Falth will accompany Zurznal in sneaking around the manor walls for another entrance. He also pays attention to any sign of why the crows would behave in such a way.
Shohiraj looks up at the wall, then over to the gate. "Give me a few minutes. I think I can get up there." She picks a crevice in the wall and quickly begins to scale it.
"I can't stealth well. I might be able to bluff my way in. We should look for another way. If the crows won't go in the courtyard, maybe we shouldn't either. Do you think we can climb the walls without being noticed and skirt around the edges until we reach the roof of the main house?"
Seeing how well her disguise worked on Joliryn, Thestil decides to continue with the act of portraying Halvair, and will attempt to walk right into the manor as if she belongs.
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No one spots anything too out of the ordinary here, outside of the crows, and Thestil gets a very general sense of their being a bit anxious from a combination of your presence, but it's more about something they sense you are about to do that they are scared of. She isn't really able to read any more due to their very simple thought patterns, though, (and does not sense any other minds in the immediate area.
Likewise, not one really detects anything dangerous or harmful.
Shohiraj enters the manor behind Thestil, pretending to be a worker following the head Pharmacist. She walks with purpose, though it's clear that she defers to the leader. As they enter, she takes a wide glance around the area.
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Rataji whispers a few magical words and allows his vision to focus, seeing magical aruas, and holds up a hand as he begins to study it.
Pointing towards the main door leading into the manor itself, he mutters "Magical barrier. Some sort of ward. Not too powerful."
Once he points it out, everyone begins to creep forward, allowing Shohiraj to do a more in depth sweep of the area, and sure enough, she finds the nearly invisible markers indicating some sort of magical trap or ward.
"Huh. Well, someone doesn't want to be interrupted. Let's see if we can change that." Shohiraj moves around the magical fields, probing the trap. He quickly works, trying to get the magic to collapse in on itself harmlessly.
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Shifting her mental state and focus just long enough that she can mimic being perfectly aligned with the wards magic, Shohiraj steps within the and makes her way to the doorway itself. It takes a moment of study, but she sticks one finger into the dirt and uses it to trace a small addition to one of the minute runes, effectively altering it so that the "trap" no longer properly functions, before calling back "ok, it's safe."
Sliding the stolen keys in, the door unlocks, and opens. Half a dozen upholstered sofas make a lazy circle around the middle of this high-peaked hall. A broad, brass brazier smolders with banked coals. Thin tapestries in bold, dark colors hang from the walls, as well as tall mirrors to the north and south. Overhead, a curious chandelier of coarse crystal and twisted, inhuman, metallic arms radiates light from a handful of glowing stones.
This hall is seemingly where most of Temarra’s entertaining takes place, and this is one of the few spaces she cares to keep comfortable and welcoming to visitors.
Eramay follows into the room. She looks around carefully once inside.
"Everybody halt. That chandelier is no chandelier. It is, in fact, an Aeon of some sort." Falth then shares the spoiler information.
"How shall we approach this?"
"I'm detecting some very odd thoughts. Or rather seeing them. I have never experienced this before and I'm not sure what to make of it. But something is definitely aware of our presence and is trying to figure us out too. I suspect it's whatever Falth is seeing." She nods at Zurnzal's analysis and tries not to make any threatening movements.
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The Aeon begins to attempt to communicate with you, though it's difficult to understand. It then shows a bird’s eye view of Wirholt’s Rictus as a set of manacles draws tight around the image like a noose. Suddenly, the symbolic representation of the your group, (a thorn-covered vine for Zurnzal, a tarnished silver coin with a Mwangi face for Rataji, etc. . .), breaks those chains, and the plantation falls into chaos as fires break out and monsters surge from the manor into the wilderness. It then shows a series of timepieces breaking, like hourglasses cracking and sundial snapping in two, perhaps signaling these events are long overdue.
"This Aeon is called a Theletos. It has an additional duty among their Aeon kin, and are guardians of fate and prophecy. They have been known to have a knack for granting other a glimpse of the unknown."
Falth cautiously takes a step forward.
"By the looks of it, we just received permission for a glorious...accident... Shall we get started?" a peculiar grin spreading across his face.
"Well, that's the best news I've heard all day. Can he show us how to do that?" Shohiraj shakes her head. "At least it seems he'll keep him mouth shut."
"Let's see what else is here."
"It's always good to have a prophesy to go with your plans. It means we're heading in the right direction. We shouldn't keep prophecy waiting." She nods in agreement with Shohiraj's suggestion to look around.
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As Zurnzal and others begin searching the room, (sorry, I thought I'd updated the map, done now), the Aeon reaches out one of it's appendages as a mortal might extend a hand to touch Eramay.
For a short moment, she sees an odd assortment of images;
Shortly afterwards, everyone shares another; The aeon envisages a set of scales teetering as if unbalanced. One side sinks down to show a debt unpaid.
The atrium opens up to two other short hallways, one left and one right. A careful search indicates none of the doors are trapped or even locked, and each seems to be nothing more than a series of either bedrooms or guest rooms. None really have anything of particular value or note, well, none except for the larger one towards the top right (top left on map, marked #3).
Like the two other well-appointed bedrooms in the manor, this chamber has a canopy bed, a table, fireplace, and several shelves. Unlike the other rooms, this spare bedroom rarely sees use, and it conceals a reinforced entrance to something below, hidden beneath a very heavy, seemingly immovable bed, though it's unclear just how to open it without moving the bed. The trapdoor beneath the bed seems to be locked with two magical, softly glowing runes. Either trying to force the bed aside, or perhaps destroying it seems your only option.
