Pushing the secret door open is easy, and you find a short hallway beyond that leads to a dry, musty chamber. The low ceiling is comprised of ascending tiers, as if the room were itself a miniature ziggurat.
A skeleton wearing a tattered cloak and a crimson blindfold reclines in a simple wooden throne adorned with feathers. By its side, you see a warped and splintered wooden table. There are two small objects on the table, but quite difficult to see from this distance... gems? coins? You are not sure you wish to dare a closer look...OOC: Well done, not many find this particular secret chamber. -MilwaukeeJoe
Seeing that he is the most curious, Nevdor will approach the stairs and skeleton, but only after searching the immediate area for pressure plates, tripwires, and the like. If convinced that nothing dangerous is going to happen, then he will get to the stairs as quickly as possible. One never knows when the floors in this place are going to drop out from under you...
ReplyDeleteOOC: Taking a look at the table and the skeleton when I get close enough. Does the skeleton react to my presence?
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteSeeing that the door appears to be unlocked and the pathway unobstructed by divine providence, the ranger turns and follows his companions to investigate the newly discovered chamber. He follows Nevdor's example and steps carefully into the room, drawing his blades at the sight of the decrepit skeleton, wary of any movement from within those old bones.
He steps forward, tentatively edging closer to the staircase and examining each flagstone for the telltale signs of traps, ready to leap aside at the first sign of danger.
Tech: Perception +7 Acrobatics +3 Athletics +9
OOC: Did we ever find out what boon Lyth's skull conferred to us?
[Hanar]
ReplyDeleteHanar follows his friends closely, but lets those more skilled in trap detection move before him. He does sweep the room with his gem, to see if anything was hidden from normal view.
OOC: Perception +7 (with true sight), looking to see if anything illusionary is in the area, particularly on the steps or near the skeleton.
Also, can the gem read the tablet that we found earlier?
[Nevdor/Selvantis/Hanar]
ReplyDeleteNeither Nevdor nor Selvantis detect any kind of traps in the vacinity, and edge their way into the chamber. As you get closer, the skeleton leans forward and moves his arm to gesture to the contents of the small nearby table. You can see the small objects now, a pair of 8-sided dice. The skeleton says nothing.
You've heard of these dice. They are called Reaper's Dice, an artifact said to have been given to the first human king by the succubus, Vivika. They have no faces and are powerless when rolled separately. However, if both of the reaper's dice are rolled at once, one of many powerful effects occur – some beneficial, some baleful. The myths of these dice usually involve someone attempting to roll twice, or take the dice for their own. Invariably, that person suffers a horrible fate.
Hanar sweeps the room with the Gem of Truesight, but does not detect any illusions.
OOC: Hanar's attempts to discern anything new on the table fail. Also, thanks for the boon reminder. Yes, you gain Lyth's Boon: ALL DUNGEONEERS GAIN A +2 TO THEIR HEALING SURGE VALUE.
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteHe jumps as the skeleton moves and gestures to the table beside itself. Confident that it means no direct harm to them, he sheathing his blades and climbs the stair. Taking a deep breath he looks at the polished, faceless cubes that rest on the ancient wooden surface.
He reaches out with a furred hand, tentatively picking up one of the cubes and letting it roll across his palm, marveling at the weight of the arcane thing. He looks at the other and lets out a heavy sigh, closing his eyes as he plucks the twin from the table. Saying a silent prayer that his luck will hold out and that Kotaresh will smile on him this day, he rolls both dice and lets them fall.
The sound of bone striking petrified wood echoes into his very core, making him flinch as he awaits his reward or retribution...
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteThe moment he rolls the dice, the word Rejuvenation appears on both. Instantly he feels a rush of energy into his body!
Tech: You've rolled an 8, Rejuvenation. You regain 1d4 lost healing surges and all lost hit points. (Meaning you're back at full for both.)
[Hanar]
ReplyDeleteWith trepidation, Hanar mounts the steps. He knew that he had been unlucky once before, but somehow had managed to trick that luck and come back to life. Perhaps fate would be kinder this time. Taking a deep breath, he picks up the dice, gives them a short shake that feels like an eternity, and rolls them onto the table.
