As you enter into the room, the chains move menacingly towards you.
As the chains move closer to them Tal instinctively readies his shield and steps up to interpose himself between the chains and the others. Gripping his sword tightly he easier to attack the chains once they get close enough.
Ready power attack for
Hurry across everyone. See if we can't out run it till we get someplace more defensible.
Mera realizes that the situation is likely more than it seems. Offering to steady their nerves with her voice. As she moves behind Tal across the bridge she begins singing out in a soft and comforting voice. "Listen to the wind blow, down comes the night. Running in the shadows, damn your love, damn your lies.
Break the silence, damn the dark, damn the light."
Mera sings louder.
Mera singing inspires courage in Tal, who breaks a few of the links off with a swing of his sword.
Naberius does as he is told, attempting to shield himself with his cane as he skirts the wall to get to the other side of the room.
Alongside Tal Tuez waits to strike the chains if they come closer.
Not knowing what the creature is Monday stays back as well.
Naberius avoids the chains, while Monday hangs back. One of Tuesday's slams connect breaking off a few more links.
One chain reaches out for Tal, the other for Tuesday.
Both slams miss.
Tuesday keeps swinging.
Not sure what I going on but that both him and Tuesday are able to at least keep the chains at bay Tal continues hacking at them till everyone is on the far side and safe.
Power attack for
Then if possible Tal takes a 5 ft step along the path to the other side.
Mera calls out to Naberius, "What's going on here?" Mera studies the chains to try and figure out what is happening but fails to grasp what is happening.
Naberius turns to witness Tal and Tuesday doing battle with the chains, shaking his head in exasperation.
"The chains are being animated by magic!" he calls back to Mera. "Frankly, I do not believe you require a wizard to tell you that!"
Monday continues to stay back.
Tal and Tuesday continue to break links off the chains as the chains fight back.
Tuesday gets hit with a chain.
Tal sees Tuesday give a supreme effort ripping the chains apart and only proceeds to attack if need be. Otherwise he escorts the ladies across the room to safety.
With a slam from Tuesday, the animated sphere of chains is destroyed and the entire object plummets into the pit below to vanish with a flash of red light. The entire Asmodean Knot shakes and rumbles, as does all of Aberian’s Folly. At the same time, a deep, ominous laughter wells up from the pit below for a few seconds before fading, at which point the red glow below vanishes and the pit itself becomes an empty 30-foot-deep hole with nothing remaining within.
Tal smiles impressed as Tuesday separates the chains and the attack is ended. The smile is short lived though as the earthquake like vibrations reverberate around all of them. the look is replaced with one of worry as the ominous laughter rings out and the red glow vanishes. looking quickly to the others Tal implores Any idea who or what that was all about? Regardless I think we need to get away from here. Forward or back is all the same to me. Just make a decision and lets get moving.
Going back, you come to a junction in the hallway that presents multiple methods to progress.
A wooden door sits in one wall, while a rough, cave-like tunnel winds away to the side. Opposite the door, three stairways proceed—two leading down to the left and right and one leading up in the center. Wooden signs with writing on them hang above the entrance to each flight of stairs.
the sign above the stairs to area B15 reads “Ophidiophobia.” The central sign above the stairs leading to area B16 reads
“Observation.”
Taking a look at the signs Tal sees the one labeled 'observation'. This path seems to be the least dangerous from the sound if it. Let's check this one out first.
Still shaken by the maleficent laughter that had emanated from the bottom of the pit, Naberius simply nods at Tal and follows his lead. He wonders briefly if he should tell the others what he suspected was the source of such dreadful cachinnation, but decides against it. It was unlikely they would understand the true danger of being in such close proximity to one of the pinnacles of devilkind...
Heading into the chamber marked 'Observation' you see that the wooden walls of this room are painted a somewhat nauseating yellow color. In one wall, an oak door with a large lock on the handle stands, a message burnt into the front. Likewise, hanging wooden signs bear messages as well, six in all, each hanging over a stairway leading out of the room. Ruined heaps of what may have once been chairs and a table lie scattered over the floor.
As you enter the chamber, you hear a shrill voice say, You poor things! Suffering so from such baseless fears! Please, step into the therapy chambers and face these terrors. When you’re cured, bring me your prizes and I’ll pronounce you cured. You want to be cured, don’t you?
That all depends, Tal says warily to the hidden voice.What is the treatment used to 'cure' us?
Tal looks at the other to see if they have any idea
What do we get once we are cured?
The voice giggles. In order to be cured, you must confront your fears, silly! You'll be sane once you're cured! The voice giggles again. Please select your first treatment and begin your path to sanity! Remember to bring me your prizes!
