Sebastian pushes aside the dangling vines and tries to take in what this may have been
Every so often, Bree bids the group to wait again as she creeps along ahead to see what can be found.
This once must have been a recital hall or something like that - after a checking the strange mechanical device that is - even though it is partly rotten, partly corroded, still in an astongly good condition - Sebastian realizes that this is something he has read about during his studies: One of the fabled Elvish water organs.
A muscial instrument that uses a complex system of pneumatic valves and nozzles to create sounds of unspeakable beauty. In the ancient days of Elvish civilisation, these instruments were commonly used to support speeches, recitals or music performances.
Sebastian runs has hand across the moss covered ruin, "I can't believe it, a water organ. This would have been something to hear. I of course had only read about them, I'm not sure anyone is living that would remember the sound of a working one. But the sound was supposed to be wonderful to the ears. They used it to provide an accompaniment to a play or lecture to focus attention on the performance."
The rest of the room contains of rotten benches and armchairs where once the audience had a comfortable seat while listening to the musicians and orators performing on the stage.
Kabal couldnt see the contraption Sebastian was admiring ever working and probably wouldnt be able appreciate it even if it was. Of course his impatience was more likely to be the result of taut nerves and exhaustion bu he woudl never admit to it.
Nothing but rubbish here and no damn drow. We gotta keep moving or whatever caused that light will be long gone by the time we find it.
"Yes we should move on, but Sable it would be a fine project to come back someday to try and restore it."
Before heading on, Sebastian will give the rubble pile a quick search to see if anything of note catches his eye.
Even though Sebastian has the eyes of a hawk, he can't spot anything of value...returning to the grand hall, you suddenly spot a flash of light entering the northwestern tower-like structure...it looked like it just passed through the closed door!
"Bloody hell..."
Kabal rubbed at his weary eyes and wish he had been full of drink so he could blame the vision of seeing the light on drunkenness but such wasn't the case.
Well aint that something? Anyone want to venture an idea of what just happened?
"I am not sure I saw that correctly, but two things I can think of glow and pass through doors, ghosts and foxfire. A ghost, we met before and can be for good or ill, but foxfire will likely try leading us into some manner of distress or trap...foxfire...um, a Fool's Lantern or Will of the Wisp...but I would like to think an unknown fey element at work perhaps too, but best proceed with caution."
Your years of studying creature cmpendia finally pay off: You're quite sure that the white apparition was a will-o'the-wisp...
Mercus scratches his forehead
That was surely something else than these lizards...but...I just saw a flashing light.
Yah, we all saw it son and better for us if it was damn lizards. Can we kill it Sebastian? Or do we ignore it?
"Then we could give it its distance whilst we search this place for clues, and history, but if need be we prepare to quench its flame"
"The problem with Foxfire is that what we just saw, can vanish from sight in a flash. Yet while hidden, it can still harm others with blasts of energy. I have something....more of a stage magician's trick, but it might help with facing such an intangible foe, but I have nothing against its blasts.....and then there is whatever it thinks its trap against us is, be it beast or other......but it would be fascinating to collect one as a specimen for study to understand such odd physiology."
Caterine listens along, but has little to add to the conversation ongoing.
Kabal couldnt imagine how they would catch and keep a glowing bulb of light for the bard to study.
So do we just ignore it then? Sounds like its either dangerous or a trap.
Mercus shrugs and tries to look relaxed, but the sweat running down his temples betrays him
Why don't we just check one of the other towers and keep an eye out for this thing...following it sound pretty stupid...
"The pursuit of knowledge is never STU-PID. But there is some validity to the need to keep aware of our safety within these ruins with the Drow and their allies potentially about.....just one more reason to come back later."
Bree grumbles and looks at Sebastian, "... and will you sleep well knowing there might still be Drow lurking about to sneak in and murder you in your sleep, I know I won't? Or maybe they'll keep you, you're entertaining enough. Perhaps they'll keep you as a slave, too."
Sebastian looks confused. "Wait...you want to go after the Will of the Wisp in that it might lead us to any Drow, or we should conserve our strength in case we come across them elsewhere? I am a little off script, I was suggesting the second...but can see the reasons for the first....and no I would not like it as a slave...wherever that enters into the equation", he adds quietly at the end.
"I'm not talking about the damn glowing ball, I'm talkin' about your sayin' we should come back later. What do you mean, for us to go back to camp for the night?"
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...damn girl has a sour disposition tonight...mustve been all that love talk Mercus had going on...fool boy...I'll have to have another talk with him...
If theres some dark hearted drow controlling that thing then we should follow and cut both of them down. But the boy talks sense...for once. Lets check this other tower first. Maybe that thing is just trying to lead us away from it.
Kabal will start for the other tower that Bree and Winter had pointed out earlier.
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Sebastian looks relieved, his hand slowly drops from where is was unconsciously protecting his nether-regions, "Ohhhhh, no, I'm talking about once this is all over....the stopping the Drow, finding your brother, no more Blots. Then.... would like to come back and fully clear this place, and see what secrets it still holds, see about restoring the water organ, with the Elves permission of course, you see, Sable and I were talking...well never mind...of course, I don't mean leaving Drow wandering around tonight, pfft. Now that would be Stupid, let me tell you."
Sebastian sets about softly whistling keeping his attention and his bow focused away from Bree and toward any possible threat, despite anything currently in view being much less threatening than an angry Bree.
