"Those items might turn out to be useful after all now that the dust is removed though I'm unsure if it was trapped." Thorn remarks as he too attempts to discern what magics the items holds.
He answers questions as they come out with forth coming truth, "Oh yeah, they are all gone. I haven't seen anyone alive. They could be below but with so must, much dust, they have been sleeping a long time. You know I don't remember the flashes I saw just that they were. Should I get it and see if it does it again?"
There are only the four magical items in the room and you can't tell what they are Baahir.
Thorn does not identify those three.
"I'm not seeing a mechanism or a spell in effect, so unless it was one of the items doing it, I can't be sure. As for you taking another one Aukan...I think one is enough, as that probably set off the trap. I think we'll each take one. Frankly, I'd like to see Andrei wear a girly wreath. Hopefully, it doesn't attach to your head like that is to his hand." she winks to Andrei and will remain where she is outside of the room, waiting to see if he wants it now.
While the others concerned themselves with the magical items, Blaze continued to look for signs of the command word to free the Mephit. She decided to ask Aukan about it. "Did you find any books or journals? Words written on wall, mebbe? Did you go into these rooms?" She asked, indicating the remaining two doors.
"You are welcome to them, if you don't take them I will. I did find a journal on my way down but decided to leave it for now. No at this level I investigated the kitchen a bit then came here. But no for the most part no books, yet." He offers with a thinking face.
No signs of writing on the doors, they look a bit worse for wear like the one you just left.
Center door seems to have some empty boxes within.
The Left door opens easily enough and you find it mostly empty. Shelves line the walls. There is a candle on the closest shelf at waist height on the right. There are a few jars ahead, one with a few feathers, another with flint, and the third with a glass jar with blood.
"Well, if you are an explorer just like us...there may be more answers further below. We must be wary of further traps, however. I am not quite ready for a nap." Baahir says sticking close to Blaze, now making more extensive use of his Detect Magic.
"Careful, runes of magic inscribed on the floor." he says reaching out for the hand of Blaze to stop her from going further in.
Excited to hear about runes he quickly says, "So what schools to the runes belong to? Perhaps it is part of the magic that is helpful, rather than a trap."
"Let me study them for a minute, hopefully I can discern something more useful." he says concentrating his mind.
Baahir is not sure what the rune's auras are but they are all tied together to function together.
"My apologies, this isn't my strong suit. I can't tell what the effects may be." he says with a low, slightly embarrassed tone. He looks over his shoulders in case any of his allies wish to try.
"No worries my new friend, I love magic but don't have the aplitude for it. You have spellcraft as I can only use magical devices." He says with understandinga and then a bit of lament.
Blaze laid a hand on Baahir's shoulder in comfort. "We can leave this for another day. I only see components in room anyway." She says the word with an inflection that makes it sound like a curse, looking at the jar of blood with her nose wrinkled in disgust.
"Where was journal you find? Is this it?" She pulls Henry Joneston's journal that she had already found from her pack to show Aukan.
"Yes, that looks to be the journal in the woodworking automatons room." He confirms for you.
Thon had remained silent all these time as he considers his questions and how they might be answered in his head........
"Aurkan, I have to ask. When you were sent here by Ethos,was it as a team or by yourself? Would you be able to speak the elemental tongues or if you're aware that this was a ruin before being sent here? Also You mentioned that images were sent into your head. Could you repeat that experience or is the stone dead?" Thorn pauses as he reconsiders further question.
"I would give it a try to see if the stone would send its images to me if so but I'll do it with your permission." he continues.
"I too might have some luck to use the stone as well."
"I know a bit of Terran and Dwarven. I was brought here by myself. Yes I knew this was a ruin, Ethos said it used to be a wizard's sanctuary so it drew my attention. Good questions, I could pull out the stone and try again." At that he draws the rock from his pack and seems to be paralyzed for a moment. He then states, "Images of fire, a mountain, treasure and strange fire people. Yes you can touch it." He then offers the rock which still looks alive. The same images flare through your mind as you touch it. Will DC 20 to see more. Nothing else happens as you try to activate it after touching it.
