[Dice=Scarlet Sentinel vs. Rokan: Hellfire Touch]2d6
[Dice=Scarlet Sentinel vs. Rokan: Jagged Body]2d6Rokan takes 20 points of bleed damage.
[dice=reflex, dc18]1d20+7
[Dice=Scarlet Sentinel vs. Rokan: Hellfire Touch]2d6
[Dice=Scarlet Sentinel vs. Rokan: Jagged Body]2d6Rokan takes 20 points of bleed damage.
[dice=reflex, dc18]1d20+7
After the explosion the monk grimaces with extreme pain. You can tells he's hurting but that he doesn't want to let on.
He sits cross legged and begins to treat his wounds to stop the bleeding...
Shortly after both of the guardians are down, Amunet-Ra suddenly appears next to Rokan, getting a paste out of her backpack.
Here, let me help you with those wounds!
The summit of the massive stairway guarded by the enigmatic stone guardians recently dispatched by House Vordon's emissaries in the ruins terminates in a massive set of double doors. Each is densely covered with an elaborate skein of hieroglyphics and decorative images.
The text is voluminous, easily several hundred pages of material, but these sections stand out in the demon's perusal,
"This is the Gate of the House of Power. The Good Servants of the Queen of the Fires shall pass through the Seal of Blessing and the Flesh and Blood and Bone that offers the True Offering shall be strengthened for its duty."
"Great is the Sign and the Will of the Shaper, and thus is the Might and the Love of its Maker."
"The Gate of the East is the Gate of the House of Power. May Her Good Servants be blessed with the Power and Knowledge of Her Grace."
"Great is the Sign and the Will of the Shaper, and thus is the Might and the Love of its Maker."
"The Good Servants of the Mistress of the Shining Fires are Blessed at the Shrines of Her Grace. May the Good Servants sleep until they are called forth to their duty. May they requite Her Good Favor with their service."
"Great is the Sign and the Will of the Shaper, and thus is the Might and the Love of its Maker."
"The Chambers of the Silenced Echoes is the Gate of the Inner Halls. May the Master of Designs sleep until He is called forth to his duty. May He requite Her Good Favor with his service."
"Great is the Sign and the Will of the Shaper, and thus is the Might and the Love of its Maker."
"The Pools of the Shrine are the Font of Blessing. May the Good Servants sleep until they are called forth to their duty. May they requite Her Good Favor with their service."
After spending considerable time deciphering as much of the hieroglyphs as possible, Hamza seeks out Amunet-Ra. "You have questioned my motives, my dedication to your cause and much more. Allow me to offer something that can perhaps set aside some of those concerns. I studied the door we are about to pass through, and this is what I was able to translate. Can you help me make sense of it?" He says to the elf.
Ri'Kli'Klek observes Hamza puzzling over the hieroglyphs.
"It is my language. I can translate easily," he states. "Is Kreen rare in these latter times?"
Ri'Kli'Klek observes Hamza puzzling over the hieroglyphs.
"It is my language. I can translate easily," he states. "Is Kreen rare in these latter times?"
The text is voluminous, easily several hundred pages of material, but these sections stand out in the kreen's perusal,
"This is the Gate of the House of Power. The Good Servants of the Queen of the Fires shall pass through the Seal of Blessing and the Flesh and Blood and Bone that offers the True Offering shall be strengthened for its duty."
"Great is the Sign and the Will of the Shaper, and thus is the Might and the Love of its Maker."
"The Gate of the East is the Gate of the House of Power. May Her Good Servants be blessed with the Power and Knowledge of Her Grace."
"Great is the Sign and the Will of the Shaper, and thus is the Might and the Love of its Maker."
"The Good Servants of the Mistress of the Shining Fires are Blessed at the Shrines of Her Grace. May the Good Servants sleep until they are called forth to their duty. May they requite Her Good Favor with their service."
