)

With a soft click, the cabinet opens to reveal a pair of tiny, fragile glass vials and a single leaden box.

Checking the vials reveals them to be:
-a potion of gaseous form
-a potion of greater healing

The lead box is heavy, but not locked. There do not appear to be any magical auras on the box.

Of all the ugliness Hyuth had displayed so far in his practices, somehow owning what looked to be a widely unused kitchen was a special sort of wrong.  Moira just shook her head in disdain as she scowled around the room, apparently empty aside from yet another set of scrubbing gloves.

"Kitchen, looks clear.  Another set of those magicked cleanin' gloves, U'lin.  If I remember right, those doors in th'side lead t'th'deliveries doorway on th'side of th'tower." the Halfling appraised aloud before she shut the door and moved over to check the western door instead.  That said, she did eye the armor warily as she got near it, just in case it decided it was playing the long game.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:04, Thu 25 Feb 2021.

OOC: Pausing a little here to see if the other PCs do anything on the ground floor, or with the items you just found in Hyuth's bedroom.

The armor statue stares forlongingly at Moira. Perhaps, someday a true prince will find it and deliever unto it loves true kiss.

Alas, it is not this day. And the statue remains silent.

Creaking open the western door, Moira sees...yet another scene of opulence. A large and well-furnished living room, decked with trophy cabinets, paintings and comfortable couches. The room is warm- comfortably so, with ambient light provided by enchantments on the ceiling and the glow from the fireplace to the east.



Closest to the door are the two glass trophy cabinets. Vases, cracked pots and rusty-old tools in the style of the ancient Imaskari empire line the bottom of the cabinet, all priceless art pieces to the right collector. Half a dozen staves hang from back of the cabinets on display, each carved from a different material - oak, yew, glass, steel...etc. Another armor statue, this one encased in what seems to be a set of Cormyrian armor, well-used but also well-maintained.

Towards to the center of the room, four mounted glass display cases form the centerpiece of the collection. In each case, save one, is a brilliant orb the size of a small melon seated upon thick velvety cushion. The first is made of brilliant green crystal and patterned with sun-like iconography in gold filigree. The second case is empty. The third orb is made of a polished, reddish metal engraved with images of scales and claws. The forth orb seems to be made of frosted glass seems to move and shimmer in the soft light of the living room. Another Dupari carpet and a comfortable chair rest near the four orbs. Behind the couch, on the eastern-center of the room, is a crackling fireplace with several small trinkets on the mantlepiece - a gnomish clock, a swirling rainbow orb, a brass snake with highly detailed scales...etc

Further to the south is another rug, one of much paler and simpler design (Waterdhavian, probably). A long couch and a sofa-chair flank a small coffee table, all well-used. Floating next to the couch is another animated broom- this one apparently inactive. Behind, another wooden door leads to the east.

Auras (visible from the door):
-Ceiling: minor evocation
-Cabinets: moderate abjuration and enchantment. One of the staves has a minor evocation aura.
-Orbs: multiple auras of moderate abjuration and enchantment. All three orbs are magical, of indeterminate school (the glass seems to be obscuring the divination)
-Fireplace: weak aura of evocation. The rainbow orb has an aura of weak illusion.

U'lin trailed in behind the scouting folk, pulling himself away from examining the last set of armour to examine the newer one, and perking up at the sight of the clockwork piece on the mantle.

"What a shame to have such a fine kitchen, and yet not use it like Moira does.  This isn't a bad tower, all said and done, but a little poorly-designed for what I would do, and certainly horribly decorated even by my standards, and Moira's expressions suggests that I'm not all that far from lunchtime.  Mmm... that was a good pie.

"The orbs look interesting.  Could those be the problematic things?  See, now nice workpieces like this clock are just so fascinating.  Look at the precision and detail work of such.  So much more impressive than making a magical whatzit do foolish things.  The gears require everything just so, and yet the same gears can combine into so many wonderful inventions.  And that's the 'tooth'.  Heh.  Love that jest."

