GREYHAWK CY 576: GREAT LEGENDS RETOLD -- CAMPAIGN THREAD

[Tellerian Hawke]

GM: Moving things along.

The party decides to check out Room 58 first. It is obviously a temple area. On the blood-stained floor, the bodies of the Witch Mother, and 5 of her acolytes lay, still with the rigor of death, having been chopped up in a gory fashion by the double-axes that the demons carried. Many of the dead wear a look of either confusion or surprise. The Witch Mother's corpse wears a look of fear.

GM: Quixt: Appraisal Skill Check: 23. Aid Another: (Hawke, Nimbar, Sphynx): 18,15,15 = +6. Total Appraisal Check: 29. Quixt can easily identify the value of the ornamental gemstones in this room..

GM: Will Saves: (Sphynx, Quixt, Hawke, Nimbar): 16,17,10,19 (Vs. DC 13): Hawke fails his saving throw.

It is hard not to look at the swirling forms as they suddenly spring to life, and everyone in the party does so. But only Hawke falls victim to spell; he begins to chant in an unknown tongue, as he stares blankly, his eyes glazed over with an obviously magical red light. He does not seem to be aware of what he is doing.

Acting quickly, Nimbar slaps Hawke hard on the cheek, snapping him out of his daze. Hawke had barely managed to say more than 3 words of the hymn, and he seems none the worse for wear.

Nimbar says, "It was a Suggestion spell. It's a fancy way to raise an alarm. I would imagine the Suggestion was something along the lines of "Sing loudly to the glory of Evil and Chaos," which would normally cause anyone nearby to come running, including the Zombies. Fortunately for us, there is no longer anyone here that could have heard Hawke's catterwalling."

EVERYONE: What do you do?

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Hawke pats Nimbar on the shoulder, saying, "Thanks, buddy. I'll work on my Barritone voice when I have time, so the next time this happens, you won't liken it to catterwalling."

Both friends chuckle lightly at Hawke's joke.

 

[MacConnell]

Sphynx rolls his eyes at the magicks wasted for such a simpleton's pathetic display. He draws upon his minute Druidic talent to illuminate the candelabra just to interfere with the intended malevolent ambience.

OOC: Cast Light

He will them examine the chairs to see if it would be safe to remove the gems.

OOC: Search: d20 + 10 = 12 + 10 = 22

Spoiler: Spells Used

Druid:
Light: 1

Level 2:
Magic Missile: 4

Level 3:
Scorching Ray: 1

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

GM: The safety of removing the gems is obvious; you don't need to roll. Any trap on the removal of these gems would have to be magical. There is no physical trap that would operate effectively at that size. Even a needle trap would need more space for the spring and mechanism. But the problem is, they look very secure, and you're also worried about damaging the gems themselves by prying them out of their sockets. So I will use your roll with your Open Lock skill to see how well you do. Hawke will also use his Open Lock skill to assist you. DC Is Difficult. (DC 20): d20 roll = 12. Open Lock = 7. Total Roll: 19. Hawke's roll: (23) = Success! Add +2 to Sphynx's result. TOTAL RESULT: 21. (Success)

Working together, both friends manage to get all of the gems out of the furniture without so much as a scratch on anything, gemstone OR furniture. Sphynx, you notice that Hawke is competently trained in this skill, just as you are. When you ask him about it, he tells you that his mother was a "locksmith," but from his grin, you can tell that the word is a convenient euphemism.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

GM: You can't remove the Throne or the lesser chairs. They're simply too big. You'd have to break them up, and that would scar and devalue the ivory. But you CAN take the gold bracings off of all of them. Gold bracings: (4 per chair): (4 x 5 = 20 Bracings) = 250 gp. value each. (x 20) = Total Value: 5,000 gp. 10 Onyx Gems: w/ 100 gp. each. (Total Value: 1,000 gp.) 10 Small Rubies: w/ 500 gp. each. (Total Value: 5,000 gp.) 1 Large Ruby: w/ 1,000 gp. 12,000 gp. value in all. Quite the haul. Congrats.

