| Music: Atrium Carceri | Void | Slower |
The floor of this vast tiered seminary is not hewn from stone, but rather thick chipped glass. Hundreds of feet beneath the glass roils a lake of churning balor blood from which islands of brimstone stalagmites jut.
Towering ivory bookshelves line the walls, each filled with thousands of tomes bound in wriggling raw skin. Many demonic imps flock from shelf to shelf, rearranging tomes, shuffling papers, and lighting the innumerable crimson candles that hover in the acrid air.
 |
| You approach from the east, descending the stairs (P8/P9). |
A 10-foot tall statue of a demonic woman with a veil across her face looms in the center of the library. She clutches an iron brazier in her hands. Six pedestals surround the statue, with a closed tome on each.
Towards the back, a balcony rises above the entire seminary. A lectern is visible near its edge.
In addition to the way you came, there are three obvious exits... one to the north, west and south... doors of steel-rimmed oak.
Actions, crusaders...
Addendum Imagery:
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteHis crossbow trained on the closest imp, the druid smothers the light from his sunrod, placing it back into his leg pouch. His eyes flit back and forth across the room as he proceeds down the staircase, taking in what details he can see as he walks carefully across the thick glass surface.
He peers at the cracked and chipped surface of the glass, his stomach tightening at the sight of the boiling blood and yellow-green pillars that reach up towards them. As he walks into the room proper, he glances over the bookshelves, looking for any seams or odd markings in the yellowing ivory. The books he offers only a cursory glance, never having much use for the written word himself, and disgusted by whatever vile information could be found within the abominable books.
Move to J8, Perception +12, keep an eye on those imps and skulls, are the skulls animate and do the imps seem to be interested in much more than keeping the place tidy?
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteThe glass floor bears your weight easily, although looking down into the hellscape below gives you vertigo. You see numerous creatures writhing within the boiling sea, unable to save themselves from eternal torment.
Glancing at the books, you see they have titles written in Abyssal and Supernal, and detail a number of non-fiction subjects that are mundane if not grotesque.
The imps don't pay you any attention, and they are focused on their endless task of organization.
The skulls are animated and levitate. They remind you of leashed hellhounds, wanting to chomp down on anything nearby, but safely restrained by their chains.
[So-tin]
ReplyDelete"Aha, books! Something I can really work with!" The Genasi's interest momentarily takes over his self-preservation instinct as he rushes to the nearest shelf, but he stops himself before actually grabbing any of them. Keeping his hands away in case of traps, So-tin carefully looks over each of the shelves, trying to see if any books might have useful information hidden away.
Tech
Perception and Insight +4, Arc, His, and Rel +13, starting with the closest shelf to the south and making my way clockwise around the room, as long as nothing happens to disrupt this.
[So-tin]
ReplyDeleteSo-tin makes his way around the entire seminary without trouble, focused on the books and the bookshelves. He notices two very interesting things.
First, he sees a very distinct book on the lectern that is different than the others on the shelves. He can sense power within, just by being near it. His religious training has taught him that this book is a catechism.
Second, all of the bookshelves have non-fiction titles except for one... at L3 there is a shelf that contains entirely fictional titles.
Most intriguing. Meanwhile, the imps continue to ignore you and go about their business.
OOC: I mean titles of fiction; fictional stories.
DeleteShazi leaves the magical analysis to the others and moves closer to the statue. Ensuring she doesn't cross the perimeter of the outer pedestals, she inspects the tomes, brazier and the statue itself.
ReplyDelete[TECH]
Perception +7, Arcana +3, History +3 ... Yeah, this'll go well...
[Shazi]
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming a hands-free examination approach, let me know if you decide to touch anything.
Shazi follows So-tin around the chamber, inspecting the tomes and comes to the same conclusion that Shazi does... that one bookshelf in the northeast corner is different than the others. What does it mean, though?
She gives a closer inspection to the large tome on the lectern. "Catecishm of the Heresiarch" is the title. As far as Shazi can tell, it is not trapped and can be grabbed easily.
Returning to the center, she examines the statue from outside the circle of pedestals. Hmmm, veil across the face, heat coming from the brazier... maybe even some coals in there... hard to tell from this distance.
