"Yes-yes, this is a place where my clan might have squatted. Or goblins, too, with the stink-smell. But nothing of value-worth is here now. We should move-go."
Olander follows Nocki's lead.
Nocki heads up the curving stairs. Between two curving stairwells lies a small landing. Three stone boxes, their lids raised, stand lined up against the east wall. A fine yellow powder surrounds them on the floor.
The yellow powder seems to have come from the chests.
Olander gives it his best go but assumes Mikkitar will probably have more success than he does.
"Let me-me look at this stuff. Do not touch or breath-smell it, until I can identify-know it."
Mikkitar looks over the chests and the powder, carefully.
Knowing very little about these things Sandu softly prays to Desna for the ability to see the magical emanations around him.
With no magic apparent and Mikkitar diagnosing that the yellow powder is a old spoiled trap, you guys can guess that someone else has come before you and raided the contents of the chests.
You follow the steps up to a next level inside the structure and find a larger room.
Pillars line the center of this long hall. At the far end is a low rostrum, the dusty stumps of ancient votive candles lining its outer edge. Two of these have been knocked over. Colorful murals of Thassilon pilgrims and giants marching over an intact Irespan cover the walls.
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As Mikkitar declares the powder as safe, Nocki says "If there were alchemical traps here, there might be others further up."
As they get to the next level, the dwarf looks at the pillars with wonder. "This is incredible!", he says impressed. He looks at the knocked over candles and says "Shall we put them straight and light them?". He seems excited to summon an ancient evil with an obscure ritual.
Hopefully, we either find them, or they're already spoiled too.
Olander tries to remember anything about the Irespan, Thassilon, and candles.
Nearly 10,000 years before the founding of Magnimar, the Irespan served as the main travel route through the mountainous realm of Bakrakhan. The Irespan used to stretch all the way to the capital city of Xin-Bakrakhan, the strange monument now known as Hollow Mountain. When Earthfall—the cataclysm that heralded the end of the Thassilonian empire—struck, most of the Irespan collapsed. Now all that remains are the end of the Irespan in Magnimar and a few crumbling stretches that speckle the entrance to the Varisian Gulf.
Olander begins to pontificate, "The Irespan, sometimes called the Giant's Bridge, is the largest and most impressive monument in all of Magnimar and overshadows the city's poorest district known as Underbridge. The Irespan is actually the remains of an enormous bridge that stretches into the Varisian Gulf, standing over 300 feet above the sea and over 100 feet wide. It is, like most of the monuments that dot the Varisian landscape, a remnant of ancient Thassilon.
Nearly 10,000 years before the founding of Magnimar, the Irespan served as the main travel route through the mountainous realm of Bakrakhan. The Irespan used to stretch all the way to the capital city of Xin-Bakrakhan, the strange monument now known as Hollow Mountain. When Earthfall—the cataclysm that heralded the end of the Thassilonian empire—struck, most of the Irespan collapsed. Now all that remains are the end of the Irespan in Magnimar and a few crumbling stretches that speckle the entrance to the Varisian Gulf."
Nocki hears the scurrying of tiny feet across the room and fainting squeaking.
"What-what did they use to make-build such a bridge? And where-what city did it meet? Magnimar is old-big, sure, but this, this is entirely different."
"Look for hidden-secret doors, I will check for trap-danger."
Nocki, you see what appears to be a large rat take off for the stairs on the other side of the room.
The Cleric feels completely out of his element and unconsciously moves closer to Nocki.
The rat seems to stare at Nocki for a moment and then scampers up the stairs.
If that ladder collapses into another latrine...
Olander looks it over and then follows.
Mikkitar looks at Nocki at the minor slight, but doesn't mention it.
"Why not-not? One way is as good as another-nother, right now. Keep your eyes open-peeled, do not let up your guard."
Following Nocki with his crossbow at the ready, Mikkitar scampers along with the others.
The group follows the rat up the stairs and it very quickly becomes apparent that it is a long way up.
The staircase winds upwards with no break for some distance.
Nocki's sense of stonecunning tells him that you have gained elevation up towards the top of the giant ruin.
As the staircase winds around to the fourth floor of the Crow, Nocki detects a faint trace of light ahead and a terrible smell of burnt hair and cooking meat.
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Nocki, feeling invigorated by the climb, comments "There's light ahead. I smell... meat! Someone must be cooking our rat friend, because I smell burnt hair too..." He withholds the information about their elevation since he knows it sometimes bores surface dwellers. He peaks around the corner to see if he can identify the source of light.
Nocki, you see a pair of Varisian women behind an overturned table, directing crossbows toward you!
Roll for initiative!
A startled shout escapes from Sandu. "What!"
"I imagine we have encountered foe-danger."
Why does every woman want to attack me.... oh right, the horns...
Wait... Olander calls in vain.
The two women level their crossbows and fire at Nocki, but their aim is terrible!
Nocki also notices the large rat, laying on its back, wriggling and convulsing wildly.
Party is up!
Olander follows in Nocki's footsteps, drawing his rapier and bringing it down on their foes.
Olander stabs the wounded rogue in the chest.
She crumples to the ground, her life leaking out from her wounds.
"Yes-yes, we are fighting well today-now. Keep up the pressure, we will kill-slay them before they can do a thing to us!"
Mikkitar moves up behind Nocki, crossbow at the ready. Seeing the tight quarters and lack of a clean shot, he drinks a small potion from his belt. A close scrutiny of his hands and feet show them twitch and move just a bit faster, while his thick ratty fur closes over itself and helps to protect his vitals.
Sandu moves for cover. "The Lady still guides your steps Olander,
Blessing of the Faithful
@Olander Kaddren+2 sacred bonus to Hit for 1 round)
Olander, the large rat on the floor adjacent to you continues to writhe and seems to be changing shape before your eyes.
The woman engaged with Nocki drops her crossbow and draws a shortsword. (provoking an attack of opportunity).
Then she stabs at Nocki!
The writhing rat creature seems to grow larger, into a some hybrid form that could either walk on two or four legs. It finishes its transformation and flips over onto all four.
It hisses menacingly at Olander.
First Nocki's AoO, then the party is up!
Nocki's attack misses.