"I believe it is closer to the latter. And translating and transcribing such a thing would not a trivial or swift task. I share your apprehension about its nature."
"If I could read Abyssal, I would do so. I am personally loath to destroy knowledge in general. Too many bad things have happened throughout history because someone decided that a book needed to be burned. I'd rather salvage what can be without promoting an evil god's agenda."
Miron nods.
"Knowledge is power. It is a simple but powerful truth that too many forget. Knowing an enemy is power over them, if even only a slight edge. We may need all such in the coming hours, days and weeks."
Anneka was relieved to see the mutated goblin fall quickly. With its size, strength, and weapons, it could have easily hurt or killed any of them. But the gods had been on their side, it seemed.
She refuses to enter the spherical chamber. Instead, she speaks and signs from a distance. "Lamashtu? It's no wonder this place is full of monsters. It must be an abandoned prison and base for cultists. We should finish clearing it out, seal it up, and never return. It is an evil place. Come on, let's hurry."
Miron faces the others, especially Anneka.
"Yes, we should. Let us return to task and purge this place. I suggest continuing south if you are all ready."
A red marble statue of a strikingly beautiful but, at the same time, monstrously enraged human woman stands in the middle of this room, her stony expression twisted in fury. The woman wears flowing robes, and her long hair is held back from her face by an intricate headdress of hooks and blades. In her left hand she carries a large book, the face of which is inscribed with a seven-pointed star. Her right hand holds a glittering metal-and-ivory ranseur.
This Statue surely shows one of the Runelords, you believe this one if Alaznist. Each of the kingdoms of Thassilon was ruled over by a Runelord, a spellcaster of supreme power. The Empire of Thassilon fell during the cataclysmic event called Earthfall thousands of years ago.
The masterwork ranseur clutched by the statue can be removed with a little tugging. The ranseur is a work of art as much as a weapon. It’s worth 400 gp.
A corridor leads to the south and another to the east.
I will have to brush up on my knowledge of the more ancient histories. This is completely unfamiliar to me.
"Do any of you recognise that statue? I suggest continuing south."
This whole place is filled with transmutation magic.
Nodding at Miron's suggestion, Azalia stealthily moves down the southern hall.
Moving quietly to the south Azalia sees the corridor leads to two more going to the east before progressing no further south.
Anneka shakes her head, averting her eyes from the enraged statue. She follows Milgen south.
Azalia... reaches the end of the hall and turns left? :)
The original purpose of this chamber is unclear, but large mounds of rubble lie strewn on its floor. The wall to the west has been torn down to reveal a tunnel leading to the west, this links back into the tunnel you original entered this area through. No more magical auras than usual seem to be usual for here are present.
Nothing of value or interest is turned up in any search of this room.
Backtracking and going down the other corridor Azalia finds it continues for far longer.
The tunnel widens here into what appears to have once been a small shrine, for to the northeast, steps lead up to a platform of gray stone. Sitting atop the platform is an ancient altar, little more than a jagged block of black marble with a shallow concavity on top of it.
This basin is filled with what appears to be filthy water.
Seeing as there is no threat here Azalia has the time to notice a different set of magical auras here more powerful than the baseline of this place. Conjuration auras, both the basin and the water in it radiate them.
"Let the expert do her job. Unless you want to apply for the position of trap trigger. Although I'm not sure we can keep up with the healing such a position requires." Milgen chides softly.
Miron motions for Drazh to stop.
"Allow Azalia some more time. She is clearly adept at scouting."
Ferocia picks up the booze and shoves it into her backpack.
---
Ferocia spares a glance at the statue. "Nope. No idea who the angry tart is."
---
Ferocia follows Azalia into the shrine-like room and looks around. Seeing the filthy water she jokes, "Thirsty, Drazh?"
Ferocia observes no traps... the water is just a clear hazard by the looks of it.
The doors to the south east look to be of even more finely crafted by a mason but are heavy carved stone. The light sources ye bring cast shadows about the room. Pushing that door open will not go unnoticed if there is anyone on the other side.
Miron contemplates the doors for a moment.
"It may be wiser to try that passage to the east of the red statue first. If nothing else, we can secure that area first."
The basin and the water radiate conjuration.
Azalia takes a closer look at the altar and the water.
(add 1 if there are traps to find)
She also checks the doors for her impatient fellows.
Also, it doesn't look like anyone rolled the knowledge history from 3 hours ago, so here is my try:
Azalia observes no traps in any of the locations she examines. The water does look quite foul.
"I agree with Milon, never leave a closed door behind you, there might be something behind it."
Backtracking you take the corridor untraveled and find it periodically dotted with stairs going upwards until you reach a door. Opening this after checking for traps reveals a room where water ripples quietly in a circular stone pool, the rim of which is lined with skulls.
A blackened, bat-winged fiend’s head swoops down. Tentacles dangle from chin and scalp, and its fanged mouth hangs agape descends looking at your group
Drazh
Miron
Milgen
Anneka
Ferocia
Monster
(passed, but not sure what it reveals)
Azalia raises her bow and attacks the monster.
Anneka takes unsteady aim with trembling fingers, recklessly firing off a crossbow bolt through her companions. "Sorry!" she squeals as it nearly claims an ear.
Milgen fires his crossbow up at the creature.
However, the creature's erratic movements throw him off. So he reloads the crossbow.
Ferocia takes a quick step forward as her arms grow a thick layer of black fur and her fingers form into claws. She swings at the flying bat-monster with both hands.
Ferocia draws and loads her sling.
The flying creature falls to your blades and claws not having enough room to stay beyond Ferocia's grasp.
The water here looks clear and clean. Azalia can see a transmutation aura on it.
I know not this creature, except that it is wrong and must be felled.
Seeing the swift reactions of his comrades before he can aim and launch and arrow, he muses further to himself:
And felled it was.
Miron turns to examine the water, in case he can spot something.
Transmutation aura, it seems perfectly crystal clear.
Miron turns to face the others with one hand on his spear.
"The water appears clear, but laced with transmutation magic as Azalia says. I will try tossing a pebble in, to gauge the effect."
He picks up a small pebble, and lobs it gently to the opposite side of the pool.
It drops in and sinks quickly to the bottom.
"Hmmm. That was less revealing than I had hoped. Unless one of you wishes to examine the pool further, I suggest that we press eastwards. Your swift felling of that...creature was impressive by the way."
"One moment..." Milgen takes his flask out, and pours out the water in it. He then takes a bit of twine, and ties it around the neck of the flask, and then carefully lowers the flask into the water, not touching the water, just filling the flask. Once it's done, he shakes the flask a few times by bobbing the twine up and down.
Once it appears dry, he flips the lid on the flask again. "Here we go, I want to get an alchemist in town to examine the water. If I had another, I'd get a sample of the water from the altar."
Miron nods in approval at Milgen's actions.
Azalia just reaches in her hand and gets a little and tastes it.
(if applicable)
"Azalia, don't!" Anneka moves to seize Azalia's hand, but it's too late.
As far as Azalia can tell it is perfectly clean fresh water... which is a little odd in this ancient underground lair.
When the group heads East as they debate the water further they find it leads to a flight of spiral stairs that winds up around a circular pillar into darkness above... but after a short while the passage seems to be filled with rubble.
"We can return with shovels if needs be. But there are those stone doors to try."
"We might want to return if we find a way to shape earth and rubble. There may be sealed sections with valuables, or dangerous books that need to be destroyed, at a later date."