The following is intended for the play-by-post delve of SND-02: Fane of the Heresiarch.
Vitals + Rumors + Crusaders + Score + Watchtower + Bleak Seminary + Confessional + Black Cathedral + Ashen Ambulatory + Pleasure Crypts + Catacomb Reliquary + Death Wyverns' Crucible + Prison of Frozen Gods + Observatory + Gauntlet of Walls + Blighted Grove + Chaos Maze + Mothers' Cloister
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| from grind4e.blogspot.com |
By means of a teleportation spell, the dungeoneers arrive here (squares N6 - O7).
An opaque glass dome rises high above this circular observatory, the colored gems set into its surface forming strange constellations.
The constellations are arranged and look like the following:
The constellations are arranged and look like the following:
- ENNEAUS (out of place constellation); The nine pointed star, a symbol of tyranny
- GRUIS; The eye; a symbol of caution
- FORNAX; The sword; a sign of brazenness and rash actions
- TUCANAE; The hound; a sign of devotion
- SCUTUM; The shield, a sign of protection
- SEXTANUS; The looking glass, a sign of discovery and invention
- CETUS; The four pronged cross, a sign of rebellion
- CARINA; The triangle, a sign of the womb and of creation
A glittering black rock the size of a carriage is set against the southwest wall. Several humanoid skeletons have been partially-excavated from inside of it (squares L10 - M11). It has the color and texture of charcoal, and bears signs of recent chiseling.
Upon entering, Nettle will first look up at the constellations to see if they match the ones on the tablet in the watchtower.
ReplyDelete[NETTLE]
DeleteThe constellations depict the sky as it would be seen from the Heresiarch’s homeworld, and roughly match those shown on the granite slab in the Watchtower.
[TECH] Religion (11)+13
Xann will carefully approach the crystal plaque and attempt to discern if there are any magical auras.
ReplyDeleteArcana +12
[XANN]
DeleteThere are no signs of any spells or incantations known to thee.
[TECH] Arcana (9)+12
Oros will inspect the ceiling of the observatory to see if any of the constellations in the ceiling are missing gems.
ReplyDeletePerception +11
[NETTLE]
ReplyDeleteUpon further reflection, thou remembers that one of the constellations in this glass dome is not present in the night's sky of the Heresiarch's distant homeworld.
[TECH] History (11)+13
[OROS]
The glass dome is several feet thick completely smooth and unmarred. It is extremely cold to the touch.
The gems are remarkably tightly-fitted and difficult (but not impossible) to pull free or budge, as if they were held in place by some external force.
[TECH] Perception (16)+11
Nettle will have a look through the charts and instruments on the table to see what they depict.
ReplyDelete[NETTLE]
DeleteThis table is covered with star charts, dried ink pens, and decrepit tomes filled with esoteric astrological knowledge. There is a spyglass on a small golden tripod atop the table – it is the SPYGLASS OF TRUE SEEING. (See new image above).
Xann will place his hand over the handprint of the crystal plaque.
ReplyDelete[XANN]
DeleteA chill shoots down your arm to the elbow, and then races off down to your beating heart. Twelve panels open in the wall surrounding the plaque, each one revealing a different sign that glows with prismatic light (see new image above).
Act quickly, what do you do?!?
Do these symbols correspond in any way to the constellations above?
DeleteNettle will look at the symbols with the eyeglass.
ReplyDelete[XANN]
ReplyDeleteUnknown.
[NETTLE]
Thou sees nothing.
Are they in a language Nettle can translate?
DeleteThe symbols are not in a language.
DeleteHow many constellations are on the ceiling?
ReplyDeleteOOC: I'm going to be holding off on any interactions until Lord Xann posts his next action.
DeleteLord Xann will remove his hand.
ReplyDeleteMikhail investigates the skeletons in the big black rock for interesting aspects and tries to determine the rock's origin and nature.
