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| Click for a larger view of this scene. |
On the left side of the corridor, a moss-covered skeleton sits propped against the wall nearby (OOC: location B4 on map). Even from this distance, you notice that the skeleton has a discharged crossbow in its hands, pointed up at its own head. The bolt is lodged straight through the skull. Gerard, one of your backups, looks on grimly, saying, "For him to think taking his own life is better than whatever lies beyond..." and he lets his thought drift away, not sure how to end that sentence.
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| You start at row #9. |
The hallway ends at another set of stone doors. You think you see the four symbols of the gods engraved there... and something small and metallic glimmering on the door’s face as well.
The distant sound of churning water can be heard, echoing from all directions. The air reeks of salt.
OOC: The details above are had by simply looking into the hallway from the entrance. Closer investigation may provide more detail; let me know what you approach and inspect. The map shows the colors of the portals (clockwise, from lower left: Red, Orange, Green, Blue, Violet, Gray, White, Black)
If you feel stuck, or if this is your first time playing in a play-by-post/blog... no worries. Hit me up in the "Out of Character" (OOC) tab with any questions you have, or tweet me at @MilwaukeeJoe. You can even place questions right in the main area, as long as we don't clog it up with too much OOC talk.
Good Luck!
MilwaukeeJoe
[Tak-tha]
ReplyDeleteTucking the key away safely in a pouch, Tak-tha draws both of his blades and cautiously makes his way down the right side of the hallway. His head flits side to side, keeping his distance from the portals as he approaches the skeleton.
Tech:
Move from C9 to C4
Checks of Perception +11, Nature +11, Dungeoneering +9
Heal +9 on the skeleton specifically
[Nevdor]
ReplyDelete"Something shiny, eh?" "I'm going to have to take a look at that...". Nevdor whispers a prayer for luck, and slowly moves in behind Tak-tha, glance at each portal as he tip-toes down the hall.
OOC:
Move from B9 to C7, Perception & Dungeoneering +5, Stealth +9. Specifically interested in the golden object dangling above the portal. NOT touching anything on the portal.
Both Tak-tha and Nevdor proceed down the hallway without incident. Nothing comes to devour them, nor do any traps suddenly activate to grind them into bloody stumps. Having entered the hallway, they can tell that the sounds of water are being given off by the shimmering portals themselves.
ReplyDelete[Nevdor]
Nevdor examines the shiny object above the portal, and sees that it is a gold key hanging from an iron hook. In fact, there seems to be a key above each of the portals! No... wait... one hook is missing a key, the one above the green portal. On closer inspection, Nevdor's worldly experiences kick in... he can tell that these keys hanging above the portals are fool's gold.
Tech: A very good thievery roll gave you that fool's gold bit of info.
[Tak-tha]
Meanwhile, Tak-tha approaches the skeleton and can see that while it's quite decayed. It was once male, human. There is a still-intact pouch at the skeleton's waist.
OOC: Map updated in vitals tab.
Dervan, waits for the others to pass by, a look as if he didn't really care on his face before he moves in. He watches and sees that no traps triggered for the other two in front of him. With a half smile and a shrug, he moves into the first chamber himself. His eyes study the chamber with a brief glimmer of interest. His eyes alight on the portals, and he takes a bit of time to examine each on in turn.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Arcana +12, Dungeoneering/Perception +7 check, can Dervan determine the nature of the portals? (Or notice anything else interesting in the room?)
[Dervan]
ReplyDeleteDervan examines the portals, casting Detect Magic to peer at the magical auras. He can sense strong transmutation and alteration about them. To the studied, those auras in combination often mean teleportation magic. Step into a portal, and you are whisked away to another place. Where that destination is is anyone's guess.
(Other than the above, nothing else interesting that hasn't been revealed already.)
[Bhareg]
ReplyDeleteUnless someone else stops him from doing so, Bhareg starts picking up small objects (pebbles, twigs, whatever's available and valueless) and starts lobbing them into the portals. After each lob, he listens and watches to see if there's any discernible effect.
OOC: Perception +8, Thievery +9 (if applicable)
[Bhareg]
ReplyDeleteBhareg does find some pebbles and loose stones on the ground, and throws them into each of the various portals. The results are the same on all of them; a soft "ploop!" sound as when one tosses a small stone into a pond. The pebble passes through the portal, and is not seen again.
"False gold, eh?" Nevdor states to himself. He turns to the others, and asks to see the key found outside. He examines the key as he walks towards the stone doors at the north end of the room. Walking helps him think better...
ReplyDeleteTech:
Thievery check +9 on the key Tak-tha found. Is it false gold as well?
Nevdor examines the key that was found outside. It is true gold, not false...
ReplyDelete[Tak-tha]
ReplyDeleteHaving had the same idea as well, Tak-tha pulls out the key and hands it over to Nevdor. Not detecting any dangers, the Thri-kreen steps over to the skeleton and examines the pouch.
The pouch doesn't look like it has much in it, if anything. It's closed by a drawstring. Doesn't appear to be trapped in any way.
ReplyDeleteTech: Since you didn't specify opening the pouch, I assumed you didn't. Investigation by sight only. Let me know if you get more hands on.
OOC: Yeah, I meant opening it as part of the examining
DeleteOpening the pouch, you find another key. Knowing what to look for, you can see easily that it is made from fool's gold.
ReplyDelete"Hmmm." Tak-tha glances up and notices the portal in front of him is missing its key from its hook. Careful to not disturb the skeleton or touch the portal, he places the key on the green portal's hook.
ReplyDeleteTak-tha places the fool's gold key (that he found in the pouch) onto the hook. Nothing significant seems to happen, but for those of you with a completion-ist streak in them, at least all the hooks now have fool's gold keys.
ReplyDeleteBhareg taps his staff alternately on his brow and the floor, and ponders aloud. With each bullet point, he audibly taps on the floor.
ReplyDelete"So some obvious, but perhaps dangerous, solutions present themselves.
• That the true key fits in the stone doors, and we enter.
• That the true key belongs where there was no key previously.
• Or we could enter a portal at random."
He takes a deep breath, as if to illustrate his next point. "As dead as I may look, I still breathe air, so without more information the portals seem an ill choice. More information will probably present itself beyond the door. What are everyone's thoughts?"
Nevdor was already thinking what Bhareg states out-loud, we should go through the stone door. Lets try the true gold key first. Its uniqueness stands out. "Never trust a portal lacking a description".
ReplyDeleteTech:
Lets open that door unless someone else objects
Dervan tilts his head to one side. An interesting little puzzle here. The things thrown through the portals didn't seem to appear anywhere in the room. At Bhareg's suggestion, Dervan gives a shrug.
ReplyDelete"Sounds fine." he says, in a bored monotone.
He glances around to see if he can locate the objects that were thrown through the portals.