Now that U'lin has entered the room, its possible to see some of the other decorations in the place- fine tapestries depicting stylized imagery of various mythical beasts- chimeras, leviathans, dragons...etc. A set of silvery candlesticks mounted on the southeast wall set with fine wax candles- both unlit and unused. A quartet of landscape paintings, each 3-feet across, each depicting what seems to be a young Brass Dragon playing in a large wilderness clearing spread across the seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Yet another portrait of Hyuth- this one of himself in his younger days- possessing a neatly trimmed goatee with streaks of white through his oiled, reddish-brown hair.

Meanwhile, fiddling with the clockwork...well, clock on the mantlepiece reveals it to be a particularly fine example of gnomish tinkering- intricate gears and complex mechanisms that would be difficult for anyone not trained in the same schools of tinkering to maintain, let alone repair. This is evident in how the clock isn't well...working. A cursory inspection suggests that a few of its internal gears have become slightly misaligned. Still, as U'lin fusses over the trinket, he notices two things odd about the fireplace upon which is had been placed:

Firstly, that the crackling fire inside does not seem to emit any heat.

PP 20 or higher:

Secondly, that one of the fireplace bricks in the corner is broken- enough to reveal a slight seam in the otherwise perfectly smooth stonework of the wall behind the fireplace, much in the manner of the passageway in the bedroom above.

---

Re: upstairs cabinet

Anyone taking the potions/the lead box?
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:29, Fri 26 Feb 2021.

@GM: I'll get it XD

"A potion of healing, and a potent one at that." Claire reached into the opened cabinet to examine the vial. "I bet the healers could find good use for it." No sense letting good medicine go to waste. The priestess bags the potion of gaseous form while she's at it. Lifting the lead box tentatively, she attempts to open it. More medicine perhaps?

U'lin picked up the clock, frowning at the device not working from ill care.

"Very fine quality, not aligned or tended, and useless from that non -effort. All for show, without substance.  Same as the kitchen, and the clothes, and the travesty of what passed for a living room.

"Even the hidden door in the fireplace - shoddy stone work, and no thermal element to the fake fireplace.  For Gond's good sake, sigh."

@Upstairs

Opening the lead box, Claire finds what looks to be a thick, vellum book with a reddish cover. The tome appears well-used and well-cared for, with multiple bookmarks and the scent of recently applied oils. Its cover is marked with the words: "Spellbook - Property of Hyuth Kolstaag".

The second thing Claire finds is a Glyph of Warding on the opposite side of the lead-lined lid.

...it discharges!

Claire, take 34 points of Necrotic Damage, DC 15 Constitution saving throw for half.

Con 15: Pass

The Glyph flares as crackling black lightning lashes out at Claire. The Blight spell seems to wither flesh and dry bone- necrotic energies seeking to reduce Claire to a shriveled husk. Thankfully, the protections of the Earthmother prevail, and the paladin is left intact- though small black lines still mark the fingers and upper arm of the hand that touched the box.

The party would hear a crash from upstairs as Claire's knees give way from under her, the burst of enervating negative energy sapping all but a smidgen of her strength. The case and tome clattered to the floor, just as a whiff of fresh grass blew around her.

Anyone rushing up would see her on one knee, tearing her gauntlet off to reveal small blackened lines on her fingers and forearm. "Don't touch that!" she warned, "Gods, how does this madman live with such nastiness in his house?!" she coughed, expelling the necrotic foulness from her lungs. Resting a palm on her chest, she slowly breathed in and out - thankfully, there had been no permanent injury, as far as she could tell.

"I'm...alright." Getting unsteadily to wobbling feet, she glares at Hyuth's spellbook, lying on the floor free from its prison.

Con save: 15
23:06, Today: Claire Larkspur rolled 15 using 1d20+1.  Con save.
Half of 34 dmg = 17dmg
I had 18 hp before so, remaining 1 hp.

Cutting it close in every way possible!

GM just explained to me how short resting and HD recovery really works, which I wasn't clear on before (thought I could only recover 1HD every a short rest), so I actually didn't have only 18hp before.

HP remaining: 18
HD remaining: 1/5
This message was last edited by the player at 06:12, Sat 27 Feb 2021.

