Rokan, still holding steady with the defensive stand that Amunet pushed him into, focuses on the kreen to discern its intentions as best he can. He looks over at her as she asks the question, wondering how far she is already trusting it (if at all).
Rokan, still holding steady with the defensive stand that Amunet pushed him into, focuses on the kreen to discern its intentions as best he can. He looks over at her as she asks the question, wondering how far she is already trusting it (if at all).
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+11
The kreen's motives appear genuine.
Ignoring the Kreen's arrival for now, Cae thrusts the end of his staff into the contraption.
Amunet-Ra tries to make some sense of the two strangers.
She then tries to break the dwarf free.
From within the machine Rilkus did his best to assist the party in breaking him free...
With a surge of willpower he momentarily overcame the nightmares, forcing his mind to the present. Then, with but a few seconds before it took over again:
The kreen slightly turns his head to look at the machine. "That was not here when I slept," he states. "It has the look of the machina based upon knowledge of the..." he pauses a moment, searching for a translation, "The Burners of Rock. The Red God also dabbled in such, but this does not have the look of his vile creations."
"I would need to examine it to say more, but such things were often made to release victims only after their death." It's hard to tell with his odd accent and lack of recognizable body language, but there seems to be a disapproving tone in his voice.
Unconcerned about the Kreen... the others could handle it if needed, Jimbli remained at the machine.
"I am going to try to get you out." Jimbli focuses his power for a moment, then under his breath... "I hope this works."
Unconcerned about the Kreen... the others could handle it if needed, Jimbli remained at the machine.
"I am going to try to get you out." Jimbli focuses his power for a moment, then under his breath... "I hope this works."** spoiler omitted **
Ignoring the Kreen's arrival for now, Cae thrusts the end of his staff into the contraption.
[dice=Str]1d20+1
.
Amunet-Ra tries to make some sense of the two strangers.
[dice=sense motive]1d20+14She then tries to break the dwarf free.
[dice=Strength Check]1d20+5
Amunet-Ra tries to make some sense of the two strangers.
[dice=sense motive]1d20+14
.
She then tries to break the dwarf free.
[dice=Strength Check]1d20+5
.
The kreen slightly turns his head to look at the machine. "That was not here when I slept," he states. "It has the look of the machina based upon knowledge of the..." he pauses a moment, searching for a translation, "The Burners of Rock. The Red God also dabbled in such, but this does not have the look of his vile creations."
"I would need to examine it to say more, but such things were often made to release victims only after their death." It's hard to tell with his odd accent and lack of recognizable body language, but there seems to be a disapproving tone in his voice.
Amunet-Ra flinches under the unexpected attack from the device.
It seems rather strong. Perhaps if we all try together to pull that out. She points at the dwarves restraints.
Rokan focuses on stone slabs high above the floor of the chamber. He inspects them where they meet the outer walls to see how securely they are placed, or if he could dislodge one to fall on the machine without killing the current captive...
As he does this he absent-mindedly wanders over the Amunet to help, as she directs...
As he does this he absent-mindedly wanders over the Amunet to help, as she directs...
[dice=STR, aid]1d20+2
** spoiler omitted **
[dice=Damage] 1d6
Amunet-Ra flinches under the unexpected attack from the device.It seems rather strong. Perhaps if we all try together to pull that out. She points at the dwarves restraints.
The nobleman nods a greeting to Amunet "My name is Hamza Kadak Yasawalla Araya Mīnākṣī, and I'm here because I am supposed to be." He says with a flourish.
Jimbli makes a slight grunt, then disappears. The dwarf appears in his place. You see Jimbli for a moment inside the machine before he blinks out... showing up next to the freed dwarf. “Whoo! Ha.. it worked!” He tries but fails to stifle his goofy proud grin and giggles.
Rilkus lay on the ground, breathing slowly. His stony chest rose and fell as he stared at the ceiling. At length he sat up, and unsteadily got to his feet. With one hand he braced himself against the wall. Looking at the machine with utter and abject hatred a Scimitar made out of stone materialized in his hand. The stone of his skin seemed to move like liquid down his arm to make the blade. He then turned and stared at Jimbli. Then, he fell to one knee, his sword placed in front of him.
”I am Rilkus Ironhand. Druid. The Yellow Chromatic Society it the Slassan betrayed me and placed me within that device to force me to become part of the Green Chromatic Society, their slave caste. Ye have saved me from a fate no different from death. I would have ye name and yer quest, so that I might repay the debt owed to ye.”
“Rilkus.. I am Jimbli Willit. If you would be willing, follow us as an equal. I ask that you see it not as a debt, but a bond of friendship.. an alliance. We can discuss our mission after you have recovered.” Jimbli offers his hand.
Cae ponders the meaning of so many coming together in what was thought to be a long unexplored tomb,and nods at Hamza's reasoning.
