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Adventure #2 - The Shadow Man

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Post  Malazek Sat Sep 14, 2013 9:56 am

Talmut understands that statues are very common in Augustine architecture, but they always hold special significance. They often represent the gods, kings, and ancestors of the builders. Moreover, in places where traps are used, such as crypts or vaults, statues are often used to provide obscure warnings or as part of the trap itself. Maius lends him a hand.

As Maius and Talmut scrape away some of the muck and mold, the four statues begin to resemble guardsmen, but their efforts to clean away the growth can only accomplish so much ... aside from fungus-plugged crevices and mildew stains, the statues are also a bit eroded. Nonetheless, he realizes these statues were sculpted to "guard" whatever was in this room. It was probably a treasure room, though it could have been a bedchamber or a throne room. It may have even been vault, meant to hold something unusual, like a priceless relic or a powerful heirloom.

Before Jeremiah leaves the room, Gumphrey hands him the torch. Again. He then moves to the mouth of eastern hallway and searches for more traps.

Elodie focuses her mind on the magical energies in the room, but senses nothing. These statues are mundane.

A few rooms back, Jeremiah re-examines the crocodiles den. The den itself is still filled with murky water, too dark to peer down into. Now that the rest of the room has drained, however, only a thick layer of muck covers the floor. The fungus and mold on the walls still cling to where the water water level once sat, creating a visible horizontal line around the room. Several bones are scattered around the room, mostly from small animals, but a few could be human. To get a better idea of what's in the lair, however, he would have to swim down into the black water and feel around (he won't be able to see).

Finally, Maius and Talmut have cleaned enough of one statue to get a better look. The statue's marble armor definitely bears a resemblance to the scale armor of the elite Imperial guard. The statues' weapons have mostly broken away, but the hilts remain mostly intact and fit the general shape of a Gladius (an Augustine short sword). Under the circumstances, cleaning away any more of the growth would be a futile effort.

Talmut did, however, discover one other peculiar thing. Ringing the base of the northwest statue was a slender line where no mold or mildew was growing. It almost looked like somebody had already cleared it away .... but why would somebody bother to scrape a level line around the base of a moldy statue? And who would (or even could) have done it?
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Post  Swifthand Sun Sep 15, 2013 10:25 am

Are there scrapings on the floor or wall, or any other evidence that the statue has been moved or swivels?

Knowledge: Engineering.
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Post  Malazek Sun Sep 15, 2013 12:13 pm

Talmut sees no evidence of "scrapes" on the muck-covered floor. The wall is similarly covered with fecund growth, and also partially eroded in spots. Nonetheless he, mentally traces a circular path around the statue, at a distance equal to the length of statues partially extended arm, and realizes it wouldn't touch the wall ... but maybe if it was still holding its sword? He retraces the path a little further out, to figure out where it might have struck the wall, centuries ago. He does, in fact, find a distinct gauge in the wall at around the expected point, but the wall is cracked and crumbled in so many places, that the find is not entirely definitive. Still, its enough of clue to suggest the possibility that the statue can be swiveled; more-so that if there hadn't been any sign of contact.
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Post  Alpha Omega Sun Sep 15, 2013 3:19 pm

Jeremiah will head back to the others and help them since this room has been thoroughly searched.
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Post  Glitz Sun Sep 15, 2013 4:02 pm

"Well, there's nothing magical in this room, other than what we brought," Elodie announces after a minute. "Anyone else find anything?"
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Post  Malazek Sun Sep 15, 2013 4:43 pm

"Nothing over here, Elodie." Gumphrey responds. "This way is clear. We can proceed when we're done here ... Talmut? Maius? Jeremiah? Find anything?"
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Post  Swifthand Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:20 pm

"Hmm", says the Conjuror, brows furrowing.  "There is evidence that this statue swivelss at its base - perhaps a trap door, or simply another trap..." 

Talmut will mock-demonstrate his theory, pointing out the wall and the line at the statues base, hoping they see something he does not.
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Post  Glitz Sun Sep 15, 2013 6:31 pm

"Gumphrey, can you tell what sort of mechanism this is?" Elodie approaches and places a hand on his shoulder, once again blessing him with the help of the spirits.

Cast Guidance on Gumphrey.
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Post  Swifthand Sun Sep 15, 2013 7:15 pm

In regard to the gator pit, could Talmut's Floating Disk spell be used to carry a bunch of the water off?

EDIT: OK, I looked, and I can, 2 gallons a carry.