@The Living Room

Checking around the fireplace, Moira does not find any traps. Or any mechanisms really- if this was a secret wall, its not a mechanical trigger. The halfling does notice very, very faint drag marks on the stone though- suggesting that the fireplace swings outwards.

She also notices that among the variety of objects on the mantlepiece, only the swirling rainbow orb (and the clockwork clock, now that U'lin has picked it up) is free from dust.

"That mince pie's really stuck with ya', huh?  Guess I'll make more later."  Moira mentioned among U'lin's passing observations and wandering thoughts as she milled about the living room.  Part of her was worried to touch anything, especially when so much of it looked overtly supernatural in design.  Her gaze lingered on the row of placed orbs; in particular, at the one empty stand amid their number.

For a moment, the Halfling's thoughts were back in that awful fight with the Stone Dragon.  Her fingers flexed around the memory of a blue crystal sphere and she could still feel its weight in her palm where, like electricity, it surged with such a strange force. That alluring sense of power...

And just like that, the moment passed.  Moira shook her head and habitually stroked the edge of the holy symbol mounted into her choker before she refocused back on task.  U'lin wanted a hand with the fireplace and she was quick to set to work with it.  After a few moments of careful examination, however, she was glad to see there were no signs of sinister mechanisms in place.  "Well, does look like there's a pivot point.  See th'wear'n'tear along th'floor where it scrapes?  But th'stairs would be right behind this wall, so it ain't like it leads anywhere beyond... though I guess someone like Hyuth wouldn't fuss much over traditional architecture.  We could yank it out with enough work, but there's gotta be a trigger or somethin'.  Looks like that trinket y'got and th'shiny glass bauble there been handled recently, but it could just as easily be a magic word or some such nonsense."

Perception Check on the last door in the room
Moira Ruadh rolled 8 using 1d20+4
This message was last edited by the player at 09:36, Sun 28 Feb 2021.

Perception 8: Moira doesn't hear anything

OOC: If ever there was a time to spring a trap on Moira, it'd be now.  ^^;  But with no reason to suspect the door beyond how much she naturally would, Moira will open it and have a peek beyond.

Stealth
Moira Ruadh rolled 29 using 1d20+9
Wonderful waste of a Nat 20.  ^^;  Moira doesn't detect anything on the other side, but if something is there, it sure as hell won't detect her back!

This message was last edited by the player at 10:04, Sun 28 Feb 2021.

OOC: Map Updated! Took some liberties and moved Zaiya and Claire inside the living room as well.

The door opens to reveal a small hallway. A single armor sits in waiting room. Thick coats and boots are tucked in the corner. A black and white patterned welcome mat sits before another thick, wooden door that Moira recognizes as the one at the front of the tower.



Looking forward to see what you guys try next
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:58, Sun 28 Feb 2021.

U'lin seemed a little more accepting of the fireplace door, but still mumbling about cheating masonwork quality inside, and something about alignments or counterweights and not scratching the floor.

"Hmm.  That seems the tower - no basement?  Surprising.  Unless there is a trapdoor beneath the carpet or such?  We should also check the armours for interesting things or more animation glyphing... or if they are on bases, those could be moveable and hide a trapdoor.  Actually, we should also double-check the kitchen - easy enough to have a larder beneath.

"Zaiya needs to check out the magical circle, the cabinets, -one of the staves was evocation aura?- 3 -no, 4 orbs to be examined - definitely watch for when the doors are opened.  If the glass is containing the nasty little effects, then they would presumably having a broader or unmuted effect.  So far, they are the only thing of potential concern found, hmm?"

"Nonsense.  I don't care what sorta daffiness a mage can do; y'can't just plop a buildin', let alone a giant stone tower, atop th'ground without it havin' any roots below.  It'd fall right over first time there was a storm or earthquake!" the notion of there not being a basement level didn't make any sense to Moira from a mundane perspective at all.  Let alone that Hyuth didn't have some hidden chamber for his really incriminating antics literally close to home.

