[D&D3ish]Crypts of Chaos: Scouting Interest

[Avoraciopoctules]

Can I trade access to White Raven maneuvers for Shadow Hand or Desert Wind? Or is that something I should put off until I find some wrinkled kung fu master living in a cave who'll give lessons to people that do his sidequest?

[Ancient History]

You have enough sidequests already. Yes, you can trade access, no need to go badger old men.

[Avoraciopoctules]

Nice. I think I'll try grabbing Desert Wind next level because it's flavorful, and maybe see if I can exchange Diamond Mind or Stone Dragon the level after that because of all the evil things that can be done with a single turn of invisibility.

[Avoraciopoctules]

SHOJIRO

“Subject: You’re a monkey”

AH: Shojiro is now a small monkey, and has lost all of his equipment except the hand. However, Chung K'uei's benevolence is such that you may retain your character class levels and features in your new form.
AV: Oh yeah, climb speed all up in this dungeon. Ability scores the same as in the monster entry? I'd like to have an INT of at least 4, so I retain language comprehension.

I don't think there's anything technically keeping me from casting spells with Int 2 and Wis 12, but it might be difficult to RP.
AH: I'll allow that mighty and benevolent Chung K'uei keeps your ability scores intact.
AV: Great. I'll have Shojiro's actions colored by animal instinct, but still have him intelligently pursue his goals.

”Subject: [Crypts]Offerings”

AH: As Shojiro lays her offerings before the strange half-form of the god, the communion with the god comes much more quickly than previously...and the pounding in Shojiro's veins seems to grow deeper, creeping corruption spreading quickly up her arm from the withered claw, the words in her mind beating in time with her heart.

...My child...my right hand of darkness...well done. But why do you tarry here? You must find the weapon to serve us both...
AV: "I do not know how to use the power I retrieved from the vault. I wanted to know whether I should leave the cube here, or take it with me as I press forward."
AH: The Chaos Cube is a highly concentrated entropic energy containment unit. Within it is the raw stuff of chaos - power unbridled - to remake the foundations of reality as if one were a god. Fortunately for you, however, the higher functions of the device have not yet been activated.

Instead, you may by will alone direct its energies against any target within sight - indeed, if you meditate on the cube deeply enough you may unleash its power without being in physical contact with it, though the effects of this tend to be highly deleterious on mortal minds. You may also attempt to tap its power to fuel your spells, though such effects are anathema to me, and the results unpredictable.

Beware my child, for so great is the cube's power that...as you have already felt...it may easily turn against it's wielder.
AV: "Thank you for imparting your wisdom, Master. I will use the Cube with caution."

Now that he better understands how to use it, Shojiro retrieves the Chaos Cube, but leaves the bloody offering in its place.

“Subject: Chung K'uei blessing”

AH: [The blessing of Chung K'uei allows you, if you chose, to switch to any divine spellcasting class with an Evil component that you qualify for, such as Paladin of Tyranny, Antipaladin, an evil Cleric or Druid, etc. Alternately, you may have one 1st or 2nd-level Divine spell cast on you and made permanent, as long as the spell does not have the Good descriptor.]
AV: Hypothetically, if someone were offered this blessing again, would Infernal Healing be an acceptable choice for a Permanent spell? It seems fairly powerful compared to a lot of other options.

Would it be possible to Dispel the effect?

I am trying to figure out a way for Shojiro to tempt the other PCs to make a pact with his god next time they are at the shrine above the starter area.
AH: 1) Yes, infernal healing is fair game.

2) Yes, the effect is subject to dispel and antimagic shells and whatnot, though the caster level and DC is such dispels are unlikely to take unless the one trying to dispel it is also a god.

[JigokuBosatsu]

wat

[Avoraciopoctules]

Clearing PM box.

[Ancient History]

Shit gets real in PMs, yo.

[Avoraciopoctules]

SHOJIRO

“Subject: note”

To: Prak_Anima, Korgan0, Red_Rob
The text of the note Shojiro passes your character:
I don't trust the Blues, especially after current events. We should get clear of them before we have a discussion on what to do next.

To: JigokuBosatsu, Whatever
The text of the note Shojiro passes your character:
I suspect that Kothre stole the Cube. Even if not, she isn't a team player. She ran off to pursue her own interests after a group resolution to stick together for safety's sake. She didn't discuss her plans with anyone else beforehand. Kothre cannot be trusted. I intend to attack her when we get clear of Bluetown. I will owe you a favor if you help.

