After studying it for a few minutes, Dumah deduces that the glyphs can be activated by force energy and that conjuration and specifically teleportation magic was involved in the creation of the archway.
Dumah raises his voice enough to be heard over the issuing gasses.
Gentlemen, Jameena. I believe that I can activate this arcane archway with one of my conjured force missiles, but it will likely have a teleportation effect. Whether that means we can use it to teleport somewhere else or whether it will teleport something in I cannot say with certainty.
I would not recommend activating it until we are at full power after some rest. And perhaps we may be better served by checking some of the other tunnels first to see if there is a more mundane, and predictable, way to get to our destination.
"I agree, Dumah. We should make sure we are fully prepared before we tamper with such magic. We would be hard pressed if we were suddenly to find ourselves in the company of more of those daemons."
"This seemed the most traveled passage of the three, so it seems likely this is the way to go. However, I don't like the idea of another mongrel monkey sneaking up behind us. Let's go check it out, follow me." Eli will lead the way and take the southward passage this time staying alert for any danger.
"I'm right behind you Eli. Finding a safe place to rest sounds like a good idea to me." Quzman follows Eli closely looking for signs of passage or other possible dangers, with Kyra padding quietly along behind.
"Good thing, Quzman."
Quzman's tracking skills are bar none and you follow the other passages, but after a few hours, you find nothing of note. Quzman deduces that any predators or humanoids who wished to have made the cave their lair quickly met their end at the hands of the daemon, as noted by the number of animal skulls and hair found on the floor by the arcane archway. With the daemon dispatched, the cave is safe to rest, whether it be in another passageway or in front of the archway. Being the paranoid adventurers that you are, you set guards just to be safe and the night passes, with each of you quietly reflecting on the gravity of the task before you. In case you had forgotten, a howl, much closer than you've ever heard it, rings around at midnight, reminding you of your purpose. In the morning, after eating your breakfast rations and memorizing your spells, you return to the archway (if you rested elsewhere).
Running, running.......Kyra's Place is just ahead but the flames are so high, panting Eli screams....APRIL! In the window, smoke frames her and fire licks her checks as she opens her mouth and HOWLS....
Eli cries out and awakens from the dream as the Carrion King's cursed sound echos in the cavern, and his mind. Unable to go straight back to sleep he offers to trade the watch, then sits for a few hours watching the archway. Staring...thinking...pondering, flipping through the pages of his journal and wondering about the arch. What it is, what it does, how it works, how it got there, what's its legend?
When he is relived he lays down for a few fitful hours of rest and in the morning is ready to go.
If Eli's nightmare wakes Dumah, he'll offer to bounce ideas and theories off of each other to help him in his contemplations (aid another) as long as it doesn't prevent him from regaining spells. Otherwise, he gets as much rest as he can.
Ty takes whatever watch the group needs him to handle. Other than that, he attempts to get as much rest as possible, wondering about what other guardians lie in theis frightful place.
During her watch, Jameena stands vigilant guard over her sleeping friends. When the howl wakes everyone, she moves among them, lending silent comfort from her aura of courage.
After breakfast, the party gathers at the archway. Dumah studies the runes and shoots off one of his force missiles, igniting one of the runes. He shoots another and then another, until all 6 runes are ignited. When that is accomplished, the entire archway lights with energy, momentarily blinding the party. When the light fades away, you no longer see the brick wall under the archway. Instead, as if you were looking through a window, you see another underground cavern on the other side, lit by light spells on the wall. The brick wall on your side is indeed gone and Dumah's vast knowledge of magic leads him to believe that if you step under the lit archway, you will appear on the other side, in the cavern you are currently viewing.
Quickly! Hold hands and let's go through! I'm not sure how long it will remain open!
Dumah casts Mage Armor and then leads the group through.
Eli pulls Tempest from her scabbard and stands close to Dumah, ready for ...something to happen.
Eli pulls Tempest from her scabbard and stands close to Dumah, ready for ...something to happen.
Ty grabs hands to the closest Stalker and deftly hops through the archway.
Quzman bends down and picks up Kyra holding her tight as he steps through the portal.
