Chapter 6: Pillars of Ruin, continued

[ifreedman]

%5Btable%3D2%2C1%5D%0A%5Br%3D1%2C1%5D%5Bimg2%3D250%5Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F4eqgvz7zuy351.jpg%5B%2Fimg2%5D%0A%5Br%3D2%2C1%5D%5Bfieldset%3DStat%20Block%5D%5Bcenter%5D%5Burl%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myth-weavers.com%2Fsheets%2F%3Fid%3D2394611%22%5D%5BB%5D%5BU%5D%5BSIZE%3D%225%22%5DWilder%5B%2FSIZE%5D%5B%2FU%5D%5B%2FB%5D%5B%2Furl%5D%0A%5BB%5DLevel%208%20Fey%20Bloodline%20Sorcerer%5B%2FB%5D%0A%5BB%5DHP%3A%5B%2FB%5D%2048%2F48%5BB%5D%2C%20AC%3A%5B%2FB%5D%2026%0A%5BB%5DCantrip%20Level%3A%5B%2FB%5D%204%2C%20%5BB%5DClass%20DC%3A%5B%2FB%5D%2026%0A%5BB%5DSpell%20Slots%3A%5B%2FB%5D%2C%20L1%204%2F4%2C%20L2%204%2F4%2C%20L3%204%2F4%2C%20L4%201%2F4(%2B1%2F1)%20remaining%2C%20Focus%20points%3A%202%2F2%0AWand%20of%20heal(L2)%20%3A%20%20unused%0A%5BB%5DConditions%3A%5B%2FB%5D%20Battle%20medicine%20(1%2F1%20remaining).%0A%0A%5B%2Fcenter%5D%5B%2Ffieldset%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D

Stat Block Wilder Level 8 Fey Bloodline Sorcerer HP: 48/48, AC: 26 Cantrip Level: 4, Class DC: 26 Spell Slots:, L1 4/4, L2 4/4, L3 4/4, L4 1/4(+1/1) remaining, Focus points: 2/2 Wand of heal(L2) : unused Conditions: Battle medicine (1/1 remaining).

 

Wilder takes everything from the tree nook that looks like it might be of value.

He'll also continue to detect magic to make sure he didn't leave anything behind.

(Rolling to identify any magic items, too)

 

 

 

[Abberdaggus]

Oathday, 12 Rova 4719, late afternoon

The Biloko stares at Cirmaran blankly for a second before his meaning dawns on it. "Ah - you mean the Cinderclaws...?" The name the cultists have given themselves is pronounced awkwardly, but it does not seem to provoke either a sense of reverence or loathing in the little fey. "They came...many moons ago....offered gold for guarding....that thing..." His restraints make gesturing difficult, but its head nods in the direction of the felled dragon pillar. "Our best fighters...our champions...went to the Fortress to guard the cult leader." It looks at Cirmaran with expressionless eyes - neither enmity nor fear shines through, only a sense of defeat.

Wilder briefly studies the objects found, but his tired head can't make any sense of them - perhaps after a good nights sleep. However, he packs it all up and makes sure to leave nothing behind of magical nature.

Mechanics

An 18 is not gonna cut it at this level. But at least it is not a crit fail :)

Map

 

 

[leons1701]

 

Boradur AC: 28 HP: 101/101 Focus: 2/2 Hero Points: 2 Perception: +12 Condition:  Shield: Hardness 10 HP: 96/96 (48) Battle Medicine:

Boradur takes his time with the pillar, wanting to be certain it's inert and not easily repaired. As he does, he tries studying the magic that animated the pillar, curious about what sort of magic it might have been, whether arcane, divine or primal.

Mechanics

 

Hand 1: Hammer

Hand 2: Shield

Action 1: Stride

Action 2: Stride

Action 3: Stride

Even without taking any difficult terrain into account, it will take more than a full round for Boradur to reach the fallen pillar.

