Just relieved the thing hadn't attacked them, Barra moves with the others into the tunnel.
The tunnel proved short, though still longer than the few breaths that the statue gave for the company to pass before it shifted back to its old position and froze in place. They found themselves in a rougher space, the walls carved in great gouges larger by far than any dwarven or human pick might work. In some places, the gouges had softer borders between them, as though worn down. The floor was all cooper sheeting, turned green with age and neglect, and upon it stood a large tub of the same material.
Marcus' keen gaze noted a place on the floor more smooth, uniform, and bowl-shaped than the rest. It looked as though a great weight had once rested there long enough to press in upon the copper.
To the chamber's far end, a tunnel wide enough for four men to fight abreast in reached out into the dark. It had a visible upward slope.
Before proceeding further, Ari crouches to the ground to see if there's been any recent traffic through the tunnel besides themselves.
To her companions, Ari says in a whisper, "I don't like this place. More than just goblins could make their den here. The dragon statue should give us pause as well. We need to be careful lest we disappear like the adventurers did."
Thurvek examines the stony passage, trrying to understand what might have shaped so.
Bolkvar likewise tried to discern what might have caused this by looking at the tunnel’s structure...
...and thinking about what kinds of creatures could have made this...
Ranek studies the gouges in the wall, trying to determine if they were made by a dragon or not.
He will then examine the copper tub, looking for any signs of the Art upon it.
Hakon lends his heavens-blessed eyes as well.
"I don't like this place. More than just goblins could make their den here. The dragon statue should give us pause as well. We need to be careful lest we disappear like the adventurers did."
"Aye, I'm none too keen on it either M'lady." replied Marcus, who moved to investigate the copper tub.
He whispered a prayer that would attune himself to the ethereal energies that powered any slumbering art. He sniffed near the edge of the tub, but was careful to touch nothing save the floor.
Ariyana sees signs that this tunnel has been traveled in the recent past.
Marcus finds no lingering Art about the chamber.
Putting their heads together, Bolkvar and Thurvek are quite sure that most of the chamber was carved by the claws of something huge enough that it could almost only be a dragon. There might have been a natural cavern here once, but it would have been gouged wider in every dimension to show these markings.
Ranek thinks that if Art shaped the chamber, it would have a more regular aspect unless the wielder lacked full mastery. In such a case, they would be as like to pull the roof down upon themselves. That would be just as true if mighty disintegrations, conjury, or earth-shifting spells were put to use.
Hakon's keen eyes spot one thing the others missed: a subtle depression in the floor. Something very heavy and large had lain there often in the past.
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"A dragon was here. Explains the cult worship. This hidden entrance means that the beast might well still be here. We should proceed with caution."
"Dragons... as if trolls and goblins weren't bad enough. Guess we'd better get this over with," Ari says before gesturing toward the tunnel before them. They'd have to traverse the remainder of it, sooner or later.
"Indeed. I guess we'd better get started, no time like the present and all that." replied Marcus. He whispered a short prayer which caused his armor to softly glow. Cautiously he advanced, taking note of his surroundings and looking for any tracks that might reveal the passage of others.
Ranek nodded in agreement, and pulled out his wand of shield. He didn't know how useful it would be if they encountered a dragon, but it was certainly better than nothing.
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Ranek nodded in agreement, and pulled out his wand of shield. He didn't know how useful it would be if they encountered a dragon, but it was certainly better than nothing.
[dice=Perception]1d20
The company ascended the spiraling tunnel that reached back and up for some sixty feet before ending in a chimney which ascended straight through the mountain. A rope dangled down from above, spiked into the wall and just long enough to reach the ceiling and a foot or two past, where heavily gouged rock like that in the previous cavern formed the chimney's walls. Misty air filled the space.
The keen-eyed among the company noted recent tracks, about the same vintage as the hanging rope at their best guess.
Ari looks up at the hanging rope then says, "Either this is a very elaborate trap, or the remainder of our quarry have escaped the mine."
Glancing down at the recent tracks, Ari continues, "Still, if the trail is fresh enough, we might be able to track them above if we hurry."
Ari examines the rope by casting Detect Magic and inspecting it. Then, if she doesn't spot any traps, she urges everyone to head up as quickly as possible.
Ranek looks up at the rope and says, "We'd better get climbing then. How much of a head start do you think they have?"
Marcus didn't need to be told twice this was their best, albeit unlikely, lead. If there was even the faintest glimmer of hope the might achieve a rescue he would move heaven and earth to make it happen. Despite the awkward bulk of his armor, Marcus methodically propelled himself up the rope.
Assuming no-one spots something concerning, Barra will follow them up.
Bolkvar follows up the rope.
Since no one answered his question, and since no one had spotted anything problematic, Ranek climbs the rope.
