"...what do we make of this...oddity?"
Thorne approaches the mosaic and looks to see if it conceals a mechanism to open a door or to set a trap.
As your hands glide over the mosaic you suddenly feel two small holes in the eye-sockets of the clockwork man. As you press your fingertips into them the mosaic suddenly begins to move: the clockwork mechanisms start to turn and wheel and suddenly the bricks of the wall give way and open a narrow tunnel.
The tunnel is completely dry and the floor is covered with a thick layer of dust.
"Well that will be the dry area I suspected; I will leave the manipulation of such oddities to you Thorne, as you are more understanding of traps made to snare humans, however if you seek magic to be detected on something first then I shall do so in future"
"At least it is dry here,pity for the dust"
'At least there is no stench here'
Alexite takes a moment to wave his hands over himself, the filth, and its accompanying odors, falling away from his clothing.
Nox snaps her fingers and the filth and accompanying odors fall away from herself, her clothing, her equipment and her familiar. she was mostly silent during the walk and had great appreciation for that mechanical device behind the mosaic. that device is a wonderful work of mathematical beauty, it almost made the lap of my trousers feel sticky with appreciation. much like Meister Ardoc and those golems have done.
predestigitation
of my trousers feel sticky with appreciation. much like Meister Ardoc and those golems have done.
"Oh is that what the smell was..."
Alcheringa looks pleased with himself at his rare attempt at humour.
i mean not the back end, but the front end. it's not my fault that such beautiful displays of mathematics stiumlate my erotic side. it seems i released some fluids without outside help. she snaps her fingers and the mentioned feminine erotic fluids seem to dissapear as does the appropriate stench.
"An' I thought I wer' crass an' 'ncooth. Seems I be in good company like! Dain't go no further, 'til Is swept fur traps."
the prospective loremistress will quote Thassilonian mathematical formulae as she snaps her fingers and most of the nearby dust will magically shift itself into a series of conveniently placed piles. thus making it easier for Thorne to find the trap.
predestigitation, used to aid another
add a +2 circumstance bonus to your search check
Thorne examines the immediate and now clean area for trap triggers.
(+7 perception +2 aid)
"Tis clear to me eyes - lets move along"
you don't spot any traps at the beginning of the tunnel. As you slowly advance, still looking out for traps, you notice that the tunnel goes slightly downwards, still full of dust. It seems like for years no one has set a foot into it.
After about 200m the tunnel suddenly opens up into a large round chamber whose floor is entirely decorated with a painting shwoing an immense clockwork mechanism.
In the middle of the room is a large throne made of human bones on which a man-sized golem made of clockwork rests.
As you enter the room the golems eyes suddenly flash with yellow light and the constructs begins to budge in at first rather awkward movements.
As soon as it has straightend itself its bellows with a mechanical voice in your direction
WELCOME FLESHLINGS TO THE REALM OF THE RIDDLEMASTER. NAME YOUR REQUEST. 10...9...8...7...6...
the strange creature seems to count down, but you can't imagine what it will do when it has counted down to one. It does not look very dangerous though and wields no apparent weapons.
Alcheringa shoots an aside to his comrades...
"Your loyalty?" - he shrugs his shoulders.
<whispering>
"Cannot help here,not very bright"
After Alcheringa's reply, the golem stops the countdown and sits down on the throne again. His eyes change colour from yellow to red and it starts mechanically stutter ot the next words
REQUEST FOR RIDDLEMASTER'S LOYALTY HEARD. LOYALTY IS GRANTED AFTER PASSING RIDDLE SEQUENCE. STARTING RIDDLE ONE OF THREE - LEVEL EASY
...FIVE...FOUR...THREE...TWO...ONE...START:
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE
NO HUMAN EVER PASSED IT
A THING MOST WONDROUS OF COLOUR
ABOVE IT ONLY SPRINKLING IS
"And of the gifts our Earth mother gives, none shines as brightly and beautifully as the Rainbow"
Upon hearing the answer, the golem's eyes flash with green light.
ANSWER RECEIVED...CHECKED...CORRECT. PROCEEDING TO RIDDLE NUMBER TWO OF THREE - LEVEL INTERMEDIATE.
FIVE...FOUR...THREE...TWO...ONE...START:
THREE BEGGARS DISCUSS THE HEROIC DEEDS OF THEIR LIVES:
ARON: I VISITED THE TOWER OF TAR-BAPHON A DOZEN TIMES!
