Barrowmaze IV: Delving for Power and Glory

[Rex]

Orgoth

"That mask is why I didn't recognize you at first Sven. It looks like a demon or something, I think it scared our Clerics away."

[OGRE MAGE]

I thought we were headed back to the stairway. I think the room can wait until we go after the rest of our team.

Sven shrieks.

“A DEMON??? Oh great!!! And I thought it was hard to get a good appraisal on our stuff before!”

The masked mage continues trying to track down the strange monster and their fleeing hirelings.

“But how did this happen??? All I did was look through that hole in the door to see where the light was coming from! Unless……. I gotta check that door gain!”

Are the clerics gone completely now or can they be retrieved and briefed on the current situation?

[Rex]

Orgoth

"Maybe you should cover up with a hood until we can explain what is going on to the Clerics, I think maybe the mask scared them off."

[Spearmint]

The clerics are located in the Barrow above and after being turned, sheepishly return.

You all gather in room (81) around the trestle table. The clerics will eventually tolerate being in Sven's presence but it takes a while. Either you hood the mage or blindfold the clerics. The visage of the mask acts with a Turn effect as clerics 'Turn Undead'. So eventually after much glancing and resilience they are able to overcome the fear and retribution effect. No one else suffers so it must be a class related effect and possibly one linked to alignments.

Radiating a magic aura from study via a detect magic spell, the mask also radiates an evil aura when the clerics are able to use their 'Detect Evil' cantrip prayer. The question was raised if wearing the mask has triggered a curse effect and that seems most likely.

In his dark studded cloak and mask, Sven looks more necrolyte than Knievel.

group actions and discussions please.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven tries to comfort the clerics. “Guys, don’t be alarmed. It’s me, you know, the one who pays you.”

He looks over the door leading into the room. “I knew it! No peephole! I am such an IDIOT!!! I bet there was an illusion on this door that made it look like light coming through, and when I looked, I stuck my stupid head right into this mask! Clever trap using a cursed item hidden by an illusion. Diabolical really. I sure hope it comes off again. We are going to need to be extra cautious now with all these traps set up everywhere!”

“Let’s search this room carefully.”

Sven points out the alcoves that can be examined for treasures, nodding the fighters towards the helmets. He looks over the pick without touching it, peering into the breach in the wall and listening intently.

Edit: Our 3 thieves can check over the door for traps.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth will search the room.

[Spearmint]

The door is not trapped and opens to a dark passage leading east.

The breach is also a narrow dark passage leading east.

There are forty alcoves, more than a quarter with a skeleton inside whose headrests on a ledge, face up outside the alcove. Some have face masks, veils or helmets.

Whoever searches an alcove roll [1d8]

Nominate which hireling searches where and Truro will guard the door, watching down the passage.

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth searches an alcove.

Alcove search [1d8]=2

I can't see the image.

[sastaz]

Gerdal, being a cook and an aspiring alchemist, checks the utensils, cups, plates etcetera on the floor.

"Drew, why don't you start with that alcove, over there?"

Drew checks alcove: [1d8]=4

"That pick might come in handy now that all our tools are destroyed by that metal consuming beast."

"Sven, you never told us from whence you came? Through the ceiling?"

"Truro, try not too peep, better focus on the task at hand. It's only a mask, Sven is behind it."

To Gnimish:

"Can you check the water leaks if there's something to be gathered from it? Are we under some body of water?"

[redwarrior]

Isvand sets to searching.

Search [1d8]=3

[sastaz]

Gerdal

"Treyvor, maybe you can check the hole in the wall. Is it broken with the pick? Is it a brick wall or natural stone? What do you think?"

"Sven, did I miss anything that Amos should check? Otherwise Amos, you can check another alcove maybe?"

Amos checks alcove: [1d8]=2

[Spearmint]

Exploring the Corridors

Gnimish checks out the water, taking a flask. The water drains from the moor above, trickling through layers of peat and earth from the region around the Silas Barrow. Perhaps the environment within Barrowmaze environment also provokes curious effects, certainly the skeletons who bathed under any water droplets became covered in the flaky mineral deposits to give them a fossilized appearance.

While Amos surveys the door, finding no traps he opens it and sees a passage leading east about 40'ft which opens into another chamber in the south after 20'ft. Set against the far wall is a stone coffer, a large chest sized stone box that has been opened for the lid lies in pieces at its feet. The passage reeks of damp and mould but nothing stirs after the door is opened or Amos shines his lantern into the area.

Treyvor looks through the breach, listening with Sven. The pick is a heavy miners pick, ideal for hacking through walls as shown by the breach. The narrow passage goes 10'ft east then turns to the north. There is more rubble on the floor and several dents along the walls either side of the passage, probably from pick usage.

Let me know if anyone carries it so I can add it to my group supplies list.

