IC: Vengeance of the Vanderborens

[Starhawk]

Tann Hauser (AC 17)

Character Short Form

Female  Neutral  Elf Wizard,

Level 1, Init 5, HP 8/8, Speed 30 

AC 13 (17 Mage Armor) Touch 13, Flat-footed 10 (14), CMD 12, 

Fort 1, Ref 3, Will 3, CMB -1, Base Attack Bonus  0,  

Dagger -1 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
Light Crossbow (10 Reusable) +3 (1d8, 19-20/x2)
 
Str 8, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 10

Cantrips Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Ray of Frost 1d3+1

1st level Spells Burning Hands 1 (3d4+1), Colour Spray, Crafter's Blessing, Ears of the City, Expeditious Retreat, Fabricate Bullets, Grease 1, Mage Armor 1

Skills

+10  Knowledge Local, Knowledge Arcana

+8  Alchemy, Spellcraft

+6 Heal, Perception (+9 in low light), all other knowledge skills and professions

Condition

Darkvision 60' but dazzled in bright light.

Entomophobe Drawback (penalties with vermin and swarms)

Sheet Link

https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2744372

Tann's eyes flick back and forth between the metal snake and their employer. "Mmmm... pretty sure it's afraid of the ring on your finger.", she purrs, looking amused. It seemed obvious. She imagined she was just the first one to point it out.

None

 

 

[Kylia Quilor]

Current Mental Focus Investiture

3 Points Invested in Her Monocle (Divination), granting a +1 Insight bonus to Perception Checks
2 Points Invested in her Bracers (Abjuration), granting a +1 Resistance Bonus to all her saving throws.

"It would make sense," Iridni added, Tann indeed having beat her to it. "Your parents would have needed a way to hold it back when they arrived. We're just fortunate it's not a password or something that they'd have taken with them to their grave."

[CharmingSatyr]

CALYX Elf Warpriest (notes) AC: 17 | HP: 9/9 | Hero: 1 Fort: +3 | Ref: +4 | Will: +6 Resources | Spells | Skills

---

"My vote is avoidance," Calyx chimes in. "There's only one ring, and we don't know how it's going to react to the rest of us. If we leave it alone, maybe it'll leave us alone?" he finishes his statement with a lilting semi-question, as if unsure of his own words.

Matching deeds to his words, he interposes himself between Lavinia and the snake thing, watching closely, ready to defend her at a moment's notice.

 

OOC: Ready action - keep between our employer and the snake construct.

Edited June 21, 2023 by CharmingSatyr (see edit history)

[Starhawk]

Tann Hauser (AC 17)

Character Short Form

Female  Neutral  Elf Wizard,

Level 1, Init 5, HP 8/8, Speed 30 

AC 13 (17 Mage Armor) Touch 13, Flat-footed 10 (14), CMD 12, 

Fort 1, Ref 3, Will 3, CMB -1, Base Attack Bonus  0,  

Dagger -1 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
Light Crossbow (10 Reusable) +3 (1d8, 19-20/x2)
 
Str 8, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 10

Cantrips Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Ray of Frost 1d3+1

1st level Spells Burning Hands 1 (3d4+1), Colour Spray, Crafter's Blessing, Ears of the City, Expeditious Retreat, Fabricate Bullets, Grease 1, Mage Armor 1

Skills

+10  Knowledge Local, Knowledge Arcana

+8  Alchemy, Spellcraft

+6 Heal, Perception (+9 in low light), all other knowledge skills and professions

Condition

Darkvision 60' but dazzled in bright light.

Entomophobe Drawback (penalties with vermin and swarms)

Sheet Link

https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2744372

Iridni speaks. Tann nods. Calyx speaks. Tann nods again. She then looks towards the eastern pillar, the pillar where the danger isn't, or doesn't seem to be.

None

 

 

[Wiz]

Alura pauses in her intent to blast the snake with water as it retreats from the lady's ring. "See if you can hold it in place with that, and someone protect the lady in case it turns regardless of the ring." Looking ahead she tries to see the clearest path she can make to the five pillars in order to examine them.

