Amarekashu the Bronze |
"We are trustworthy, child." Amarekashu said with a small smile, "But I can understand your caution. I will do as you ask." He looked at the others, to see if anyone would come with him.
Tribim |
Nodding his head in agreement with Amarekashu, "We can head back to town, no harm done."
Tribim shrugs his shoulders, speaking the ghost. "Well then we will head back to town and fulfil our part of the bargain. When we come back you will not be here. So fair well Eluti: "May the old gods watch over you." He turns to go, the turning back he asks "What was your families name so we could look them up?"
Samnell |
Nodding his head in agreement with Amarekashu, "We can head back to town, no harm done."
Tribim shrugs his shoulders, speaking the ghost. "Well then we will head back to town and fulfil our part of the bargain. When we come back you will not be here. So fair well Eluti: "May the old gods watch over you." He turns to go, the turning back he asks "What was your families name so we could look them up?"
Eluti looked curiously at Tribim, "Slaves don't have other names."
Slaves in Unther sometimes use family names, but it's a relatively new thing and their owners sometimes treat it as an act of rebellion. Unless Eluti's family were sold after his death, it's likely they would be buried somewhere near to where they were enslaved.
Regin Ald |
Burying your bones with the proper rites will take some time. Please, open the door. I swear to you as a priest of Ishtar that I will see your bones buried, but I prefer to not have to come down here again just to report it, especially if there is a reward in the end for me. I feel such a guarantee as treasure or services rendered cheapens the act of the burial. I am not burying your bones out of a stricken heart then. I am burying them for coin. And that I cannot in good conscience do.
go paladin diplo!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Tribim |
Tribim nods his head in agreement with Regin "It's true, we would do it whether we were paid or not."
aid: diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 well a little help
Tribim |
Tribim waves "Thank you Eluti." He then nods to Regin and sends his dancing lights into the darkness following along about ten foot behind.
perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Samnell |
Beyond the door, the company found themselves within a cavernous chamber. A large stone walkway ringed a deep chasm, falling off into darkness. Four stone bridges reached from the walkway to a central ring, two of them broken in mid-span. Bright light, like a summer's day, filtered down from the ceiling above. Four wide galleries extend outward from the walkway, their far walls covered with great bas-reliefs. A sighing wind rose from the central ring, carrying stray dust toward the roof.
Amarekashu the Bronze |
Amarekashu looked around, searching for magic or other sources of possible risk. The fact two bridges were broken did not bode well.
Perception + Detect Magic: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Tribim |
'Well, two bridges gone already, guess we should be careful.' Nodding toward the center, "Well, you don't see that everyday in a crypt."
"I figure we should make sure the stone walkway and the galleries are safe before we test the bridges." He begins to slowly walk clock-wise around the center ring, checking the first gallery he comes to.
not sure how big the 'galleries' are, but if the team doesn't mind he would take 20 (28) on perception for them, or take 10(18) and everyone take 10 to aid, or something like that :) Just trying to move slow and careful and see what we can see...
Arundel |
I don't think we can take 10 on an aid check, but I do think that being slow and steady in our examination of this place is more than reasonable.
Arundel frowns in concern at the two broken bridges, and at the wind in the middle. "I find myself not overly fond of wind in this place..." he says, with a concerned look to the middle and the very deep chasm.
When Trib starts to examine the walkways, the elf moves to do the same.
I'll also take 20 (32) on checking - figure if I work one side and Trib the other, we can progress twice as fast.
Samnell |
At the first gallery, Tribim sees misshapen reliefs that seem only vaguely to be intended to represent anything. As he draws near, steam rushes in from above, draping them in currents of air and shadow that sharpen the figures into clear images which seem to move as the steam plays across.
The scene depicts a mighty Untheric deity that looks somewhat like Gilgeam, but not quite right at all. He stands before a throng of adoring worshipers. A dark, twisted shape emerges from the edge of the reliefs, coalescing into a monstrous figure as the sky darkens and the worshipers fall dead one by one.
Tribim |
'Wow' Eye's wide and his mouth hanging open, Tribim watches the scene unfold. "Are you fella's seeing this?"
He points to the scene, hoping that someone else trips, whatever caused it again, just in case anyone misses it.
