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Khannon, Rhag'nuul & Azhag
Khannon immediately begins using his knowledge of time and solar postioning to determine where north is and begins moving, while the rest of the party travel the blasted landscape with him.
You uneventfully travel north, as Azhag tells you about his life. "I grew up with my family the 12th child of 20, I learned the art of fixing things using nothing but scrap metal that could be found on orcish battle fields and dumps. My father and most of my family are scavengers and craftsmen, when I was eventually conscripted to work at Fort Helmlock. After scavenging and building things to make his life easier at the fortress easier I thought I would be all set. All I needed to do was keep my head low and avoid being killed even though I had begun to lack purpose. But one day I saw a shield that had gotten confiscated by a blacksmith from the local town of Mootschmidt. They arrested & executed him since they though it was a magic item, however it turned out that it wasn't. The shield did nothing special it just looked really... nice. It was from that day forward that I felt that I wanted to leave the fortress and become an artisan, I believe their called... Make things beautiful. That brings me here. With you guys. I want to see the world and see how different people make things attractive, and I want to get my hands on every type of material I can so I can begin making beautiful things that will exist years after I've passed on."
You ponder this as you continue to walk after few minutes you come across a bizarre landmark that could only be the vault. It looks like a massive bronze cone sticking into the ground as if it were ready to bore deep into the centre of the earth. The bronze cone has ravaged much of the thick layer of crust on the landscape and around the cone the earth is replaced with finer sand mixed in with clumps of mud. All along the base of the cone are massive grooves and at the very end of the plateau, protruding high into the air there appears to be a white shine or temple with a massive kneeling statue in front of it.
The cone is set so that more than half of it is set into the ground, but it's burrowed in diagonally (rather than straight down, but in that case you wouldn't even know of the cone like nature of the vault), making the plateau, and everything on it on a sharp diagonal slant, you can only stare in wonder at how the massive statue doesn't buckle from the strain of gravity and fall off.
As far as you can see from your distance the the entire vault and the surrounding area looks like it's vacant.

Hopefully I described it well, if not I'll draw a diagram later.

Brauer
You feel something searching through your mind, quickly you shift your thoughts and develop an image in your head of you hunched over the journal translating it from another tome set up on a podium...
after a small silence the butler nods and pulls up the decorative wooden barrier, each piece folding and sliding up into the ceiling of the cart. You find yourself face to face with an illithid. This one wears purple robes and has taken great care to adorn themselves with jewelry and has even spent time to get the slickness of the tentacles to all be of the same sheen. In the creatures' hands it holds another leather bag and a folded paper.
"You appear to be loyal to my cause.", the voice says now taking on a more feminine tone, "I am am Metoya of the Guild, may know me better as the 2nd in line as heir to the guild family. I will investigate this matter further, but still have much use for men of your talents."
The mindflayer hands you the bag and the paper.
"There is the other half of the payment that we discussed and the paper is proof to my guards that you are one of my employees. Considering the ruckus caused at the manor I assume that Lord Pharaz will be on high alert and if he did have a laboratory under his villa, it is probably destroyed or been moved by now. So I believe this excursion of yours will be a good way to avoid leaving any traceable evidence for the moment until the investigation goes cold. When you return however, I'll probably be seeking your assistance with a few other tasks. There will be rewards, of course.
As for your trip, I imagine my father has given you all the details on what he expects from the trip. I personally desire no souvenirs outside of rare magical artifacts that you're willing to let my house study that would slip under the radar of Lord Neraphim."

Lord Neraphim is the leader of the Guild house, you've rarely seen him, but most of your orders, research and funding is provided in way shape or form by him.

By this point in time the caravan has travelled quiet some ways and is at the end of "the High Road", "Would you prefer if we just dropped you off here at the market or make a turn around back to the guild?" the butler asks.

"Hmm, no one around and it's tilted.

Rahg'nuul, I recommend you find the shadow from it's tilt. Azhag and I can search for the entrance and figure out how to open it. Like any vault, I'm assuming it may be locked."

I begin searching around the Vault.

[Rahg'nuul tries to peer at the structure as best he can]

Knowledge: Architecture check...3 + 5 = 8 (DM please advise)

"Aye, any cover from this blasted sky would be welcomed. I will make my way there as best I can...but if things are not as they seem...and I am caught before I can reach cover...then I will be essentially defenseless...so please do not stray too far"

[Rahg'nuul starts making his way towards any sort of shade the structure provides. If I can make it there uninterrupted, then I perform searches of my own. Here's my d20 roll. Add 11 if the base of the structure is made of stone, add 9 otherwise]

d20 = 15 (DM please add 11 or 9 and advise)

Siberys wrote:"Hmm, no one around and it's tilted.