Looking at the tomes, she can see they are locked down to the pedestals! Without a key or some good thievery, you won't be able to open or take any of these ritual books. The title of each ritual is printed on the tome's cover in Supernal (which you all can read):
* Hand of Fate
* Knock
* Speak with Dead
* Remove Affliction
* Detect Object
* Wish
OOC: FYI, all your skill rolls were natural 4 or lower.
Kallista attempts to detect any magic (hopefully illusion) on the northeast bookshelf, wondering if this is where the rumoured switch might be, if it exists at all.
ReplyDelete(Tech: Arcana +14)
She eyes the imps warily, wondering if they are simply waiting for someone to touch a book before defending their workplace...
[Kallista]
ReplyDeleteYou're getting a faint reading of magic in the vicinity of the northeast bookshelf. You cannot delve deeper, as this hellish plane interferes with your connection to the magical realms.
The imps continue to go about their business.
Tech: Your rolled a natural 6 on your arcana roll.
Shazi slowly steps within the bounds of the pedestal and approaches the brazier and statue for a closer inspection. She attempts to get an angle to look behind the veil without actually touching anything.
ReplyDeleteTech: Same checks, if applicable.
OOC #1: Your dice are trying to kill us.
OOC #2: I seriously doubt the "Wish" book is what it says; that's a TPK waiting to happen right there. Not sure if we even need the others, if they are in fact what they say they are.
OOC #3: I've learned that nothing in a dungeon of this can be done "easily".
[Shazi]
ReplyDeleteThe hands-off inspection does yield you one more clue. The brazier is three-quarters filled with hot coals in the shape of miniature tiefling heads.
You are unable to see what's under the veil without touching it.
OOC: I'm afraid you might have to get hands-on with something to learn more.
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteAs Shazi, Kallista and So-Tin examine the books, the druid snorts derisively and continues stalking around the room. He walks towards the rear of the seminary, his finger still poised over the trigger of his crossbow as he carefully climbs the stair to the balcony at the rear of the room. He pauses every few steps to check the smooth stone ahead, checking the way for tripwires, pressure plates and seams, not eager to find himself at the mercy of a trap.
As he reaches the top of the balcony, he swings his crossbow back and forth, eying down the fletching of the loaded bolt as he quickly takes in the platform.
Tech: Move to B3, Perception +12, check out the lectern there. On the image there's something odd about that wall, is that a fresco or something?
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteYou investigate the lectern and see the Catechism of the Heresiarch lying on top of it. You can sense great power emanating from within. The pages open are written in Supernal, and talk of the great divinity of the Heresiarch, and vague references to an ascension to godhood.
The walls behind the lectern are reliefs in the stone that show a race prostrating in worship. You do not recognize the race, but get the strong impression that they are from another world.
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteLowering his crossbow slightly, the druid’s eyes water as he tries to decipher the twisted, gnarled test of the Catechism before the strain makes him turn away. Instead, he looks towards the relief carving as he rubs his eyes, examining the figures carved therein, wondering if some secret can be gleaned from the images.
Tech: Perception +12, they’re worshiping something, is it an unseen presence or is their idol displayed? Are they engaged in any kind of ritual that he can see? Also, how can Turen read Supernal? I never cast my understand languages ritual and he’s only fluent in elven, common and goblin. Did I miss something from the handout?
OOC: I thought this was in the character packet, but I see that it isn't.
DeleteSupernal: All creatures in the Fane, including the crusaders, can read and speak Supernal.
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteThe kneeling worshipers are carved into the wall in such a way as to appear to be worshiping the person at the lectern. Quite good artwork, actually.
[Palim]
ReplyDeleteStill looking pale from his unsettling vision in the watchtower, Palim lags behind the others and enters the room as the others begin to speak of the unusual bookshelf in the northeast corner. Glad to have something to concentrate on other than what just happened, he moves towards the bookshelf. Knowing a good deal about literature, he examines the titles for any commonalities. What sorts of stories do they tell? Are details or plots in them shared? Why would the Heresiarch collect them?
Tech: History +9 on the books. Insight +15 if applicable to discern why the heresiarch would obtain and keep these books.
OOC: Sorry for the lack of posts in the past few days. I'm back now though. :)
Also, does anyone think we should take anything from here? A catechism is a book of doctrine (used in call-and-response type worship) and could tell us a lot about the heresiarch and his plans. But maybe it looks like we're not going to be able to get much specific information out of it?
