Jimbli's feet leave the ground as he moves into the room. He walks a couple feet in the air heading a little to the left toward the breathing breeze. He looks into the distance trying to discern its source.
[dice=perception]1d20+14
"Rokan.. you noticed it first. Has it changed since we've entered?"
The source of the mysterious oscillating gusts of air comes from the left, where the tunnel also seems to slowly ascend. Its ultimate source is beyond the halflings range of vision, assuredly around the curve of the tunnel.
Jimbli's feet leave the ground as he moves into the room. He walks a couple feet in the air heading a little to the left toward the breathing breeze. He looks into the distance trying to discern its source.
[dice=perception]1d20+14
"Rokan.. you noticed it first. Has it changed since we've entered?"
No, far as I can tell the tunnel's "breathing" remains as I first observed it upon entering this chamber. It is... unsettling.
Simultaneous with another 'exhalation' of the mysterious zephyr, the small company of travelers finds itself no longer alone within the ancient kreen sepulcher. Emerging ponderously from the right-hand side of the strange tunnel, the imposing profile of an immense and bizarre contraption slowly separates itself from the shadows extending from the rocky channel's gradual coil.
The device appears to be composed somehow equally of several unlikely elements, consisting in a revolting amalgam of chitin and jagged branches, as if some alien mind had intended to weld a battle engine, but was provisioned by no ordinary materials for this task. Its shape is generally that recognizable as a desert caravan, with a fleshy membrane drawn in a precipitous billowing arc over the deep bed of the bizarre vehicle. This arcing hood of flesh glistens slightly with moisture in the dim light of the cavernous tunnel.
The primary chassis of the wagon is made of dense plates of chitin, into which are riveted, at regular intervals, jagged spikes of black wood. The apertures from which the latter emerge weep black ichor in a revolting accumulation of steady streams with steam slightly as they emerge from the mottled husk of the cutaneous engine. A mishappen wheel is attached to each such spindle, and the entire chassis wobbles in a highly irregular gait towards the small company forwarded by the recently-imprisoned dwarf.
The chassis itself resembles something like a crustacean whose back has been split by an immense predatory force, or the slightly-decomposed carapace of a beetle whose thorax has been forcibly erupted by a parasitic intrusion. From within the apparently damaged roof of the carapace, a caustic liquid steams within its confines.
Long proboscises extend from this chassis, and begin to leak the caustic fluid onto the floor in a quickly-expanding sheet of viscous extrusion. It will soon engulf the entire floor of the cavern.
Ri'Kli'Klek moves with a smooth, gliding gait, which any familiar with Thri'Kreen would identify as being unusual for his species. His wings remain closed on his back, hidden within their beetle-like carapace.
He says nothing, his warning already delivered, instead watching for the traps and guardians he knows must be present.
Runes in ancient kreen appear by some arcane means around the periphery of the chamber in a decorate ring that creates a complex band around the entire circular profile of the tunnel, as if it were ornamented with an interior band composed of letters.
Amunet-Ra doesn't hesitate as she follows into the new stone tunnel, looking at the remaining people to follow.
Let's get out of here...
This is probably the stale air of aeons from this tomb you feel there. And whatever unnatural things stir in the dark there.
Runes in ancient kreen appear by some arcane means around the periphery of the chamber in a decorative ring that creates a complex band around the entire circular profile of the tunnel, as if it were ornamented with an interior band composed of letters.
Upon entering the tunnel, Hamza once more takes advantage of the near total darkness, and disappears from sight. .
Thus hidden, he peers around the tunnels.
Upon entering the tunnel, Hamza once more takes advantage of the near total darkness, and disappears from sight. .
Thus hidden, he peers around the tunnels.
The right side of the tunnel descends slightly, and curves again to the left. Beyond the area of the passage which is visible to Hamza's erstwhile comrades , a thick haze of some kind of noxious smoke fills hall, forming a misty barrier that crosses then entire opening, in front of which is positioned the strange organic device which has just emerged from the shadows and begun to flood the cavern floor with some species of noxious liquid. There are no more colored tiles outside of the aforementioned area visible to those of the demon's company who have emerged from the aperture carved by the dwarf named Rilkus.
