The stone slab proves quite stony, but the light air circulating along its surface begins to thicken as Solrisa moves over the surface. Her hands no longer touch stone, but rest on the air like an invisible mattress. The sound of the air stirring makes for a wonderful white noise.
Much longer, and you feel you won't be able to resist a comfy nap.
The bed's air column looks like an incredibly stunted version of the Domed Chamber's column. A micro-version of Air Walk, likely.
Mortimer moves to the bedchamber doorway, handing Sol's torch back to her as she enters the room.
He watches her hand stop over the bed and hears the circulating air.
"Oh, fascinating. An Air Mattress. Must have required some heavy bed clothes. What manner of people were these, I wonder?"
Mort looks across the hall at the shower.
"I wonder if they actually used soap and water to clean up. You would need a drain for that. Or orange paste even, like what's around the corner. What is that stuff, anyway?"
He considers for a moment.
"Water is good, it's best for swimming. A powerful blast cleaning air for a shower for these guys instead would have been a super keen idea."
He poses like the stone carving over the bed slab in the bedchamber, and imagines a powerful blast of air washing all over him. "Whooosh!" He pushes back and tries to flatten his cowlick.
"Huzza! No need to dry off!"
"Ascaria, do you think the bed itself is magical, or could it be something inside? This is covered with the same kind of pores as the triggers down the hallway. This could be hollow."
"Let me try something Tynan."
Ascaria looks at the bed and ponders. He climbs on top of it, and tries to walk into the air, off the bed...
Ascaria climbs up onto the surface, briefly secure on the stone surface. Within moments, the gnome stumbles, as the air picks up. It lifts him off the slab by mere inches, keeping him there in a suspended state.
Ascaria looks at his lofty height with disdain.
"Well, if that's all there is, I must say I'm disappointed. I had hoped for real flight again." *yawn* "Well, I'm just gonna take a quick cat-nap while you guys finish the search. Come get me when you're ready to head to dinner."
He grins, stretches out on the bed comfortably, tips his hat over his eyes, and tries to get some shut-eye...
The gnome floats quite easily above the stone slab, and assumes a comfortable position in which to sleep. His body settles in the center of the slab. Little adjustments to his positioning seem to correct themselves with the winds emanating from the pores below. The hat on his head maintains its position, the winds courteous enough to let it remain in place.
"There's not room for everyone, Canary, so we might as well *all* continue on. Come on, let's go." She says, attempting to snatch the little man's hat and attention back to the job at hand.
Sol nods and smiles to her sister.
"Oh Rae! You always know when it's time to sleep," Sol says, tapping Ascaria on the shoulder. "C'mon, Ascaria, let's go explore more stuff. If you sleep here, Rae might dump you in the orange goop!" Sol teases and takes her torch over to the basin.
Ascaria looks solemnly at the sisters, and rises from his rest. He yawns again and trundles off behind the party, shuffling along quietly.
As you rise from bed, your fatigue immediately leaves you. You aren't considered rested, but you are definitely aware of the lifting of the cloying sleep.
Bringing the light to bear on the orange paste, you can see it more distinctly. It has the consistency of oatmeal, and the smell is not unpleasant, cinnamon with hints of something buttery.
The door opposite the basin seems to open on a toilet, but the entire closet isn't visible without pushing the door fully open.
The brownish-red mold is visible from this side of the pillar as well.
Sol looks around, ignoring the mold and oozy orange organic oaty edibles.
"Well, looks like we are done here. Is there anything else to see?" Sol asks with a brow-furrowed tinge of disappointment.
But then she brightens.
"Well, that means we can go talk to the guards and look in the mine now, huh?" Sol sings cheerily. "Rae, won't that be fun?"
Ascaria brightens a little as he gets off the slab of air. "That was most refreshing!" he grins.
"So, the mines. I think we're going to need a plan, and the plan we have so far is a little thin..."
"Our current plan, as I understand it, is for Pillette to create a distraction, maybe a thunder stone or two? A small fire? Something? ...while we rush the entrance. Then Pillette sneaks by on her own while we wait just inside the mine for her."
"Anyone have a better idea?"
"Before we go, let me check out what's beyond the mold... it looks like there might be a passage. Ascaria, can I borrow your light pin?"