[Palim]
ReplyDeleteWhen you ascend to the lectern and see the Catechism of the Heresiarch firsthand, you recognize it instantly. The tome is from your vision, the one you had at the watchtower... where you were reading at a pulpit (not this lectern, a different place), right before the two marilith demons tore you apart.
As for the works of fiction, they are a strange mix. The plots are dark, of twisted revenge and scorned lovers, of betrayal.
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteAfter inspecting the carvings, the druid turns back again to the lectern, reading through the open pages carefully. He shoulders his crossbow and takes a moment to look over the lectern, making sure it is safe before he places his hands on either side of the large tome. The twisting characters slowly resolve as he reads each passage, gleaning understanding from the innate magic of this place. Rather uneasy about the nature of books themselves, the druid reads through until he finds a passage that seems to almost leap off the page, his lips moving of their own accord as he traces the markings with a trembling finger.
“What are the passions that drive us and the hungers we slake in Your name?”
His voice takes an odd cadence as he responds…
“The lust of flesh and meat, the disruption of peace through chaos, the thrill of violence and the warmth of gold!”
The moment passed, he stumbles back and savagely kicks the lectern from its place on the balcony, sending the foul book sliding across the glass as the wooden stand falls and splinters against the floor as he pants heavily, a sheen of sweat on his brow and his face twisted in disgust.
See a new image in the Addendum Imagery area above. You may claim the Catechism of the Heresiarch if you wish.
ReplyDelete[Turen]
ReplyDeleteSlowly, and with obvious difficulty, the druid calms himself and steps away from the splintered remains of the ancient lectern. His eyes flash from brown to a greenish amber before shifting back again as he wipes the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand, his fingernails receding quickly to a normal length.
Stalking back down the staircase he spots the book sitting a short distance away from the balcony and his mouth twists again into a frown of disgust as he spits in its direction. “I’m sure we shall have need of that… thing… but I’ll not touch it again.” He says gruffly as he shoulders past So-Tin, Shazi and Kallista as he moves to investigate the door leading out to the north.
Kallista silently crosses the room, pockets the Catechism, and glances again at the fiction section, her hands idly drifting back to her wand.
ReplyDelete"I still feel there is some secret beyond that shelf..."
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteIn the wake of the loud destruction of the lectern, the frightened imps scurry to the nooks and corners of the chamber. Some try to come forward to clean up the mess, but flee if you approach them.
Turen examines the northern doors, and finds them lacking locks and traps. He gets an odor of soot from the other side, and peeking through the gap in the doors... could be a hallway beyond... very tough to tell.
[Kallista]
Kallista ponders the meaning of the shelf.... (OOC: Let me know if there's anything you want to attempt.)
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteThe half-elf stops inspecting the door, stands sharply and turns, wheeling on the tiefling and snarling at her as he stalks down the passageway. “If you think as such then do something about it!” He bellows, the disgust and quaking fear of touching something so profane as the Catechism of the Heresarch rising up again and overtaking his rationality. “If these books can provide us a way to destroy this blight upon our world then take your time and peruse them!” He strides forwards and with a swipe of one arm brings a shelf of books crashing to the glass floor beneath them.
“Perhaps one of these imps can help!” He growls, snatching at one as it flits away from yet another torrent of books that falls from the shelves as he stalks along them. “Grab one and ask it about how to kill its master! I’m sure it will be most informative!” His voice shifts suddenly, taking a gravelly tone as his canines lengthen and grow thick in his mouth, warping his speech.
“But while you stand here, waving your wand and deliberating, a tainted false-god is raining down death on our world!” He takes an armload of the books from the next shelf and throws them down at her feet, his chest heaving as he calms himself with another forced effort. “Stay here and read till all the world is ended… we have a job to do…” He says coldly as his teeth grind and revert to their normal length, his hands clenched in righteous fury as he stands amongst the scattered tomes.
[Palim]
ReplyDeleteTaking in the druid's fit impassively, the Kalashtar's eyes follow him as he crosses towards the northern door. Connecting with the druid's mind, Palim sends simple words of soothing. "Be at ease, friend. We have much yet to endure."
The cleric then follows his example and turns to the southern door to see if he can discern anything unusual about it or what lies beyond.
Tech: Perception +8 on the southern door. Anything interesting? Locked/trapped?
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteThe imps begin to shriek and flee, flying up into the recesses of the ceiling at Turen's righteous rage. Books tumble and cascade as Turen flings them to the ground in great quantities (Locations: C/D4 B5/6 and A/B8).
