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Ayita thinks about it, and talks to Ter about the dream and tries to work in what Ter has seen from above.
She asks Ter to help the others think about it as well. I'm rolling multiple survivals for Ter to assist each part member, as she could answer questions if asked. GM Derek if that's too much, pls everyone ignore this.
As she talks to Ter, she notices a... chicken feather??... stuck to the falcon's head.
FINDING THE ENTRANCE!
All of you realize, based on experience traveling in the woodlands, that the vines and other types of foliage in your Sorshen dream only grow on one side of the island, in a small valley. From where you stand, you can see the differences in foliage.
Frantino also recalls from his studies that in Thassilonian times, the prevailing architectural styles would place buildings facing one way, but the catacombs beneath a structure would extend away from it's rear. If that's the case, there would be a limited number of places...
Combining these facts, it seems pretty clear that the Forlorn Sepulchers' entrance would be... over there. -->
Ter is unable to find it from the air, but with a bit of bushwacking, the heroes arrive at the exact spot from their dream.
Sword and shield out to do the bushwacking, Nasir leads the way with Ayita in tow.
"Keep your eyes peeled, Ayita. Let us try not to get ambushed on zis journey."
Ayita is watching around, with help from Ter and Yazhi.
[dice=perception]1d20+17+2+3
The trio of Ayita and her companions scout ahead, avoiding pitfalls along the way. Ter, in particular, saves the day by spotting a trio of hell mosquitos nesting in a nearby clearing. Ayita is able to steer the group away from them and avoid them all together.
Yazhi scents a troupe of what Ayita thinks might have been gorillas (?). Her hunter's skills suggest to her that they are... more (?) than just gorillas.
Eventually, everybody finds themselves at the entrance to the Forlorn Sepulchers. An overgrown archway depicting two weeping dragons confronts them, beckoning.
Nasir moves up to the archway and examines it. Is there a tunnel beyond or is it another portal? Does the archway seem to change has he gets closer? Does he remember anything from his dream that feels familiar?
Nasir moves up to the archway and examines it. Is there a tunnel beyond or is it another portal? Does the archway seem to change has he gets closer? Does he remember anything from his dream that feels familiar?
Beyond the archway is a tunnel, leading off into relative darkness. Dead leaves and other detritus litter the entrance. The tunnel, however, is some distance long. Eventually, down the tunnel, Nasir realizes that it IS lit. Softly glowing spots of light, placed high up on the walls, provide a dim lighting.
Nasir notices the walls are incredibly smooth and covered in Thassilonian script.
The script continues along the walls, seemingly endless.
Nasir sees in the distance a room and... perhaps a statue?
Ezranadir casts Detect Magic and looks at the archway, then statues and finally the surrounding area. He keeps the spell up and awaits someone to check for traps.
Nothing on the archway is magical, but once inside the tunnel Ezranadir registers the glowing spots of light as ancient conjuration spells made permanent.
And he notices... the light is just bright enough so that every insult inscribed on the walls is readable.
The long, dimly lit hallway from the arches leads to a room, cluttered with small heaps of rubble and drifts of dust. To the east another hallway ends at a circular pillar that blocks entry to a large room beyond save for narrow gaps to either side. A blue marble statue of a thin man with a cruel face and long hair fringing a bald pate, his arms outstretched, stands in the middle of the room, still upright despite one-inch-wide gaps that separate the statue into six components—a head, two arms, two legs, and a torso. A plaque at the statue’s base bears a single word: "Thybidos."
Frantino grabbed the second abyssal runestone before Maga Szuul could. He'll cast detect invisibility as he enters the hallway and reads the graffiti, then carefully approaches the statue, holding Fury at the ready.
+1 for traps
Frantino grabbed the second abyssal runestone before Maga Szuul could. He'll cast detect invisibility as he enters the hallway and reads the graffiti, then carefully approaches the statue, holding Fury at the ready.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 16 +1 for traps
Frantino doesn't see any traps or other dangers.
The pillar to the east is a slab of solid granite that leaves a 1-inch gap to the north and south.
As Frantino gets close to the granite pillar he hears a raspy voice in his head, "Speak my name and enter..."
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As he enters, Ezranadir says, "These inscriptions seem to be all countless insults of Runelord Thybidos." He continues looking around the area, "The statue is magical and seems to be held together by a permanent evocation (force) effect. Is this the right location of that all of you dreamed?"
