Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"I dunno, I think V would have an easier time braving the heat if there is no mana. The elementals are talking about when a gnome sold them a potion. I don't think we can assume they're automatically hostile."

Would V's mysticism skill let him check the mana levels despite not being a mage?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Yes.


Haley: "So we go talk to the servitor, and then check the other half of the larder? We are physically close to the portal complex... but we don't have our weapons."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

After a moment of silence, Haley leads you to the circle with the servitor in it.



"I am Haley Hufestone, cleric of Thurmad, and agent of the order of the gear. I seek to purge the corruption from this portal nexus. Who are you and why are you here!"


The servitor opens her green eyes. "I am Arbazil, Servant of Therosia. I have been bound to this nexus for many eons by the mad wizard Polriket. Can you free me from this circle?"

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Sure! I take that's as easy as breaking the circle?"

Assuming it is, I break the circle.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

This is the weirdest pantry ever. Didn't we come in to the pantry to check the nature of the portals? Isn't the rest of this a distraction? The pantry was in another dimension, but now we're close to the nexus? I'm pretty much completely lost at this point.








"Not so fast, H. Perhaps we should learn more about this creature and how it came to this fate before we release it. Or it may have information or service to trade for it's freedom, it is sure to know more about this place than we do."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Arlon: "I have tools that can easily break this circle while leaving the inlay intact."

Arbazil: "Do you consider Polriket part of the corruption you are to purge? I can tell you at least a little of this place I have been trapped in."

The portal went from one spot in this world to another spot nearby. Haley has assured you that other dimensional portals are nearby that go across the world and to elemental dimensions.

And yes, "Larder" is an interesting name for this area. Remember its a two part area.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Well, if he's not dust and we run into him, well, I don't exactly like people who just trap people in circles for eons."
"Maybe they're big fans of Armadillo meat, and they prefer fresh slaughters."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Arbazil: "You don't know, do you. Polriket is the builder of this dungeon. He made this as a place to ensure his immortality. This area is some sort of test, involving amulets and a door. I posted up in front of the door last time I got loose. They carry water back out of the door if they pass the test."


"But they don't do the test anymore. Polriket is alive again. I think. It is hard to track the time. But he put me back in here not terribly long ago."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"What can you tell me about the door?"
"Well, did you see him when he put you back in the circle?"

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Arbazil: "Its killed a few people. You need the rat amulets before you go in it. The only thing they seem to take out of it is water. I can't go back there though. A second enchantment binds me to these tunnels. Are you ready to let me loose?"


"I saw him. Hard to tell if he's alive or not. First time he caught be he was just a creepy dark one. Now... he's grown tentacles and gives off a dark haze and an aura of Elder Thing."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I feel a bit smug.
I look at V.
"Well then he almost definitely has to die."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Arbazil: I doubt he'll stay dead. And this place is somehow part of it.



Arbazil: "Its not for initiates. The seekers who come through have too uneven knowledge of what they are to do, too uneven quality, and once Polriket comes, they do not return for a long time. Its a piece in a greater puzzle, I think."


Arlon places a few pieces of metal across the pentagram, and Arbazil steps forward out of it.



Arbazil: "Thank you! May you escape all your predators! I am free!"


The plants themselves seem to perk up with her joy.



"Please let me escort you around here. The beasts here are hostile, but I can command them"

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious thanks them and is glad for the tour and the help. They were not fond of having to harass the creatures.

"Any notion why one of the amulets is not like the others?"

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"It must have to do with what happens beyond the door. I'm not sure. I'm surprised it hasn't been stolen at some point."

"Do you wish to pick up the amulets and go through the door? or will you be continuing on?"

"I don't know much about the fire section below, other than its older than my section: I am an essential piece of what makes this place what it is."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Where do you wish me to escort you?"

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Essential to this place, as in this test, this chamber, or this complex? How so?"
"Did the supplicants taking the test go down to the fire section? We do not have reason to believe that the tests of the pantry are going to be impactful in our quest. I suggest we seek out the portal we are here for, and return if we need to. If your curiosity cannot be restrained, then by all means Halcyone, lead on how you will."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Well then let's go grab these pendants and see what's behind that door."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Arbazil: "The magic you see providing life to this cave is mine. Without me, it will go away. I am bound to this cavern, beyond the way you have freed me, but a dozen chambers is much better than half of one."


