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Garedon scan another runelord statue with Detect Magic, and then repeats his analysis with the statue of Pharasma.
Before each, Garedon uses his jade wayfinder to cast Guidance on himself, helping to parse out the auras.
After he rejoins the group, he (finally) remembers something that has been bothering him: thirst. Another annoying physical sensation. "It occurs to me at this inopportunely advanced stage of our exploration of the catacombs that I have limited supplies of food - sufficient for two day's consumption by one of my mass and metabolism, given an expected rate of exertion - and water - two four-pound waterskins, sufficient for one day's consumption, given the formerly stated limiting conditions and the ambient temperature, humidity, and (nonexistant) direct solar exposure. While there are three portals in total to be affected by the Chime of Opening (two remaining so) discovered so far, and five charges in said wondrous device, then we have, at most, one charge to spare given our need to leave one charge remaining to affect our final exit of the catacombs. Therefore, considering both the group's supplies and charges, is it in the group's understanding that we are expected to complete the entire task set assigned to us by the servants of Pharasmin without resupply or the purchase of unanticipated supplies? Furthermore, given these limitations, should we plan our expenditures of magic to include the possibility of rest and recovery of such resources, either within the catacombs or when or if we plan a temporary return to the surface?"
Garedon sends the unseen servant down the hallway after requesting a lighted pebble from Tuich for it to hold. "A long-storied set uses for such an unseen servant - many of which I would be able to relate to you in the future, at a time more appropriate to their length - also has such an unseen servant drag a heavy weight (effectively, up to 100 lbs.). I have a spare bag that could be filled with expendable items or suitable debris and dragged behind the servant, potentially harmlessly setting off certain forms of traps."
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"Food? We just ord-" Vincent stops in his tracks. "There's always people for that... Remind me to hire a manservant for our next outing!" He recovers some of his demeanor, walking forward again. "In the meantime, I'll need someone to lend me some food if we're here a long time. In return I can provide water. Gorum doesn't believe in his soldiers going thirsty, at least."
Vincent waves his hand and utters a word of power, and a few dozen drops of water coalesce into the air in a circle around his head before falling to the ground.
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Upon reaching the middle of the bridge, Tuich stops briefly to stare down into the lower part of the chamber to see if she can spot any doors or passages.
"I'd certainly give you a lighted pebble Garedon, but I think we should keep plenty of light at hand, don't you?" she asks, lifting her glowing aspergillum briefly by way of illustration. "How about I give your servant my candle lantern instead?" As she says this she pulls it out her pocket again, sparks it alight, and hands it to Garedon.
"And Vincent, Garedon, I have six days worth of rations and I'm happy to share." A pained look crosses her face. "But I somehow managed to leave my waterskin back at the inn. The only water I have with me is holy. Potable, but a pricey thirst quencher!"
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"This is not exactly what I was expecting when considering the strengths, weaknesses, and complementarities of our group, but Tuich, I can loan you the use of an extra waterskin, you can share some food with the rest of us, if need be, beginning with Vincent, and Vincent can produce water for us as needed."
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Vyk shrugs.
"I've got rations for about 5 days. But really I think you might be panicking prematurely. We can split our rations if it gets to that. And with Vincent here, we'll have more than enough water. Heck with Prestidigitation you don't even technically need to bathe. Although, I'd strongly recommend it."
"Now, making waste -- that's a more pressing concern. I highly doubt the Pharasmins would appreciate us marking our territory."
Vyk moves ahead up to the junction. He looks left and then right.
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Garedon scans east then west for magic.
"After careful consideration of the available pool of potential candidates, I nominate Vyk Tyr as the group's nominal leader, with the responsibilities of going first into new rooms and corridors, and making such decisions (trivially decided, however consequential) as whether to proceed right or left at the next juncture."
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Vyk shrugs.
"I'll take point, if that's what you're getting at."
He then pulls out a coin.
"Barring any other information, let's let the Lady of Graves have her say. Heads, we go left. Tails, we go right."
He flipped the coin, caught it and slammed it on the back of his hand. He checked and...
"Tails it is."