 

 

 

 

 

[Abberdaggus]

Oathday, 12 Rova 4719, late afternoon

All it takes is time and a bit of effort for Boradur to chop the wooden draconic visage to chips and destroy the arcane runes inscribed in the plinth. But before doing that, the champion takes the time to study the runes in more details.

He quickly recognises the runes as arcane - a magical tradition he is not exactly his strong suit. Still, there is some similarity between those and the divine tradition that he is more familiar with, so he does piece together a few things. Much of this is merely a confirmation of what you have discovered the hard way: The dragon pillar is enchanted to shoot eye beams at creatures not specifically recognised as allies - the runes are quiet intricate and it would seem that by 'allies' the dragon pillar not just recognises Cinderclaw cultists, but it can also 'learn' to disregard targets designated as 'allies' by a cultist. It requires visual targeting and this particular pillar is empowered to shoot acid sprays at the target.

You have already devised several ways to disable the pillars (the 'sack over the head' idea appeared to work like a charm - only a pity that it was attempted at one of the few pillars which actually had a physical effect that the sack cloth could not resist). From his studies, it is clear to Boradur that the pillar could also be disabled by strategically erasing some of the runes. It requires a delicate touch, however, as doing it wrong or with brute force could backfire.

Mechanics

As you have discovered, one option to disable the pillar is trying to topple it over with an athletics (expert) check. Another option is erasing some of the runes with a thievery (expert) check. You also previously did one with a dispel magic spell - though a relatively high rank is needed to have a decent chance of success.

Map

 

 

[Daryk]

[table=2,1][r=1,1][img2=150]https://i.pinimg.com/736x/50/80/8a/50808a9afe01a02070531e3b55fe89fc.jpg[/img2][r=2,1][fieldset=Stat Block][center][url="https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2434260"][B][U][SIZE="4"]Cirmaran Fairlagos[/SIZE][/U][/B][/url] [B]Level 7 Eldritch Trickster[/B] [B]HP:[/B] 62/62[B], AC:[/B] 25 [B]Cantrip Level:[/B] 4, [B]Class DC:[/B] 23 [B]Spell Slots:[/B] Can prepare 1 2nd Level Spell (Invisibility), 1 1st Level Spell (Ant Haul) and 2 Cantrips per day (Prestidigitation and Electric Arc), plus cast Detect Magic, Know Direction, Message, Read Aura (all are innate) and Mage Hand (via a Hand of the Mage) at will [B]Conditions:[/B] [/center][/fieldset][/table] [B][COLOR="Navy"]"Good luck, brother!"[/COLOR][/B] Cirmaran said.

[table=2,1][r=1,1][img2=150]https://i.pinimg.com/736x/50/80/8a/50808a9afe01a02070531e3b55fe89fc.jpg[/img2][r=2,1][fieldset=Stat Block][center][url="https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2434260"][B][U][SIZE="4"]Cirmaran Fairlagos[/SIZE][/U][/B][/url] [B]Level 7 Eldritch Trickster[/B] [B]HP:[/B] 62/62[B], AC:[/B] 25 [B]Cantrip Level:[/B] 4, [B]Class DC:[/B] 23 [B]Spell Slots:[/B] Can prepare 1 2nd Level Spell (Invisibility), 1 1st Level Spell (Ant Haul) and 2 Cantrips per day (Prestidigitation and Electric Arc), plus cast Detect Magic, Know Direction, Message, Read Aura (all are innate) and Mage Hand (via a Hand of the Mage) at will [B]Conditions:[/B] [/center][/fieldset][/table] [B][COLOR="Navy"]"Good luck, brother!"[/COLOR][/B] Cirmaran said.

 

 

Stat Block Cirmaran Fairlagos Level 8 Eldritch Trickster HP: 70/70 , AC: 26 Cantrip Level: 4, Class DC: 24 Spell Slots: Can prepare 1 3rd Level Spell (Time Jump), 1 2nd Level Spell (Invisibility), 1 1st Level Spell (Ant Haul) and 2 Cantrips per day (Shield and Electric Arc), plus cast Detect Magic, Know Direction, Message, Prestidigitation (all are innate) and Mage Hand (via a Hand of the Mage) at will Conditions:

"How much gold did they offer? And was it poisoned?" Cirmaran continued. When the fey mentioned a fortress, he asked, "Where is this fortress?"

