i think davos' light should suffice for the moment. These wretches are not worthy to eat that poor dog over there. Can anyone tell if the dog was ripped apart by an animal or cut? It could be the dinner of our lycanthropic thief.
walking carefully between the piles of filth Domingo moves after gelbor his sword held ready for any sudden movements.
Stepping gingerly over a large pile of detritus domingos boot crunches onto a small pile of animal bones.
He winces and looks around apologetically.
caydens beard! Stop being so clumsy! domingo berates himself
Drazhak examines the corpse of the dog for a short time, then follows Gelbor and Dom.
Survival check
Stealth
He curses inwardly Damn my clumsiness! then holds his breath, listening expectantly.
Davos is standing looking to see if can spot anything unusual and casts detect magic to help him look
Fort
Kennos waits patiently for the others as he waits he puts his rapier away and pulls out his whip
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The group creeps as quietly as it can up the steps, with varying degrees of success. Their shadows cast eerie images on the ancient walls as the rooms gradually darken deeper within the Crow and Davos’ light illuminates the way.
At the top is a landing, a further stairwell curves up out of the north wall. Three stone boxes, their lids raised, stand lined up against the east wall. A fine yellow powder surrounds them on the floor.
Domingo tops the stairwell and moves swiftly across the landing to take up a position to the side of the next staircase, ready should anyone descend the steps toward them.
Gelbor taking his time to not have any surprises like last time, surveys the room.
"What's that powder?"
Looks like they are searching for something
Drazhak moves across the landing as quietly as he can to take up a position next to Dom. He whispers to the others. "This place is remarkable. It may be over 10,000 years old by my reckoning. The stonework is amazingly well preserved, almost as if protected by magic. Kennos, why do you think they are looking for something?"
Stealth
Dammit again. These feet will be the death of us! he curses inwardly as he makes a noise.
"Sorry! Sneaking around does not come naturally to me!" He hisses between clenched teeth.
Kennos sneaks to a sauare behind drazhak
he then whispers to Drazhak
All the open boxes I am no expert but the lid to a box is normally closed, another guess is the yellow dust is from inside the boxes again speculation at this point
Davos walks across the landing looking along the walls see if he can notice any old markings
"Indeed such an amazing place, hope we find something here useful"
Drazhak turns to Davos and whispers. "I tell you my friend, I know stonework and given the age of this place, the stone looks relatively untarnished by time. The blocks should be more pitted. See, the joins are even, the edges clean and sharp. This must be preserved in some way I cannot determine. Have you any sense of arcane influence here? You are more familiar with such things than I."
He then whispers over his shoulder to Kennos. "Any idea what that dust is? or what may ahve been inside the boxes? Usually if someone searches a box and does not find what they are looking for, they leave the unwanted contents behind."
Davos feeling the wall with his hand and whispers back to Drazhak
"Yes I can see how the stonework has been well kept, I do sense a feint aura of magic here. Maybe thats why the stonework is still in good condition."
kennos shrugs
If I was to guess maybe they are looking for the same artefacts we are, but this isn't the tome to discuss this
"The stone is lovely, but let's keep the chatter to a minimal."
Gelbor then looks ahead again making sure to spot any traps or anything hidden.
"Maybe stay away from the dust for now?"
Domingo watches as the others move about the room, davos and Draz clearly loving their unusual surroundings. As for himself, he would be more in awe of the place if he didnt have the threat of imminant danger hanging over him, he found it quite distracts him from properly appreciating the ancient monument.
Davos, I am thinking we should find out what that powder is, do you have some ideas? Perhaps it is important, perhaps not. But be careful my learned friend it could be poisonous or something
Still crouched and wispering.
"If no one knows what that powder is we'll look at it later, let's keep moving."
Gelbor then heads for the stairwell leading out of the north wall.
Davos moves over and takes a look at the powder
"I haven't got much experience with alchemy components but let me take a look".
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Gelbor leads the party up the next flight of stairs which end in the largest room you have seen so far.