Tynan goes to the wall near the exit corridor, and carefully climbs about 15 feet, taking ample time to make sure he has good hand and foot-holds. Carefully inching his way along the wall, he tries to work his way to the north corridor to see what lies beyond.
Tynan is able to see the majority of the northern side of the central pillar, his height on the wall carefully considered with the moldy floor below him...
There is a northern room, with daylight emanating from the ceiling somewhere in the northeast section of the room. There is a gap at the back half of the room that appears to be free of mold...
Tynan climbs carefully, then twists sideways at an angle to get a better look into the chamber beyond.
The room is dimly lit, but lit nonetheless with light that radiates from the northeastern ceiling, directly above a workbench. There is no shaft, or external exit to the outside world. The light appears to be magic of some kind, permanently radiating.
On the workbench, sits various vises, chisels... seems to be a sculptor's workshop. A huge unfinished statue of an imposing bare-chested warrior
wielding a staff-like rod in its left hand dominates the north wall.
The hairless figure looks similar to the bas-relief on the sarcophagus upstairs, but is clearly meant to be a different person. A short red metal pedestal against the south wall displays what appears to be a jet-black stone egg the size of a small boulder. A gold glyph—an equilateral triangle with short hash marks through each leg- marks the
face of the egg.
Tynan looks at the glyph, trying to discern its meaning.
Solrisa moves to watch Tynan search.
"Let me know if you need anything, Tynan! I'm right here and ready to help...I just don't want the mold ruining my shoes," Solrisa chirps at Tynan.
"Good thinking Sol! This mold would ruin them all right."
Tynan turns his head to face Solrisa, and notices another alcove opposite the doorframe he's clinging to.
Well, isn't that interesting...
Rae moves to watch Sol watch Tynan search "Yeah, be careful what you step in, Sol. You know what'll happen if you track that back to the apartment."
Ascaria watches Tynan climbing the walls as Mort did earlier Such athletic folks!. He concentrates a moment before Tynan disappears around the corner.
While he waits, he draws the pillar from the perspective of the bed, with Mort crawling across the top coming in from the right, and Tynan crawling across the top leaving on the left.
The glyph on the stone egg follows suit, like the other name glyphs. 'Zosiel'... 'Madroc'... this one seems to say 'Artfanx'...
The alcove on the north-facing side of the pillar seems to have two shelves, and a couple of hooks, probably to accommodate tools of the sculpting trade.
"I'm going to try to get in the room. There's something I want to bring out of there."
Swinging his left arm to the far side of the door frame, Tynan finds a handhold, then swings his left leg to find purchase. Following suit with his right arm and leg, he continues carefully climbing along the wall until he's no longer over the mold, and near the pedestal and the egg.
Tynan slips through the doorway, dropping just close enough to the mold on the floor to feel its bite.
He clears the mold-covered floor deftly, arriving at the workbench and the stone egg.
Ascaria hears the explosion and stands a little stiff and firm as if anticipating something. Within a few seconds black and blue marks appear on his body. A moment or two later the injuries bloom a little as he reaches for the parties healing wand.
He smiles as he mutters to himself, "It works!"
Mortimer cautiously pushes/pulls the door to the presumed commode all the way open, staying clear of the mold, and looks inside.
Sol watches and immediately discards the idea of removing her shoes so she might walk on the mold.
"Rae, look! Cold floors are the worst!" Sol watches Tynan in case the man needs help.
Tynan scans the area intently around the egg and the stand it is on.
Tynan takes off his backpack, picks up the egg, and cautiously places it in his pack. He also grabs some of the chisels, thinking Sol might make use of them, and tucks those into the pack as well.
After carefully balancing the pack, and strapping it back on, Tynan moves to the wall and climbs once again. He cautiously makes his way to the doorframe, and once again makes it through the entrance, feeling the numbing cold of the mold as he does so.
Clearing the door, he continues moving along the walls until he's no longer over the mold, then drops to the ground.
"It was apparently the workshop of the artist who did the carvings we've found in this place. Here Sol." Tynan digs the sculptor's chisels from his pack and hands them to her. "Maybe these will be of use to you."
"I also found this." he says, as he produces the watermelon sized, jet black stone egg from his pack. "It has another glyph on it, in gold. I thought this might be worth some money to a collector."
"It was apparently the workshop of the artist who did the carvings we've found in this place. Here Sol." Tynan digs the sculptor's chisels from his pack and hands them to her. "Maybe these will be of use to you."
