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| This chamber clearly is a tribute to the art of war. |
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| You enter at K8/K9. |
A cobblestone path divides between the lines of statues.
A small silver niche – barely 3' wide and 6" high – is visible in the far east wall.
OOC: Congratulations, this is the first time I've DMed this chamber. In fact, I didn't even bother to do the screenshot ahead of time, figuring you wouldn't find it... so why waste my time? Thank you for showing me wrong and for your patience while I quick put it together. Good luck!
Addendum Imagery:
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| Inside is a grotesque wrought-iron statue holding a gem cut in the shape of an eye. |
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| A most bizarre puzzle. |
OOC: Holy CRAP that's an awesome screenshot. I literally almost just spilled my coffee looking at it. Great work, mate!
ReplyDelete[Hanrar]
Still wary of the unexplained autonomous reflection in the mirrored passageway, he steps into the room, holding his breath as he brandishes his staff. A queer expression crosses his face as he lets go of his lungs, rolling his shining eyes in their dry sockets. Put off by his own foolishness, the mage relaxes and takes a moment to examine the room, paying close attention to the statues and the fresco, shaking his head as the echoes of war whisper into his ears as he stares above...
He shakes himself, pushing the thoughts away and refocusing on the room, searching it with eyes and mind as he slowly proceeds.
Tech: Arcana +24, Religion +19, History +19, Perception +10, do the statues seem articulated at all? Does the fresco above move or shift? Pay close attention to any visible eyes.
Brathu takes in the wondrous scene, fully aware that the iron lich, a former paladin, must have seen his share of battles and glories before succumbing to evil himself. He walks in slowly, staying in the center, looking for a flaw or clue in which to point them towards the final segment of wraithverge.
ReplyDeleteOOC: wow, this is amazing. Also glad you doubted us ;). Brathu moves through the room, intent on studying the silver niche.
Arcana +11, history+13, perception +15, dungeoneering +15.
The deva is very impressed by the liched artistic skill, "could this be a scene from his past? What great triumphs did he have as a warrior before his fall?" he asked himself and the others outloud.
ReplyDeleteOOC: sweet imaginary joe. Really impressive. El-Kal will slowly move in to L9, inspecting the imagery for movement or a flaw within the art. Arcana +17, perception +16, History +21.
OOC: Saw screenshot. Jizzed in pants.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Holy shiiiiiiiiiithat's pretty.
Delete+1
DeleteThanks everyone! I was tempted to not work on it and just say, "F it, use your imagination..." but I'm glad I didn't!
DeleteDoombuilder2 for the WIN!
[Yursil]
ReplyDelete"Interesting" Yursil says dryly, scanning the area with his eyes.
OOC: Arcana +15, Perception +13
[Vesten]
ReplyDeleteVesten floats into the room and is taken aback.
"This is an ostentatious display, isn't it?" he quips as he looks around.
"I wonder if the room is just pretty or has some mechanical purpose?"
Tech:Dungeoneering +10, Perception +10, Thievery +11
OOC: Amazing job on the room, Joe.
[Hanrar]
ReplyDeleteThe statues are of fantastic workmanship. None of them exhibit the "empty eye sockets" situation that you've seen with the other statues of the Iron Lich's wife. However, Hanrar does notice that one of the statues has incorporated silver workmanship into the marble. None of the other statues has this. He also sees some scratches on the floor near the base of the statue.
[Brathu]
Brathu moves to the eastern wall and examines the silver niche. It is 3' wide by 6" high, and is set a finger’s length back into the wall. Embossed on the inner surface of the niche is a sneering demon’s face, whose horns curve down around a pair of red-painted eyes with two pupils each. The slot is horizontal and runs the length of a mouth filled with jagged fangs.
You can tell that the slot is intended for edged weapons, reminding you of a sharpening device you've seen once before in ages past. Your nose picks up a strong odor of heated metal coming from within the slot.
[El-Kal]
Examining the ceiling mural, you can't sense any magic from it. That makes it more impressive, quality of this magnitude without resorting to illusion magic. The mural seems to move if you look at it long enough, but again not due to magicks... just excellent artistry that draws your eye from place to place.
[Yursil
Yursil senses a magic aura from the slot that Brathu is examining, of evocation and necromantic magic.
[Vesten]
While the others are checking out the mural, niche and statues, Vesten notices that four of the swords on the walls are not iron... but silver. Intriguing...