The company began their ascent, first up the rope and then the more difficult climb along the chimney. The gouges ran mostly vertical and the mist rendered them slick. It made for slow going even for the strongest and most nimble climbers.
Perhaps a hundred feet up, a coy voice spoke on everyone's mind: "I a alive again, you know. I can smell your mind, sense your thoughts. They taste delicious."
A passage from scripture came to Marcus' mind: 'Be stern, unyielding and unswerving in your battles with evil. Make war upon evil and injustice without cessation. Do not recoil before the enemy, but let your wrath undo the wicked. Seek not only courage, but also wisdom to see that stupidity and courage are cousins. Courage also means taking the side of truth in all matters, rather than seeking the expedient lie.'
Glancing around he whispered, "Did you hear that? You did!' This did not bode well, but he would stand firm and follow Torm's teachings. Marcus opened his senses and carefully looked around, seeking the source of this mind talking.
Ranek freezes where he is. A voice inside their heads was not a positive sign of things to come.
One hand supporting him, Ranek cast his spell to find magic, and looked about.
Bolkvar stopped and fell into deep thought, thinking about what kind of creature might possess this level of telepathy and intelligence.
Ari shudders as the voice speaks. A hundred feet up, dangling from a rope, is not where she wants to be when she encounters such a thing. But then again, she doesn't want to encounter the thing in the first place.
Was it a dragon? One of the enemies they slew before? Something connected with the evil horse-things they encountered before? So many questions and too few answers.
Trying to mentally reply to the thing, Ari thinks, Who are you?
Thurvek scowls, unhooking his battleaxe from his belt, ready for an attack.
A thorough examination of the chimney with keen eyes and prying Art revealed no source for the silent voice, nor any fell taint that might have caused it. Ari received only silence in answer to her question.
Bolkvar knew something of this. Mind-reaming and mindspeaking Art was delicate, advanced work for those with deft hands and much practice lest they do harm to those they used it upon or themselves. An ill-wrought spell could destroy the mind it was placed upon, with no more than blue flames or showers of blood to show for it. A very skilled mage might capture a few thoughts from the fading sentience as it passed, but such a thing could not be expected. Death is the most final consequence of misusing such art, but it can also strike its victims feeble-witted, drive them mad, burn memories away, or even do all the same to the worker of Art. He knows that some have had their minds swapped between bodies by mischance.
That said, powerful mages are sometimes thought to use such Art routinely to drink spells from the minds of others, ferret out secrets, and subtly bend others to their will. The master of Warlock's Keep, halfway to Calimshan, is thought to be one of that sort but any wizard of might and solitary inclination is often thought among their number.
The least fell uses of mind prying are simple communication, which can be done with simpler spells and usually at much shorter range. When done with common spells, that can be quite safe. The risk comes in that many mental magics feel much the same and one must watch close to know what is worked precisely lest one unwittingly lower one's guard.
What wizards do, they might have learned from beings of the Outer Planes. Potent fiends and celestials alike have the innate power to speak mind to mind, as do less otherworldly beings strong in Art like dragons or a worrying variety of menaces from the Underdark, most of whom delight in slaves twisted to love their masters even as they are slowly consumed. The duergar, derro, aboleths, and of course the mind flayers often have such abilities. Some of those, he believes, may not use the Art at all. Or rather they use a different sort of Art which has a strange relation to the familiar Weave of magic.
Marcus glanced at the others and asked, "Are we equipped to face whatever could do that?" It wasn't fear fr himself that motived this question, rather the concern that the mission would fail if they died.
"I'm low on healing, but those children haven't been found yet." Thurvek rotates his neck to crack it. "Whoever that voice was better not get in our way", the cleric states grimly.
Ari grimaces at Marcus's question. She replies, "It's difficult to say without knowing what it is. Hanging on this rope forever isn't going to work, though. We'll probably be better off continuing onward to face whatever it is, unless we want to rest. But if we did rest, I'm afraid we would lose any chance of finding the children. We should press on."
Ranek shrugs. "We could be better equipped, but not without delay. And if we delay too long, we may never find the children. Ariyana is right. We need to press on."
Marcus nodded, "Very well, lets continue." Privately Marcus thought it increasingly unlikely the children would be found at all, let alone alive, but they still had to try. He offered Torm a short prayer before carefully climbing further up.
The company pressed on up the chimney. After several hundred feet, they reached the top. For the last while, they could feel as well as hear the din of falling water somewhere near. Arriving on level, if damp ground again, they followes a short tunnel which twisted through a cloud of mist to finally show the source of the noise. Ahead lay a large grotto, where glowing waters plunged down from an unseen height into an underground lake. A stone barrier, smooth and straight as an arrow, kept the torrent from washing over the company and down the shaft they just climbed.
