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| Click for a larger version of Lyth's crypt. |
Taking the northwest stairway from the Great Hub, you ascend to find a double doors that are already open. Taking care to thoroughly check for traps along the way, you sense the way is open.
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| You are at D10/E10 at the time of this post. |
Beyond the doors is a musty crypt. Large brass braziers sit atop high columns, their light glinting off the hieroglyphs that blanket the walls. Ahead, two archways are set into the wall, the way through barred by jade portcullises coated in slime.
In between the two archways lies a massive sarcophagus nearly 10 feet long. Dozens of clay jars – some as tall as a human – stand around the base of the sepulcher.Waves of heat ripple through the air, carrying on their crest the scent of burning incense.
OOC: Dungeoneers, I am out tomorrow on vacation, so I might post or I might not. I'll try to check in when I can. In the meantime, good luck! -MilwaukeeJoe
[Tak-tha]
ReplyDeleteTak-tha cautiously makes his way into the crypt up the middle of the stairs, approaching the jars, keeping an investigative eye out on his surroundings.
Tech
Dungeoneering and Heal (since it's a crypt, medical knowledge might be useful) +9, Perception and Nature +11
[Arden]
ReplyDeleteArden moves cautiously into the room (to F9) to get a look at the hieroglyphs. He checks them for arcane energy and meaning as well as just seeing if he knows anything about their meaning. He shares anything gleaned from his examination and then tries to follow directly in Tak-tha's "foot"steps to get up to examine the jars.
Tech: arcana +10, history +10 on the hieroglyphs then if I get that far arcana +10 on a jar. also religion +5 on the jars if that seems important.
Nevdor walks forward, searching the platform and stairs for any tripwires, pressure plates, etc. If he finds nothing to worry about, Nevdor will approach the urns, and give them a look over.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Dungeoneering/Perception +5. Move to D4 if no surprises.
[Arden and Tak-tha]
ReplyDeleteArden isn't detecting any magic on the jars, nor does he get any signs or clues from the heiroglyphics. However, he does detect a serious magic aura coming from wherever the barred hallway leads.
As Tak-tha ascends the stairs, the lid of the sarcophagus is pushed off from something within. Quickly emerging, a massive Mummy Naga appears to stand before you. Yet, it does not attack.
Instead, in a raspy voice, it speaks, "If you wish to pass safely, you must demonstrate your loyalty to the Mother of Beasts."
The mummified naga gestures to the many jars about the sarcophagus' base and says, "In these jars are the remains of some of the realm's most fearsome creatures. I will riddle you, and you must identify the contents from the clues I give. But first, choose among you who will answer the riddles..."
OOC: Choose one of you to be the spokesperson, and the riddling will begin!
[Nevdor]
ReplyDeleteNevdor does not detect any traps, but his way (to D4) is blocked by the Mummy Naga.
OOC: To be clear, you all can chime in on riddle answers, but only the spokesperson will actually tell the answer to the mummy naga.
ReplyDeleteNevdor stops abruptly, the naga taking him by surprise. He turns to the rest of the party and shrugs, "Selvantis, Tak-tha?"
ReplyDeleteOOC: I imagine the rangers should take the lead here, I'll chime in when I can.
[Tak-tha]
ReplyDeleteTak-tha immediately sheathes both of his blades and turns to the rest of the group. "I would be honored to speak for us."
OOC: I'm fine with this. I'm pretty sure directly opening a jar would be looked down upon, but any chance the +9 Heal check can reveal some kind of useful information?
Hanar approaches the group, shaking his head. He didn't feel like being the spokesperson.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Seeing as how I have a bit of trouble keeping up with you guys, I'd rather someone else be spokesperson. That aside, I would like to have some input on the riddle answer. I love riddles. :D
[Bhareg]
ReplyDelete"Even with this," Bhareg starts, tapping the diadem on his brow, "I cannot hope to rival Tak-tha's experience with creatures, Arden's knowledge of mystical beings, and Hanar's grasp of the undead."
He taps his staff on the floor with each call out. "But - I will provide what insight as I am able."
OOC: riddles and party input/consensus? Will skill rolls even make much of a dent here?
OOC: I doubt the skills will give us much more extra clues, we'll probably have to figure this out on our own. Joe did say we can talk it over, but one person is giving the final answer. The big question is, how many can we lose before she attacks us?
ReplyDelete[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteTaken aback by the sudden appearance of the ancient, dessicated naga, he listens intently to her instructions, casting his eyes towards Tak-Tha as he bravely steps forward and nods gently in agreement.
OOC: Even if Selvantis spoke for the party, his nature skill is piss-poor for a ranger. I've got a damn near encyclopedic knowledge of the creatures in D&D though, I'll be happy to add my skills to the pool.
