Mirror, Mirror: The Further Adventures

Game Master Terquem

"Nonsense!" Imrael states at Bud. "If it is worth so much then, an untapped cask might be worth double that. Triple! Why halve the value by tasting it when there are liquors in plenty that might be just as sweet? Leave that off as coins in thy purse and prepare for an adventure into the unknown."

Imrael nods at Niversal. "Ah! About time that we are enriched, even slightly, by our efforts here. In the name of the Seven Pillars of Law, of the Emerald Sword, and Propoket the Many, I claim this purse by the Right of Conquest. Should any contest this they may challenge me in a contest of arms now," Imrael says by rote, the words, in his mind, transcending the act from thievery to mere...acquisition. He take the pouch and inspects it.

Keryth raises an eyebrow at Imrael's proclamation. Does he really think that he can just lay claim to party treasure like that?

Sniffing slightly Keryth replies in dead pan, In the name of Keryth, the wizarding guy and some-thing-or-other-whats-his-name I claim the contents of that purse by right of claiming things! Should any contest this they may challenge me to a contest of most languages spoken!

Zae, flanked by their new frozen ape companion and Kamastra, watches out for other goings on and trouble while the party combs the room.

We have a monkey now?

I am so sorry for the long dely, I hope we can get moving again now

When the party moves in to the wine cellar, the baboon will be reluctant to leave the storage room. Zae may, at her discretion, try another handle animal skill check to try and get the animal, or whatever it really is, to follow along, otherwise it will stay where it is

Imreal opens the small pouch

Imrael smirks. "It seems Serendipity is the one who rules here. As you have thrown thy blade into the circle, so 'twould seem that powers beyond our ken hast taken up thy challenge. Here, wizard, as you have challenged the universe, so 'twould seem that it has taken up thy gauntlet. May Propoket guide thy blade, and may thou be not so without honor that thou mayst declare defeat cleanly," he says, handing Keryeh the pouch and its content.

Keryth may read the spoiler.

Here, to me. Zaehyra commands, trying to move the ape to stay with her. Bribing if necessary.

Handle animal Heel: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

Niversal shrugs about folks claiming this or that and then follows along and looks for the next door to open.

A lot of great celebrities had monkeys :P

After many long minutes spent window shopping, Ballar comes to his senses, but only for a moment, Oi! Bud! Thas 'ere stash tain't go'in no where. Less finish up clear'n out tha mirror an return when we've more time. 'Sides, we're gonna needa license ta open up shop 'ere. Tha or a wee dimensional pocket ta put all thas in.
The dwarf waves Niversal in, Nivers! Ya think thare might be one-a-them-thare secret rooms in 'ere? Ballar attempts looking around the chamber once more, this time looking past the racks and racks of racks and to the walls. Unfortunately, Ballar's keen eye looks down the line of racks rather than through and is only able to see the profile, the side rack as it were.

Perception - Does the dwarf find the rabbit hole? +2 for stuff made from rocks and other things dwarves like.: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Map update?

Zaehyra calls to the ape in dulcet, soothing tones, but the strange animal will only come as far as the door to the storage room, and then stop, becoming mildly agitated, obviously in distress, clearly wanting to come to her, but at the same time reluctant to leave a place that it appears as if it has found safe.

The baboon does not cry out, but appears to whimper, and rock side to side on its feet, keeping one had on the door frame and nervously glancing side to side through the open door.

While Imreal and Keryth examine the contents of a small pouch, and Ballar takes a slow stroll around the wine cellar looking for secret doors, Niversal walks back into the hall, and takes a few cautious, silent steps to the south, to see what lies around the jog in the corridor.

Niversal will step back to the group and whisper to them about the three cages and the half elf in the middle with her desire for us to be quiet

Zaehyra let's out an incidental sigh already knowing quiet was a luxury with adventurers alone, but doubly so with the group she travelled with. Zaehyra closes the door behind her, bidding the ape a temporary goodbye so she could move to get a better look at the half elf that Niversal was miming everyone about.

Zaaehyra shrugs and steps back to let the usual lineup proceed before her. No comment or quip worth utterance escapes her.