[Palim]
A bit more calmly, Palim exmaines the southern door. He does not detect locks or traps, but does get the hint of hymnal chanting from beyond. A single male voice, and only the bass is transferring through the door.
OOC: Just to be clear, all the talk about scattering books, that wouldn't be the ones that are locked down on the pedestals surrounding the statue. If you want to attempt to "scatter" those, let me know.
ReplyDelete"Keep it down!" screams Shazi from across the room. "What the hell are you people doing?"
ReplyDelete"Amateurs..." she mumbles quietly. Grabbing her short sword with two hands, it instantly transforms in to a spear. Very cautiously, with both hands on the weapon, she uses the spear tip to try and lift the veil on the statue to look behind it.
[Tech]
Dynamic Weapon! Turns in to a longspear as a minor action. :)
Using it to lift the veil... I have no idea what rolls are necessary.
[Shazi]
ReplyDeleteShazi lifts the veil on the demon statue. Instead of the lips, as is expected... you spy a keyhole instead!
Emboldened by the brazen and reckless actions of her colleagues, and the cowardice of the imps, Kallista sheathes her wand and manually inspects the solidity of the NE shelf and the books therein, in the hopes that there is some illusion present.
ReplyDelete(Tech:If this shelf is real, and yields nothing, she will attempt to move the books/it away from the wall, calling for help if Athletics +2 isn't enough)
[Kallista]
ReplyDeleteKallista focuses her magical attentions on the bookshelf, and detects an aura! It is of lightning and transmutation, and the aura is from BEHIND the shelf. Kallista notes that the bookshelf is indeed movable, but would take a strong person or two to move it (DC23 Athletics).
OOC: Given the nature of the aura, I wasn't going to automatically have you move the shelf.
Kallista thinks better of herself and backs away from the shelf, warning the others.
ReplyDeleteOOC: That was generous. My previous failed check should've doomed me.
OOC: I say we move the shelf (or blast it out of the way). If it's a trap, presumably the most thieverous among us have a shot at disarming it?
DeleteOOC: In order to disarm it, I imagine I have to first determine it to be a trap... I say just move the thing. ;)
DeleteOOC: Oh, the delicious tension! What are you going to do, crusaders?
ReplyDelete"And what lies behind door number three?" Kallista muses, listening at the western door...
ReplyDelete[Kallista]
ReplyDeleteYou inspect the door leading west, being careful to stay out of the range of the nearby flameskull. It chomps at you like a helldog, but it's chain leash is too short for it to be of any threat.
The door is like the others, lacking both locks and traps. You do not hear any sounds coming through, just silence.
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteStill fuming, if no longer empowered by rage, the druid takes a slow, deep breath. His frustration with his fellow 'crusaders' shows plainly as he walks up the staircase to the northeast, turning his attention to the bookshelf that has drawn so much attention.
After carefully examining the shelf itself, he runs his hands along its edges and checking for trip-wires, pressure plates and strange surfaces. Before he proceeds further, he also takes his time to attune himself with the nature of the aura, trying to disperse the energy before advancing. He takes the time to unload the books from the shelves, if not caring particularly how they fall to the raised floor as he clears away the additional weight of the bookshelf. Grunting and gritting his teeth, he pushes his wild-born strength against its edge, pushing the heavy structure aside.
Tech: Perception +12 to check for traps, Nature +12 to see if he can disrupt the magical nature of the aura. Athletics +2 to move the shelf aside, if that doesn't work, try using his 10' pole as a prybar to topple it. Oh, and +20 to LET'S GO PEOPLE!!! :P
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteSensing no traps, and unloading the heavy books first, it takes all Turen's strength AND the crowbar to move the shelf. It's sweaty work, but he manages to move it away to reveal a beautiful mosaic behind the shelf. The mosaic is of a gorgeous, voluptuous succubus!
Those of you attuned to magic can sense the aura coming from her lips, which are made of iron and crackle with electricity...
[Palim]
ReplyDeleteHis eyes narrowing as he moves them from the mosaic back to the veiled status, Palim searches his memory for any indication that these represent a specific figure or are just strange artworks.
Tech: History +9, Religion +11. Is this a specific person or does the heresiarch just like succubi?