Statblock

Alura Undertow
Female LN Merfolk (Seasinger; Secret Magic) Oracle (Ocean's Echo), [B]Level[/B] 1, [B]Init[/B] 2, [B]HP[/B] 10/10, [B]Speed[/B] 5/40
[B]AC[/B] 12, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 10, [B]CMD[/b] 11, [B]Fort[/B] 2, [B]Ref[/B] 2, [B]Will[/B] 0, [B]CMB[/B] -1, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 0,   [B]Action Points[/B] 1
 (+2 Dex)
[B]Abilities[/B] Str 8, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 7, Cha 20

Actions

 

 

[Starhawk]

Tann Hauser (AC 17)

Character Short Form

Female  Neutral  Elf Wizard,

Level 1, Init 5, HP 8/8, Speed 30 

AC 13 (17 Mage Armor) Touch 13, Flat-footed 10 (14), CMD 12, 

Fort 1, Ref 3, Will 3, CMB -1, Base Attack Bonus  0,  

Dagger -1 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
Light Crossbow (10 Reusable) +3 (1d8, 19-20/x2)
 
Str 8, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 10

Cantrips Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Ray of Frost 1d3+1

1st level Spells Burning Hands 1 (3d4+1), Colour Spray, Crafter's Blessing, Ears of the City, Expeditious Retreat, Fabricate Bullets, Grease 1, Mage Armor 1

Skills

+10  Knowledge Local, Knowledge Arcana

+8  Alchemy, Spellcraft

+6 Heal, Perception (+9 in low light), all other knowledge skills and professions

Condition

Darkvision 60' but dazzled in bright light.

Entomophobe Drawback (penalties with vermin and swarms)

Sheet Link

https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2744372

Tann lets out something of a disappointed sigh when Alura calls off her aquatechnics. She'd seen that on the ship and it was fun with a capital F. A good capital F from from her point of view, while undoubtedly a bad capital F from the point of view of the recipient.

None

 

 

[Naimless]

Urthan

Urthan Dosk — Half-Orc Barbarian 1 (Armored Hulk)

AC/T/FF 15/10/15 | HP 9/13 | Init +0 | Speed 30ft | Fort/Ref/Will 6/2/4 | Darkvision 60
Raging 6/6 | Hero Points ??
Active Conditions: none

Why did it have to be snakes?

At the talk of protection, Urthan stepped forward. "That'd be me." He flashes a toothy grin at the noblewoman. "At the very least, it can bite me before it goes for anyone else." He says as he draws his blade, and takes to resting it up onto his shoulder. "If I tell you to run, you run, m'lady." He instructs Lavinia.

Mechanics

 

 

[Fiery Gift]

It does seem to be afraid of the ring. Lavinia says in response. She lowers her hand so the ring is plainly apparent. Without another word being said, the iron cobra turns and slithers back to a compartment beneath one of the pillars. That went better than I would have hoped. Thanks for the suggestion. I'm glad I have you around. she adds with a smile.

Fiona arrives at the carvings on the wall which she identified as suspicious earlier. Beneath on of the serpent heads she reveals a hidden switch. The Vanderboren crest appears again. A quick application of Lavinia's very useful (in this circumstance) ring on the switch causes a number of the snake designs on the far wall to animate. They writhe aside like living creatures to form a coiling archway.

The archway leads to an octagonal room which is primarily features a large octagonal pillar with dozens of deep grooves along its sides. The seven walls of this room each bear fantastically detailed bas-relief carvings of exotic monsters in threatening poses. Colored tiles provide relief and interest to the artwork. Starting at the wall immediately to the west of the entrance of the room and moving clockwise, the carvings depict:

• a tentacled monster with a glaring red eye and a mouth full of teeth (DC 22 Knowledge Dungeoneering to identify)
• a looming dragon. The color of the dragon has been neglected by the artist. It is the same stone as the rest of the vault, but a wise interpreter might be able to figure out what type of dragon it is intended to by the horn pattern on its head, (DC 15 Knowledge Arcana to identify)
• a fish like creature with three eyes and four tentacles (DC 17 Knowledge Dungeoneering to identify)
• a two headed giant wielding a pair of immense clubs (DC 16 Knowledge Local to identify)
• a spherical creature with four eyestalks and a bulging central eye over a drooling maw (DC 23 Knowledge Dungeoneering to identify)
• a gorilla like beast with a fanged maw and six eyes (DC 18 Knowledge Arcana to identify)
• a towering black spider with seven eyes. (easily identified by everyone)

Each monster's eyes consist of a glittering red stone. Even in the dim light of the vault the eyes shine brightly.