[Hanrar]
ReplyDeletePausing a moment and crouching down to peer at the scuff marks, Hanrar allows himself a slight smirk before standing and brushing himself off, then moving around the statue and pressing against the side that aligns with the direction of the scuff marks. Reaching into his pack, he pulls out a flask of oil and pulls the stopper from it, spilling a small amount near the base of the statue and along the scuff marks. Putting the flask away, he leans into the silvered statue and with a grunt, he presses his weight against it trying to shift the massive statue. The Shadar-kai, still reasonably strong for a sequestered master of arcane arts, attempts to use leverage and directional force to move the heavy art-piece.
Tech: Strength 13[+1], Athletics +11, Bracers of Mental Might Int 22 [+6] as Strength check.
[Hanrar]
ReplyDeleteThe statue moves when you push it, revealing a 3′ by 3′ silver panel set into the floor. Four slits are visible, set in a single row. They are a about 4 to 6 inches wide, and you're not sure how deep they go.
Watching from a distance as he does not want to burn his companions, Brathu sees the moving statue, the four swords and suggests: "a sword per slit, and then we must sharpen a blade in the demons fangs?". "Vesten, perhaps those four silver swords are the key here".
ReplyDelete[Hanrar]
ReplyDeleteWith a shrug to Brathu, and a raspy "Perhaps...", as he unwinds a spool of thread he pulls from a belt-pouch. "Perhaps not..." he ties one end around a gold coin and begins feeding the line down the slit, waiting until he hears the metal hit the bottom and pulling it back out, measuring the slits depth.
How deep is the slit?
The slits are longer than a person's arm for sure, but less than twice that length.
ReplyDelete[Hanrar]
ReplyDeleteMaking a face and twisting his quarrel, he stands, holding the string up against the length of the silvered blades, looking closely at the masterwork longswords, searching for any indication of their importance beyond their material.
Do the blades give off any arcane auras or have any markings that only a Lich could see? No eyeballs on the pommels?
[Teryn]
ReplyDelete"Alright guys, let's not overthink this. Four swords, four hidden sword-shaped slots. Let's do it." With this, Teryn moves to collect the four silver swords from the wall.
I'm planning on inserting those swords into the four slits, unless we have strenuous objection from others!
Hold up there, I want to get done with this room as much as anyone, but let's think here for a minute. We've got four silver swords, four slits in the ground, but only one slot for an edged weapon. I think Joe is kind of busy at work or what-have you, so let's investigate the 'sharpening slot' first and try to get some more info on these swords. I doubt we're supposed to just jam them in any old way, maybe their pommels match a color at the corners of the rooms or some nonsense.
ReplyDelete[Teryn]
Delete"Here are the swords, check them out if you want. I'm going to go take a peek at this other thing." Having collected the four silver swords, she hands them over to anyone who wants to take a look. She then moves over towards the demon-styled slit to take a peek. Without touching it, she sees if she can discern any more about how it works or what its purpose is.
Tech: Perception +17, Thievery +19 to discern more about it. Is it trapped? How does it work? Is it ready to accept a blade?
Well, based on what Joe said, the four slots would fit a typical longsword, which is what I assume the swords on the walls are. So we have four slots for an edged weapon, then a sharpening device also for an edged weapon in the wall. But sure, we can investigate more.
You easily obtain the four silver swords from the wall, and close examination shows each one has a series of strange letting on them.
ReplyDeleteNote: See addendum imagery for new image. If this were a table-top game, you would see me passing out four slips of paper (for the four lines), shuffling them before I gave them to the players. Do with that information as you wish.
OOC: ah, these match the engravings we found on the wall from the trial of chests, no? Could this be a cypher? Did anyone make a copy of those symbols? If not, we could bring the swords out of the room, decipher them and bring 'em back.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Or you can just go back to the "Trial of Chests" post and look at the image. I'm not that way.
DeleteOOC: Hanrar copied them down. Are we assuming since the cypher had 26 characters it's just an alphabet match? I'm translating now, give me a second.
Delete... okay, I'm just looking at a jumble of letters here. No real rhyme or reason to them.
ReplyDelete"SDRP N DSR T HTD N DN
YRTCV DN YTRPSRP HTR N
RPP W HCHW RYRP HT RH
KS W THE S TNR T NGD DN"
Maybe we were wrong about the cypher? I suppose it could be a backwards alphabet, no real easy way to decipher it if it's some kind of crazy alpha-numeric. I mean we don't even have any vowels in there to make words.