Palim will also search the mosaic. It looks like a trap, but is the disarming mechanism discernable? Is it a door or just a piece of trapped artwork? Perception +8
Delete[Palim]
ReplyDeleteYou recognize this succubus as having the name of Sorrow Nimbus. Sorrow Nimbus is a half-angel succubus blackguard that has been known to be in the company of the Heresiarch. Her beauty makes other succubi look like gaunt beggars.
OOC: Can you be more specific on how exactly you are going to search the mosaic?
OOC: Visually from close up. No touching. :)
Delete[Turen]
ReplyDeleteWiping sweat from his brow, the druid eyes the vulgar carving, the baser desires the image instills overwhelmed by the profanity of its surroundings. Examining the exquisite display, he pauses as he watches feathers of electricity spark from the iron lips to the dust-motes that hang in the air around them.
Taking a couple of steps back, he reaches into a pouch at his waist and pulls out a metal sling bullet, rolling it between his fingers for a moment as he thinks. With a flick of his thumb he sends it flying towards the monument, aiming for those molded lips as he stands aside, watching carefully.
Tech: Perception +12 to check out the mosaic for any odd symbols or markings, and I guess a standard ranged/touch attack for this? +8 vs hitting a wall?
[Palim]
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't seem like a door, just a painting that was trapped behind the bookshelf. Although the iron lips suggests there's more to this than just being a simple piece of art.
[So-tin]
OOC: Posts relayed via email.
So-tin moves to the brazier and statue, and begins to search the brazier's coals with his sword. It's tough work, and there could be something in there, but digging around with a sword isn't going to do it.
Tech: 10 fire damage - resist 5 fire = 5 fire damage. So-tin is down to 58 hp. You rolled a natural 2 on your perception check. You may attempt the search, but will incur fire damage each time.
[Turen]
Turen examines for odd markings on the mural of Sorrow Nimbus, and finding none he flicks a pebble, hitting it on the iron lips... and triggers the empowered forked lightning of smite living trap! Three forks of lightning lash out, targeting Turen, So-tin and Palim. Turen and Palim are blasted clear across the room, hitting the wall with incredible force. They both crumple to the floor, barely breathing!
Tech:
Turen - Automatic Hit, 60 lightning/radiant damage, 2 points of blight. Turen is KO'd at -9 hp and has 2 cumulative points of blight.
So-tin, Hit!, 60 lightning/radiant damage, 2 points of blight. So-tin is KO'd at -2 hp and has 2 cumulative points of blight.
Palim, Miss, 30 lightning/radiant damage, 1 point of blight. Palim is at 18 hp, and has 2 cumulative points of blight.
I know that So-tin was not near the mural, but the lightning didn't care! :Evil Grin:
OOC: That... could have gone better.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Note, you can use healing surges at-will here, since we're not in combat. Let me know how many you use, or if you want me to auto-spend them for you.
DeleteOOC: Actually, don't spend them yet. I am a healings-man and I will get to work.
DeleteAlso, ow.
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteAs darkness overtakes him and pain surges along every nerve, the druid calls on his hard-won endurance and fights back against the crippling agony. Slowly it abates, leaving him wheezing on the surprisingly cold glass floor, his furs smoldering and his skin an angry red as he gingerly climbs to his feet.
“M-my apologies… my…” He pauses a moment, doubling over as he chokes and retches, his voice hoarse as he stumbles towards So-Tin, helping the Gensai to his feet. “My friends… I… I have acted rashly and wish to apologize. My grove was laid to waste by the Heresarch’s minions, and the pain of loss is still raw…”
As he finally catches his breath, he drops to a knee, bowing his head. “I shall confide in you my actions before I take them, and should any oppose we shall decide as a team.” He stands again painfully, groaning as the stench of burned hair and seared flesh wafts from under his blackened leathers. “I am a fool should I think one man alone can best this fiend or this tower.” He shakes his head solemnly. “I would continue with you towards vengeance should you have me.”
OOC: Shit, I’m sorry guys, didn’t mean to fuck us up without even getting into a battle. I'm spending one surge to get back on my feet.
[Palim]
ReplyDeleteRising to one knee, Palim shakes the cobwebs from his head and collects himself. Stepping to his feet, he moves towards So-Tin somewhat unsteadily, his mouth forming words of prayer. He places a dark-skinned hand on the Genasi's chest, and a golden glow begins to spread out across his body. As the glow fades, so too do the lightning burns. In his mind, So-Tin hears "There. You will need this if you're planning on playing around in that brazier some more." A small smile creeps onto the Kalashtar's normally stoic face.
