(CSDGH) Demon with a Glass Hand [IC]

[sblock=OOC]
I see no reason I wouldn't disclose that...
[/sblock]

Thalnil said:

"Do any of you know who this "proxy of death" is and what would motivate him to this level of carnage?"

Click to expand...

"The motive, I can only speculate about with dread. Seto is the proxy of death, god-king of Romdeau. He is a bitter and hateful being, with dominion over darkness and death, and calls no other city or god allies, even those of Purgatory. He is an aloof creature who rarely appears to his people, and is known to turn a blind eye to the worship of the old gods in his city."

Haros turns to the chest. "Given time, I can muster magics that may unlock secrets of what lies within, but I am uncertain if time is a luxury we can afford. Does anyone here have abilities that might allow them to inspect or open this?"

"I could probably blast it to dust," Shard says innocently. "But that might take whatever's inside too."

She looks around, as if just realizing something.

"Where did everyone else go?"

"Many are still here, and will remain until the sands consume them," Suvarion said as she looked over the corpses of the caravaneers killed in the assault. "I should guess that perhaps one of those might hold the key to that chest. Perhaps we might search them, for I feel that we ought to be away from this place before any other emissaries arrive." She eyed the bulettes for a moment. "I don't suppose any of you might know how to drive such beasts- for otherwise it is a long walk to the nearest shelter."

A God-King? This is more trouble than I have known before. What would be in a chest in a simple trade caravan that would interest a God-King. Thalnil thinks to himself more than slightly worried.

"No, I am afraid such beasts are not native from my mountain home. I agree that haste should be made, if we intend to keep this from a God-King, then I think all of our lives are about to get a lot more... interesting."

"I should also point out there are liquid containers in there as well as some trade wood. The chest seems to be the most likely thing this Proxy could be after, but we don't know for sure."

Thalnil will make a quick scan of the carnage, are their any survivors other than the PCs?

Nothing in the immediate area. Potential survivors could have escaped in any direction, and most of those that fled early fled while mounted.

Shard wanders over to the chest and peers down at it.

"I wonder what's in it."

She reaches into her pouch and produces a roll of silk tied with a thin cord. Holding it at each end, she raises the roll to her mouth and bites the cord, then pulls it away. The tie comes open, and the roll comes loose, trailing a flapping end. She grabs it and yanks, unrolling it still more. Embroidered on the thin, sheer fabric are a procession of intricate mystic runes.

The strange girl then lies the silk scroll over the chest and starts to read aloud, each syllable naming a rune; which dissolves from the fabric and twists into the air a few inches over the spot it had occupied...each a slowly undulating shape in black smoke. She finishes the last rune, and claps her hands once. The scroll erupts into green, heatless flame. The floating smoke runes catch fire as well, and burn intensely as the magic takes hold and pries at the adamantine chest with invisible fingers...

(Using my Scroll of Knock that I forgot all about until now. )

Sitting most prominantly within the heavy chest is one right-handed greenish metallic gauntlet with little pieces of luminous volcanic glass adorning the entire piece. A ring sits along the index finger, engraved with words in abyssal. The engraving is very fine, and it would take a true master jeweler to write these words so perfectly.



[sblock=Abyssal]"Like the Eternal Man of Babylonian legend, like Gilgamesh, one thousand plus two hundred years stretches before him."[/sblock]

The other items in the chest are valuable, but more standard fair.

COINS

GEMS

WAND

WONDROUS

Shard covers her mouth and gasps on seeing the hand...then relaxes a bit when she realizes it's just an empty gauntlet. Not nearly so bad. But it feels very ominous...what about this was so important? What would a god-king want with a trinket? Even if it was magic, it would have to be the highest order of magic to be noticeable beside his vast power.

"Its a hand," she reports weakly. "And a lot of gold and stuff."

Haros quickly checks to ensure that none of nomads are merchants remain that can be saved. He returns to the stone wagon to caucus with his newfound allies. "There appears to be little left to salvage here, but I suspect that this gauntlet is of great significance." Haros casts another spell to detect for magic. "Some of these items... the wand and the sack, in particular, have a magical aura. I can prepare further magic to identify the items, but it is probably best that we not remain here lest more demons pay us a visit."

Haros continues, "When we are ready, I can use my magic to whisk us to a city in the virtues. There we can seek counsel regarding the significance of this item, and relay the fates of the caravan."

[sblock=OOC]
Knowledge religion check:
Knowledge (religion) check (1d20+12=21)

Spellcraft check (for detect magic):
Spellcraft check (1d20+10=12)

Lore check (for anything else it might reveal to me about the gauntlet):
Lore check (1d20+5=23)
(also, I have 5 ranks in decipher script if a synergy bonus is warranted here)

If there is nothing left salvageable, I can also release the bullettes if it won't endanger anyone nearby. I can use animal empathy to calm them if needed.

When the group is ready, I will assist in gathering the items in the wagon and use wind walk to take us to the nearest city in the virtues is closeby, otherwise I will use teleport.
[/sblock]

Your knowledge religion check identifies the purpose and word for the wand, though you don't know the caster level (though that should be obvious after using it) or how many charges remain. To know the number of charges you'll need an identify. The wand is a cure serious wounds wand.

The gauntlet has an overwhelming aura, strongest aura being abjuration, but also has strong transmutation, evocation, enchantment, and conjuration auras. Your lore check turns up nothing specific regarding an item like this.

The bag is a moderate conjuration and you can ascertain it's abilities with a little trial and error.