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteFlushed with vitality, the ranger flexes his injured wrist, pulling away the wrappings to find unmarred flesh, breathing a sigh of relief and reveling in the ebbing waves of positive energy.
[Hanar]
ReplyDeleteHanar rolls the bones, and is imparted with a sense of luck and confidence that will follow him for the rest of his days.
Tech: You rolled 14, Favor. You gain +5 to all saving throws until the end of the game. Combined with the earlier boon, you now save on 4 or better.
[Tak-tha]
ReplyDeleteNot one to back down from a challenge attempted by those around him, Tak-tha takes his turn next. "For the good of the hunt!"
[Tak-tha]
ReplyDeleteThe moment the dice touch the table, the Thri-Kreen feels a dull ache in his sinews.
You've rolled Agony. The roller grants combat advantage until the end of the game.
[Arden]
ReplyDeleteArden sees both benefit and detriment befall his comrades and fears that which fate holds for him. "I hope my fears are for naught and some boon arrives that will see us safely through this test the gods have put before us." Arden picks up the dice and rolls...
[Arden]
ReplyDeleteWhen the dice land, it seems that the world has sped up all around him, just a little.
You've rolled Snake's Coil. The roller is slowed until the end of the game.
[Arden]
ReplyDelete"As I feared, the fates have not been kind to me. At least, as a Mage, quick feet are not a requirement for most of my skills."
ooc: ouch
"So, time to gamble with fate again?" states Nevdor as he watches the others. Seems like a 50-50 shot here. Guess that's fair...he picks up the dice, and, before throwing them states "come on kotaresh, daddy needs a new pair of thieves tools...".
ReplyDeleteOOC: hit me! Oh, and if I summon dread wraiths like the last time I used the deck of many things, I quit being a rogue forever...
[Nevdor]
ReplyDeleteAfter Nevdor releases the dice, the word Ruin appears on them. Suddenly, his backpack and a number of other items vanish!
Tech: The roller loses all non-weapon, nonarmor, non-implement items they are carrying. Besides backpack, rope, puppet, etc, this would include treasures you found thus far: Belt of Endurance, Krater of Might, Fetish of Luck. However, your Bracers of Defense and the Wand of Petrifcation are NOT affected.
OOC: I should add, that includes Nevdor's Thieves Tools.
ReplyDeleteOh Kotaresh, you have a terrible sense of humor!!!!
ReplyDelete[Bhareg]
ReplyDeleteStaring at the blank spaces on Nevdor's person, Bhareg hands everything he has off to Nevdor. "The theives tools are yours to keep, but I do expect the rest back. Assuming this doesn't kill me."
His eyes flicker to almost nothing as he lifts and drops the dice.
[Bhareg]
ReplyDeleteBhareg suddenly is filled with renewed strength and vigor! The dice show the word, Resistance.
Tech: You rolled Resistance. The roller gains 5d10 temporary hit points that last until the end of the game. Rolling 5d10... a 38! Nice roll!
Alright, the rolls are done... unless one of you wants to try a second roll...? Assuming not, will you head to Kishar's challenge then? Or try something else?
OOC: My vote is Kishar's challenge.
ReplyDelete[Arden]
ReplyDelete"Half benefit, Half do not. I think we are done here. I say we still try Kishar's challenge. I will do my best to keep up."
"Yes, on to Kishar's. Hopefully we can overcome these disadvantages.
ReplyDeleteOOC: And away we go!
[Bhareg]
ReplyDeleteGrinning quite... disconcertingly for a revenant, Bhareg re-slings his pack, making sure he does not retrieve the thieves tools from Nevdor.
Flexing his claws and clutching his staff, he says with relish, "Kishar then. And may the gods see fit to reward initiative and completeness rather than punish hubris."
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteThe ranger nods and places his hands on his the pommels of his blades. "We shall meet the Lord of Slaughter's challenge with blood and fire, and may our battle bring glory to his name." He pats Tak-Tha on the shoulder, and offers as soft smile to Nevdor. "My comrades, I am sorry for your luck and rest assured that we shall not let you fall in this endeavor. This is but another test of the Gods and we shall rise above it."
OOC: May Kishar's test quake at our passing!
The adventure continues here: http://grind4e.blogspot.com/2012/03/crucible-of-gods-goddess-of-slaughter.html
ReplyDelete