As Palim approaches the badly wounded druid, he looks into Turen's ashamed face. Turen heads "As for you. The time for rage will come soon enough, and you will know it when it does. So I say this again: be at ease. You are with friends." Palim places a hand on Turen's shoulder, closes his eyes, and mouths his silent prayer again.
Tech: I will spend as many healing words as time allows. If that means we sit here for 15 minutes so I can rest between each set of two healing words, then I think we should do that. Because my heals are pretty crazy.
I will heal anyone who wants it with healing words. Those who want it get their surge value + 3d6 + 9 HP back.
Note for Joe so he knows I'm not just making numbers up:
+1 from staff
+2d6 from healing word
+1d6 +3 from pacifism
+5 from healer's lore
Just figured out how we're handling out of combat healing with Joe. I'll start with one helaing word for Turen and one for So-tin. I'll get to me later.
Delete[Palim]
DeletePalim's power of healing helps bring Turen and So-tin back to their feet!
Tech:
Turen is now at 35 hp, and 8 surges.
So-tin is now at 31 hp, and 11 surges.
So-tin invokes "Firedeath" interrupt, and is refunded 28 hp of damage. That brings him up to 59 (of 63) hp.
DeleteKallista purses her lips and whistles a soft, low note.
ReplyDeleteFurther retcon... Thank So-tin for the Firedeath interrupt... it helps all of you that were hit by the trap!
ReplyDeleteTuren is at full hp and 8 surges.
Palim is at 32 hp and 7 surges.
"You IDIOTS!" shouts Shazi from clear across the room. "How you managed to survive this long is beyond me!"
ReplyDeleteShe moves towards the mosaic. "Get away from here before this stupid little trap kills the lot of you... go over there and find me a key!"
She steps up to the mosaic and sets down her spear, producing a set of finely crafted tools. She begins to closely analyze the mosaic, specifically the area around the lips, and makes a conscious effort to disarm the trap.
[Tech]
Perception +7, just in case
Thievery +16 (with tools), attempting to first disarm the trap. I have a bad feeling I know what I have to do, but better safe than sorry.
If I fail cataclysmically, I will use the Flagellant card and re-roll it. Rather take 10 damage than 60... ;)
Oh, and y'all might want to stand the hell back. :D
And the above is just a stuck up, mightier-than-thou drow talkin'; it does not reflect my personal views of y'all. Heck, I probably would have done the same thing and met the same fate.
OOC: Oh god it's going to hurt so bad. You know it rearmed right? Joe confirmed this in an IM conversation.
Delete[Shazi]
ReplyDeleteShazi goes to work on the mural, and it's a very tense couple of minutes. At one point, you're positive the trap will fire off again... but it doesn't!
Shazi steps back, her work complete. The trap is disarmed!
Tech: Natural 20 on the disarm! The lightning will bother you no more.
[So-tin]
ReplyDeleteSo-tin's eyes take a moment to readjust themselves as he unexpectantly finds himself flat on his back, the ceiling wavering back into focus. He blinks away the remaining haze as Palim steps over to the Druid, groggily pulling himself up into a sitting position.
"Wow, those coals sure pack a punch," he chuckles with a light groan as feeling fully returns to his limbs. A barely visible aura from his shielding fire now surrounds him.
So-tin watches Shazi work, readying himself to unleash his shield again, but smiles at seeing the Drow disable the trap. "Good work putting our mistress of pain there at ease." Glancing at the lips, he ponders for a moment. "Anyone think we should show her a bit of pleasure?"
"I didn't just detect lightning on that trap, but transmutation magic. Maybe we haven't witnessed all of its powers" Kallista shouts from the Western door.
Delete[Shazi]
ReplyDeleteShazi rolls her eyes at So-tin's suggestion, then goes down to one knee in front of the mosaic. "Either you do the honors or avert your eyes. If I must perform such an act, you have not yet earned the right to witness it."
[Tech]
Either So-tin steps up to do something or I will kiss the thing on the lips.
I was going to kiss her anyway 'cause... you know... it's a drow thing. ;)
[Shazi]
ReplyDeleteShazi kisses the metal lips, worries about the trap mostly abated. The lips slide back with a soft click. Writing, black graffiti upon the mural, boldly appears! It reads (in common), "A DOORWAY HAS OPENED IN THE ASHEN AMBULATORY."