Truro ignores the witchwoman's comments, guarding the entrance door with his back to the demon masked figure. You can tell it still has a visible discomforting effect upon him though he no longer feels the need to flee. Perhaps he is embarrassed his Yggite faith was not strong enough to cope with the triggering effect. Nothing intrudes up the corridor, the rust monster with a big food supply and snuggly bear blanket to sleep in stays in the entrance landing.

Gerdal surveys the dinner party detritus determining nothing is of any value unless you really needed an old plate or rusty pan to cook in.

Drew checks out the helmeted skeletons in the alcoves. Each helmet has a common design, simple warrior fare with nose plates, mail coifs. Age has rusted them though a good clean might restore some minimum value but as treasure they are just extra bulk items of little worth.

Isvand and Orgoth checks out alcove after alcove. Each one is deep enough to contain a figure. After pulling skeletons out, ferreting around, pushing them back into restive care, the duo amass a total of:

Two sapphires, similar to ones inset into skeleton skulls but these are just placed upon the empty eye sockets of one and hidden under a draped cloth.

109 gold pieces, each has a small hole drilled in and they have been threaded upon a necklace that another skeleton wears.

A drawstring pouch containing nine human fingers, each has a colourful ribbon tied to it.

A short sword in a scabbard. When withdrawn you see that instead of an iron blade there is a large iron key attached to the hilt.

actions please

[redwarrior]

Isvand calls Gerdal's and Sven's attention to the sword-key thing.... Folks, I'm sure this HAS to be important, darned if I can figure out what it means. And there are some bones with ribbons on them.... That doesn't seem normal.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven looks around for goodies too. Random D8 [1d8]=6

“Orgoth! Everyone trusts you. You are going to be our official valuable carrier. Take any coins and gems and stow them away deep in your pack, the higher off the ground the better. Keep close track of the totals. We need to remain ever cautious of sticky fingers.”

“The draining water is interesting. The effect it had on the skeletons….does that relate to anything else we’ve seen in here? Do we dare taste a little?”

“That is the wildest key I have ever seen. Let’s bring that pick with us. Anyone have room?”

After taking a sample of the water for himself, he and Treyvor check out the abandoned passage carefully, looking at the dents in the stone and around the corner for any other clues to its purpose.

[Rex]

Orgoth

"Maybe someone can detect magic on everything. The key has to be important."

Orgoth will take the pick and tie it to his pack and loads the other items into his pack.

"We might need this later."

Sheet updated.

[sastaz]

Gerdal after having a sample of the water as well is instantly drawn to Isvand at the mention of ribboned fingers.

"Really? Let me have a look at those. Most curious."

She whispers a few unintelligible syllables and starts having a look around the room and at the items they found.

casts detect magic

Retain cantrip vs 15 [4d6]=18

"Sven, before you go in there, where did you come from as you fell down?"

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven

“What?”

“I fell through the hole in the floor when the mound exploded. I cast Levitate upon myself and floated down without injury.”

“The blast knocked me down here, but didn’t burn me at all, and I think I have this coat and Smokie to thank for that. When I looked up, I saw light coming from around this door. There was a small oval light in the center that I thought might be a peephole, so I looked inside.”

“When I leaned into the door, it fell open and I stumbled through. By the time I figured out what happened, I was surrounded by the old skeletons and floated up to the ceiling to evade their capture.”

“Hey, that gives me an idea.”

Before his spell runs it’s course, Sven investigates the ceiling closer now that he isn’t swimming for his life. He tries to discern if there is any pattern to the trickling waters above this area.

[Spearmint]

the waters just leak in random spots from the roof and in larger trickles down the north wall.

The only magic auras detected are those from character items.

However after checking the environment and collecting some grave goods, a ball of wispy ethereal light wafts down the dug out passage. Appearing at the end by the rubble stands a huge ghostly apparition, a man with rolled up sleeves, hob nailed boots and a tin helm. A pick, like the one just hoisted by Orgoth over his shoulder.

He stood six-foot-six and weighed two-forty-five
Kinda broad at the shoulder and narrow at the hip.

"Yes, yes, come. You have the right idea. Good fellow, dig for victory, dig for life, come, come." the man smiles towards Orgoth who stumbles a little over the entrance rubble as ghost encourages pulls him forward with a hand on his shoulder.

actions please

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven spots the ghost miner trying to steal his muscle.

”Oh my! This reminds me of an old bards tale about a famous miner named John. He was big……and bad. Nice guy though, if I remember correctly.”

Not sure if the apparition is trying to show the half-orc something important, or lead him to a crushing death, Sven isn’t sure how to proceed.

“Orgoth? You sure you wanna go in there with Big Bad John? Seems like it might be dangerous.”

[Rex]

Orgoth

Orgoth attacks the apparition with his Magic Silver Spear.

Magic Spear [1d20+2]=2+2=4 to hit [1d6+4]=3+4=7 damage

"It's attacking me cold, I am going numb!"