While tightening the bonds of the bound skulk, Zevon remarks:
"Well, we still have someone who can shows us the way through this complex"
Goatmen? Are they hostile?
Engineer pulls a power stone from his belt.
"I am ready to proceed. Shall I take point?"
the bound skulk says in a low whisper " you can attack from another side of elevator, you can flank them from here if you want"
Zevon readies his flail:
"ready when you are #3. But I'll feel a lot more comfortable knowing that the pit trap stays shut. Beauregard, can you block the mechanism or something?"
At Zevon's request, Beauregard pulls out a couple metal rods from his'toolkit', examines the mechanism once again, & then slides the two rods into key locations.
Korihor walks back down the stairs into the room they battled in. "We should bind all those who are not dead. Or kill them."
"My choice would be to bind."
"I just thought of something: why don't we use them to gain access to the half a dwarf? We just say we wish to sell them as slaves."
Beauregard's expression scrunches in contemplative disagreement. "As a businessman, I would argue against the efficacy of such a tactic. If his other employees knew he would be willing to enslave , it would negatively affect morale. I doubt he is short-sighted enough to take such a risk."
"You think a slaver gives a toss about something like that?"
"I think that anyone who depends on underlings who 'give a toss' about something like that, won't last very long. Dwarves are known for their longevity, among other things."
"Just because he is 'half a dwarf' doesn't mean he's half-witted."
"We could just use them to set of any traps. What! They were trying to kill us minutes ago!"
Everyone All of you hear chains rattle, wood scrap upon stone and metal grind upon itself. As a gruff voice yell out"See you at the bottomn so very soon!"
Zevon is not yet willing to give up his idea:
"Beauregard, you have a point. However, these skulks are his failed underlings & he may wish to set them as an example. Anyway, I just thought that it might get us past the goatmen, but it seems it is no longer relevant. I like Lumen's plan as well."
Zevon continues:
"it seems the elevator is down. Let's use our time wisely and look for another way down or the other entrance to the elevator one of the skulks mentioned earlier. But let's first take care of our captives."
Zevon then goes to the enemies that surrendered earlier and begins to bind them. At the same time he goes through their pockets.
Daxur goes back to the door to the elevator and checks to see if the voice came from the goatmen; and that the elevator is now gone.
Daxur yes the voice was from the goatman and the platform is farther down the shaft
Daxur turns back to the others with a frown "They must have seen me and have taken the elevator down...Sorry."
"These things happen." Beauregard replies, his gaze passing over the rest of the companions searchingly.
Squatting back down on the floor of the chamber, Beauregard begins examining all the visible mechanisms once more.
"As a team, we are operating close to our limits. Some of us may well be past them."
"I recommend we find a location, perhaps this chamber itself, where we can rest & take what restoration we can, before continuing onward."
"Yes, I realize this gives the defenders time to prepare for us, but they already have that. A lighting strike, this wasn't."
Beauregard
"Beauregard, do you propose we rest here somewhere or do we go back up to the locksmith?"
"Until I...
can determine whatever affliction has taken hold down here, and more importantly how to cure it; I cannot countenance our endangering the citizenry by returning to the surface." Beauregard reply's to Zevon's query.
Zevon this skulk looks thinner and paler than the rest of its kin, eyes sunken in clothes tattered and aged. The strange thing is the skulk seems to be wrapped in these clothes not waering them. it only has a rapier in possession.
"I for one would feel much better with the chance to rest. I've exhausted my mystical energies , but unfortunately I think I'll have to engage in some research before I can fully explore the magical avenues I now see open ."
"My psionic energies are nearly depleted. I do have several powerstones available, and my standard weaponry if necessary. The ability to reflect on my skills and refresh my psionic potential would be useful."
"OK, we'll take a rest: it's clear that's best for everyone. But is the chamber of masks the best place? What if the lift comes back up with reinforcements? Can we temporarily block the mechanism"
Daxur finds a comfortable piece of floor ( wherever we decide to rest ) and peruses his spellbook, fixing in his mind the gestures, chants and incantations need to manifest his astounding magical feats. Once done, he shyly offers the spellbook to Korihor for her own use.
EVERYONE As you settle in for your rest, the echo of a gong slowly makes its way to the chamber of masks. It lasts for half an hour.
Then the creaking of metal the grinding of stone is heard, suddenly stops then starts again. And then it stops.The silence lasts only for an hour then the gong beginsonce more.
They are merely trying to bring the elevator down. From the sounds of things, the spikes are holding readily, it's not going anywhere."
During the rest, Zevon will try to get more information about Jzadirune:
- he takes a quick look in the corridor where the skulks came from (
- he also try to get the captives to talk about Jzadirune (): its layout, other inhabitants, alternative route to the lift/down, why their leader was translucent...
Zevon you learn that gnomes filled these halls that created magic items. the bulider of Jzadirune was the builder of Cualdron as well. His name was Jzadirune the great. What caused the gnomes to flee is a unknown.
Those who haven't yet awoken are startled awake by Beauregard's exclamation in Halfling as he stares in shock at his left hand.
"Interesting. You appear to have manifested a dragonmark, Beauregard. We are in quite potent social and magical strata, with our group. Most impressive."
"Specifically, it's the least Mark of Healing, which is reassuring...
wouldn't want to have to explain an Aberrant mark..." Beauregard's reply rambles off into non-sequitor.
"I've seen dozens...
Well, ."
"I never expected to see one on myself however, Genealogy is obviously going to be important in the Houses & My line hasn't hosted the Mark in over....
Ten generations, at least. We've mostly been in administration & relations."
He sighs, "The paperwork I'm going to have to requisition is going to eat me alive..."
"Assuming I don't just get re-assigned." Beauregard mutters Soto-vocce.
Not to mention, other concerns...