The ceiling above is ten feet high with the eight pointed star pattern radiating out from the base of grooved pillar. The arms of this star are black, save for the one pointing south toward the entrance, which is painted red. At the place where the pillar meets the ceiling a seam can be seen between the pillar and the ceiling. There are hand holds cut into the side of the pillar. It would seem that this pillar would be able to rotate in place. Its rotation would move the aforementioned red painted arrow attached to its base which is currently pointing to the south.

Lavina points her ring at the pillar. Nothing.

Ok, almost there. Now if we can just figure out what to do to get this door open. She says.

 

Edited June 29, 2023 by Fiery Gift (see edit history)

[Wiz]

Alura fishes out a familiar parchment that many have puzzled over, "Tann found this with the ring, and Iridni and I discussed that it might be a combination for a lock of some kind. I think that sunrise would be east, sunset would be west and the others remain as they are. Which is the Chimera, the Cyclops, the Medusa, the Umber Hulk, and the Basilisk? Monster lore is not my speciality." The mermaid offers the note to Lavinia.

Statblock

Alura Undertow
Female LN Merfolk (Seasinger; Secret Magic) Oracle (Ocean's Echo), [B]Level[/B] 1, [B]Init[/B] 2, [B]HP[/B] 10/10, [B]Speed[/B] 5/40
[B]AC[/B] 12, [B]Touch[/B] 12, [B]Flat-footed[/B] 10, [B]CMD[/b] 11, [B]Fort[/B] 2, [B]Ref[/B] 2, [B]Will[/B] 0, [B]CMB[/B] -1, [B]Base Attack Bonus[/B] 0,   [B]Action Points[/B] 1
 (+2 Dex)
[B]Abilities[/B] Str 8, Dex 14, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 7, Cha 20

Note

 

Edited June 29, 2023 by Wiz (see edit history)

[Starhawk]

Tann Hauser (AC 17)

Character Short Form

Female  Neutral  Elf Wizard,

Level 1, Init 5, HP 8/8, Speed 30 

AC 13 (17 Mage Armor) Touch 13, Flat-footed 10 (14), CMD 12, 

Fort 1, Ref 3, Will 3, CMB -1, Base Attack Bonus  0,  

Dagger -1 (1d4-1, 19-20/x2)
Light Crossbow (10 Reusable) +3 (1d8, 19-20/x2)
 
Str 8, Dex 16, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 12, Cha 10

Cantrips Dancing Lights, Detect Magic, Ray of Frost 1d3+1

1st level Spells Burning Hands 1 (3d4+1), Colour Spray, Crafter's Blessing, Ears of the City, Expeditious Retreat, Fabricate Bullets, Grease 1, Mage Armor 1

Skills

+10  Knowledge Local, Knowledge Arcana

+8  Alchemy, Spellcraft

+6 Heal, Perception (+9 in low light), all other knowledge skills and professions

Condition

Darkvision 60' but dazzled in bright light.

Entomophobe Drawback (penalties with vermin and swarms)

Sheet Link

https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2744372

 

Tann ponders the various carvings, clearly getting ready to deliver a presentation.

None 

 

 

Edited June 30, 2023 by Starhawk (see edit history)

[ccanary]

Seraphina Stormborn

Seraphina Stormborn — Half-Orc Skald 1 (Fated Champion)
AC/T/FF 16/11/15 | HP 10/10 | Init +1 | Speed 20ft | Fort/Ref/Will 5/4/2 | Darkvision
Raging Song 12/12 | Hero Points 01/01
Active Conditions:
Group buffs: raging song (allies who accept gain +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution and a +1 morale bonus on Will saving throws, but also take a –1 penalty to AC. While under the effects of inspired rage, allies other than the skald cannot use any Charisma-, Dexterity-, or Intelligence-based skills (except Acrobatics, Fly, Intimidate, and Ride) or any ability that requires patience or concentration.

Spells

1st: (1/2 remaining) Heightened Awareness (10 minutes), Saving Finale
Cantrips: (unl) detect magic, ghost sound, prestidigitation, read magic

On the Flirty Frigate

Seraphina, always the curious one was there for Tann's lecture. Looking over the wizard's shoulder, she pointed out what she could.

