Those of you who peer into the middle room are able to deduce that stone shelves once crowded this chamber, but most have broken loose and now lie in crumbled fragments on the floor. Desks, easels, and ruined books litter the floor, and patches of algae grow on the walls and floor. Callah is able to determine that something recently disturbed this chamber in a path that leads to the northern wall. Inspecting the wall, there appears to be a sizable crack that is now covered with rubble on the other side.
Those of you exploring the northernmost room find scattered bones and equipment strewn about this chamber’s floor. A wayfinder hangs from a corroded chain around the neck of one skeleton and the hand of another still clutches a golden amulet. Beyond these grim remnants, a brightly-colored mosaic covers the chamber’s back wall, largely free of the barnacles and deposits covering the other surfaces in the area. The mosaic depicts a group of wizardly figures gathered around a larger figure clad in robes of black and white. Anyone examining the mosaic also notes that the god wears a brooch recessed half an inch below the surface. Moving slightly beyond this room reveals a pile of rubble that looks fairly recent compared to the rest of the disorder in this tower and what was probably a staircase.
The mosaic’s central figure is Nethys, the god of magic.
The lesser figures clustered around him depict noted wizards of ancient days.
The golden amulet looks like it would fit into the statue's chest. The designs engraved on this item can also easily be identified as matching the brooch on the mosaic, but parts of the design are missing. Small holes in the amulet suggest that two additional pieces are meant to overlay its face.
As the first one on the scene, you spy an ivory map case. Opening it up, you find what appear to be a sheaf of notes. Quickly flipping through them, you are able to learn that they were written by a Pathfinder named Daling and are able to discern that the bones you are currently surrounded by must be his and his party's. His notes inform you that there is a reefclaw nest in the middle room as well as what can only be an animated statue up on the next floor.
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Take 10 on Religion = 15
Etienne flips through parchments he has withdrawn from an ivory map case he found.
"These are the remains of fellow Pathfinders. This one's name was Daling. We should bring their remains back for proper burial. In his notes, he warns of reefclaws on this level, and an animated statue upstairs. We should prepare accordingly."
"It seems like this amulet is missing some pieces. Did we look carefully in the murky depths of the merrow lair? Or perhaps the missing parts are above. This is clearly Nethys, God of magic, and these other wizards are notables of their day."
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Atronia walks through the room, eyeing the skeletons warily for a few seconds, with the intention of checking the wayfinder to try and identify the poor soul who ended up here. She stops when she hears Etienne, who found the answer on a parchment. "This name rings a bell, doesn't it? Is there any indication of when they came here and for what reason? One thing is certain, someone or something didn't want people to access the upper floor easily. This destruction had to be deliberate."
She then moves closer to Etienne to take a better look at the amulet. "We might manage to find the missing pieces of this. Callah, Arrius, could either of you check the south room, please? I'd rather not swim," she calls. Then, she asks Etienne, pointing to the mosaic, "If that is Nethys and he wears the same symbol, could this be a sort of holy symbol?" She then goes to check the collapsed stairs at the far-end of the room again, trying to see if there's any chance of making their way through that rather than through the most expected path.
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As Arrius volunteers to enter the southern room to plumb its murky depths, Callah moves back to the doorway to keep an eye on him - just in case he ran afoul of something unexpected. "An animated statue up above? That's...worrisome," she frowns as she glances at the hole in the floor above.
"Still, at least we seem to have a lead on what needs to be done here," she adds brightly. "Hopefully we can be shut of this place soon and head back into the city proper so we can give Daling and his friends a proper burial like Etienne says."
The Undine is able to report back after checking the Merrow's liar without any complications, but has earned a soggy pouch full of gold coins for his efforts.
His expert training kicking in, Erhun readies his weapon for any movement among the skeletons. After several tense moments, he, respectfully, tests the remains and is confident that they will not rise to meet them.
Investigating the collapsed stairway Atronia doesn't believe that they would be able to clear the rubble within a reasonable amount of time, in addition to lacking the appropriate tools to do so.
The area radiates faint transmutation magic and focuses on the area of the brooch.
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"Oh, of course! There's too many stories of what happens when the dead have been wronged or defiled," Callah replies to Erhun, quite serious. "And such things are an affront to the natural cycle as well."
"And so, nothing else remaining here? Seems it's time to risk the rope then," Callah sighs when Arrius returns, eyeing the rope warily. "Too much climbing for my tastes today but nothing to be done about that I guess. Erhun, do you want to head up first or should someone a little, er...quieter go?"
Despite the warning for an assault at the hands of a sculpture, you all make it up the rope and onto the next level safely, although some of you are perhaps more winded than others.
Broken statuary and debris covers the floor of this level. Some statues still stand, fragments chipped or broken off here and there, but for the most part retaining much of their former splendor. The hallway opens up into a larger chamber to the west, the statues in which appear slightly different than those in this hall.
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You creep warily forward, anticipating any of the statues to reach out and crush you at any moment. You pass the first statue... your ears pounding out a familiar rhythm.
*THUMP thump, THUMP thump*
Then the second statue...
You could have sworn you heard the creeeaaak of stone against stone as your back turned to it and your tongue sours as a moment of fear courses through your veins, but it must have been the wind, a twist of your mind and time passes into nothing.
The third...
You begin to relax, but only a hair, as doubt creeps into your mind and the adrenaline begins to ebb. Was the journal lying? Maybe someone else crushed this thing. Its been years, another group could have come in here before us, right? Your body begins to feel heavy from holding the tension.
Finally, you make it to the next room and the statue to the south screeches to life with the calamitous roar of stone crashing against stone! Despite your anticipation, Erhun is the only one quick enough to react!
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Erhun
Animated Statue
Atronia
Callah
Arrius
Etienne
BOLD MAY GO!
