A few minutes after that, you hear a polite coughing sound, and three heads fall out of the air to roll on the floor of this chamber. You may recognize them as the three guards left to guard the entrance to this floor.
"A token of goodwill," an invisible voice says, politely, before there is a rattling sound and a pile of rather unique-looking magical weapons falls to the ground, "Although the next time you rob a Drow treasure vault, you might not want to forget to search the armory. This is to thank you for getting me this far in, but there's something in particular I'm looking for, and I was wondering if I could follow you until I find it."
Ah, I should clarify: this is the door to the south, which is also the direction your skull-locating spell tells you to head.
A few minutes after that, you hear a polite coughing sound, and three heads fall out of the air to roll on the floor of this chamber. You may recognize them as the three guards left to guard the entrance to this floor.
"A token of goodwill," an invisible voice says, politely, before there is a rattling sound and a pile of rather unique-looking magical weapons falls to the ground, "Although the next time you rob a Drow treasure vault, you might not want to forget to search the armory. This is to thank you for getting me this far in, but there's something in particular I'm looking for, and I was wondering if I could follow you until I find it."
A veiled Drow female steps from the shadows. Per the picture. She delicately reached up and removes the veil from one side. Her lips quirk mischievously as she speaks.
"Hello, Ladies, Gentlemen, and other. I've been watching your work. It's quite good. Perhaps a bit rough around the edges, but it's hard to argue with results."
Turning to the Ilithid,
"And you (pointing). There were a lot of things I considered may be down here, but not one of your kind. Colour me intrigued. "
Back to the group. "Anyhow. I'm sure you all have lots of questions. My name is Meredian Adriatnaic. I assure you I mean no harm. Well, none to you anyway. I'm just looking for a bauble and thought I'd take the opportunity to offer you my aid. You're competent, but lack focus. I can help with that and other things. "
Dris chuckles at the Ghost's directness "Well, that's one way to get the job done"
He gazes around the room, noting the battle scenes "Hmm, that's interesting. I've never seen or heard about this particular demon lord depicted here. Whatever being that is, its incredibly ancient. As is this room, which I believe is several thousand years old."
Anaxian eyes the Drow for a long, slow moment. A dry, slightly hollow sounding voice echoes in the Drow's mind.
When we are done here, I am going to destroy the city above us and leave it a haunted ruin. Whatever reason you have for joining us, that will be the end result. If you are comfortable with the city's destruction, feel free to join us."
And then the Drow reveals herself "Quite an entrance. Why, exactly, should we either trust you or allow you to accompany us?"
"Because we're all ridiculously powerful and her turning on us alone would be paramount to suicide and people don't get as strong as us without not being suicidal?" Illia offered in her definition of helpfully.
Anaxian eyes the Drow for a long, slow moment. A dry, slightly hollow sounding voice echoes in the Drow's mind.
When we are done here, I am going to destroy the city above us and leave it a haunted ruin. Whatever reason you have for joining us, that will be the end result. If you are comfortable with the city's destruction, feel free to join us."
"I got bored while I was waiting for someone to competent to clear the tomb so I arranged for some rival houses to fall. However, if you're going to destroy the city then all the better. You might say I'm not from around here. What happens to the city is immaterial. If it pleases you to wipe it from existence I'd be happy to help." She says with a wry grin.
And then the Drow reveals herself "Quite an entrance. Why, exactly, should we either trust you or allow you to accompany us?"
"Ahh, what's life without a good entrance, don't you think?"
After a brief pause and subject change" Trust me? Oh, no no no. I'd not recommend you trust me just for the sake of it. Just as you're all horrible monsters and I suspect you don't fully trust one another. That would just be foolish. However, I would recommend a certain level of cooperation given that our goals align. As a bonus you are all a bit of an unusual group. I'd be curious what you do from here. You live as long as I have and you gravitate toward the unusual simply for the sake of diversion. Plus you're all immortal to boot! You're all a great diversion that theoretically may never end. How could I pass up such an opportunity? "
"Because we're all ridiculously powerful and her turning on us alone would be paramount to suicide and people don't get as strong as us without not being suicidal?" Illia offered in her definition of helpfully.
"I've been watching you. I may not know all of your secrets, but I know exactly what you are, Fallen. I'm not suicidal. I am merely unafraid. Consider this. Why would someone who knows of your group ever approach it alone and show as much candor as I have shown? "
Zhu Da tusha eyes the drow, displeased that he may be outnumbered by those who wish to let her walk beside them.
Zhu Da tusha eyes the drow, displeased with 2 things. The first being that he may be outnumbered by those who favor allowing the drow spirit to walk alongside them, the second being that it will offer no nutritional value when it turns on them.
By all measurements you have Meredian is flesh and blood.
Edit: also she responded to Anaxian's telepathy verbally, so at least that works.
Maidens Knight (the intelligent ring) readies an action to launch the swords I just dropped at anyone who attacks me.
;-)
[dice=Knowledge Arcana]1d20+21
"Eh.. That's getting by on a technicality. While Devils are sometimes fallen celestial, being a fallen celestial doesn't necessarily imply devil, see exhibit A!" Illia seemed more interested in the lore and wordplay, and at mention of Exhibit A gave dramatic point at Drisquar.
