"I'll be right behind you Khartelosch, keeping an eye out for traps."
Nodding to Silvash, Khartelosch makes his way carefully through the illusory webs, watching for side tunnels and pitfalls and then approaches the strange and compelling obelisk, looking for writing or symbols. Is it chiseled from the natural stone or does it appear to have been placed here?
The stone does not match any of the surrounding stone.
A curious thing to find under ground.
Verrin will approach cautiously.
The obelisk sits at a slight angle and appears very heavy. The stone is almost black in color. There are many inscriptions carved into it upon closer inspection, but the runes or alphabet are completely foreign to even the wizard Gorrim. Each side has one eye carved into it near the top and there are holes all over the monument about one inch in diameter, randomly placed where the design allows for it.
Verrin tries comparing the stones from the guard room to the holes on the obelisk.
By the heavens be careful man! Gorrim shouts at those up front!
Initiative order:
Silvash
Verrin
Thaane
Gorrim
Khartelosch
Ibrah
Obelisk
Ibrah takes a step back and waits.
Verrin steps to the side away from that hole (8.6) and goes in to full defense and looks for something in the carvings or the base that would disable this creation.
Can someone charm that damn thing! Khartelosch grouses as he dodges the stray acid droplets. Let's not fiddle with it if we don't have to. That or see if the orb does something to interact with it. He makes a single move forward and around the obelisk .
Uhh. Well...try the orb.
Ibrah casts Shield of Faith, then pulls the orb out.
Silvash moves back to 1.4 and readies his bow for action, waiting for something to appear.
The orb shakes and smokes and releases an arc of lightning toward the obelisk that shatters the top of the monument. The arc runs back through Ibrah smoking and causing him pain.
Gorrim stretches forth his hand and recites and incantation towards the obelisk in a bright and windy flash.
He trips on a mushroom root as he gets into trying to disable this foreign construct.
The eyes of the obelisk open to peer around at the moving heroes.
Trying to carry all of the items he took from the guards, Thaane fumbles around trying not to lose his rotting orc head on a stick. He stretches out his hand and mumbles Mist!
A sphere of heavy mist surrounds the eyes of the obelisk.
Verrin wispers a dark enchantment to his sword and stabs at the eyes of the obelisk, the orbs making it clear this is no simple trap.
Ibrah moves towards the obelisk, lifting the Orb.
What are you?
Ibrah holds the orb up above his head and the obelisk begins to violently shake after receiving Verrin's assault to the eye. All of a sudden a shadow moves across the back of the cavern and attaches itself to the cavern ceiling. Then a voice is heard.
Pleassssz dissscontinue tiss asssssawlk.
Ibrah looks at the newcomer.
Who and what are you?
Pleesssse sssurs. Sso ssssorry for your troublessss. You have akktivaated my sentry...I am Graalen and I am not ov thisssz world. Pleeses sssseek resst in my quartersss.
It has almost been a full day since the conscripts were tricked by the Mayor. They were given three days leave from the captain to attend to this errand. Hungry, thirsty, tired, and hurt, they are faced with a choice to accept an invitation from an other worldly being, fight it and whatever it is allied with or turn around and test their luck against the duergar.
Khartelosch appears less ready to attack or flee now that a dialogue has opened up. Are you trapped here in this world? He reaches out with his spirit senses to determine if there is any affiliation with this otherworldly creature.
Verrin put his blade away.
My apologies for our trespass on your home. We have been trapped here and assaulted by the greyskins and giant insects since we arrived. I am Verrin. It is customary for both parties to break bread to signal peaceful intent. May we withdraw to somewhere safer?
His bow still out, Silvash asks, "Are you the one who disabled the guards?
Ibrah cannot discern what this humanoid is or where it came from. Partly obscured by darkness, the creature resembles some sort of cross between a salamander, a fish and a human with skin tones ranging from dull green to almost translucent white in thin areas.
Yesss. I am a sssscavenger and they haff sssstuff that I need sssssometimesss. I vasss tracking you ssssense yooove bin underground. I do not feel that you will harm me, but thought greysss were comink when I heard the trapdoor.
You are welcome to dine whiff me in my lodge and restss. I do probably have something to breek together.
Graalen's cavern is behind the one with the obelisk. It is somewhat larger with a small pond in the middle surrounded by various species of fauna and flora. Most closely akin to fungi, some glowing some white. Small lizards, reptiles and spiders crawl throughout the brush. The lodge looks like a hollowed out tree that was once very large. Mud has been added to it to create a great dome in front of the dead trunk.
When you get to his cavern it is illuminated only by the fungi and a few stolen sunrods. The is a fire in the hearth of the cottage. There is a black iron pot of stew in the fire boiling that wreaks.There are some animal skins that he hands to each person to sleep on. They appear to be woolly mammoth skins.
Gorrim walks behind the cottage for a moment and then comes rushing back.
Graalen! What in the heavens is that glowing giant disc behind your lodge?
With a look of astonishment Graalen asks, Have you got the orb?
What are ye taking about?
The only way that hassss worked wassss when the orb waasss pressssent.
Graalen hisses softly.
Verrin brews tea and sets out what meager rations he can contribute to a meal. Before eating he takes out his blade and tends it fastideously. There is a moment of surprise when he finds a small statue tucked in to his pack. It seems to be of Tien design and Verrin appears a bit shaken at its presence.
As others converse, something he not skilled at, he will reexamine the strange bag they had found earlier. Perhaps it will be easier to discern in the calm of the firelight.
Alert to the possible threat their host may try to take the orb away, Khartelosch remains on his guard. Without looking at Ibrah to give away its possessor, he admits, "Aye, we have it. How does it interact with this disc?"
The orb activatessss the portal.
Ibrah follows the others into the room and sits down. He sniffs at the pot, trying to identify the smell. At the mention of the orb Ibrah pauses momentarily and then pretends he didn't notice.
-Posted with Wayfinder
One of you brought the orb heeer.
Who hasss it? PLEESE tell me.
Itsk haass activated the portal! I need to shut it down.
"Why?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Where does the portal lead to? Your original home?
Not amassed. I don't want to let anything in or owt.
The stew is a gruel that smells terrible. You can identify some contents as things that used to crawl around inside this cavern.