It depicts a Kadrana giant in a scholarly pose and appears to have no interesting properties other than a certain artistic merit.
Don shifts his balance forward off the wall, then starts cautiously examining the northwest staircase.
"I'mma start lookin around..." He mutters.
The statues are of only academic and artistic interest.
"Avarosh, Avarosh? Don't think I know that one, but I'm sure someone will, and I can always ask Moradin next time I'm talking to him to send me a sign. Now, let's see." Guldarin drops his pack, pulls out his holy symbol, and starts praying in Dwarvish over the remains of the King.
Kevaras solemnly delivers a brief eulogy for the late King Holdred.
"I hadn't known old Holdred for very long. In fact, we'd only just met in this very room. However in that brief time I knew him as a fired-up, guardian with a great sense of humour. Let's remember Holdred for the things he loved: axes, beards, beer, precious minerals, and underground architecture."
It may only be imagination that makes Kevaras think he hears a dwarven chuckle from afar as he delivers his eulogy.
While Kevaras adds his own take on Holdred, Don has a swift glance at the stairs and comes to the conclusion that they lead to larger rooms.
Nayce looks at the various stairs. "To the right then?" he asks arbitrarily.
"As long as we're consistent, I don't think it matters. That's the way to solve a maze, you know, except when there are magical effects involved in which case it sometimes isn't the way to solve a maze, though you can also use magic to solve it, and brute force possibly has some uses, or at least being sufficiently athletic to climb over the walls or hedges, though I tend to think that cheating like that spoils some of the fun depending on the type of maze involved." Guldarin pauses, thoughtfully. "Not that the one in Anshade with all the Poisonthorn was one where it would be a good idea to push through the plants, though I rather think the pit traps and carnivorous Devilchids did suggest they didn't want people to just drop in for a visit."
Greeg nodded at both Nayce and Guldarin. He wasn't overly concerend which direction they took, as long as they could find their way through.
He spoke questioningly to the party "Did we find what we wanted in this chamber?"
He was rested now, and ready to again pit his strength and weapons against some foes. So far this trip had proved less satisfying for his combat prowess than he'd like. How could he tell Meeren tales of his bravery and strength when he couldn't even land a blow?!
Ah well, he could always add some oomph to the tale when it came to Meeren. She always responded favourably to a little oomph.
Guldarin reminisces happily as the group head towards the set of steps that introduced them to Holdred.
"Yes, old friend, we did." And, always insightful, he adds, "And there will be plenty of occasions for oomph."
Don takes some practice swipes in the air, then nods once. "Alright, same moves as before."
Cronin and Don ease their way into the next chamber and discover that the layout is a little more complex than first appeared. The section you are entering contains a lavish table and then leads on to a further chamber linked by two shallow flights of stairs. Thus far there are no signs of life - or even of unlife.
Don assesses the table, "Well, this seems out of place, but its some sort of archive, right? So maybe they just used this as a workbench er somethin. Bettin there may be something of interest, never know what them studious guys are up to."
He walks around the table, using his knowledge of secrets to see if he can coax the table to give up its secrets.
Thievery
He ponders, "There's got to be a use to this secondary room, betting that that one was stocked with scrolls or such back in the day."
Greeg moved into the room as well, naturally moving to cover one of the other exits while Don checked the table. "I always find something when I touch objects of Interest Don, try that" he spoke encouragingly.
It was true too, he usually always found some type of hidden object, usually a trapped object. More often than not he found it because he accidentally broke what he was looking at as well. People just didn't build their stuff to last it seemed. Should use stone really.
He cast his eyes around the other room, making sure they weren't about to be ambushed.
Don advances on the table with a bland smile and swift fingers. A book designed for giants and giant-sized fingers almost leaps into his hands. The title is intriguing. The Waterworks of Kadralu.
Before the rogue has a chance to offer his find to Greeg or anyone else, the goliath hears a happy chattering voice from beyond.
"Intruders! Fun, fun, fun."
"No. I'm peaceable and learned and this is agony" wails an answering voice from the next room.
On closer inspection, what might at first have been taken for wallpaper is in fact a selection of giant-sized scrolls toppling out of ancient bookcases and covering every wall.
Don looks alarmed at the voices, he mouthes something to the group, gesturing that direction with his thumb. The bandit deftly retrieves the book, produces one of his knives and stealthfully tiptoes off to the second exit, preparing a makeshift ambush point.