The Halfling thumbed over to the door she'd just opened.  "This way leads t'th'front door.  Got an armor, but it don't seem t'be th'movin' sort, I don't think?  Best not t'go pokin' in there 'til I can sort it for traps though.  Honestly, who puts a welcome mat on th'inside of th'doorway?" she shook her head over the constant condition of confusion that had been simmering in her thoughts ever since she set foot into the tower.  "I'm gonna head back 'round t'th'kitchen and see what's at th'side door."

We definitely need Zaiya to start looking at things more closely to try and puzzle out their functions.  I've got a notion buzzing around in my head about the multicolored orbs and the rainbow orb given their relative positions to each other in the room, but that's not really something Moira can readily act on.  ^^;

In the meantime, Moira is going to loop back around to the side room in the kitchen and check out that last little bit we haven't scoped otherwise.

Checking the last bit on the ground floor
Moira Ruadh rolled 6 using 1d20+4

Yeah, I'm sure it's fine.  Open up!

"We're done looking?  No more horrible monsters or horrible traps?"  Zaiya asks, setting down the captured documents on the floor of the sitting area and beginning to go through them.

"Because if the tower's reasonably secure, we need to start sifting through everything properly.  Go through the most relevant documents and figure out what this guy's game plan is.  The research part I can take care of, but we might need some folk to do some legwork to speak with anyone on the list who might still be in town."

Indeed- the upper of the two doors east connects to the side entrance. A little table and basket have been placed in a corner, likely for packages to be left. It seems well-used.

The other door connects to a larder of sorts- of sorts because it is virtually empty - nothing on the racks or shelves but dust. The only thing here of note appears to be a thick wine chest, the sort used for transporting and storing the expensive bottles. The chest has latches but no locks, and small magical runes inscribed on the brass plating making up its frame.



As Zaiya says this, the ground rumbles.

A spike of pain flares through the skulls of everyone on the ground floor. A brief vision of a pair of reptilian eyes flits across your consciousness, yellowed pupils narrowed in hatred. A broken village. A hunched man, walking away. Images of teeth, wings and claws.

And then it is gone.

Outside, the sun slowly rises to its apex. Soon, it will be noontime.

I will point out that U'lin found a hidden door(?) behind the fireplace, but no clear means or mechanisms for opening it. Moira found that the rainbow orb was the only item on the fireplace's mantlepiece not covered in dust (the clock in U'lins hand might have been, but now that the firbolg has picked it up and fiddled with it thats no longer possible to verify).
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:13, Mon 01 Mar 2021.

"Agreed. That hatch in the fireplace has got to lead somewhere. Probably nowhere good."

The sight of the front door brought a feeling of relief. Claire regarded the suit of armour before it with a suspicious gaze. She reached out to attempt to detach its arm, but caution got the better of her, and she abandoned her attempt to disarm the potential threat and returned to the fireplace.

"Surely there must be some sort of lever or mechanism to open that door-"

Then the psychic assault hit. Claire clutched her head and squeezed her eyes shut in pain...until the vision passed as quickly as it came.

"Great Mother...did you all feel that too?"

U'lin's arm instinctively raised his shield as he hunched his shoulders, and closed his eyes against the attack, fighting back against the psychic onslaught.  His held breath released with an audible _wuaghgh_ as he sagged against the relief of the attack ending, and U'lin stretched back up to regain his tall posture.  The firbolg pulled out his journal, and set to scribing down notes as quickly as he could, before the vision faded.

"Something.. Powerful mental attack. Cannot say if the same things you saw.  I saw...  Man walking away, bent over.  Dragons - claws, teeth, wings... so many.  The yellow eyes - reptillian, hatred.  Focused on me, with so much hatred.  There was a village in ruins... it looked something like this, I think..." U'lin penciled down what he could recall of the village layout and buildings, other architecture, details, trying to cover as much as he could, and hope for some identifying detail to emerge.

He rested his hand upon the fireplace, inadvertently touching the rainbow orb as he examined his journaling efforts.

