Hamza attempts to decipher the writing on the door.
[dice=Perception, traps on the arthropod door]1d20+12
Amunet-Ra shares her knowledge about the depicted figures and places, pointing everything out.
She begins to walk through the air to the door, where the small recess which occupies the space above the arthropod in the cartouche is, taking a close look.
to read the inscription if needed.
Amunet-Ra wants to read what's written there to see if it gives any hints on the apparatus.
[dice=Linguistics]1d20 + 10 to read the inscription if needed.
Amunet-Ra wants to read what's written there to see if it gives any hints on the apparatus.
[dice=Perception, traps on the arthropod door]1d20+12
Hamza attempts to decipher the writing on the door.
"This is the place of offering. Offer what is required and the way shall be opened unto you."
Hamza translates the writing to those near him "This is the place of offering. Offer what is required and the way shall be opened unto you." He says. "Any idea what might be needed to get this door open?" He asks of Amunet-Ra.
Amunet-Ra scoffs at the text she can't decipher, then looks at Hamza.
Sounds like they want some sort of sacrifice. Probably burning someone. Maybe some elven blood like i know this horrible place.
Ingesting the information given out, Leonidas agrees with the dark elf, Amunet-Ra.
"For those who admire
The power of fire,
Burning may be the price
To pay the sacrifice."
He cuts off several inches of rope and offers it to Amunet-Ra with an apologetic shrug.
"Blood and rope burned
For passage earned."
Jimbli - who had strolled over to catch the end of Amunet’s comments - slices the palm of his left hand, and squeezes blood onto the burning rope. He shrugs “Worth a shot. If all else fails, we could rest, and sacrifice whatever horror appears.”
Rokan frowns at Amunet, inferring the morbid suggestion and then glancing over at Ehawee to see if she picked up on it.
Then to Cae and Jimbli...
Yes, here's hoping the rope suffices. GIven this place so far though, I'm not optimistic.
Sniffs at her companions, but also had a few ceremonies back in her tribe that just some blood would not work. It would take the blood from the heart sometimes to power things. " Perhaps we should plan that it takes more anyways. Sometimes the blood from the heart is needed. Does your people do anything like that?" This last bit was directed to Amunet
My people usualy don't do that. You might have seen the hints in this complex though, that the ancient red kreen sacrificied a lot. Mainly our common ancestors. You want to volunteer? Else i suggest we try the rope first. It's a good idea Cae.
Leonidas puts the rope that has Jimbli's blood in the hole. If nothing happens, he will step back and light it on fire with a gesture.
"It is likely that the energies of life rather than mere blood is what is sought here," Ri'Kli'Klek notes, clinically. "That is the power the Red God sought."
The offering at first produces no noticeable alteration in the highly ornamented facade of the false doorway, but the passage of a tense moment sees the emergence of a slow, grinding clamor that reverberates throughout the enclosed confines of the strange subterranean tunnels.
This new auditory tumult accompanies the steady recession of a low door beneath the frightening image of the many-armed insect that lies within the cartouche at the center of the doorway. It is about the height of a halfling, and surprisingly deep.
There appears to be some kind of illumination emanating from the other side of the newly-formed aperture.
Rokan looks into the new passage, suspicious that its a trap and not the desired way through...
Rokan looks into the new passage, suspicious that its a trap and not the desired way through...
[dice=Perception, anything dangerous in there?]1d20+12
[dice=knowledge (planes), is this thing dimensional?]1d20+13
The Ascetic easily perceives that there is some kind of reptilian appendage probing the far opening of the small entryway, as if it were inspecting the newly-opened passage with an assured curiosity, though not perhaps one that is welcome to Rokan's party...
There does not appear to be any planar association.
Amunet-Ra, wary of the bloody rituals here, looks for any sign of danger and traps as well.
There...
Rokan points through the newly opened passage.
Something reptilian is breaching the portal at the opposite end. Unless somebody is familiar with this new tribe, ready yourselves.
I can see it. What is it? Some kind of arm or claw?
Amunet-Ra positions herself to the left side of the portal, where she could move into a flanking position easily.
Amunet-Ra, wary of the bloody rituals here, looks for any sign of danger and traps as well.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 23
[dice=kn:dungeoneering]1d20 + 16
[dice=kn:engineering]1d20 + 16
[dice=kn:arcana]1d20 + 16
There is a reptilian arm probing the far side of the small entrance that has just opened in the door. In addition, she can hear a faint click, as if of a insect chirping.
Nothing.
N/A.
Nothing.
