The next area is another 50-ft-square chamber, with a great, ornately-wrought door in the east wall that has neither knocker nor keyhole. A great stone sphinx rests at the center of the chamber, and as soon as the foremost members of the expedition enter the chamber, the stone statue transforms into a living sphinx of great size--a winged lion's body with the large head of a woman....
I am the sphinx that asks the questions five, which thou must answer correctly to open yonder door.... Should thou give a false answer, I am given license to devour thee!.... Art thou ready to give answer to mine questions five?
Allison mutters a quick spell under her breath as they approach the sphinx.
Um... Hello, Ma'am... We are here for the challenge and mean you no harm or disrespect. she said to the creature, But yes... we are ready I think. And she then adjusted her headband of mental prowess...
"I am ready if my companions are ready."
The first question is this: At what age, in Earth years, does a dragon mature from ancient status to wyrm status?
OOC: There are two ways to give the correct answer: if you as a player know it, and your character has even 1 rank in Knowledge (arcana), you can just have your character give the answer. Or you can succeed on a DC 30 Knowledge (arcana) check....
Um... 1001 years?
he nods at dr Jones,
Correct! The second question is this: Which fish are poisonous to mankind?
OOC: Same rules as the first question, except Knowledge (nature) DC 30....
+ = 33!
In a burst of divine inspiration, the answer dawns on the young surgeon, Puffer Fish!
Thou art wise in lore, brave hero! Correct!.... The third question is this: Which of the planes of existence are also called by sages "the Inner Planes"?
Knowledge (planes) DC 30....
Allison sat there pondering for a few moments, but the truth is she still knew relatively little about the other planes of existence. Sorry everyone... This isn't exactly in my wheelhouse... Anyone else know?
this knowledge seems to be evading me
Radsworth? You got this, right?
Daisy eyes the massive sphinx uneasily....
Rad ponders for a moment, thinking about planar travel, and which would be referred to as the "inner planes." He gives the Sphinx his best smile, just in case this goes awry.
"What a wonderful question, dear sphinx. I'm fairly certain you are referring to the various elemental planes, as well as the ethereal plane and shadow plane...the material plane and both the planes of positive and negative energy."
He nods approvingly at Allison.
"You were doing splendid, Doctor."
He looks back at the sphinx, hoping he wasn't thinking of the planar structure of some other universe. He adds as an offhanded joke.
"Of course, while not bonafide planes of existence, one cannot forget the Plain Jane Plane, the Window Plane, the Plane of Ranch Dressing, or the Jefferson Airplane."
Sieg mutters under his breath.
"I am now hoping the Sphinx has a sense of humor.."
Correct! The fourth question is this: Which two ancient kingdoms fought each other in the Battle of Marathon?
Knowledge (history) DC 30....
OOC: To save a bit of time, here's the last one, too, in case Radsworth nails the history question....
(If the fourth question is answered correctly):
Correct! The fifth and final question is this: What is the capital city of Tibet?
Knowledge (geography) DC 30....
Well, thank you, Professor Pennington. I promise not to let you down on the next question then...
Turning to the sphinx, Um... I believe it was Persia and Athens...
Although upon hearing the final question, the doctor is completely stumped, Geography never was my strong suite...
Correct! replies the sphinx when Dr Jones gives the answer....
The sphinx then asks the final question, as posted above....
Koran is getting antsy at this point. Get on with it, we're wasting time. Why don't we just crush the dumb beast? He raises Mjolnir intimidatingly, but doesn't make a move to actually strike yet.
Mein Gott in Himmel, not every problem demands violence... Clearly the sphinx is not a malicious foe to be slain... Allison pointed out while slightly worried that these Fierce Ones may turn out little better than the Great Old Ones.
Yingzen looks around for any areas of darkness, he doesn't trust this creature and knows his only advantage is his abilities of stealth
Radsworth smiles at the Sphinx.
"Great questions! History and Geography were what I taught at University, you know. The answer you are looking for is Lhasa."
Thou art correct! Well done, heroes!
The sphinx becomes a stone statue once more, and the ornate door in the east wall swings open, revealing another broad, high, torchlit corridor leading to the next area....
Good job, Professor Radsworth and Dr Jones!
MJ gives thumbs up to the scholarly Fierce Ones before proceeding into the newly opened corridor....
"I am glad I did not have to try to answer these things myself."
Sieg follows MJ into the corridor.
Excellent, Herr Professor. Looks like we are onto the next challenge, Allison chimed before looking back with a raised eyebrow to Koran, And even more impressive, done without any needless bloodshed.
The doctor put her hands back in her coat pockets and followed slowly behind the others.
The FOs advance 80 ft down the hallway to a spacious chamber, 60-ft-square, with a vaulted ceiling 60 ft high, lit by torches in sconces set in each corner and on the north and south walls. Another ornately-carved door of ponderous size bars further passage to the east, with a keyhole set in the center, but no apparent key....