Tal points to the exit asking, Do we need to be cured before we can leave?
Why would you want to leave before you are cured? Maybe wanting to leave is a sign of your sickness? The answer is moot anyway. You can not proceed further until you are cured.
well so for for the easy way out of this. sighs Tal inwardly. Nothing is ever easy he, he mutters loud enough for the thing to hear.
Very well. I must cured I guess. Not really caring what path he takes he chooses 'Pyrophobia'. I have been through the trials of Lazarod I can make it through this.
Tal heads to the hallway and proceeds down hoping the others follow him.
"We can just leave."
Tal stops before he gets too far as he hears Monday speak up. Returning quickly he gives her a warm smile in appreciation. Great, then we might as well leave before anything else happens to us.
Tal then looks at Mera, Your new companion know anything about this place in particular?
If Mera has no information from the glance then Tal follows the exit signs leaving this chamber of horrors.
Don't go! The voice beckons. You haven't been cured! This is a dangerous place for the mentally imbalanced!
"Pretty sure it's equally dangerous for the mentally balanced."
Tal pauses only momentarily to call back. If there is a tangible reward for being cured then I will listen. Otherwise no thanks...
Mera studies the voice and listens to her companions. When they move to leave she quickly holds up her palm to stop them. Looking at them silently for a moment to ensure they do indeed stop, she turns back to the room and asks, "I'm interested in being cured and agree that this place is indeed dangerous."
While waiting for a response she turns to the voice in her head and asks Anvengen's Edge for information. Oh mighty blade of the archdevils, tell me of what you know of the sickness and cure that she speaks of.
If there is a tangible reward for being cured then I will listen. Otherwise no thanks...
Being cured is its own reward! How great would it be to walk these halls without fear! the voice coos. But if you need another incentive, how about information?
Tal looks back at Mera wondering if this was indeed the path that she wanted to take. Perhaps the glaive told her something that decided for her. Moving back he asks What room are we going to?
To the voice Tal asks, What type of information are we talking about here?
Tut Tut! The voice purrs. Asking what information you will get when you ask for information is the same as asking for information! The voice giggles. But fear not! I do have access to mighty resources!
Mera gleans information from the blade which is extremely valuable. Excellent foresight. I thank you.
Turning her back to Livia, the diva spills the information by whispering to her companions. "The voice is an imp named Livia. Each of the chambers beyond face those that enter to confront common fears such as spiders, snakes, fire, blood, etc. Anvengen's Edge urges me onwards to slay the creatures and the Livia."
Naberius scoffs at the mention of an imp. "Bothersome pest. I suggest that we move on unless compelled to do otherwise. We have a mission to accomplish..."
The wizard glances meaningfully at Mera, and goes turns to leave. He stops to speak over his shoulder at the room. "You are bound here like the barbazu, are you not? You are not in a position of power, and you know it perfectly well. Tell us everything you know, or we will leave you here to rot. Provide us with the information we need, and we might consider releasing you to serve us..."
Vasco also perks up at the mention of an imp, cawing angrily and bouncing up and down on the wizard's shoulder. Naberius reaches over the caress the raven's scarred wing, muttering something soothing to his familiar.
Tal waits and watches to see eye what happens as it matters not to him. Yes there was a mission for them but it was also likely the imp had answers to how to find the object of their desire, or at least how to get through other areas of this abysmal place intact.
After letting Naberius provide the introduction, Mera speaks to the room at large in an attempt to address the imp in Infernal, taking care to hit the harsh tones of the language to the best of her ability. "
ჩვენ არ მიიღებთ მონაწილეობას თქვენი გონების თამაშები, გარდა ამისა, ოთახები არაფერია ჩვენი დროისა და ჩვენი ღირებულების ნარჩენები. ჩვენ ვიცით, ლივია. თუ პასუხებს გაუკეთებთ, საუკეთესო დრო გადის მათ დროზე ადრე და დადასტურდება, რომ თქვენი ძლევამოსილი რესურსი აღარ არის ჩვენთვის"
Livia, still invisible says in a pouting manner, I am not bound here! I choose to be here! I choose to help people get well! If you all want to walk around insane, be my guest! Since you asked nicely, I will answer one question-only one! so make it count!
"How do we get to the Chelish Crux?" asks Naberius.
Tal smirks as the imp responds that it is not obund here. I guess there are varying degrees of insanity. The real question then becomes who is insane and who is sane? This whole place is insane and yet you choose to dwell here voluntarily.
How to get to the Crux Sanctum you ask? You must be insane then! First you must get past the Flawed One and then you will come to the Sanctum. Providing you can get past the guardians! The voice says with a laugh!