"Hmm, interesting puzzle. What do we know about cyclops, chimera, umber hulks, medusa and basilisk? Something to do with the eyes maybe? The artist went to a lot of trouble to make sure they all glitter red. I've heard (hopefully common knowledge!) that medusae and basilisks can petrify with their gaze. But ... so what? How do we use that kind of information?

Mechanics

Temporary conditions:

• Heightened awareness (10 minutes remaining) +2 to perception and knowledge-based skills, can dismiss for +4 to initiative

Guess I got a success on the first dungeoneering, might have bumped Tann over on the local if I can aid her, nothing on the last dungeoneering but she got all the rest already. Not sure what we know about the five mentioned on the paper we found.

AoO:
Standard:
Move:

Free:

Trained Skills

Acrobatics*	+6
Climb*	+9
Knowledge (local)	+8
Knowledge (nobility)	+6
Other knowledges (untrained)	+2
Perception	+2
Perform (Sing)	+8
Swim*	+8
* -4 ACP to str and dex skills

 

 

Edited June 30, 2023 by ccanary (see edit history)

[Kylia Quilor]

Current Mental Focus Investiture

3 Points Invested in Her Monocle (Divination), granting a +1 Insight bonus to Perception Checks
2 Points Invested in her Bracers (Abjuration), granting a +1 Resistance Bonus to all her saving throws.

Iridni examined the designs as well.

 

 

 

[CharmingSatyr]

CALYX Elf Warpriest (notes) AC: 17 | HP: 9/9 | Hero: 1 Fort: +3 | Ref: +4 | Will: +6 Resources | Spells | Skills

---

"Red seems to be a recurring theme," Calyx replies to Seraphina's open-ended question. Gesturing with an upraised finger towards the eight-pointed star on the ceiling, he indicates the recurring motif. "I'd say it was a compass rose?"

"Or maybe like a dial on a safe? But instead of numbers or glyphs, it's these red-eyed monstrosities? Left to Cyclops. Right to Medusa. Left to ... whatever that spider creature is. Ugh."  He shivers, getting a good long look at the detail put into the carvings.

[Fiery Gift]

Looking at the walls, the group starts to piece together what exactly is depicted on the wall. The eyes seem specifically highlighted, with the way they seem to glow in the darkeened chamber.

 

That detail combined with the word "looks" repeated on the parchment found aboard the Blue Nixie, seems to give eyes an important place in solving the puzzle. They go in order. One eye on this relief, then two eyes on the next relief, then this one has three. Lavinia points out. And it looks to be true, the number of eyes on each monster increases by 1 in each relief, starting with the 1 eyed abomination in the first depiction and ending with a 7 eyed spider in the last depiction.

 

Tann stops for a moment looking at the two headed giant? what is that? she asks herself.

Seraphina, who is also studying the pictograms, hears the comment but is too preoccupied to realize it wasn't directed to her. Don't ask me. I haven't even ettin yet. the half-orc grumbles.

Tann side eyes her party member, a tiny bit annoyed at both the poor pronunciation and a little more annoyed at the fact that Seraphina wasn't paying attention. A light turns on behind Tann's eyes, and her mouth turns into faint "oh" shape Ettin . . . its an ettin. Thanks she says graciously. The annoyance disappears as quickly as it had arrived.

Seraphina looks back lightly confused at what she was being thanked for and gives the classic smile and nodBeen married 22 years. This works great, but I don't know if women would allow each other to get away with it. For the sake of this post, the answer is: sometimes, yes. She the turns back to focus on the rest of the pictures.

 

 

[CharmingSatyr]

Calyx, Elven Warpriest (notes) AC: 17 | HP: 9/9 | Hero: 1 Fort: +3 | Ref: +4 | Will: +6 Resources | Spells | Skills

---

"That fits my dial-on-a-safe theory," he contribues, responding to the information about the statues eyes. "If the number of eyes correspond to a number, and 'sunrise' and 'sunset' to a direction, the note becomes a set of instructions. So we identify the monsters, and it becomes something like "1 right, 3 left, 5 right, and so on."

"Of course, the question then becomes what the heck are these creatures?"