"Great Gond... "

---

OOC: for you DM :p>

"Yeah...  Uh, yeah, let's figure this out then."  Zaiya drops the documents and gets up.  "I still wish I could figure out that clue though!  What kind of winter blooming flower is relevant throughout the entire year?"

As U'lins hand brushes against the orb, it glows- and a illusory pattern appears in the air above the mantlepiece:



Touching the "wheel", U'lin finds that there are two layers - the inner and outer colored wheels, each divided into four quadrants. Moving his finger through the image causes the respective wheel to "spin". As the center of each colored quadrant lines up with the red arrow at the top, there is an audible *click* noise, not unlike that of a gear slotting into place.

Feel free to ask questions if there is anything you aren't clear about

Those strange markings along the wine chest made Moira very curious about what might be inside, but she wasn't about to go poking at clearly arcane jargon without Zaiya around to tell her whether or not it was safe first.  With the kitchen clear, Moira returned to the main room with the others just in time for that strange vision to hit the lot of them.  She recoiled back in momentary pain but whisked her swords out on reflex, immediately set into a tense stance for danger... but it was just a vision and nothing more, for the moment.



"Y'don't think that's somethin' t'do with what th'diviner was talkin' 'bout earlier?  Th'trouble that'd come if we didn't figure th'tower first?" the Halfling warily asked as she shook her head to try and get rid of the lingering sting.  She was right back on alert when U'lin accidentally brushed into the orb on the mantle place though, which seemed to trigger some kind of... well, frankly, she wasn't sure what to call it.  "What is that, some kinda magical mechanism or somethin'?  Don't tell me that's what th'flower bit was referrin' to..."

Just to verify, DM; is that symbol in the center of the wheel a flame or a flower bud?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:01, Tue 02 Mar 2021.

OOC: this isn't helpful, but it could be both...?

As a hint, I'll suggest rereading the previous 2 description posts of the living room.

"Oh...  OHHHHHH"  Zaiya exclaims, pointing her finger at the design.

"That's got to be it!  What the clue was referring to!  Try lining up the purple color in the inner ring with the white color in the outer one under the big pointer thingy!  It's a purple--well, violet--flower that blooms in winter!  That's probably the missing combination there!"

She pauses, then looks to the orbs.

"It's either that, or we need to add that in with the combination with those other orbs, using this to fill in the blank?"
This message was last edited by the player at 08:59, Tue 02 Mar 2021.

Moira could only shrug at the suggestion; she certainly had no better ideas and wasn't qualified to go poking at magical things through sheer trial and error.  Though while she didn't raise any objection, she did take several steps backward away from the fireplace.

Hm, who wants to give Zaiya's suggestion a try then?

U'lin carefully rotated the suggested pattern into place, calling upon Gond's guidance as he did so...

---

OOC: yes, I know guidance doesn't work for saves, but he'd still do it for insight/wisdom :)

Clicking the inner and outer dials into place, both quadrants flash for a moment. Then, a set of words pops up over the circle:

INCOMPLETE PASSWORD SEQUENCE - ATTEMPTS REMAINING: 2
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:54, Tue 02 Mar 2021.

Moira was primed to take a backflip into the other room just in case but, as the illusory message appeared rather than a disastrous explosion or some other wild reaction, she calmed just a little bit.

"Sequence?  So it's like a combination lock?  Lemme see..." she scratched under her chin in thought as she stared up at the variety of colors.  "Hm... if white's supposed t'be Winter, then that'd make green as Spring.  We don't got many shots at this, so lemme give a go and see if a hunch follows."

Unless anyone has any suggestions, Moira will give the wheel a spin in the following order;

Outer Wheel - Inner Wheel
Green  - Red
Yellow - Purple
Orange - Blue
White  - Green

I'm not certain if the center is supposed to be a button or part of the combination attempt but, if it is, Moira would finish by pressing it.

-EDIT-

There's OOC chatter about this, so this action is PENDING.  Assume the party is all chatting and idea-bashing back and forth as we are in the OOC.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:45, Wed 03 Mar 2021.