A high-pitched whine breaks the silence of the tombs, and a mellifluous voice appears simultaneously in the minds of all those present,
"Hm... who might this be then? Wandering with the servants of the Vermilion Dome, even, and not of there's or ours either. COME CLOSER. Let us see you."
You can talk? Who and what are you?
Being as wary as Amunet, Ehawee readies her spear in a way that would defend or attack an approaching person. However, the voice throws her off as normally the only things talking here were trying to kill you. Or atleast confuse you then kill you.
Despite being different clans, she calls out to Amunet " Be wary, for nothing is ever this easy. It is a trap I feel."
You can talk? Who and what are you?
A slight note of amusement is discernible in the mysterious entity's voice,
"Yes, little one, WE can speak, and with MANY voices."
Hamza is slightly taken aback my the multitude of voices suddenly in his mind, but quickly recovers. "Why don't you come out of your hidey hole so we can all see you?" An ironic statement, considering he's still hiding within the shadows himself.
Ri'Kli'Klek watches in wary silence. He suspected this being to be associated with the fire cult in some way, and therefor dangerous and unpredictable. Hence he waited, expecting violence to break out at any moment.
The troglodyte inclines his scaled head reverently, almost as if in an attitude of prayer, as he replies to this new presence. He speaks with a measured, respectful tone, as if of a servant to a master,
"My wise lords, I had not expected to meet with any of the sages of the Teal Dome within these halls."
He then pauses, as if giving hear to an inquiry heard by none of the other among the assembled persons,
"The matter is as you have said it. My own person and that of the redoubtable Sasochus alone have survived of our company, the servants of the Ochre Dome having been overzealous in their reconnaissance."
Another pause,
"That is a true thing."
Rokan is at first put slightly at ease that someone in the party can parlay with this new presence. That quickly evaporates when Troodon seems overly comfortable with it, and able to privately converse.
He waits until there is a pause, and then directs his mind towards the troglodyte.
Rokan is at first put slightly at ease that someone in the party can parlay with this new presence. That quickly evaporates when Troodon seems overly comfortable with it, and able to privately converse.
He waits until there is a pause, and then directs his mind towards the troglodyte.
** spoiler omitted **
"These worthies are emissaries of the Teal Dome, the sages of the slassan people. They are sometimes allies of my patrons among the Vermilion Dome."
This has been very boring so far, these people seem to very bland in comparison. No blood, no sacrifices. Bah
Cae backs up several steps from the opening and mutters about his own foolishness:
"The reward for thinking oneself clever,
Is others remember your folly forever."
Hamza considers the words of their troglodyte ally. "If the unseen presence isn't hostile, I will enter it's dwelling to speak with it. Or should we continue to wait out here?" The shadowy man questions.
Amunet-Ra senses that there is something going on between the slassan and the creatures in the hole.
She looks to Rokan as there are signs that he is manifesting some power of his mind, waiting for either one to speak up, but as there is a growing silence only interrupted by Hamza, she speaks.
What is a true thing Trodoon? Who are the sages of the Teal Dome? Are they hostile? What do they want?
She then looks to Hamza.
Feel free to enter first, but we don't even know if we have to or really want to go there.
Don't worry Cae, there's plenty to remember about you already, this won't stand out. She smirks.
Grinning at Amunet-Ra's joke, Cae gives her a slightly sarcastic bow in thanks.
Rokan nods at the troglodyte and conveys the pre-existing relationship to the group.
Hamza is right. Troodon tells me that these are allies of his own patrons. Specifically they are emissaries of the Teal Dome. We should be able to enter and converse with them peacably, but I suggest that we require Troodon's presence in doing so, to leverage the association and ensure the peace.
He looks to the troglodyte to see if he's agreeable before entering with Hamza.
"I am amenable to accompanying the demon into the presence of the Masters of the Teal Dome. The slassan sages shall be, I imagine, most interested to converse with one such as Hamza. These are representatives of the scholars of the slassan people."
Cae is amenable to any progress that brings him closer to Arsione, so he is willing to risk going with them.
Ri'Kli'Klek has no trust for these beings... but he has little trust for anyone. He did, after all, just wake up a few hours ago in a strange, new world, different from the one he had known. And it seemed these creatures were involved in the entirely too frequent incursions into these tombs. He should learn more of them.
"I will come," he states.
We will all come and talk with the sages. Amunet-Ra quickly adds.
Then it is set. Let us see what this meeting brings
He slowly approaches the small passageway and calls into it. Greetings. Is there any way this portal may be expanded so that me and my companions may pass through to converse with you? We have one of the Vermilion Dome with us.
I am Rokan of Tyr, a simple student of the Way, I will let my companions introduce themselves.