Sol squeals happily as she takes the tools in her hands. She looks around as if for some stone blocks for which to test them right now.
"Rae, look! Tools! Oldie ones too!" Sol holds up the tools for her sister to see. "Tynan got them for me. And to think that I wanted to leave this place. There might be more interesting stuff around, huh?"
Sol carefully packs the tools in her backpack and looks around as if more tools might be under every brick.
As Tynan touches the stone egg, he feels a pulse, then something more like a flinch, as egg transforms into something more humanoid in appearance, while maintaining the consistency of rock. It stands on the workbench, staring with lava-swirling eyes.
"ՕԵԿ-ը: Վերջին անգամ, որ կազմը, իրոք, միակ ճանապարհն է ... հե՜յ. Ով է դու?! Որտեղ է Nadroc?! Դուք չունեք հաղորդագրություն փակցնելու պատասխանել ինձ, հենց այստեղ, հենց հիմա, ես պատրաստվում եմ ձեր դեմքը."
"Oye. For the last time, the igneous composition is really the only way... hey. Who the fook are you?! Where's Nadroc?! You don't answer me, right here, right now, I'm going to cave in your face."
The small earthen man smashes his hands together, and the lava red narrows suspiciously.
Listening to the strange language, Tynan makes out one word that sounds familiar.
"Nadroc?" Tynan kneels and sketches the stylized arrow glyph from the carving in the bedchamber in the dust on the floor. "Nadroc?
"What was that?" Rae moves to see what was making that god awful noise.
"Nadroc? ԱՅՈ, Nadroc ով է էլ ես խոսում. Նա ապրում է այստեղ, դուք հաստ քար. Something պատմում է ինձ, որ դուք չգիտեք, թե նրան. Դուք ասում եք, իր անունը եւս մեկ անգամ, եւ մենք ստանում ենք հարվածել."
"Nadroc? Yes, Nadroc who else would I be talking about? He lives here, you dense stone. Something tells me you don't know him. You say his name again, and we get to punching."
Looking the stony creature over carefully, Tynan tries to determine its mood.
Tynan points to the creature, then draws the triangular glyph on the ground. "Artfanx?" He points at the creature again.
Tynan gestures at the ground, drawing in the dust, then points to the creature, then points to the ground again.
Sol puts down the torch, standing it upright so that her hands might be free.
Pillette's attention has been captivated by the mold on the walls, searching her memory for what the mercenaries of the House had described.
She will slip behind Sol, who appears to be close to the
"I think we should keep fire away from this."
The babble of a strange language breaks her from the study of the fungus, and turns her attention towards Tynan's activities.
"What is that?" She'll raise her crossbow, trying to ascertain if Tynan is in any danger, tensing as she sees Sol and Rae also react to the strange language.
"Ես ոչ մի տրամադրություն Կապիկներ."
"I'm in no mood for monkeys."
The earthen humanoid brings his fists back, and throws his arms forward at Tynan's chest. For his recent dormancy, it's all he can do to remain foot sure on the workbench. He misses the man by a wide margin.
As you crack the toilet door open more fully, you come upon an ancient corpse, garbed in beautiful chainmail, and clutching a leather sack, which, at the slightest touch, crumbles to nothing, revealing several interesting items.
There are three palm-sized figurines- a palace, a spire, and a stadium. All of them are made of a pearlescent stone.
Also, there is a set of goggles, and two sets of gloves.
Round 1, Init 24
Pillette scurries to the edge of the mold, peering into the northern room looking for the source of the conflict, only stopping when she gets as clear of a view as possible.
She'll raise her crossbow, trying to ascertain if Tynan is in any danger, tensing as she sees Sol and Rae also react to the strange language.
Sol barely reacts to words in the Common tongue, let alone something...different. Sol stands transfixed, not reaching for her weapon unless the creature acts with hostility (that would be rude).
So when the creature does attack, she is slow to react.
Round 1, Init 12
Solrisa moves to the edge of the mold, drawing her sword.
Round 1, Init 6
Seeing his attempts to communicate have made no progress, Tynan swiftly draws his short sword, and stabs at the stony creature.
"I really didn't want to fight you, Artfanx."
Round 1, Init 12
Solrisa, who can't see what is going on, moves around the large pillar that she *totally* didn't see the first time in the room.