"I could use a spell to aid in lowering the water level in the crocodile nest, if you think there may be treasure in their lair..." 
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Post  Alpha Omega Mon Sep 16, 2013 6:25 pm

"Maybe we should try and detect magic in the gator pit, if we detect something we can carry the water out. If not, we can skip it..."
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Post  Malazek Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:19 pm

Gumphrey agrees with Jeremiah. "I've never known beasts to carry much coin."
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Post  Glitz Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:22 pm

"Sounds reasonable, Jeremiah." Elodie heads toward the crocodile lair--careful not to get too close--and attempts to determine if there are any magical items lurking beneath the surface of the dark water.

Cast Detect Magic.
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Post  Malazek Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:23 pm

Elodie detects no magical auras in the vicinity of the gator pit.
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Post  Glitz Mon Sep 16, 2013 7:24 pm

Elodie says, "Nope, nothing here. Shall we have another look at that swiveling statue?"
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Post  Alpha Omega Tue Sep 17, 2013 7:17 am

Jeremiah will help look over the statue and provide any insight he can.
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Post  Malazek Tue Sep 17, 2013 4:57 pm

Talmut wrote:"There is evidence that this statue swivelss at its base - perhaps a trap door, or simply another trap..." 
Elodie wrote:"Gumphrey, can you tell what sort of mechanism this is?" Elodie approaches and places a hand on his shoulder, once again blessing him with the help of the spirits.
Jeremiah wrote:Jeremiah will help look over the statue and provide any insight he can.
Gumphrey finally takes the hint and moves over to the statue. After a fewmoment of looking at it, as well as the surrounding area, he says "I don't think it's a trap. I don't see any holes for darts or arrows or gas to come through. I don't see any magical glyphs or sigils. If it is a trap, you'd have to be a pretty big fool to fall for it. Should I activate it? It looks like it turns." He squats down and puts both hands on the statue, bracing himself to turn the ancient effigy.
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Post  Swifthand Tue Sep 17, 2013 5:13 pm

"Yes, open it."
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Post  Malazek Tue Sep 17, 2013 6:00 pm

Gumphrey grunts and strains ... and slowly the statue twists upon its base. A deep rumble echoes through hall, like boulders rolling against on another in the distance. When Gumphrey stops, the rumbling stops. "What was that?"
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Post  Swifthand Tue Sep 17, 2013 8:10 pm

OOC: Can I make a Perception and/or Knowledge: Engineering to hear the hidden workings of whatever just happened mechanically, and determine what happened?  Did it sound like a cave in, or a more controlled shifting of walls?
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Post  Malazek Tue Sep 17, 2013 9:00 pm

Talmut thinks it sounded more the shifting of walls ... or floors and ceilings, maybe. Probably a secret door, somewhere.
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Post  Swifthand Wed Sep 18, 2013 3:50 pm

" Let us continue on - Gumpry, please check the hallway and door for traps; the Augustine's were notorious for using statues to hide them."
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Post  Malazek Wed Sep 18, 2013 4:23 pm

Gumphrey moves ahead, advancing just slow enough to keep a vigilant eye. The moss-covered forms of the statues in the next hall bear vague resemblances to a priest, a smith, a woodsman, a maiden, a soldier, and a king. Actually, the soldier looks more like one of the guardian statues in the last room. In fact, they may have looked identical at some point in the past.

About halfway to the door, Gumphrey stops and turns his head toward the new "guardian." "Jeremiah," he says, "hold the torch over this way, please. When the light reaches his alcove, he smiles and says "I found something hidden by a statue, Talmut. Look!"

Anyone glancing past the guardian statue sees that alcove is actually a short hallway, leading to a small antechamber. "We should check it out, right?"

Arx Behind the Statue photo ArxBehindtheStatue_zpsaffa0015.png
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Post  Alpha Omega Wed Sep 18, 2013 5:47 pm

"Yes, but lets be alert..."

Jeremiah will draw both of his axes and will keep tight to Gumphrey as he follows him into the alcove.
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Post  Swifthand Wed Sep 18, 2013 6:42 pm

Talmut will guard the rear.

Readied Action - Acid Bolt on anyone attacking the party.
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Post  Glitz Wed Sep 18, 2013 7:21 pm

Elodie will follow Jeremiah and Gumphrey, one hand extended and ready to cast fire at any enemy that attacks the group.

Ready an action: cast Fire Bolt, if an enemy attacks.
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