All in all, Illia seemed unconcerned about Meredian joining up. They were already a ragtag group with little to no bonds between members.
"Eh.. That's getting by on a technicality. While Devils are sometimes fallen celestial, being a fallen celestial doesn't necessarily imply devil, see exhibit A!" Illia seemed more interested in the lore and wordplay, and at mention of Exhibit A gave dramatic point at Drisquar.
All in all, Illia seemed unconcerned about Meredian joining up. They were already a ragtag group with little to no bonds between members.
"'Fallen' is another name for what you are, which doesn't imply devil. Also, he's something else entirely. "
"Oh, that's news to me." Illia blinked, she was pretty sure the terminology didn't mean what the drow thought it meant but as always was too unsure to state it.
Semantic minutiae leads nowhere. Anaxian said, turning back to his project of removing the symbol from the door.
Semantic minutiae gets is nowhere. Anaxian said, turning back to his project of removing the symbol from the door.
"Agreed. However, the bottom line is that I'm here to help. All I ask is a fair share and one other thing I seek. The value is minimal to all but me. "
You recognize Meredian as the product of an Astral Projection spell: she can interact with this plane, but not be harmed by it, and her true self is likely far away.
Once the symbol was cut away, Anaxian shrunk it down to the size of a small stone and made it vanish into wherever he kept everything.
"Shall we proceed then?" She asks quizzically.
Lead the way drow.
Lead the way drow.
"Oh, I just got here and know as much about this place as you do. However, I believe you were headed that way." Points at ominous archway.
Detect magic and spell craft to identify what's happening with the archway.
Spellcraft
"A token of goodwill," an invisible voice says, politely, before there is a rattling sound and a pile of rather unique-looking magical weapons falls to the ground, "Although the next time you rob a Drow treasure vault, you might not want to forget to search the armory. This is to thank you for getting me this far in, but there's something in particular I'm looking for, and I was wondering if I could follow you until I find it."
A veiled Drow female steps from the shadows. Per the picture. She delicately reached up and removes the veil from one side. Her lips quirk mischievously as she speaks.
The succubus looked at the newcomer. Finally someone she would enjoy consuming.
She smiles amused saying."Well, we were not aware this was a race."
"Hello, Ladies, Gentlemen, and other. I've been watching your work. It's quite good. Perhaps a bit rough around the edges, but it's hard to argue with results."
When we are done here, I am going to destroy the city above us and leave it a haunted ruin. Whatever reason you have for joining us, that will be the end result. If you are comfortable with the city's destruction, feel free to join us."
Delyliath Giggles looking at the tiny dracolich.
"Thank you dear, for underlining the Roughness around our edges"
" Trust me? Oh, no no no. I'd not recommend you trust me just for the sake of it. Just as you're all horrible monsters and I suspect you don't fully trust one another."
"HEY!!??!!
Sure I cannot speak for this merry band but I don't think I'm a monster. And I know for a fact there is not one single inch of me that can be labelled as horrible."Says the succubus pretending to be offended.
then she simply adds "Anyway, you can call me Delyliath. Now tell us about this trinket of yours"
"Not a race, but there's no reason to dawdle."
Meredian shrugs at the succubus's apparent offense.
"Well met, Delyliath. The trinket is a small thing of no monetary value I assure you. I'll know it when I see it. Nothing to concern yourself with. "
"Well Mal seemed unable to pass through that archway. Do we know why? Does it preclude the rest of us from doing the same?"
"Well Mal seemed unable to pass through that archway. Do we know why? Does it preclude the rest of us from doing the same?"
There are two spells present on the archway leading out of this room—a minor preservation spell on the curtains, and a very strong conjuration (healing) spell that appears to form a barrier over the archway.
The healing spell appears to be some sort of unusual resurrection effect, forming a barrier that extends over the archway and into the stone itself. This barrier has a slight curve to it.
Going up to and examining the barrier.
"Hummm...."
"There are two spells present on the archway. One is a minor preservation spell on the curtains the other is a very strong healing that appears to form a barrier over the archway."
"The latter appears to be some sort of unusual resurrection effect, forming a barrier with a slight curve that extends over the archway and into the stone itself."
Anaxian brought his wings around himself for a moment, then folded them again. As he did one of his badger like amalgam creatures sat before him. He sent it carefully toward the barrier to see if it effected it similarly.
A hideous, fleshy badger-like creature emerges on the other side of the barrier, begins squealing in pain and scuttles off into the next room.
The illithid grows impatient, not understanding the hesitation, and walks through the archway.
Anaxian sits down.
That creature was made out of a dozen rodents and a small dog. It should not be able to exist as a living thing. That spell is far more than a simple resurrection. Until it is no longer an issue, I shall remain here.
Zhu Da tusha passes through, unharmed.
There's a good chance that the skull you're trying to retrieve may be somehow affected by the strange resurrection spell. You may need to find a way around it, or somehow test its limits, on the way back out.
The Summoner's Ghost is nowhere to be seen, although you did see him enter this room right before the rest of the party.