OOC: well shit...I just checked the cipher, got the same. No vowels..maybe they were left out to confound us? Let's assume our cipher is right, could we make words outta these constenants on our own? Will think it over...otherwise, we can always just try our luck with the sword slot machine...
DeleteOOC: I'm gonna try to fit these together with some vowels tonight, see if any of it makes sense. I'll keep my findings posted. fuck, could you imagine trying to do this in under four hours?
DeleteOOC: line 2 fist word looks like victory backwards! Nd is probably "and"; hchw would be which. S the cipher gave us words, but the whole thing is backwards. Lemme try my hand at this when I am not on my phone...
DeleteOOC: Yeah, I’m getting the idea that these are backwards. Let me turn them around and see if I can slot some vowels into them. That makes WAY more sense.
ReplyDeleteFYI, Paul's been hitting me up for clues by gmail chat... but I've said nothing but "no comment". No giving away the puzzle!
DeleteTattle tale! :P Okay, so when i turn it around it makes MUCH more sense. What I've got so far:
Delete"and no death to reside[?] in pr--ds
no r--th prosperity and victory
hear oath[?]prayer which we p-p-r
and d-g-n to r--nt us what we seek"
It's coming along but parts just don't make sense.
OOC: Actually, line three is "Hear the prayer we offer" I had fumbled with my pen and my f's looked like p's for a second there. I think the second word in line four is actually deign now that I see it in black & white, and the last word in line one might be paradise.
Delete"and deign to grant us what we seek."
DeleteI think you're missing a g in there in line 4.
No, double checked and everything. That's what I thought too, and it'd make perfect sense, but it's just "RNT"
DeleteI just worked through it from scratch and teah, you're right.
DeleteoN eaRTH PRoSPeRiTY aND ViCToRY
aND No DeaTH To ReSiDe iN PaRaDiSe
HeaR THe PRaYeR WHiCH We oFFeR
aND DeiGN To gRaNT uS WHaT We SeeK
Uppercase letters are given to us from the image. Lower case are my filled in guesses. In italics are the parts I'm least sure about. "grant" in line 4 assumes some error in the message.
Hey Joe, was there an error in your image in line four?
If there is, take it up with the Iron Lich. It's his riddle.
Delete[Breaking News!]
ReplyDeleteEl-Kal, who is most excellently versed in historical matters, remembers this as an ancient battle change sung by the royal guard of Stormhold. He is quite certain that the last line is "And in death to reside in paradise".
OOC: Aint I so well-versed? Sorry I was no help here dudes, but it looked like it was coming along. So is there a direction/ordering to the slits in the floor Joe, or do we just assume west->east is like reading left -> right?
DeleteAlright, then here's my best guess, with the lines in order.
ReplyDeleteHeaR THe PRaYeR WHiCH We oFFeR
aND DeiGN To gRaNT uS WHaT We SeeK
oN eaRTH PRoSPeRiTY aND ViCToRY
aND iN DeaTH To ReSiDe iN PaRaDiSe
I think our Iron Lich is just fucking with us. Or never passed primary school.
With the silver runes lined up to the best of their knowledge, Brathu urges Hanrar and Teryn to slide the swords into place. Moments after they are, he offers up the Sword of Croodle to the demons fangs.
DeleteOOC: Looks complete to me! When we are ready, Brathu will offer up the sword of croodle to the demons fangs. Hopefully I don't lose the sword, its already saved my ass once!
So it looks like we've got it translated, but it still seems mixed up. The translation sounds like a battle prayer or something, maybe some significance to the liches past life as a paladin? If you mix up the lines to read:
ReplyDeleteHear the prayer which we offer
And deign to grant us what we seek
On earth prosperity and victory
And no death to reside in paradise
It flows much more like a real prayer. Okay, now we have four slots, four swords and four cyphered lines of prayer. Coincidence? I think maybe we're supposed to sharpen the blades for battle and then say the prayer as we put them in the slots. Sound solid?
"In death," I think.
DeleteBut my interpretation is that we put the blades into the four slots, saying the prayer. Then we are rewarded with the privilege to sharpene/enhance/enchant one of our blades.
OOC: Aye, speak the words just in case, everyone OK with the paladin taking the risk/reward this time?
DeleteI think the paladin is the most dramatically appropriate, given the lich's history!
DeleteGo for it, I still think we should sharpen the blades before they go in though, makes more sense in the ritual prayer sense, but lets give it a shot.
