Sunday, 9th day of Goodmonth, 593 C.Y.
Eleventh day spent entirely underground.
Current time is unknown, feels like the early in the day
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Tranen hears Addiz cry out and listens for the spider ( vs DC 0 = Limited Success; ) and determines that it’s somewhere above them. The sorcerer sends a gout of fire upward, but fails to find his target. Fortunately, no allies stand between him and the spider, so none of his friends are endangered by the spell.
Addiz tries to determine where the spider is lurking ( vs DC 0 = Limited Success; ) and though she too figures it’s somewhere above and behind her, her stab with the rapier finds no target.
Ferah cocks her head and listens ( vs DC 0 = Success, Target square pinpointed) and smiles grimly as she hears the skittering of its legs about ten feet above their heads on the back wall. She whips around stabs with her glaive, glad that she has a reach weapon and calls out its position as she strikes, but unfortunately she fails to connect and so cannot confirm that her suspicions were correct!
Elissif listens for movement as best she can ( vs DC 0 = Limited Success; ) and she too believes its somewhere above and behind them. Moving awkwardly past Tomak (20’ movement to move 10’ on the map), she swings her battleaxe, but connects with nothing – though she suspects its just beyond the reach of her weapon.
Tomak has one of his more potent offensive spells on the tip of his tongue as he too takes a hard listen for the giant spider, trying also to orient himself in this chamber of utter darkness. ( vs DC 0 = Success) and deems that Ferah’s estimate is absolutely correct. The cleric of Pelor summons his magic in the form of a flashing stroke of bright light that illuminates the room for a brief instant, and he is grimly pleased to see his Searing Light spell strike the foe dead center! ( vs SR =Success! Damage = 18)
A chittering screech sounds above them, and then the huge body of the spider slams downward, landing on the party and knocking them asprawl! Cries are heard as some fall into the open pit, though who is lost and who is saved cannot be readily determined…
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Addiz – 31/45
Ferah – 59/78
Elissif – 66/66
Tomak – 32/50
Anariel – 58/58
Tendang – 38/50
Tranen – 49/49
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She howled in frustration as she missed, though she did dance out of the way of the falling spider in time. She knew she had to make sure all her weapons were still accounted for, but she grimly spoke.
"Anyone still here?"
Tranen tries to cling to the wall as the spider comes slamming down and grabs the rope with both hands, as can hear some of the companions loose their footing.
"I'm here Ferah!" he calls out
The strong light temporarily blinds Tomak as the ray leaves his hand, but he feels satisfaction that his aim is true and the beast at least seems to be knocked out for now. With a muffled thump the large spider falls down on them and the cleric is brought to his knees when one of the spider’s long, hairy legs catches him on his shoulder. Lifting it off him, Tomak reaches for his mace again and swings at the huge creature he now can feel in front of him. Soon the reinsuring voices of his allies convince him the beast is dead. Still confused by the darkness and full of adrenalin, he answers: “Yeah, Tomak is here.” He straightens up from his battle stance and makes a quick check on his own aching limbs and dented armor.
“Is there anything we can do about this damned darkness?” he then asks. “I can help heal you, but I can’t see where you are.”
Addiz sees a bright flash of light and senses more than sees the big body of the spider-like creature fall towards her. Her uncanny reflexes make her duck, and she rolls under the bulk of the creature as it passes over her.
Instantly she is sure that Something Terrible has happened - where is Tendang!?
"Teeennndaaanngggg!" she screams.
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elissif screams in joy at their success and quickly tries to regain her feet from being knocked asunder. she then congratulates her comerades as well. "how is everyone?" she asks. "who is with us still, who is missing? can anyone find anyone who is unconscious?
someone find a way out of here, grab anything you can along the way, or figure out a way to defeat this darkness, or light up the area."
Sunday, 9th day of Goodmonth, 593 C.Y.
Eleventh day spent entirely underground.