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Initiative
Erhun easily lands a solid blow against the statue, but it seems undeterred in its assault and predictably closes the gap between itself and the warrior. It lashes out with both sides of its quarterstaff, but Erhun lets his armor absorb the blows with a practiced maneuver.
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Erhun (9 damage)
Animated Statue
Atronia (4 damage)
Callah
Arrius
Etienne
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Erhun (9 damage)
Animated Statue
Atronia (4 damage)
Callah
Arrius
Etienne
BOLD MAY GO!
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For a second, Atronia clenches her teeth when she sees the statue animate after she had been so tense for a while. That doesn't last, however, as she starts singing a song about the destruction of a forsaken place. It speaks of the powerful strikes that brought down unholy idols and of the din of shattering stone. While the situation is different, she feels it is appropriate for their current predicament. Her voice fills the room easily and the rhythm and melody give strength and energy to those who let themselves be enthralled. As she sings, she moves closer, sword in hand, to start helping Erhun.
While Arrius defends the rear, Etienne expertly flings the card straight into the statue's chest, but it harmlessly bursts into ash. Empowered by his remaining allies, Erhun spins on his heel like a top, whipping his Bec de Corbin around and landing a devastating blow against his foe! Pieces of rock and dust fill the area, but the statue continues to lash out with singular focus and lands a retaliatory blow against Erhun's chin.
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Erhun (6 damage)
Animated Statue (31 damage)
Atronia (2 damage)
Callah
Arrius
Etienne
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Erhun (6 damage)
Animated Statue (31 damage)
Atronia (2 damage)
Callah
Arrius
Etienne
BOLD MAY GO!
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Atronia's slash is knocked aside by the statue, but left its side undefended. Ever the keen combatant, Erhun crashes his polearm through the creature's chest and it collapses into rumbling rockslide to the floor.
Among the rubble, Erhun and Atronia quickly spot something glittering...
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I honestly don't know what happened. It was like I couldn't miss, as if luck and Fate were on my side. Sure it was a big and slow target, but even then... I don't know what kind of magic you used on me, Callah, but it was powerful. Thank you. And that song was quite invigorating too, Atronia. Never heard it before.
Etienne easily fits the piece into the amulet and senses the magic within it growing stronger. Assuming some level of symmetry, it is clear that there is one more piece left!
No longer concerned about a statue ambushing you, you take the time to look around. Those of you who look at the remaining statues notice that they have tiny, nonmagical rubies implanted in their eyes. Checking out the other room, it is completely empty, the only notable feature being the long staircase on its eastern edge.
The stench of decay fills the air of this cavernous chamber, a vast hall taking up over half the tower’s area. The withered corpse of a human sits in a marble chair fixed to the floor, which is made of the same material. The body is clad in ragged but sumptuous black and white vestments worked with the design of a mask. In its right hand, the corpse grips a staff of immaculate design.
Religion, DC 10
You recognize those clothes as that of a Nethysian cleric.
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Atronia interrupts her song as soon as the creature is down. She smiles at Erhun and nods in thanks for his appreciation. "You certainly made quick work of it. I'm glad you are part of this group, today."
Atronia looks on curiously as Etienne pieces the amulet together, only to find out that another part is missing. She spends some time looking around but finally has to accept the apparently obvious. "We will have to keep going up if we have to solve the mystery of this item or find that fiend we've been chasing," she says as she heads for the stairs, taking the lead this time.
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Arrius follows the others up the staircase, tense with the sixth sense that the day's unusual sequence of events may be coming to a head.
"A mystic theurge of the All-Seeing Eye, methinks. But enthroned past death for what purpose? And yonder staff--mere symbol of office, or a potent magnifier of arcane energies for weal or woe?"
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"Happy to help," Callah smiles. "The spirits of my ancestors occasionally grant me such boons and they almost always prove useful to myself or a companion," she explains as they make their way up the stairs to the top of the tower. Her nose wrinkles with disgust as the smell hits her and she looks around, cautiously.
"Aye, Nethysian for sure," she agrees with Arrius' assessment. "But as to why he or she's been left here in such a state...I'm not sure. We should be cautious, though."
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I don't concern myself much to what god he prayed. All I want to be sure of if that he's resting in peace and not corrupted by the dark magics of undeath.
Erhun stops at the entrance of the room, suddenly frowning
I might be too cautious, but what if that cadaver in plain sight was just a dead man, and the foul, rotting stench came from another source... like the ghoul we are chasing? Be careful.
The big muscular redheaded man readies his weapon, favoriting his massive axe this time.
You all make it up to the third floor without more than a loose stone in the steps. As various investigative attempts are made from the staircase, Erhun remains vigilante, trusting his training and his instincts. With a fierce gaze, he looks about the chamber, the hairs on the back of his neck tense with the sensation that something isn't right.
Then it dawns on him.
Slowly, the powerful man brings his gaze to the ceiling and catches sight of three disembodied hands scuttling towards them!
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Callah
Etienne
Erhun (6 damage)
Arrius
Yellow (Directly above on the ceiling 20ft up, Religion DC 10)
Blue (Directly above on the ceiling 20ft up, Religion DC 10)
Purple (Directly above on the ceiling 20ft up, Religion DC 10)
Atronia
BOLD MAY TAKE A STANDARD OR A MOVE!
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Erhun waits for their predictable descent and ably strikes one in twain, the split palm bouncing lifelessly against the floor. The other two hands reach the floor with much more grace, eager to pounce on their prey!
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Callah
Etienne
Arrius
Yellow Crawling Hand (Dead)
Blue Crawling Hand (Diminutive, in Etienne's space)
Purple Crawling Hand (Diminutive, in Arrius' space)
Erhun (6 damage)
Atronia
BOLD MAY GO!