ReplyDelete[Hanrar]
With a nod to princess Teryn, the mage and rouge begin sliding the swords into place, intoning the section of the prayer inscribed thereupon as each is sheathed into place. As the last fits in, he turns to Brathu, watching expectantly.
I will need the following:
ReplyDelete1. Will you insert the swords left-to-right, or right-to-left?
2. Give me the exact sequence of the swords. You can tell me this by posting the poem you have transcribed.
Thanks!
Left to right
ReplyDeleteHear the prayer which we offer
And deign to grant us what we seek
On earth prosperity and victory
And in death to reside in paradise
You insert the swords into the slots. With the fourth one inserted, you hear an audible Click! from the silver niche in the east wall...
ReplyDeleteHesitant for only a moment, Brathu slides the sword of croodle between the demons fangs.
DeleteOOC: I hope that was a good click and not a bad one...
[Brathu]
ReplyDeletePlacing your sword into the demon fangs, it begins to grind mercilessly on the blade! At first you think your precious weapon might be destroyed, but then you realize it is being strengthened.
When the process is done, you withdraw the sword. Runes have been scorched along the blades length... VORPAL runes.
Vorpal Runes
Enchantment: Whenever you score a critical hit with a natural 20 against an enemy, that enemy is instantly killed.
In addition, a section of wall opens to your right, revealing a dark alcove. Inside is a grotesque wrought-iron statue holding a gem cut in the shape of an eye. The statue clutches the third and final segment of Wraithverge in its other hand!
New addendum imagery added above.
OOC: I immediately And forever love this game. A viral sword of hugging? Gygax be praised!
Delete*vorpal
Delete[Hanrar]
ReplyDeleteA smirk stretches across his dry lips as the blade is ground and etched under the teeth of the demonic face, his eyes going wide as he recognizes the runic pattern stretching down the golden blades face. He draws his dagger, eyeing its bare surface forlornly. He chuckles dryly as he sheathes his blade and stands up from the hilted longswords, turning towards the statue and reaches out, lifting the segment of the Wraithverge from its grasp.
Stepping back, he kneels once again, retrieving the two other parts of the Wraithverge from his pack, carefully fitting each in place. His lips part in a toothy grin as he lifts the completed weapon, a mad gleam in his eyes.
Congratulations, the Wraithverge pulsates with power in your hands. See new addendum imagery above for what this bad-boy can do.
ReplyDeleteOOC: I realized that Hanrar, being a lich with no surges, cannot use the Wraithverge. You will have to give it to someone who can.
Delete[Hanrar]
ReplyDeleteClutching the jeweled black rod in his gloved hands, the mage grins wide enough to make his dry skin crack slightly. He closes his shining eyes, trying to feel his way into the wand, to taste a portion of that awe-inspiring power.
His eyes snap open suddenly, and he glares at the wand. He can feel the power thrumming and searing within the arcane impliment like a blast furnace, but he cannot connect to the conduit. He closes his eyes again and furrows his brow, attempting to force his way in, arcane power crackling along his body before a loud bang echoes in the confined space and the wand falls to the ornate floor with a clatter, leaving the mages hands smoldering.
He snarls in annoyance before composing himself and brushing his hands down his clothes. "It seems the Wraithverge is not meant for undead hands..." He growls softly, kneeling and lifting the onyx black shaft and offering it to his companions. "It hungers for life and I have none to give it in return... One of you must carry this weapon to our finish and the death of the Iron Lich."
[Teryn]
ReplyDelete"Oh my goodness." While the others are examining the new weapon, Teryn only has eyes for the gem. Lovingly removing it from its cradle, she wonders over it. "This is without a doubt the most perfect gem I've ever seen. I've heard stories about this thing, but is it? Could it possibly be real?"
OOC: I'll inspect the gem (Perception +17). What is it? What does it do?
You inspect the strange gem eye. See above for new addendum imagery on the Arcane Occulus of Clarity.
ReplyDelete[Yursil]
ReplyDeleteYursil's face breaks out into a grin. "Most interesting finds." Yursil looks at the gem.
"If no one else is willing, I'll take the risk of using the item, unless someone is more maneuverable than I."
[Hanrar]
DeleteNodding to his fellow dessicated magi, he claps a gloved hand on his shoulder. "Perhaps it would be best for you to bear this gift. The others here still experience pain in the mortal way, it would be a most traumatic experience for them." A slight smirk plays across his lips. "Would you like some assistance? Attempting to remove one's own eye can be a tricky ordeal, and we wouldn't want to spoil that handsome face..." He grins toothily.