The left hand side of the tunnel rises slightly, and the tiles also disappear as Hamza departs from the other boarder of the area of the passage visible to his companions. Further up the tunnel, it curves to the right as it rises. The mysterious wind gusts again.
This coil continues upward until Hamza is speedily confronted with another network of traps, these a web of explosive triggers
Ri'Kli'Klek tenses, wings opening, then springs into the air. As he does so he focuses his mind, thinking he may soon need defense against acid.
Warily he begins to fly closer, careful not to touch the floor or even the ceiling. He looks for weak points by which the construct might be disabled.
"We shall likely need to disable it and move to higher ground--though that is likely what the trap-builders intent was."
Ri'Kli'Klek tenses, wings opening, then springs into the air. As he does so he focuses his mind, thinking he may soon need defense against acid.
Warily he begins to fly closer, careful not to touch the floor or even the ceiling. He looks for weak points by which the construct might be disabled.
"We shall likely need to disable it and move to higher ground--though that is likely what the trap-builders intent was."
Despite the ostensibly perilous attachment of the wheels, the construct is, by its motion and activity, apparently quite study, and even the apparent weak points appear to be highly durable.
"What a terrible place," Raxus rumbled from the rear of the group. "What is it?"
"What a terrible place," Raxus rumbled from the rear of the group. [b]"What is it?"
"What a terrible place," Raxus rumbled from the rear of the group. "What is it?"
It is apparent to all that the caustic liquid flows around the tiles, so that they will soon be the only area of the cavern floor left exposed, a situation which also seems intended to force any interlopers to stand upon the trap mechanisms...
Rokan sees the floor filling up and yells out to the group.
I can levitate all of us for about 10 minutes. That would at least give us time to escape the acid while avoiding the traps. Perhaps it would also be enough time to destroy this device if someone had strong divinations or information that we should head that direction.
Thanks to being incorporeal, as long as he stays moving, Hamza has little to worry about when it comes to the various traps within this tunnel. As such, he's easily able to scout in both directions.
Upon discovering the pressure plate traps, he'll report his findings back to companions. "Seems like both directions are bad. I wonder if it would be possible to somehow use the wagon to set off the plates?"
A loud gong ring is heard from the left side of the tunnel, its cavalcade of piercing reverberations clashing on the irregular encrustations of the immense tunnel like the ripples of a sonic ocean.
Shouts are heard in an unfamiliar language in the same direction.
Jimbli eyes the demon beetle wagon and its rate of speed.
He yells out to the group with urgency.. there is not much time before the monstrosity closes in.
"If the rest of you flee, I can set off the traps without falling in... perhaps that will slow it. Hopefully slow the flow of acid, as well. Go now!"
Rilkus nodded. He closed his eyes, concentrating. Within seconds his form shimmered until it became insubstantial. He had taken the form of an air elemental. The dwarf hovered above the ground. Telepathically he said to Jimbli:
”I am ready.”
I really dislike this... Amunet-Ra grumbles.
She then jumps up into the air to a height that seems impossible for most people, folding her legs into a lotus seat position and somehow just hovering there, as if sitting on a comfortable pillow.
She looks at the acid-spitting contraption inquisitively, as if trying to remember something or looking for weak spots, or a way out of this situation.
Jimbli, can you predict what will happen when you trigger the traps? Let me look at those runes first! Reading is hard as you probably know and requires concentration!
Rokan watches Amunet lift off of the ground in her lotus position.
Hmm, it looks like many of you are able to leave the ground on your own. Good thinking Jimbli, to set of the traps and slow this... creature.
Rokan likewise lifts off of the ground and begins cautiously backing away from the encroaching creature to let Jimbli do his work on the traps ahead if it's reaching them.
Jimbli eyes the demon beetle wagon and its rate of speed.
He yells out to the group with urgency.. there is not much time before the monstrosity closes in.
"If the rest of you flee, I can set off the traps without falling in... perhaps that will slow it. Hopefully slow the flow of acid, as well. Go now!"
"These are the treasures of Kla'Tra'I, Master of the Keys, Opener of the Ways, Warden of Death, and Retriever of Breath. He who opens the lock shall possess the key, and he who holds the key shall rule the menhir and the lintel.