The graffiti vanishes quickly, leaving you to ponder the message's meaning.
[Palim]
ReplyDeletePalim nods to the drow shortly and she hears, "Well done." Then he moves towards the statue and the brazier, contemplating it briefly before again reaching down for his ritual book. Apparently finding what he needs, he begins the motions. Suddenly, golden light begins to coalesce in front of him, wisps of sunbeams dancing around the barest outline of a humanoid shape, though no body is present. Once the ritual is done, the dancing light is no more, but there is still a sense of presence in front of the Kalashtar that wasn't there before. After a moment, the coals in the brazier start to shift around as if something were shifting them, searching for something.
Tech: Casting Unseen Servant, then having it root through the brazier for anything hidden there. So-tin's idea was a good one! I believe the servant will stick around for an indefinite amount of time as long as it's not more than 20 squares from me.
[Palim]
ReplyDeleteYou see the coals being moved about, and great bursts of heat are released as the fire is stoked. After a few minutes, you suddenly see something rise up in the air, being held in the hand of the unseen servant.
A brass key!
OOC: In a bit, unless I hear from someone, I'm going to have the servant put the key into the statue's mouth. Sound alright?
DeleteOOC: Works for me... I'll be as far away as possible if you need me. :)
Delete[Palim]
ReplyDeletePalim turns to the group. The kalashtar's "Be ready" echoes through all of their minds. Then, then brass key seems to climb up the veiled statue. The veil lifts, and the key is inserted and turned.
Tech: I'd like to be somewhere in the vicinity of I7 or J7 when it's turned. The servant will wait if people want to be in a particular spot before whatever goes off.
[Palim]
ReplyDeleteThe unseen servant places the brass key into the mouth of the statue, where the keyhole is. Turning the key, it is instantly sucked into the statue's mouth!
The mouth of the statue chews on the key for a moment, then spits it back out again. This time it's not a brass key, but a warped iron key.
"Good!" Shazi yells, once again from clear across the room. She remains at a distance, hand resting on the hilt of her sword, waiting to see what the rest of the group decides to do next.
ReplyDeleteOOC: Standing far away, say K9. :P
[Palim]
ReplyDelete"It looks like we have two choices, friends. Which book? And then, which door?"
[Turen]
ReplyDeleteHis moment of rage-fueled arrogance and rash activity past, he turns to the telepath and smiles slightly. He turns his attention to the books, examining them as he walks from each to each.
"Were I to pick, I would suggest either the tome to speak with those long past or to intervene when times are at their worst." He turns to regard his companions and nods towards the exits. "As for our next path, I think we should head north. I could smell soot, which means fire, which means we can prepare as such." He steps back and raises his hands away from the books.
"But I have made more than my allotted share of poor choices this day. I leave this up to you."
[So-tin]
ReplyDelete"Well, our choice seems to be quite obvious." So-tin takes up the key and approaches the Remove Affliction book, taking a moment to let everyone else move away if they wish.
Once the others are in position, the Genasi takes the key and cautiously unlocks the Remove Affliction ritual book, ready to unleash his emergency Firedeath in case this is a trap.
[Palim]
ReplyDeletePalim nods, satisfied with the choice. He turns to the northern door. "Onward then." And then a smile creeps onto his face. "To fire and glory."
Tech: Let's go through the northern door, where Turen smelled fire and ash. Palim hauls open the door and moves forward.
[So-tin]
ReplyDeleteInserting the key with baited breath... a quick turn unlocks the ritual book! You may immediately master the ritual of Remove Affliction (despite level restrictions) and can use it once in this game.
The warped iron key vanishes.
[Palim]
Opening the northern doors, your eyes fall upon the Ashen Ambulatory.
OOC: The Ashen Ambulatory is being prepped up and will drop tomorrow.
OOC: The room we're about to enter is the one that the succubus mosaic opened a door in. So keep your eyes peeled!
ReplyDeleteThe acrid scent of brimstone washes into the room, and Kallista is reminded of her home, and her mother's cooking. Buoyed, she rushes across the seminary to join the others.
ReplyDeleteHalf-way there, she notices the shape of a coal on the floor by the brazier, and involuntarily pictures her home, and her mother, _cooking_.
Incensed as much by the irony as the insult, she sets her jaw and charges into the ambulatory.