"let's take it ..."
"I'd be wary o' of something that can speak that has neither a mouth nor brains," Morgan says with a tinge of concern in her voice.
The book was brought with you, but proves of no use at the moment. You consider your options here.
Horster, somewhat curious, pronounces the word 'Pah', and a large disk floats to the top of what appears to be a very deep well. It seems to floating on air and radiates transmutation magic.
"Go on, Horster...we're ready.""
Suiting actions to words, Kelgan hefts his shield and holds his axe ready.
Lorcan looks intrigued and steps out onto the disk, testing it. He then jumps up and down a couple times. Come on. he encourages everyone else.
" ... um ... o ... k.", says Mit'l as he tentatively steps onto the disk.
"Can this thing hold all of us?" Morgan asks, dubious.
Sure! its magic. Lorcan says with much more confidence than is sensible.
The disk seems to support weight without any limit.
Crom shrugs and jumps on the disk, "Now what?"
once everyone is on Lorcan calls out Nwad
Kelgan boards, unsure of whether to be dissaproving, skeptical, or excitied...
Ozmund jumps on last, just before the gnome speaks the words to make the floating disk move.
"I know I am going to regret this!", he mumbles.
Morgan jumps on as well.
"Let's go, then."
Horster's snuck on as well. No time for mucking about with bows on this thing. He draws a dagger in his offhand and makes sure his rapier's within reach, but not drawn in case he needs the hand to keep balance.
"going down ...."
The blue disc comes to rest atop an ornate
carved pedestal in the center of a 30-foot diameter
room. This room is identical to
the room above; the three statues and the
bronze doors are copies of the ones in that
room. The word “Pah” is carved in the
wall between the east and north statues.
The word “Nwad” is carved in the wall
between the south and east statues.
In the center of this 30-foot-diameter
room stands a short round pedestal covered
with ornate carvings. A glowing blue
disc, 2 feet in diameter, lies atop the pedestal.
Three 15-foot-tall statues of men
stand around the pedestal at the north,
south, and east sides of the room. They
seem to stare at you with hollow eyes.
Each statue makes an eerie moaning
sound, as if in pain. On the wall between
the eastern statue and the northern statue
is carved the single word “Pah.” The
word “Nwad” is carved between the eastem
statue and the southern statue. A 10-
foot-diameter shaft rises from the domed
ceiling, directly above the pedestal and
the glowing disk. The shaft extends
upward as far as you can see.
Opening the west door after a quick search of this room:
You see a long heading west 10-foot-wide hall. Several shadowy figures
stand silently in each alcove.
This hall is 70 feet long. At each end of the
corridor stands a pair of bronze doors, carved
with delicate designs.
Checking out and opening the trapless doors.....
This 20-foot-square room is bathed in soft
golden light. Glowing 15-foot-wide silver
arches open through the north and south
walls. A pair of ornate bronze doors
stands in the center of the east wall. A pair
of steel doors, carved with similar decorations,
is set in the west wall.
Elyas’ treasure room lies beyond the
north arch. Light from its glowing domed
ceiling reflects off the polished marble
floor, brightening this room. There must
be thousands of gold pieces in the treasure
room, spilling from ornate chests!
The room through the south arch is
identical to the treasure room, but it is
empty.
Peeking to the north.....
This room is a 40-foot-wide octagon. The
entire room is bathed in bright golden
light from the glowing ceiling, 50 feet
overhead. Ornate carvings cover the ceiling.
Both the east and west walls have a
pair of steel doors in them. Both pairs of
doors are closed. Set in the south wall is a
glowing silver arch, 20 feet wide. Some
words in an ancient script are carved
above the arch. Large treasure chests are
scattered across the highly polished floor.
Some of them are open and full of coins!
Once the portal is crossed, make no mistake
Part of my treasury you will make
Peeking to the south....
Both the east and west walls have a pair of
steel doors in them. Both pairs of doors
are closed. A glowing silver arch, 20 feet
wide, is set in the south wall. Some words
in an ancient script are carved above the
arch. The entire room is lit by bright
golden light from the ceiling, 50 feet overhead.
The ceiling is covered with decorative
carvings. A large gem in a setting
hangs from the end of a chain suspended
from the center of the ceiling.
Crom hops off the disk and cautiously proceeds to search the entry room and then the hall. "I'm guessing these are the command words to go back up."
Within the 20' room he stares slack jawed at the treasure in the north and south rooms, "No guardians? It must be an illusion or a trick. No one would just leave this much treasure unprotected."