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

GM: Since Quixt has the highest search skill, he will search the Witch Mother's quarters. Sphynx, Hawke, and Nimbar will Aid Another if it becomes necessary. SEARCH DC: 20 Quixt Search Number 1: (27) Success! Quixt Search Number 2: (20) Success! (Aid Another is not needed in this instance.)

Quixt finds two secret doors, both part of an escape passage, which can be clearly seen on the map below.

Spoiler: Map of Secret Escape Passage

GM: Area marked 59g is where the Witch Mother's private guards normally stand watch. There is no one here; their bodies are likely lying in room 58, soaked in blood. Area 59 is the private sanctum of the Witch Mother. Treasure recovered from the Witch Mother's quarters: A suit of black platemail, with a breastplate that is carved in the shape of a woman's bosom. (Although the arm and leg pieces will fit, the breastplate is too narrow and curvy to fit a normal man.) -- which has been placed on an armor stand. A black metal shield (also on its own armor stand) An amulet (like the one that the acolytes wore) with evil symbols carved on it, which hangs from a hook on the wall. A wooden staff, with a jade top, carved in the shape of a snake's head, which is leaning against the corner by the bed. On the nightstand, is a gold ring, inset with a deep red ruby. It looks extremely valuable. Under the bed, a bag of 51 platinum pieces. 500 gold pieces, and 50 pieces of corundum (worth about 10 gp. each.) Also under the bed: 3 scrolls, which are all divine (Clerical) spells, and an unknown potion of a grayish color. A small, demonic statue with two gems for eyes (both emeralds, approx. value 100 gp. each.)

The party moves swiftly through the room, easily discovering everything of possible value. When Quixt finds the secret passage, it becomes evident that everything in this part of the complex has probably been accounted for. The party should now be considering going back to the other door, and exploring the passages which lead off to the east.

Spoiler: The Other Passages The Party Might Want To Explore

CLICK HERE FOR 'BEYOND THE DOOR' MAP

EVERYONE: What do you want to do now?

 

[MacConnell]

OOC: Obviously the party will collect all coins.

Sphynx suggests that Hawke collect the armor and shield for the purpose of trade. "It may be there is even a bounty on this villainous witch and the armor might serve as proof of demise."

He has no reservations about collecting all of the other items, except the amulet, which he scrutinizes first to see if he deems it safe to touch.

OOC: d20 = 16

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Spoiler: What Sphynx Discovers About The Amulet

Sphynx, you find that the amulet is indeed safe to touch and pick up, but you also know that actually putting it on would be harmful to you (although you're not sure exactly how.) Only an evil being can wear this amulet without activating its harmful effects.

All of the coins are easily collected and placed in Hawke's magical haversack. The armor and shield can be wrapped in a bed sheet and bundled up with cords, making it portable, at least for someone as strong as Hawke is.

EVERYONE: What do you want to do now?

 

[MacConnell]

Sphynx will take the amulet in hopes of determining a way to destroy it.

"Hey folks. I am thinking we should make a loot run and return to The Keep with these finds, see what we can sell, then return."

OOC: d20 = 17

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Hawke nods, saying, "I agree, we should leave soon. We have dealt with the Wendol, who were the driving force behind the unity of the Humanoid tribes; the Goblins, Kobolds, and Hobgoblins are either gone completely, or severely routed. We know there are more Orcs hanging around, as well as more Bugbears. And I have also noticed a Gnoll or two. Sphynx, you killed one recently, who had become so rabid that they had chained him to a wall, remember? ... Anyway, I think we should finish exploring the Wendol's area, which means going back to that one door. After that, a trip back to The Keep would probably be advisable. I have spoken to Nimbar about this, and he agrees. What say you and Quixt?"