Leaving the Tainted Gallery behind, you emerge into a new chamber! It looks to be a shrine of some kind, lit by flickering torches mounted on columns in the center of the room. A pair of curtains hangs from the ceiling, one covering a portion of the western wall, the other an archway on the far northeast side of the chamber. This room doesn't have the acid smell, but it's not entirely fresh either.You also see two stone fonts, one in the center of the room, and another set into the far west wall. You think you see the hint of dark red within the central font. You're not sure what's in the eastern font, if anything.
Crimson stains on the floor lead from behind the far curtain to an ornate door leading north.
OOC: The trail of stains is on the map in faint red.
Meanwhile, you see the hint of a stairs in the southeast corner of the room, and what looks to be a door at the bottom.
Then you hear a female's voice that says, "Welcome, we are the spirits of the shrine. My name is Elon and my partner is Nole." A second voice, male, continues, "If you seek advice and council about this place; we can answer your questions. We are the spirits of the shrine."
You try to get a sense of where the voices are coming from, but all you can tell at this point is 'somewhere in the chamber'. The voices seems to move about the chamber as they talk.
OOC: Dungeoneers, we are not in combat at the moment, so feel free to explore and converse with these strange voices if you so wish.
Also, still time to spend some healing surges if you wish... I'm rushing things I know... just let me know quick if you want to spend some (or go on DM healing surge autopilot).
Good Luck!
MilwaukeeJoe
Vondal addresses them ... "What are the red stains from Elon and Nole?" ... He suspects a deadly encounter happened but wants confirmation or denial.
ReplyDeleteLohmi steps carefully into the chamber, alert for any traps in the area.
ReplyDelete"What is the purpose of this shrine?" he asks to the voices, as he sweeps the area near him looking for traps.
OOC: Move to E7, perception check for traps.
The female voice answers Vondal, "The stains are blood, from wounds self-inflicted."
ReplyDeleteOOC: Retcon, the stains actually are on the map, in faint red. They do not go straight from curtain to door; they curve by the central font first. Sorry for the confusion.
The male voice answers Lohmi, "The purpose of the shrine is to worship the Gods of the Abyss."
Lohmi does not detect any traps in the immediate area.
Vondal counters ..."Self-inflicted by whom and when?"
ReplyDeleteThe female voice answers Vondal, "By those who worship, we don't know names. It was a long, long time ago. Are you here for worship as well?"
ReplyDeleteVondal is beginning to understand now ... "No" he says ... "We seek peaceful passage to explore. Has anyone else been here in 100 years?"
ReplyDeleteThe male voice says, "My name is Nole. Yes, there have been others here more frequently."
ReplyDeleteThe female voice (Elon) says, "Sorry to hear that you are not here to worship. Perhaps another time. The safe passage you seek is behind the curtain in the west wall."
Vondal motions to the others to conference huddle .... "Should we trust the spirits?"
ReplyDelete"I wouldn't think so, not if they are used to people sacrificing themselves for whatever ritual they are a part of. I might go and see if I can get a sense of what's behind the curtains before we progress further."
ReplyDeleteFinding breaks away from the group and examines each of the curtains (west, then north, then returns to group) in turn.
Tech: Perception +10
Also, I'll take the opportunity to spend a healing surge.
Vondal adds in the huddle ... "I say we cautiously head to the curtain but stay on high alert."
ReplyDeleteOOC: Private email sent to Finding's player on what Finding sees investigating the curtains.
ReplyDeleteJoryn strides confidently towards the center font. "God's of the Abyss you say?" He intones with a mild sneer."What is this fountain then, spirits?"
ReplyDeleteTharl enters the room and takes a position where he can assist as needed. He keeps his longspear at the ready, gripping his totem with the hand closest to his body. He scans the area carefully, looking for anything that might have been missed, or anything familiar.
ReplyDeleteTech: Move to H9. Perception +10, dungeoneering +5, religion, history and arcana all +2.
Having completed a circuit of the room, Finding returns to the group and reports back in a whisper. "I don't know how benevolent these spirits are, if what I've seen is any indication of their god." She relays to the group the image behind the curtain on the west wall - a mural depicting a host of demons performing foul acts on the people of the nearby city. "If that's what they mean by 'safe passage' for non worshippers, perhaps we should play along and pretend to be - but that may mean one of us will have to make some sort of a sacrifice..."
ReplyDeleteShe relays what she has seen behind the curtain to the north-west. "There is a black altar there, inscribed with more of the Abyssal text. There were some small braziers burning, but there was smoke in the air, I couldn't see any more. That's where the trail of blood is coming from though - that altar, to the pool here, and then to the door."
She unconsciously fingers the scourge in her waistband and looks around the room. "I don't feel comfortable here at all, I'd rather if someone else took a closer look behind the curtains. But that doesn't meant I'm giving up."
Steeling her resolve, she hesitantly crosses the room, avoiding the torches and central basin, to examine the font on the eastern wall.
Tech: Move to N12, Perception +10, Arcana +9, Religion +4.
Joryn approaches the center font, to find it full of crimson blood. The male voice, known as Nole, says, "It is a sacrificial font. If you use a ceremonial dagger and draw blood from yourself into this font, you might receive a blessing from the Lords."
