I hear Sirena summoning me and quickly say to Fener, That is fascinating! Maybe we can come back later and investigate it further . . . Right now Sirena needs me. . sorry!
I leave the north room and catch up with Sirena and follow her to U-15.
In response to her request I check for traps.
Trap Finding:
If I don't find any, I will check to se if the door is unlocked.
If it is locked I will take out my tools and attempt to unlock it.
Disable Device:
I let Sirena know the results of my endeavors.
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Imowen examines the door, and not seeing any traps proceeds to see if it is locked. It is firmly locked, so she inserts her tools and, after fiddling with the mechanism for a moment...CLICK!...it becomes unlocked.
Sirena: Good job...now, who is going to open it?
Perception:
Stealth:
Knowledge (dungeoneering):
Survival:
I don't think this door has been opened for a long time, Sirena mutters. She examines the door and entrance way: There is dust and cobwebs present, that have not been disturbed, and I do not see any recent evidence of footprints.
I'll do it.
I approach the door and open it, greatsword in one hand. I check the interior.
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Thorgrim carefully depresses the latch, and slowly opens the door. It is somewhat stiff to open, as if the door has warped slightly in its frame, and the hinges squeek when it is moved.
It appears to open into an adjoining hallway, but it is difficult to see any details because there is no light source other than the dimly glowing glass orb previously described at the south end of the initial hallway.
The air from behind the door is dry and dusty...
"Some-someone may have activated this," Flug mutters finally, the drip of the fluid still audible under his rasping voice. "We should see who."
He turns and exits the room, heading to join the others in the hallway, before the opening door.
"If we can discover the secrets of this place, it could be a new home for Beastmen to live in peace."
Celif smiles at Nastrod. "That would be a good thing. And I loathe how they were misled and corrupted by that witch. Them having a home here would be like turning the tables on her."
Fener and Rudy move to T14. He puts on the cloak and belt that seem magical. He pockets the magical pearl.
Gezzo, when you get a chance maybe you can figure out what this stuff is, they seem magical, until then I will hold on to them
Hey everyone, I have a bunch of key's here. one opened a chest but maybe they would work on the doors as well
Shall we check out this hallway - see where it goes? Does anyone have a lantern, some sort of light, so we can see where we are going and what we find?
"I'm here, Imowen." So saying, Celif steps forward with her glowing mace. Slipping past Thorgrim to W15, she tries to peer down the long hallway.
"Too far, too dark," she mutters. Pulling another pebble out of her pocket, she chants briefly and, with a wave of her hand and a touch, causes the rock to glow with light fully as bright as a torch. She then tosses it down the hallway as far as she can manage.
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Celif steps past Thorgrim, casts light on a pebble, and tosses it down the hallway. The small stone arcs through the air, and comes to rest near the end of the hall. Immediately something dark falls over her head and teeth bite into her for 1 point of damage!
Something wraps around Celif's neck , causing 8 points of damage, and strangling her!
In that same instant, darkness radiates outward from her, drowning the light!
"GAH!" Celif's scream is choked off as she scrabbles madly at the thing around her neck.
Initiative roll:
Perception:
I rush over to Celif and attempt to help free her from whatever is strangling her!
After my rush toward Celif I end up at W-16, and reach out into the dark area at W-15 where I last saw Celif, trying to determine if she is still there. When I find Celif, I will try to detect what is attacking her and then try and kill it with one of my short swords.
Perception:
Melee Attack:
Damage to creature:
Fener tries to identify what the creature is as he starts to move.
He moves to V16 feeling his way through and casts Flare where he last saw Celif.
Flare
School evocation [light]; Level bard 0, druid 0, magus 0, sorcerer/wizard 0
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V
EFFECT
Range close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect burst of light
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw Fortitude negates; Spell Resistance yes
DESCRIPTION
This cantrip creates a burst of light. If you cause the light to burst in front of a single creature, that creature is dazzled for 1 minute unless it makes a successful Fortitude save. Sightless creatures, as well as creatures already dazzled, are not affected by flare.
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Imowen cannot see clearly in the darkness, but she is able to feel the creature as she is adjacent to Celif. She swings her sword in the darkness and misses because something or someone moved before the blade could make contact!
Fener moves to the doorway, and casts Flare into the hallway toward Celif's location. The light source starts to emit, giving him a glimpse of the creature, and then is almost instantly suppressed by the more powerful darkness.
I might also remind you that you found a book back at the temple that gives you a bonus for remembering this type of knowledge.
"Gngh... can't..."
Panicked -- but not so much so that she can't think -- Celif kicks herself mentally again for not owning a dagger. Then, suddenly remembering the metal-nibbed pen in her pocket, she pulls it out and tries poking and scraping at whatever's attacking her.
As she pokes, she tries to calm her mind and draw upon the wisdom of Septimus.
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They are well-equipped for their abilities: blindsight, darksight, low-light vision, and a special constricting attack. Once per day they can emit Darkness as a spell-like ability equivalent to a 5th level caster (5 minute duration). Darkmantles see easily through this darkness through the use of bat-like sonar, though this can be disrupted by the use of the silence spell.
Though small creatures, darkmantles are strong for their size, and make natural grapplers due to their tentacles and cloak-like skin. They have a natural camouflage that allows them to hide easily in underground places. Typically attacking by dropping from above, a darkmantle that misses will usually fly back up to the roof of its chamber and try again.
It really doesn't have any weaknesses per se...it will either need to be killed (a tricky proposition if others attack it since your head is enveloped) or escaped from by breaking its hold on you.
Flug looks at Celif and utters in a forboding, unrecognizable voice "Wear not a narrow ring."
Meh.
Flug approaches Celif, moving past a few of the others in the way. He touches her with a hand, ignoring the thing on her head. "Having arrived at the frontiers, turn not back."
Flug continues after a momentary pause, speaking to Celif. "During revolts, flee to deserts."
Attempt to grab the creature and pull it off.
Gezzo tries to get a look at the tentacles before the darkness falls.
He reaches in to the darkness, grabbing what he hopes is Celif's legs, and begins to pull. Lryhla bites her robes and attempts to help.
Let her go, beast!
CELIF!!
I rage, grab for the beast on Celif's head and pull!
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Flug, unimpeded by the darkness, manages to reach Celif and heal her for 11 points!
Nastrod, also able to see through the darkness, makes a grab for the creature draping Celif's head, but there is so much commotion that he is unable to get a good grip!
Gezzo and Lryhla dive into the fray and attempt to grab onto Celif . Even though neither can see in the Darkness surrounding her, they both manage to grab her!
Thorgrim joins the fray, , and he somehow blindly gropes through the wildly flailing bodies and latches onto the creature attacking Celif! With a shout he musters his rage and manages to yank the creature off of her!
Sirena approaches the doorway, which is a scene of darkness punctuated by shouts, grunts, and the sounds of much commotion, with the occasional glimpse of someone's flailing arm or leg...and decides to wait in the hallway...
Start of Round 2:
Group 1: Nastrod, Fener/Rudy and Imowen - Go for it!
Disoriented from being blinded, then thrown off balance by the darkmantle being yanked free plus the tugging on her legs and robe, Celif tumbles to the stone floor with a brief yelp.
Despite the head spinning experience, she still enough presence of mind to realize something isn't quite right. She raises a hand to her head to check for injuries, and realizes something is missing...
"My glasses!"