Wary as usual, Hugo practically jumped when the hermit appeared, muscles flexing as he was about to charge. Luckily the man wasted no time in stating his business, and in moments, Hugo once more stood paralysed by questions he did not understand or have the answers for. A low murmured "Bwuuuuuh?" was about all he managed.
When Jacob started rattling off answers, Hugo managed to snap a little back to his senses, nodding vigorously. "Yarh, Eclipse, I knews dat one." He said, looking satisfied that he wasn't completely uneducated.
Zinny stares with undisguised admiration at Miz Blau and Mister Jacob an' all the things they know. Mercy, do they read all that stuff?
She extends the admiring smile to Hugo when he chimes in with 'eclipse'.
"I din't know that one," she says with a smile at the big man.
In the next room, though, she perks up again. "Oh! This is just like untanglin' Momma's knittin' when it gets mired up! ...well, kinda..."
Tongue peeping out her lips, Zinny starts fussing with the tiles, turning them. She may not have no book-learnin', but her sense of spatial relationships isn't too bad, it seems.
Hugo squinted at Zinnys work, looking woefully confused. "I dun gets it Zinny, but if its da rite way, ya sure is smart." He ran his hand across his scalp and down his face, unwittingly looking like a confused ape in the process.
"Hmm, looks like a painting by that famously eccentric fellow!" is all Jacob can manage before Zinny deftly aligns the shapes. "I say, well done lass!"
Zinny blushes at the compliments, ducking her head. "...aw, thanks, 's just... I just had to turn a few of 'em..."
(Eee, Hugo thinks she's smart!)
After aligning everything, the circles glow brightly, and the door opens to reveal another stone room. Coming out of the far wall is a beautiful fountain, crafted from stone and crystal. The clearest water you have ever seen flows down in several streams - it has a faint, blue-ish luminescence. The sound of the falling water is tranquil and peaceful. Resting on the lip of the catch basin is a wooden cup with a long handle, made from an old, large piece of bamboo.
There is another door leading to the south with strange words carved into it.
"Oh dats just wat I wus needin' rite about now." Hugo said with a relieved sigh, walking to the fountain and picking up the cup. "Waterskin water starts tastin' a bit like leather after a bit." He said, sticking his tongue out and making a face to illustrate what he thought of it.
Then he scooped up a cupful and downed it in two deep glugs, followed by a satisfied "Aaaaah."
Grizelda grabs the big man by the back hem of his shirt and tries to hold him back, but instead slides forward balanced on her boot heels.
"Hold on, Hugo. Let me see what this says first." She positions the spectacles on her nose and looks over this new writing.
01-03 : +1 competence bonus on attack rolls, saves, skill checks, and ability checks
04-11 : +2 enhancement bonus to Constitution
12-16 : You no longer require air to live
17-19 : Regenerate 1 point of damage every minute (10 rounds)
20-26 : Gain Alertness. If you already have this roll again. Does not stack.
27-28 : You can store and cast as a spell-like ability up to three levels of spells, as a ring of spell storing
29-38 : +1 insight bonus to AC
39-40 : +1 level
41-42 : You absorb spells of 8th level or lower (up to 50 total levels)
43-45 : You absorb spells of 4th level or lower (up to 30 total levels)
46-53 : +2 enhancement bonus to Intelligence
54-61 : +2 enhancement bonus to Strength
62-76 : You no longer require food or water to live
77-84 : +2 enhancement bonus to Wisdom
85-92 : +2 enhancement bonus to Dexterity
93-00 : +2 enhancement bonus to Charisma
"It's the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those that don't deserve
It's the opposite of how you feel
When the pain they caused is just too real
It takes everything you have just to say the word...
It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It's always anger's own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It's the whisper in your ear saying 'Set It Free'"
Jacob prudently steps behind Zinny, being sure to keep her between himself and Hugo. "I say lad, that may not be the wisest of decisions! Surely that fountain hasn't been properly maintained these last few years!" With dread and fascination, Jacob waits to see what, if anything, happens to the big man.