"Through the Dream wind the threads of fate,
Further in the darkness, our futures await.
Strange are the strangers meeting in a tomb,
Stranger still, that which we come to exhume."
Addressing the newcomers more directly.
"A lady and daughter are whom I seek,
Do you know either of which I speak?"
Rilkus lay on the ground, breathing slowly. His stony chest rose and fell as he stared at the ceiling. At length he sat up, and unsteadily got to his feet. With one hand he braced himself against the wall. Looking at the machine with utter and abject hatred a Scimitar made out of stone materialized in his hand. The stone of his skin seemed to move like liquid down his arm to make the blade. He then turned and stared at Jimbli. Then, he fell to one knee, his sword placed in front of him.
”I am Rilkus Ironhand. Druid. The Yellow Chromatic Society it the Slassan betrayed me and placed me within that device to force me to become part of the Green Chromatic Society, their slave caste. Ye have saved me from a fate no different from death. I would have ye name and yer quest, so that I might repay the debt owed to ye.”
”Ye’re a well spoken lot, and seem honorable ‘nuff. Saw a few other topsiders. One named Arsione, a lady of House Nicephorus. Was here on behalf of her mother, Persephone, I think. Think she’s somewhere else in the Kalinday ruins. Arsione was talking with Sepharabarsus, a Yellow Society necromancer. Something about the Slassans wanting resources of some sort. Seems like my quest, finding a way to heal defiling damage, interested them less than making me into one of their mindless slaves. I hope that helps.”
Cae grasps Rilkus' forearm enthusiastically as he introduces himself.
"Cae Leonidas, your news is most welcome,
Do you know the direction you came from?"
Ri'Kli'Klek stands perfectly still and observes, glad that for the moment the focus is off of him. He does not trust these people, but has no reason to doubt them, either. Certainly they did not seem to be seeking to waken the Tombs, though it was true they were stirring. Perhaps he could work with them.
Now that he had the time to pay attention, it occurred to him that there was something odd about the light. It was... different, somehow, than he remembered it. He tilted his head slightly and looked out, away from the Tombs. The land was changed, that was clear, but everything seemed to have a slightly reddish hue to it.
How long had he been asleep? And what had happened while he had slept?
”Ye’re a well spoken lot, and seem honorable ‘nuff. Saw a few other topsiders. One named Arsione, a lady of House Nicephorus. Was here on behalf of her mother, Persephone, I think. Think she’s somewhere else in the Kalinday ruins. Arsione was talking with Sepharabarsus, a Yellow Society necromancer. Something about the Slassans wanting resources of some sort. Seems like my quest, finding a way to heal defiling damage, interested them less than making me into one of their mindless slaves. I hope that helps.”
Rilkus passed the information on. He added ”...they are not to be trusted. They will speak honeyed words when ye are in a position of strength. Once ye aren’t they’ll throw ye in one of yon machines. They’re an unnatural blight on this world.”
After failing to damage the device, Amunet-Ra stands back, watching the halflings action with surprise. As the dwarf is freed, she tries to take in all the different threads going on at once, keeping everything in focus.
My greetings Hamza who is supposed to be here. May i inquire by whom or what and why that is? And where you are from? And how did you even come here? The other two have halfway good explanations...
She turns to the dwarf.
My greetings to you as well, Rilkus. You surely tell interesting stories. I didn't know there are caverns so deep under the ruins. It si good to hear you met the ones we search and they even were alive.
She takes a good look over Rilkus to see if he is allright and wether the device did something to him.
All the while she casts glances at the seemingly frozen kreen standing nearby.
I am wondering, we barely entered this place and already meet 3 people, a dwarf trapped in a device by the ones we are here to investigate, a kreen frozen in time waiting to fight his old god, and a mysterious stranger cloaked in shadows. Is this incidentaly or is someone pulling the strings here? What are the plans of you three? WIll you join us and support our quest?
"I walked here, guided by a map my employer gave me."
He examines each of the others in the group. "Tell me, how is it you ended up here, and what's this quest you keep speaking of?"
Rilkus passed the information on. He added ”...they are not to be trusted. They will speak honeyed words when ye are in a position of strength. Once ye aren’t they’ll throw ye in one of yon machines. They’re an unnatural blight on this world.”
Cae's enthusiasm quickly turns to a look of concern.
"Honeycomb broken, draws in flies
Spider's web, a deadly surprise,
Dragon's teeth, and too many eyes
Seeking vengeance, perhaps unwise.
Yet, your guidance I request,
If indeed, they be a foul pest,
Duty requires us to enter the nest,
Rescue the flies, burn the rest."
Indeed, this is too uncanny that our first several steps into this place be so eventful. Amunet, are you certain the Dreadseer didn't send us here knowing that happenings were afoot? Perhaps our arrival was convenient for her?