Arcana +16
History +10
Nobility +9
Religion +14
"Ezranadir, the vision I saw matches exactly the archway with two weeping dragons that we passed through, but it showed nothing of the interior. We should still be wary, of course, since following the instructions of a runelord like Sorshen often came with risks. Anyway, did you guys hear that? I think Thy... the former runelord spoke to me, it may have been in my mind but I don't know if you all heard it, too."
Frantino will speak loudly to the room in general, first in Thassilonian then in Common. "Runelord Thybidos, we seek entry to the Forlorn Sepulchers."
Nasir observes the slurs on the walls. "Zassilonians were a pretty crass people. Some of these inscriptions are particularly vulgar, and zat is coming from a career soldier."
Nasir then responds to Frantino. "I did not hear zis call, Frantino Kaddren, but we need to explore every avenue to get access to the Runelord's spirit. So speak za name and see if we can enter."
[dice=Perception]1d20+5
As he enters, Ezranadir says, "These inscriptions seem to be all countless insults of Runelord Thybidos." He continues looking around the area, "The statue is magical and seems to be held together by a permanent evocation (force) effect. Is this the right location of that all of you dreamed?"
[dice=Knowledge]1d20
Arcana +16
History +10
Nobility +9
Religion +14
Thybidos was the penultimate runelord of wrath and ruler of the Thassilonian realm of Bakrakhan before Earthfall. When he decided that he should be the ruler of Bakrakhan, he assassinated the incumbent runelord of wrath Xiren and succeeded her. He was in turn bested and killed by Alaznist, the final runelord of wrath before Earthfall. Alaznist had his wife and seven children killed, as well.
"Ezranadir, the vision I saw matches exactly the archway with two weeping dragons that we passed through, but it showed nothing of the interior. We should still be wary, of course, since following the instructions of a runelord like Sorshen often came with risks. Anyway, did you guys hear that? I think Thy... the former runelord spoke to me, it may have been in my mind but I don't know if you all heard it, too."
Frantino will speak loudly to the room in general, first in Thassilonian then in Common. "Runelord Thybidos, we seek entry to the Forlorn Sepulchers."
On the word "Thybidos" the stone pillar retracts into the ground, enabling Frantino and Nasir to see beyond into a marble-floored chamber.
The room is grand. Nearly 100ft in length, with a twenty foot-high raised balcony surrounding the central portion of the room. The ceiling rises to a height of sixty feet above the central part of the room. A broad set of steps ascends to the overlooking balcony at the east end of the hall.
The floor is set with a striking design in jade and a golden glass of some sort.
The room is dimly lit by the same spots of light as the hallway, set high up on the north and south walls, above the balcony. They provide scant illumination down below.
Frantino will cautiously proceed into the grand room (preferably in step with Nasir), ensuring he doesn't stop on top of the stone pillar that is now in the ground - no telling how soon before it will rise back up! He won't proceed further in until the rest of the party has caught up.
+1 for traps
There seems to be something 20' wide right in front of Frantino blocking his line of sight in Roll20 except at an angle off to either side, but your description doesn't imply there is anything right in front of us...
There seems to be something 20' wide right in front of Frantino blocking his line of sight in Roll20 except at an angle off to either side, but your description doesn't imply there is anything right in front of us...
BUG! There are two pillars separated by 10 feet. But your darkvision should allow you to see between them. I've just added some more lights ont he ceiling to solve the problem.
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 16 +1 for traps
No traps that Frantino can see.
Sword and shield in hand, Nasir nods at Frantino and walks forward with him.
If I'm reading this correctly, we're on the bottom floor of a 60' tall room in a 30' wide canyon with ten massive pillars to the ceiling, 20' tall walls to the left and right, and a balcony/walkway up there, largely out of sight. The only ways out of the canyon are going up the stairs at the far end or somehow climbing the 20' walls.
Frantino's paranoia gives him the impression this is a huge ambush zone down here and we need to get up to the balcony level to better see any threats. This is also a place he would put traps, if this were his dungeon. "We should get to those stairs as quickly as possible while also being wary of traps. I don't like the idea of just walking up the middle path, I think we should stay to the far right and left, between the columns and walls, until we get to the stairs. I'll take the lead on the right and look for traps. Ayita, can you do the same on the left? The rest of you, please keep an eye out for danger looking down on us from the upper walkways. The sooner we can get up those stairs, the sooner we can get a full view of this room. Nasir, my soldier friend, what additional precautions should we take against walking into an ambush down here?"
If I'm reading this correctly, we're on the bottom floor of a 60' tall room in a 30' wide canyon with ten massive pillars to the ceiling, 20' tall walls to the left and right, and a balcony/walkway up there, largely out of sight. The only ways out of the canyon are going up the stairs at the far end or somehow climbing the 20' walls.