"No, they do not go down into the fire section. That is older than what that evil wizard built"


Arbazil commands the beasts out of her way, and you grab the amulets and make it to the wooden door.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Well maybe we should go ask them if they'd be interested in stopping an evil wizard."
After we may or may not talk to the fire elementals, I try to open the door and see what's behind.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Haley: "I doubt the fire elementals will be interested, but we can try. Lets check out the door first"

Arbazil has you put on the amulets before opening the door. She can't come much closer than 7 yards to it (its down a long hall)

It opens to a four yard by four yard square chamber with a life-sized stone statue of a Dark One in robes in the center.

Arbazil hisses "Polriket" when she sees the statue.

You don't see any exits, just the statue.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I look to see if there's a Keyhole in this one too.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Is there any sense of magic here?

"Perhaps we should place the golden amulet on the statue, if it is in fact a statue."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

No Keyhole in this statue.

the area is soaked in magic, but yes, there are evil runes that shock people who don't meet a certain condition that go through the door. And there is magic on the statue.



Haley says the back wall has something behind it, despite being solid stone.



Do you put the silver amulet on the statue?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Can I deface the runes?
"Any ideas on how we bore through the wall?"
Well, I think V would prefer to do the golden amulet first, but I'm fine playing around with the placements if the golden amulet doesn't do anything.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

You can try! how do you deface them?

Haley: with picks and weapons? Vassarious may be able to do it. But there should be a way to get through without knocking it down.



(your dynamite is not with you, somehow)


There is no gold amulet, only bronze and silver.

As you place the silver Amulet around the statues neck, the wall at the back shifts to make a receptacle for an amulet.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I put a bronze amulet in there.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

We can switch the bronze and sliver positioning if this configuration doesn't work... Vassarious can always assume air elemental form and try and just seep in there...

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

The Wall deforms by magic, and opens up to a deep 4 yard by 12 yard room, with rats carved into the walls on the sides, and a picture of the Dark One from the statue standing majestically at the end of the room. A 4 yard by 4 yard pool is at the end of the room, and a yard of steps leads down into the room

An inscription on the edge of the pool reads "Leave Tribute." The Pool is full of coins of various kinds.

Arlon: "That's a lot of money."

Haley: "Its protected by a spell: see the runes? Some sort of summoning spell if the coins are moved."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Can you tell if something would happen if we add coins?"

Unless I get a firm "no, nothing will happen" I'll toss in a couple.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious considers this place and what is asked...

OCCULT!

3d6 <= 14
2 + 2 + 5 = 9 ... success


I am tempted to likewise add coins, but perhaps the nature of magic and sacrifice calls for something else?

If there is a better offering, gem, coin, blood or magic, Vassarious will humor the "test" as best they can.

Rats and beasts here... perhaps the pool calls for their blood...

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Arlon: "I can't tell what will happen. the coins are probably a test of greed and obeisance. we can spare a copper or two."


Vassarious remembers Arbazil talked about the seekers carrying water out of this place. The coins seem to be unrelated to the magic here: there is something special about this water.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I did recall that carrying out water bit, but I was thinking on the tribute first...

Maybe the idea is to replace the volume of the water taken with the "tribute" keeping the pool filled...

Vassarious leaves some stuff in tribute and takes a cup of the liquid from the pool

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

What sort of stuff? Water from your canteen? Rocks from the cave? Your own blood? A spare shirt?


Vassarious dips for a cup of water. The water stings as he scoops, dealing 1 point of damage, but after the water is out, it stops doing damage.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Feels silly thinking about it. Vassarious was thinking too deeply. They leave some coins in the spirit of things, but they do not concern themselves with replacing an exact volume. They will empty a canteen and fill it.

"It seems the offering is a piece of ourselves. The pool has a sting."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Well, I guess I won't be having a drink then."

I collect some of the water, and pour it on a little bit of food away from the pool. Maybe the "water" is really a base.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Halcyone also takes a point of damage.