The mysterious voice declares this tomb to be that of Kla'Tra'I, one of the Six Finders, and the trap-master of Dargulin, the Red God. It was this ancient engineer and siege-master that designed the defenses of the six tombs.
The voice continues, reciting some kind of poem,
Great is the spark of the flame of the maker,
and great is the bounty of its welder and shaper.
The soul of the flame is the fire of the living.
The font of the dying are the ashes of pyres.
Great is the spark of the flame of the maker,
and great is the bounty of its welder and shaper.
High is the beauty of the mother of ashes,
and endless the radiance of the daughter of embers.
Great is the spark of the flame of the maker,
and great is the bounty of its welder and shaper.
The sun is benighted and the moon is enscorcelled,
when the father of kindling ascends to his bowers,
and glowers within the bright shadow of the betrothed.
Great is the spark of the flame of the maker,
and great is the bounty of its welder and shaper.
I really dislike this... Amunet-Ra grumbles.
She then jumps up into the air to a height that seems impossible for most people, folding her legs into a lotus seat position and somehow just hovering there, as if sitting on a comfortable pillow.
[dice=kn:engineering]1d20 + 16
She looks at the acid-spitting contraption inquisitively, as if trying to remember something or looking for weak spots, or a way out of this situation.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 19
Jimbli, can you predict what will happen when you trigger the traps? Let me look at those runes first! Reading is hard as you probably know and requires concentration!
[dice=Linguistics]1d20 + 12
"These are the treasures of Kla'Tra'I, Master of the Keys, Opener of the Ways, Warden of Death, and Retriever of Breath. He who opens the lock shall possess the key, and he who holds the key shall rule the menhir and the lintel.
The voice continues, reciting some kind of poem,
Great is the spark of the flame of the maker,
and great is the bounty of its welder and shaper.
The soul of the flame is the fire of the living.
The font of the dying are the ashes of pyres.
Great is the spark of the flame of the maker,
and great is the bounty of its welder and shaper.
High is the beauty of the mother of ashes,
and endless the radiance of the daughter of embers.
Great is the spark of the flame of the maker,
and great is the bounty of its welder and shaper.
The sun is benighted and the moon is enscorcelled,
when the father of kindling ascends to his bowers,
and glowers within the bright shadow of the betrothed.
Great is the spark of the flame of the maker,
and great is the bounty of its welder and shaper.
I really dislike this... Amunet-Ra grumbles.
She then jumps up into the air to a height that seems impossible for most people, folding her legs into a lotus seat position and somehow just hovering there, as if sitting on a comfortable pillow.
[dice=kn:engineering]1d20 + 16
She looks at the acid-spitting contraption inquisitively, as if trying to remember something or looking for weak spots, or a way out of this situation.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 19
Jimbli, can you predict what will happen when you trigger the traps? Let me look at those runes first! Reading is hard as you probably know and requires concentration!
[dice=Linguistics]1d20 + 12
Jimbli disappears and immediately reappears on top of the trap trigger fifteen feet from the acid-spewing vehicle. As the pit opens up, he remains floating in the air.. he then quickly moves to the next one in line.
At 1st level, an elocater’s feet lift from the ground. From now on, she
can float a foot above the ground, but still move and act as if she
were standing on solid ground. At distances greater than 1 foot from
any sufficiently stable surface, her speed diminishes to 10 feet per
round, but she can move in any direction (including straight up or
down). Melee and ranged attacks suffer increasing penalties as if she
were the subject of the defy gravity power.
Scorn earth is constantly active, even when unconscious, unless the
elocater deliberately suppresses it (a free action), is heavily
encumbered, or is slain. If the elocater is carrying a medium load or
wearing heavy or medium armor while using scorn earth, her speed
reduces to 10 feet per round.
>Gravitic Stability - Any time your movement speed would be reduced to
10 ft. as a result of using personal gravity or scorn earth (such as
from wearing heavy armor or being more than 1 ft. away from a stable
surface), your speed is instead reduced to 10 ft. plus any bonuses to
your movement (such as from freerunning). You do not take any penalty
for attacking while using scorn earth at distances greater than 1 ft.
from the ground or a stable surface. You gain a bonus to your CMD equal
to your elocater class level against any bull rush or trip attempt.