Free:draw knife,
Move to J-8
Stealth
Readied attack: Deft Strike after first ally attacks.
Cronin's eyes light up as he realizes they are in a library, then he notes the voices. Hefting his halberd, he nods to Greeg to take the lead.
Don ducks up the stairs, only slightly hampered by the enormous book he's carrying. Beyond he sees two ghostly figures - one a morose eladrin lord reluctantly clutching a longsword, the other an extremely cheerful oni wielding a falchion.
"Go away," pleads the eladrin as he spots Don's approaching figure. The oni, on the other hand looks delighted.
"A fight. At last. I've been waiting a long time for this!"
Inish!
What if I hide behind the tome? >.x
initiative.
[ooc]Init list
Ollesendre
Iji
Don
Greeg
Cronin
"I'll focus on the overly eager one. Old mate there might be reluctant to fight anyone except me."
"Drow? In this place? Insult added to injury."
Ollosendre eyes Don doubtfully and moves towards the group via the other stairway.
"If there is mercy in your souls, end this torment."
"Puny," snorts Iji the oni.
Nayce strides into the room and hexes the eladrin, preparing to free him from his torment.
"Uh...guys...we got a big one over here...."
"I am sure we can arrange for a change of pants if you need it."
".......I might."
Nayce leaps briefly into the eladrin king's view and as swiftly vanishes again as his trademark shadowy nooses entwine themselves around Ollosendre.
Iji advances happily on Greeg and Don and belches at them, surrounding them with acidic fumes before swinging his falchion.
Don curses, a rasping voice from his lips as the acid bites into him, and into his lungs. He drops the tome where it is, pulls his second knife and moves forward. Infuriated by the pain, he grits his teeth, slashing at the oni.
"You son of a BASTARD!."
Free: Drop tome.
Free: Draw knife
Move: shift to i-9
Standard: Stunning Strike
for
Oni is stunned UEOMNT.
save vs ongoing acid
The oni is now dealing with one enraged, and badly hurt bandit who isn't thinking as clearly as he should.
The drow heads towards the other, quieter staircase; before bumping into something around the corner.
"You!" feigning surprise and outrage, the paladin asks, "why can't you take the other staircase?"
28 Temp HP + 99 of 109 HP, 11 of 13 Surges; Initiative +8
Surge Value: +28 HP; Speed 5
Passive Perception 20, Passive Insight 20;
AP: 1
Conditions:
Lay on Hands: 1 of 3
Dailies:
Encounters: Deliverance of Faith
Greeg coughed and gagged a little as the Acid ate its way into his body. He hated acid. What it could do to stone in seconds, took years for other forces to achieve. This Oni would have to be dropped, and fast.
"You need to start picking on people more your own size, Ugly. Like me for instance."
He backed the statement up by swinging his hammer, hoping to damage the thing enough to draw its attention from Don and weaken its attacks.
Don's attack certainly takes Iji by surprise but doesn't have the desired effect. The Oni roars triumphantly as acid eats into his foes.
"I'm not feeble like Ollosendre and Holdred. I relish slaughter. Blood for blood!"
His gloating is cut short as Greeg finally gets the swing of his hammer right and bonks him firmly on the head, forcing Iji's attention away from Don.
Kevaras, in the meantime, darts around the corner and confronts Ollosendre, who looks less than happy to see him.
"A paladin? Are you sure? There is no honour among the children of Lolth."
"Well, obviously there's some honour else Keveras here wouldn't exist, and while philosophers might like to argue about existence I think it's best to take it on trust that he does except for the fact that it would probably make it a lot easier for him to hit you if you ignored his existence, perhaps you'd care to experiment with paying no attention to him as he hits you and see what happens, I'm sure it would be nothing bad." Guldarin peers at the oni as he moves closer. "My word, you are a big fellow." The smell of ozone fills the room as he brings forth some of his favourite thunder and lightning.
Intrigued and bewildered as so many before him by Guldarin's speculations, Ollesendre is in no position to fend off the unexpected storm. Laughing at his long time companion's predicament, Iji is also caught in the blast. Inexplicable water laps at their feet, slowing their steps for the time being.
Cronin grins. It is time to wade in. Halberd at the ready, he moves toward Iji. His tabard, meanwhile, takes on a new sheen. "Don, we've got this."
The paladin cashes in on doubts of his existence to sneak further up the stairs.