Current time is unknown, feels like the early in the day
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After heart-breaking span of twenty minutes or so, during which the survivors learn that the spider has been defeated, but Tendang and Anariel have been lost to the depths of the pit that gapes open in the center of the room, its bottom unfathomable as small coins are tossed into its depths, never to be heard to land. Addiz’ plaintive calls to Tendang go unanswered, and neither does the elven cleric respond when Anariel’s name is called out over and over. Eventually, the adventurers must leave their fallen comrades behind, and they explore the walls of the room inch by inch, finally locating a set of doors on the far side of the room that they believe must be the ones that they came through, only to find that they are terribly mistaken. The glow of Tomak’s shield casts a blessed light, his earlier spell still active, but rather than illuminating the stairs they recall, now they gaze upon a grisly chamber that appears to have been the sight of a hundred horrific murders – or maybe a thousand.
The forty-foot square room they behold is drenched in blood, the scent so strong that it makes the air seem hazy. Thick, ropy trails of gore run down the walls and drip from the ceiling, and the floor is coated in claret. Barely discernible beneath the sanguine muck is a 20-foot long black scar, as if the image was burned there into the floor. A small dark stone, smooth and egg-shaped but deep red in color, sits in the center of the X-shaped scar. As blood from the ceiling drips upon its polished, curved surface the liquid hisses and burns with acrid fumes. Double doors, identical to the one they came through, are set in the wall opposite and in the wall to their left.
Just beyond the bright light shed by the cleric's shield, two creatures covered in blood are glimpsed lying partially upright against the wall corners on the far side of the room and to either side. Each of the giants has two heads and skin that is mottled and demonic in appearance, horns erupting from their foreheads, and enormous axes are still held in their crimson-stained hands. But only Addiz can see clearly as the gore-covered eyelids of the giants flicker open and four sets of eyes that are mad beyond all reason fix upon the group. With bellowing roars that reverberate like horns of war, the two-headed monsters struggle to their feet, grasping their greataxes as they prepare to destroy those that dared disturb them!
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All party members can post their actions for Round 1, and Addiz can post for Round 2 before Ettins get the chance to do anything. They will be spending Round 1 gathering their weapons in hand and standing from prone.
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Two members of the team are missing they realize, which is a big impact on the small group. With Anariel gone, Tomak understands that he must be even more careful about how to conserve and use his healing powers. Having made sure the spider is dead, he draws upon his special abilities to heal them quickly. Then they carefully move on.
When they enter the next room, the sight and smell almost overwhelms him. “Pelor protects us!” he utters thoroughly disgusted. The giant-like creatures then call upon his attention and he starts bolstering his closest ally.
Spending “Turns” for Sacred Purification 1d8+2 hp healing on all:
Turn 1:
Turn 2:
Casting Bull’s Strength on Elisif +4 STR
OOC: Is my Bless spell still ongoing? (8 minutes)
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Ellisif will scream out "for our fallen friends, your blood will coat the walls and floors, Ferah, Together now!" she adds, reminding her which side to stand on to gain the benefits of her shield.
her plan is to charge (+2 to attack?) whichever one looks easier to reach (bottom right on map i assume), and then attack, and possibly also use the AoO when it stands to attack it again.
assign dodge to the one i am fighting if needed
movement (mobility help?) if spring attack can be used to try to get close to flanking for ferah, then do that as well
combat, charge +2, power attack -5/+5
Magical Cold Iron Battleaxe +3 (M) / +16/+11 melee attack / 1d8 +6 damage / [x3] critical / slashing damage
(might be +13 on attack with charge)
Addiz is torn with grief over the loss of Tendang - completely devastated. Her companions console her, and finally get her moving again telling her to avenge her dear friend. Vengeance is something she can live for. With newfound fury and determination she rises, handcrossbow in one hand, rapier in the other.
When they find the two-headed blood-covered giants, she aims for the eyes -more heads, more eyes, more chance to hit one, she thinks.
She keeps shooting at one of the giants until her clip is empty.
(unless one gets too close or somesuch).
Tranen griefs the loss of their companions, but is eager to continue. As the two giants scrumble to their feet, he stretches his hand out and lets the White Dragon roar.