(movement when floating is 30')
Ri'Kli'Klek keeps to the air and watches to see if Jimbli's gambit works.
Amunet-Ra appears to be meditating mid-air above the acid chaos on what the voice said.
Amunet-Ra appears to be meditating mid-air above the acid chaos on what the voice said.
Ri'Kli'Klek, can you tell us anything about what was just said there? Quick! What do you know? I'm not sure if i can make sense of this ancient kreen poetry!
"This is the tomb of Kla'Tra'I, who was the great builder of the Six Fingers," Ri'Kli'Klek replies. "It was also he who was designer of many traps. No doubt the poem is meant as a taunting hint as to the dangers within."
"What sets the traps off? Weight?" Raxus asked.
"This is the tomb of Kla'Tra'I, who was the great builder of the Six Fingers," Ri'Kli'Klek replies. "It was also he who was designer of many traps. No doubt the poem is meant as a taunting hint as to the dangers within."
Jimbli disappears and immediately reappears on top of the trap trigger fifteen feet from the acid-spewing vehicle. As the pit opens up, he remains floating in the air.. he then quickly moves to the next one in line.
** spoiler omitted **
The nimble halfling flints with a super-human grace as he levitates above each of the armed tiles with their at once curious and ferocious ornamentation. Pausing briefly above each of the ceramic triggers, Jimbli carefully sets off the fatal booby trap readied long-ago by the mysterious kreen architect of this terrible tomb.
As each opens in turn, the tiles part to reveal a roughly excavated, 60-ft.-deep pit that digs into the floor of the tunnel like a jagged wound. From the walls of each of these deep rocky impressions, a veritable cavalcade of ghoulish arms erupt from the rough-hewed walls of the pit, flailing wildly in the stale air, reaching for the prey which is not there. Shortly thereafter, the wave of caustic liquid erupting from the mysterious engine begins to drain into the pits, causing the flurry of grasping appendages to retreat from view, their eager outburst of motion curbed by the downpour of the noxious rivulets.
Momentarily, the interlopers to this awful kreen sepulcher have secured their lives from imminent destruction.
As if on some ominous cue, the piercing murmur of the gong rings again to the left hand side of the tunnel.
It seems danger persists on us from all sides. Perhaps if we can be rid of this infernal device... creature, we can again utilize these traps as defense against the next threat.
He watches the rolling creature to see if it proceeds forward towards the open pit and remaining traps.
"Kla'Tra'I was devious and cunning. It is unlikely he would have designed his defenses without thought to such tactics," Ri'Kli'Klek states. "It is better we continue with caution. Every step within this tomb is no doubt part of a trap, but to stay still is to invite more guardians."
Ri'Kli'Klek, can you tell us anything about what was just said there? Quick! What do you know? I'm not sure if i can make sense of this ancient kreen poetry!
[dice=kn:engineering]1d20 + 16
[dice=kn:nature]1d20 + 16
[dice=kn:arcana]1d20 + 16
He who opens the lock shall possess the key, and he who holds the key shall rule the menhir and the lintel.
This verse clearly refers to the nature of this particular tomb, which has special properties that differ from the other six sepulchres in the larger complex. The key to the doors of the tombs that closed behind the party lie in the Tomb of Kla'Tra'I, as he was the master builder and trap-maker of the Red God Dargulin. There should we a key within the tomb that allows the party to leave the complex if they can locate it before succumbing to the dangers within...
Finally, the 'menhir' and 'lintel' are symbolic in this context. Literally, they refer, respectively, to the side and top elements of a portal -- as in the posts on the side of a door, or it's primary right and left 'frame' beams, along with the same element over the top of the construction.
However, here they have a symbolic meaning that refers to the passages going into the rest of the complex, or those higher within the Mountain of Altars, below which the Mortuaries of the Mantis Priests are located, and which towers over the temple-camp of the Serpent Singer Tribe. These passages are opened by the key in the deepest recesses of the Tomb of Kla'Tra'I.
Great is the spark of the flame of the maker,
and great is the bounty of its welder and shaper...
This section refers to Ymeri, the Princess of Evil Creatures of Elemental Fire. She is an ancient and powerful elemental who desires to ascend to true godhood, and enjoy the worship of all inhabitants of the plane of fire. Though revered by the fire mephits, she has always struggled to bring the efreeti and kaltori of the fabled City of Brass entirely under her tyrannical dominion.