Breaking off from his beloved, the varisian stands for the enchanted wreath on it's pedestal, and pronounces, "Î, Ândreî Fîdecupe, hereby clâîm dâ mâgîcâl wreâţh âş hîz own!" With a flash, the caydenite snatches the wreath off it's stand.
Nothing happens. Andrei picks up the wreath and holds it in his hand.
Andrei wordlessly looks to his paramour, and holds the wreath over his head. With a determined sigh, the cleric places the wreath upon his head.
Once Andrei puts the wreath on his head it does begin to grow grapes but once the grapes are full, ripe, and look like they could be plucked from it to be eaten, thorns pinch and pry into your scalp quickly.
The crown will bless you once you frown,
Only by the loss of coin,
Will you find how it will join.
Also now it is a DC 20 strength check to pry off and you will take 8d4 damage.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
At first, the wreath fit the cleric like a glove, even providing grapes to eat. Then , Andrei's hands reach up and grip the wreath as it's thorns grow deep into his scalp. With the pain, the varisian can hear a rhyme. Despite the pain, Andrei shushes those around him so he can hear it.
"Şonuvâbețch! Dîș curșed îțem wănțș me țo deșțroy â work of ârț or â măgîcăl îțem every week țo încreăse my chărîsmă!"
Andrei is unable to remove the wreath from his brow.
Blaze looks over the way the wreath has bonded with his head. "I don't think you should pull it off. Mebbe Ethos can help get it off you." She considers for a moment. "Or we can make art to destroy, mebbe?" Trying comfort the discomfited cleric.
She had a feeling about this place, as if they were being tested here and it gave her the willies. She wondered if Aukan was a part of it, or just another labratory rat like the rest of them.
"That looks rather painful, Andrei. Perhaps Blaze is right about leaving it be for now." Baahir says knowing the other items could have similar negative effects. With the Rod and Wreath understood, and the Stone being investigated by thorn...his attention shifted to the lattice work and the mask.
He slowly walks over to the mask on the pedastal, that the group is having trouble identifying. He contemplates for a moment on whether to take the item.
I don;t feel I have to wear a mask around these people...but if that goliath is just going to claim what is left, I might as well join Andrei on being cursed.
"Well, my curiosity is surely piqued now and it would be unfair to let Andrei suffer alone. Shall I put it on?" Baahir says as he plucks the mask from the pedestal and holds it up, for a closer look.
Aramyros was baffled by his allies' childish curiosity and recklessness. "You say it, like it was a game. But these are clearly no toys, Baahir!" He responded in a strict and angry voice.
He turned to Andrei, who's head was already bleeding from his first attempt to remove the wreath. "Let me stop that bleeding."
He lookes at his mediocre attempt of a healing spell and concluded "Well, better than nothing, I suppose. Now, take that thing off. Who knows, what it will do with you in the longterm..." There was clearly some fear in his voice now. He set down his scythe and pulled strongly with both his hands, adding more bleeding to Andrei's head. He followed immediately with more healing spells.
"Well, my curiosity is surely piqued now and it would be unfair to let Andrei suffer alone. Shall I put it on?" Baahir says as he plucks the mask from the pedestal and holds it up, for a closer look.
Blaze shakes her head and points to Baahir's pack. "Put away to study later..." she urged him. She seemed shaken by the scene of Aramyros prying the wreath of thorns off Andrei. So much blood... this place... it was getting to be too much.
"Aukan, don't take another. Just keep one you have. Ethos say not to take more than one, right? That why we find you sleeping here, mebbe."
For a moment, it looked like Aramyros and Andrei were doing a little dance, as the large aasimar helped the varisian remove the cursed wreath from Andrei's brow. After several healing spells, Andrei was himself once more.
