Karek complies, and enters the room as well, seeing what he may see.
-
His observations are the same as Breach's. (Unless Karek's up for drinking unknown purplies - I hear he's got a decent Perception score).
Hal will cast Detect Magic and inspect the doors along with the liquid in the room, he will not touch it or go closer than within 10' of it though.
-
Halstadt utters a brief prayer to the fire forge for mystic guidance. As he does so, he senses a magical aura coming from the pool. When he focuses in on it, he senses the aura is in motion, swirling about the pool.
"I am not all that surprised Gandel, I am sure this place is much larger than we even suspect it to be. I just have to wonder whether Suekhan was a phantasm or something else. The more I think about it the more his appearance and disappearance unnerves me. Why would he hand us such a potent set of scrolls then vanish without discussing his intentions for us?"
-----
-----
"Well my first thought was that he wanted us to use the scroll to save someone - someone in this pyramid - perhaps a dead colleague."
"But it doesn't fit. The Mortuos Suscitate Duo is not a scroll of raise dead. Its a scroll with two castings of breath of life. It won't help anyone whose been dead for any amount of time - certainly not someone who has been lost for millennium. It can only save the life of someone who has died a split-second ago. Unless Suekahn can see the future, he won't know who it can help."
"Maybe he can?. . ."
"If the Mortuos Suscitate Duo was meant for us, why would he want to help us? Maybe these are questions for your gods. If Suekahn was an angel, maybe he's known to them. Didn't you say his face appeared in one of your visions?"
"That reminds me Mr. Mogrym. I can't help but notice you have your two-handed great axe out. Probably a good idea for our present situation. But in order to use the power of the scroll, you have to read it within mere seconds after someone dies. And you need to be able to touch the recipient. In the event one of us were to, um, suddenly expire, will you be able to get it out fast enough and still run over to where we need you?"
Sooron follows along with Xerissa, lovingly cradling his newly rebuilt decanter, ready to do some super-fast diluting of the purple liquid if it's required.
He also tries to reconcile his spacial sense, and see if he can remember whether the portal man was in fact pushed over the exact spot that should have revealed this room.
-
OK, decanter is out!As for his spacial sense, Donkor can't be sure, but he would have thought so.
-----
Pate will stay back just outside the double doors and keep a watch, placing Anyo 3.0 20 feet along the side corridor.
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You mean the mini-corridor which connects this "pool room" with the wider curved corridor, right? Or did you mean Anyo is 20 feet down the wide curved corridor, where Moonpate currently is.
By the way, you have kindly twigged me to clarify that this "pool room" is one of the rooms that has unidentified lighting.
You mean the mini-corridor which connects this "pool room" with the wider curved corridor, right? Or did you mean Anyo is 20 feet down the wide curved corridor, where Moonpate currently is.
Down the wide curved corridor. Don't want to be flanked by surprise.
Down the wide curved corridor. Don't want to be flanked by surprise.You mean the mini-corridor which connects this "pool room" with the wider curved corridor, right? Or did you mean Anyo is 20 feet down the wide curved corridor, where Moonpate currently is.
Hurgah hangs back as well, protecting his wizard buddy.
"Whatever this substance is, it is magical". Hal takes a closer look still inspecting but touching or approaching closer than 5'.
Spellcraft
Hal grins, "Yes my knapsack is magical, when I think of an item placed within, it springs into my hand. That should be quick enough. I wish I could speak with my God regarding this issue but I fear Angradd has already provided the guidance that he is willing to part with. It is up to us mortals now to interpret the will of the Gods and act accordingly".
-
Just to make sure I have this right, I don't think Hal or anyone else said anything to Ro An Hap (the Portalman) about Suekahn. When Ro An Hap effectively asked 'who goes there' in Ancient Osirion, Halstadt proposed that the Dune Squad answer Suekahn, but Gandel and Donkor, the two party members who can speak Ancient Osirion speakers ultimately went with something along the lines of 'humble servants of the Four Pharaohs of Ascension'.Is it possible your post has confused Ro An Hap (the ever returning guardian you have defeated three times) with the mysterious old man bearing the high-powered scroll? Halstadt did ask that guy outright if he was Suekahn, and he never did get an answer.
Also, as long as I am on the subject, I see I have been making the error of using two different spellings from time to time: both Suekahn and Suekhan. I'm sure you've all (correctly) assumed that both those are meant to reference the same thing. For the record, the correct spelling should Suekahn. Watch me get it wrong later.
As Hal completes his casting he discerns that the strange liquid gives off an aura consistent with the school of transmutation. The aura is . . . quite extreme. Hal believes drinking the liquid will have a radical effect on the body. In that sense Hal thinks he might be looking at a giant potion, or maybe even several doses of a potion combined into a pool.
Typically though, an unstoppered potion in the open air does not last very long. Either this pool (or the liquid in it) is something rather special, or the pool was filled recently. Neither thought is terribly comforting.
