Dantes grabs the orb of obsidian, beginning to sprint from the room. The mist warbles in alarm, distracted from Grumblejack by the removal of the orb.
After Grumblejack gives it another mighty club with his stick the mist slinks back into the floor and does not return.
As Dantes moves the sphere from the room the orb of darkness moves with him to engulf the others, and retreats from the far side of the room.
Lyrysa backs away from the encroaching darkness. "I have already given Dantes what light I can. Dantes, whatever it is you have done, the darkness is consuming us as well. Did whatever is inside ensorcel you?"
Slevin smiles, feeling at home.
"The orb radiates darkness as a lentern does light. A useful tool. We need only contain it in something to curtail its power."
He takes the sack from the prison break and calls to Dantes, his gravelly rasp guiding the dwarf to his location to drop the orb in the bag, testing his theory.
Dantes bears a confused expression as he allows Slevin to take the ball. He is far more used wounds from blades and falls than he is from dark mists.
Inside the sack the ball still seems to radiate the darkness, being blocked by the material not at all.
"Perhaps we should destroy it instead. It is more of a hinderance than a help now."
"Well, it does say destroy that which would blind you."Slevin muses, trying to understand the orb.
Knowledge Arcana
Knowledge religion
Spell craft
Dantes will ready his silvered warhammer and strike on the globe as it hands in the bag.
Sunder attempt, I guess?
To hit
Damage
The orb is a simple orb of obsidian with a high level darkness spell cast on it. As Dantes slams the orb with his hammer it snaps, breaking into many pieces of obsidian and dispelling the darkness that plagued you.
Within the previously darkened room is a door to the north and one to the east.
Lyrysa examines the room, both magically and visually, now that it is visible. Seeing the holes in the ground, she ponders. "Sadly, my spells are ill-suited to battle this type of threat. Mayhaps the creature will not come out in the light." Lyrysa keeps her bow at the ready. "Opinions on which door to take, or should we allow fate to decide for us?"
Dantes stows his weapon, leaving his shield ready.
"Direction doesn't matter to me. Unless that thing is willing to attack us in the light, we should take some time and check over the room. Whoever put together this challenge seems to have a love for hidden advantages. Perhaps there is something that will help us know which door to take."
Dantes will try going into the room. If he is not attacked, he'll take 20 to search the room, saving the holes that the smoke came from for last.
"Based on the warning, we've destroyed that which would blind us, so if the shadow returns, fire should kill it, I would think."
"That is the problem. At present I have no fire spells prepared, nor any source of it. That needs to be remedied when we have the time. And I do believe Dantes is on the right track."
After realizing the blood-drinking mist was not making any attempt to leave it's dark hollow below the group moves forward through the northern door. The door is barred in a complex mechanism, obviously meant to be near impossible to move through without the light.
After a short walk down a hallway you come to another room with another inscription. Cruelty is a tool, not a pastime. Be ruthless to thine enemy, but reward those who would serve you well.
The room beyond is bare of everything but a torturer's rack.
Perception
Lyrysa examines the room, then turns to the wall on the right. "Interesting." She turns to the others. "It would seem there's a secret here. Be prepared." She proceeds to the wall, hoping the others are near, and activates the mechanism.
Inside the wall Lyrysa is surprised to find... a young man. A man with long hair wearing the armor of a mitran knight, though he obviously isn't old enough to be more than a squire. "B-B-Back fiends!" He stammers, obviously terrified, "Timeon of Lastwall is not one to die in a dark hole like this." He hefts a large stone, likely prized out of the wall, like a makeshift club. "I got away from that Asmodean and I'll fight you off if I have to."
Momentarily started by the knight, Lyrysa feels him quickly. An idea forms. "Now please hold on, Sir Timeon you said? No one here came to harm you. I apologize if the sight of Grumblejack frightened you. I assure you he is an ally. Dantes, please take Grumblejack into the hallway. Our dear knight has obviously had a traumatizing experience." She gives Timeon a smile as she places her hand on his club to lower it, though letting him keep it. "Now perhaps you could tell us what happened, Sir Timeon?"
Dantes goes out into the hall with Grumblejack, his lips working slowly as he tries to figure out what Lyrysa is up to.
"What manner of person keeps an ogre as an ally?" Timeon asks, still wary. "And I am no Sir, only a squire." His body language is still extremely tense and you know that it would take only the slightest slip for him to make an attempt to kill you.