Sunday, 9th day of Goodmonth, 593 C.Y.
Eleventh day spent entirely underground.
Current time is unknown, feels like the early in the day
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Addiz reacts first, taking out her anger and grief on the evil giant struggling to rise to its feet in front of her as she steps forward to take aim and fires her hand crossbow at the thing’s eyes! The first strikes just next to one of its squinting orbs (Damage 22), and it growls in pain, swatting aside the tiny projectile, and the second glances off its armor – which appear to be enormous plates of metal.
= Miss!
The ettins rise to their feet, roaring in anger and eagerness to kill the adventurers. As the rogue noticed, they are clad in half-plate armor with blood running off the metal in thick, oozing rivulets. They snatch up giant axes as well, their beady eyes fixed upon the intruders as they continue to snarl and roar.
Tranen hurls an icy fireball at the metal doors opposite, the explosion encompassing both giants and stopping just shy of the egg-like object in the center of the room. Both of the creatures are staggered a bit, but the sorcerer can tell that they seemed to resist the elemental magic to some degree.
vs DC 18 = Failure!
vs DC 18 =Failure!
Elissif charges forward, heedless of the blood on the floor, but she quickly learns the error of her ways when she slips and falls!
Ferah sees the Olmani fall and moves forward more cautiously, readying her glaive to give her good reach – enough to match that of the ettins anyway!
Tomak grants Elissif the strength of a raging bull!
Round 2
Addiz grimly continues to fire at the giants and this time it is ready for the attack, lifting its shoulder to catch the tiny bolt almost harmlessly in its meaty flesh (Damage 4), the second one again clanging off its armor.
= Miss!
The giants move effortlessly across the floor, clearly having gained the ability to ignore the slippery conditions that caused Elissif to fall. One of them focuses on Ferah, moving to just within range of her reach and the barbarian strikes as it does, wounding it slightly (12 damage).
While the other stalks toward Addiz, but it suddenly swings its axe at Elissif, who is in a bad position on the ground. The first ettin strike true, cleaving into Ferah’s side (27 damage), but even on the ground, Elissif is able to raise her shield and fend off the giant's heavy blow!
vs Elissif’s AC = Miss!
= Nope…
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Tomak sees Elissif slip and get hit. He stays in the background and tries to help her.
OOC: Elissif is the one with Bull’s Strength and damage, right? (Not Ferah)
I guess if Tomak tried to drag the prone Elissif backwards, she would still suffer AoO, or? Like he called out “Wait, I’ll help you get up!” (for her to delay action until after him) and dragged her backwards, possibly getting her up on her feet again?
Tomak will heal Elissif either sacrificing Shield of Faith for 1d8+5 hp, or
if Elissif gets hurt more standing up before that: sacrificing Lesser Restoration for 2d8+9 hp
Any chance we can get the rest of our CS, e.g. the list of current spells moved to Paizo too?
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Elissif snarls as she slips on the bloody ground and falls prone, but is alert enough to raise her shield to block the attack from the Ettin.
stand, move to assist Ferah, utilizing (mobility feat +4ac should counteract the -4 penalty for being prone when i draw the AoO), 5 ft step or spring attack, whichever allows me to get into range to attack a big 2 headed thing. if spring attack, the left and angle down attack red, if 5 ft step, then angle down right, and attack, protect addiz and call out to ferah if she needs help as well
Magical Cold Iron Battleaxe +3 (M) / +16/+11 melee attack / 1d8 +6 damage / [x3] critical / slashing damage
Tranen continues to channel Dragon Power; he points a finger towards the Red Ettin and sends a jet-black Ray towards the Giant.
Addiz, noticing that her clip is running out, draws her rapier while dancing around the ettin close to her. She attacks the big brute then dances away to the relative safety of her companions.
OOC: Dodge on blue ettin. Move 5 ft right, attack (Masterwork Adamantine Rapier (M) \ +12/+7 melee attack \ 1d6 damage \ 18-20 [x2] critical \ piercing damage), move 10ft to just above where Elissif is on map. Mobility, and 30ft movement, so careful movement is possible..?