The water has no effect on the food. Other than making it soggy.

Where to next?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious steps out of the chamber and asks the spirit Arbazil...

"So what did they do with their prize when the supplicants came forth with the water?"

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"They took it out of here and never came back. I can only assume this is part of a ritual they were trying to complete."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"By 'here' I take it you mean this part your stuck in, or do you mean something else?"

Assuming here means the cave system,

"Well, I guess it's time to go check out the section of the cave system that doesn't have magic."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Yes, this part I'm stuck in. Getting that water is all anyone ever does. That and hunting trips."




Haley: "And see if we can get our weapons back. We might need to leave the cave without those. "


Arlon: "Some Larder. Perhaps its a euphemism?"

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Nobody ever eats the fruit?"
"Well, hopefully we do, otherwise maybe we should leave Arlon behind, lest he lose his magic permanently too."
"Maybe they keep the rest of the food in the other half of the larder. Or maybe the armadillo the water is a supply they keep in the "larder". Perhaps there's a special bread to go with the apparently not special water."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"They always seem to feel the need to hunt when they come for the fruit. But yes, they eat that as well."


Arlon: "A madman bent on immortality does not set up a test that robs his followers of his power. Actually he could. But if he did he wouldn't warn them about it, because he'd actually be doing something with that power. Now he could be mad, but I don't think that's the shape of his madness. Actually, we're pretty sure that he is mad, given that he's been dabbling with elder things. Remember that Arbazil described him as looking more eldrich when she saw him again. But even if he was an elder thing, warning people..."


He lets out a deep breath.



"I'm rambling, aren't I? I'll take the chance. Worst comes to worst, I can get my power restored at a temple."


"Shall we go back through the portal then?"


Arbazil will happily escort you back to the portal.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Well I think we should go check out the other portal area, so yes.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Very well then... I doubt the fire elementals had much to impart anyway. Onward!

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

They go back through the portal.



Its the same 5 yard by 5 yard chamber, with the two sided mirror with the red and blue portals, and the chest. Plus its three doors.


Haley mutters. "My weapons aren't back"


No one's weapons seem to have returned.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I don't suppose we could go ask Corco to send weapons.

"Well, I don't think we really have the time to go back to town to go get weapons, so I guess we have to press onwards."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Arlon: "The weapons have to have gone somewhere..."

Haley: "Halcyone, do you have any magic? take this potion and walk through the next portal and back"

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

We did not see the weapons of the people ahead of us fall to the ground when entering the portal, so perhaps they were transported elsewhere...

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Sure!" I carry it through the portal and back.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Is there anywhere specific you want to look or a method to try and determine where the goods may have been transported?


The potion is in your hand (tentacle) as you cross the barrier, but not when you get to the other side. You return and report the news.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Oh! I got another idea! I ask for a potion that does something obvious, like make me start glowing, down it, and pass through the portal.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Perhaps you have surmised that I am a better shapeshifter than I have this far let on... but this could be interesting. Care to do that again with the first portal Halcyone?"

And with that, Vassarious shapeshifts into a sword.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I carry Vassarious into through the other portal too (the portal that moves weapons)

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious vanishes from Halcyone's hand as she walks through the portal.

Vassarious arrives in a space with a glowing floor. The floor is the same size and shape as the portal Halcyone walked through. By the light of the glow you can see you're in a rather large chest, full of various items. You see Arlon's staff, Haley's sword and some alchemical flasks, Halcyone's guns, and the potion that vanished.

You also see some sort gem-studded silver Holy emblem and a staff with a large crystal on the end of it.


I'm assuming that either the sword can see, or you turned into an air elemental or something to inspect what was going on.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

So the objects are resting on the portal without passing back through?

As an air elemental, can Vassarious open or leave the chest?

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vassarious seeps out of the unlocked chest into the room where everyone else is standing around wondering where their comrade could have went to.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Vagarious returns to their previous humanoid form and opens the chest.

However did we miss that, lol.

Shall we explore the path of no magic? I'm a little curious on how that's going to turn out...

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

I stop V before they open the chest. "Let's avoid opening chests without making sure it's safe first. Was there anything unusual inside?"

