Ishta doesn't really know what to say. She hopes that the Eye was not key, anyhow, to dismantle any other trap they can find in the area.
"Alright" she says, trying to alleviate some of the tension, "we've got an enchantment to dispel."
The Paladin nods.
Aye, we should not tarry.
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Zane nodded his agreement with Ishta, moving with the others back to the Chamber of Creation now that the means to dispel the arcane enchantments on the place were within the group's grasp. Like Kardas, the priest was longing for the warmth and light of the sun outside, wondering how anyone could wish for a life cloistered away in a dark cell with musty paper about. Especially after all this. To each their own, he supposed, mace raised as they waited on the dispelling enchantment to disarm the trap.
Kardas grumbles as the door to the blasted room comes into sight. Like Zane, he wasn't exactly looking forward to getting into a scrap with a golem of sorts with no avenue for retreat. Retreat! The fact Kardas has to consider the possibility of having to retreat enrages him. "We ought to promise a mighty sacrifice to Mystra to make sure this dispel will work."
"Mmmh..." Ishta murmurs, thinking aloud what Kardas had in his mind, "given we only have one chance at dispelling, I suggest Delenn do the honours, since she seems better skilled in dealing with magical energies. However" she adds, "if you think there's any risk you don't want to run, I offer myself as a guinea pig."
Kardas offers Ishta a simple shrug and a blank face. In a matter of fact tone he replies,"The simple truth is that I trust you more than Delenn, but it is clear she's the most experienced arcane caster present, so there's that. Delenn, are you okay with casting the spell inscribed upon this scroll?"
Delenn nods, "Very well, if that is what you all prefer."
She then leads you back into the Chamber of Creation and says, "The scroll please." Once it's handed to her she studies it for a moment before uttering a strange word, "Nullatum!" A sparkling light shimmers briefly around the book shelves and near the statue before vanishing.
"Well that was anti-climatic..." she remarked dryly.
contains a number of interesting, albeit bizarre, objects including: a mummified human hand with an elaborately decorated signet ring crafted with the design of a fierce dragon wrapped greedily around a pair of tiny rubies for eyes ; A small serpentine statue of a six-headed medusa eating mouthfuls of crystal rats (); a stuffed dodo wearing a pair of Small leather boots; a withered bridal bouquet with a small black emerald on a long hatpin engraved with the words “Forever H. K.” (); and a scroll () folded up in the shell of a dead tortoise at the back of a cupboard.
Kardas frowns at the collection of bizarre objects and shakes his head. There are bigger fish to fry and he doesn't want to waste time on these trinkets and curiosities. "Sometimes it be like that, but honestly, let us count our blessings. Surely this place hasn't run out of tricks just yet."
Azarra finds some stuff (see spoiler). She is able to identify all of it, but her attempts to determine the value of the statue and the bouquet with hatpin are unsuccessful.
Hand of Glory
Ring of Maniacal Devices
Small medusa statue (did not appraise)
Bridal Bouquet with hatpin (did not appraise)
Scroll of Hold Person
Ser Armithia distracts himself by turning the head.
Zane moved in with the others as everything seemed to be alright, though he lingered near the door as Ser Armithia went to the statue to perform the usual twisting of the statue head. Watching someone else do it, the priest had to admit it seemed rather odd and almost sadistic. He wondered what treasures the sanctum sanctorum of this library would hold, with all the safeguards present.
His attention called to the obscure items in the room, he looked at the collection quizzically, curious as to whom some of the items would hold value.
Shrugging, he turned his attention back to the doorway, nearly jumping at the loud thunk in the room. Zane honed in on the statue with its open mouth, his eyes narrowing as his grip on his weapon tightened. The cleric stationed himself at the door should the statue's theatrics cause other inhabitants to investigate.
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"Nice catch, Azarra." The half-elf's sharp eye once more serves the group well, and Ishta feels a bit safer knowing they're in this together.
Once the angel statue is manipulated, Ishta holds for a second while hearing all the mechanism coming into place, then smiles and starts walking. "Another one done, next one please! The Watchers of Dawn are closer to their goal."
Thanks, Ishta.
She'd been worried that her overreaction to the eye had damaged her place in the group, but so far, things seemed okay...
"Well..." observes Delenn, there is but one door remaining, that to the "Chamber of Calling and Binding. It's another classroom of sorts, one the former libraries where quite proud of. As you might expect this collection focuses on the art of calling and binding outsiders. I don't expect to find any magic in there, the tomes while massive are filled with nothing but diagrams for summoning circles but no actual spells. There are also smaller tomes containing curated research into methods of bargaining with outsiders for their service, but again this knowledge while esoteric doesn't describe spells."
