Gazzer slips back to watch the interplay and see how it turns out. Meanwhile he begins to assess things in the room to see how much he could sell them for...
"Down to three chimes with no progress... This doesn't bode well for us ever leaving this place..."
"Don't despair, Olwyn. As long as we keep count, we'll know better than to waste out last chime before coming back up. While I don't appreciate the priestess warning us about the very first obstacle we'd ever face, I'm sure she had her reasons for setting this scenario as she did. Now let's get our minds on task. Zazou, Gazzer, let's get scouting. One of you keep your eyes out for traps. The other, keep your eyes on the ceiling. Olwyn, if you'd be so kind as to spare one of those light spells, I will act as our beacon, and hopefully draw any hostiles toward myself first."
Kairen draws his sword and takes a step into the room.
"Gazzer will watch for traps, yes yes!" The ratman heads forward, keeping all his senses open for traps.
Olwyn casts light on the sword and follows behind the others, magic at the ready.
Time for door number two?"
With the group falling into discord behind the singularly purposeful Balin, everyone shuffles back into the Antechamber and with Balin standing in front of the Western Door; you all stand quietly as a high pitched note emanates from the struck chime. The cracking noise of the Pharasmin seal splitting and crashing to the floor is immediately followed by the rumbling noise of hidden mechanisms driving the massive stone doors open...clouds of dust fall from the surfaces of the doors as they slowly move to a fully opened position.
As the dust settles, you are able to see that this room is approximately a mirror image to the one from which you have left behind. It is a corridor, some ten feet wide, that proceeds for thirty feet before reaching a pair of imposing stone doors; just to the left of the doors (as you face them looking in a westerly direction), stands a strange statue of a half-snake, half-human creature. Comprising the lower body of a coiling serpent and the upper torso of a human woman, the statue has six wings and a disk containing a seven-pointed star on place of it's head. It's crossed arms hold a quill and whip (the quill does appear to be made of the same material as the statue and, from where you are stood, it appears that you could remove this from the statue), and the entire statue is covered in verdigris. The faint outline of runes can be made out beneath the patina coating the statue.
It is a DC20 Knowledge (Religion) check to determine anything about the strange statue. Balin and Kairen can attempt this check
Kairen tilts his head with furrowed brows, clearly puzzled.
"I've always been curious as to why so many religions create such...confusing imagery. Not many deities I know of that bother with whips, but the snake-body and wings...Not something I recall seeing in any lessons. Balin?"
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As Kairen turns to address Balin, he instead finds the tall and shrouded guardian directly behind him. It stares silently through the pitch black holes of its engraved wooden mask. The visage of an elderly man stares vacantly into Kairen without motion or feeling, black paint and visible woodgrain all it conveys. After a moment it steps aside, and reveals Balin, already scrutinizing the statue with furrowed brows.
"Feminine, serpentine qualities. Seven-pointed star..." Balin's eyes narrow behind his lenses and he breathes in slowly then exhales a sigh. "unfamiliar as well, which in and of itself is intriguing; Fascinating." Shaking his head, Balin adds, "Unfortunately unhelpful. At least without a library."
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Could I make a history or arcana check to recognize the star of the statues head as a mark of Thassilon?
Zazou begins to scuffle around the statue wondering if any secrets are hidden within or around.
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"Take your time," Balin notes to Zazou, seeing the goblin skittering about the statue. "We should be thorough in our search for information, Gods know we'll very well have an eternity if we don't do this properly..." Grimacing at the notion, Balin steps further into the room, motioning in front of his face with one hand as if lifting a veil while clearly stating a single monosyllabic word of eldritch origin. He then proceeds to scan over the room more intently.
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Gazzer nods at the cleric's words and takes 20 to search the statue.
Yes, yes, gloomy man is right... Zazou answers as he casts a minor cantrip to find any magical aura's.
Presumably expecting to find a similar treasure compartment within this statue, the goblin scurries around the plinth, looking, smelling and finally (before Balin can warn Zazou to be more cautious) reaching out a hand to touch it…instantly the air within the room feels charged with electricity (Balin's identifies a weak magical aura centred on the Statue) and Zazou finds himself cursed by the deity to whom the statue is dedicated.
Gazzer bobs his head as the trap discharges. "Yes yes, trap is difficult to disarm. Gazzer can try, but..." The ratman shrugs, "Gazzer is not so sure it is disarmed. Best not to touch statue."
