Dane funnels in behind the leading drow and sorcerer. "Let's not get complacent, this was the first of nine. Expect things to get much worse."
The door is neither trapped nor locked, and opens easily. You look into yet another chamber.
Engraved into the eastern wall is another message:
"Asmodeus is the master of all contracts for they are the tools of control. Ensure that thou understands foremost the letter of the law and all lessers shall submit to thy command."
In the southern wall is an enormous wooden shelf (containing cubby-holes rather than shelving) rising all the way to the ceiling. You notice that the gaps are marked with a letter (A - T) and a number (1 - 20). In total there are 400 spaces, each containing a rolled up scroll/parchment.
In the western wall is a door but it is being blocked by a 6ft tall stone statue, crafted in the form of a vicious looking monster with a beard and long claws.
Above the door (and thus the statue) reads the following on two steel plaques:
"What appears once in a second, twice in a season, and yet not once in a lifetime?"
The plaque below it reads:
"How often does it appear in a thousand years?"
Mordesel stares at the plaque and begins to think.
Donovan reads the plaques and then confidently scoffs at the two riddles.
Even more elementary than the last one! What was that you were saying about 'much worse' Dane? At this rate we'll be reciting children's nursery rhymes by the time we get to the last test!
Anyone else have it yet?
"It looks like the answer to the first riddle is the letter "s." So we need to pull a parchment from the S column. The letter "S" is in the words "a thousand years" twice. So, are we looking for the parchment from S2?"
The parchment from S2 appears to be a scroll.
After casting Read Magic you realise it to be a scroll of Command.
Durova adds the scroll to his collection. "Hopefully this will come in handy in later tasks. I can use it to influence the weak minded," he explains to the others.
Mordesel watches Durova as he socks the scroll in his backpack. Mordesel clears his throat, I believe that scroll is supposed to be used to move the statue so we can get through this door it is blocking.
"Well what are we waiting for then? Let's get that statute moved and get going. We've got a day to do this, can't be this simple the entire way.
He pulls the scroll back out and examines it. "From my knowledge of this spell, it only effects living creatures. Is there a living creature in here that might be effected, or perhaps, this is a special version of the spell that might work on the statue?"
After casting the spell from the scroll (and saying a command word), the statue lumbers out of the way. Now that it has moved aside, you see a plaque on the door.
"Thou hast used the letter of the law. Proceed."
The corridor beyond loops south and then east, eventually coming to yet another wooden door.
"2 down." Sion moves with them to the next room.
Mordesel follows along, the click, click, click from his quarterstaff echoing through the hallway as he goes.
The door is plain wood with yet another inscription:
“Know your enemy. Shatter all that blinds you and then burn thy adversary to ashes.”
Durova isn't carrying a light source since receiving his 'gift.'
"I wonder if the Master will teach me that version of the spell. It could be very handy down the road.". He checks the next clue with the others. "Sounds like our destructive tendencies are bring tested in the next room. Break things and burn our enemies....I've had worse assignments in my day."
"Sound good to me..." Dane readies his Rhomphaia to do its share of the "destructive tendencies."
A fight eh? Let's see what the good cardinal has prepared...
The chamber beyond is utterly dark and is clearly unnatural. Dane's human eyes are unable to pierce the gloom.
"Is that the thing that is blinding us? Shall I break it?"
And our next foe is... a rock? Something must be amiss here...
From the safety of the doorway, Donovan casts detect magic targeting the pedestal and stone.
Sion moves into the room and readies an attack against whatever might be hidden in there.
Donovan detects magic emanating from the area
Sion moves into the room but nothing attacks him... Yet.
Dane, being rather too unable to see to attempt an offense, holds his position, and readies to strike anything that approaches.
"Hmm," Anton says, looking over Donovan's shoulder to see into the room. "Presumably the gem is what 'blinds' some of us. But I am doubtful it is the 'adversary' as it mentions shattering the darkness and burning our enemies. I don't know that it's necessary to smash a pretty jewel, unless it is also allowing our 'adversary' to become invisible to other senses as well, but if we have fire available, it might be good to prepare it."
"Well it's not blinding me. Drow can see clearly in darkness. But there is nothing else inside the room."
Mordesel joins Sion in the room, preparing himself for combat.
------------------------------------------
Suddenly, a shape 'appears' next to Sion. Initially little more than a cloud of crimson, it smells of blood. With surprising speed it forms a vague, skeletal humanoid body of red, misty gore, complete with sharp looking claws and fangs. Hissing, it lunges at Sion.
With a swift swipe of its claws, blood spurts out from Sion's neck. Bizarrely, the creature doesn't appear to have caused any lacerations, but instead seems to be drawing the blood through the skin itself.
Sion feels some his life blood being sucked out by the horrific monster.
The creatures lets out a quiet chuckle and seems to be drawing energy from the blood.
Sion continues to bleed, though not as severely, after the creature's initial feeding.
Surprised, Sion lashes back , narrowly missing the creature.
It is only now that you realise that there are holes throughout the chamber floor. Although tiny (1 inch diameter), this creature can duck in and out of them due to it's gaseous nature. A cunning ambush method.
Sion grunts as the thing sucks the life from his skin. As his blade misses he swings again. "I think this is what we need to burn!" He steps away from the creature after missing again.
Perception
Durova focuses a fire bolt at the strange creature.
Attack
Damage
Durova lobs a flaming ball at the creature, but narrowly misses as it swiftly dodges it. It is clearly very dextrous.
Moving behind Sion, Donovan keeps his detect magic spell focused on the room.
Donovan can identify faint aura of magic.
Mordesel rushes up to attack the gaseous monster. Moving behind it as best he can, he attempts to deliver a blow from his quarterstaff.
Alas, he cannot make contact.
Dane, seeing little enough reason to assume that his blade will harm this creature, yet unwilling to run, holds his ground and waits for the creature to make a move, hopefully one he sees.
Anton looks at the creature to try to determine its type, while keeping his distance from it. Unfortunately, in the heat of the moment he is unable to figure it out. Instead he begins to exhort his colleagues, in hopes of improving their chances against this ephemeral foe.
Anton is unable to identify the monster.
The creature spins around, hissing at Mordesel. It lunges at the monk.
The beast snarls, unable to make contact with the agile monk.
"Remember the advice...I think we might need to smash the crystal before we can burn that thing!"
Durova tries to use another fire bolt against the monster, keeping it occupied.
Attack
Damage
"Well someone get it! I can't see this damnable crystal everyone keeps mentioning!"
Mordesel steps back, pulling out a flask of fiery liquid. He throws it at the creature. There is an explosion and a flash of light.
Casting mage hand, Donovan beckons at the crystal, attempting to pull it into his grasp.
The alchemist's fire burst as it strikes the creature. partially on fire, it shrieks in pain. Previously invigorated, the injury seems to have slowed it down
It seems that fire is quite effective.