The Mummy Naga says, "I will test you seven times. Fail two of them, and you fail the challenge. I accept the Thri-Kreen as your spokesman. Let us begin."
ReplyDeleteA man's head, a lion's body, a pair of bat's wings
with the spikes on its tail it pierces and stings.
IMPORTANT: For this series of questions, I'm challenging YOU the player, not your characters. Skill rolls will help you none. My request - DO NOT GOOGLE THE ANSWER. I obviously can't police you on this, so I'm putting my trust in you that you will keep away from search engines and monster manuals.
The deadline for this question is Sunday night. Tak-tha must provide the answer. Feel free to use the OOC for discussion, but the answer must be posted here.
Thanks and good luck!
OOC: manticore, agreed. I'm sure it only gets harder from here. When in doubt, I'm voting tarrasque
ReplyDeleteOOC: Isn't that ALWAYS a fair bet? Capital of Uganda? Tarrasque. Solve for X? Tarrasque. Does this dress make me look fat? No honey, of course not.
ReplyDeleteIt takes only a matter of seconds for the group to come up with the answer, and Tak-tha turns back towards the Mummy Naga. "As any good adventurer knows, the beast you have described is...the manticore!"
ReplyDeleteThe Mummy Naga answers, "Manticore.... is correct. Well done, you show promise."
ReplyDeleteA foul stench and peeling skin
is its curse for eating the flesh of its kin.
OOC: Ooh, tough one. Obviously some kind of undead, terrible stench sounds like maybe ghouls? But peeling skin sounds more like a zombie. Ghouls, to my knowledge, have a very distinct odor, but greying, dry, almost stretched skin do they not? But the only zombie really known for its awful smell would be the deathcloud, or tyrant zombie. I say ghouls.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Yeah, this one is tricky. Eating the flesh of its kin, I think ghouls are the ones that are stated to eat other living/once-living things. I don't think zombies have that designation.
ReplyDeleteThe stench makes me think it may be another monster. I can't quite place what it is called, but it is a kind of undead...there were some in Neverwinter Nights. Dang it, what are they called.
OOC: Yeah, I know what you're talking about, but half of the undead in NwN spread out huge green clouds of crap when you hit them. Ghouls do eat carrion and the like, plus won't they eat their fallen brethren? I'm really leaning towards ghouls here.
ReplyDeleteOOC: ghoul or ghast. Shit, what was the difference again?
ReplyDeleteOOC: Ghouls are like lesser versions of ghasts. Both are undead, stinky and can paralyze with a touch, but ghasts are supposed to have retained most of their intelligence so they're usually the leaders of their funky little pack.
ReplyDeleteOOC: didn't the old school ghast have an stench that weakened you? Or am I thinking of another undead...
ReplyDeleteOOC: In 2nd ed, yeah, I think their stench was worse and caused some kind of penalty to you, but the riddle didn't say anything about a weakening stench, just horrible. Eeech, now I'm having doubts. I'm gonna bite the bullet and stick with ghoul though, ghast is really specialized.
ReplyDeleteWe have an OOC thread :P
ReplyDeleteWhile it takes a bit longer to come up with an answer this time, Tak-tha turns back to the Mummy Naga and speaks confidently. "The creature you speak of is...the ghoul!"
OOC: All the OOC I see here is on-topic, so it's cool.
ReplyDeleteThe Mummy Naga answers, "Ghoul.... is correct. Your knowledge of beasts is impressive..."
With fur and beak and talons it looms
this predator is not one beast, but two.
OOC: Owlbear!!!
ReplyDeleteAfter a bit of discussion, Tak-tha speaks again. "Tis the owlbear!"
ReplyDeleteThe Mummy Naga answers, "Owlbear.... is correct. You are mastering this more easily than other generations..."
ReplyDeleteThe fourth riddle:
At the center of a maze this beast of legend stands
with the head of a bull and the body of a man.
Ooc: minotaur, no doubt.
ReplyDelete"The monster of the maze is the minotaur!"
ReplyDeleteAgain, you nail the response that is required. The Mummy Naga looks impressed, and says, "Four times you have answered correctly. Two more do you require, but these next riddles will be more obscure..."
ReplyDeleteA body like the buffalo, but in fields it does not graze
a long neck, a foul smell, and a deadly gaze.
"A challenge, finally, but we have another answer for you. This new beast is the catoblepas!"
ReplyDeleteNow the Mummy Naga looks a little irritated. These mortals got it right, again. She dismisses the expression from her face. These humanoids are not her enemy, yet.
ReplyDeletePlace your toll in its fingers six
and it shall ferry you across the River Styx.
OOC: This could be your final question! Go for it!
"Your toughest yet!" Tak-tha declares, "And yet we still have an answer for you! The beast of your final query is...Charon!"
ReplyDelete