Izura follows Zoren into the chamber, examining the summoning circle with an intrigued but wary air.
Kor steps into the circle and his hackles rise. The plating on his back vibrates again for a moment but the trox warrior clenches his fists and it dies down.
Ancestors guard our souls as we partake of this profane quest. Forgive us and guide us.
Very reluctantly William approaches the summoning circle. Waiting to see what happens to the others before stepping on it. Finally deciding that its no better here, he takes a step in as well.
As you all enter the circle, Estidian snaps his fingers and you all are whisked away and find yourself on the middle of a ships deck. An elderly female approaches you.
Ah yes, the next group of volunteers. Good to meet you I am Cleopatra Bavmorda the captain of this vessel.
Everyone please make a will save DC 20
Will save
Perception
Cleopatra looks at all of you Good, most of you have a strong will, you will need it
You are all given a stateroom and all your equipment is in there. Dinner is a sumptious affair of steak and lobster. The captain informs you all that you will arrive tommorrow night.
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Zoren picks the rest of his equipment up but eyes his Black Blade dubiously, Redemption.
He reaches out to take it but suddenly pulls his hand back, What if the Blade meant to bring me here all along? Am I still a pawn in its game? Where did it even come from originally, I never asked my father.
Zoren walks out of the room, the Blade in its sheathe hanging from the post where it was left for him. After dinner I walk around the deck of the ship to see if I can get my bearings as to where we are in the world.
Knowledge Geography
Zoren: As far as you can tell, somewhere on the arcadian sea. far off the horizon in front of the ship you see a gathering of black clouds.
William will collect his things. He then wonders about the ship watching the clouds in the distance.
Izura tears into the sumptuous dinner spread with almost savage enthusiasm, slopping wine down her front as she shovels the food past her long fangs. Finally, something with some taste!
(sorry, work)
Alex will walk up to the blade Zoren stared at.
So this is the dreaded blade huh? Well comon then, speak up. What do you want?
Kor walks slowly into the stateroom and hefts his hammer, his plating flaring as he lifts the weapon up and checks to ensure that it's his.
Glancing over at the feast before them he dons his lamellar armor almost ritualistically, the dark purple leather almost black in appearance. Everything appeared to be in his haversack. Propping his weapon against the table and sitting down he grabs a whole lobster and chomps through it in a matter of seconds.
"At least our last meal is a grand affair,"the trox warrior pauses to guzzle some wine,"It's never a good omen to go to battle on an empty stomach."
The following night under a full moon, you get your first view of the island. It looks quite a bit like Absalom... If the jungle were to overtake it completely.
Cleopatra takes you ashore in a dinghy.
Any last requests? She smiles slightly amused at her own joke.
"Yes, you said that we were the next group of volunteers, ca you tell us how many bands you have sent into this place?" asks Zoren, his Black Blade noticeably absent from his hip.
Kor grimaces.
"A dead city with a dead ruler,"he hisses guardedly and then clacks with his maxillae,"to rule over the dead... seems fitting."
The two large mandibles on his face flare out and snap together at the tips creating a sharp cracking sound every few seconds.
Once ashore Kor stretches and nods to the rest of the group,"I can take point if none of you are opposed?"
Cleopatra will get in the dinghy and ready herself to leave.
Hmmm...I believe about 20 or so...
She will head back to her ship.
I will be waiting for you all right here upon,when you are ready to go
In front of you is what looks to be a game trail heading into the jungle.
Izura looks up and down Kor's massive height and length. clearly sizing him up. Showndsh good do be. (Sounds good to me.)
"That is perhaps a hundred dead who have attempted this".
Zoren steps off onto the beach and turns to Kor, "No opposition from me. The first sword we find in this place I claim as my own to replace the one I have left behind".
As he begins to follow, the empty space on his waist becomes once again filled by a sheathed Blade with a black hilt. Zoren is so used to the weight on his hips he does not even notice that his weapon has joined with him once again as he pushes forward.
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"I seek only the book. My freedom is my reward,"Kor's massive bulk shifts to face the jungle,"Are any of you familiar with silent communication, as in with your hands?"
Ok so what is your marching order?
Yes, I picked up some... sign language, during some of my travels.
Valen joins the others as he pulls over his great coat/cloak.
Izura points to the slate in her hand. As she wiggles a finger at it, words begin to appear across its surface, writing themselves across its surface in a loose, lazy scrawl a sentence at a time. I don't know signals, but I can use this.
After a moment's pause, she turns to William and shoves the slate into his view as she gestures. And I've been speaking Common the whole time. | I'm just deaf as a stone and mumbling around fangs. | Dolt.
"Good,"Kor's tone sharpens,"when I sign it will be with my left hand. Keep focused and always on guard, this lich isn't going to let us just stroll in."