Pillars line the centre of this long hall. At the far end is a low rostrum, the dusty stumps of ancient votive candles lining its outer edge. Two of these have been knocked over. Colourful murals of Thassilon pilgrims and giants marching over an intact Irespan bridge cover the walls from floor to ceiling.
A further exit leads from the northwest corner of the room.
From looking at the power Davos recgonises what it is and quickly place his hand over his mouth and nose
"It's Ungol Dust, a weak but troublesome poison that disfigures the skin of those who inhale it. Lets move on and stay clear of it."
Kennos quietly as he can follows gelbor into the room
He then looks round the room
Gelbor starts to move into the room hoping to get a better view.
Davos walks along with the rest of the party
Domingo curses silently as the startled creature races off
what was that? he asks quietly whilst moving across the room to s35 and peering around the corner , hoping to see something on the stairs.
"Some sort of guard dog? Let's try and move up where it's going, try and keep quiet."
Gelbor moves up keeping an eye out and ready to stop as soon as he sees something
Drazhak moves as quietly as he can to study the murals on the walls and thinks Truely remarkable. This plac is fascinating. If indeed this is what the Irespan looked like, it was a magnificent piece of work. Who are these giants I wonder? Before moving to the rostrum to examine it.
Stealth
Knowledge arcana
Knowledge history
Knowledge religion
Lost in his obsession with ancient ruins, he hardly notices the creature that ran up the stairs.
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[Ooc]Whatever the creature was you don't see it on the stairwell. As you look up you see that the stairs switch back on themselves several times and climb high into the Crow.
Kennos climbs the stair case as quietly as he can
well done Davos, it looks like these boxes were trapped and whoever is in here set them off when they opened them Domingo says quietly well need to watch our step in here
Domingo follows Gelbor up the stairs and takes up a position just behind him.
Drazhak sighs If only I had a few hours to study this place...Perhaps when our business here is done. He turns from the rostrum and moves up the stairs to take a position behind Gelbor.
Stealth
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You hear scampering footsteps higher on the stairwell leading away from you.
The climb is steep and arduous but eventually the stairs end in a small room, scattered bits of broken armor and equipment lie here and there.
You can see a larger room just off this one to the south and it is from there that a female voice calls.
We dunno who you are but this is the Tower Girls' place now. Get back in your little boat and get lost, else.... Ummm...
Another voice finishes;
Or we'll 'av your guts for garters sunshine!
You cannot see into the room from your position.
Kennos thinks quickly then steps forward
What do you mean ladies? we are meant to be here, I am the great Bob, tonights entertainment, we were hired by your boss as a reward for all your hard work
Gelbor shakes his head, and slowly inches forward.
Domingo lowers his sword but doesn't sheath it.
Before calling out
there is no need for threats and unpleasantness , I am sure you are not really that attached to this place that it is worth your life to fight for it. You can easily walk away with a bit of gold in your pockets rather than rotting away in the dark with the rats for company!
Domingo says casually but his tone carries his threat clearly.
Davos moves up to try and get a closer look and whsipers to the others
"What we gonna do then?"
"Ahem. Excuse me gentlemen." Drazhak moves slowly past Gelbor and Dom and speaks clearly in a soft and soothing tone as he carefully makes his way towards the bend in the corridor.
"Please ladies, do not let the words of my friend give you cause for concern. He is somewhat lacking in the more refined social skills and often speaks before he thinks. We respect this magnificent monument as your home, and lay no claim to it. However, we have business that requires us to enter your realm, and it is my sincere hope that we can come to some accord that may prove mutually beneficial. I asure you we mean no harm to you. If you would but grant us leave to parley for a while, you may find it to your advantage."
To emphasize his point, Drazhak leans his axe against the wall and shakes his pouch of gold.
Diplomacy
Domingo watches Draz walk further into the monument and gives Gelbor a wry grin, leaning in he whispers
that's what I said isn't it? I liked my version better, less complicated for these poor devils and he chuckles quietly as he waits to see what happens
Kennos looks at domingo and drazhak
Well these guys don't know how to play along, I better remember that for the future