"You..you hâve..my ţhânkş, Ârâmyroş", the caydenite bowed to the oracle, hand extended toward the mangled wreath in his hand. "Âllow me țo wălk dăț kîndlîng bâck up țo dă bonfîre. Î em cerţâîn ît could ușe șome more fuel!"
Aramyros was baffled by his allies' childish curiosity and recklessness. "You say it, like it was a game. But these are clearly no toys, Baahir!" He responded in a strict and angry voice.
"I...uh...you are right." Baahir fumbles his words realizing his folly but more surprised by the strong tone of the scolding. It was something that was wholly new to him.
Blaze shakes her head and points to Baahir's pack. "Put away to study later..." she urged him. She seemed shaken by the scene of Aramyros prying the wreath of thorns off Andrei. So much blood... this place... it was getting to be too much.
He nods, taking some cloth to wrap the mask with before depositing it in his pack.
"Not quite sure what came over me. This place has been so full of oddities." he adds, crestfallen. He rubs his hands together nervously as they finish in the room.
Thorn focuses his mind and thoughts on the images flying through his mind. The Half Elf may not have shown it being in his disguise and all but years of having his mind and memory treated like a honey comb allows him to focus clearly on those images.
Thorn follows the images in his mind, missing what is transpiring between his companions, lost in his own attempts to make sense of the images and to retain control of his own senses.
His curiosity was beginning to rise.
You appear to be looking down upon a mountain or more precisely a volcano. You see that lava gushes from several vents as steam and ash flutter above them. You turn around and can see the caldera of the volcano. Then you walk down obsidian steps. Then a great flame embraces you but you still feel at ease. Passing it you notice the magical runes that make up the trap on the platform and then you descend some more. The next room opens up with a pool of lava on one side and a bed of some sort on the other. Several figures are in their room that have fire for hair and not much for clothing. You do see collars that glow around their necks and limbs. Pressing a large knob a secret door opens and within you find yourself staring at a large treasure trove.
Then you come to out of the trance or vision that the orb gave you.
As Thorn comes to his senses Aukan asks, "What did you see?"
With a coughing laugh, Callie will snicker at the claim of Andrei as he places the wreath on his head. When he cannot get it off, she worries a bit more. As the thorns pinch into his scalp, she will move to his side, ready to help. It stops pushing into his skull, but when he tries to take it off, she grits her teeth at the pain he endures. "This is not going to be good..."
"Thank you," she will respond to their healer (evidently). She will move over to Aramyros and will clasp him on the shoulder lightly in clear thanks for healing Andrei. It seems the danger is somewhat passed.
Lilianne recalls Blaze's woodworking and she agrees. "You make splendid art. It wouldn't take much of it in order to fulfill the magical requirements."
Looking back to Andrei, she comments, "Curses can be removed from items with enough skill. Perhaps as you grow more in favor with Cayden, he will give you the power to overcome it? Also, in time, maybe if you give it art, it will be kinder to you. Some of these kinds of items are intelligent and have feelings. The fact I could not detect the curse means they are higher powered than what I can detect."
She is hesitant to take possession of any of the other items without know and mastering their curses. Such would take intense study and remembrance tomorrow.
In reponse to Aukan's question, Thorn pauses to gather his thoughts before speaking.
"A volcano and I have view as if looking through a scrying device of some sort. Lava from Several Vents with steam and Ash all over. Steps from the Caldera leads downward and there are runes of some sort that triggers a trap on the platform. A room with a pool of lava and a bed, occupied by fire creatures with collars around their necks and limbs. There's a secret door with a large treasure trove." He shakes his head and then breathes in deeply.
"It's a hot place for sure." he finishes.
Hoping to prevent Aukan from doing further harm to himself, she asks Lilianne for her unseen servant's help once again. " You take lattice... thing, and I the rod. But we put in box, not touching for now. Take back with us, study later."
"Oh, WOW! You saw more than me. So do you think we should activate it now or later?" He exclaims and then asks.