"Pillette? What are you doing down here? Can you see what is happening?"
AC=20
HP=28/28
Right hand = long sword
Left hand = hvy shield
AC 17, 21 on AoO; 26/26 HP
BAB = +3 (level 3)
ToHit = 1d20+7
RHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
LHit = 1d20+7-2 (-1 to hit, +2 dam on Power Attack)
Throw = 1d20 + BAB + Dex
Fort+4 (+4 vs inhaled and contact poisons, +2 vs. disease)
Reflex+5
Will+2
Initiative+2
CMD = 18, 16 if flat footed
Init 4, Round 1
"ՕԵԿ-ը: Վերջին անգամ, որ կազմը, իրոք, միակ ճանապարհն է ... հե՜յ. Ով է դու?! Որտեղ է Nadroc?! Դուք չունեք հաղորդագրություն փակցնելու պատասխանել ինձ, հենց այստեղ, հենց հիմա, ես պատրաստվում եմ ձեր դեմքը."
Mortimer looks at the dead man on the commode, then towards the mold, the oatmeal, then back to the dead man on the commode.
Damnit!
Sighing heavily, he tears himself from his current preoccupation and bolts through the mold to the North.
"Ես ոչ մի տրամադրություն Կապիկներ."
As he approaches Tynan, Mortimer takes in the scene and blurts out: "Oh, who's your new friend? Does he speak Common by any chance?!"
Without much regard to the brown mold's cloying cold, Mort rushes into the room to join Tynan.
The earthen humanoid twists its head to regard the second intruder.
"Եվս մեկ. Ես պետք է ստանում թունդ. Չի տեսնում քեզ, քանի դեռ դուք ժամանել. Ես սովորաբար չեմ"
"Another one? I must be getting stiff. Didn't see you until you arrived. I usually do..."
Round: 1, Initiative: 20
Weapon Equipped = Wand Cure Light Wounds
Cold Iron Bullets (4/10), Silver Bullets (10/10)
Conditions = None
Life Link (3) = Mort (-9), Rae, Tynan (-3)
Channel Energy (7/7) (DC: 15) (2d6+1)
Amiable Blunder (1/1) (if Diplomacy failed by >5, reroll to avoid worsening attitude)
Ranged Attack: BAB +2, Dex +1 Damage: +0
Spells (Caster Level 3, Concentration +7)
Once per Day: Arcane Mark, Comprehend Languages, Message, Read Magic
Zero (14): Create Water, Detect Magic, Light, Spark, Stabilize
First (15): (6/6) Bless, Cure Light Wounds, Diagnose Disease, Liberating Command
Hearing voices, and then the sounds of combat, Ascaria grips his wand and double moves around the side of the pillar toward the mold.
Round 1, Init 24 revised
Pillette will approach the mold, hearing the commotion on the other side, but not wanting to cross it. Hmmm, what else was there about this fungus? Even though it's cold, fire isn't the best thing against it, right? That's the one thing I seem to remember. Hell's rewards, I wish I had listened more closely.
"Ma'am. I'm afraid I am unable to see much past the pillar and this icy mold. But what I hear isn't reassuring or pleasant."
Since the mold appears to be on the floor, the halfling looks for a way around it, or perhaps over it. She will stalk up to the edge and retrieve her grappling bolt. She peers out towards the doorway, looking for a possible place to string a line, with the hope to avoid walking directly through the substance on the floor. Or should I just try climbing the walls to reach the commotion?
"You can wait here, Sol. I'll go check on things." Rae moves around the pillar.
Pillette hesitates near the edge of the mold, as the mold starts to draw her body heat. She can see a workbench directly through the door, but Mort's giant frame seems to make it a poor target. Raella moves up behind the gnome, listening closely for the need to close distance. Ascaria also approaches the edge of the mold, but warily keeps his distance, already well involved with the conflict beyond his sight. Solrisa sneaks up on the unsuspecting mold from the other side of the pillar. Tynan cracks the elemental, creating a little red fissure in its side. Mortimer bravely clomps through the mold, enduring its cold, and joins Tynan in the workshop.
Round 2
"We may need you in there, little Canary." Rae scoops up Ascaria and takes him into the room with her.
As the warrior purloins the gnome, they both suffer from heat loss, as the mold almost sentiently purloins their collective body temperature.