[dice=Perception vs traps]1d20 + 16 + 1
Frantino's assessment of the room is accurate. And, bonus, he sees no traps. All good here!
From way on the back, Hatfield tries to see. But, he's easily distracted...
[dice=Perception]1d20+1
It's a pretty dark entryway. I added a light in the entry to allow you to see.
Ayita looks for traps as well, starting with our immediate area, then looking up toward that tall ceiling with the odd structures. Guidances.
[dice=Ayita traps close and careful]1d20+17+2+1+1
[dice=Ayita traps upwards after that]1d20+17+2+1+1
Ayita and Yazhi cautiously search and find nothing dangerous. The way seems clear.
Frantino will press forward along the right side since it's clearly not trapped, making sure to stay roughly even with Ayita moving along the opposite wall, until we both get to the stairs and climb to the upper level, checking all directions as our heads get high enough to see around and behind us. He assumes that the rest of the party is following and keeping us covered should any threats appear.
+1 for traps
The heroes approach the stairs and ascend them, finding no dangers (or so they think).
The steps arrive at a domed fane with the rune of wrath emblazoned on the marble floor. Twelve ivory statues of the same fierce woman wielding a ranseur line the curving walls, flanking a pool of water and a single, thirteenth statue made of gray stone. This thirteenth statue is of a man cowering on his knees, at half the scale of the women. Fresco scenes of unspeakable violence decorate the walls and ceiling, illustrating this place’s dedication to the concept of wrath. Further west, six slabs of stone seem to be set into indentations in the walls, while a wider alcove opens in the center of the vast room’s northern wall.
Curious after Ezranadir's comment, Frantino will also cast detect magic and analyze the pool and statues.
Maybe he'll have better luck figuring out the statues.
With the Detect Magic still up, does Ezranadir detect anything on the statues, the pool or anything else? "I don't like the looks of these statues. Frantino, is this pool another portal? I would imagine those six stone slabs probably drop into the floor and have rooms beyond." He gazes around.
The pool nor the statues are magic. The only magic that radiates are the infrequent lights atop the walls.
Interestingly, as the party ascends the stairs, the lights behind them wink out. (Clearly, Runelord Alaznist was very wrathful about leaving the lights on.)
Curious after Ezranadir's comment, Frantino will also cast detect magic and analyze the pool and statues.
[dice=Knowledge arcana]1d20 + 10 + 1d6
[dice=Spellcraft]1d20 + 12 + 1d6
Maybe he'll have better luck figuring out the statues.
[dice=Knowledge History]1d20 + 12 + 1d6
Neither Frantino, nor Ezranadir, detect any magic in the area, except for the lights atop the walls.
The statues are clearly of Alaznist. The cowering man is Thybidos, in the final moments of his life.
"Thanks, pup."
Hatfield casts light on Yazhi's tail. He hopes the 'strobing' effect from her wagging won't be an issue.
As soon as Doc says, "Thanks, pup" Yazhi's tail wags, strobing the entire party. <flash> <flash> <flash>
Frantino will approach the pool while pulling out the abyssal runestone to see if it reacts like the pool back in the Gauntlet of Fury.
Ayita looks carefully near the statues, along the walls, floor, etc. for evidence that any elemental force has emanated from any point in the past. Also, perhaps the statues move? Perhaps, she thinks, they send a force to the Thybidos statue and that disperses force?
[dice=perception]1d20+17+2+1
Ayita spots nothing out of the ordinary near the statues, along the walls, floor, etc. This statue of Thybidos, unlike the first one you saw in the entryway chamber, is a solid statue. There is no force effect holding separate parts together. Just a traditional, carved, statue.
Hatfield does a quick sweep with Detect Poison.
Doc's efforts find no poison here.
Frantino will approach the pool while pulling out the abyssal runestone to see if it reacts like the pool back in the Gauntlet of Fury.
Frantino is ready, expecting some sort of reaction. But nothing happens. The pool remains still. He examines the pool more closely and spots inflow and outflow pipes from where the water comes and where it flows out.
While the magical types examine the area, Nasir looks around the stairs on the north side to see if he spots anything. He does not stray from the group, but looks down he passage behind them.
Disappointed by the lack of reaction at the pool, Frantino will follow Nasir to explore the north side of the balcony. "Looks like we should examine the alcove down here, although these stone blocks also stand out."
Frantino will stop at the first stone block on the way to the alcove and examine it, with detect magic and see invisibility still up.