Once the doors are open you see an immediate fork in the path, there is rough path heading southward and a worked stoned path heading to the southwest.
Which way, what is the marching order and everyone make perception check.[/ooc]
Quiz is following Xavier and Bug.
He whispers, "Oh the path splits, can anyone see any tracks?"
Worked stone, probably sees more traffic. Single file. Bug first, he kills faster. I'll go last. Quiz in front of me so I can keep you up of you're targeted.
He intones a prayer and touches Bug.
Protection from evil. You have 8 minutes. If you see a caster drop them first.
The priest waits at the door so the others can pass him and has his Sword and Shield out.
"Righto, off the casters. "
As you progress along the worked stone you perceive that there is an incline along the long tunnel. When you get to within 20 feet of the top you notice a dazzling bright light coming from the chamber at the end of the hall.
"That's a little odd." whispers Quiz as he reflexively casts detect magic.
"Bet it's trouble. "
Rena advances carefully.
Xavier will halt the group well before the light and quietly cast PROTECTION FROM EVIL on Bug.
Ok. Go.
Bug will head towards the light.
As they move, Xavier will halt them again and use his wand of Divine Favor on himslef, then replace it.
Bug moves forward five feet ahead of the others continuing his climb upward. When he come upon a radiance pouring out of a giant water droplet suspended from the roof fills this chamber with more light than a noon sun. The fat droplet is fifteen feet in diameter and just as long, and quivers slightly in the still air. Within it, something serpentine and translucent undulates slowly.
Quiz squints and holds a hand in front of his eyes to shade them a bit and notices something twitch within the droplet. Eyebrows raised, Quiz exchanges a look with Bug, as if to say you where right. "That cannot be good," he mutters.
...Ragathiel's severed wing...
Xavier often quoted such when we could not fathom a sight.
Even a blessed as he was and as frequently he saw magic, new things could still awe the human mind.
"Good, bad, it sure ain't something I've seen before. "
The floor of the chamber is divided into five separate pools of clear water. Ten feet below the giant droplet is a shallow, square pool 10 feet across and perhaps 3 feet deep, bounded by a stone walkway 1 foot wide. Images of other places appear on the pool’s surface and then are quickly gone. Passageways open to the chamber from each of the four corners of the room, and a narrow stone path leads to the central pool, with four trapezoidal pools formed by the intersecting pathways. The walls and ceiling are smooth, worked stone, glistening with moisture.
The giant water droplet shifts and ripples.
Quiz looks at the droplet for a long moment and shrugs, "Well it's a magical creature. Probably here as a trap. I guess you want to wake it up and kill it right?"
"I'm pretty sure I forgot my tea set, so inviting it to tea is right out. That leaves kill it. "
Xavier is sure to keep his voice low, and nudges his fellows within the sphere to keep it down. Actually no. I'd rather not kill it unless it's hostile or is going to raise an alarm. We are all invisible. Slowly skirt the outside and take another path if we can, move in two files by with Bug and I on the inside. Be ready to attack Bug
The priest guides quiz to the wall side and keeps himslef between the creature and the Arcanist.
Quiz shrugs, not bothered either way, and pads silently after Xavier.
Bug shrugs and attempts to sneak around as requested and adds in a whisper "Yeah, like that will work. "
I may have read about this sort of thing... Now, where did I see it?
You realize that there are two creatures in the water droplet and the droplet is some sort magical prison. Within the droplet a water elemental exists and you figure it has something to do with the pools below and mechanics of the lock system. Second there is some type of magical serpent in the water bubble with the elemental. The center of the pool is some sort of scrying device but the images quickly fade.
Yes, water elemental and serpent or dragon... A prison and scrying device, all in one. Is that why this island is The Dragon?
All the more reason to bypass it if we can. Buy if we must-any weakness we should know about?
Xavier holds the group while they have the discussion, not altogether sure a dragon wouldn't see them despite the invisibility, such creatures predated the humamoid races and were of magic and myth themselves.
Quiz's eyebrows go up and he takes another look at the water elemental, trying to judge how big it is, thinking 'Smaller elementals are a nuisance more than anything, but big ones spell trouble.'
The shadowing second creature looks like it has two heads and it is passing time with the water elemental. You know that spellcasters can often bind creatures form other planes to location to perform certain tasks and you suspect that has been done here. with you invisibility neither creature seems to have seen you, now whether either has the ability to smell you is another matter but you suspect that the snake could have that ability. Either way, they have not revealed any hostile intent.
The elemental appears vaguely human like with male face, you know they can create havoc with their water causing vortex and it can quickly kills with it's slam attacks. They are intelligent and speak aquan - at least.
With no attack, apparently forth coming, Xavier shrugs at the others and motions to the nearest exit they have not explored.
He looks at his companions and motions for them to move on. Whether or not they should return and start a fight could be debated out of earshot.
'Let sleeping dragons, or whatever that is lie...', thinks Quiz as he tiptoes towards the exit Xavier indicated, being carefull to keep everyone close.
are you going to turn around and head back or are you heading out on the narrow walkway then heading for one of the corner exits? If you are walking out which exit are you heading towards?
Previous room description link
"Perhaps the western most exit is best?", whispers Quiz.
Xavier nods and inclines his eyes in that direction for Bug to lead off.
Bug moves as indicated.
Crossbow out, Rena moves with the group.
As they move out of earshot, Xavier continues to whisper.
Keep detect magic up Quiz, dragons and elementals, they might have a caster capable of scrying us or wards about. I think those guardians might not leave their post but we may have to fight our way out.
He moves last in the order of march in the tight tunnel. Bug leading and the others in the middle
As Bug leads the way he moves west as directed and takes the first tunnel the ground takes dip as he leads the way. Xavier as you pull up the rear and walk by the pools you swear you see a glimpse of a floor submerged in a cavern in the reflection. neither the serpent or the water elemental interfere.
*I don't know why the tokens disappeared on the map.
Rena is cautious.
Quiz nods and casts detect magic.
Bug whispers "Do I keep moving? "