Tribim |
Tribim nods his head in agreement, "Yes interesting indeed." He nods toward the next Gallery, "Shall we continue on?" Being aware of the horrific stories of traps in tombs, Tribim continues searching in the slow and cautious manner and continues moving toward the next gallery.
again moving slow taking 20(28), if I picture this right, there is one door and four galleries and four bridges. Are the bridges placed in a significant relationship to the galleries or just providing access to the middle?
Samnell |
Tribim nods his head in agreement, "Yes interesting indeed." He nods toward the next Gallery, "Shall we continue on?" Being aware of the horrific stories of traps in tombs, Tribim continues searching in the slow and cautious manner and continues moving toward the next gallery.
again moving slow taking 20(28), if I picture this right, there is one door and four galleries and four bridges. Are the bridges placed in a significant relationship to the galleries or just providing access to the middle?
The map should be up to date. Short version: it's a circular room with a circular walkway hugging the walls. The bridges are in the cardinal directions, with two -including South, facing the door- broken. They reach a smaller central ring. The galleries are roughly midway between each of the bridges on the outer wall.
Tribim made his slow way to the next gallery, a full quarter of the way around the ring from the first. There a towering god stood over a legion of lessers, again much like Gilgeam but not quite him as the steam rolled across. The lesser gods bowed before his might as he raised his arms.
Amarekashu the Bronze |
Amarekashu frowned at the images. "I feel these are important." Pausing, his odd eyes rolled. "Which is obvious. No one uses magic to animate their soup recipe. But I lack the knowledge to understand these scenes."
Regin Ald |
Regin takes his time at each scene and documents every detail he can.
Take 20 Kn:Religion for a 26 and perception for a 24. He is documenting it all as he goes so he doesn't have to worry about memorizing it.
Tribim |
Tribim nods in agreement with Amaredashu, "I have a little knowledge about religion, Just enough to know I don't know much." He looks to Regin for more information.
Samnell |
Regin takes his time at each scene and documents every detail he can.
Take 20 Kn:Religion for a 26 and perception for a 24. He is documenting it all as he goes so he doesn't have to worry about memorizing it.
Regin thinks that the high god among the gods might be Enlil, who was King of the Gods before Gilgeam. In better ages, his code still ruled Unther. Depictions of him in his might are not forbidden and long destroyed as heretical. Orthodox religious art shows him only as a frail old man passing his rule to the strapping, fair Gilgeam.
You previously learned a little about Enlil here.
Regin Ald |
"Depictions of him in his might are not forbidden and long destroyed as heretical."
Sorry, this confused me. If they aren't forbidden why were they destroyed?
Tribim |
type-o? now/not? it could happen...
thanks for the post Samnell, tribim rolled a 22 so apparently he knows more about Enlil than I thought :-)
'The old gods. My people still worship them. Probably shouldn't say too much though.' Tribim scratches his head a little, "didn't we see a seal depicting the Shattered Scepter of Enlil?"
Tribim |
Tribim toddles after Regin to inspect the next Gallery, "Oy, wait up, I'm not as fast as you are long shanks!"
Same modus operandi, 20 (28) perception :-)
Samnell |
A group of pleading gods and other heavenly beings turned in horror from the darkness about the margins of the relief, as the figure of Enlil turned toward it and brandished a scepter with fine marks down its width which split it into seven irregular segments. The marks grew wider and deeper as the scene played on.
Tribim |
"well that's ominous, shall we continue?" Tibim looks at the others after the scene plays out.
Tribim |
Seeing Amarekashu head to the next Gallery Tibim quickly toddles after him.
Samnell |
Regin keeps documenting, but has started muttering something about heresy...
Heresy: It's not just a town in Pennsylvania!
The final gallery's steam shows a great battle between Enlil(?) and the dark menace. He raises his rod and the beast meets it with some other weapon. A great burst of power flies forth from the collision, smiting gods standing near who then fall back as they fade.
Amarekashu the Bronze |
Amarekashu grunted at the idea of something able to, and willing to, kill off the Gods. They tended to be difficult to get rid of, as he understood it. But they were not present - he was sure they would have noticed. Maybe something else was in the image.
