Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

As the political scene in Taldor explodes into chaos, heroes take on the mantle of agents, advocates, and saboteurs working for Princess Eutropia to help secure her claim to the Imperial throne and prevent the Empire from collapsing in on itself in civil war. Will they grow from relative nobodies to powerful politicians and spymasters in the deadliest political arena in the Inner Sea?

Run by the GM ManWithDoor
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ManWithDoor
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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by ManWithDoor » Fri Nov 29, 2019 6:29 am

While Bertram and Aurelia study the magical auras, the others dig around the room to find what goodies it might hold. They find an ornate gold key on top of the circular table next to the sofa chair. Given that you've unlocked everything you've come across so far, it must be for something else. Theodrix notices a scroll case hanging from the railing of the bathtub. This bronzed and pitted case opens to reveal a tattered note that reads: "Fourth bed from the north. Comforter. Backup key." Looks like someone left a note to themselves in case they forgot where the hid the cabinet key you found earlier.

Mercutio lets off a half-dozen random quips, idling flitting through the books. Hefting them, he randomly finds one that is significantly lighter than the others. He shakes it, and something thumps on the inside. Opening it, he finds a hollowed-out book with a curved piece of rectangular crystal inside. It looks like the exact size and shape of the hollow section of the crystal ball in the second room.

The magically inclined duo both examine the aura, comparing notes on their studies. The inquisitor has a more practical approach to magic, while the enchantress brings a deeper insight into the esoterica of arcane theory. After a few minutes they come to the conclusion that this must be some sort of dormant teleportation spell, with some sort of trigger device integrated. Likely the trigger is connected to the coin-sized hole in the wall. Perhaps there is some sort of item that is keyed to the spell, allowing passage.
The extraneous key can be pawned for 100gp later.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Othniel » Fri Nov 29, 2019 11:48 pm

"Perhaps replacing the piece of crystal to the ball will elicit some reaction," Astraea suggests.

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Vardaen
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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Vardaen » Mon Dec 02, 2019 6:51 pm

"Found the note telling us where the key is we already found. Man they really cared about that cabinet." He stashes anything extra they find worth some money with all the other stuff they are collecting to split up later.

"So we still are stuck in here, what do we know about getting out? Some crystal needed? Let's locate it then." He continues to search, and moves for the unexplored areas of the compound next, eyes wide open.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by ManWithDoor » Tue Dec 10, 2019 5:45 am

Astraea is very task-oriented, focusing on what they know and trying to figure it out, before moving onwards. She takes the curved piece of crystal, and moves back to the previous room. She has to stand on her tip-toes, but she lifts the missing piece and slots in it. It goes on easily, fully filling up the crystal orb. It appears to automatically activate, a dull light shining through it. A barely perceptible image shows up, but Astraea can't see much of anything at all.

The others move through, heading onwards to the final room. Here stacked wooden crates cover the southern wall, and more crates occupy the northwestern corner. Wooden shelves fill much of the eastern half of the room, each tier filled with dust-coated bottles, crockery, and glass jars. A routine check of the containers nearest you reveals changes of clothes, condiments, pickled vegetables, preserved delicacies, salted meats, and a well-stocked toolkit. The room is a storage area, meant to store excess equipment that the Senator or aides would use while spending prolonged periods in the safe quarters.

Back in the north-western room, Astraea sees the image brighten immediately, a shining object moving into view. She sees the other party members moving through a room. For some reason, the image seems to be centered upon the southern wall there.
Toolkit: If anyone has relevant craft or thievery or whatever skills, you can find a Masterwork Toolkit appropriate to your specialty.
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Othniel » Tue Dec 10, 2019 12:58 pm

"Ah, the crystal shows the rest of you!" Astraea calls out. "Perhaps it was used to spy upon the outer room?"

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Vardaen » Tue Dec 10, 2019 5:26 pm

Theodrix rummages around the provisions, he pulls out a small tool kit. "Well look at this, they were forward thinking, a locksmith's kit in case they can't get their locks open. And it has the stamp of Master Garix d'Havoland, a rather famous man of his trade back in his day." He checks the kit and rolls it up and tucks it away.

He waves into the air as Astrea is calling out about the stone being a spy device. "Can you hear us also?"

He keeps checking around and reaches into another box and smiles...
I already have a MW kit but this was fun to RP

How about a Compass instead of a Kit?

Compass
Source PZO1115

Price 10 gp; Weight 1/2 lb.

An ordinary compass that points to the magnetic north pole grants you a +2 circumstance bonus on Survival checks made to avoid becoming lost. You can also use it to grant the same bonus on Knowledge (dungeoneering) checks made to navigate underground.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Grimbold » Tue Dec 10, 2019 6:20 pm

Bertram has looked around in the provisions and taken some food that is good for travelling and rummages throught the stuff looking for alcoholic beverages. Then he returns to Astrea when the mirror is repaired. "Maybe we should look at where we see the image from, the south wall. Or can we change the picture?"

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by ManWithDoor » Wed Dec 11, 2019 12:01 am

The front boxes seem to primarily contain tools and foodstuffs. But the boxes piled up high way in the back haven't been broken in to yet.

Astraea tries fiddling with the orb, but there aren't any controls she can find. Randomly pushing on different spots or rubbing it doesn't change anything. It remains stubbornly pointed at the south wall of the other room. Most of the view is obscured by the storage containers of course.
Enjoy your new Compass!
Rule Number 12: "A soft answer turneth away wrath. Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head."

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Othniel » Wed Dec 11, 2019 3:12 am

"We may as well go through everything," Astraea suggests, moving to dig into the other boxes. "Let's clear these out of the way of the view and check inside for anything useful."

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Re: Book 1: Crownfall, Act 2: Lost in History

Post by Vardaen » Fri Dec 13, 2019 4:16 pm

"Do we have time to be rummaging around in crates of food and lamp oil while there is trouble going on?" He doesn't have the desire to be a stock boy right now. "We really should worry about getting out of here. How the hell do we get out of here." Theodrix decides he needs to know that and goes about looking for an exit.
"He that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom." - Gandalf
J.R.R. Tolkien, Council of Elrond, The Fellowship of the Ring

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