Ballar looks puzzlingly at the whispering elf then balks at the strange woman's request, Wha-do-ya mean be quiet?! Thas ain't a library! Foolish girl! Annoyed the dwarf gives up on his search of the racks and steps out into the hallway the chain of his dorn clinking rhythmically on the ground as he strides towards the cells, Oi! What's tha meaning o'all thas?!

Ballar moves to the end of the hall (Body column, 20ft from the bottom of the map)

Drawn by the sounds of Ballar's boisterousness, Imrael steps over.

Can I read either of the spoilers?

Eventually everyone except Keryth, who is busy examining the small bottle, steps to the end of the jog in the passageway to see the mysterious elven woman behind the bars of a small cell
When Ballar exclaims his impertinence at all the shushing, the woman’s eyes grow even larger and she falls down on her knees, shaking violently.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence she looks up, tries to smile, and speaks

Yathi, ai mono mu numu kinil ak ruthind ostrabat. Ostrabat him ackla nogram igat, igat, igat.

Keryth removes the stoppered vial and examines the label as he continues to follow the group...

In a language Keryth knows? If not, is it in the same language as the journal?

linguistics (if needed): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

The sound of a new voice gets the wizards full attention...

As the lady drops to her knees, Imrael does indeed agree that it is a nice rack, but this isn't the best time. Instead he grips his polearm tighter and speaks up, "Niversal? Are you able to open these gates? If not I will simply bash them down."

He would say more, but sometimes there's a perfection in brevity.

Niversal will walk in shaking his head and shrigging at the prisoner and take a look at the bars for a lock. Should he find one on the cage he will examine it for traps. If there are no traps he will attempt to open it.

perc: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

disable: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

The imprisoned elf's behaviour does not sit well with Keryth. I think she is warning us...

Folding his arms Ballar watches the elf work in the bars. The dwarf puzzles at what the girl is trying to say though, Sounds like she's speak'n through-a gag. Could be she's wear'n one o'them masks? Ballar's thick red eyebrows raise as he poses the question to the collective brains of this operation.

so yeah, I come in all quiet and say that there is a female elf shushing me and acting crazy in a cell in the next room and you think she is trying to warn us? This whole place is off. Things not what they appear, things in mirrors, I am starting to get a sense of forboding here all around.

"Indeed! I too do not find it sweet to worry about a foe left unseen. If she is warning us to stay silent for fear of attack, I say we SHOUT OUT THAT WE ARE HERE! Greatly would I prefer to face a foe in honest combat than shrink about like thieves in the night, fearing the cudgel of the night's watchman.

DO YOU HEAR ME?" the angel starts shouting at the walls. "You do NOT face mere children here! No mere playthings are we, nor are we slight girls for you to imprison for your sick pleasure!
I am IMRAEL! Angel of Confrontation! Herald of Propoket the Many! Pillar of Law and cornerstone the very Multiverse rests upon!

SHOW YOURSELF DEMON! Show yourself and taste my STEEL! No longer will others cower before you. NO longer will BARS cage those you would see SERVE you! FACE ME! FACE ME and REAP the END you have so richly EARNED!"

He stands breathing and ready, all but vibrating with battle lust, willing something anything to come within reach of his STEEL.

Upon hearing Imrael's outburst Bud sighs and shakes his head. You can barely hear him mumble, "If I'm going to die I'm going to do it surrounded by ale." as he shuffles his way to the back of the group and closer to the ale.

Imreal’s shouts seem to be swallowed up by the deadening effect of the earthen walls of the dungeon. No challenger answers him, and for a moment it almost seems as if you all can hear a faint snicker far off in the distance.

Niversal approaches the cell door, and drops to one knee to examine the lock. He is able to get a good look at it, and knows he can easily defeart it, as long as there is no pressure to get it open in a hurry, but as he raises his hands, tools at the ready, the elven maiden gently reaches through the bars, as if to not startle the rogue, and stops his hands in her own, trying to gently hold them at bay.

Her eyes fill with tears and her head shakes side to side. Her voice is now softer and she seems to sound like she is pleading

Ackla, nogram, ijnal, nogram. A..a..acklam

Imrael scoffs. "Tell her there is no danger. If her tormentor is so craven as to not answer an honest challenge, I see no harm in setting her lose."