Taking a closer look at the paintings, Moira and U'lin realize that the level of detail in each is surprisingly high. Each blade of grass, each flower and insect has been carefully rendered in oils. The brass dragons scales almost glisten as it frolics in the meadow.

Each painting shows a different scene:

Spring: A brass dragon chases sparrows amidst a vibrant meadow, pale green grass dotted with hues of white, blue and yellow flowers.

Summer: A brass dragon snoozes lazily as the sunset paints the verdant meadow a golden yellow. A small brown rabbit peers curiously at the sleeping dragon's snout.

Autumn: Scarlet and orange leaves cover the resting fields. In the center of the meadow a brass dragon blows bluish flames into a smoking firepit, over which hangs an enormous roast boar.

Winter: The scaly head of a brass dragon peeks out of its makeshift burrow. It sniffs curiously at the few violet flowers peeking out of the snow-covered meadow.

Perception 30:

U'lin recognizes the violet flowers as the Crotus that Zaiya spoke of. Collaborating it with the other paintings, the firbolg notes that the flowers are depicted consistently in the other frames as well- wilted brown in spring, sprouting in summer, verdant in autumn and blooming brilliant purple in winter.

With some further discussion and exploration about the finer details of the room, Moira felt about as confident as she could with the solution the group had puzzled out.  Which was, to say, barely at all.  She didn't honestly trust that the whole thing wasn't some kind of elaborate trap designed to trick someone into blowing themselves up thinking they were clever.  But, of the lot of them, she was the most likely to be able to dive out of the way of some kind of blast.

"Alright, lessee... y'lot stand back a ways, just in case." the Halfling grimaced as she hopped up to cling to the side of the mantle so she could reach the illusory wheel.

Outer Wheel  -  Inner Wheel
Light Green  -  Red
Yellow       -  Blue
Orange       -  Dark Green
White        -  Purple

With the center pressed at the end, if it does appear to be some sort of button.  Honestly not clear if it's part of the mechanism or just some kind of visual indicator.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:01, Wed 03 Mar 2021.

As Moira finishes entering the sequence and pressing the central button, the entire color wheel swirls out of existence. The rainbow orb flares brightly for moment, then dims.

With a faint grinding noise, the fireplace slides open. Behind it, segments of magically-wrought stone slowly slide out of the way as well, the entire stairwell rotating on its central axis to reveal another set of steps that lead down.


This message was last edited by the GM at 14:16, Thu 04 Mar 2021.

As soon as the mantle began to shift Moira kicked off it in a deft spring backward and landed in a crouch, ready to dive away... but instead of something terrible happening, a path was revealed!  She remained wary for a few moments longer but finally eased back upright when it seemed nothing else was amiss.

"Ey!  Teamwork." she gave a celebratory clap and looked about to the others.  "Right, square away what we need t'figure out here, then let's head down.  I don't think we got as much time as we'd like anymore."

So, last check on things like the Staves and other trinkets around the room before we go?  As ever, Moira and Zaiya on point for detecting magic and traps.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:58, Thu 04 Mar 2021.

The staves have all lingering auras of magic, but all are mostly faded- save one that has a faint aura of illusion.

The orbs have indeterminate auras but are clearly magical.

Both the cabinets and the glass cases have multiple moderate auras of Abjuration mixed with Enchantment. Zaiya can easily tell the presence of more Glyphs protecting the displays.

The firbolg's nose wrinkled sensitively, and he whuffed softly to clear something.  "Indeed, Moira - I smell dried blood below, and from the stench, it has to be a sizeable amount, fah.

"Good teamwork and skill, folks.  Now, let us move below and see to what is so troublesome.  I am curious about what those orbs do, but I don't think that we have time to play with them for an hour."

Claire did as instructed, standing a safe distance away, she stowed her greatsword and stood back against the tower wall.

To her relief, Moira did not meet with a similarly nasty surprise as she had experienced just a while ago, and the priestess clapped in delight. "Am I glad to be around you smart apples," she cried. "Let's find out once and for all what mischief this madman's been hiding."

OOC:
If move order down the stairs matters, shall we go in the following order? U'lin->Claire->Moira->Zaiya