ReplyDeleteElon (female) also says, "You may also drink from the fonts, and similarly receive a blessing."
Meanwhile, Tharl examines the chamber from a central location, and can see the blood-filled font as well as the eastern font that looks to be filled with water.
Finding heads over to the eastern font. With her knowledge in Religion, she recognizes the water-filled font as ceremonial, typically used by clergy to wash their hands and face before performing a ritual.
Nole (male) says, "Feel free to examine the shrine, even the area beyond the northeast curtain. We thank you in advance for not disrupting the things you find."
Elon (female) also says, "If you're looking for the safe way through... The western curtain covers a mural, but the mural is an illusion that covers the safe passage out. The other doors only lead you to... unsafe areas. If you're not familiar with how to pierce an illusion, the trick is simple - You must focus your gaze upon the mural and regard it deeply in its details. If your will is strong, you will see past it to the truth."
Finding can sense charm/creation magic on the water-filled font.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Do you want to try to Detect Magic on the central font as well? I saw that you avoided the central font in your post.
OOC: If there's anything you specifically want to use Detect Magic on, let me know. You have to be trained in Arcana to do so.
ReplyDeleteLohmi nods as Finding conveys the information. I'll go look at the altar. Lohmi carefully makes his way across the room, watching for any stray magics or traps. Then he carefully steps through the curtain to where the altar is, fully intent on reading the inscription.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Checking out that altar. I think Lohmi can still read Abyssal.
OOC: Private posts/IM done with Lohmi as he explores behind the curtain. Anybody else going back there?
ReplyDeleteLohmi returns from behind the curtain, briefly speaking as he moves to examine the mural next. "There is an altar, a valuable magical dagger, and some incense back there."
ReplyDeleteOOC: Running an Arcana check on the mural. Not examining it closely yet.
Lohmi pulls aside the curtain and studies the mural briefly. After a few moments, he turns and walks across the room toward the font of water and then proceeds to carefully wash his face and his hands.
ReplyDeleteOOC: The curtain, only pulled back so far, falls back into place to hide whatever is behind it. If you were looking, you might have seen a hint of something like a mural.
ReplyDeleteVondal gives a slow whistle and says to the others who huddle again ... "I say we approach the door on the other side, opposite the curtain, close our eyes and step forward. The spirits are urging the curtain way too much for my taste."
ReplyDeleteTharl speaks up. "Spirits, when you say there is a safe way out, who would it be safe for? Also, what are the ways out that are not safe, and in what way are they not safe? Nole, do you agree with what Elon has said about the mural being a safe way out?"
ReplyDeleteElon commands Nole, "Tell him the answers he seeks... but don't you sense it Nole, can you feel the Lords are coming?"
ReplyDeleteNole answers, "Yes, I feel it. They will snuff out all who have the breath of life."
Nole continues, "To the north lies but monsters and traps. Dangerous for you. With the mural, the outcome is certain. Your time is running out. Please choose quickly."
Watching as he washes in the font, Finding asks Lohmi nervously, "what are you doing? You're not going to...are you?" She trails off, her eyes wide with terror.
ReplyDeleteAs Finding's eyes go wide with horror, you see Lohmi's sword hilt turn to dust in it's sheath! No, not dust... residuum! Something about washing his hands in the water font caused his magic sword to be disenchanted to raw magic dust...
ReplyDeleteTharl grimaces "I suggest we avoid the mural. I prefer the known element of traps and monsters to a certain unknown." Turning to Lohmi, he sees the sword turn to dust. "That's a bad turn of luck brother. Do you have other weapons? I can give you my spear or my morning star if you are in need, though they are poor replacements for your blade."
ReplyDeleteCompletely shaken by Lohmi's sword turning to dust, Finding whispers to the spirits.
ReplyDelete"What happens when out time runs out?"
Joryn's eyes go wide as Lohmi's sword disintegrated. He runs to the northwestern curtain and flings it open."I'll see this foul altar for myself! What blade are you talking about?"
ReplyDeleteTech: move to M2. Religion check?
Ambrose will collect what residuum he can from the sword remains. "We might be able to use this later."
ReplyDeleteHe will also walk about and also scan the whole room for magic.
OOC: No need to collect the residuum; it's in Lohmi's sword sheath. Unless you mean to walk up to Lohmi and take it from him?
ReplyDeleteLohmi blinked a few times as the water splashed his face. He was over here? With a confused look on his face, Lohmi turned and looked back across the room on the mural. Then his eyes widened in shock.
ReplyDelete"My blade?" Lohmi says, reaching down to where his trusty sword hilt w- should have been. Lohmi looked down in shock.
Turning to Tharl, "Alas, I don't think either would be a suitable replacement. There is but one suitable replacement nearby."
Angrily, Lohmi moves after Joryn. Intent on grabbing the cursed dagger from the altar. That would at least not leave him defenseless.
Vondal says .... "So far, I truly believe just one thing. I also feel something! Whatever choice we make, We must act quickly! Personally, I agree with Tharl, I prefer dealing with monsters and traps."
ReplyDelete