The spire looks like it could be knocked off with a bit of muscle.
"Brute strength to break magic? Hmm, effective combination. Not many mages are that strong..."
Strength is not Enora's strong suit.
"This should be simple." Zamid observes as he assists the northman in toppling the spire.
"You two big, strong men! Help him out already!" Enora grunts as she slides uselessly against the slab.
And with a few mighty pushes, the obelisk on top of the Sarvios monument falls over, and breaks into several fragments,freeing the way for the last rays of the sun to shine on the bust of Tullivor. The light reflects on a metal badger at the base of the bust, and reflects onto the entrance of the Tullivor mausoleum. It appears the thanks of the Tullivor is inside the mausoleum.
The mausoleum contains five sarcophagi bearing the names of the Tullivors interred within. Above Laban’s casket, a gleaming tapestry depicts the Tullivor crest and the family motto: “Never in Shadow.”
It seems like the tapestry is the 'thanks' of Tullivor. The tomb opened up with the destruction of the Servios monument, and the Tullivor mausoleum is no longer 'in Shadow', fitting to the motto of house Tullivor. The magical wards barring entry to the mausoleum have been removed, and the tapestry is ripe for the taking.
Zamid nods to Oloch with satisfaction as the item is successfully recovered.
"So simple, yet so difficult." Enora casts detect magic upon the lock's magical residue to study it.
Looking back at Lady Savrios, Enora remarks "Such a waste of life... Let's hunt down the next rumor for Ulisha."
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"You speak wisely, Enora. Hagrum’s Keel and Limbrender remained sheathed, I sang no songs. I did not travel from the land of my fathers to watch you soft southerns gain all the glory. I hunger for action. Do any of you know where we are supposed to travel to next?"
Again I speak rashly, and insult those who have done me no wrong. Yet my blood boils. I cannot rest until my axes lodge into some foul creature's flesh.
Following the instructions in Ulisha’s notebook, you travel through Varno, stopping at the Restless Bear Inn to ask directions to Cannibal’s Grove. This crumbling, moss-choked inn stands alone at the road’s end. Looming over its squat frame, a dense curtain of foliage marks the border of the Forest of Veils. The sign above the door reads “The Restless Bear,” and it seems to refer to a stuffed bear’s head that lolls upon a flagpole near the eaves.
The inn is a one-story hostel with a claustrophobic ambiance. It features plain walls, simple wooden doors, shuttered windows, and smoky tallow fat candles that keep the interior in a state of dim light. The common room feels like a cave, its sagging rafters clogged with yarn, shabby ribbons, and odd miniature knick-knacks that reinforce its claustrophobic atmosphere.
A spunky older woman serves as hostess and introduces herself as "Birdy". "What can I do for you travelers this day?"
"Howdy, ma'am. My name's Enora. Beautiful Inn you have here. My friends and I are looking for a place called Cannibal's Grove. Do you know where it is?
“I’m not keen ta put my own soul in peril, steerin’ yas to such unhallowed spots.”
"Finding Cannibal's Grove is important and for a good cause. Please help us."
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+2
"Worry not, we are professionals."
"Fine. I'll tell ya. But your souls will not be on my conscious. I warned ye, I did!" She provides directions but still feels the need to warn you further. "Cannibal's Grove is where the old Famished Shaman worked his blasphemies. I’ll not speak his true name; the dead rest ill. He was a druid. Spent so much time as a beast, he lost his soul to hungerin’ for flesh. They say Erastil made him a bear—prey for hunters. My husband usta tell folks that head on the pole outside was the selfsame bear, but it were bad for business.”
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One mile southwest of the inn, a clearing encircled by stones marks Cannibal’s Grove. Thick tendrils of mist rise from the ground. Unsettling noises permeate the clearing—mostly echoes from the babbling stream to the south. Crimson thistles have overtaken this clearing, punctuated by a ring of mossy standing stones. In the center, a neglected stone slab bears ancient stains and gouges.
Kukri in hand as he nears the ring, Zamid looks to the spellcasters, "Is there magic here?"
"Thank you kindly, ma'am. You gave us fair warning, so don't worry. Well, it would be nice if you prayed for our survival."
Enora sets off immediately for Cannibal's Grove. What kind of magics went on there? She randomly casts Detect Magic.
Noting the thorns, she remarks "Times like this make me wish I wore shoes..."
Oloch detects the presence of a magical aura.
The aura is coming from the center of the circle.
The stone at the center of the circle is the source of the magic.
Anyone stepping into the circle...
"Yes, let us find this lantern and leave this terrible place." Zamid says as he follows Oloch into the circle. Once inside, he takes a quick look around for any clue to the objects location.
"This place smells terrible, is it related to the magic you found?" He looks to Oloch for answers.
Now, what's with that slab? It's the source of the magic fog.
With all this fog lying around I can barely see anything.
A disgusted look falls over Zamid's face as he finds himself staring hungrily at his arm. Shaking his head violently back and forth, he fights off the dark urge and warns the group, "There's some kind of obscene magic in this circle, it makes you want to eat yourself."
Moving away from the haunted circle, the urge to gnaw one's arm off seems to dissipate. A faint orange glow is emanating from beneath the rocks that comprise an islet in the middle of a stream, and a large elk with yarn and ribbons in its antlers loiters on the other side.
"Definitely not in the mood to eat anyone anytime soon."
Closing in near the orange glow, Enora notices the large elk. "Hmm, is that someone's elk? I don't suppose we can wait for it to move out of the way..."
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"Cannibal's Grove is where the old Famished Shaman worked his blasphemies. I’ll not speak his true name; the dead rest ill. He was a druid. Spent so much time as a beast, he lost his soul to hungerin’ for flesh. They say Erastil made him a bear—prey for hunters.”
"I believe that Elk is our crazed druid."
Stepping closer to the Elk, hand on Hagrum’s Keel the youth shouts,"Hey Elk, can you dispel this crazy zombie magic?"
The elk continues to to elk like things. However there is that faint, orange glow underneath the rocks on the islet...and a lantern could have an orange glow about it.
"Are ya'll talking to a moose?" Enora cocks her head to the side, confused. "Almost as odd as someone putting ribbons in his antlers."
As Oloch retreives the lantern a floating bear head appears as if from nowhere...it looks identical to the bear head hanging at The Restless Bear. This apparently gets the elk all riled up as well.
Round 1
Bear Head
Enora
Lini
JLW
Bob
Elk
Oloch
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"I AM Hakor,
I am a warrior from the North,
I am the Axe wielder!
Here in the south,
My fastness and fortress,
Reign I forever!
Here amid my foes
Rule I the nations;
These are my axes,
Hagrum’s Keel and Limbrender;
Bear heads and Elk
Cannot withstand it!"
Begin
Inspired Rage As a standard action, Hakon can give all allies who
accept it a +2 morale bonus to Strength and Constitution, a +1
morale bonus to Will saves, and a –1 penalty to AC. Allies can accept
the bonuses and penalties on a round by round basis, but while
accepting the song, they can’t cast spells, use abilities requiring
concentration, or use Intelligence-based skills, Dexterity-based skills
(except Acrobatics, Fly, and Ride), or Charisma-based skills (except
Intimidate)