Nine pedestals are evenly placed in this chamber, in three rows of three, each with a chalice turned upside down on top of the pedestal. The pedestals are about 3 ft high, and the chalices are of normal size for a human....
The talking fly buzzes down from the high ceiling and addresses the expedition:
Ah, so! Thou art wise as well as clever.... Now let us see if thou art also lucky.... Or at least resilient! This is the Trial of the Cups! Under one of these nine cups is the key that unlocks yonder door in east wall, allowing further progress.... But the other eight chalices trigger perilous magical traps if disturbed.... Good luck, heroes!
The fly buzzes back up into the dark shadows of the lofty, vaulted ceiling.....
Sieg shrugs.
"Random chance it is." he walks over and deliberates for a moment before picking up one of the chalices.
Yingzen looks at the chalices and trees to find the mechanisms and triggers don't touch anything yet
As Yingzen is about to warn the others not to touch anything yet (and would have found and disarmed a trap), Sieg lifts the chalice that conceals the key!
Wow! That was lucky! Hahaha!
"Seems that we were indeed lucky enough."
"Next room?" he says, taking the key and unlocking the door.
Sieg inserts the key and turns it, and the door unlocks and smoothly swings inward to another torchlit corridor leading on to the next trial....
Rad considers the newcomers..Strength.. intelligence...and even luck? It seems sometimes things do go our way.
The talking fly buzzes down and speaks....
Forsooth! The gods must favor thee, bold heroes! But the next trial shall require either supreme stealth and distraction, or else force of arms.... The Trial of the Vigilant Guardian awaits! An argus guards the key which opens the door out of the next area.... Thou must take the key by craft or main force! The argus sees with many eyes, and can perceive even things hidden by mists, shadows, or illusions! Thou must either distract him with engaging conversation or songs, in which he delights, while the stealthiest among you steals the key.... Or thou must defeat the argus in combat and take the key!
The fly then buzzes away to the east, presumably to watch and see how the FOs handle the Trial of the Vigilant Guardian....
Hmmm.... So, how do we want to do this? Try to distract the argus while Yingzen burgles the key? Or just kill 'im and take it?
Radsworth considers the Argus.
"We know that Yingzen can sneak, Mikey. It's brutal, but we know that combat in the future is inevitable. I want to see the combat potential of our new allies."
"I am willing to fight the Argus if that is what I must do to prove myself. It is a fearsome creature, and hard to sneak up on or deceive in any case."
"It might even be fun to test my ability against a creature with such prowess at my chosen form of combat."
Mikey nods in agreement with Radsworth.
Right. It's just as well.... We don't have Kailin around anymore to lull the argus to sleep with music like in the Greek myth.... Besides, I think Koran is getting sleepy without something to kill, right, big guy?
MJ grins at the giant tiefling....
Koran smiles at the thought of something squishing under his hammer once more and grins. A fight does sound nice.
a fight is not always the best option, yes death comes to all, but normally from the shadows. I wonder if better force shouldn't wait until it is our only hope.
he looks at each person as he speaks
I could use a good fight today, I haven't worked out lately.
he lets his cloak slip a little revealing a reptilian arm with golden red scales
"I agree Yingzen, but we will be facing Cthulu's minions with these few by us as well. I would rather have a measure of their strength before then. Even you, good Doctor, should exhibit your combat potential."
Allison sighed softly, I do not see why violence must be our answer. But if I must fight to prove myself to your group, then I shall show you why I alone was strong enough to survive the horrors on the bottom of the earth...
Allison casts Mirror Image to create duplicates of herself.
Allison then casts hast on the entire group.
Let's get ready to rumble, Fierce Ones....
MJ takes up the Sword of Sif in both hands and looks to his fellow martial FOs....
I'm ready when you guys are....
The hall runs east for 100 ft before opening into another vast chamber, 50-ft-square, with a 50-ft-high vaulted ceiling. As in previous areas, this area is lit by torches in the corners and on the north and south walls.
An ornate door with a keyhole stands in the east wall.
At the center of the chamber stands a pagoda, about 10-ft in diameter and 15-ft high, with a pedestal inside, on which a key can be seen.
The argus, a gargantuan giant of horrific appearance, with a hide covered with many strange, staring eyes, horns, and writhing tendrils, sits with it's back resting against the pagoda, facing toward the west--the direction of the FOs' approach. It rumbles menacingly as the expedition approaches....
Radsworth floats just off the chamber floor, and stops, arms crossed. He pulls traveler and fires a round near the feet of the creature.
"Noble Guardian. Consider this the meaning of your existence. We seek to bypass you without either song or charm or guile. Your sacrifice will blood those who mean to do battle with the cult of Cthulu. Be prepared and offer challenge as best as you can. Have you anything to say before we begin?"
The argus rises to its feet, a towering, roaring horror....
Come, then, interlopers! Meet thy doom!
Initiative 32 with mythic initiative and surge....
As soon as anyone comes within 40 ft of the argus, it's frightful presence becomes apparent.... Will save DC 16....
meeko
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Sersi
Azimuth World-Traveler