Bud sighs and mumble "I guess I'm going to have to use this." He reaches into his backpack and pulls out a scroll and then walks to the front. He address the lady "We can't understand you and you can't understand us, but when I use this scroll I at least will be able to understand you. Not that you know what I'm saying." He then reads the scroll and makes a circular gesture with his finger trying to get her to repeat herself.

Using scroll of comprehend languages

As Bud gets to work translating, the crackling sound of a bag opening disturbs the otherwise quiet hallway followed shortly by the sharp snapping of cheese nachos, Thas could ta-ka-while. Ballar leans over to Imrael and the others offering them a few.

Well I guess you should read these as well while you are at it, Keryth remarks holding the journal and vial up for Bud.

The girl blinks, nervously, in Bud’s direction, but seems to understand his gesture, and repeats her last statement

Everyone else hears the same garbled words as before, but Bud…

And then when it dawns on her that maybe Bud understands her, she goes on

Imrael blinks, fighting the boredom that so long without combat or loot of conquest can often bring.

Bud looks at the elf as she speaks and when she continues he starts nodding his head. He turns to the group "She said we should run and get out of here. Then that it hides in the mirrors and can move all around this place through them. It's killed at least two of her group and one ran off. She locked herself in there to escape it. She says it strong, fast and ferocious and can't be reasoned with. If we can open the door she'll try to leave with us." Upon finishing Bud nods to Niversal.

Folding up his bag of nachos Ballar wipes a few crumbs from his beard,
Tis use'n tha mirror's ta move 'round is it? Ballar holds up his iron ball, Perhap's tis time ta smash a few! Mirrors tha is. An not tha kind we're look'n fa, jus tha oth'rs.

Imrael appears to perk up at the prospect of smashing something.

"But we should bag up the remains, or else we've just multiplied his domain."

Ballar's eyes go wide. He had not thought of that. Er, good point 'Rael. Scratching his head the dwarf looks around seemingly lost, Don't suppose we've any paint lay'n 'bout?

Imrael shrugs. "We have water and dirt. If you just want to cake them with obscurant, mud will serve just as well."

I would be more satisfied with if we had anchor spell to bind him to our realm of existence when we finally meet face to face. Is that in your abilities Keryth or Bud?

Niversal unlocks the cage with a swiftness saying we have seen a couple mirrors and maybe one of her downed companions, but that still doesnt fully explain the familiar.

I would be more satisfied with if we had anchor spell to bind him to our realm of existence when we finally meet face to face. Is that in your abilities Keryth or Bud?

It is not.

Niversal has a moment of tense interchange as he gently tries to remove the elven woman’s hands from his own, and eventually is able to open the lock

The woman backs into the cell and looks from one to each other of you over and over, looking, obviously, for some sign that you understand her and agree to her humble request.

Bud nods to the elf and waves her toward him. "Let's escort her out of here and then we can explore further."

yes, to the front door with her and out of it. and Niversal slides his daggers both into his hands looking this way and that prepared for the worst.

Right, well less ge'on with't. Ballar accompanies the group back up the stairs and to the front door, Per'aps we can find us some paint!

Onwards and out!

Imrael finds himself bored beyond words and follows the group out.

The group approaches the elven woman with caution, and care, making no sudden threating movements, which instantly infuriates Imreal

They all shuffle back around the jog in the corridor, pass the wine cellar door, and return to the Tee intersection

Just a few steps further and the group wouyld be at the bottom of the stairs, ready to head back up to the center of the tower, and out through the front doors, but the elven woman spots the fallen dwarven woman on the floor, and falls to her knees, cradling the dwarven woman’s body in her arms she cries out softly

Bud can still understand her

The woman gently lays the dwarven woman back on the ground and then carefully places her fingers along the side of her head as if she were working a device.

She looks up at Bud, then at the others, then back to Bud and says directly to him

Removing the mask from the dwarven woman’s face, the elven woman holds it delicately, and then heads for the stairs, in a hurry to be done with this place

The party leaves the tower, stepping out into dark of the evening sky. Overhead stars fill the sky and a silvery moon shines brightly through patchy clouds. All is calm and quiet. You can see a small fire by the gate in the outer wall of the property, and two guards standing with their backs to the gate columns.

Harrispania, a country of the empire of Alodoa. A fancy manor house in the style of a great watch tower, the outskirts of a village near the foothills of a great mountain range

Day 1, of Mirror, Mirror, sometime after sunset