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It is only when he discerns the different auras of magic around the statue that something in Balin's mind clicks. Thassilon, is a warning that pings in his mind, an ancient and forgotten name from the oldest tomes and librams at the monastery. Breathing in deeply, he was about to speak a warning before the air felt charged by some magical current. Seeing the reflexive jerk of Zazous' head from the dazing, Balin takes a step backwards.
"Fascinating," he whispers, before glancing side-long at Zazou. "Are you alright?"
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Kairen raises an eyebrow at the now clearly dangerous statue. "Awful lot of traps and dead ends for a crypt, even one as prestigious as this. Any injuries, little friend?"
Yes, yes. Zazou is good! the little green creature replies to Balin.
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Examination of the doors to the West reveal that, dissimilar to the 'Fake Double Doors' in the previous room, these would actually open if sufficient force was applied. Beyond that, the only other obvious option for further progess into the Ossuary would be to return to the Antechamber and, using a third charge of your Chime of Opening, head through the Northern doors.
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"Curious," Balin remarks on further inspection of the statue. "The magical auras on this statue oscillate irregularly." Canting his head to the side, Balin pushes his spectacles up the bridge of his nose. "Perhaps some sort of unpredictable nature to the trap, something... different every time it is triggered."
Squinting, Balin shakes his head and motions to the westward door. "Let's leave this be for now unless we hit another dead end. Kairen," Balin motions with his cane to the paladin, "if you would be so kind as to open those doors and lead on."
Kairen shakes his head, chuckling at a turn of seemingly obvious good fortune. "Well, finally, a door that isn't sealed by magic or an obscure puzzle! What next? An unnatural creature that announces its presence in full view and allows for us to strike first?"
Though his sarcasm practically drips from his words, his expression is more optimistic at the prospect of meeting the foe ahead.
"Scouts beside, casters behind. I'll open the door, everyone be ready." After waiting for the group to take suitable position, he bears in on the door with both hands, putting enough of his back into moving the stone slabs outward.
Gazzer bobs his head and moves to the front.
The doors open inwardly with a certain amount of scraping and scratching, the natural result of stone doors resting unused for so long…
The first thing you notice upon opening the doors is that the air seems somehow…fresher…the stale taste of dust which lingered in the air elsewhere is certainly less prevalent here. Yet, the darkness and the deathly quiet remain an ever present feature of this tomb.
The next feature you note is that the corridor structure from here is quite complex, with many options in which to proceed…the corridor proceeds directly to the West before reaching a 'Tee' Junction (heading to the North and to the South) after around forty feet. Prior to this junction there is a wooden door in the southern wall of the corridor and, almost immediately adjacent to the doors that you have just opened, a corridor heads to the North; this Northerly Corridor disappears into the gloom but you are able to see that there are doors from this corridor as well…set opposite to each other (in the Western and Eastern walls) some twenty feet along the corridor.
Kairen rolls his shoulders a bit after finishing his encounter with the ancient door, then draws his blade and relaxes a bit. "Alright, then, now we have a little room to move. Looks like it's clear for the moment; anyone have a preference of path?"
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Balin's ghostly-quiet protector moves up past Kairen for a moment, turning its shrouded head left and right with shield and sword raised. After a moment it relents its defensive stance, but remains at the junction of the hallways. Balin slowly strides in behind his companion, coming to a stop just behind Kairen.
"Let's see what our scouts find," Balin recommends, motioning to Gazzer and Zazou. "Their eyes have not led us astray yet, perhaps they will find something significant in the dark places they we, taller folk may miss."
Zazou moves forward into the coridor alongside Gazzer.
Gazzer begins to sniff the air excitedly. "Smell that, yes yes? Is fresh air, from the west, yes yes!"
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"Curious," Balin comments in regards to Gazzer's discovery of cleaner air. "Perhaps there's another way in or out of here that we have yet to discover..." Looking to Kairen, Balin motions with the head of his cane towards the wooden door in the wall not far from where they had come in to this hallway.
"If you would be so kind, Sir Paladin," Balin suggests, while at the same time making a gesture across his eyes with one pale hand, shifting his focus to perceive magical auras.
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"I'm more averse to titles than names, Balin. 'Kairen' will do fine." He smirks as he paces down the hallway, on guard and eyes scanning both celing and floor.
If he reaches the door without incident, Kairen will then use detect undead and direct it in one direction, straight through the door, as far as he can stretch it.
Moving cautiously towards the first door on your left, you pass the corridor on your right…which disappears into the gloom and remains deathly silent.
As the rest of the party stands back a short distance, Kairen examines the wooden door.
Your Detect Undead doesn't reveal anything untowards however you do hear some quiet whispering behind the door…although the voices are not loud enough so as to discern what is being said.