[Teryn]
Delete"I think I'll be the one to help our friend here with his extra eye problem. You guys handle small blades like a minotaur in an antique store compared to me." As if to prove her point, Teryn spins her blade around an index finger as she talks, grinning. "It's not your fault, you see. I'm just that good. Want some help with that, Yursil?"
OOC: holy lunchtime treasure trove batmans! I can be pretty mobile, and both new items would be amazing to have. Wraithverge will prevent me from using bladesong though. But go ahead Andrew, rock that occulus. I have a few powers that help move allies as well.
ReplyDeleteGeese, just think what would happen if we never found this room....DOOOOOMMMM.
OOC: So not sure how I missed all the awesomeness, I wasn't getting emails from the post. Sorry, guys. :(
ReplyDelete[Vesten]
"The thought of gouging an eye out is disturbing in the extreme. I have much life force to give to Wraithverge, on the other hand. It appears we should search all the previous rooms for the lich's phylactery, too."
Wraithverge in action at 5:40! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biz0Fd-jMks
ReplyDeleteIt's like Christmas.
Delete[Yursil]
ReplyDeleteYursil went ahead and retrieved the occulus. He hefted it in his hand a moment, considering what it would mean. Life was far too short for risks...well...unlife that is. Yursil gave a small smile at that thought.
He reached up, and proceeded to forcefully shove the occulus into his right eye. He cried out in pain briefly, suddenly feeling faint. Then...he opened his old eye and his new eye. Everything in the room was sharper, clearer. He immediately started scanning the room, a sense of exhilaration flowing through him like he hadn't felt since he was alive...
[Yursil]
ReplyDeleteYursil now has full access to the Arcane Occulus of Clarity. He has 1 healing surge remaining.
[Hanrar]
ReplyDeleteThe mage watches Yursil forcibly cram the hard gemstone into his eye socket, wincing slightly as he watches a runny trail of blood and vitreous humor trickles down the revenant's face. "A braver man I've yet to see, living or dead." He says with a smirk as he turns towards the door, his eyes flashing in the light of the ornate room. "Now, if we don't have any other pressing business, I think we've got a lich to kill..." He growls softly, wheeling his staff into his dry hands, a vicious grin on his face.
I think we can head back to the balcony now, our time puttering around this lich's tomb is at an end, lets bring the fight to him.
You are back at the balcony. Do you wish to use the Vesten flying transport to get across to the northern door? Or another solution?
ReplyDeleteWell the staircase was insubstantial last time, but we put all the gemstones in place. Perhaps it changed something subtly?
ReplyDelete[Hanrar]
Standing at the edge of the balcony, Hanrar looks down into the abyss below as he waits for his companions to join him. He quirks an eyebrow upwards under his half-skull mask and turns to look at the huge bust behind him, rubies sparkling in her once empty eye sockets. His mouth twisting into a ponderous line, he kneels and pushes his hand against the spectral staircase, wondering if the addition of the arcane gemstones has changed the hazy substance.
[Hanrar]
ReplyDeleteThe spectral bridge is solid to your touch. However, when another walks up and does the same, it is still spectral. Seems that the bridge is only solid to YOU, Hanrar.
[Hanrar]
DeleteTwisting his quarrel thoughtfully, he pulls a spool of rope from his back, tying himself to the minotaur statue on one side of the stair and leaving enough rope for another to do the same. Carefully stepping out onto the transparent surface, he gestures for one of his companions to join him after securing themselves.
[Hanrar]
ReplyDeleteHanrar can walk on the bridge with no troubles. It's as solid as stone.
Anybody else trying to place their foot on the bridge, find it going right through.
[Hanrar]
ReplyDeleteThe mage lets out a dry chuckle as he unties himself, standing on the sparkling transparent surface. "I suppose it's dead-man's walk here..." He leans against his staff, hanging in space over the abyss. "The stair seem to be attuned to the undead, but what then was the purpose of placing the rubies into the lich's wife's bust?" He wonders aloud as he turns toward the far wall, walking along the spectral stair, waving his fellows on. "If he is still willing, I believe Vesten offered to transport us across?" He turns and bows slightly to the collected group. "I would carry you myself but alas I've not the strength to lift but perhaps one or two of you at a time." He rasps with a grin.
Everyone aboard the Vesten express! Let's get this train moving. Hanrar will walk towards the far platform.
Via the Vesten flying express, you all arrive at the northern door. Opening, you enter the.... Crypt of the Iron Lich
ReplyDelete