"Great is the Sign and the Will of the Shaper, and thus is the Might and the Love of its Maker."
"The Chambers of the Silenced Echoes is the Gate of the Inner Halls. May the Master of Designs sleep until He is called forth to his duty. May He requite Her Good Favor with his service."
"Great is the Sign and the Will of the Shaper, and thus is the Might and the Love of its Maker."
"The Pools of the Shrine are the Font of Blessing. May the Good Servants sleep until they are called forth to their duty. May they requite Her Good Favor with their service."
"Much is written here," Ri'Kli'Klek says to the others, seeing no reason to tell only one of the others. "It says again that this is the Gate of the House of Power. It speaks of the servants of the Queen of Fires passing through 'the Seal of Blessing and the Flesh and Blood and Bone that offers the True Offering shall be strengthened for its duty', as well as sleeping servants, and many other things."
Rokan, listening to the Kreen's explanation is intrigued.
Interesting. We shouldn't wait here long, as I'm not confident that these sentinels while lie here forever. Is this door that seal and should we proceed this way?
He motions to the door behind the fallen sentinels.
Mh this is interesting. Indeed a lot of matieral.
Raxus lumbered closer to the door and picked up a large chunk of the spiked obsidian remains to replace the boulder he'd just thrown.
[dice=kn:religion]1d20 + 15
[dice=kn:arcana]1d20 + 15
[dice=kn:psionics]1d20 + 15
[dice=kn:local]1d20 + 15
[dice=linguistics]1d20 + 10
Mh this is interesting. Indeed a lot of matieral.
These chambers contain a set of baptismal pools used principally by one sect of the servants of Dargulin, the Red God. Known as the Fireeasters, these servants of the Elemental Plane of Fire fortified and expanded their powers through ritual ablutions. This process was a gift from their patron Ymeri, and a creation of her servants who had traveled from her palace on the Elemental Plane of Fire. Bathing in the pools opened their minds and strengthened their bodies. The Trapmaster Kla'Tra'Yhi employed a number of the Fireeaters as his personal body guard.
The ancient legends of the Serpent Singers assert that in long-ago days, before even the time of the Elven Market in lost Kalidnay, the tribe contended with red-skinned kreen that arose from the depths of the earth. These kreen were servants of the Dark Lord Dargulin, and possessed powerful and deadly pyrotechnic powers.
Jimbli sighs impatiently."If there's nothing else to glean from here, let's move on." He gestures to the door.
After a second of thought... "I am sure historians could spend fun-filled weeks in this chamber, but we do not have that luxury."
Just a moment Jimbli. I could figure some of it out. We have a legend, that in long-ago days, before even the time of the Elven Market in lost Kalidnay, the tribe contended with red-skinned kreen that arose from the depths of the earth. These kreen were said to be servants of a Dark Lord Dargulin, and possessed powerful and deadly pyrotechnic powers.
Also these chambers contain a set of baptismal pools used principally by one sect of the servants of said Dargulin, the Red God. Known as the Fireeasters, these servants of the Elemental Plane of Fire fortified and expanded their powers through ritual ablutions. This process was a gift from their patron Ymeri, and a creation of her servants who had traveled from her palace on the Elemental Plane of Fire. Bathing in the pools opened their minds and strengthened their bodies. The Trapmaster Kla'Tra'Yhi employed a number of the Fireeaters as his personal body guard.
I'm not yet completely sure what to make of this information, but it is likely that if we proceed, we might meet some of them or some others who possess fire magics. Or come from the plane of fire and are servants to either Dargulin or Ymeri. What makes sense considering the fire drakes.
Ri'Kli'Klek, in contrast to his usual stillness, visibly flinches when Amunet-Ra mentions "Lord Dargulin".
