As her eagle disappears, Tamora blinks.
"Pity that this path leads to a dead end. Let's retrace our steps and try another door."
She begins to walk back to the fountain room.
If we really need to get in the door, I can just smash it with my axe, the half orc suggests helpfully.
"What? Another dead end? Hmm. This isn't working. Let's get back to that first door. Maybe there was something on the statue that would open it." Kakrish trudges back to the room with the fallen statue. He begins to scrutinize where the statue stood. He also searches over the statue's body looking for some kind of trigger.
Kakrish bends over the statue and examines the stone carefully. He straightens up and puts his hand on his expansive belly. A loud belch erupts from his mouth. "Oh! Well! Guess that last meal we had is still settling."
Kakrish inspects the "statue", aside from all the damage done to it, there isn't much that stick out of the ordinary. It seems to have been carved out of a single piece of wood. The two shields it was holding are separate pièces however. Well made [occ]but not masterwork[/ooc], they would be the equivalent of tower shields. On the front they have an inscription carved into it. The word "Home" on one and "Family" on the other. Kakrish find nothing unusual the floor where it once stood, aside from being about one to two inches higher than the rest of the room.
"No sense in not trying Hoga, but before you do let me cast something quickly on you in case the magics we're detecting on this door try to come back at you."
Taladrius makes his way down to Hoga's side, and with a short practiced motion, touches him on his shoulder. He then stands back on the steps to give plenty of space to swing.
Thanks. Stand back, guys!
That should do it!
Tamora turns towards the door that she veered herself from. She partially looks at the shield pieces while witnessing Hoga's attempt at breaking the door.
"We could always go back toward the entrance, there were a number of paths that we could have taken that we did not." Garrik offers while waiting for Hoga to smash down the door.
"This sounds like a good idea." Red Raven agrees with Garrik.
"That was my earlier suggestion. Well, let's wait until they are done. If Hoga's efforts yield us nothing, we return. But let's stop by the fountain room and access the other door that we haven't try before going through the southern door at the entrance. After all, we do have the key. Speaking of efforts, I am going to try a few things as well."
Tamora goes down the stairs doing a several number of things such as uttering something ranging from single words like "friend," "protect," "defend," "everflame" to fully form sentences like "I defend my home and family in the name of Kassen" and "I mean no harm" in celestial and common and more active actions like throwing away all her weapons, holding her hands as a gesture of peace in hopes of negating the magic that enforces the door and making it ajar.
Hoga grabs his axe firmly in his hands. Making sure he has all the room he need, he hit the door with all his might. The axe hit the door, making a loud impact sound. On the first hit, the blade of the axe doesn't even get into the wood. One the second hit, the axe dig slightly in, making a small groove.
While Hoga tries the "let's bash this door down" technique, Tamora gets closer to the door again. She starts speaking random words. At first nothing happended, but then, when she says the words "I defend my home and family..." a noise come from the door. At the same moment, Hoga hit the door for a third time, making it fly open. At first there is a golden burst of light coming from the room. Making everyone closes their eyes for a second to give yourselves time to adjust to the level of illumination coming from the new room.
In the center of the room is a table with some flasks on it with two small braziers providing a magical light. On the walls are shelves, racks and armour stands. All contan different type of armours and shields. From the door, you are not sure if the armours are golden of if it's the light that give this impression. One thing for sure, they are not of this age.
The tengu blinks several times, surprised.
"This... Was not what this one expected..." he admits.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Tamora just gathers her weapons she drops with a nonchalant expression.
"It seems that the answer to this door has already been provided to us."
She moves into the room and survey its contents.
Perception (Take 10) - 19
What is this, then? Hoga asks, marveling at the find.
"Well! What do we have here?" Kakrish barges straight into the room as soon as the door flies open. He starts casting Detect Magic first at the items on the table and then at the armor and weapons on the walls.
Tamora enters the room and start examining it. She finds no traps or other possible danger. What she does find is that most of the armours and shields in the room are more of the ceremonial type than real battle ready ones.
Of the useful ones, she is able to gather one well crafted shield. It is shaped like a dragon head with wings on either side. While the texture feels like glass, it is solid like steel. It is black, but when put against the light, it is somewhat translucent. The eyes are made with polished black opals.
The other item that attracts her attention is a suit of armour. This one is more of a bronze colour also in the style of a dragon. The shoulders are actually a depiction of dragon skulls. It comes with a set of gauntlet and a helmet. Both have depiction of wings on them.
She also notices a dwarf barging in the room and a casting spell.
As for Kakrish, the only things that have a magical are the two braziers on the table. The flask in the middle of the table all have the same clear liquid with speck of silver floating in it.
After contact and testing the hardness of the defensive equipment with light taps, she gathers the masterwork scale mail and heavy shield in a pile. She veers her face towards Kakrish after he ended his magic detection spell.
"Anything from your end?"
She brushes her bangs before showing Hoga, Garrik and Kakrish what she gathered.
"Anyways, I found something that could be great on the three of you. Those on display are pleasing to my view but they are more ceremonial and are not made with top quality steel nor battle as well as these ones. Either one of you should try these on."