Kairen's eyes widen slightly at the recognition of voices, and he wordlessly puts a finger to his lips; he points to Zazou, then to his ear, then to the door, hoping the goblin will interpret the message.
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Narrowing his eyes, Balin makes a motion with a free hand and directs his protector to move to the corridor they passed and stand watch for anything emerging from the darkness. With that done, Balin moves up behind Kairen and looks back to Zazou and Gazzer. Worry paints itself across Balin's face as he takes a slow, deep breath, unsure of just what it is that has Kairen so tense.
Gazzer tilts his head, listening and unsure why everyone has gone so very quiet.
Zazou's big flappy ears point upright as the Goblin approaches the door and places his ear against it.
…what can you hear?
…nothing Skezz, it's gone terrible quiet…
…was it another of those things do ya think?
…I don't know Skezz…be quiet, I'm thinking…
…what if it gets in Izzy?
…Ssssh!!!!
Zazou steps back from the door and indicates to his companions via gestures that there are people on the other side speaking. Then the goblin decides to speak with them in his low pitched voice the goblin squeeks.
I am Zazou! Goblin Hero and who is Skezz? Who is Izzy?
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When Zazou bursts out in conversation to clearly some other party on the opposite side of the door, Balin takes a step back away from Kairen, gripping his cane tightly in one hand and staring intently at the door. Raising one hand he curls all but two fingers towards his palm and prepares the first gesture of an incantation should this turn violent.
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...what did he say?
...think he said he was Gobby, Skezz...
...how many do you think is out there?
...more than we can scrap with I think...
...keep the door tight then Izzy, maybes that...thing...will get them before they can get in here...
From behind the door comes the sound of something heavy being dragged across flagstones followed by a dull thud as the door shakes (as if something has been pushed against it).
No need to be so so scared we killed big dark tentacle thing! We are might heroes and will come to rescue you now!
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"Kairen," Balin offers quietly while Zazou keeps the beings on the other side of the door occupied. "If I have learned anything in my years, it is that crusaders such as yourself often have a gift for diplomacy that many other soldiers lack the, ah, discipline for." Shifting an askance look to the door, Balin raises one brow.
"Perhaps you could attempt to reason with these, obviously fearful, entities?" Gesturing to the door with one gloved hand, Balin takes a single step back and looks to Gazzer and Zazou. "And if they wind up hostile after opening said door, our small companions can catch them unawares in their," he runs a finger across his stomach, "soft parts?"
Olwynn, it seems, he has left to coem up with her own contribution to the plan. Either Balin doesn't consider her useful, or he presumes someone of her demonstrated intellect should plan for her own abilities.
Gazzer ducks his head in a nod and slips to the side of the door to find the shadows. He pulls out his crossbow and loads it with a bolt.
Kairen cocks and eyebrow as he stifles a chuckle. Sheathing his sword again, he relaxes his posture and raps on the wood with the back of his knuckles, speaking through the door.
"Skezz? Izzy? You can come out now; the beast with the tentacles and shadows is dead, and we have no quarrel with you. Are either of you hurt?"
There is a brief pause as whoever is behind the door considers the Paladins' words, then...
"...weren't no tentacles what we seen..."
"...yeah, that's right...nor not any shadow stuff..."
Getting bolder, the voices continue...
"...was fangs, teeth and claws that got poor old Fisk..."
The second voice whimpers, "Poor poor Fisk...what never harmed nobody"
"... if I was you goblin man, I'd be finding me somewhere safe cos that thing looked terrible hungry..."
"...and we isn't coming out...no way..."
"Yeah...no ways"
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"Curious," Balin remarks, one brow raised as he looks into the dark of the unexplored passages. "The information they have may be valuable." Leaning in closer to Kairen, Balin motions to the door with one hand. "Appeal to their sense of self-preservation, see if we can convince them that we're..." he twirls a hand in the air as if trying to spool up some sort of good verbiage from the ether, "adventurers or something. Brave, heroic, capable." That Balin thinks this may be a bluff is somewhat telling.
"See how they feel about getting out of that presumably sealed room, as the alternative would indeed be to perish in there..." Balin glances to Gazzer and Zazou, then back to Kairen. "What do you think?"
Zazou think they dumb and that we go find monster kill and then they come out!
Kairen nods, once again rapping on the door, more to indicate his subject than anything. "Well, we're here to deal with bigger problems than a random beast, but if we find your toothy predator, we'll take care of him too. You two are welcome to join us, unless you think you're better off trapped in there?"