FIROL: THAT'S A LIE, NOT EVEN FIVE TIMES WERE YOU THERE.
LORAL: HE WAS THERE AT LEAST ONCE, THAT I KNOW FOR SURE!
ONLY ONE OF THE THREE IS RIGHT - WHO, AND HOW MANY TIMES WAS ARON REALLY AT THE TOWER OF THE WHISPERING TYRANT.
The only truth-loving souls name is Loral and Aron was between 5 and 11 times there
"That was obvious, but not enough.I'm ashamed i'm so stupid,i could think on this forever and it wouldn't change a thing"
i apologize if i was distracted by the beautiful work of Geometry standing before us. sometimes i appreciate these objects of beauty a little excessively. Nox began to say, her right hand deep into one of the external pockets of her long white coat, seeming to have erotic thoughts about the construct. the front section of the lap of her trousers was sticky with transperant fluids yet again. Alice was sitting in the opposite pocket, awestruck with excessive pleasure by the golem as well. she snaps her fingers and ends up perfectly clean and completely without odor, dirt, nor stains as do her clothes, gear and familiar. after the sudden magical cleansing, the prospective loremistress shaves a carrot for her "exotic" fanged rabbit and feeds it to her.
predestigitation, to cleanse herself, clothing, equipment and familiar.
"'Ell tha' wernt so obvious ta' me! Care ta' let me in'ner secrets, like?"
He Looks at Nox then at Torald.
"Was meaning 'im tha' is. YOU wer' bleedin' obvious!"
The golem eyes Nox for a moment, then looks back to Torald, his eyes flashing green again
ANSWER RECEIVED...CHECKED...POSSIBLE SOLUTION...PROCEEDING NOW TO THE LAST RIDDLE - EXPERT LEVEL
FIVE...FOUR...THREE...TWO...ONE...START:
A LONG TIME AGO, VIZIER HARRAKESH OF OSIRION DIED, LEAVING HIS THREE SONS BEHIND. HE HAD DECREED THAT AFTER HIS DEATH, HIS HERD OF BELOVED RACE CAMELS SHOULD BE DIVIDED AMONG HIS SONS.
HE POSESSED 17 CAMELS AND BY THE WILL OF THE FATHER:
THE OLDEST SON, AMUN, SHOULD RECEIVE HALF THE HERD
THE MIDDLE, ALAMUN, SON A THIRD OF THE HERD
AND THE YOUNGEST SON, ALANARI, THE NINTH PART OF THE HERD
WHILE HIS SONS WERE ALREADY FRUSTRATED AND PLANNED KILLING ONE CAMEL, A STRANGER ON A CAMEL HIMSELF ARRIVED, WHO COULD HELP THE VIZIER'S SONS. ALL WERE HAPPY AS HE RODE AWAY ON HIS CAMEL IN THE EVENING.
WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HOW DID THEY DIVIDE THE HERD?
all we know about the stranger is that he rode in on a camel. not anything else about him.
here is my Answer
the man offered to place his camel among the division, to please the 3 sons. effectively providing 18 camels to divide. the oldest son, Amun recieved 9 camels, the middle son, Alamun recieved 6 camels, the youngest son, Alanari, recieved 2 camels, because the stranger's camel was the last one left undistributed, and the 3 sons were thankful for the stranger's help, they returned his camel. the stranger rode home on his camel and the 3 sons were happy to have thier frustrations settled. the stranger was obviously a practictioner of a profession that utilized mathematics on a regular basis. it's also possible that he could have been a merchant. Nox announces, pulling out an amazing display of mathematical knowledge.
Thorne whispers, "Bah mathematical trick'ry - I'd 'ave given 'un ta' tha' whelp like, 5 ta' tha' middle 'un and 8 ta tha eldest. Then sacrificed 'un ta' tha' gods fur luck and then slaughtered tha' last 'un fur a feast on account 'f the death 'f tha' old man who cared so lit'til fur 'is oan' get's tha' 'e only bequeath 'em moor responsibilities like."He spits onto the dusty ground and continues, "As fur tha' strang'r - I'd be inviting 'im ta' tha' feast like, plyin' 'im wit' ale an' meats 'til 'e all sleepy like, then coshing 'im an' taking 'is goods AN' 'is camel, an' selling 'em fur pro'it. I means' 'ho jest 'comes along' an offers ta' 'elp like tha' eh? Better ta do tha' dirty on 'im before 'e doe's it ta' yahs, yah savvy?"