"Speak not that name so openly!" he hisses, wings fluttering behind him in alarm, though he quickly settles. "Perhaps now that he sleepeth it is safe, but we must not risk waking him. But yes, thou speakest of his servants truly. There is a reason he was called the Red God, though I was not yet trusted enough to be... 'blessed' as others were, though I was changed in other ways. We would do well to ward ourselves against fire before entering these halls."
The inward swing of the massive doors reveals a large chamber, the floor of which is emblazoned with the symbol of a falcon gripping a sun disk with its outstretched arms.
There is a large column on each side of the falcon that supports the high-vaulted stone roof.
The back of the chamber contains a decorative recess. Small motes of red light descend like a pyrotechnic snowfall from the ceiling, flickering strangely within a shaft of light whose origin is not visible.
To the left, a second, smaller door appears to connect the chamber to some other part of the complex.
Hearing about the risk of meeting servants of the Red God, Rokan adds in...
If the risk is that great, should we backtrack and try another path? We fled in this direction with voices of unknown pursuers at our heels. However, they haven't caught up with us now and perhaps we have more options?
However, as the group proceeds through the door he follows them willingly.
I take it the risk is not too great...
He keeps distance but initiates a psionic scan of the softly falling red lights in the back recess.
As the group enters the new chamber, Hamza once more blends into the shadows, always wary of a potential ambush.
He then scans the room, looking for threats.
Amunet-Ra looks at the alien seeming Ri'Kli'Klek, who stands motionless.
Do you have any knowledge or memories about this? Red Kreen, their Lord and the fire godess? Do we have anything to ward us against fire?
She then answers Rokan:
Good question, but i'm afraid whereever we turn here, there are dangers. It's hard to say where the greater danger and possibly lethal threat lies. We certainly should weigh our options carefully!
Trying to be ready for the unfathomable dangers lying ahead, she follows suit into the new room, taking it all in.
The recollections of a strange ritual assault the kreen's mind. He remembers a small collection of the Fireeasters, Dargulin's cult of Ymeri, lustrating their cruelly-barbed chitinous carapaces in an unearthly shower composed of tens of thousands of tiny motes of flickering red lights. In the wake of this ritual, they increase in size, speed, and strength, and saunter out to do battle for their two lieges.
The voice of the cleric performing the ritual intrudes into the kreen's consciousness,
"These are the blessings of the Queen of the Fires..."
As the group enters the new chamber, Hamza once more blends into the shadows, always wary of a potential ambush.
He then scans the room, looking for threats.
No additional dangers are evident.
Amunet-Ra looks at the alien seeming Ri'Kli'Klek, who stands motionless.
Do you have any knowledge or memories about this? Red Kreen, their Lord and the fire godess? Do we have anything to ward us against fire?She then answers Rokan:
Good question, but i'm afraid whereever we turn here, there are dangers. It's hard to say where the greater danger and possibly lethal threat lies. We certainly should weigh our options carefully!Trying to be ready for the unfathomable dangers lying ahead, she follows suit into the new room, taking it all in.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 23
No additional dangers are evident.
Amunet-Ra looks around in the room, inspecting the ornaments and symbols as well as the motes of red light.
Anybody knows what this light is? Magic perhaps?
"The Red God is a threat to all life on Athas still. This I remember well. As for those who served here..."
He swiftly points at the red motes with his upper-right arm. "Here they were ritually blessed by their goddess with greater size, strength, and speed"
Just as fast his arm drops and returns to stillness. "I have enough skill in the powers of the mind to ward some few against flames, albeit only for a time."
[dice=kn:history]1d20 + 16
[dice=kn:planes]1d20 + 19
[dice=kn:arcana]1d20 + 16Amunet-Ra looks around in the room, inspecting the ornaments and symbols as well as the motes of red light.
Anybody knows what this light is? Magic perhaps?
The motes of light represent the residual physical presence of a living vortex, an extraplanar entity that channels energy from the elemental planes to Athas, and allows the individual sorcerer-kings to grant spells to their Templars. A similar being appears to have been attached to Dargulin, and this apparition is a remnant of its powers.
