The Test

[DM Bob]

Some time passes from Mak's declaration. He passes down to main chamber and eventually, a floating skeletal face stares back.

Most likely an illusion of sorts, or an apparition. The skull is larger than life, tatters of ragged flesh holding it together. Two pinpoints of green corpse light are seen.

It laughs.

"So far you have been amusing. Make it to my laboratory? You will have earned an audience. Right, Skitters?"

Other small laughter is heard.

The skull vanishes.

[Deleted]

Mak turns on a dime and heads back to the others. He'll relay the challenge from Aman.

"We now have nothing to apologize for. Aman has challenged us to locate his laboratory and will reward us with an audience for doing so."

He'll ask for the orb of summoning Odrela as well as her metal Gladius back.

[Attilius]

HurK hands back the 2 items to Mak. Once they are all down to the first level and roof door is closed, HurK asks for everyone's still-intact phase webbing cloak
"I believe the tower protects those within from scrying and communication. We should be safe while within it's walls..."

With Yiska's help, they'll carefully bundle it and put it in an empty large sack of HurK's then put it within her pack. She then wields the large war staff to get a feel for it's weight and balance.

"Down one level I found a secret door in the room I fell. Want to try there OR try the stairs?"
[-3 PsP's]

[ascieszl]

Casts Armor, draws Longsword: "Let's do this."

AC: 3 (Armor cast – lasts 10 of 14 hp)
Spells per Day/Level
Detect Magic – 7/day.
1st – 3/day, 2nd – 2/day, 3rd – 2/day.
PSP: 41

[ascieszl]

After consulting with HurK, Kleys will lead the group to the Eastern secret stairs.

He'll search the staircase for traps and hidden doors (Traps: 63% - success for magical trap, failure if mechanical).

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"This should be interesting. If we die along the way... he just collects all of our things, resets the tower's traps and guardians, and goes about his day as usual. If we make it... well, hopefully the divination is accurate and there's a chance that he is amused enough to hear us out."

[Attilius]

Jul 5, 2021 7:20:14 GMT -12 ascieszl said:

After consulting with HurK, Kleys will lead the group to the Eastern secret stairs.

He'll search the staircase for traps and hidden doors (Traps: 63% - success for magical trap, failure if mechanical).

HurK takes rear security and watches the round staircase room from the southern rooms doorway

[DM Bob]

Ok, Kleys said eastern secret stairs - pretty sure you guys need to check compass points and tell me either the north or south stairway to start. The map seems to rotate for whatever reason on Obsidian Portal from my phone.

The north stairway was the room you first slept in's secret passage.

The south stairway is the carpet that tried to eat Laahk room's secret passage.

There is also the holes in the east room where you fought the acid spiders - to go to any of the two rooms located below...

And more of the circumference that you had not walked from the secret door in that east room (the one with the view of arrow slits).

Dark Tower, first floor from the roof:
darksunsouthtablelands.obsidianportal.com/maps/127935

Second floor down from the roof - from the holes in the floor:
darksunsouthtablelands.obsidianportal.com/maps/127789

[ascieszl]

oh, ugh. When I said East, I definitely meant the Right side of the map.

[DM Bob]

That would be the south staircase.

Going down the spiral stairs you turn to the south, past the once trapped door...

Past the death carpet (now with a bed on top)...

To the doorway you left open and then down the stairs.

It's a tight squeeze for Shurk. Gimme a marching order when you get the chance. I know you have a bunch of continual lights going.

After a bit of searching, you find what looks to be a door outline to your right (north). There is a hidden keyhole. Looking within? Kleys sees what he thinks might be a trap. Looks like a small bone needle with three jagged catches.

[ascieszl]

(Remove traps: 77/55 - fail)

Whispers: "I think i got it, but I don't open doors..."

[DM Bob]

Alas, trying to remove it does trigger the catch.

Luckily for you?

So far it doesn't hurt much. But the area is starting to swell between your thumb and forefinger.

It's getting pretty painful, pretty quick though.

[ascieszl]

(proxy from Facebook Messanger):  Mak casts Hold Posion on Kleys and offers to cure any damage.

Kleys treats everyone to a long, quiet string of Elven curses while shaking his hand back and forth....

[DM Bob]

Mak casts delay (slow) poison Neutralize Poison. No damage was taken due to the expediency of the blessing.

The door does open now. An almost empty, semi-triangular room is revealed. Wooden floors, dust with no apparent tracks...

And a single rosy quartz stone tablet sits almost exactly in the middle of room proper. From the doorway? You think it might be 5-7 inches square and about an inch, inch and a half tall. Kinda like a weird floor tile.

(Updated map.) darksunsouthtablelands.obsidianportal.com/maps/128022

Pic of quartz below.

quartz.jfif (5.22 KB)

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Kem gets ready as she gets interested in the challenge - It'll be interesting to see where are we get into but in any case.. Could it be plausible to grab the carpet from the other side, roll it once it's not moving, and use it as a thrown weapon against any future denizen here? - With curiosity in her words, and coming back to the last comments - Well, or we get the audience or we might end at his eternal service, besides holding our belongings...