The drawings don't have an evil aura coming from them. So Malthu approaches the door. As he does he hears the shift of stone even before touching the lever. A large crack can be heard and as the group wheel round searching for the source of the sound, they see that the image of the orc is missing from the walls.
A magical trap? Let our friend search lest we end up on the walls ourselves or freeing creatures we may not want freed... is there a way to disarm the function I wonder?
Rybal grunts his assent.
Drak, do your thing.
Drak points towards the other two paintings and can see that they have also moved though not by much. They are both looking at the party. The trap seems to be a sensory one. Drak sees it near the door and is likely triggered by proximity. He could throw a dagger or something to damage it but without taking a closer look he doubts he can do anything right now. Likely it'll trigger something else since the trap isn't a traditional one with a one shot mechanism.
Looking towards the entrance door way Drak points out where the orc thing has gone. It is hanging in the shadows above the door, it's body holding onto the ceiling and it's head contorted to look at the group. It is frozen in place staring at the party, it looks like it is still active though and doesn't bob like most creatures would due to breathing or shifting about from muscle to muscle. It is as still as it was when it was a carving in the wall.
Rybal's eyes narrow at Drak's description of the trap.
Variel, can you burn it down without approaching?
A flaming sphere then, he says bringing one up summoned within the passage itself and sending it down the corridor towards the shade.
The stony surface of the creature seems untouched however the face of the creature begins to melt off, as if it were only ink. It let's go of the wall and falls to the ground with a loud thud. It picks itself easily off the ground then begins grasping around itself. It approaches the group arms flailing wildly.
Variel backs up and also backs up the flaming sphere to continue burning the creature.
Hold off a moment, Variel, Rybal says to the witch. Then he addresses the painting-creature.
You, creature! Are you in need of our aid? If you're a friend, stand where you are. If you come closer, we'll know you for our enemy...
The creature freezes it's movement midstep, though by the looks of things it isn't doing so out of choice. The group hears another creek from behind them and the other murals have moved again. A voice rings out, as if the room is the voice box of whomever is speaking; "You trespass the masters home and ask if we are friend or foe? The Gall of it all! At least you have the audacity to ask! This house is friend to Chamarel, who are you friend to?"
We come here on behalf of Chamarel, seeking a way to defend its people from the Man in White, called Ebrahim. If you are truly Chamarel's friend, then you must be Ebrahim's enemy. Tell us what you can of his weaknesses and we shall part as allies.
Rybal drops his shield and blade and holds his hands out, palm extended, to the mural.
"Ebrahim is not a name I know. Though Chamarel is one I do know! Good good, come in, come in!" The voice of the.. house? You aren't sure, seems to be in quite happy spirits. "I do not know everything what the master wrote about this place, I am but the humble walls. However you may rise to his Atelier. This here is the staircase, or at least the base of them!" The voice quiets down a little as if whispering. "My defenses are still active, I am sorry, the last little visitors seemed to have tampered with more than they should've. I will tell you wish rooms I can save you from worrying about however the master was a very paranoid little one so some of the traps never had a fail safe to begin with." You could almost here the building 'wink' at you, if it could.
Uncanny!, he says dispelling the ball of fire.
The elf enters full of curiousity.
When was the last time you 'saw' Chamarel?
Rybal nods, while silently retrieving his weapons. He holds his shield up and gives Drak a crushing pat on the shoulder.
Well, you heard the...house. After you, sneak-thief. The big man smiles to show the jest behind his 'insult'.
"What am I?!" The house responds "I am the walls and the floor you walk on. I feel each step you make! Maybe feel is wrong, I notice." It pauses pondering the next question "Those creatures are depictions of friends the master used to summon by his side. They were always strange to put off his enemies."
"I have never actually seen Chamarel, I have seen its inhabitents from time to time. Master being the foremost. Though it has been a good few decades I would think. Hard to tell when there is no longer a calender left behind for me to keep track of things. Maybe I should start scraping the walls with one of my traps to keep track of days?"
"My master was indeed a gnome and I have heard of Snow. A rather nutty young dragon that has caused some issues in Chamarel before. I'm surprised you know her! Must mean she's still alive. I'm not sure that's a good thing." It pauses as if thinking. "Ah well, no use dwelling on it. Though I am not his library so if you are looking for some info you likely should try to reach the atelier. Like I said I will try to move some of my .. functioning.. traps out the way, though likely you will come across more dangers further in."
Variel nods in agreement. You are quite the fountain of knowledge, I am curious to hear more.
Drak begins to go forward checking the next room for any traps that might be a problem.
Drak turns back saying "Nothing seems to be amiss in the room ahead. At least as far as traps are concerned"
The ruin says something "Yes though there is a surprise from across the planes in there. Something I doubt you could detect."