Hal looks around the rom for another door besides the one the Dune Squad entered through.
Hal wrinkles his nose in distaste, "Again, powerful transmutation magic is prevalent in this liquid. It may well be one large cauldron, what arcane energy allows it to have stayed around and not evaporated for a millennia I do not know. Worse yet we may have well activated the effect by something as mundane as opening these doors, something as innocuous as grabbing a coin nearly killed us just a few minutes ago. I say we ignore it and keep searching this place. I suppose if you can collect a sample via magical means without making contact with the liquid it is something you may want to consider Xerissa".
". . . I say we ignore it and keep searching this place. . ."
-
There is not too much more in this room outside of the pool and the giant double-doors to search. There's the stone ladle on the lip of the pool, but Hal already knows it does not radiate magic. There are the round smooth walls, which Breach and Karek have already visually examined to no avail. And there's always the round dime-sized hole in the wall on the far side of the pool (also non-magical). But I know you guys don't appreciate small mysterious holes in the wall as much as you used to.But other than that, perhaps the Dune Squad is done here?
A, uh, round, dime-sized hole? Like, the size of the coins in the first room?
Xerissa nods to Halstadt, "Yeah, good plan. I'd be all for filling up a flask of the stuff. I'll chuck it at the next monster we see and see what happens. She pulls out an empty metal flask and uncorks it. "But I don't know how I'll get that stuff inside this without touching it."
Xerissa nods to Halstadt, "Yeah, good plan. I'd be all for filling up a flask of the stuff. I'll chuck it at the next monster we see and see what happens. She pulls out an empty metal flask and uncorks it. "But I don't know how I'll get that stuff inside this without touching it."
"But I don't know how I'll get that stuff inside this without touching it."
Sooron will wander over and have a look at the exciting round hole. Without touching it, he will peer inside from about a metre away, and if he can't see what's in there, will toss a Light spell at ait.
Not sure if the place's built-in mysterious illumination extends to weird holes and crevices.
A, uh, round, dime-sized hole? Like, the size of the coins in the first room?
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Similar, yes, though not identical.This hole is slightly smaller. Had Karek still had one of the Pharaoh’s replicating coins, it would not quite fit inside this hole. It is too small.
They also differ in that the hole in the “coin room” was hidden, concealed amongst a panel of hieroglyphs. This hole is right in the center of the wall in plain sight.
Sooron will wander over and have a look at the exciting round hole. Without touching it, he will peer inside from about a metre away, and if he can't see what's in there, will toss a Light spell at ait.
Not sure if the place's built-in mysterious illumination extends to weird holes and crevices.
-
Sooron’s illuminating examination reveals that the hole quickly narrows. It looks a bit like a funnel. The depression in the wall gets thinner and thinner and eventually, after an inch or two, becomes nothing more than a pinhole.
Hal looks at what Sooron is doing, "Karek, do you think that symbol you took would fit in that slot"?
The very tip of the Time glyph is small enough to wedge inside. But there's definitely no 'lock and key' match in terms of shape.
Well, he was thinking about it. Karek tries to see if sticking the time glyph in that slot does anything.
Karek puts his hammer away and pulls out the Time Glyph. He then walks behind the pool, so he can reach the hole in the wall. Carefully, he sticks the heiroglyph inside. Too large, only the tip of the backwards "Z" will fit. Once inserted, he tries turning it around, but nothing catches or otherwise occurs.
Karek surmises that if the purpose of this hole is for something to fit inside it, then you would be looking for something that has a cone-like shape, almost like an icicle. Perhaps a spike with a very sharp point or even a small spearhead.
Karek can see that although the hole significantly narrows, he can't seem to see a point where it ever seals off completely. He wonders how deep it actually goes.
"I suppose we could either attempt to further inspect the hole, perhaps by placing some of the liquid inside or we can exit this room and search the next area. Perhaps something that fits in that slot can be found elsewhere".
Sooron tries to remember if they've seen anything of the right conical size and shape to go into the hole, and peers around the room curiously to make sure that there are no others in this room.
Donkor does not recall seeing anything that looks like it would fit inside this confounding hole. At least not in the pyramid. Once, many years ago, he saw a warrior-gnome with a ridiculous-looking vertical helmet spike that looked like it might have been about the right size.
With his light still illuminating the hole, neither Donkor nor Karek can see any scratch marks in the stone inside the hole to suggest that an object has ever been inserted inside the hole - apart from the Time glyph Karek inserted just now. Perhaps this hole is not a keyhole at all. Or, if something has been inserted before, it must be rather smooth or a very perfect fit.
Donkor looks around and studies the rest of the chamber, but he does not see any other holes in the room.
"I agree with good Halstadt, I think it's time to move on and see what other mysteries are to be found."
Sounds like the party is ready to move on. Since my impression is the Dune Squad is only aware of one remaining unexplored area (to continue along the wide curved corridor) unless I hear otherwise that is where the Dune Squad will head next - in default marching order.