He turns to face Izura,"If you feel you'd be unable to communicate rapidly in this way I can carry you on my shoulder,"the trox barbarian taps his right shoulder with his hammer,"but you must hang on or jump off if we get into battle. "
A sentence at a time, which isn't terribly slow. | I can wave, then show it to others. | I think I will ride in the jungle. | I will be better able to look ahead that way. She makes her way up to Kor's shoulder, using chinks in his plating as handholds and footholds. Weady, she says aloud. Ashashawag's shambows may be too wow to wide id, thouw. (Acercerak's chambers may be too low to ride in, though.)
"Alright then,"Kor faces the rest of the party with Izura hanging on to him,"once you are all ready we will delve into the jungle."
If I survive this... I may rethink my path. It lead to such a dark and forgotten place. What good is a leader to the trox if he is so far from them...
William Grabs the slate from Izura and writes on it, then hands it back. He writes "very resourceful you are".
Kor, Keep a close eye out and watch your step. I fear there is a reason so many groups have been sent in here.
"That's the plan, William,"rumbles Kor,"but where I have six arms I still have but two eyes and this jungle has swallowed many before us who were just as eager or compelled."
The trox barbarian closes his eyes and listens to the silence for a moment,"The spirits are silent in this place, they don't heed my requests for guidance,"he opens his eyes and turns towards the jungle once again, his tail held taut behind him,"Let us destroy the rotten heart of this forsaken place! Fall in and stay sharp!"
Kor takes the first few steps into the jungle...
William makes some strange gestures with his hands, and speaks words that seem strange to most of the others. Anyone looking may see a quick glimmering light that quicklly passes over William.
I cast mage armor.
Kor, we all have 2 eyes, and those add up. Hopefully we can watch each others backs.
Following the natural path, you make your way through the jungle after 30 minutes you find the jungle is beginning to clear and you are presented with large flesh colored obelisks forming a large circle.
Beyond the obelisks all vegetation suddenly stops. Everything beyond the obelisks seems dead in a sense and you even notice that leaves in the air strangely never seem to be blown into the area.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 5
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 5
Kor: There are obelisks in front of you.
Kor moves towards the obelisk-ringed clearing, his hackles raised but for no discernible reason.
He stops just shy of the nearest obelisk and forms a large fist above his head and then splays his fist open,"Fan out,"the trox whispers while he leans down slowly to let Izura down gently,"these stones are... off..."
Kor picks up a small stone and rolls it between his fingers and whispers again,"What do you all make of them?"
Beyond the obelisks, an ugly hill sprawls in front of you. The south side of the hill(this is the side you are facing) is decorated with several large boulders positioned to form the shape of a skull. There are no signs of life around this wasted hummock and an aura of creeping doom hangs about it.
The obelisks form a circle around this entire hill, each obelisk is maybe 6' apart from each other.
Izura climbs carefully from Kor's shoulder and lands lightly on the ground. She gestures at the slate. This is a strange place.
Perception
"Pause a moment. Let me take a closer look at these obelisks".
Zoren looks at the obelisks noting their odd coloring. He casts Arcane Sight to determine whether this effect is magical in nature.
He places his hands at his side and realizes that the sword once again rests on his hip, He grasps the hilt, Back again, I thought you would be happy to find a new twisted master aboard that ship.
Kor nods to Izura.
"Strange indeed,"he stops rolling the small stone and heeds Zoren's advice,"What do you make of them, Zoren?"
Zoren: Using Arcane sight you note that the obelisks have strong auras of conjuration and necromancy.
Beyond the obelisks, an ugly hill sprawls in front of you. The south side of the hill(this is the side you are facing) is decorated with several large boulders positioned to form the shape of a skull. There are no signs of life around this wasted hummock and an aura of creeping doom hangs about it.
The obelisks form a circle around this entire hill, each obelisk is maybe 6' apart from each other.
William looks around and notices this giant circle.
Did anyone else notice that this forms a circle? Perhaps its some kind of summoning circle that we should not step into.
Kor maybe you should not be so close to obelisks.
I wasted a 20...
did anyone else notice the obelisks themselves were made of flesh? I wonder what purpose that serves... Rather morbid but... Interesting.
[Dice=perception] 1d20+22 +1d8
I wasted a 20...
Alex:Twenties are never wasted...With your unbelievable perception, you notice that not only are they made of flesh but every once in a while they give the slightest of twitches
"These items are awash in conjuration and necromantic powers. The combination seems dangerous. They may well spring to life should we get beyond them, is there a way around these to gain entrance?"
Kor backs away from the obelisks, the stone dropping from his hand as he grips his hammer with both hands.
"I want to hit something..."anyone close can see his features go rigid and a thin line of drool dripping from his mouth,"...soon... I guess..."
Kor backs away and lowers his weapon, angry chittering issuing from his maxillae.
The urge is back... I won't be able to resist for long...
And... they seem to be MOVING. Whatever they are, as curious as I am. It may be best to avoid them....