Rahg'nuul, I recommend you find the shadow from it's tilt. Azhag and I can search for the entrance and figure out how to open it. Like any vault, I'm assuming it may be locked."

I begin searching around the Vault.

RPGguy wrote:[Rahg'nuul tries to peer at the structure as best he can]

Knowledge: Architecture check...3 + 5 = 8 (DM please advise)

"Aye, any cover from this blasted sky would be welcomed. I will make my way there as best I can...but if things are not as they seem...and I am caught before I can reach cover...then I will be essentially defenseless...so please do not stray too far"

[Rahg'nuul starts making his way towards any sort of shade the structure provides. If I can make it there uninterrupted, then I perform searches of my own. Here's my d20 roll. Add 11 if the base of the structure is made of stone, add 9 otherwise]

d20 = 15 (DM please add 11 or 9 and advise)

The three of you travel to the base of the structure which is enormous, it makes you wonder why this structure hasn't been spotted or better yet commandeered by gnolls or the drow of the area since the giant metal fortress would definitely attract attention and any commander could at least see the obvious benefits of building a watchtower on such a building at least to keep an eye over the barren psuedo-desert it overlooks.

Khannon and Azhag travel to the base of the cone and investigate arround the spiral examining the grooves which are worn and weathered from strenuous activity of some sort rather than from the natural elements of rain and rust... Speaking of which you notice that this bronze it in excellent condition considering how much of it and how large the cone is. You would assume that it would have tarnished years ago unless some sort of magic prevented it or someone polished it. Although the latter seems unlikely.

Ragh'nuul examines the architecture of the building and you can't really point your finger on it, but something tells you that this building was probably built somewhere else but was transported here... somehow.
You look at the bronze base of the structure and try and look for some type of entrance while in the shade. You don't sense any entrance but you do notice that the closer you are to the bronze base the more of a rumbling noise you hear... Putting your ear against the bronze base you can definitely make out that something, or someone is stirring inside the building always, never stopping... and it's huge.

Attached to this post is a visual aid to give you a full sense of what the exterior of the vault looks like.

Nvlutz wrote:Ragh'nuul examines the architecture of the building and you can't really point your finger on it, but something tells you that this building was probably built somewhere else but was transported here... somehow.
You look at the bronze base of the structure and try and look for some type of entrance while in the shade. You don't sense any entrance but you do notice that the closer you are to the bronze base the more of a rumbling noise you hear... Putting your ear against the bronze base you can definitely make out that something, or someone is stirring inside the building always, never stopping... and it's huge.

Attached to this post is a visual aid to give you a full sense of what the exterior of the vault looks like.

[The diagram was very helpful, thanks]

The other 2 are probably remote from my position within the shade but I think to myself "by the gods, this cannot be good"

I wave over to Khannon and Azhag desperately. If I manage to rally them to my position, I state the following:

"This, this structure has terrible machinations inside. And just by looking at it, one can immediately tell that it is out of place. It clearly was not built on these lands for surely such a structure would exist in many a tale. I suspect that entering the vault poses many serious risks. As I said, this entire structure still trembles, which means it might still function in some capacity. Might it travel again? And take us to deadly lands or even planes? There is also the risk of the entire thing toppling while we are inside. And if those two fates weren't foreboding enough, consider the dexterity it will require to navigate the interior halls on such an angle. Azhag, is this something you can manage? Would you prefer to wait outside?"

"I shall stay here i need a few things at the market" I tip my hat at the Illithid and wink at the butler "farethee well, contact me once im back in the city"

at the market I purchace a pair of torches, waterskin a healers kit, two pieces of chalk, and a small pack of candles(six) two flasks of acid, three thunderstones and a smokestick

total 181 gp 10 cp (there goes my reward haha)

once I have everything depending on the hour I head to back to the guild or straight to docks if its late.

"I would think it prudent that someone stay on the outside to warn us of any possible intrusions. Both Rahg'nuul and myself can navigate through the darkness, so Azhag, if you don't feel capable inside this building, that would likely be your job."

Siberys wrote:"I would think it prudent that someone stay on the outside to warn us of any possible intrusions. Both Rahg'nuul and myself can navigate through the darkness, so Azhag, if you don't feel capable inside this building, that would likely be your job."

"I have not found any means to enter from here but suspect that the structures atop this pillar are where we need to go. Did you two have any success looking around the base?"

...

"We can try to scale the incline from the base but that will expose me to the sun..and there is risk of falling from the sides as we ascend. Alternatively, I have a grapple and about 50 feet of silk rope. Perhaps we can find a way to climb directly to the top? I'm not sure I can launch the hook to that height however. I am open to suggestions at this point."