Vyk gestured Garedon to send out his Unseen Servant, but without a light.
Vyk cautiously stalked down the corridor, wielding his rapier.
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Garedon steps around the corner and fires a bolt of force from his wand, which easily strikes the creature.
Garedon
Tuich
Flying head
Miko
Vincent
Vyk Tyr
Adelaide
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The creature was trying to get at something on the other side of the door perhaps?
Miko is concerned that someone maybe trapped in there, so she calls out
Hello? Is anybody in there? The hazard here is gone. Anyone?
---
I couldn't help but feel intensely stupid doing this in front on brave Vyk and meticulous Garedon. I might just be awakening every single mook in the temple, I thought, but still it felt like the right thing to do. And these impulses, they're hard to suppress.
--Personal notes
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After a few moments of private, intense mental activity, Garedon turns to Vyk Tyr and says, "Vyk Tyr, pardon my ignorance of the methods affected so far regarding opening this door: I was considering matters of intellectual interest. Did you try both pulling and pushing the door?" Garedon says this apparently without sarcasm, and it is debatable whether that makes it even more aggravating. What is definitely more aggravating is that he chose to accompany the question with gestures demonstrating 'pulling' and 'pushing', as if the concepts were potentially unclear.
Garedon then explains, "I will cast a cantrip called 'Detect Magic', searching for any arcane explanations as to the door's mechanical intransigence. However, while the exact reasons for said inoperability are as yet unclear, I will have to consider the possibility that I may have been in error in designing a training program that focused on agility and physical precision to the possible detriment of sheer muscular power, the latter having substantial importance to various fighters and dabblers in the arcane arts, to porters and other hirelings, and to beasts of burden, to enumerate a non-exhaustive set."
Consulting his wayfinder, Garedon casts Detect Magic and concentrates on the door.
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Vyk rolled his eyes and started to say, "No, I was a little busy pushing and pulling your moth--,"
But with a glare sent his way from Tuich, he decides not to finish the sentence and clear his throat instead.
"Sorry, got something stuck in my throat."
If no magic is detected, then Vyk tries to force open the door.
"Miko's right. Someone could be hurt in there. Give me a hand here."
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With a mighty shove Vyk is able to break through what ever was bracing the door (he had to push if Garedon is still hung up on that). As soon as the door opens an inky blackness rushes out of the door putting out the parties lights again.
You do not notice it until it is almost on top of you but it's the smell you notice first as some sort of short humanoid wrapped in dirty rags rushes at you.
At the last second he tries to dive between your legs but utterly fails as he just runs into you leg, stumbling backwards before he regains his balance. He seems to clinch his dagger tightly as he glances at the open passage behind you.
Vyk
Garedon
Tuich
Miko
Vincent
Adelaide
Smelly
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Garedon does not immediately understand the language. Perhaps it is related to Undercommon, which he speaks, or, more likely, to Azlanti, which he does not (yet)?
"End dark. No harm you," Garedon tries to communicate back in the simplest root words he can summon to mind.
Regardless of the result, Garedon continues in his version of the 'common tongue': "Fortunately for circumstances such as appear to present themselves here, I have in my possession two copies of a spell written as magic scrolls (and contained in my spellbook and so known to me, for future preparation and use), to render assistance to me in understanding spoken and written words in languages I am currently unable to speak or write, or even ones otherwise completely unknown - even unrecognizable - to me, although such assistance will be unidirectional and, as such, will not allow me to speak or write in the translated language or languages, and which will be of limited duration, as one would naturally expect, lasting approximately ten minutes per casting (though my personal casting power would extend this duration by approximately ten minutes to a total of twenty minutes, fully doubling the duration)." While he talks, he moves from the area of darkness and retrieves his scroll.
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Vincent holds his next attack as he hears the clatter of the dagger on the stone floor. On the one hand, Gorum doesn't approve of killing an opponent who has surrendered. On the other hand, what is that gibberish that the creature is spouting? Vincent takes a step back in the darkness, hoping to regain his bearings as he announces, "Reveal yourself and speak proper Taldan!"