I assume Haley and Arlon could figure out whether that holy emblem has some effect.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Haley: "You're in lucky, this is one of my specialties. Society of the gear and all that." She checks a few things, asks Halcyone a few questions, and then flips the lid open.

Everyone is happy to have their stuff back.

Haley: "That holy symbol is for the God Maelstros. He is over Water and Chaos. These look like power-items."

Arlon: "Either their owners are coming back soon, or their not coming back."

Haley: "A Maelstros Cleric might be working for Polriket... but is just as likely to work against him."

Arlon: "Lets keep our eyes out, and leave their stuff here for now. We can take it on our way back. It will pay for the trip, easy."

Stepping through the portal, they come to a beach along a big lake. The beach is 6 yards long and 3 yards wide. It has a glowing blue portal built into the wall. The sand of the beach counts as bad footing.



Scrawled on the wall are the words "Bring a goat for bait"

The lake is about 300 yards across and 120 yards wide. You're at one of the corners of the lake.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"I guess there's a lake monster in this lake."

I go fetch the armadillo carcass to toss in.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

It takes some manuevering to get it through the portals, but you have your carcass.

Peering through the darkness, you look for features on the lake. You spot three other beaches and an island with a tower on it in the middle.

Two of the beaches are to your left, running around the end of the lake. The last beach is at the far end of the lake.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

How long is Arlon's staff? I ask if he can use it to get a gauge for how deep the lake is.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Arlon's staff is back in the chest: it is part of the "Magic" that you lost.



Arlon: "I can walk over the lake. Vassarious can presumably transform into something that flies. But I don't see a boat or bridge. Do you two have a way to get across the water? I can levitate us across at a pretty good speed for not too much energy, and if we really need it I have the swim spell... but swim is very expensive and I don't have my casting tools. Also, that dead armadillo weighs far too much for my spell."


Haley: "I don't have anything. No boat in my backpack. But before we go somewhere, we need to decide where to go."

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

"Well, I can swim."

OK, redeploy the drones to this room to check beneath the water, the tower in the middle, and the area around the three beaches.

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Re: Corco's Villa (IC)
 

Looking under the water is tricky: its a big lake and visibility is quite poor. Are you going to take time to explore the entire thing?

Please remind me of your languages for this trip.

The first beach to your left is 15 yards long and 4 yards wide increasing to five yards wide for the middle five yards. In the center of the beach, against the wall, is a statue of a humanoid with robes, with the hands and face smashed off. The hands seem to have been previously holding something. The robes look like a statue of Polriket. A strange inscription is at the bottom of the rock. You spot skeleton hands and weapons sticking up out of the sand.

A natural stone tunnel 2 yards across and 2 yards high leads away from the beach.

A 7 yard by 7 yard antechamber. Two benches with room for four people each are in the middle of the room, running along the path between the exits. The domed ceiling is 6 yards high at its highest point. two torch holders are mounted on each wall. the far wall has been carved to resemble a massive door. Its surface depicts intricately carved skeletons, rats, ravens, and tree roots. In the center is a hole that looks like it would hold a small stone, a hand print for a right hand.

The second beach to your left is 20 yards long and 4 yards wide two life-sized statues stand on the beach. They look dejected and have no equipment other than their clothes. Their hands are all held in front of them as though to put manacles on their wrists. An inscription is carved on the wall: "Enemies of Mystic Strength Shall Serve Me Longest and Most Terribly". The statues are a human male, and a female sea elf.

The far beach is 40 yard long and 5 yards wide. The sand is covered in weird patterns. A crank sticks out of the wall at one end of the beach.

The island is A 20 yards by 30 yards. Unlike the beaches, it is rocky rather than sandy. Its tower is about five yards across and 20 yards high. Its roof is low and pointed, and its front door has been smashed in. A life-sized stone statue of a dwarf with a crossbow, saber, and myriad tools stands on the first floor amid wreckage of wooden beams, which block the stairway up. On the second floor is some sort of floating sphere monster with tentacles. The third floor contains a stone basin 18 inches across and 12 inches deep, and three feet high. A single golden coin (400$) has been left in the center.