"Simple. Azhag and I climb to the top and lower the rope down to you. If the sun is as damaging to you as I think it is, risking any exposure isn't just bad for you, so I'd rather make sure we don't take that chance.

[passes the rope and grapple to Khannon]

"Thanks master dwarf. Careful up there".

I climb to the top (Starting from the right side of the pic you provided and climbing up the shallowest slope to the left), and have Azhag follow right behind, both of us holding onto the rope in case one falls.

Balance-
1d20+8
17+8 = 25

If we successfully make it to the top edge area, I lower the rope and help Rahg'nuul up.

Three strength checks if needed-
1d20+3
18+3 = 21

1d20+3
9+3 = 12

1d20+3
14+3 = 17




EDIT: Oh, and it took me a while but I found a picture that pretty much coincides with what I had in mind for the look of this character.
http://fc00.deviantart.net/fs18/f/2007/ ... _Black.jpg

Brauer
You purchase your supplies and head back to the secret guild entrance. By this time Soloman has gotten everything packed and is waiting by the entrance you decide to get a few final supplies from your office and then return downstairs. That is when you see Loremaster Cid. He is a human man in his late 60's with all white hair sloped chin thin that makes him look like he is contemptible against everything he sees. He is still in his purple robe and has a single tome in his hand while his dwarven servant has a backpack holding about the 7 even heftier tomes.
"I've been interrupted from my studies to join you on this pointless expedition by headmaster's orders.", He tells Soloman while Soloman struggles his best to sound sincere, "Well I'm glad you could join us, anyways.".
A large double platform carriage arrives being pulled by 4 horses. You follow Soloman onto the carriage helping him with his equipment and nab a set of 4 seat with a table in the middle. You and Soloman sit together while Cid and his helper sit on the other side of the table. Everyone else from the guild going on the "trade route" mission, a rough approximate of 40 people of various races, human, dwarf, elf, orc & goblin get on the caravan.
As the caravan makes it way to the docks Cid looks on uninterestly at his book. "Books are a marvellous thing, you can learn everything you ever need to know about the world in books. I find these expeditions to be anti-productive, all they do is hinder the learning of everyone at the guild. They only hurt their political hold in the end."
As Cid prattles on, you notice a drow from the guild, sitting by themselves, most likely an outcast in the central western world due to the political turmoil between the central continents.
You then go back to looking at Soloman who just seems to be agreeing with Cid in a very mindless way, just hoping the old man will let up at some point. Then you look at Cid's servant, the hairy dwarf with soot all over his face from being sent to perform various experiments at Cid's leisure. It crosses your mind that you never did figure out the dwarf's name.

Khannon, Rhag'null and Azhag.

Khannon and Azhag successfully make it to the top of the vault spiral and attempt to lower the rope from the cone's appex, while there is enough rope to make it across the platform you are still short a rough approximate of 30 ft of rope to have it close enough to the ground to reach where Rhag'null is. Azhag suggests that maybe he could try lowering Khannon down towards the base of the statue and then from the statue Khannon could get lower the rope to reach Rhag'null.

While Khannon and Azhag make the trek up the tower and execute the logistics, I try again in regards to searching the area around me as well as assessing the structure...

Knowledge: Architecture 12 +5 = 17

Search: 9 + 9 (not stone) = 18

Assuming Khannon can re-orient his rope-drop successfully (as per Azhag's recommendation), here is my climb check...

Clim (with Rope): 2 + 7 = 9

at the earliest opening I get away from Cid and leave soloman to his doom(while sticking my tongue out at cid from behind his back so soloman can watch), once im out on my own I try to socialize with the drow ""Greetings master Drow" I bow politly and dig any information I can about him such as his especiality, name, what he thinks of the jurney and the mission and anything relevant I can think off. I do not ask as to why he is working for the illithids..yet


gather information: 11+1=12
sense motive: 1d20=14
diplomacy: 16+1=17

EDIT: I take this actions once we are on the boat, while on the way I try to strike a conversation with the dwarf servant.

"Hmm...didn't see the statue. Brilliant idea Azhag, lets do that!"

Climb check to slide down to the statue-
1d20+3
15+3 = 18

Khannon, Ragh'nuul & Azhag

Ragh'nuul looks at the structure and the grooves of the bronze, and notices caked on dirt and some scratching and dirt... It reminds you of a drill...