He cautiously passes his battle axe through the northern arch.
"These moaning statues could be the guardians. They could breathe fire on us, for all we know if we touch even a single coin. I almost wish there was some huge beast down here sleeping on the gold. At least that way we'd know the treasure was ours once we killed the thing," Morgan grumbles, tightening the tension on her bowstring just a bit, and scanning the area for trouble.
No treasure guardians or traps are seen in the area. Horster informs you the statues are moaning due to wind and air currents.
Kelgan takes a slow pace around the edge of the room, looking for details he might have missed.
Then he pauses, turning his helmet so that he can actually SEE out of the occulars...
Ozmund will detect magic on the statures and treasure.
Upon examining the words above the arches, Horster informs the others, "The words translate somewhat to: Once the portal is crossed, make no mistake, part of my treasury you will make. It could be a warning saying that we'll be trapped here like all of this gold.
"Or maybe it's all just lying there for the taking...", he muses.
"Ozmund ... maybe you could mage hand a piece out at a time ... we can be patient!"
Crom shrugs, "I don't trust these arches nor the treasure beyond. I suggest we avoid those rooms for now."
He opens the bronze doors.
You consider what to do in the middle of two rooms.
"I agree, let's clear out the rest of this area, I do not trust the hordes of treasure"
"Aye, lets leave them for now, clear the rest."
Lorcan nods his head in agreement. We have these east and west doors. he indicates each with a gesture.
Not wishing to go through the arches to see the treasure or the massive suspended opal, the group moves through the west doors after entering through the east doors.
This dark corridor is 30 feet long. A pair
of steel doors are in the east end, and a
pair of bronze doors are in the west end.
The north and south walls each contain a
single wooden door, reinforced with iron
bands. Those doors are directly across
from one another.
With three doors to choose from (W, N, S) the group continues.
Opening the steel doors west......
This room is 30 feet square. There is a
pair of bronze doors in the east wall. Lowered
steel portcullises block stairways
leading down from the centers of the
north, south, and west walls.
A huge statue of a tremendously fat
man sits cross-legged in the center of the
room. The statue’s chubby hands rest
upon its huge thighs. The statue’s open
mouth gapes at the ceiling in a permanent
smile. An engraved plaque is attached to
the base of the statue. It reads: “I judge
by taste”.
With a door N and S unexplored and the room ahead, the party considers its options.
Crom searches both the corridor and the 30'square room. He looks for any mechanism to open the portcullises and attempts to lift one. He studies the statue from a safe distance.
He turns to the others, "Which way?"
Glancing as OZ and Lorcan, Kelgan asks "IS the statue magical?"
Lorcan complies, casting Detect Magic and studying the room before focusing on the stature.
The statue yields strong transmutation magic.
The portcullis are stuck fast. Cromwell is not even close to forcing it.
We gotta feed the statue something. Lorcan recommends. For it to judge. Anyone got anything not in the iron ration family? Blech!
Crom look's with skepticism at the statue, "I'm wondering if what we need is more magical trickery."
He sighs and drops a gold coin in the statue's mouth.
The gold coin does not seem to activate the statue.
Crom shrugs and turns back to the others, "Any ideas? It may take something magical."
"One of the gems we found, maybe? Or a potion?" Morgan offers.
"What about Gnome ... Lorcan, stick your hand in there."
"He is a fat man. We should try some food. Anyone have some ale or wine?"
The group searches for gifts for the statue. Currently the gold coin is in the mouth alone.
Mit'l drops the following in ...
Trail ration ... mmmm
Some water to wash it down
Casts light on a pebble and drops that "magic item" down
Using the light he then peers into the mouth to see what he sees ..
If none of those produce a result, Kelgan will nick his finger on the edge of his axe, and let a drop of blood fall into the statue's mouth.
"I still think we should try the undeaded gnome"
Ozmund will try to puzzle out more on the magic that is active on this statue.
Know-Arcane:
Spellcraft:
Detect Magic
The "unleaded" gnome is not intimidated by the statue or the suggestion and offers his hand. I am willing to be judged. he offers.
Ozzy sense the faint bit of divination magic and strong transmutation magic--connected to the portculis.
Nothing happens when a hand is placed inside.
Perhaps we have to have something we have not found yet to activate the magic of this statue?
And nothing for?
Mit'l drops the following in ...
Trail ration ... mmmm
Some water to wash it down
Casts light on a pebble and drops that "magic item" down
Using the light he then peers into the mouth to see what he sees ..