ReplyDeletePerception +5
Nature +5
OOC: What does the constellation that doesn't belong in the Heresiarch's homeworld look like?
ReplyDelete[XANN]
ReplyDeleteThe cold shock running through thine arm subsides to a dull ache, but will not stop entirely. The symbols and the hand imprint remain exactly as they were.
[NETTLE]
Thou sees eight constellations, including the "out of place" constellation.
[MIKHAIL]
The rock has the color and texture of charcoal, yet glimmers as if filled with thousands of tiny crystals. It bears evidence of regular chiseling, and three humanoid skeletons remain half-embedded in the stone.
[TECH] Nature (5)+5
[OROS]
The constellations are arranged and look like the following (will update on the main post in a few minutes):
1 - ENNEAUS (out of place constellation); The nine pointed star, a symbol of tyranny
2 - GRUIS; The eye; a symbol of caution
3 - FORNAX; The sword; a sign of brazenness and rash actions
4 - TUCANAE; The hound; a sign of devotion
5 - SCUTUM; The shield, a sign of protection
6 - SEXTANUS; The looking glass, a sign of discovery and invention
7 - CETUS; The four pronged cross, a sign of rebellion
8 - CARINA; The triangle, a sign of the womb and of creation
[TECH] Religion (13)+3
OOC: Do you have an image of these?
DeleteOOC: That'd be sweet if the adventure had them, but alas, no such luck.
DeleteKaddim looks around, and desires more information. He spent his time studying the elemental chaos, and knows little of the astral domain. "Perhaps we should just leave fellows, and not tempt fate." He scans the teleportation sigil to see if its a two-way gate, before recommending the group head to the western door.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Arcana +13 (unless it was already stated) on the sigil. While tempted to guess, I think we should just move on out of the door to the west. Oros, have at it!
[KADDIM]
DeleteThe spells used to bring ye dungeoneers to this place are one-way and do not lead out.
[TECH] Arcana (7)+13
"only one way out. Oros, would be please make sure the door is not trapped?"
DeleteOOC: Kinda assumed, wanted to be sure. Lets move on gents.
Nettle will grab the spyglass, and look about the room.
ReplyDeleteHe will also look for magical auras throughout the observatory.
Arcana +13
Oros searches the western hallway for traps leading to the portal for traps.
ReplyDeletePerception +11
[NETTLE]
ReplyDeleteThe only magical auras in the room belong to the plaque and the twelve signs around it. They all are enchanted with magic from all school of magic, and at the Paragon Tier. Xann's unfamiliarity with such powerful dweomers perhaps being the cause of his earlier dismissal of their powers.
[TECH] Arcana (15)+13
[OROS]
Thou finds no traps.
[TECH] Perception (9)+11
Lord Xann will lead the party through the crimson portal.
ReplyDelete[DUNGEONEERS]
ReplyDeleteAt Lord Xann's behest, thy troupe shuffles forward through the crimson portal to be whisked away and arrive in the GAUNTLET OF WALLS.
http://dmg42.blogspot.com/2012/09/snd-02-gauntlet-of-walls.html
Initiative order is important here and NETTLE must act quickly and move out of the alcove lest he be telefragged by the incoming dungeoneers coming through the teleportation portal.
Re-entering the Observatory, Kaddim (after not paying as much attention to this room their first time through) scours over the room for details they may have missed. Once he has searched, he stands ready next to the crystal plaque, waiting for Nettle to divine more information about his subsequent actions.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Kaddim searches the room (perception +4), then readies himself in J2 to attempt the puzzle after Nettle casts either hand of fate or read omens.
Nettle will hasten to the table, draw out his inherited ritual book and begin assmembling the components he needs for Hand of Fate. Pixie methods typically involve various dusts, in this case a ground blue beetle native to a specific region of the feywild, mixed with the ground hand bones of any humanoid creature. He places them on a leaf, he blows the dust into the air, and waits for the spectral hand to appear before asking his questions.