Are you questioning the dreadssers motives?
Amunet-Ra raises an eyebrow as she looks at Rokan.
Perhaps she knows something or sensed something, perhaps your arrival was convenient, perhaps it is fate. Who knows. We also don't know exactly what is going on here except that some things should be stopped as it seems.
”Names I do not know. Names that mean nothing to me. I am honor bound to repay my debt, and will help ye. Our rhyming friend has the right of it. All I ask is that on our journeys if we come across a certain artifact, then I will take it. It heals the land of defiling corruption. I would use it. Aside from that, I will assist in rescuing whomever is trapped in here and of ending the arachnid threat which lairs here.”
Ri'Kli'Klek listens quietly, trying to put together just who all these people are and what is going on. Suddenly he moves, though only for a moment, going from his guarded stance to a slightly more relaxed one before again holding still.
"My duty is here, but if there are those who are foolish enough to wake the land's doom, I must stop them," he states.
Amunet-Ra listens to Rilkus and Ri'Kli'Klek, answering both of them.
To the dwarf:
Healing the land is always a noble ambition. We will see about finding any artifacts and using them as well letting you keep them. Maybe you can, but the Dreadseers will want to see and analyze them first either way. They might be corrupted. I reckon you don't oppose that? Also we just met you, how silly would we be to hand over an artifact from bygone ages to you just like that? You can come with us, earn our trust and prove yourself. If you want to heal the land, then this is certainly the right way for you.
She then turns to Ri'Kli'Klek:
Maybe you haven't noticed, but someone put that dwarf into this device. I'm not entirely sure what it really does, how this works or how it is connected to the rest of this cursed site, but one thing seems sure. Someone is tempering with all of it. Wether it might wake what you call the lands doom or they only try to harness this place's power doesn't really matter, does it?
I find it hard to trust kreen on a normal day already. Seeing this - she points to the reliefs of sacrificed elves - really doesn't help. Still, if you want to join and aid us, fullfilling your ancient mission and contributing your knowledge about this menace and this place, i'll welcome you and give you a chance.
Finaly she turns to Hamza
And you, you walked here with a map, given to you by your employer? Hahaha! something like laughter bursts out Say, who is your employer? And either you started walking in this place or there must be another entrance? We, obviously, came through the door behind us, which we opened and then slaughtered this beasts, in search of ancient wisdom to prevent great tragedies and more suffering in this beaten world.
[dice=Perception]1d20+11
Ri'Kli'Klek listens quietly, trying to put together just who all these people are and what is going on. Suddenly he moves, though only for a moment, going from his guarded stance to a slightly more relaxed one before again holding still.
"My duty is here, but if there are those who are foolish enough to wake the land's doom, I must stop them," he states.
Nothing disturbs the recently-awakened kreen's senses.
”Names I do not know. Names that mean nothing to me. I am honor bound to repay my debt, and will help ye. Our rhyming friend has the right of it. All I ask is that on our journeys if we come across a certain artifact, then I will take it. It heals the land of defiling corruption. I would use it. Aside from that, I will assist in rescuing whomever is trapped in here and of ending the arachnid threat which lairs here.”
[dice=Perception]1d20+14
The newly-freed dwarf detects a powerful mechanical rumble emanating throughout the entire complex, as if some sort of vast machine had just been set in motion.
Examining the area, it appears the blood of the mysterious beasts which drained into the channels surrounding the sacrificial pit is the source of this unnerving activity in the complex.
It seems very likely that the slaking of the sacrificial pit has awakened the defenses of the tombs, and that the party will need to be extremely vigilant in their further explorations, as many guardians will likely have been either aroused or alerted.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 18
Are you questioning the dreadssers motives?
Amunet-Ra raises an eyebrow as she looks at Rokan.Perhaps she knows something or sensed something, perhaps your arrival was convenient, perhaps it is fate. Who knows. We also don't know exactly what is going on here except that some things should be stopped as it seems.
The suspicious elf detects a powerful mechanical rumble emanating throughout the entire complex, as if some sort of vast machine had just been set in motion.
Examining the area, it appears the blood of the mysterious beasts which drained into the channels surrounding the sacrificial pit is the source of this unnerving activity in the complex.
It seems very likely that the slaking of the sacrificial pit has awakened the defenses of the tombs, and that the party will need to be extremely vigilant in their further explorations, as many guardians will likely have been either aroused or alerted.
[dice=Per]1d20+13
Nothing disturbs the rhyming mystics senses.
Indeed, this is too uncanny that our first several steps into this place be so eventful. Amunet, are you certain the Dreadseer didn't send us here knowing that happenings were afoot? Perhaps our arrival was convenient for her?
[dice=Perception]1d20+11
Nothing disturbs the ascetic's senses.