Try Again: No. The check represents what you know, and thinking about a topic a second time doesn’t let you know something that you never learned in the first place.
The party steps forward and a dizzying, nauseating feeling overwhelms you as you cross the border between time and space. When you gather your senses, the first thing you feel is an oppressive sense of heat in the cavern where you appeared. Those not protected by an Endure Elements spell feel the 120+ degree heat in the cavern and are soon drenched in sweat and very uncomfortable and light headed. As you look behind you, you see the cavern from whence you came under a similar lit archway. You suddenly see the lit runes start turning off, one by one, and when they are all unlit, all you see is a stone wall under the archway. You see a lone passageway leading out of this room to the west.
"Hot enough for you? Come on Quzman let's see if we can find a way out of this place before we melt." Eli will take the lead with the warrior to see where the western passage leads.
Quzman kneels down and gently sets Kyra down. Looking up to Eli, "Aye, that sounds good. I wish I had thought to ask the Dawnflower for a second spell to ease the heat for Kyra as well."
Quzman stands up and stalks quietly behind Eli while drawing his scimitar and dagger as he goes.
Perhaps when we return to town, I'll see about enchanting objects so that each of us has some mystical relief from this sort of oppressive climate.
Perception
Perception
I have tried posting a perception roll, but it does not go through. On the preview, it is showing a roll of 10, plus 8 in ranks and bonuses for a total result of 18.
As Eli and Quzman lead the party, Quzman, Dumah, and Tyronel hear in the distance heavy footsteps. As they come around a corner in the passageway, about 80' away, they see a towering creature (almost 16' tall) of black stone come into view lumbering from east to west. It does not appear to have noticed the party.
Quietly to his companions, Dumah will say An earth elemental of some sort, I believe. But I've never read about a black one before. Something is odd about it... I might be able to speak to it, but I can't guarantee it would be friendly. Perhaps we should see if it will pass us by?
"Sounds like a plan, Dumah. Let's see if that thing will just ignore us. I've had my butt kicked quite enough for one day."
Quzman nods to Dumah after he listens to his advice. Quzman motions for the group to move back quietly.
Stealth
Stealth
Stealth
The towering black stone creature continues its passage westward, moving out of sight of the party, and soon enough his loud lumbering steps fade away.
Eli watches the lumbering black creature lumber away then whispers, "Stay here, I'll check out the intersection of the tunnels." Slipping off his back pack, he creeps forward as quite as a mouse in a house of cats.
Eli reaches the intersection. There are 3 passages:
West - the way the stone creature went extends for 40 feet before turning North
East - extends 40 feet before turning North
North - extends 60 feet before turning West
All three seem clear from this distance.
Fort Save
Quzman notices Ky is being negatively affected by the heat. His tongue is hanging out and he is panting. He suffers: points of non-lethal damage from the heat. Eli and Dumah are managing to fight off the heat so far.
Eli returns to the party and tells them there are three passages from the intersection.
Quzman, do you think you can tell if any creatures are using any of the passages?
"I can try to scout for tracks. I will check it out and be right back."
Quzman bends low examining the strange markings on the floor trying to identify what kind of creature may have made them.
Upon examining the tracks, Quzman returns to the party. "The only footprints in the passage are of the large stone beast. However, there are black scorch marks along the pathway that appear to move in a coiled pattern down all of the passages."
Quzman bends low examining the strange markings on the floor trying to identify what kind of creature may have made them.
"I'll take point. Which way do we want to go first? Do we follow the stone giant west, or do we want to go north or east first? I think one of the side tunnels is best, lets try to make sure that there is nothing behind us that could cause us trouble."
"The scorched tracks appear to have been made by Salamander Flame brothers. No wonder it is so hot in here, as these creatures are originally from the Plane of Fire. Jameena, you may want to examine them when we get close with the sight of the Everlight, as some of the brothers are known to consort with demons, devils and other evil beings from the outer planes and may have been tainted as a result. If we have any protection from flames, they may come in handy."
Quzman turns to Eli, "Why don't we try and go down the passage from whence the elemental came, to try and put as much distance as possible from it?"