Jakun growls, "Well, that was not very enlightening".
He turns around and peers into the room, "I believe we need to get in here. Maybe there is a clue as to a word to nullify the teleport trap..."
Jakun can't find anything about the archway that gives a hint...but he does suspect that the magic could be suspended by a simple dispelling. That would allow safe transit of the arch, at least for a time.
Jakun turns to the Revered Daughter, "If you are out of energy Revered Daughter, it may well be time to rest, we have been exploring for hours and our powers are all but depleted. While I do not wish to rest here, we can head through these arches to where a prison is located, rest there, and teleport back here tomorrow.
That undead creature has watched us but not attacked but I do not wish to have us sleep near it to be certain!
Agreed my Companions?"
Caitlyn sighed, "Yeah I guess. I'm beat anyway, my knuckles are raw and every part of me aches from all that smashing."
The Companions retired for a cold night in Skullcap. Strange sounds occasionally came from the dark beyond their vision, but no menaces followed them into the light.
The Revered Daughter will wake before dawn to make her prayers and supplications to the Platinum Dragon.
Jakun rises and begins to study his spellbook clearly agitated having to be in this place for yet another day.
After a dreamless sleep that barely refreshed her, Caitlyn yawned and fumbled with her pack. Bleary eyed she rummaged round until she had found her copper coffee pot, water, crushed roast beans, a spirit lamp and her flint and tinder. It took a few tries to get the blasted thing lit, but before long it was bubbling away and a rich and complex coffee aroma was fighting with the resident damp and mildew of skullcap. The result was coffee so black it was more of a syrup and best eaten with a fork. Caitlyn had several cups before she felt vaguely human and somewhat grouchily asked, "So... What next?"
"We head back through the portal", Jakun points at it. "The Revered Daughter will dispel this trap and we will, the Gods willing find the key so we can leave this damnable place".
Let me look up the spell.
mittens leans against the wall exhausted he used his all his strength earlier in the day and not it is hitting him hard
"Mittens is tired I need rest and to communicate with the bison good
stoneshape might help
The Revered Daughter will begin to pray before the archway and invoke the Platinum Dragon to move stone that will allow them to save the refugees.
The Revered Daughter will begin to pray before the archway and invoke the Platinum Dragon to move stone that will allow them to save the refugees.
Mariel prayed and the unnatural glassy black stone of Skullcap peeled back from the side of the trapped archway, creating a smooth passage to one side that would let the companions into the vault without trouble.
Thank you Paladine, Valiant Warrior, for hearing the prayer of your unworthy servant. she adds in a doxology as the stone moves and shifts.
Caitlyn's lips formed an O of surprise, [b]"That was... Wow! Well then I suppose we'd better see what is within!"[b]
Cautiously Caitlyn entered the vault, scanning left and right for danger.
The Revered Daughter will follow
The Revered Daughter will follow
The Companions pressed through the passage that Mariel made for them. Just as they'd seen from the archway, the chamber was piled high with glittering treasure and lit by a brilliant white light. Prominent among it was a map case of clear dwarven make.
Perhaps the map case has a clue as to the where the Gates of THorbardin are she says.
Jakun will Detect Magic in the room, "Perhaps Revered Daughter, let me see what magics I can find. I thought we were to find a key a great dwarven treasure, perhaps this indeed it!"
Caitlyn's eyes boggled at the scene. "Well that's not something you see every day!" she breathed.
of course in this accursed place treasure might come with nasty surprises, so Caitlyn scanned the area for danger.
Scanning the treasure with divination, Jakun found that one sword seemed to have an enchantment about it.
Caitlyn found no signs of lurking danger, just Skullcap's normal chill aura of menace.
Jakun points, "That blade has a magical aura, all else appears as it is, treasure. Most of it worthless Gold though, good for decorating. Valuable at the time of the fall of Ishtar perhaps but not now".
Jakun approaches the treasure and the dwarven scrolls, he retrieves it and turns to his companions, "I speak many languages but dwarven is not among them, do any of you speak it?"
What kind of sword is it?
What kind of sword is it?
I do not speak dwarven, but I do have some facility with language and if not, I can implore the Platinum Dragon for his aid
Caitlyn examines the scimitar for a moment, testing its balance. She appreciated the finess of it's forging for it was obviously a masterwork. She handed it over to Mittens to look at saying, "Nice. But too dainty for me, I fear I'd dull it's blade in a week. Hammers are more my thing. Perhaps this might suit you better?"
Linguistics
if that is not enough she will cast comprehend languages.
"Even if we do not use it, it is mighty Art from a lost age and we should take it with us".
It took some puzzling out, but Mariel believes she has a map of a way from Skullcap -labeled Zhaman on the map- to the gates of Thorbardin.
She will share what she has been able to find out.
Jakun grins, "Excellent work Revered Daughter. Let's explore the rest of this chamber now".
Jakun walks to the western vault and once more looks for magic.
As before, Caitlyn was right behind Jackun and she frowned as she scanned the western area for signs of danger.
Jakun detected magic much the same as warded the eastern vault about the western. He'd have to either dispel it or rely on the Revered Daughter to get him around the effect.
"Damn! This arch is also protected as was the other... Revered Daughter, do you have another spell to shape stone?"
Caitlyn glanced at the wall and then her hammer and sighed, "I do hope I won't have to try and break trough with this. My hands are still smarting from yesterday's exertion."
She shakes her head. I did not foresee having to do this again.