GM Donato |
13. The ceiling of this large chamber glows with what looks like natural sunlight, illuminating a series of worktables, vises, spinning wheels, and blocks of unfinished marble that identify the room as a sculptor’s workshop. A huge unfinished statue of an imposing bare-chested warrior wielding a staff-like rod in its left hand dominates the north wall. The hairless figure looks similar to the bas-relief on the sarcophagus upstairs, but is clearly meant to be a different person. A short red metal pedestal against the south wall displays what appears to be a jet-black stone egg the size of a small boulder. A gold glyph—an equilateral triangle with short hash marks through each leg—marks the face of the egg.
No immediate trap appear to be within. The wooden pole held by the statue is of superior quality and functions as a masterwork quarterstaff. The red metal pedestal is completely foreign and may be of some worth.
Map updated!
Vedic Boreal |
Vedic's eyes light up. "The statue... It is holding a depiction of the Staff of Law! This is amazing!"
Any of it magical? What's the black egg? Where is the light in the room coming from? Holes to the outside? A spell effect of some kind?
Detect Magic
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
Appraise: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Vedic Boreal |
"How in the world did they anchor a Daylight spell to the whole ceiling? There has to be a focus point. Where..."
Is the spell attached to a gem or a rune or anything? Would there be any way of taking the Daylight effect with us? That's a pretty significant spell effect.
Derrick Tramsen |
"Staff of the law?" Derrick asks, raising an eyebrow. "Like, you do a crime, you get hit with a stick? Pretty light sentence." The thief then begins to scour the room, thankful for the light.
Perception take 20: 20 + 4 = 24+1 vs. traps.
Vedic Boreal |
"That is... amazing. And quite frustrating." Vedic says after an inspection of the ceiling.
Looking back the the staff, he says "No, not quite. The staff isn't about corporeal laws that would get your fined or thrown in jail. It is a symbol of the idea of Law, as in Order, the opposite of Chaos."
Derrick Tramsen |
"Huh. Law and Order, interesting stuff." Derrick shrugs. "Well, if you're done with the ceiling, I don't think there's anything here. Wanna go try the sarcophagus again?"
Vedic Boreal |
Vedic stares at the statue for a few moments, clearly wrestling with some internal conflict, then carefully removes the staff from the statue's hands.
"Just a moment." he says, sketching a quick drawing of the black egg with the glyph. Something about it seemed odd to him. He flipped through his book...
Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Knowledge History: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Vedic Boreal |
Vedic carefully copies the sigil to make sure he had it right.
How big is the egg? Is it transportable?
"This seems like something that may be important, but I don't know what it is. Perhaps we should take it to a library or a museum?"
Nitavesha Cindersnake |
Cindersnake walks around the stone egg as she eyes it up, "If you think it would be useful, I suppose we could rig a backpack to hold it though I don't know if the material would hold. This probably weighs a deal more than it appears if it is completely solid."
Vedic Boreal |
"Perhaps we can simply move this, and other unwieldy valuables, to one of the rooms near the wolf's den? Then we can simply retrieve them when we leave. I think it would be extremely unlikely that anyone else would come along to take them."
Valsaya Ortuso |
Valsaya walks around the room, and circles the unfinished statue of the warrior. "This statue was made with passion and love. Something tells me they didn't leave it unfinished by choice."
Turning to Vedic, she eyes the stone orb. "A stone egg? Okay, but if that thing hatches a dragon and starts calling you daddy, you're on your own," Valsaya says with a smirks, and she gives Derrick a wink.
"In any case, before we head back, we should check out what's behind that closed door back there," she says pointing to the previous chamber.
Vedic Boreal |
"Interestingly, I have a cousin in Sandpoint who had that happen to him. He's now the proud mother of two Pseudodragons. They are quite the handful."
I have an elf wizard in a Rise of the Runelords game who's entire concept is basically that. :)
Derrick Tramsen |
"Alright, everyone who wants the dirt off come in here," the thief hollers sarcastically, giving the room a cursory glance.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
He then moves back to the group and, if no leeway has been made, grabs the egg. "There, happy? Let's get on with this."
Valsaya Ortuso |
Valsaya, hearing some commotion, walks back into the marble workshop. "What...", she starts to ask, when she sees the creature. Alarmed, she draws her scimitar, but stops with the blade halfway out of its scabard, when Vedic blurts out some gibberish.
GM Donato |
The creature gives a rasp in almost amused tone.
"Па, то је да се разуме. Водио сам да верујем да допиру до овог нивоа је замка или загонетка неке врсте. У најмању руку, то је како Надроц објаснио. Ја сам Артопханк. Ко си ти?"
GM Donato |
"Био сам помоћник Нодрац, архитекта овог гроба. Међутим, то није било ни моје жеље да то уради. Био сам везан за његов рад и Нодрац овој просторији. Одрасла сам да волим човека, тако да немам озлојеђеност. Нажалост, Нодрац прошло пре него што је одржао своје обећање да ме ослободи, тако да сам овде од тада, чекајући нека средства за пуштање на слободу."
Vedic Boreal |
"It says it's name is Atrophanx. It was bound in service by Nordac, Architect of this tomb. Nordac died before being able to free it."
Looking back to the odd stone creature, Vedic continued.
"Ми смо истраживачи. Ова гробница је велика мистерија за нас, пун блага и историје. Можда можемо да нађемо начин да вас бесплатно ако нам помогнете да науче о овом месту?"
"We are explorers. This tomb is a great mystery to us, full of treasures and history. Perhaps we can find a way to free you if you help us to learn of this place?"
GM Donato |
"Не знам много, осим што Надроц објаснио.Гробница је намењен велики ветар кнеза по имену Зосиел.Гробница изнад је лажна гроб, мада.Гробница се налази тачно изнад лицем поред једног од фењера."
Vedic Boreal |
"The tomb we've explored is a false tomb. The true tomb lies behind a face past one of the lanterns." Vedic translates, excitedly.
"То је од велике помоћи! Имате ли идеју како да се ослободи?"
"That is most helpful! Have you any idea how we might free you?"[/b]
Vedic Boreal |
Vedic nodded. "Моје саучешће. Ако можемо да нађемо начин да вас ослободи, ми ћемо учинити покушај. Можете ли ми рећи шта значи симбол груписања на вашем телу? То може бити релевантно."
Vedic Boreal |
Vedic quickly writes 'Ogrémoch' his book next to the symbol coppied fromt eh creature and responds.
Do any of those names ring a bell?
Knowledge History: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Vedic Boreal |
Vedic nods, his suspicions confirmed. "Хвала. Ми ћемо покушати да науче више о природи вашег везивања."
"Хвала. Ми ћемо покушати да науче више о природи вашег везивања."
Turning to the others, Vedic seemed a little anxious. "I think I have learned all I can here. We should go."