ReplyDelete"Oh ye Hand of Fate, regarding the crystal plaque imprinted with a hand in this chamber, after my ally places his hand upon it should he attempt to depress a panel corresponding to a specific symbol in order to unlock the planet that is hidden, or should he try to turn the plaque itself toward a specific symbol to find the hidden planet, or attempt some other means of manipulating the plaque to find the planet?"
OOC: Assuming the hand indicates either the first or second option...
"Oh Hand of Fate, which of twelve panels corresponds to the symbol Kaddim should depress/turn the hand toward once revealed?"
OOC: If the answer to the first question is the third option, I'll have to rethink this because I'm stumped... Also, I'll be out and about today, so apologies if I can't respond until later. Someone can post more questions for me, if the DM allows.
[KADDIM]
ReplyDeleteA careful search finds nothing amiss.
[TECH]
Perception (19)+4
[NETTLE]
Drawn on the floor are three symbols, marked by red chalk: a hand touching a star, a hand twisting a star, and a question mark.The blue dust settles, guided by your spell, onto the first symbol to make a glowing blue hand pointing towards a star.
Heartened, Nettle will hastily draw 12 symbols, arranged as though around clock with a hand in the centre. "Oh hand, which position corresponds to the symbol that will gain us the planet we seek?"
ReplyDeleteOOC: Per the Player's Handout, "Rituals with a casting time of an hour or less may be cast once per game as a standard action."
DeleteI think that statement is somewhat ambivalent (ie. can they be cast more time, but not as a standard action?), but I feel that the intent here, as with skills, is a one-check-per-item kind of thing. Thus, Nettle cannot use Hand of Fate again. I would allow a different ritual to be used, or a different dungeoneer to use Hand of Fate.
Moreover, Hand of Fate cannot pick from that many different options.
OOC: Can you show us what the Supernal rune for Winter looks like?
ReplyDeleteOOC: See new image above.
DeleteXann pulls out another of his scrolls and casts it while upon the altar in the Mother's Cloister. "Oh spirits of the unfathomable void, I beseech thee; What would befall me if I were to touch the symbol of Capricorn whilst my palm is upon the crystal plaque?"
ReplyDeleteOOC: Capricorn, ie, the symbol located at 10 oclock
[tech] cast read omens
ReplyDeleteWOE
DeleteWhen Lord Xann returns to this room after his other delvings, the cold numbness in his arm returns anew, reaching out towards his heart.
ReplyDeleteAfter much indecision, Kaddim places his right hand against the crystal plaque. He looks to Lord Xann to see if the noticeable chill he mentioned has gone away.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Kaddim attempts to key the puzzle to him, does He now fill the chill and not Xann?
Kaddim feels nothing.
DeleteLord Xann grimaces as he enters the Observatory. As a winsould genasi, Lord Xann was at home on windswept peaks and icy glaciers alike, yet he had never felt a cold like this. This great general, conqueror of the isles of sorrow, subjugator of the emerald armies of Valactria, slayer of a thousand champions... was afraid.
ReplyDeleteSteeling himself against the creeping doom approaching his heart, Lord Xann Stormbringer II puts his palm against the crystal plaque.
"We must press forward. We are beseiged by our ignorance, but we must press forward."
With that, Xann places his other hand on the symbol of Gemini located at 3 o'clock.
[LORD XANN]
ReplyDeleteThe symbol of Gemini is touched and the glowing sigils of the zodiac fade and disappear completely from the world, as if they never existed. The hand imprint becomes solid and smooth, forever shut down.
The cold in Xann's arm moves to his heart completely, purging much of the warmth and love and emotion permanently from him. Literally and figuratively, Xann's heart becomes a cold, black thing full of hatred.
[TECH]
Gain 2 Blight and Save vs. PERMANENT SLOWED (17); success
OOC: Very sorry to see your failure here. Perhaps you will look back on this fondly when you celebrate your next birthday on January 26th.
