Ooh, this'll work? Keshy grabs the sunrod, then promptly dives into the water.
Whoo!
The pool is about 40 feet deep and, were it not for the light source, completely dark. At the base of the pool there are about 100 keys scattered around, all of them virtually identical.
Welp...
Keshy puts the sunrod in his mouth, grabs as many keys as he can, and swims back to the surface.
Guys thahs a lotta keth. And places the keys on the floor nearby.
Which is tha mabic one?
One moment, i'll see
Illya cast detect magic to see if any of the keys are it, if none are she uses it again to try and single out a key on the bottom.
10% chance of it being in the keys Keshy brought back.
It's not in the group that Keshy brought back. Illya can just about make out the key at the bottom of the pool.
Keshik, none of these keys are it. telling you which key it would be might be a bit difficult. I might be able to get down there and find it, may i borrow the sunrod?
Keshik hands the sunrod over.
Sure. It looked pretty safe down there.
Illya takes off her pack, placing it at the floor. She takes the sun rod. she dives in the water. Sunrod in hand she moves toward the key using detect magic to pick it out.
Illya dives to the bottom of the pool, holding the sunrod. As Keshy had found, she can see a large number of keys at the bottom of the pool. She can see one key in particular, glowing with a magical aura. She quickly grabs it, attaches it to her belt and makes back for the surface.
Got it, she states rising from the water, she hands the key to Jaer You will have most opportunity to use this she grabs her pack
"My dear, you are all wet... and your clothes have gotten wet and cling to your shape...Just an observation..."
I know, and this was silk too. but unless you want to give me time to dry it we will have to deal with it
"There are some blankets back with Roldare, but unfortunately that would only do so much to dry you, I think - and the room with the brazier is guarded by the angry shadow. We should continue on with the key - see where it does lead us to."
i'll be fine, i've dealt with much worse. spent a few years in the forest just outside of town before even considering coming in. let's go we have work to do
"Agreed. Jaer," Ka'narg says, turning to the halfling. "Does the key have any clue as to which door it will unlock?"
"I'd wager it's to the door behind the moving statue with the shields," Irgal pipes up. "Perhaps we should check there?"
"Agreed, though there is a door here as well," Ka'narg states, motioning over to the locked door in the south-east of the room. As he and the party decide what to do, he refills the empty water skins from the pool and takes a drink from it as well. "Do we want to explore what is behind it first?"
"Which is the safer bet to open...? Go ahead and open the first door Ka'narg....I have your back..." the ulfen says standing behind the ranger...
"I believe it is locked, but hopefully Jaer's key will be able to open it. I am ready when she is."
Agreed we need to move forward quickly, we have people to save
Jaer takes out the key - the one she had picked up in the room with the shadow - and considers it thoughtfully. She winces briefly at the memory of plucking from the fire, a memory that only sharpens the scything pain she still feels in her hand.
"OK, let's try this," she murmurs, half to herself. She puts the key in the lock of the south-eastern door of the current room, its walls lit by the reflections of the pool that ripples gently around the fountain.
The key turns and the door opens.
Beyond the door is a small, dusty chamber, at the centre of which sits a small stone bench. On the far wall is a faded mural depicting the hero Kassen defeating the mercenaries at the entrance to this crypt, with his blade piercing the chest of the mercenary leader. These figures stand alone in the middle of a scene of carnage, with dead villagers and mercenaries all around them.
Jaer stares at the painting on the far wall for a few seconds. "So that's Kassen ... and the other one must be his enemy, at the battle where they both fell. But if they're on different sides, why are they each wearing similar jewels around their necks? Something doesn't quite add up ... hmmm."
Now you notice it, you see she's right.
The corridor continues through the room and to the south, then eventually bending to the east.
"You appear to be right, Jaer," Ka'narg states as he approaches the mural. He reaches a hand up to the medallion hanging from around Kassen's neck and brushes away dust in order to get a closer look at it. "Perhaps it is a clue for some puzzle later on?"
"Yeah I heard of this Kassen guy from my uncle. Dont think he is going to help us out here much...either of them..." Harken says from the back.
It's possible they are related either that or used to be friends. War can set anyone against each other.Not that it matters, they are both dead.
Thats an... unhealthy way to look at it. Does anyone think it might be a good idea to try that door behind that statue from before?
"Well while we all are here chewing coal times a wastin. Open the door Keshy and we will follow you thru"
Agreed, let's move
"Very well, let us go."
Uhh, alrighty I'll get the door. But, can uh, Jaer check it first? Keshy and his 6 hit points ask.
Back at the southern door, Jaer first checks the door for traps, and finds nothing untoward.
The key from the pool opens the door.
Inside, the party finds a table on the opposite side of the room. On top of this table are six items, each with a small note attached. The notes correspond to the names of the party. The items, with their corresponding notes are:
Keshik Modok: A scythe
Ka'narg: An orc double axe
Ilya Nym: A falcata
Harken: A dwarven war-axe
Irgal Zeth: A morningstar
The weapons each bear maker's runes indicating they were made by Braggar Ironhame, of Kassen .
There's also a bag, marked with Bardan's name. Inside the bag is a note, marked "I know, and I know you know I know." The note is signed with the letter J. As well as the note, there's a small iron medallion, wherein a circle surrounds a small iron mask. Finally, there's a set of thieves' tools and a chain shirt (tellingly, of small size), both bearing Braggar's rune.
"Well lookie here! The gods must favor us. Although Kanarg should have gotten a fresh set of brown pants instead...HA!HA!HA!" Harken says as he picks up the axe and swings it to get the feel...
Good, very good She tosses her old blade aside picking up the superior blade, Remind me to thank him when we get back to town, i've been wanting to get rid of that thing for a while know
Hey! I like it. Man, I almost forgot this wasn't meant to actually be dangerous. Keshy says upon seeing the scythe. Retrieving it and leaving behind his last one respectfully on the table.
Upon reading the note, he very briefly drops his brow, before picking back his cheery demeanor.
I guess Nahkriin was right, Moldrok is pretty hard to spell.
Jaer looks at the note. "I assume the J is for Jimes." she says.
"He must have known something, even when they sent the villagers to set up the tests. And known that he would send me after you, or else why place something here in my size, rather than for Bardan? As for the medallion, I wonder what that signifies."
She stops wondering, picks up the tools (and replaces them with her previous set) and finally the chain shirt. "I'll go get changed," she says, hurriedly. "And we should lock the room when we're done. We can pick up this stuff on our way home, it still has value."
Ka'narg looks over the finely crafted double axe, noting the maker's mark and grinning wryly to himself. He sets down his fathers axe on the table and nods to Jaer. "Agreed - both in gold as well as sentiment." The half-orc looks over at his companions, each testing their own new weapons. The grin on his face fades slowly, replaced by grim determination. "I hope we get the chance to thank Braggar, but for now we should honor those who have paid an even heftier cost for us to have these by burying them in the chest of those who killed them."
"We all ready to go. Everyone rested?" Harken asks after checking the balance of his new weapon...
I'm fine
Ka'narg turns his eyes towards Harken and nods. "I am ready also," he responds as he makes one final check of his gear.
"Shall we go south?"
Oi. I mean Aye.