Show this

Obviously, those questions are interspersed with the fey's answers...

[ifreedman]

%5Btable%3D2%2C1%5D%0A%5Br%3D1%2C1%5D%5Bimg2%3D250%5Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fi.redd.it%2F4eqgvz7zuy351.jpg%5B%2Fimg2%5D%0A%5Br%3D2%2C1%5D%5Bfieldset%3DStat%20Block%5D%5Bcenter%5D%5Burl%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myth-weavers.com%2Fsheets%2F%3Fid%3D2394611%22%5D%5BB%5D%5BU%5D%5BSIZE%3D%225%22%5DWilder%5B%2FSIZE%5D%5B%2FU%5D%5B%2FB%5D%5B%2Furl%5D%0A%5BB%5DLevel%208%20Fey%20Bloodline%20Sorcerer%5B%2FB%5D%0A%5BB%5DHP%3A%5B%2FB%5D%2048%2F48%5BB%5D%2C%20AC%3A%5B%2FB%5D%2026%0A%5BB%5DCantrip%20Level%3A%5B%2FB%5D%204%2C%20%5BB%5DClass%20DC%3A%5B%2FB%5D%2026%0A%5BB%5DSpell%20Slots%3A%5B%2FB%5D%2C%20L1%204%2F4%2C%20L2%204%2F4%2C%20L3%204%2F4%2C%20L4%201%2F4(%2B1%2F1)%20remaining%2C%20Focus%20points%3A%202%2F2%0AWand%20of%20heal(L2)%20%3A%20%20unused%0A%5BB%5DConditions%3A%5B%2FB%5D%20Battle%20medicine%20(1%2F1%20remaining).%0A%0A%5B%2Fcenter%5D%5B%2Ffieldset%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D%0A

Stat Block Wilder Level 8 Fey Bloodline Sorcerer HP: 48/48, AC: 26 Cantrip Level: 4, Class DC: 26 Spell Slots:, L1 4/4, L2 4/4, L3 4/4, L4 1/4(+1/1) remaining, Focus points: 2/2 Wand of heal(L2) : unused Conditions: Battle medicine (1/1 remaining).

 

"Also, please tell us how you mark yourselves as safe to the pillars? How does one keep the pillars from killing the cultists and their allies?"

[Abberdaggus]

Oathday, 12 Rova 4719, late afternoon

The Biloko looks puzzled at Cirmarans question - he twists in what may have been a shrug if he hadn't been restrained. "Lumps of gold - two, maybe three. Our champions have them...". He tries to give directions and from the description you believe the Fortress is the same stronghold that Hezles notes and map referred to as Fortress of Sorrow.

Wilders question is equally puzzling. The Biloko doesn't seem to know. They were simply brought here by the cultists and "introduced" to the dragon pillar, which seemed to ignore them. But he does mention that were warned not to approach alone without being accompanied by a cultist for the first time.

Map

 

 

[leons1701]

 

Boradur AC: 28 HP: 101/101 Focus: 2/2 Hero Points: 2 Perception: +12 Condition:  Shield: Hardness 10 HP: 96/96 (48) Battle Medicine:

"Hmm. Better magic than some then, if it can know individuals. Gonna be hard to trick."

Mechanics

 

Hand 1: Hammer

Hand 2: Shield

Action 1: Stride

Action 2: Stride

Action 3: Stride

Even without taking any difficult terrain into account, it will take more than a full round for Boradur to reach the fallen pillar.