Azhag begins to lower Khannon down to the statue, the goblin struggling with his small weedy little muscles to keep from letting the dwarf fall. Seeing the goblin's strain Khannon hastefully makes it down to the statue scaling down the glossy stone plateau at an excellent pace before landing on the statue's back. Azhag relaxes then lowers the hook and lets it slide to Khannon. Khannon catches the hook as it scrapes down the stone surface towards him. Looking up at the building above him he sees the entrance to the slanted vault is sealed by a double door decorated with two nude figures with clasped hands made of bronze, at the hands there seems to be an opening for a key.
Khannon then goes to lower the rope to Ragh'nuul. Ragh'nuul grabs a hold to the robe but has trouble climbing up, so Khannon uses all his strength to hoist Ragh'nuul up. Ragh'nuul despite spinning around aimlessly on the end of the rope avoids sun damage by staying in the shadow of the cone and then the statue. As Ragh'nuul makes it onto the sloped ledge and can begin making his way with less strain on Khannon he takes a fraction of a second to look at the front of the statue, a nude man of colossal frame on one knee holding the reins of two giant chains latched into the stone floor of the cone's plateau.
After a bit of effort the two party members are on the back of the statue looking at the temple, and the double doors, resting above them a good 20 feet. While Azhag is at the apex of the cone on watch out duty.

Brauer

You make a note to yourself to talk to the drow in the corner whenever you arrive at the boat, in the meantime you decide to strike up a conversation with the dwarf...

I'll use your previous rolls here.

"Greetings Master Dwarf, how are you on this fine day?", the dwarf fidgets in his seat and looks at Cid who is still intent on talking Soloman's ears off, "To be honest...", the dwarf whispers, "I'm not too sure, it's a nice change of pace, there are so many things that constantly need to be done in that massive library of his from dusting to experiments, that it's nice to get out of the library and get some fresh air. I know most dwarves don't mind staying in the mountains, but I didn't leave the enclosed mountains to be crammed into another cage...", he looks back at Cid, "But at the same time to go from full enclosement to straight out into the open seas where it'll be nothing but the great blue for miles around... well it's from straight of the blizzard into the volcano to be quite frank."
After saying all this, "The name's Byggvir, I was supposed to be a lab assistant for the entire guild, but I never seem to reach the end of Cid's list of tasks, but if you need a dummy for experiments, it's what I'm here for. Yourself? What do you do at the guild?"

As Ragh'nuul makes it onto the sloped ledge and can begin making his way with less strain on Khannon he takes a fraction of a second to look at the front of the statue, a nude man of colossal frame on one knee holding the reins of two giant chains latched into the stone floor of the cone's plateau.
After a bit of effort the two party members are on the back of the statue looking at the temple, and the double doors, resting above them a good 20 feet. While Azhag is at the apex of the cone on watch out duty.

"Yeesh, what a debacle that was! Thank you Khannon, and you too Azhag. Now let me see if I can finally add some worth to this mission"

[Ragh'nuul tries to assess the stuation as best he can from the cover of his cloak]

"There seems to be an ornate lock on the vault. I suspect it beyond my skill to work it but I can attempt it. I would want to study it beforehand. More likely though, I expect we will find the key somewhere deep within this tilted monolith. Or maybe not. The key may be on another plane for all we know"

...

"Khannon, this statue we are resting on...it seems connected by those chains to those massive doors which undoubtedly guard passage, inside the structure. If we can somehow dislodge this statue at the base, it would likely tumble with enough force to rip those doors clean off of the hinges."

[Ragh'nuul studies what aspects of the statue he can, paying particular attention to the base connections]

Knowledge: Architecture... 15+5 = 20 (DM please advise)

Search (stonework)... 8+11 = 19 (DM please advise)


[yells to Azhag]

"Azhag! From your perch, can you see anything attached to the vault structure that we might loose in order to pry at this statue???"

"Hmm...I have a simple way we could try doing that.

Both of you stand on the opposite side of the doorway, where it's for the most part flat, and hold on to the rope as tight as you can. Considering I probably weigh the most, I will jump down onto the statue, kicking it and seeing if it'll become dislodged.

Worse comes to worse, I break both my legs. No big deal."

Siberys wrote:"Hmm...I have a simple way we could try doing that.

Both of you stand on the opposite side of the doorway, where it's for the most part flat, and hold on to the rope as tight as you can. Considering I probably weigh the most, I will jump down onto the statue, kicking it and seeing if it'll become dislodged.

Worse comes to worse, I break both my legs. No big deal."

[out of game]

Good idea! But lets see what DM says my inspections reveal first. There may be a less dramatic/safer way

"Well im one of cids co-workers" I lean in and whisper to the dwarf "Dont worry, during this trip Ill try to release you from cids grip" I look at the cid and say "Loremaster cid I was wondering if I could take Byggvir for the duration of the expedition, age seems to be getting the best of me this days and Im leaving all my documents everywhere and we cant have that can we?"
diplomacy 9+1=10 (sorry Byggvir)