Drak asks "Right what would that be."
The ruin replies "Well, a portal will open up as you walk on in. Round and round the planes go, where does it stop? Nobody knowssssssss!" Drak gives a shudder.
The room adjacent to the antechamber is a main hall, with 3 branching doors from it. When the group begins to walk inside in earnest a portal begins to open up in the centre of the room. A head of a creature that has a elongated face with tentacles in place of its mouth pokes through. The creature grabs a hold of the portal with a set of emaciated green hands and begins to pull it open.
Rybal steels himself for the oncoming danger.
Variel casts Steal Breath on the creature struggling to break through fort DC17
If, during the duration, the target moves out of range or line of effect to you, the spell immediately ends. This spell has no effect on creatures that do not need to breathe air.
The creature comes out into full view now that the portal is open. A large slithery tail connected to that torso of his. The ruins reply "The master was adept at controlling creatures from the 'outside' so of course he likes to use them!"
Round 1
Rybal bucks up into a defensive stance but realizes the creature is probably still reeling from its travel through the planes and sees an opportunity to strike.
Variel lets of his prepared spell.
The creature feels its voice leave it as Variel steals his breath.
Variel attempts to then identify the creature. The creature is a Kopru , a somewhat mad creature that likes to dominate 'lesser' creatures minds and do their bidding. This one however looks younger than the ones Variel has studied and likely doesn't have the capability to do full fledged mind control yet. However it can do some bits of mental suggestion, no doubt.
Variel opts to gain some defence from identifying the creature then attempts to hex it.
The creature steels its will towards the hex however it's capability to dodge is still lowered Variel cackles extending the duration of the hex and moves back letting the two half-orcs engage the creature.
Rybal, not knowing much of the creature's skills, takes a defensive stance with his massive shield and strikes at the monstrous thing.
The first swing Rybal's throws is dodge by the creature as the blade comes down. The second attack however gets the Kopru, the blade cuts though seems to be hampered by the creatures very thick skin.
It retaliates against Rybal with the same reach, though with his tail.
It then attempts to grapple Rybal with its large tail.
Though is just short of holding him in his tail to crush the armoured orc. It then assumes a defense posture, ready for what might come.
Rybal growls, swinging his massive weapon repeatedly at the strange foe.
Round 1
Malthu engages the creature with holy light but is unable to hit it.
Drak moves up and around the creature to flank on the other side of Malthu and Rybal. He then attempts to pierce the creature's skin.
Though like Malthu seems to fall short of actually getting through.
Round 2
Variel attempts to cast misfortune on the creature, to protect his allies.
Though the creature seems resilient to the hex. Variel continues to cackle to extend the power of evil eye.
With the flanking from Drak, Rybal is able to strike the Kopru twice. The blade cuts through but again there seems to be quite a lot of resistance.
The Kopru having two closer targets to engage, he unleashes two claw attacks, one onto Malthu, one on Drak and his tail attack onto Rybal.
Both his claws slash throw those adjacent to him but is unable to deal a blow to Rybal.
It shrieks out attempting to wrest control of his foes minds.
Rybal howls as the extradimensional invader assaults his mind. He swings his blade defensively at it and then tries to retreat.
Malthu strikes the creature with holy fervor twice, Sarenrae's light guiding his blade. It strikes true and fells the creature. The creature though appears to only be banished back to another plane.
Drak attempts to resist the mind effects.
Drak stabs the creature then moves away from the compelling effect from the creature.
Drak is unable to pierce the creatures defenses and moves back.
Round 3
Variel attempts to resist the mind effects.
Though he too retreats but keeps the damage to the creature's armour.
The creature now having absconded the room there are 3 passageways onward the ruins say "Well the fastest way is down the middle! Though that has the most malfunctions. I can guarantee that I can control all the contraptions through the right side, though there are more portals like that one abound. The left.. well.. let's say 50/50."
"It just means I won't be able to control any of the traps or any other.. moveable bits of the atelier basement. So you know, you might get a poison dart or twelve. A spike pit or four. You know the, good stuff. Though I can guarantee from my non existent heart that there are no portals down that route. You'd be dealing with slight malfunctions is all! Maybe a room or two has swapped, I don't know!" The ruins seems quite happy, it probably is due to being useful. Though it seems to have very poor standards of keeping your hope up with the dangers ahead.
Rybal growls at the difficult decision.
I'd rather face an enemy than a cowardly trap any day, so I prefer the right path. But if Drak can clear all the traps out of the way, then the middle may be best to speed us on our way. Ebrahim consolidates his strength the longer that we are away.