Otherwise Balance +12 :-)
Her eyes glimmered; she had been unable to use her abilities earlier, against the spider, as she had not been able to see, and if she'd hit an ally whilst blinded that could have done some serious damage. Against these though...
She screamed in fury and anger, channeling the power of the White Lion through her, and then sliced and diced with her weapon.
OOC: Both primal scream as well as rage, giving a total of +6 str, +6 dex, +4 con. Power attack-3.
OOC: And confirming for crit for first attack:
Sunday, 9th day of Goodmonth, 593 C.Y.
Eleventh day spent entirely underground.
Current time is unknown, feels like the early in the day
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Round 2
Tranen sees doom approaching in the form of the armored, two-headed giant and sends a spell streaking toward the creature, hoping to weaken it before it can reach him. The black beam of energy strikes it dead center and though the sorcerer sees it is weakened, the angry giant is by no means as debilitated as he’d hoped.
Ferah snarls and stands up, drawing an attack from the ettin, which she deftly blocks with her shield. The Olmani warrior steps in close to attack the giant, mindful of slipping again on the floor that is slick with blood, and swings her axe in a tremendous stroke, carving a wound (15 damage) into its left thigh.
Tomak uses his magic and then steps forward to cure (7 HP healed) some of Ferah’s injuries.
Addiz fires at the ettin, but the tiny bolt plinks harmless off its heavy armor, leaving her clip empty. Ferah though swings a very powerful blow, screaming her rage as she lands the strike (69 damage), nearly cleaving through its waist and the giant falls lifelessly!
The giant bellows again, its piggish eyes focused on its target as it hammers at Elissif, trying to bring the Olmani down, but incredibly she blocks three of the attacks, only one of them getting past her formidable defenses to cut a deep wound (14 damage) into her arm.
vs Elissif’s AC = Miss!
vs Elissif’s AC = Hit!
vs Elissif’s AC = No Crit! (Thanks to your Dodge feat!)
slashing
vs Elissif’s AC = Miss!
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Once again, she pressed the attack, moving slightly, before unleashing on the remaining giant.
OOC: Five foot step diagonally gets me in range, same as before!
Turning towards the other Ettin, Tranen uses the Dragon's Claw!
The fight seems to be turning to their advantage and Tomak keeps in the background, supporting his friends with healing.
Tomak will heal the ally that needs it most without risking getting hit by the remaining foe(s), either sacrificing Divine Favor for 1d8+5 hp, or Lesser Restoration for 2d8+9 hp
or
Addiz curses on her empty clip, stows her handcrossbow and draws her rapier, looking for an opportunity where the remaining big brute is distracted (read: sneak-attackable), and then strikes.
OOC: She'll 'ready' for when spring-attack/sneak attack combo is possible (if stowing/drawing disqualifies 'ready' action, she stows/draws during the move of the spring-attack, and above text is merely flavor). If round passes, so be it.
Sunday, 9th day of Goodmonth, 593 C.Y.
Eleventh day spent entirely underground.
Current time is unknown, feels like the early in the day
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Tranen sends a flurry of magical bolts at the remaining ettin, which explode into his chest (20 damage) and hurl the giant back to smash into the wall, where he crumples to the floor, unmoving.
The thick coat of blood on the floor and walls of the room makes movement tricky, but so long as one takes care it is possible. Though with the exception of the small dark stone of deepest red reminiscent of blood that lies in the center of the black scar etched into the floor of the chamber, there is nothing else of note beyond the bodies of the ettins. Oddly, their greataxes are large for a human to wield, but not unduly so. It seems that the giants preferred smaller weapons in order to wield two of them at the same time. Their plate armor is finely crafted as well, but much to large for anything other than a giant.
Two doors lead out of this room, one to the south and the other to the east. Neither appear to be locked.
Treasure:
4 Greataxes (M) - finely crafted, probably magical!
Egg-shaped, dark red stone - creepy as hell and exuding acrid fumes that sting the eyes, but also probably magical!