"Does anyone recognize the attacker or the weapon it wields?"
Tribim |
"The ancient story tells that the attacker is Gruumsh. This would be the battle where he lost his eye." Tribim looks around from Amarekashu to the others, "The more immediate question is who's is buried here so that we need all these reminders of Enlil and the seven who died."
He then nods to the two remaining bridges, "And what's over yonder."
Tribim |
Tribim looks at the long shanks, shrugging his shoulders he walks to the nearest bridge, first looking into the chasm, to see what is inside, he then carefully inspects the bridge.
perception: the pit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
perception: the bridge: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Regin Ald |
This is invaluable. And dangerous. Regin says as he finishes up his notes and sketches. We need to rely this... and make sure none else finds it without destroying it.
Samnell |
Tribim looks at the long shanks, shrugging his shoulders he walks to the nearest bridge, first looking into the chasm, to see what is inside, he then carefully inspects the bridge.
[dice=perception: the pit]1d20+8
[dice=perception: the bridge]1d20+8
The smooth-walled pit descends down farther than Tribim can see. The bridges that span it are of smooth stone, almost looking so finely fit as to be a single piece. The hin sees no supports beneath them. None has a rail either. Those two yet unbroken appear sound.
Tribim |
'Well may as well get this over with.' Turning to Amarekashu, "What do you think? Another 'rope chain'?"
Tribim takes out his silk rope and hands the loose end back to Namtar, Mind holding onto this again?" and then ties the other end to himself.
As Tribim begins to cross the nearest bridge, he moves slowly and carefully, keeping a keen eye out. He again notices the stray dust blow toward the ceiling on the light wind.
Calling back to his comrades, "The seal we found depicted the Shattered Scepter of Enlil. When it shattered it killed seven gods. Enlil buried them in god-tombs in the far places of the Empire." He stops for a moment and wipes sweat off of his brow. "Does anyone remember if any of the seven were the god of wind?"
With you permission Samnell he's moving real slow, taking 20 (28) on perception as he crosses.
Samnell |
"Ropes again," Amarekashu agreed. If something tripped the wind to blow heavily he had no wish to fall, or to see one of the others fall, into the chasm below.
Amar had trouble finding much sturdy, besides a person, to anchor the ropes to. The only thing on hand were the bridges, which he would have to hang over and throw the rope around in hopes that it would swing up on the other side.
Tribim |
Tribim found no traps as he went, painstakingly, across the bridge. From the center ring he could feel a substantial updraft rushing through its center. It wasn't enough to endanger him, but it did grow stronger the nearer he got to the inner edge of the ring.
Tribim looks back down the bridge to see how the 'rope chain' was progressing, "Thanks Namtar! Are you guys ready for me to cross onto the ring?"
he then began to move nearer to the center of the ring Looking both high and low.
still taking 20(28) on perception
so the bridges lead to a ring? How big is the ring? is there anything above it?
Please tell me the wind doesn't create an elevator we have to ride up...all I can picture is Namtar flying Tribim like a kite.
Samnell |
still taking 20(28) on perception
so the bridges lead to a ring? How big is the ring? is there anything above it?
That's what it says on the map. :) Above it appears to be a blank ceiling, pretty high up. The ring's about five feet wide, twenty feet across.
Anchored by Namtar, Tribim worked his way to the inner ring. Nothing except the steadily increasing updraft lept out to surprise him.
Amarekashu the Bronze |
Amarekashu slowly searched the area for magic. The story stones were obviously so, but there was likely more than that. He made sure to look down below the platforms and up into the ceiling as well.
Perception + Detect Magic: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Samnell |
Amarekashu slowly searched the area for magic. The story stones were obviously so, but there was likely more than that. He made sure to look down below the platforms and up into the ceiling as well.
[dice=Perception + Detect Magic]1d20+6
Amar found conjuration about the reliefs and running in a column through the center ring. The roof was just beyond reach of his spell.
Regin Ald |
Perhaps? Stay where you are Namtar. I would like to test this before you go sacrificing yourself again.
Regin casts a spell and a dire rat appears from nowhere. He takes the vermin and tosses it into the wind to see if it'll fly...
Using Summon Expendable Animal Life 1