The living vortex channels energy from all the elemental planes.
The mysterious light is the remnant of Dargulin's living vortex, the means through which he endowed some number of his followers with exceptional abilities.
Amunet-Ra looks at Ri'Kli'Klek
Being warded against fire might be good. However, i can deduce that this vortex channels energy from all the elemental planes. This could mean we see something else than fire as well. I can also see the truth in your words Kreen. This once was a living vortex, something the sorcerer kings use as well to enhance their power and bestow powers upon their followers. Seemingly this one has been attached to your dark lord. We should proceed with caution.
She takes another look over the room to not leave behind any unseen secrets, then moves on to inspect the door in the far end.
Amunet-Ra looks at Ri'Kli'Klek
Being warded against fire might be good. However, i can deduce that this vortex channels energy from all the elemental planes. This could mean we see something else than fire as well. I can also see the truth in your words Kreen. This once was a living vortex, something the sorcerer kings use as well to enhance their power and bestow powers upon their followers. Seemingly this one has been attached to your dark lord. We should proceed with caution.She takes another look over the room to not leave behind any unseen secrets, then moves on to inspect the door in the far end.
[dice=Perception room]1d20 + 23
[dice=Perception door]1d20 + 23
The room appears to have evidence of recent habitation, as if some other agency passed through it recently, and performed some activity in the shower of red motes.
The door is also covered in a dense skein of hieroglyphics. They seem to be similar to the ones which decorate the massive double-panned entrance to the ritual chamber through which the company has recently passed.
I think somebody moved through here recently or performed something.
Amunet-Ra gestures for everyone to move on and open the next door.
It seems someone moved through here recently. See, the motes pattern is still disturbed in places...
She gestures for everyone to move and towards the next door.
I think somebody moved through here recently or performed something.
Amunet-Ra gestures for everyone to move on and open the next door.
"That is concerning. There should not be any living beings in these halls, much less ones performing rituals. Canst thou track them?"
Hovering ten feet off the ground, Jimbli blinks over near the shaft of light to inspect it. He retrieves the rope from his pack, and tosses one end then pulls it back to see if the light affects anything physically.
Hovering ten feet off the ground, Jimbli blinks over near the shaft of light to inspect it. He retrieves the rope from his pack, and tosses one end then pulls it back to see if the light affects anything physically.
[dice=perception to inspect shaft of light]1d20+14
Ri'Kli'Klek observes the halfling's actions warily.
"The Red God promised a poisonous power. Almost it destroyed all life once. Trust it not. I would be rid of what it has granted me if I could."
Rokan follows Amunet's lead toward the next door.
How recently? Should we be ready to come upon them shortly through these doors?
He makes a fist and stands in front of door just before the elf opens it.
"Let us be gone from this place of poison," Ri'Kli'Klek states, moving with his swift, smooth strides towards the door.
Suddenly he stops mid-step, then slowly turns towards the vortex.
"Wait. If one has been here, it seems they have used this power. Liklely this is why the vortex is now so drained. But it still has power. Power others might use, power that might yet threaten Athas again. We must not leave it behind us. Do any of ye have the skill to disrupt it or drain it of its remaining power? If not..."
He took a slow step towards the vortex, hating the very thought, but hating leaving this here even more. "...I know of only one way to drain what remains here."
"Well... I've got more rope." Jimbli shrugs, and displays the effect the shaft of light had on one end of his rope.
The benefit of being unseen is that nobody knows where or when you're going to appear next. Nor do they know what you're going to do, until it's too late to stop you.
Thus it was with Hamza. Power drove him. It's part of what brought him down here in the first place. The potential to gain more power, through alliances, death or seizing on the right opportunities.
Opportunities such as this font of power before them. Power that could threaten Athas the Kreen said. That is power he would have, if he could.
He steps into the shadows, only to suddenly appear in the middle of the vortex.