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Addiz is intrigued by the red stone. She thinks for a small moment, then starts casting "hir-ingole" while waving her hands above the stone. "Hmmm...." she ponders.
OOC: cast detect magic. Try to ascern the schools of magic.
Tranen uses the Dragon's Eye and also studies the red stone and other items in the room.
It is hard to relax in this disgusting room, but Tomak at least lets out a sigh when the last foe is defeated. He makes sure the monsters are dead and then administers more healing.
Like his allies, he is intrigued by the demonic stone too and searches his memory for any knowledge about such (seemingly) ritual item.
Spend turn attempts for Sacred Purification 1d8+2 hp healing, each to both Elissif and Ferah
hp
hp
Knowledge(religion) check on stone:
Old CS at WoG board updated with level 9 info (+ some additions to level 8)
Sunday, 9th day of Goodmonth, 593 C.Y.
Eleventh day spent entirely underground.
Current time is unknown, feels like the early in the day
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As the spellcasters use their magic to try and learn the secrets of the ugly looking stone, and the fighters keep a watchful eye on the two other doors, Tomak uses his own divine powers to heal the party - doing a fine job of it as everyone seems to regain their full health, save Ferah who still has a few minor bruises and such. The cleric doesn’t recall anything about a stone such as this after thinking on it for awhile, but it is likely not a holy artifact anyway, he figures.
Both Addiz and Tranen recognize the transmutation magical qualities of the stone, and the aura is nearly overwhelming in its intensity, indicating they are in the presence of a unique artifact! Though neither of them have any intimate knowledge of the stone, Addiz is able to discern its effects to some degree. Should one’s blood fall upon the hungry stone, its innate magic will reach out, forming a bond with that creature, sending it into an absolute killing frenzy – unheeding of enemy or friend!
The greataxes are also magical, with a rather standard offensive magic imbued within the steel. Beyond these, there is nothing else of interest in the chamber other than the two sets of doors that lead to other areas east and south of the chamber.
Addiz holds the stone (note she was unhurt during the previous fight so no chance of her blood touching the stone...), and looks at it hungrily: "So if I get hurt, and my blood touches this stone, then I'll be strong like Ferah and kill enemies with ease! Then I can get revenge for my loss!" She swallows a tear as it starts to form.
OOC: lol. Better would it be to toss it into a hurt enemy that's in the middle of other enemies...
Having learnt some of what the hideous stone can do, Tomak backs away from it. He can understand Addiz’s reasoning but wants nothing to do with it himself. It’s Evil!, he thinks.
Tomak is already carrying a lot and has no use for the greataxes. He won’t mind leaving them there or destroying them if nobody else wants them.
Not sure about DnD, but PF explicitly allows a divine spellcaster to fill open spell slots later during the day. This “takes at least 15 minutes, and it takes longer if she prepares more than one-quarter of her spells.” (Core Rulebook, p220).
Does the GM allow it and do we have time to let Tomak fill his three new open slots?
There isn't much more to be gleaned from the stone, but a choice remains to the the party. Rest in this hellish room for a bit to regain strength and spells? Open the door to the south? Open the door to the east?
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Elissif thanks all present, and keeps watch while everyone looks at the weaponry. she contemplates a greataxe for when it would be needed instead of her axe and shield, and only if no one else takes one does she opt to carry it just in case.
the same goes for the stone of hunger, though she isnt quite sure how it would get used.
she commends Ferah on her prowess in battle once again, and hopes to learn something from her.
She shudders at the stone. It feels wrong, she snarls, wanting to break it. She shrugs at the axes, they were no better than her own axe. As was her wont, she moved over to one of the ettins, the one she killed, and yanked out a tooth, to add to her necklace of teeth.
OOC: Level 9 info on World of Greyhawk character sheet, unless I've forgotten something.
"It is an Artifact with strong Magic, we should take it with us although we cannont glimpse it's importance just now" , Tranen suggests.
She grunts, tapping her weapon, starting to grow bored. Unless stopped, she stalks to the door to the south and prepares to open it.