OOC: It was so obvious... Australia Day!
ReplyDeleteOOC: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EGWu7FC8o0
ReplyDeleteSensing Oros is about to do something, Nettle will grab Xann and head over to square A6
ReplyDeleteOros will fly up to the constellation of Enneaus the nine pointed star that isn't part of the constellations in the watchtower and attempt to pry loose one of the gems.
ReplyDeleteTech:
Thievery +17
[OROS]
DeleteTry as he might, the gems are too well stuck into the ceiling. Oros breaks several steel files and lockpicks before giving up in frustration.
[TECH]
Thievery (7)+17
Not paying much attention it on their first pass, Brand will inspect the glittering black rock as to any clues to it's origin or nature. (if deemed safe to touch) Brand takes some of the rock dust near one of the chisel marks and rubs in between his fingers to try to discern any magical properties as well. Finally, he will inspect the encased humanoids for any clue how they found themselves within this massive rock.
ReplyDelete[Tech]
History +13, Arcana +13
[BRAND]
DeleteThe glittering rock is a meteorite. The meteorite’s composition suggests that it is the fragment of a destroyed planet.
The marks on the skeletons indicate that the bodies were burned to death.
[TECH]
Nature (16)+7, Heal (9)+5, History (11)+13
Oros is quite frustrated with his inability to pry a gem lose from the ceiling and looks around from something to smash. Luckily the other party members guide him in the direction of the meteorite. Oros pulls out his axe and starts whistling a merry tune as he starts to chip away at the meteorite.
ReplyDeleteTech:
use the axe of sundering on the meteorite +17vsAC 10+12 per attack and check out what is revealed after each piece is chipped away with the help of the party between swipes
[OROS]
DeleteAfter a long while of hacking away, Oros successfully exhumes the skeletal remains. Chunks of meteorite clung to the fragile, blackened bones.
Brand, seeing that his group has hit a dead end and preparing to leave pauses a moment in thought. Motioning to Nettle, he asks "let me borrow that spyglass". (Assuming he complies, and will return it back to him immediately after). Taking the spyglass, he looks up at the constellations each one by one to discern anything special about their features and positions in comparison to his own astrological studies once upon a time. (If order matters) Brand starts with the out of place constellation Enneaus, followed by the Constellation Sextanus.
DeleteFinally, now fully exposed, Brand will search through the remains of the Skeletons and rock debris. "Surely whoever was excavating these bodies was looking for something, no?"
Brand finds nothing invisible or otherwise hiding or obscured.
ReplyDelete"We've failed commrades, let us get on this with...." Kaddim states while Cackle makes a snickering sound from his left shoulder. Kaddim is ready to test the staff on him, but knows they are so close to the end of their quest, and his powers could mean all the difference in the fight to come. He tells Nettle to activate the chaos device, then the party is off to the ashen ambulatory one last time before they enter the planetary portal in the watchtower.
ReplyDeleteOOC:As per the OOC emails, its time to get outta this room and back to the watchtower. We'll make a quick stop in the ambulatory, then its into the portal w/o the sixth planet...SHIT IS ABOUT TO GET REAL!
Nettle will grab a small shard of the dead planet before drawing out the Chaos Device, nodding gravely to his allies, and activating it.
ReplyDeleteDone! A swirl of crimson stars envelops the dungeoneers and they are brought to the WATCHTOWER. Thereafter they venture to the ASHEN AMBULATORY and MOTHERS' CLOISTER to gear up and prepare for their impending doom.
DeleteLord Xann, Kaddim, Nettle and Nelson all walk a little bit of the line between good and evil, dancing with the metaphoric devil and drinking from the Obsidian Fountain.
OOC: Vitals updated, take a look and trade items as you see fit. It's like that scene/sequence in Commando where Schwarzeneggar is getting all ammo'ed up and shit. Badass.