If anyone else has anything else, get those instructions out now, failing which onwards it is.
Onward and forward, around the curve, thinking positive thoughts! No traps, no monsters, no problems!
Standard marching order I guess, with Anyo up front as usual.
Anyo doesn't travel much further than 30 feet from where it was when Moonpate and Hurgah were standing sentry, when its light reveals a further branch off of the curved corridor.
Once again, the branch is on your left-hand side. This time the branch is the widest yet - a huge 15-wide corridor. Anyo's light reveals that this mammoth hall only lasts approximately 30 feet before it terminates in another set of giant double doors - a set almost as large as the ones that lead to the 'purple pool room'.
As before, rather than turn left down this new hall, the Dune Squad can always instead continue along the curved corridor - a corridor which is proving to be really quite lengthy.
There are no traps, no monsters, and no problems.
I think we'll proceed down the branch to the double doors, Sooron will turn on his Detect Magic, and perhaps Gandel will oblige us by looking around for traps and whatnot.
-----
The wide spacious hall appears bare.
As you approach, Donkor determines that while the double doors themselves are not magical, a vast amount of powerful magic lies beyond them. It almost seems to hum with arcane force.
Gandel performs a similarly rigorous check of the doors, similar to his previous work.
He gives it a thumbs up, but refuses to sign a guarantee.
The grand doors open inwards (away from you). Having no handles or nobs, they need to be forced open - requiring a Strength check, unless anyone has anything fancy up their sleeves.
Hal readies himself to a cast a spell if necessary against any foe which presents itself once the door opens but otherwise waits for the strong men of the group to handle the honors of opening the door.
Karek tackles the door!
Hmm. Dad didna work. Karek mutters as he prepares to try again.
"Here, let me help!"
Hurgah steps up besides Karek and delivers a firm kick right at the place where the two doors meet.
Hmm. Dad didna work. Karek mutters as he prepares to try again.
-
"Here, let me help!"
Hurgah steps up besides Karek and delivers a firm kick right at the place where the two doors meet.
The doors fly open.
. . . revealing nothing more than an empty room.
Well not entirely empty. . .
The walls of this square room are lined with hundreds of vertical hieroglyphs, each carved in exquisite tiny detail.
The room is perhaps 25 feet by 25 feet in size.
"I think we've seen this chamber before. Only from the other side."
"If I'm right, it's one of the rooms we viewed from the half-sphere chamber using the Portalman."
"But we've never been inside."
"After you boys!" trills Xerissa.
"After you boys!"
"Halt!" There is no way I'm going into an empty room in this cursed place that is radiating such strong magical energies. Master Sooron, now that the doors are open can you determine anything more? Are there other detections that we should consider before proceeding? Should we throw something in first? Let's at least put a cloak or wrap of some kind on Anyo and send him in."
Hal turns to Master Pate, "Yes a good idea I can summon a servant of Angradd to explore the room briefly. At least two of us must enter at some point though. Gandel can certainly read the hieroglyphs. Perhaps they will give us a clue as to how to move through this place. There is more to it than we are seeing for certain. I am willing to go with you Gandel".
Hal will cast Detect Magic and view the room.
I'll go. Led me know when yer done... lookin' ad id.
Hal will cast Detect Magic and view the room.
-
Taking in the room once more does not yield anything new.Detect magic on the other hand, enables Hal to confirm Donkor's impression:
There is an exceptionally powerful magical aura in this room. It does not seem connected to any specific object. It seems to emanate from the entire room: the walls, the floor, the empty space.
I'm seeing a number of IC suggestions - are any of them taking place?
1) Send in Anyo, with a cloak, possibly donated by Mooonpate,
2) A casting of summon monster [#],
3) Send in Karek, possibly with Gandel or Hal.
Hal turns to Master Pate, "Yes a good idea I can summon a servant of Angradd to explore the room briefly. At least two of us must enter at some point though. Gandel can certainly read the hieroglyphs. Perhaps they will give us a clue as to how to move through this place. There is more to it than we are seeing for certain. I am willing to go with you Gandel".
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Gandel pulls out a magnified glass with a leather strap and affixes it over his head."I'm in! There's gotta be a treasure trove of hieroglyphs in there."
With a grin, he swivels the lens in front of his eye. From the correct, or perhaps incorrect, angle one of his eyes appears twice the size of the other, making him almost look like a disfigured mongrelman.
"Though, I suppose I should heed Master Moonpate's warning. If there was an investigation he wanted to perform first. . ."
-
Sorry! Xerissa was unable to identify it. Maybe she wants to go back there and have a sip?
Karek waits to see if the strange invisible force controlled by Moonpate wants to go on in first, but he's ready to escort the Professor.
"Donkor is right, powerful magic saturates the room, what type I cannot determine though if it is similar to what we have seen then it too is transmutation magic. Let us save Anyo, I will send in a scout in his stead".