The enigmatic passage refers to an esoteric belief of the Cult of Auroric Infernos, one of the chief religious bodies that reveres the Princess of Evil Creatures of Elemental Fire. This tradition holds that her rise to true godhood will be aided by a powerful ascendant being who will transform itself into a tool of Armageddon in the quest for her elusive favor, and that this eager soul will lead the forces of Ymeri's Auroric Palace to victory over their enemies on both the Plane of Fire and that of Earth.
Its presence in the Tomb of Kla'Tra'I suggests that at least one faction of the ancient kreen were evil priests of Elemental Fire who sought the favor of Ymeri.
The gong resounds again in a piercing tone, hammering the contorted undulations of the cavern with a third, shrill note.
Hamza studies the strange markings, trying to determine anything useful from them.
Hamza studies the strange markings, trying to determine anything useful from them.
Though he cannot read the script, Hamza readily recognizes the symbol of Ymeri, Princes of Evil Creatures of Elemental Fire. Well known to the yakṣas of shadowed Alaka, Ymeri is an ancient and powerful elemental who desires to ascend to true godhood, and enjoy the worship of all inhabitants of the plane of fire.
Though revered by the fire mephits, she has always struggled to bring the efreeti and kaltori of the fabled City of Brass entirely under her tyrannical dominion.
In addition, Ymeri's forces have fought an aeons-long struggle against the forces of the plane of earth.
By what is probably not a stroke of coincidence given the annotations of the map proffered to Hamza, Ymeri is also the patron of Fenriz-Bilé, the enigmatic and cruel tiefling otherwise known as the 'Master of the Aerie'. The soul-trader is among a small coterie of demons from the Elemental Chaos who serve the Princes of Evil Creatures of Elemental Fire. Given Ymeri's long struggle to rule the efreet, it is a point to consider whether this affiliation might have been a cause, or even the main instigator, of Fenriz's expulsion from the City of Brass.
It would appear that the kreen who constructed this ancient sepulchre must also have had some connection to the Princes of Evil Creatures of Elemental Fire.
That gong isn't going to get further away. Now that the acid is draining let's carefully step and float around this creature and continue onward with haste!
Rokan floats in that direction unless a strong objection would halt him.
That gong isn't going to get further away. Now that the acid is draining let's carefully step and float around this creature and continue onward with haste!
Rokan floats in that direction unless a strong objection would halt him.
The right side of the tunnel descends slightly, and curves again to the left. Beyond the area of the passage which is visible to Rokan's erstwhile comrades (i.e., the area of the tunnel shown on the battlemap), a thick haze of some kind of noxious smoke fills hall, forming a misty barrier that crosses then entire opening, in front of which is positioned the strange organic device which has just emerged from the shadows and begun to flood the cavern floor with some species of noxious liquid, a large pool of which odious substance has just drained into the pits beneath the colored tiles. There are no more colored tiles outside of the aforementioned area visible to those of the ascetic's company who have emerged from the aperture carved by the dwarf named Rilkus.
Rokan inspects the curious device, first to see how similar it is to the previous and then in general.
He then activates his minds eye to scan it for psionic activity. His tense form continues to hover back towards the bend that he came around, closer to the ceiling of the passage than the floor. Here he can presently remain comfortable but wary of all these new happenings.
Rokan inspects the curious device, first to see how similar it is to the previous and then in general.
[dice=Perception]1d20+12
He then activates his minds eye to scan it for psionic activity. His tense form continues to hover back towards the bend that he came around, closer to the ceiling of the passage than the floor. Here he can presently remain comfortable but wary of all these new happenings.
[dice=knowledge (psionics)]1d20+13
There is a strong psychic presence on the other side of the gaseous barrier.
He calls back out to the rest of his companions.
I sense another presence this way! I would request you join me before I engage it!
Floating above the second pit, Jimbli suddenly realized he had relied on Rokan's word regarding the nature of these traps. "What made me trust him so quickly...." He shrugs it off for the time being as he hears the monk's request, and begins blinking and airwalking around the monstrous vehicle toward him.