Alcheringa looks at the strange human woman curiously "I shouldn't be surprised, given your tastes"
On the other hand he lets out a small sigh of dismay (and half a chuckle) at Thorne.
the labcoat clad mathematcian looks towards the druid and smiles. back home in Alkenstar, most of the gifts i recieved were highly mathematical in nature, including quite a few puzzleboxes. i even owned a cryptex at one point. my academic specialty was numerical cyphers.
After Nox has told the golem her solution the construct's eyes flesh green at first, then become grey and dull. With his artificial voice fading the creature utters
ANSWER RECEIVED...CHECKED...SOLUTION CORRECT...WILL SHUTDOWN NOW...
Within seconds the golem first collapses then transforms into a small cube (fist-sized) that hovers about two feet above the ground.
As you overcome your astonishment about the strange transformation you suddenly hear armor and weapon clattering from the tunnel that led into the chamber.
Esfana readies herself for the worst
Alcheringa draws his sword, and signals Blaze to move into shadow.
With an economy of movement Thorne tumbles into shadowy cover while detaching the bayonet off his crossbow.
Stealth:
He whispers under his breath "Ok me lovely. It looks like it's show time."
After all of you have moved into position and hid in the shadows as good as you could, the clattering stops abruptly and you hear muffled voices.
A hoarse voice:
Oi mate I telled ye here be da secret, heh!
A female, rather sophisticated voice:
Very good my fine aide. But now, your service has expired.
Then follows a thump and a muffled moaning.
Perception:
Thorne readies to fire in the direction of the noises, should anything hostile come through.
perception
the prospective loremistress will ready an action to cast mage armor upon herself the moment that seemingly hostile individuals appear.
Torald readies his Weapon and Shield and positions himself in the front of the group.
"Its the Tiefling for sure..."
Alcheringa is standing his ground.
"I trust you Alcheringa"
Esfana places herself behind Torald
At the scurrying of his fellows, Alexite moves to the hovering cube, grabbing it and placing it within his doublet. He turns and begins singing slowly in a low tone, barely audible to those within the room. As figures appear from the tunnel he raises his voice, a mournful dirge filling the room. His words convey the pain of loss and the desolation of abandonment by all; even hope.
@ Alcheringa "eh?
@ Alcheringa "eh?
"A Necromancer we crossed paths with just recently, it seems there is a convergence of interests..."
The first "person" that enters the room is a zombie, but Alexite is attentive enough to hold his spell back.
After the mindless undead has stumbled into the room, more follow: In the end 6 zombies drag through the opening, followed by a sturdy bald man who unmistakenly must be a member of the Ardoc Brotherhood and the tiefling Alcheringa mentioned.
The Ardoc freezes as he realizes they are not the only visitors of this most secret place, while the tiefling just strides through her mindless cohort and places herself in front of her followers.
Speaking rather to the smith than to you, she mockingly says
My most appreciated golemsmith it seems like we aren't the first one to enter this sanctum of your guild. Our agreement has expired though and I won't command an attack on this most friendly adventurers.
Regaining his confidence the Ardoc smith takes some steps in your direction and bellows
Who in all the hells are you and how could you know of this place?
Overly confused, Esfana tries her best to stay cool
"I think there is some confusion in your organization's management.I won't tell who, but we were asked to check on a malfunctioning golem"
The engineer looks dumbfounded, then his face lights up (stroke of genius...)
So you came to find the riddle golem, too? I bet Goram sent you, or Hamor or Perdar! Anyway, you are not going to leave this place with the golem!
Meanwhile the tiefling arches one brow and adds
My dear friend of the Ardoc Brotherhood, I won't stay and watch you getting killed by these people. Nevertheless, I will lent you my unertaining servants for any games of melee you want to play - for a certain fee of course...
Then she turns and goes back into the tunnel, the smith looking even more dumbfounded.
It seems to me, you already lost your most precious ally already before the confrontation started. We'll give you the possibility to reconsider your intentions and leave this place unharmed.
The sturdy smith reconsiders his options and becomes more and more nervous
But I NEED the golem! Did you find him in here and how could you maser his riddles?
"What do you mean by saying you it?