 

 

 

 

 

[Lycar]

%5Btable%3D2%2C1%5D%20%5Br%3D1%2C1%5D%5BIMG2%3D150%5Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FNev55GI.jpg%5B%2FIMG2%5D%20%5Br%3D2%2C1%5D%5Bfieldset%3DSamrod%20Ik-Sanjar%5D%5BB%5D%5BURL%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fog.myth-weavers.com%2Fsheet.html%23id%3D2399389%22%5DSamrod%20Ik-Sanjar%5B%2FURL%5D%5B%2FB%5D%20%0A%5Bb%5DHP%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20104%2F104%20-%5Bb%5D%20AC%3A%20%5B%2Fb%5D26%0A%5Bb%5DConditions%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20Longstrider%208%20hours%0A%5Bb%5DSteel%20Shield%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20Hardness%3A%205%20Hp%3A%2020%2F20%20(10)%0A%5BB%5DHero%20Points%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%202%0A%5Bb%5DCantrips%20prepared%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20Light%2C%20Shield%2C%20Message%2C%20Electric%20Arc%20%0A%5BB%5DSpells%3A%5B%2Fb%5DCreate%20Water%20x1%2C%20Longstrider%20x0%2C%20Blood%20Vendetta%20x1%5B%2Ffieldset%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D

Samrod Ik-Sanjar Samrod Ik-Sanjar HP: 104/104 - AC: 26 Conditions: Longstrider 8 hours Steel Shield: Hardness: 5 Hp: 20/20 (10) Hero Points: 2 Cantrips prepared: Light, Shield, Message, Electric Arc Spells:Create Water x1, Longstrider x0, Blood Vendetta x1

"Why use trickery? We know how to take down the pillars, and even Cirmaran's plan worked. Not perfectly, but then what is perfect in this world. I don't see how we can trick the pillar, seeing that the cultists did not seem to carry any holy or unholy symbols. If the pillars knows its allies personally, there is no tricking them, or at least not a way I can think of. Of course, I am also not the best person to ask about that sort of thing, for Irori favours the direct approach, be it open palm or closed fist.

No, we need to be wary of what kind of guardians the last pillar will have. Can't blame the Cinderclaws for not presenting us with quite a few variations on the theme..."

Having stated his opinion, Samrod falls silent again and concentrates on guarding the prisoner and generally standing guard, seeing that he doesn't speak the language.

[leons1701]

 

Boradur AC: 28 HP: 101/101 Focus: 2/2 Hero Points: 2 Perception: +12 Condition:  Shield: Hardness 10 HP: 96/96 (48) Battle Medicine:

"Oh of course. Trickery has its place in warfare, but trying too hard to trick an enemy you don't need to can result in outsmarting yourself."

Mechanics

 

Hand 1: Hammer

Hand 2: Shield

Action 1: Stride

Action 2: Stride

Action 3: Stride

Even without taking any difficult terrain into account, it will take more than a full round for Boradur to reach the fallen pillar.

 

 

 

 

 

[Abberdaggus]

Oathday, 12 Rova 4719, evening

As the sun is already heading towards the western horizon, you figure that it may be time to start looking for a suitable camping site. This particular place in the middle of a swamp seem less ideal, and you may as well begin your trek back down towards the river where you left Pendergrasts boat.

A few more hours slogging through puddles of mud and water has you leaving the swamp behind to find solid ground under your feet. As dusk begins to fall, you are stil up on the ridge overlooking the river, but this seems as good a place as any to set camp. Renali gets to work on spinning a camp.

Tomorrow, you will get back to the boat and you can drift leisurely downriver towards your next destination. The question is: which destination will that be? According to the maps retrieved from Hezles lab, there is still one dragon pillar that you haven't visited yet and then the Fortress of Sorrow beckons. You may also have business back in Akrivel, but the journey will take around four days to Akrivel and probably more to get back (going against the stream up the river). You will probably also need to decide what to do with your Biloko prisoner. He seems docile enough at this point, but it is still another mouth to feed.