"Nope, nothing magical in here. Except these braziers. Probably just to keep the flames going. I'm not sure what's in these flasks." Kakrish holds one up to the light and inspects it.
"As for this new armor. I'm set." Kakrish thumps his fist to his chest. "I've got a great scale mail already. I mean, it's not as fine as this that you have here, but it will do me. Hoga or Garrik? What do you think?"
"If either of you would like the scale mail or the shield, please take it. The shield doesn't work particularly well with a great axe or a bow, and honestly I would prefer to keep the maneuverability that my current armor provides. Though I do have to admit, the armor and shield are rather eye-catching."
I prefer the mobility I have with my shirt, too. Still, we can fetch a pretty copper for this stuff when we return.
"Well, if neither of you want it, I guess I'll take the scale mail. It is a slight upgrade to what I've got now." Kakrish takes a moment to switch into the new scale mail. "Yeah, I feel just a little bit more nimble in this thing."
Tamora picks up a brazier.
"If there is nothing else to see or find, I believe we are done here. We can figure out the nature of the flask later. Let's add these items to our inventory. Permanent lighting will be a great help to our cause especially if they are everburning torches. I would not need to cast light every now and then except to examine a room for danger."
When the group has done so and backtrack to the fountain area, her gaze is on the other door that has yet to be opened.
"Let's try this door next. Hoga if you will."
Kakrish takes the 4 flasks then tells Tamora, "Sounds great. I agree with checking those other doors." He winks at Tamora.
Yes. Hoga will try the other door.
Red Raven moves, standing a few feet away from everyone else, keeping his eyes out for other possible threats.
You walk back to the fountain room. You all wait while Hoga gets the key out and tries it on the door. Sadly it doesn't fit. There is a lock on this one, but you seem to not have the right key.
"Kakrish, let me take a look at one of those flasks."
Taladrius studies the liquid to try to determine what its properties are.
"Well, it seems we have a choice to make. Let Hoga break down the door, or try out the door in the next room." Garrik says, gesturing toward the entry hall.
Or we could dive down and return with some of the keys that we have not retrieve or melt the lock with acid. Frankly, I have no objection to Hoga breaking the door first before we attempt other solutions."
Tamora steps out of the room before Hoga does his sundering with his great axe.
Tamora use her magic to look in the fountain in hope of finding another key that would help with the door. Finding none, she looks back at Hoga and give him a nod toward the door. Hoga lift his axe and use the universal "we don't have a lockpicker" method. With three good swings, he burst through the door, giving you acces to the room beyond.
A small stone bench sits in the center of this dusty chamber. On the far wall is a faded mural depicting the hero Kassen defeating the mercenaries at the entrance to this crypt, with his blade piercing the chest of the mercenary leader. These figures stand alone in the center of a scene of carnage, with dead villagers and mercenaries all around them.
That's some graphic art, Hoga notes.
"Indeed. I wonder if this is related to the incident? This is probably an art from the olden days."
Tamora uses her senses and a detect magic spell to detect any hazards, danger, traps or anything that is out of place.
Tamora and Hoga walks into the room. At first they are impressed by the old mural of the founder of the village. Then Tamora start searching the room, using magic to help her. While she doesn't find any traps, hidden door or hazards, she does notice something particular from the painting. Both the depiction of Kassen and of the mercenary leader wear an oddly shaped medallion. While not identical, the amulets look similar.
"What an interesting mural!"
Tamora twirls around to her companions that have fallen behind.
"As realistic as this art is, we should move on. I examined the path and there are no traps."
"Yes, yes. Let's keep moving." Kakrish presses forward down the tunnel.
Hoga will stay at or near the front, too, relying on his darkvision, like Kakrish.
Garrik and Thorn follow along with the rest of the group.
Kakrish move further into the hallway, he comes face to face with a door. From the looks of it, this one is different. There seems to be some sort of mechanism on it. Kakrish is not entirely sure what it does without a more thorough inspection.
"Hey guys. Come look at this door. It is different than the others." Kakrish yells back down the hall.
"It looks like the door would be hard to open from the other side. So maybe it is locking something in there?"
"That would make sense to this one." Red Raven observes. "Would you like to open it?"
"Sounds like a plan to me, although if something has been locked in, we should likely be ready for a fight."
Tamora nods and arms herself with her spear.
"That's a good idea to prepare in case the eventuality comes true."
The inquisitor then looks at the sides before looking at the painted canvas.
"This painting must have been too valuable to have two locked doors on both sides."
She spares a sideway glance to Kakrish.
"Come to think of it. Your description of the door reminded me of the armory's. Even though their locking mechanism might differ, their designs are quite similar. Both have heavy fortification and are only prone to unlock by certain means. Mostly like to safeguard the articles from graverobbers or contain creatures that are either imposing or superior in numbers. The only way to find out is through the door. If we desire to keep the door intact this time without breaking it, we should come up with ways to prevent us from being locked out of this room."
Taladrius comes rushing up behind everyone, having been lost in thought studying the flask he holds.
"I am familiar with what's in these flasks. I'm not sure by whom they were blessed, but we've got 4 flasks of Holy Water!"
He twirls the flask in front of his eyes as he speaks.