As nothing imminently terrible seemed to happen after the statue's placement, the priest relaxed as he listened to Delenn tell them of the final chamber with a statue to manipulate.
Zane kept silent, but lingered away from the elven woman, whispering to Azarra, "I think she knows where those magics are, though...should we call her out on it?" The cleric's general attitude seemed to indicate he didn't think it was relevant, but also that he didn't want to make that call alone.
Once discussed, the young man is ready to move on to the final chamber.
The Paladin prepares to lead.
Ishta notices something...
"Do you happen to know where those spells are? You seem to have a huge knowledge about the place."
Yeah, straight away.
With a far away look she replies after a moment, "Downstairs in the restricted library with all the other dangerous stuff. I've only been down there once and as you might imagine under close supervision. Nobody was ever allowed down there unsupervised, even the librarians themselves."
You sense there is more to this story but now doesn't seem the right moment.
Ser Armithia awaits for their eyes to look over the door.
Wanna use those baby blues, Azarra?
The gold elf winks at Zane (using his left eye).
"Right" is the only answer Ishta gives to the explanation. They'll have more time to talk later.
She walks towards the middle hall, ready for the experts to examine the door and open it, while she readies an incantation in case there's unwanted company behind.
"Summoning outsiders is a sure way to invite ruin upon your lands. This, this is known. Anyways, this last room, let's clear it and do what we came here for."
Azarra considers Zane's suggestion, and tells him no need to confront her now, but then Ishta notices the same thing and asks. She whispers to him Now doesn't seem like the right moment to pursue the issue, but perhaps later...
_____
Azarra takes a look at the door
If it doesn't look like there are any traps, she casts Open on it (from a distance).
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Ishta notices the same thing and asks.
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The door opens at Azarra's command to reveal another large chamber neatly lined with books, and a large brass angelic statue in the south east corner. At a glance the room seems deserted.
I sense something nearby guys. Not sure what.
Zane nodded his assent to Azarra's reasoning, wondering if later might be too late. Still, it seemed a worry for another time.
The priest saw the fourth statue and sighed, wanting nothing more than to adjust the stone and activate the gateway to the next area of the library. As he started forward, he heard Azarra's warning just as he felt something...there. Perhaps watching them. Holding up the rosy disc in his hand, he called upon Lathander's aid in trying to ascertain magic auras around them, in case it was something under invisibility of some sort.
The Paladin scans the chamber.
The swordmage kneels and addresses his familiar while pointing a finger at the doorway. "Do you smell anyone in there who isn't one of us, friend?"
Kardas Rasalas <----- WE ARE HERE
Delenn
Azarra
Zane Levallis
Ishta Khosiv
Steam mephits
Ser Armithia-Seendren
Spoiler:Kardas Rasalas Bless (50 rounds), Shield (26 rounds)
Delenn Bless (50 rounds)
Azarra Bless (50 rounds)
Zane Levallis Bless (50 rounds)
Ishta Khosiv Bless (50 rounds)
Steam mephits
Ser Armithia-Seendren Bless (49 rounds)
Kardas Rasalas Bless (49 rounds), Shield (25 rounds), 1 con dmg
Delenn Bless (49 rounds), 2 con dmg
Azarra Bless (49 rounds)
Zane Levallis Bless (49 rounds)
Ishta Khosiv Bless (49 rounds)
Steam mephits
Ser Armithia-Seendren Bless (48 rounds)
Kardas Rasalas (maybe), Azarra and Zane Levallis are up!
"There's something right there!" Zane yelled, smashing at the area with his mace instead of pointing.
It's an invisible stalker Azarra informs the group.
Then she shoots at it.
Kardas' body shifts from left to right so his eyes can scan the entirety of the room, but while the swordmage is desperate to find this invisible foe of theirs, he fails to spot the extraplanar lurker.
Azarra and Zane's razor sharp senses alert them to the presence of an invisible menace but neither of them where able to hit anything. Kardas was alerted by his faithful familiar, but unable to see their foe he does everything he can to evade any attacks, and just as well he did for he felt something large swish past his ear!