Map

 

Edited May 9 by Abberdaggus (see edit history)

[Lycar]

%5Btable%3D2%2C1%5D%20%5Br%3D1%2C1%5D%5BIMG2%3D150%5Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FNev55GI.jpg%5B%2FIMG2%5D%20%5Br%3D2%2C1%5D%5Bfieldset%3DSamrod%20Ik-Sanjar%5D%5BB%5D%5BURL%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fog.myth-weavers.com%2Fsheet.html%23id%3D2399389%22%5DSamrod%20Ik-Sanjar%5B%2FURL%5D%5B%2FB%5D%20%0A%5Bb%5DHP%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20104%2F104%20-%5Bb%5D%20AC%3A%20%5B%2Fb%5D26%0A%5Bb%5DConditions%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20Longstrider%208%20hours%0A%5Bb%5DSteel%20Shield%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20Hardness%3A%205%20Hp%3A%2020%2F20%20(10)%0A%5BB%5DHero%20Points%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%202%0A%5Bb%5DCantrips%20prepared%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20Light%2C%20Shield%2C%20Message%2C%20Electric%20Arc%20%0A%5BB%5DSpells%3A%5B%2Fb%5DCreate%20Water%20x1%2C%20Longstrider%20x0%2C%20Blood%20Vendetta%20x1%5B%2Ffieldset%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D

Samrod Ik-Sanjar Samrod Ik-Sanjar HP: 104/104 - AC: 26 Conditions: Longstrider 8 hours Steel Shield: Hardness: 5 Hp: 20/20 (10) Hero Points: 2 Cantrips prepared: Light, Shield, Message, Electric Arc Spells:Create Water x1, Longstrider x0, Blood Vendetta x1

As the boat ride goes on, Samrod tries to strike up a conversation with Pendergrast, probably just out of boredom, although he does seem to have put some thoughts into it.

"Say, Pendergrast Effendi, as a scholar, certainly your interests do not just cover archaeology. Even to just do this field of study justice, you need to have a broad education and solid knowledge base. And not just about the natural world, flora, fauna and such, but also the metaphysical matters. religion, philosophy and such. I am trying to live up to Irori's teachings, flawed as my attempts may be at times. Of course, I also only ever managed to find mere fragments of his holy scripture.

What about you, Pendergrast Effendi? How do you feel about religion?"

[Abberdaggus]

Fireday, 13 Rova 4719, morning

The night passes uneventfully except for a torrential down pour stretching over several hours of wet darkness. Renalis shelter keeps out most of the water, but even she can't prevent the river banks from becoming a soggy carpet of mud from the waterline to the trees. As the sun rises, a sweltering heat begins to build saturated by dampness. You praise yourselves lucky that this day can be spent aboard Pendergrasts boat floating gently down river instead of fighting your way through dense jungle.

Pendergrast is not in the best of moods when Samrod tries to strike up conversation, but he is not in a position to simply ignore him. "Pfft!!", he scoffs with a haughty frown, "Superstition... fairy tales... nothing more than Pesh for the masses! Rules and rituals to keep the common people docile. I suppose it is very effective at that, but not something a learned scholar such as myself would ever waste my time with. Why do you ask?"

Map

 

[Lycar]

%5Btable%3D2%2C1%5D%20%5Br%3D1%2C1%5D%5BIMG2%3D150%5Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FNev55GI.jpg%5B%2FIMG2%5D%20%5Br%3D2%2C1%5D%5Bfieldset%3DSamrod%20Ik-Sanjar%5D%5BB%5D%5BURL%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fog.myth-weavers.com%2Fsheet.html%23id%3D2399389%22%5DSamrod%20Ik-Sanjar%5B%2FURL%5D%5B%2FB%5D%20%0A%5Bb%5DHP%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20104%2F104%20-%5Bb%5D%20AC%3A%20%5B%2Fb%5D26%0A%5Bb%5DConditions%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20Longstrider%208%20hours%0A%5Bb%5DSteel%20Shield%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20Hardness%3A%205%20Hp%3A%2020%2F20%20(10)%0A%5BB%5DHero%20Points%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%202%0A%5Bb%5DCantrips%20prepared%3A%5B%2Fb%5D%20Light%2C%20Shield%2C%20Message%2C%20Electric%20Arc%20%0A%5BB%5DSpells%3A%5B%2Fb%5DCreate%20Water%20x1%2C%20Longstrider%20x0%2C%20Blood%20Vendetta%20x1%5B%2Ffieldset%5D%5B%2Ftable%5D