Furthermore, I make a solemn promise that if my own patrons approach me and ask me to betray this group, I will give fair warning even if I find it personally inconvenient, and look for an alternative if possible.

“Subject: [Crypts]Shrine Redux”
AVShojiro clambers up the rope - only slightly slick with tentacled bits - and emerges once more at the surface, the endless black sands beneath those strange stars, the four statues sitting guard.

“Subject: note 2”

To: Whatever
The text of the note your character receives:
Cadwyn. Everything is going according to plan. Now that Kothre is removed from the town, she will have less chance of help from allies. This close to the idols, it should be possible to drag her up and either force a blood oath to the Spider not to betray us again, or simply sacrifice her and strengthen the Divines. I am going to strike soon. Kai is the only concern, as he will likely object. I do not want to fight or harm him, and am hoping to lure him up here while I confront Kothre below.

If you could keep him distracted once he is up here, that would put us in a better position. Kothre will be struck down before he can do anything.

Any suggestions? There is room for alteration to the plan.

[Whatever]

It sure does! I'm glad Cadwyn already unlocked the above-mentioned uses for the Cube.

[Avoraciopoctules]

Pathfinder's Ultimate Equipment has a variant breastplate that reduces the penalty to climbing and jumping.
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---fin ... reastplate

I might have some ideas next time I have something to trade for equipment upgrades. Maybe I should look into digging out the pyramid mech that had all those yummy adamantine fittings.

[Avoraciopoctules]

Hey hey, I think I found an NPC martial adept with level 2 maneuvers. Sadly, they don't seem much interested in teaming up for great justice*. I hope my save-or-lose gaze does something before the Bad Pharaohs need finish him off.

* haha

[Avoraciopoctules]

Well, Xilraxochitl just had a rather educational experience.

Good News: It looks like the panic button option is reasonably unlikely to end up turning on Xil unless she needs to run off in a hurry.
Bad News: I think I've managed to dig up some dirt on a party of adventurers who seriously have it in for Team ChaosCrypts. Ask Xil about her adventures next time you see her.

[Avoraciopoctules]

Character sheet updated.

[Avoraciopoctules]

SHOJIRO

”Subject: Tablet”

AH: With the comprehend languages spell, the dark hieroglyphs on the tablet suddenly take on meaning:

1. Beneath the thirteen step to the dragon's lair, the third black scroll.

2. Beneath the fallen warden, a soul stone.

3. Behind the plaque of Vectra, a false brick: the missing trump.

4. Sixteen steps in Hel, then left three steps, the stone above is hollow: the Black Orb.

5. Pull the left lever, descend the stairs, paint the sigil of the fly with blood to access the vault of the runestone.

6. Beneath the Fountain of Lustful Death, to the south, on the altar, make a sacrifice and grasp the cursed blade.

7. Pull the third lever in the third row to reveal a soul stone.

8. In the Brides' Room, descend the stair beneath the third coffin in the third row: life without end.

9. East of the entrance, the center of the spiral: behind the light is the second black scroll.

10. In the Chamber of the Serpent, press the left eye: the Crown of Stars.

11. Between the Devil's Chessboards, press the left eye. Let three others drink before you, then break the chain: The Ring of Elemental Mastery.

12. In the Crypts of the Fallen, the third house on the third street: The Giant's Pizzle and the Daemon Engine.

13. West of the entrance, above the Threshold of the Succubus, insert the Giant's Pizzle to gain the familiar.

14. Beneath the Fountain of Blood, to the north, touch the altar: redemption.

15. Above the God's Coin, a hidden passage, riddle the guardian, and access the Library of the Stone Wizards.

16. On the threshold of the Mad God, third step hollow: the Empty Cube.

At the end of each line is a mark - a cross with a dot in each quadrant.


”Subject: Communion”

AH: Shojiro barely closes her eyes when she feels the communion come on once again - as if it only needed the slightest excuse to pour like a heavy liquid once more down her arm, into her brain, filling her veins with hot, heavy filth, the swollen organ in her chest beating furiously to pump the sludge throughout her system...and it laughs...

Oh, well done my son, well done indeed. There are few flavors as...piquant...as betrayal. I only wish you had sacrificed her properly on one of my altars, to properly commend her to me. But as satisfying as that was, I must air my ire...for you have not yet secured my blade. So for your punishment and your reward, when we are done here with your little business, descend once more and touch my hand to the cooling corpse before the half-breed eats it. This is my command.