Feeling the sudden tug of the human anchor that was Grizelda, Hugo stopped, hand on cup but yet to raise it to his lips. "Wutchu doin' Grizzy?" He asked, before looking over at Jacob as he added his thoughts. "Well, I dunno Mr. Jacob. Dun looks like nuttin' wrong wit it." He motioned towards the pool of water. "I can sees tha bottom an' da water dun stinks like that thar bra-ke-is water does." His brow furrowed into concentration as he stumbled over the word he knew but hard hardly ever uttered.
He sniffed the contents of the cup. "I wont if ya says ya dun wants me to, but looks fine ta me."
Grizelda reads the riddle aloud a few times, thinking it through.
"It's the hardest thing to give away
And the last thing on your mind today
It always goes to those that don't deserve
It's the opposite of how you feel
When the pain they caused is just too real
It takes everything you have just to say the word...
It flies in the face of all your pride
It moves away the mad inside
It's always anger's own worst enemy
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It's the whisper in your ear saying 'Set It Free'"
"Hmm... what is the hardest thing to give away? Charity? No, maybe generosity? But then that doesn't work with the grudge line. Trust then? Or maybe forgiveness?"
She scans the room for more clues and then tries to identify the language the riddle is written in and casts Detect Magic.
Hugo scratched his head and rubbed his chin, tongue slipping through his lips as he thought about the riddle. "I dunno, I aint dat gud wit riddles. Shame too, all da great 'eroes 'ad ta solve riddles. 'Ow is I ever gunna be un' ifs I dun knows 'ow ta solve em?"
He threw up his arms in frustration. "I guesses I is just too dumb. I means, "Da last fing on yer mind today"? Aint nuttin' on ma mind at da end ov' da day. NUTTIN'!! Ov' is I ever supposed ta gets it if I dun even 'ave anyfing on ma mind ta guess?!?"
He crossed his arms and sat down on the spot, looking very much frustrated.
"Bah, riddles are for the Young folk at taverns and the old codgers at festivals, no proper place for them in dungeon delving I say!"
Grizelda recognizes the language as an ancient elven dialect commonly found in their historical and educational writings. Based on what you have seen of the lair, it makes sense for a mage to know and record things in this language. It does not, however, provide any insight to the riddle's answer. As she speaks her final word, 'forgiveness,' the door opens to reveal a short passage that opens to another room.
most definitely! varied, and strong, auras...
"Hey, you musta got that one too!" Zinny beams at the door opening.
"That water don't taste funny, does it Hugo?"
"'Ow should I knows?" Hugo asked with a shrug. "Grizzy aint lettin' me takes any." He looked at the pool longingly, smacking his lips. "Looks so gud too."
"The fountain is magical, Hugo. But I think perhaps your instincts were correct. I think it may be good. Forgiveness... I think we are meant to drink in that spirit. But be warned, I cannot predict what the effect might be, the auras are too varied."
She fills a cup as well an looks at her friends with some trepidation before raising it in toast. "To Friendship, and forgiveness." and drinks...
Tomid watches the young conjurer drink with surprise on his face. Er, I didn't know she was gonna do that. I shoulda been the one ta drink first. Us halflins are a lucky folk after all.
"Finally." Hugo said, pushing Grizelda aside as gently as he could manage, scooping the empty cup out of her hand. "I is parched!" He said with the cup on his lips, some spilling through his lips. "Dis is gud stuff it is."
He handed the cup to Tomid, whilst belching with a content smile.
"Forgiveness...? I dunno I got nobody I need to forgive for nothin'," Zinny says with her brows knit.
...well... maybe she's got some hurt feelin's towards Momma, she supposes. Momma never tellin' her about her daddy, an' all...
Frowning, Zinny watches Grizelda and Hugo, but when neither of them keel over or turn funny colors, she shrugs, crosses her fingers, and takes the cup (once Tomid is done with it).
Dip... and drink.
"Foolishness, drinking from strange fountains in Dungeons! Not for me, no thanks, not when I can create all the clean fresh water anyone needs! I say, the lot of you had best hope you don't turn into newts!"
Tomid receives the ladle, shrugs and drinks. Hope my luck holds.
"Yer missin' out Mr. Jacob. Dis really is sum good stuff!" Hugo said cheerfully, swiping the cup from Tomid and treating himself to another helping of the magical water.