Samrod Ik-Sanjar Samrod Ik-Sanjar HP: 104/104 - AC: 26 Conditions: Longstrider 8 hours Steel Shield: Hardness: 5 Hp: 20/20 (10) Hero Points: 2 Cantrips prepared: Light, Shield, Message, Electric Arc Spells:Create Water x1, Longstrider x0, Blood Vendetta x1

Pendergrast's answer takes Samrod aback a bit, so he asks cautiously "You... do realise that the gods are real, yes? And that all of them, even the, err, 'unsavoury' ones represents facets of our mortal lives. So every god's dogma entails some kernel of truth, some insight, advice even, how to life our lives in accordance with fate itself.

It becomes, therefore, a question of vital importance how we can observe the tenets and rules of the gods, when they often seem to contradict each other. Many a scholar will protest here and argue, the gods' tenets do not seem to contradict each other, they do. However, each god or goddess, Good or Evil, Lawful or Chaotic, represents facets of our reality, and they are so far above us mere mortals in understanding the very fabric of reality, that the mere notion we could fathom their intentions must be regarded as the pinnacle of hubris."

"And yet, perhaps there is a way to solve these seeming contradictions. Because the very order of the multiverse is unknowable to us, any apparent contradiction must be the result of our imperfect understanding thereof. After all, the very idea of an universal order being contradictory is in itself contradictory."

"I only ever got to read fragments of philosophical treaties about the subject, but the gist seems to be, since we mortals are nearly blind to the universal order, we are akin to stumbling through a badly lit room full of traps. No matter how agile or careful we are, we will stumble, even fall. Yet, the mere inevitability of us committing errors does not absolve us of the responsibility of always looking for the Path to Perfection, no matter how difficult this may be. Someone who commits an error for all the right reasons may be acting erroneously, but not blasphemously, and the gods will accept repentance. Those who act in bad faith, however, will cause damage to their very souls, no matter what dogma they cleave to, and will find their Path to Perfection being hindered."

"Therefore: If one is to judge the actions of another, one must always consider intention: If someone acts in error, they need to be stopped from going down the wrong path, and they shall do restitution for the damage they caused. Those who blaspheme on the other hand, deserve harsh punishment and will not find mercy in the eyes of the gods without honest penitence."

"Therefore, I am compelled to ask what dogma you were following when you decided to destroy that old temple? Such an act would be considered blasphemous by Irori and Torag after all."

[Abberdaggus]

Fireday, 13 Rova 4719, morning

"Old temple...." Pendergrast looks baffled for a second and then laughs it off with a wave, "Oohhh, that shameful fake? I would have obliterated that obvious forgery if you had not come along to interfere! Now it still remains to confuse and lead astray future students - years of good work will be wasted..." He sighs, "But I forgive you - it is a very good forgery and it is easy for less educated minds to be fooled. But everyone who has ever read my treatise on Mwangi history will know that the Bonuwat never ventured this far east from the coast. Claiming that the temple is an authentic structure erected by the Bonuwat people centuries ago would completely contradict my findings! Can you imagine what would happen if students of mine would arrive to study those ruins? They would undoubtedly be unable to recognise it as the fake it is. It would completely undermine my authority on the matter!"

He has worked himself up to a righteous indignation at this point and he take a few deep breaths to calm himself down. "Well...I suppose there is little chance that anyone would stumple upon the forgery by chance anytime soon. Especially not with those dreadful cultists roaming about. Still....I do have a legacy to attend to..."

Map