"Why, those who would lead him to a better life, of course. Does not Mitra offer redemption to any who would seek it? Who are we to say an ogre should not be as well. May I sit with you?"
"Only a squire, you say? I'm sure you'll make knighthood in not time, Sir Timeo. Oh, my mistake, just Timeon." She gives him a playful smile. "I must say, fighting your way because of an Asmodean? There must be a tale there. Surely there isn't any harm in sharing it with us."
"I... Suppose not." Timeon says uncertainly, not sitting down. "I was with my master, part of the local unit of the Purifiers. We got a tip that this house was the abode of a worshipper of Asmodeus." He looks around miserably. "My Lord did not wish to bother the regiment unless the tales held truth, so we came here to check on it. Upon knocking there was a beautiful woman with violet eyes and platinum hair. Much like yours milady." Timeon keeps to his manners even when dealing with those who may be an enemy. "She said a word and my Lord fell, I believe asleep though I could not tell. I turned to run, but she was suddenly behind me, so I fled into the house, but there were men in collars with blades who attacked me, and a man in robes that was flying and spitting hellfire." Timeon's descriptions sound quite like Tiadora, the slaves and Cardinal Thorn. "I kept getting around them and finally stumbled into the basement, where this door was open. Ever since I have hidden here, hearing only a few snippets from them about the dungeon they've set up here. I don't know if I'll be able to get away through the things they speak of. And I'm so thirsty."
"How dreadful that must have been alone. The flying man, I believe that is the same man we too are here for. Our group is down here searching for an item, a pendant of silver and sapphire. We have obtained information that we believe it will be valuable in our dealings with him. Have you seen such an item, or have any idea where it might be? Also please tell me more about this master. Who is he, do you believe he still lives?"
"It would seem whatever force has brought us together, Timeon, it may be best if you aid us in our mission. I understand that you are not a knight, not yet. But to have survived so long down here displays your character." She moves closer to Timeon and looks into his eyes. "Would you Timeon by my knight, and aid not only us, but aid me?"
"Silver and sapphire pendants are often worn by purifiers. Our colors are blue and white, for Mitra's cleansing fires." Timeon takes the longsword. "My lord Sir Balin is still here according to the man and his whore. I may be willing to help you. Who are you? What are you doing here?" Timeon begins to move away with you, obviously trusting you at least a bit. "I've heard some things from him. The next room has fearsome cobras made of metal. Beyond that a secret door hides the way forward. There's a mushroom in a dark room somewhere ahead, which yells when there's light or moves. When it calls, drowned men rise from the dark and kill those who disturbed it. That's all I've heard."
She leads Timeon along with them. "You may call me Lyrysa, Timeon. And metal snakes? How dreadful. You must aid us in the defeat of such creatures. Your knowledge shall truly prove invaluable. And please tell me more. About you and about this Sir Balin. Is he as strong as you appear?" Lyrysa talks with him as they continue on.
Slevin remains silent observing Lyrysa putting her considerable skills to use.
"Sir Balin is a full knight, much more powerful than I. And I will do what I can."
As you continue along, going back to the formerly dark room and taking the other door. "Little man is snack?" Grumblejack asks eagerly, his eyes lighting at discovering the squire.
The door leads down a short hallway leading to a door inscribed with: The Chosen are shown by their might, the weak deserve no sympathy.
From what Timeon said the snakes should be behindthis door.
"No, Grumblejack, little man is not a snack. This brave squire is going to help us. He's learned quite abit of information about this place, and is offering us aid."
At the doorway, she relays the information provided by Timeon. "Our good squire has graciously informed us that beyond this door are metal snakes. I'm not sure how useful I can be, but I'm sure Timeon here would be more than helpful in aiding the rest of you."
Dantes nods slowly. Actually, that may be helpful. Metal snakes? Do ya think that means it might be better to try and smash it with a hammer rather than cut it with an axe?
"Probably a good idea, they may have some protection against blades."
Dantes:
Lyrysa:
Devon:
Grumblejack:
Timeon:
Constructs:
The constructs coil in the center of the room, lit by a small oil lantern on a pedestal, they are not ready for intruders, relaxed around the pedestal and the group catches them by surprise.
Shield and silvered warhammer at the ready, Dantes closes on the closest serpent and tries to put an end to it quickly.
To hit
Damage
"This won't be fun, annoying creatures immune to my charms." Lyrysa takes up her bow and attempts to provide ranged support to the others. "Do me proud, my knight," She says to Timeon as she fires.