AV: [pm lost, but Sho asks if Cadwyn’s soul is forfeit to Boss Spider now that he grabbed the bait Sho left on the surface.]

AH: No. He has been claimed by another. There are...agreements in place. But neither has he the power he sought. Whatever strength he has gained, you may take from him - in time.


”Subject: [Crypts]The Skins You're In”
AH:Kothre's undead skin grants Shojiro light fortification.

Also, I'm ruling that the psychoactive skin of the troll she was wearing came with it.


”Subject: [Crypts]Through da Portal”

AH: Shojiro steps through the flames...and falls, in perfect darkness, perfect silence, for what might be forever. She cannot feel the wind rushing on her face, or the beating of her own heart, or hear her breath. It is like she had plunged headfirst into quicksand, aware of the inexorable weight of her descent.

For a moment, she wonders if she is dead.

Then she lands. The air is stifling hot, and tastes of smoke and old metal, and either from the impact or the torturous atmosphere it is hard to breathe. Shojiro looks around at a world unfamiliar to her - like the inner workings of a clock built inside a smith's forge; water clocks powered by orange-bright molten iron, scraps of broken gears piled into miniature mountains with frozen rivers of molten tin run cold...and at the center of it all, an adamantine throne. Seated - no, chained - is a massive humanoid figure, like as to Aracanis in general outline but of gigantic proportions, easily twelve feet tall if it could stand erect, and the rusty razor blades of its pinioned wings must stretch two or three times that.

The figure shifts upon its throne, and Shojiro catches a glimpse of great crystals, smouldering with power, buried within its body, lines of power stretching like veins just beneath its steel skin. Yet at its chest, when a hear might be, is an empty cube-shaped hole line with dark crystal and metal wires.

Welcome, to the Well of Lost Things.
AV: Shojiro bows in response, and then thinks for a moment.

"This is fortunate. There are 2 lost things I am seeking. One was my companion a few moments ago, and the other is another weapon of my god.

Tell me, is there anything you are seeking right now?"
AH: The metal giant's eyes burn as it gazes at the hole in its chest.

All lost things come here, in time. I can provide you with what you have lost - your weapon, your way, your...companion. Yet to do this would incur a debt, and I would require three things from you. Do you agree?
AV: "That depends on what you desire.

I am beholden first to my code of honor, and second to my god. If I betray neither, I can help you. Further, though honor obliges me to support my allies, there are some prices I will not pay for them."
AH: My price has nothing to do with the bargains you have made with the petty gods of this place, nor will it be to the dolor of your allies, nor any code of honor you might have. On this, you have the word of the Fallen Lord. Do you accept my bargain?
AV: "I am willing to pledge this: So long as it does not compromise my code of honor or my pledge of loyalty to my god, I owe 3 boons to you, the Fallen Lord. I will not dicker over the specifics of how you can help me, so long as I can still fulfill my god's quest.
AH:

So be it.

At those words, you go frozen and numb, every muscle in your body tensing. You can think, but it as if your mind were separate from your body, looking on as metal cables snake down from the ceiling and drag you into waiting creches, where you are secured. Dimly, you are suddenly aware you are not alone - Berry is right beside you, being taken up by the cables as well.

It has been so long since I have had fleshy ones to experiment on. I will learn much...and when I am done, and have drunk your night's pain, that will be two-thirds of your payment.

Tiny metal limbs prop open your eyes and mouths, tiny little metal saws cut away your clothes, unmindful of the flesh beneath them. Strange tubes press themselves against your veins, and then you see the drills heading towards your eyes...

The torture, the exploration lasts for hours, peeling away your flesh and mapping the nerves beneath, then putting it back again. At times your tormentor seems impatient, wild, the cuts ragged and crude...but every time the flesh is put back together, if not quite right...

At the end, exhausted, the metal coils lay you both back down upon the floor.

Shojiro looks at her left hand, and turns it over to see an evil parody of Kothre's face grinning up at her. She can feel the tiny lips draw back to reveal needle-like, glassy teeth, and hear its foul whispers.

You have your companion, and your path and weapon are the same - all our debts are discharged, little thing.

(Shojiro is back at full hit points. Will resume where she is back in the thread.)

”Subject: [Crypts]The Demonic Familiar”

AH:

The demonic familiar grants a +2 inherent bonus to the ability score that provides Shojiro's bonus spells. The demonic familiar applies a -6 circumstance penalty on all Charisma-based checks with non-evil NPCs.