"Hmm, releases the dragon from whisky you say?" The belt works its magic and everyone is quite sure that no one said anything about dragons or whisky, but Jacob is already on to the task of pouring a capful from a hidden flask and watering it down from the fountain before taking a long sniff. "AAhhh, yes, yes, very nice, almost a smokey essence." Sipping gently, the bookseller finishes the capful of spirits.
"See, ain't it tasty?" Zinny says with a smile at Jacob joining them.
She can't help but have another sip. Mm, mm!
Zinny offers a big smile around at all the others, feeling suddenly very fond of everyone.
Gossamer chirps inquisitively-- then flaps down from Zinny's shoulder to dunk her head into the fountain's streams and slurp up some water straight from the source.
"Oh-- um--" says Zinny. "I think you're supposed to use the cup--"
The little dragon pulls back with a smug smile, and flies around the room with a show-off display of acrobatic aerial loops. Zinny chuckles despite herself.
Grizelda found that the magical waters took her breath away... um... literally? Or maybe it just felt that way. She inhaled, held it, exhaled, and repeated the motion. "How strange... it's the most curious sensation..." From the outward appearance she seemed to simply be breathing. She took out her journal and began jotting down a few quick notes before deciding to have another sip.
What is greater than God and more evil than the devil?
The rich need it, the poor have it. And if you eat it, you'll die.
Once your group is done drinking their fill from the magical fountain, and because Grizelda has already figured out the answer to the riddle locking the next door, you are able to continue exploring the complex. In the next set of rooms you find Hugo's paradise...an elaborate smithy complete with masterwork tools, a forge and anvil made from the black stone, and various metal ores. In one storage crate Hugo finds a collection of heavy metal ore, and in another a silverfish metal that is extremely light but seems strong.
There are also magical and alchemical reagents/components in the smaller room, with a workbench with fine tools used for engraving and inlaying. Together, these rooms can be used to craft and enchant weapons and armor by appropriately skilled artisans and mages...
And - on a finely crafted pedestal - is a dagger made of a strange quartz-like crystal with a pale, pink hue. Almost a short sword, this dagger appears to be simply made - almost like a shard of crystal with cord wrapped around the end to serve as a handle.
======================================================================
Walking about the smithy, mouth ajar, Hugo picked up tool after tool with obvious admiration. "Lookit all dis!" He almost shouted, his voice echoing around the room. "Papa gots sumfing like dis, but it aint as gud. I can makes sum gud stuff wit dis."
Finding the ore stash, he looked the selection over, weighing each lump in his hand with an uncharacteristically professional look on his face. At first he almost missed the difference, but soon realized the value of what he was holding. "Dis 'ere, is da 'ardest metal yer ever gunna find...And dis.." He picked up the mithril. "...Dis is like wot Tomtoms new shirt is made ov'."
He dropped the ores and spread his arms wide, gesturing at the walls around him. "Dis place is great! Wes should take it fer ourselves. 'Eroes needs lairs too ya knows."
Grizelda stared wide eyed at the crystal dagger, her mouth agape and her hands trembling. Even before she cast the spell, she knew what she was looking at. The blood crystal dagger of legend, Daggermark's own namesake artifact.
"Careful now, this is more than priceless, it is our history."
Zinny is amazed at everything, and the full depths of the place they've discovered. It's like something out of a storybook. She flops onto the work-bench in the little workshop and stares at all the fine tools.
"...I reckon there's stuff in here what's worth an awful lot. What... what do you think we oughtta do with it all? 's it right we keep alla this to ourselves?"
Tomid looks on with Grizelda at the crystal dagger. Sure would look good over the bar back at the Cow. he says. You think I could touch it, or jus hold it for a sec? And Tomid begins to reach for the dagger. Its almost a sword ta me…
"I would wager this is what the thieves truly came for. Legend of this weapon would seem to indicate it is powerful indeed, maybe even dangerous. Take care, Tomid."
Tomid & Grizelda, roll your Reflex and Will saves, please.
Izzy, your study of the item revealed an enchantment and necromatic aura, but no chaos or evil alignment. In fact, it is almost perfectly neutral.
"Nasty thing that, meant for killing!" Jacob scowls at the glass dagger. "Come on boys, grab that trinket and sheath it good, it has a wicked feel about it. Hmm, perhaps that library has some information about this crystal blade? Yes, yes, certainly that would be the location I would keep such tomes."