 |
| The Divine Skull of Asar-Segt? |
OOC: I took your choices from the previous post and sped things up with multiple die rolls. You guys took it right to the wire, using up all three gems from the mummies AND Tak-tha having to use a healing surge (7 remaining). Finally tally: Complete the Invocation=3/2 and Construct the Golem=8/2.
A long moment passes, then finally the Clay Golem begins to animate! It turns immediately to lumber towards the south wall, and with mighty fists it pummels against the stone. It takes a few seconds to bust a hole in that wall, revealing a small niche beyond. The torches in that niche flair to life as if expecting you. The golem then stands off to the side, and stoically stands watch.
Once you get a view of the torch-lit niche, you spy a clay altar and a Divine Skull. This one is engraved with the symbol of Asar-Segt! You also see a number of clay figurines standing on the altar near the skull. All are animals save for one, which is molded in the shape of a human. (OOC: Not shown in screenshot.)
Good job on the golem,
MilwaukeeJoe
Nevdor slowly enters the revealed room, Keeping an eye on the floor for a trap or something else out of the norm. "so who wants to make a sacrifice to Asar-segt?". If nothing keeps him from approaching the altar, Nevdor will take a closer look at the clay figures, w/o touching them, of course.
ReplyDeleteOOC:
Don't have my sheet on me, othsrwise I'd add my perception here. Also, anyone have a prayer in mind?
[Nevdor]
ReplyDeleteNevdor makes his way into the room, seeing no traps. The clay figures are of fine quality, and of all manner of animals (and the one human).
[Tak-tha]
ReplyDeleteTak-tha hides his surprise that they've already made it to another skull. He follows Nevdor in, trying to think of any clues about the clay figurines that might be of use.
Tech
Nature +11 to investigate the clay figures and figure out any relevance to Asar-Segt.
Unfortunately, Tak-tha is not aware of any connection between the clay figures and Asar-Segt.
ReplyDelete[Bhareg]
ReplyDeleteBhareg looks at the figurines, and looks at the collected dungeoneers. Then back at the figurines. "One human in both cases?" he muses quietly, almost to himself. And, as an afterthought, "Isn't Lyth the mother of the beasts? This is curious, indeed."
Stepping forward, with less caution than those who have gone before him, Bhareg takes a closer look at the altar and the figurines for himself.
OOC: Visually examining the altar itself and the figurines for traps, catches, drawers, etc. (Nevdor checked the floor, yes?): +10 Perception, +11 Thievery, +5 Dungeoneering.
Specific things I want to know:
• figurine quantity, racial makeup.
• whether the altar is solid clay, or if there might be compartments or channels in it.
• possible significant arrangement of the figurines - +2 Arcana/History/Religion - also using Perception check to point things out to those with much higher knowledge skills
[Arden]
ReplyDeleteArden, like all mages, likes to think of himself as a master of Arcane forces, but when confronted by the god of magic a little humility is probably in order. So with a prayer to Asar-Segt for devine guidance Arden searches the small room for arcane traps. Specifically checking the clay statues and the altar holding the skull. He tries to tie any arcane understanding into his knowledge of Asarj-Sept.
Tech: Arcana +10 on the statues and on the skull. Religion +5 on Asar-Sept to tie it all together.
[Arden and Bhareg]
ReplyDeleteThe altar seems to be solid clay; no compartments. You detect no special arrangement of the figurines.
Arden detects epic tier level auras of warding/necromancy on the skull.
List of Figurines:
1. Crow
2. Ferret
3. Jaguar
4. Monkey
5. Tiger
6. Wolf
7. Rat
8. Rabbit
9. Hawk
10. Human
11. Eagle
12. Cobra
13. Frog
Nevdor suggests to all that we enact a small rite to honor Asar-segt, and burn the human figurine as tribute. Who has access to fire magic?" he asks. "If any if you are unwilling to risk touching a figure, I will gladly take that risk. I just am not well versed enough in spellcraft to properly honor him..."
ReplyDeleteOOC: who's with me? Once someone is willing to perform the rite, I will grab the human figure, and cut open it's abdomen before we burn it in magical flames...
[Bhareg]
ReplyDeleteBhareg notes, "Everything I've heard about Arden suggests powerful mind magic, but little to do with flames. Isn't that right, Arden?"
Without waiting for an answer, and again holding aloft a bottle of oil - "But you did light the torch. This should do the rest. What say you, human? Sacrifice the one human figurine?"
OOC: Boy, that's a lot of figurines, that in no way corresponds to the party races. Nor does it seem to correspond to the portals in the Hub, the Mastermind puzzle, or... anything else we've explicitly seen.
Anyone want to practice some knowledge skills on the books in the previous room? Or do we like the sacrificial figurine idea?
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteAfter wiping the thick, mucky clay from his hands and watching in awe as the golem stirs to life and provides their passage, the half elf follows the others into the alcove beyond. The sight of the crystal skull sends a shiver of fear and excitement through his spine, making his hair stand on end. He watches patiently as his fellows muse over the figurines.
Taking a deep breath, he kneels, placing his hands open on his thighs and closes his eyes. ‘Asar-Segt, while I have not the aptitude to turn my hand of Your skills and knowledge, I have felt Your presence. In every wind across the plains, as I have seen the lights of far north crash and blend across the midnight sky, in every beast and man who shed blood and life in Your honor and name, I have known You.’
He draws his dagger and uses the razor tip to trace a crude hand, wreathed in a halo of zig-zags into the palm of his hand, making not a sound as he offers the pain and flowing crimson blood to honor the God of Magic and Sacrifice.
OOC: If it makes a difference, I'm willing to spend a healing surge worth of blood on the prayer, cutting his wrist enough to let blood flow easily as an additional sacrifice.
ReplyDelete[Selvantis/Arden]
ReplyDeleteAfter Selvantis prays and cuts himself, Arden senses the epic-tier aura around the skull fade away to nothing.
Tech: Selvantis is now at 6 healing surges.
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteSlightly woozy from the scarlet flow that drips from his fingertips, the ranger glances around at the gathered members of the party and gives them a slight nod, his expression steely. He reaches out with his trembling, bloodied hand that still drips fresh blood to splatter against the floor of the chamber and places his palm over the symbol of Asar-Segt. He tries to match the carved hand in his flesh with the cold crystal skull’s engraving as thin rivulets of blood trace down the its transparent face.
Selvantis grabs the skull.... check the next post for the results!!!!
ReplyDelete