OOC: Just an attempt to keep it moving!
Tomak feels he can do with a rest, but this dreadful room is not the right place. He wants to get away from it, the sooner the better. When Ferah moves up to another door, he follows her, ready to move on. He still only has a vague notion of their target destination but lingering here or backtrack is not an option unless in emergency. “Let’s move on.”, he agrees, counting on his allies to check the door for traps and locks.
Sunday, 9th day of Goodmonth, 593 C.Y.
Eleventh day spent entirely underground.
Current time is unknown, feels like the early in the day
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Addiz takes the stone, thoughts of vengeance foremost in her mind as Tomak backs away cautiously – though Tranen also believes the stone might have its uses. Ferah stalks to the southern door and opens it, and the others immediately make ready for whatever horror waits beyond. But all is silent, though the chamber is nearly as disturbing as the one they stand in.
The room beyond the doors is deathly cold, and frescoes of teeth, eyes and hands – all warped and grossly misshapen – are carved in the walls and floor, seeming to emanate from a depression on the far side of the room which appears to be crafted of black stone that is similar in appearance to that which comprised the disconcerting chamber to the north, where they fought the spider. At the bottom of the shallow pit, which is covered in dark silver glyphs and markings that appear to be of arcane origin, can be glimpsed an exquisitely crafted cup of smooth metal that is of crimson hue. The chalice appears to be filled with blood…
Addiz carefully enters the room, looking for sings of traps or hidden enemies.
She ponders the chalice, containing blood, for sure, and how it would combine with her hungerstone... who's blood was in the chalice?
What if that creature was in a room beyond - wait, was this room a dead end?
Addiz searches cautiously for any traps, and though at first she sees nothing she draws back as she reaches the edge of the shallow depression. Her keen eyes have discerned a nearly invisible black wire, as thin as a spider's web but seeming to be quite strong and lethal, as sharp as any razor. She judges that the wire is magical in nature, and will wrap itself around whoever reaches for the chalice.
The dark cup itself is covered in blasphemous images of demons and human engaged in all sorts of disturbing acts of pleasure and pain. It is impossible to tell what sort of blood fills the vessel, but it is most certainly blood - the coppery smell is undeniable, though how it remains this... fresh is certainly a result of the unholy magic contained in the grail.
The next room they enter in runs along in the same horrible theme as the previous and, while still disgusted, Tomak is starting to get used to the ‘artwork’ the sick and twisted builders have used. He reminds himself not to relax though, as each room seems to have surprises. The cleric keeps in the background and watches Addiz inspect the walls and the floor which holds some kind of pit. He lets her take her time as they have passed the stage of being impatient. Well enough, he sees her frown at something she has probably detected with her keen senses.
“What is it?” he asks her.
"Stop," Addiz says, without turning to face her friends.
"Trap," she adds after a second.
She pojnts to the wire, carefully. "See?" she asks. "Do not touch it; you will die.
Cup is out-of-bounds for us."
She turns to her companions.
"Where next? This was a dead-end."
Tranen once again uses the Dragon's Eye to get a better grip of the room and the chalice.
Sunday, 9th day of Goodmonth, 593 C.Y.
Eleventh day spent entirely underground.
Current time is unknown, feels like the early in the day
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The group approaches cautiously as Addiz speaks of what she found, advising that it's best to just leave the blood grail alone entirely rather than risk the consequences of trying to disable the dangerous trap she just barely spotted.
Tranen uses his Dragon's Eye and finds that a very strong necromantic magic imbues the cup. In fact, the sorcerer believes that the Blood Grail can tranform any living creature that imbibes its contents into a full-fledged vampire! The thought is both frightening and awesome to consider. Imagine a powerful red dragon transformed into a vampire! He recalls the centaur vampire they battled and figures it likely contracted its condition from this very artifact...
She scowls, and if it weren't for Addiz' warning about the trap, she might be tempted to try to smash the cup where it stood.
"Fine. We go the other way then." She readied her glaive and prepared to turn and try the other door.