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Bree crosses her arms beneath her breasts for a moment, shifts her stance, placing one hand on a cocked hip, before twirling her braid with the other. "Oh. Bloody hell, I'm sorry. Now come on, don't go looking at me like that. I'm not going to stab you just because I didn't like something I thought you were saying..." And then after a moment, a somewhat devious smile crosses her lips as she says, "Probably."
Sable chuckles softly to himself, greatly amused by the interactions of his companions. He strokes the soft ebony feathers of Korax, while moving forward to follow after the others.
Mercus just shakes his head and looks at Kabal
Uh what did just happen?
Meanwhile - that means during your exchange - you have reached the closed door of the northeastern tower.
The walls are covered by lichen and the door looks like it would fall apart under the slightest touch.
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Frowning at his companions; Kabal shook his head.
You got everyone all worked up with all that love talk you started and we've all been on the road too long; way too long. Savvy? So from here out wait til we're in town or at least around whores and gigolos before you go spouting off.
Gaining the door Kabal tunred towards Bree and nodded that she should take point.
Bree rolls her eyes at the talk of whores, but nods her understanding back to Kabal. She creeps forward into the darkness, looking for signs that someone has come before them as well as any possible traps.
If she sees no traps, she will attempt to ever so gently crack the door open enough to peer through.
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As expected, as Bree touches the door and tries to open it just a narrow crack, the door gives way and falls into the room - but even as it impacts on the floor it doesn't make a sound, so wet and rotten is the wood.
The cylindrical room behind the door boasts a domed roof featuring many gaps for long shattered windows amid fanciful carvings.Across from the stone door stands a stone alter bearing the symbol of a pointing hand surrounded by a rainbow. To the right water still trickles in an ancient fountain. The entirety of the room was once painted in bright colours but only a few pastel flakes remain.
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Well aint that cute... the brevian muttered to no one in particular ...rainbows?.. seriously?.. no wonder the drow were able to mop up these damn lily livered elves... they're gonna have to grow a set one of these days... or get scarily creepy like Sable Kabal folded his arms across his chest and spread his feet to shoulder width like he'd been trained to do. He was certain some of the others would want to look around.
Bree moves cautiously into the room, checking to see if it is clear of people, animals and traps before waving the others in.
Bree and Sable are both sure that the room is "clean"...Mercus shrugs and cuatiously enters
A rainbow...we ain't stupid, eh?! For what kind of god could a rainbow stand...maybe weather? Yo Sable, who'S the elvish god of weather...or sky?
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"Findeladlara, The Guiding Hand, the Elven goddess of art and architecture."
"Remember the clue from the Oracle? He spoke of a reversal of Findeladlaras realm, well this is her sign, and this place was clearly a place of worship for her. She is a traditionalist, and only likes innovation in the existing rather than creation of the new; she treats her followers and petitioners a little harshly when judging their work, and she also never replies to non-Elves prayers, take that as you may"
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Chuckling at Mercus, "Actually, I've never had much time for the gods, despite my head always being in the clouds. I shirked a lot of my studies in youth to spend time in the trees and watching birdflocks. Winter's talk of Blackfeather is the closest I've ever felt to being under the divine wing." Turning to Winter, "Well it seems the nest is coming together, though far from complete. What shall we do now?"
"I remember." Bree says distractedly in a small, quiet voice. "I've committed Clegg's words to memory."
She crosses over to the altar and finds herself touching the point of painted light above the fingertip. "... suspending a golden star."
She examines the altar itself more in depth.
Sounds like a stuck up b@+$* to me.
Kabal's brow furrowed and a deeper disrespect for gods grew in his heart... damn gods should be happy to hear any prayers...aint but maybe handful that deserve any at all... The warrior had begrudging respect for Erastil but that was pretty much only due to the fact that Winter was a noble man and claimed Old Deadeye as his patron... else I'd jack him right in his eye along with all the others given the chance...
So what? Are we in the right spot then?
As you inspect the altar closer, you notice numerous small and even smaller holes in it - on all of its sides.
There are also markings at its foot that prove that the altar has been moved in the past.
"Aha..." Winter detects magic before letting Bree manipulate the object.
The thought that something might have survived the cataclysm hidden beneath the altar grabs Sebastian interest and he leans in close to Bree to examine how the altar might swing or slide, "Likely a stage prop for a big ritual, poof, a puff of smoke, this slides open somehow, and somebody emerges to the amazement of the followers....or at least that is what I would do if I had my own religion. Keep the followers believing in the mystery." All the while talking, he does give the block a thorough scan.
You need me to shove that thing over?
Winter does not detect any signs of magic, but Sebastian has - after a thorough inspection of the contraption an idea why the holes are in the altar.
The whole thing seems to be some kind of instrument, blowing air through the holes creates tones of different height and volume.
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"Ho! That's interesting! Fascinating really"
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Sebastian waves Kabal away. "Brute force is not needed here." He then sits there pondering a few moments more.
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"It is an instrument of a sort. These holes...they take air and funnel it through to create differing notes and tones. A musical lock, if you will....Let me see, a light tune my mother used to hum. A nice traditional tune...but how to recreate it...let's see....I doubt this will be my best performance...."
Sebastian cups his hands and tries blowing into a series of holes trying to gauge their pitch and tone before making an attempt at a song if possible.
Use Magic Device to trick the Altar into operation ->
Perform Wind Instrument? ->