Nilfyr opens the door!
Four stone pillars support the lofty ceiling of this chamber, each patterned like writhing serpents. Between two of the pillars is a large hammock. The room was once beautiful, but is befouled with piles of garbage, bones, and excrement in every corner.
One ogreish human just stands up with a spear in hand as the other seemingly is waiting at the door!
The party quickly dispatches the foes, who seemed to be guards looking over the stairs to the next floor below. What were they guarding against? Is it a potential ally or another evil that must be vanquished? All this and more on-
The party rests up, feeling stronger than ever before! Some of them even realize that their gear is different, too. The Emerald Spire is a strange place...
Artemus sends his lights along as no illumination lurks down the stairway. Eventually, the stairs stop at a small chamber with another staircase straight ahead that winds down into the darkness. Off to one side is a calm pool of murky water with a pedestal in its center. Atop the pedestal, a golden serpent idol grasps an emerald in its fangs.
|
We should check this area for magic and hidden things before proceeding. Be cautious on the stairs as well, as there could always be traps
Faeros casts his long buffs (Heroism, Perceive Cues) at this point, and offers either Nilfyr or Thunderstealer a Heroism as well.
Abadar is pleased with our work here, and has given me enough of his blessings to share with one of you
If we reach the next landing without incident, Faeros will cast his short buffs (Acute Senses, Divine Favor, Shield of Faith) Once that situation has been observed.
|
and offers either Nilfyr or Thunderstealer a Heroism as well.
"Oh! I'd love to be a hero!"
Mass delay poison on everyone.
Barkskin on Thunderstealer, Belcher and Nilfyr.
Longstrider on Belcher and Thunderstealer.
Greater Magic Fang on Belcher and Thunderstealer.
Reduce Animal on Belcher.
Freedom of movement on Belcher and Thunderstealer.
"Can Belcher and myself get mage armor again?"
Artemus casts detect magic, finding auras on the statue of moderate conjuration and enchantment magic! However, he cannot figure out what the auras are for, just that there is magic from the stone.
Artemus warns of possible magic at hand, Faeros and Thunderstealer following the intrepid Desnan.
Nilfyr feels some force was trying to lead him to something, but easily shakes off the effect. Thunderstealer, though, turns to the statue like a moth to flame. He steps into the water and before he can reach it, the large man disappears without a trace!
That was probably a teleport effect, but you do not know where it goes.
Belcher, oddly, shakes his head, but looks around confused to his missing master.
You find yourself in a strange, narrow corridor, your mind returning to you. You can remember wanting to touch a snake idol, then your next memory is being here in this new location. A strange serpentine pattern of green glass is embedded on the floor.
Artemus also figures that the trap is probably location based; moving close enough to the idol should trigger the effect. Doesn't explain quite why Thunderstealer was compelled to immediately try and grab the statue, though, but that may be a part one to the trap as well.
He also tries to guide Belcher in as well.
As Faeros approaches, he feels a pull on his head as if something wanted him to do something, but his faith is impenetrable to such mental assaults.
When he gets close enough to the water, he can tell that it is pretty deep. Before he can get a great look, though, he disappears!
You move through the corridor, slowly making your way through. The hallway wraps around until you see the hallway turn again!
The narrow corridor ahead has a strange serpentine pattern of green glass embedded in the floor. The pattern runs to the end of the corridor before turning east to head out of sight.
Crudely written in chalk is a message from your large druid ally with an arrow pointing to the right.
As Artemus calls to Belcher, he feels a tug on his mind. He barely starts convincing the dinosaur when he directly goes to the idol, disappearing as he steps into the water!
Belcher likewise immediately turns and hops into the pool before disappearing, now leaving Nilfyr alone in the room.
You both feel your minds returning, whatever compulsion that struck you now gone. The narrow corridor ahead has a strange serpentine pattern of green glass embedded in the floor. The pattern runs to the end of the corridor before turning east to head out of sight.
Crudely written in chalk is a message from your large druid ally with an arrow pointing to the right with Faeros observing the message as well.
Nilfyr, not seeing anything of note, jumps into the water.
*poof!*
The rest of the party gathers their bearings as they see Thunderstealer's note written in chalk with an arrow pointing to the right.
Meanwhile, Thunderstealer continues his own self exploration, finding the passage winding another corner.
The party quickly catches up to Thunderstealer who's leaving another chalk mark. Regrouping, Faeros sneaks forward. He sees the snake path end and a door to the east
However, a hissing sound can be heard from near the door, almost invisibly from the center, or maybe the wall.
Thunderstealer doesn't spot anything.
Faeros moves up closer and confirms that the hissing sound is coming from the end of the snake diagram on the floor.
The party mulls over what this could be. Artemus uses his arcane skills and finds that there is something magical at the end, but by that point, it is too late.
At the end in front of Faeros, a large spectral snake emerges, filling the entire hallway! It then moves forward with surprising force towards Faeros who narrowly backs away just before being shoved, the snake seemingly trying to push the party away from the door!
Faeros believes this to be some kind of magical trap, but he cannot figure out why the spectral form has so much force behind it... he does deduce that the force 'area' seems to fill the entire hallway and that there is no wiggle room for his to slip past!
Faeros tumbles into the wall as the spectral snake moves closer; the push causing some noticeable pain to him as it presses on closer. The snake head looks to be ready to turn the corner and press the party further back towards the center.
The party retreats back to the center. Hearing a peculiar sound, the group finds another spectral snake coming from that end! Eventually, both snakes meet the exits of the small room, cramming the party in with Belcher in the center of the area. The snakes then go from spectral to physical, hissing as a green smoke emanates from their large gaping maws!
Init Order (bold = up)
Faeros
Blue Snake
Thunderstealer/Belcher
Artemus
Red Snake
Nilfyr
|
|
Faeros tries to take out the red one and make more room since that's what he already studied.
First he uses Dimensional Hop to clear some room for the party and give himself a clear shot at red. Then he uses Bane to unleash an arrow at his target.
(deadly aim, point blank, study, bane, divine favor, heroism, invisibility)
Faeros then materializes out of invisibility in the hallway.
Faeros believes these are standard emperor cobras, large, deadly snakes that usually go after elephants and other suitably large prey. Something is different about these, though...
He fires a single arrow, wounding the snake, but not slaying it.
The other snake then breaths out strange gas!
Amazingly, Artemus and Nilfyr resist the gas, but Thunderstealer and Belcher find their movements sluggish.
Init Order (bold = up)
Faeros
Blue Snake
Thunderstealer/Belcher (staggered)
Artemus
Red Snake (31 damage)
Nilfyr
for