A beautiful elfmaid stood near the pool, just on the far side of the barrier and basking in the spray clad in only her long, silver hair. She sang softly to herself, barely audible through the thundering waters.
"If she's an elf, then I'm a troll. Barra muttered, but still he called out after everyone was off the rope. "Hei kuka olet? Emme tarkoita, että sinä haitat!"
Marcus glanced at Barra, 'Maybe he's right but I'll keep an open mind...'
He glanced at the elf maid and studiously avoided letting his gaze fall over her body. Maintaining eye contact he smiled warmly and said "Tapasin hyvin, rouva. Olen Marcus ja on totta, että tulemme rauhassa. Etsimme ryhmäämme, jotka ovat kadotettuja, pelkäämme heidän turvallisuudestaan. Oletko nähnyt heitä?"
Ari finds herself agreeing with Barra. After what they have just been through, the odds of finding an actual elf here seems unlikely. Even if it is an elf, it seems unlikely she'll be one they'll get along with.
Listening to and understanding the words of her companions, Ari waits for the reply of the 'elf,' trying to learn what she can about her.
Ranek, having never stopped maintaining his spell for detecting the Art, swept the room with his sight, looking for any signs of magic. If he finds any, he will concentrate on it.
Bolkvar muttered to himself, going over all of the creatures that she could be in disguise.
The woman turned to the party, not at all concerned about her state of dress and the many eyes upon her. She answered in Elvish.
"Well met," she said. "It's good to see friendly faces." Her gaze lingered a moment on the dwarves and her expression slipped just a touch.
"I am the Lady Amkathra of the Seven Veils," she paused, as though expecting to be recognized. "Some Not People passed this way not long ago, only a few breaths. Or a tenday or so. I have been here so long it's hard to keep track."
Aryiana and Marcus are quite sure that the elf is telling the truth.
Ranek detects faint illusion about her.
You are quite sure that this incredible woman is fully deserving of your trust and swift obedience.
Blissfully unaware that anything was amiss, Marcus bowed and replied in elvish, "Thank you M'lady. Could you please tell us in which direction the not people went? We shall try to find them and then leave you in peace."
”What is an elf doing down here, alone, locked away? Ye must think us daft. How about showing us what ye really are?”
Blissfully unaware that anything was amiss, Marcus bowed and replied in elvish, "Thank you M'lady. Could you please tell us in which direction the not people went? We shall try to find them and then leave you in peace."
[dice=Sense Motive for her reply]1d20+6
"I can and would...if you will do me a small service. The master of this place has bound me here, against my every wish to flee. I have worked long against his Art, but cannot discharge it while he remains away. If you can bring him before me, I will tell you all you ask."
Marcus believes she's telling the truth.
”What is an elf doing down here, alone, locked away? Ye must think us daft. How about showing us what ye really are?”
"I am who I said. Is it my veiling you refer to? Do not ask me to show you what Copperdeath wrought upon my flesh."
A shadow passed over Marcus' face, he wasn't entirely sure what they where getting themselves into. Respectfully he replied, "We can but try M'lady, but it would be helpful if you could tell us something about this master you refer to. Forewarned is forearmed or so they say."
"I am who I said. Is it my veiling you refer to? Do not ask me to show you what Copperdeath wrought upon my flesh."
"M'lady! It sounds like something awful has befallen you. Who or what is this Copperdeath?" gasped Marcus.
Ranek nods. ”Indeed, the more you can tell us of Copperdeath, the better our chances of capturing him and bringing him before you are.”
Ranek nods. ”Indeed, the more you can tell us of Copperdeath, the better our chances of capturing him and bringing him before you are.”
[dice=Knowledge (arcana)]1d20+10
[dice=Knowledge (local)]1d20+11
"Copperdeath -of course he wouldn't tell me his truename- is a mighty dragon, who enslaves the Not People of the valley and binds them to work his mines. He is a curious creature, who practices a strange Art that I don't fully understand. It is something like mind-meddling, but I've felt that before and this is...different. He must be some sort of strange creature from far realms, or have altered himself to suit it as his scales are topaz. He brought me here from Eaerlann, to please him with my song."
Ranek has never heard of Lady Amkathra or such a thing as a topaz-scaled dragon, but he knows of Eaerlann as the almost-forgotten name of the Elvenhome in the High Forest.
While the elf may be speaking truthfully, Ari's still not certain they should trust the woman.
Ari says to her, "If you are truly trapped here, then what is it that's keeping you here? And what is the illusion magic we detected around you?"
Ranek studied the apparent Elven woman. Eaerlann was the name of the Elvenhome in the High Forest, which had fallen centuries ago. He knew Elves were long-lived, but could this one be so long-lived? Or had she been brought here as a young elf maiden, and the illusion was to hide her aged visage?
"For how long has Copperdeath held you, Lady Amkathra?"