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| Where once was a blank archway... |
Placing Lyth's divine skull on the final pedestal, you feel the entire room shudder and tremble for a moment. Suddenly, the gems in the columns begin to glow, casting prismatic rays across the walls and floor! Your attention is drawn to the northern archway, the one with the blank wall. The flames of the flanking braziers begin to swirl and burn a deep red.
Finally, the stone within the archway starts to churn, and shapes begin to carve themselves into the wall. You watch as the space transforms itself, the archway now embossed with the image of a headless skeleton sitting atop a throne adorned with feathers. In the spot where its head would be, there is only a concave indentation.
A chorus of voices booms from the walls: "CHOOSE!"
[Arden]
ReplyDeleteThe massive amounts of divine power flowing in and about the skulls is wrecking havoc with your magical detection abilities.
Tech: Natural 4 on the Arcana check.
[Hanar]
ReplyDeleteHanar lifts his gem of true seeing, taking a look at the new figure, the secret door, and also stone tablet.
OOC: Just barely realized that the gem could possibly pierce the illusion on the stone tablet. Perception +7 with true sight.
Chose? We probably have to choose one of the skulls, seeing that the skeleton is missing a skull. Or maybe we give it one of our skulls. I'm not sure.
ooc: It's nice to know that my rolling is the same whether I'm holding the dice or someone else is.
ReplyDelete[Bhareg]
ReplyDeleteRecalling a small part of Arden's masterful storytelling from earlier, Bhareg murmurs, "As the story has it, that particular group gathered all of the skulls except that of Asar-Segt. In the end, however, they failed. In the final test..."
His voice rises as he taps his staff on the ground with each point. "Friends, I do not think we need all four skulls to reach the final test. However. Our predecessors would have failed without the sacrifice of the Exarch. Perhaps the strength gained from the fourth skull will earn us a better fate."
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteThe ranger gazes around the room at the dancing lights that cris-cross the floor and walls, wary of their properties.
"I think our path has been chosen, friend... I would not risk those lights for fear of retribution." He sighs, looking at his companions. "I too think our efforts would have yielded greater results had we retrieved the final skull, but I fear it is too late for such heroics."
He locks his eyes onto the embossed relief of the skull and throne, shivering despite the heat of the braziers. Swallowing hard he strides slowly closer to the carving and inspects the indention.
Tech: Perception +6
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteSelvantis takes a close look at the carvings, and notices little pictures hidden within the images. They show the manifestations of the gods, and they are maiming, torturing, devouring, slaying... a group of humanoids.
No, wait... not any group of humanoids. YOU. The images are of them tearing your group apart!
[Selvantis]
ReplyDeleteGritting his teeth and swallowing back bile, the newly feral ranger lets out a half-growl, almost startling himself with the sound of it.
He turns and walks back to his comrades, visibly shaken by what he has seen. "We must press forward, it is time to face our Makers..."
He regards the three brilliantly lit skulls for a moment, then nods as if agreeing with himself. "I suggest the skull of Lyth... I would show her what this beast She has given life and fire to can do against her challenges."
[Arden]
ReplyDeleteArden goes to examine Kishar's path, wondering if the magic of this place has removed this choice. Then he goes to examine the skeleton and the new writings on the wall.
tech: arcana +11 on the skeleton history +11 religion +6 on the new shapes on the walls.
ooc: is the path to Kishar still physically open?
Arden sees the same brutalities in the images. He didn't know his arm could bend that way! The skeleton skull-indentation does indeed look like one could place a skull in it.
ReplyDeleteLooking to the northeast, it seems that the way to Kishar's challenge is still open.
[Tak-tha]
ReplyDeleteTak-tha takes a step back in surprise, glad that the burst of colors and lights did not blind him. He puts the pole away, then casts a wary eye at the flames.
Is the flame a natural flame red color?
Also, it only said choose, not "Choose now!" or something like that. We might be safe just leaving the room like this while we go to Kishar
The flame from the braziers is NOT a natural flame-red color.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Aha! I think this is a clue for the portal room! That the red portal is the one to go through!
ReplyDeleteOOC: Where did you pull that from? What does this have to do with the portal chamber? I'm more worried about what might happen if we mess with the Kisthar challenge when the skeleton chair is telling us to 'Choose'.
ReplyDelete[Selvantis]
Still wary of the lights that shine across the tiled stone floor, the ranger proceeds up the stair towards Kishtar’s trial, examining the massive door that leads towards the new terror.
Perception +6
OOC: A room filled with colors but red is the one that stands out? Doesn't seem that far a leap, considering it's the closest to a clue towards that room we've gotten. Are we ignoring the secret room behind the tapestry until after Kishar?
ReplyDelete"Ahh, that must be our way out..." Nevdor states calmly. But he feels incomplete, like there is something more to be done. "If this leads us to the exit my friends, let us not shun the goddess Kishar, it would be wise for us to complete all rituals..." Nevdor moves back towards the secret door, and pushes on it slightly.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Lets see whats in there!
I doubt the red is tied to the portal room. Nothing else in the crucible seems linked to the first room, so why would it be now?
Selvantis checks out the stairway leading to the Kishar challenge. At the top of the stairs, it bends to the left to a closed iron double door. No tricks, traps or secrets as far as Selvantis can tell. The double door looks to be unlocked.
ReplyDeleteMeanwhile, Nevdor opens the secret door recently found in the Great Hub...
OOC: More on that tomorrow! Stay tuned!
The intrigue continues at:
ReplyDeletehttp://grind4e.blogspot.com/2012/03/crucible-of-gods-fortunes-haunt.html