The familiar has its own name (which it isn't telling you); Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores; and skill ranks and languages. None of those ranks apply to Shojiro for purposes of qualifying for prestige classes. It cannot make attacks or cast spells, though it has some knowledge of spells. It can make untrained skill checks that do not require a body, such as Bluff and Listen. The familiar can control its face, but no other part of Shojiro's body, not even the fingers of the left hand - unless Shojiro's head is cut off, in which case the familiar would take control of the body. Its alignment is Lawful Evil.

(It also has some abilities vis-a-vis trying to influence Shojiro to be evil, but that ship's pretty much flown at this point.)

”Subject: [Crypts]Pyramid ”

AH: Shojiro's gaze keeps being drawn back up to the top floor of the pyramid. It's not just that all of the lines on the street and the buildings seem to lead to it, she feels...almost forced to look at it, at the stairwell leading up to it. Unconsciously her claw-like right hand twists, and there is the memory of a taste, like rancid metal or old blood...


”Subject: [Crypts]Quality Time with the Dark God ”

AH:

From the pit of Shojiro's soul a dark voice bubbles - but this time, it is different. Here, in a space dedicated to him, the very air and water and sand, the creak of stones and the crackle of dark flame all reverbrate with the voice of Ch'ung K'uei. Shojiro tenses, shuddering at the pounding in her temples and the pounding in her chest. The dark god is not just speaking to her...he is speaking through her, the black speech vibrating in her veins...

...My dark right hand...why do you trouble me so? You should have climbed the stair and claimed the blade...instead you mutilate yourself...and that which you have cast from you will return when least it is desired. For you have a rival for my affections...

AV: If you confirm the blade is at the top of the pyramid, that is all I need to know. Thank you, master.


”Subject: [Crypts]The Fang of Ch'ang K'uei ”

AH: The blade is currently fused to the claw. Shojiro can still cast spells normally, but the blade will only be released upon her death.

Also, as a fragment of Ch'ung K'uei's eternal thirst, the blade carries a curse: Shojiro is immediately fatigued until she has consumed 1 pint of blood. No normal food or drink will nourish him, though magical or alchemical foods and drink will still have their effects. Each morning Shojiro awakens fatigued and remains so until she has consumed a pint of blood.
AV: Nice. Does this mean that Shojiro must consume more than 1 pint of blood to avoid starving? How fresh does it have to be? I assume the blood provides the nourishment Shojiro would otherwise get from food.
Recommendation: Shojiro's own blood does not qualify. Regeneration might trivialize this.

Can this weapon be used one-handed by Small creatures? Is Shojiro now incapable of using the mace?

What type of damage does this weapon deal?
AH: Shojiro's training (exotic weapon proficiency) allows him to use the Fang as a one-handed weapon. The mace is pretty heavy; he cannot effectively wield it in his off-hand. The blade deals damage appropriate to a katana, just...more of it. Details of its enchantments will become clear through use.

No, Shojiro cannot be sated drinking her own blood. She needs 1 pint a day to avoid fatigue - the blade hungers - and additional blood per day to cover nutrition as her stomach tells her.

[Red_Rob]

So are we just waiting on Korgan0?

[Ancient History]

Yeah, I sent him a ping.

[Ancient History]

If anyone else has a way to ping KorganO, go for it.

[Korgan0]

Sorry, guys.

[Red_Rob]

Kai is immune to Fire, has Evasion and is wearing Santa's robe, in case any of that helps.

If not he's at 4hp.

[Prak]

Well, I knew they weren't beholders, and I specifically didn't look at stats to keep things fair. Sorry about that, Korgan.

[JigokuBosatsu]

Damn wizards and their almost-TPKs! I totally thought we would at least wake up a boss beholder and it would kill us in a couple rounds.

[Red_Rob]

Yeah, Kai had no knowledge of Gas Spores so I just went with the flow.

[Ancient History]

Kai is immune to Fire, has Evasion and is wearing Santa's robe, in case any of that helps.

If not he's at 4hp.

Right, I forgot Kai was hanging around. <rolls> Actually, you're at 3hp.

[Avoraciopoctules]

I'm actually in Room 00 right now, so 'Xochitl can provide some protection to newly spawned PCs. I've got a suit of likely-enchanted leather armor and a few backup weapons.

[Avoraciopoctules]

Oh, and a few spellbooks, but I was planning on trading them away to NPCs unless I met a friendly wizard before then.