Falth inspects the trapdoor and weighs his options.
He doesn't seem to know anything about the runes. "Does anybody have any idea what these runes are?"
"Hmmm these runes strengthen the seal and also seem to have a way of unlocking it. Let me study it a bit closer" Thestil kneels down next to the trapdoor to study it, but trying not to get too close just in case she's wrong.
Shohiraj helps the others search the room. "If you can figure out those runes, I can probably find a way past them."
That was odd. I saw a silver Aspis badge splitting into three badges that spin and fan out. They brush against a compass, which falls upon flagstones, shattering the glass and causing the needle to list aimlessly as if unable to find north. I assume this is a portent of things to come, but I have no idea what it could mean."
"Interesting. I wonder if that means we should help this Korholm Agenda? They could clearly be an aspect of the Aspis Consortium. If that brings the fall of the Pathfinders, then maybe we shouldn't wage war on them." Shohiraj's tone seems concerned about the vision.
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Doing so reveals the secret catch (see spoiler above), causing the bed to retract and flatten against the wall, allowing you access to the trap door, and a better chance to examine the runes.
Having a better, and clearer look at just what it is, Thestil can identify that the runes are literally empowering (as in the DC) to access what lays beyond the locked trap door, but also making it much more difficult to actually unlock the Trapdoor itself. If someone could perhaps banish their magic, it might make things significantly easier.
Additionally, as she had mentioned before, there seems to be some sort of built in ritual, something that would allow people to pass without destroying or being subjected to the runes. Very tiny etchings around the runes offer a hint, The nine crowned hydra requires it's due, but after her fill, will offer the crimson bounty.
Very curious. You do recall that the owner seems to be a true believer of Zon-Kuthon, and would find it hard to believe she wouldn't attempt to incorporate her faith into this.
"The 'nine headed hydra' is likely the cat o' nine tails we found. And I bet she used it to draw blood quite a bit. Perhaps blood dripped onto the runes after using that on yourself?" Shohiraj pulls out the torture implement. "So, who wants hurt themselves?"
"Do you think its blood dropped from the person after or blood on the cat o' ninetails that will do it. Maybe we need to drag the bloody whip across the runes. Either way, I have scrolls to heal up whomever gets hit."
"Zon-Kuthon is all about self mutilation as a sign of devotion. I'm willing to bet it requires somebody to flagellate themselves as an 'offering" to the runes. I wouldn't call myself the religious type but these ones are bloody insane if you ask me. I may have just the thing though." She pulls out her greataxe, and mutters a phrase under her breath, suddenly transforming the axe into a cat o' nine tails, before holding it out to the group. "Alright, who's up?"
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It takes a few strikes to draw blood, which seems to cling to the Nine-Tailed whip, , and then a sudden flick of the wrist sends a spray of Zurnzal 's blood over the trap door. there is a small click, and suddenly the runes flash and then their light seems to die away, as the trapdoor slides open, revealing a passageway down following a spiral staircase. Additionally, you see a contraption on the far side of the passageway, designed to fill the room above with some sort of gas if the trapdoor is forced.
Fluid-filled canisters attached to the walls contain a range of small creatures floating in stasis. An overturned operating table has broken one of these containers, spilling viscous liquid across the floor. A much larger glass cylinder stands to the southeast, though it appears empty.
As you filter into the room, suddenly you are greeted by a familiar voice, "I thought something smelled a little fishy." Somewhere, just out of view, it seems Joliryn has doubled back after learning of the possibility of infiltrators on in the area. And she has brought some friends, three armed guards in armor and with silver warhammers ready, and one in robes, brandishing a dagger.
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Conference Z experiments with cutting edge technology, magic, and alchemy, and one of the fruits of their labor is this autonomous ray platform consisting of a rune-inscribed ruby in a reinforced mount built
into the south wall. The device scans its surroundings constantly, and it fires weakening beams at anyone in roughly a 180 degree arch away from your opponents. .
ROUND 1
Falth ()
Rataji ()
Eramay ()
Thestil ()
Guards 1-3 (), (), ()
Shohiraj ()
Zurnzal (-5)
Mage ()
Joliryn ()
Falth targets the person with the red cloak in the back!
Thestil begins to stare down one of the goons, trying to penetrate his mind and turn on his companions.
Eramay moves along the wall to the closest thug pulling out her corrosive scimitar on the way. "Does someone want to take care of that ray, please?"
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Falth sends two arrows flying at the mage hiding towards the back of the formation, both striking home with ease and drawing blood, as calls on arcane power to bend time's tethers in your favor. Eramay moves into to close, slashing at the nearest guard with her scimitar and Thestil weaves together a few words and gestures to try to break another guard's mind, forcing him to attack himself, but he seems much more mentally resilient than you might expect.
The strange device of magic and machine seems to react first, it's odd laser-guided gaze surveying the room before settling on Falth as it's main target and launching a dark purple ray at him., just before the three guards spring into violent action.
Two quickly draw and hurl throwing axes as they reposition themselves closer to the mage, while the one already engaged with Emaray swings his hammer and then takes a step back, hoping to join his allies and force you to move in.
ROUND 1
Falth ()
Rataji ()
Eramay ()
Thestil ()
Guards 1-3 (), (), (-14)
Shohiraj ()
Zurnzal (-14)
Mage (-37)
Joliryn ()
Shohiraj leaps forward, twisting and tumbling towards the device. She pulls out tools and jams them into the machine, trying to block the device's movements. "I got this one!"