Urdaan makes certain his shield is strapped tightly, and sets himself to take point as soon as the door opens.
With one swing Calian brings down the stone wall and Urdaan dashes through the dust and rubble to find a dimly lit room. This dismal chamber has only two noticeable features, the most prominent being a ten feet square section of beaten copper in the center of the floor. The other feature is a copper arm sticking out of the north wall at the top of a two foot long slot. IT is unoccupied at this time and show no sign of recent use. a short set of stairs at the far end of the room leads down a few feet to a wooden door, on the western wall another wooden door hangs slightly ajar leading into what appears to be a short hallway.
Samuel will detect magic on the copper pieces to make sure that they aren't magical.
Having followed Urdaan in and seeing no foes Calain is dissapointed.
What is that?
"Uncertain, but this place is definitely not what it appears to be, and while the diversion will keep us from joining up with our employer as soon as we would have liked, it was definitely worth visiting to ferret out it's secrets and remove a potential hazard from the area."
"If I had to guess, I'd say something should happen in the center when an object is placed into that arm. Does someone want to try and push it down to see what happens? Or maybe we should just leave it until we find something that fits there."
Urdaan remains at the ready as he enters, avoiding the copper floor sections as he glances about the room for further signs of its occupants.
Anxious to continue, Calain presses, Won't we have time to imvestigate AFTER we have killed everything?
"The frog that watches the water instead of the insect may be hungry, but the frog that watches the insect rather than the water may become a meal himself. We must be cautious. We must tread carefully." Pashaj stands very still near Calain. "The doors seems a more obvious path, but perhaps we should seek to understand this device before we proceed. I am not schooled in such matters, but there are some here that are."
The priest turns his attention to Raulzig and Samuel. "You have called yourselves Pathfinders. In the matter of our path, I defer to you."
"The very earth speeds our considerations." Pashaj falls to one knee and clasps his hands, beginning a chant.
Perform (Oratory) -
"Oh, Blessed Irori,
You cleanse this, your temple,
Shield us who are within,
We remain devoted."
"I think we should be leaving. I hope my scorpion makes it out alright."
"Whether Irori is indeed involved or not, this commotion bears all signs of an earthquake. We must make haste before rocks start falling! Let's get out the way we came from."
Come here, little Pathfinder, I will carry you to the door. The rest of you RUN!
Calain moves to scoop up the Gnome. With his speed he could get to the exit faster than anyone, but if the others didn't make it he wasn't getting paid. Besides Urdann seemed like he'd make a good drinking partner...
"I agree, I think it's time to leave." Samuel turns to leave quickly.
Urdaan brings his shield up to deflect a bit of falling debris. "Then we have an accord. Let's go!" He holds by the door until the rest of the group is clear, then follows with one last glance to the corspes left behind.
Still humming in rhythm, Pashaj stands and makes for the door.
Acrobatics -
Acrobatics -
Acrobatics -
just in case-acrobatics:
Acrobatics:
just in case-acrobatics:
1d20+9
1d20+9
1d20+9
I have a -1 to my acrobatics check, not a +9. I have no idea why I typed that.
My correct totals are
14
12
10
Urdaan grits his teeth and goes to make the plunge.
"Hold on Spike, things are about to get interesting."
Urdaan grits his teeth as a crevasse opens just shy of where Calain had been standing moments ago. "Watch your step, Calain, the ground's turned treacherous!"
Calain spits on the ground and places.the Gnome back down.
Good Riddence. Well, Garavel I think the place is officially cleaned out.
"Finally, now we can get on with what we were meant to do."
Glancing over at Garavel, Urdaan then gives a pointed look to the collasping temple. "I'm not certain, but I believe this is the type of situation that would generally be covered under the 'extra expenses' clause of a contract."
Pashaj stands, dusting himself off. "Irori is not saddened by the loss of this holy place, which was but a collection of stones. Yet, surely he feels sorrow for those lost that were his followers, for they perished before they were ready to leave this world."
"I suspect that the earthquake may be the best thing for what remained of his followers if what we saw is any indication of what happened there." Samuel dusts himself off after making sure Spike was still comfortable after that excitement. "We should get moving to meet the others, there is nothing further to be done here."
H'vok looks around for his scorpion, hoping it escaped.
"Thanks for giving me a lift Calain, I hope I wasn't a burden for you as you jumped over those crevices."
Raulzig dusts himself off, careful not to step on Calain's spit.
"Garavel, I think we should really set off about finding your employer, before she decides to void the contract."
Yes. Let's go. I'll take Gnolls over paralysing undead any day.
Everybody arm yourselves, we have company.
Calain gathers his Naodachi and stands in front of the campfire a giant imposing silouette in the night.
H'vok commands the scorpion to get off of his boot. "You are way to big for that."
Upon seeing the lone figure later on he pulls out his sling.
"I am a hobgoblin with a giant scorpion. I do not think I should do the talking."
Only if we wanted to seem friendly.
Urdaan glances up from the ax he's sharpening and narrows his eyes, trying to get a solid look at the approaching stranger. "Doubt it's a gnoll, at least. Don't see those alone too often. That said, he sets a bolt in his crossbow and leaves it close at hand.
"Whoever it is, I would say it's probably conducive to not immediately attack. Chances are that if they are alone, they are extremely powerful and/or a bit desparate. Either way, not a good idea to test it in our condition."
"He who wanders alone in the desert is no friend or enemy to anyone." Pashaj says, sliding down from his camel. "But this one comes among us and will no longer be alone. Keep wariness and charity in equal part."
Stepping forward, spear in hand, Pashaj chants a greeting.
"Wanderer in the wastes,
Come forward, wear no mask,
Wear no shining baubles,
No hood over your face.
Laugh not, if you are sad,
Cry no tears, if content,
Be as you truly are,
That is how you find us."
Perform (Oratory) -
H'vok looks at Pashaj out of the corner of his eye and thinks to himself "That one is way to trusting."
"Wanderer in the wastes,
Come forward, wear no mask,
Wear no shining baubles,
No hood over your face.
Laugh not, if you are sad,
Cry no tears, if content,
Be as you truly are,
That is how you find us."Perform (Oratory) - 1d20+7
Calain Yells to the wanderer, That means approach slowly. Hands by your sides
Raulzig gives his companions a puzzled look.
"Come on, we've taken on ten gnolls at a time, now we're afraid of a weary traveler? I think it's he or she who should be afraid of us - you still got ghoul blood over you, Calain."
Still, Raulzig decides to check out the unlikely passerby.
Little pathfinder, I live in the blood of my enemies. You'll get used to it.
Calain keeps his stare square on the newcomer.