<-- MISS
Kardas Rasalas <----- WE ARE HERE
Delenn
Azarra
Zane Levallis
Ishta Khosiv
Invisible stalker
Ser Armithia-Seendren
Spoiler:Kardas Rasalas Bless (49 rounds), Shield (25 rounds), 1 con dmg
Delenn Bless (49 rounds), 2 con dmg
Azarra Bless (49 rounds)
Zane Levallis Bless (49 rounds)
Ishta Khosiv Bless (49 rounds)
Invisible stalker
Ser Armithia-Seendren Bless (48 rounds)
Kardas Rasalas Bless (48 rounds), Shield (24 rounds), 1 con dmg
Delenn Bless (48 rounds), 2 con dmg
Azarra Bless (48 rounds)
Zane Levallis Bless (48 rounds)
Ishta Khosiv Bless (48 rounds)
Invisible stalker Blur (60 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren Bless (47 rounds)
Kardas Rasalas, Delenn, Azarra, Zane Levallis and Ishta Khosiv are up.
The knight stands steady in the doorway.
Guided by the dodging moves and tries to hit the enemy without cutting a friend, Ishta figures out where is the invisible creature, more or less, and goes on with the trick she had ready. Grabbing her rod, she chants some magic words and an explosion of light engulfs all of his friends but Delenn.
(no save vs damage)
Zane grew frustrated as his swing hit only empty air, having been sure the thing was right there in front of the doorway. His green eyes widened as Ishta's spell went off, the colors coalescing around him beautiful even as they worked their arcane magic on the thing attacking them. Hefting his weapon again, the priest tried his luck.
Azarra tries again.
Kardas truly regrets wasting his one casting of glitterdust as he strikes at the invisible stalker, hitting nothing but air. "AHHH!!!"
Kardas tentatively attacks, but slashing at something invisible was never going to be easy and his blade cuts naught but air.
Delenn walks behind Kardas before crying, "Pro magna iustitia!" A golden aura glows around her hand which spreads across Kardas' shoulders causing him to swell with an aura of courage and determination.
Zane similarly unable to see the invisible stalker swings and misses, clearly fighting this menace is going to be difficult!
Ishta completes her spell and a sudden coruscation of golden light erupts sending crazy shadows and leaving blotchy after images! A thin wail of something in terrible pain rends the air!
<--- FAIL
Invisible fists lash out at those in front if it, one whistles passes Kardas's ear, another smashes into Ser Armithia's face rocking it back.
<--- MISS
<--- HIT?
<--- NO CRIT
Kardas Rasalas
Delenn
Azarra
Zane Levallis
Ishta Khosiv
Invisible stalker
Ser Armithia-Seendren <----- WE ARE HERE
Spoiler:Kardas Rasalas Bless (10 rounds), Shield (25 rounds), 1 con dmg, Heroism (600 rounds)
Delenn Bless (10 rounds), 2 con dmg
Azarra Bless (10 rounds)
Zane Levallis Bless (10 rounds)
Ishta Khosiv Bless (10 rounds)
Invisible stalker Blind (3 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren Bless (9 rounds)
Kardas Rasalas Bless (9 rounds), Shield (24 rounds), 1 con dmg, Heroism (599 rounds)
Delenn Bless (9 rounds), 2 con dmg
Azarra Bless (9 rounds)
Zane Levallis Bless (9 rounds)
Ishta Khosiv Bless (9 rounds)
Invisible stalker Blind (2 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren Bless (8 rounds)
Ser Armithia-Seendren, Kardas Rasalas, Delenn, Azarra, Zane Levallis and Ishta Khosiv are up.
Ishta doesn't like how the combat goes, but can't think of a way to help... until finally she remembers! She quickly searches for a scroll, shouting to all her friends "Close your eyes, quick!"
When she reads the scroll, a glowing powder rains down the place, making everyone shine like a firefly.
Azarra closes her eyes when Ishta tells her to, only opening them again when she is done speaking.
It is very bright now, but at least she can see the formerly-known-as-invisible stalker. She shoots at it.
Azarra looks down at her bow in disbelief, wondering how she missed the third time in a row when she could see the enemy clearly. If her parents were here, they would be so disappointed. She tries to rally mentally and get her head back into the game. It was probably that blasted Zane. He was so distracting. She half-smiles, thinking of him, and then slaps herself. SHOOTING. ARCHERY. That is what is happening here.
Ser Armithia smiles as the Glitterdust descends down upon the creature.
The priest closed his eyes as Ishta shouted, trusting her as he heard the slippery words of magic as the woman cast a spell. Zane opened his eyes to find the immediate area covered in sparkles of a sort, the enemy nearby suddenly outlined and exposed. Finally able to see where the creature was, his next swing was far more accurate.
The taste of past failures is washed away by a surge of heroism that crashes over his senses, leaving behind only certainty: he can do this!