Lilianne wouldn't care if Aukan did grab the other items. He likely would be messed up by doing so again. If he was so stupid as to try again, why would she bother to stop him? She'd just watch him be put to sleep again and then would do what she wants with the items. As Blaze suggests, however, she nods and will move with her servant to make sure it can find a box large enough for the rod and lattice, and then can carry it.
Once they return, she will have the unseen servant gather the items in the room and cover them with a cloth. Assuming it is not too heavy, she'll have him carry it out of the room and then back up to the room with the bed and tunnel in it and there it will place it, by her will power, under the bed . Then she'll have the unseen servant return.
In the meantime, while waiting for Andrei to return from the bonfire, she will speak with their large rescue who seems dangerously excited to continue.
"Aukan, you have been trapped down here for a long time. It is not that I don't want you to join us, but rather, that we are to make sure you are alright. This area seems to be filled with dangers and I'd see you safe. In your hand perhaps is a key to the areas below, so I'm sure that we will have you rejoin us, but for now, why don't you take a break and enjoy the fresh air for a time. Maybe you can help us set up the outpost while we are down here? There is an elf up top named, Aria who you could visit with?"
The varisian made the climb back to the surface, making a b-line for the bonfire. Andrei took a few moment to perfect position the wreath in the middle of the burning pile of vegetation. The wreath went up like a piece of tissue paper. As it quickly burned, the wreath made a loud screech like a witch burning at the stake. Then it was ash.
Andrei took a moment to remove a bottle of absinthe from his backpack, and taking several large gulps, then returning it to it's place of storage. After a satisfying belch, the caydenite returned back to the basement.
"Şorry îf ăye măde you worry, love." Andrei said went he returned Callie's side.
"Okay," he says agreeing and goes up.
Baahir nods, putting the mask he picked up within the chest as well.
"Better to have it away from us, with whatever curse may be upon it." he says rather quietly.
"I wonder the significance of this caldera is...perhaps it is another place we will be sent. I don't believe there is any volcanic activity near here, Blaze?" he asks her as she has some knowledge of the country.
Blaze would probably have preferred Aukan stay under her eye, but Lilianne seemed bothered by his presence, so she did not interfere.
"No, no volcano in Irrisen. But I would have said no green forests either." She said with a shrug. "Fire beings in collars... sound like slaves or prisoners." She shook her head sadly.
Shaking her head, she will give a slight smile to Andrei
"Remember that next time you want to put on a wreath."
While she jokes, she will take his hand. With Aukan having headed upstairs, she will go to check the other two doors to ensure they are not locked.
"It is curious," she answers her teammates as they speak of the volcano and what could be below. "I am wondering about this Goliath. He almost seems to have a dangerous child-like mentality to him. I think we should be wary around him, at least when it comes to safety. He seems impulsive."
These doors seem to be well made compared to the others. No traps can be found. Opening either of them using a prybar or crowbar reveals a shift that drops at least 60 feet. If you drop something lit on it, you might find how long they drop.
"It is curious," she answers her teammates as they speak of the volcano and what could be below. "I am wondering about this Goliath. He almost seems to have a dangerous child-like mentality to him. I think we should be wary around him, at least when it comes to safety. He seems impulsive."
Andrei squirms inwardly at Lilianne's use of the word 'impulsive', considering his actions so far this day. The unease didn't leave however. The caydenite looks around the room, hoping to find a justification for how 'wrong' the cleric feels.
Leaving it there he walks forward. There he looks at the nearly naked females that have collars on. "I am here to free you!" He states in common and seeing their confused faces he tries in Terran and dwarven.
Speaking in Terran gets them to smile at you. One of them walks forward and offers her wrists.
Aukan takes his adamantine great sword and taps it upon the manacles. Seeing that it chips at it easily he continues. Once one is free he goes to the rest.
The females help you free them, one of them even shows you the secret passage. Though they wait for you to return.
Aukan enters the treasure room and knows he can't carry it all. He doesn't even know if the item will work again. He then quietly starts to look for magical items and appraising items in the hoard. Then he sees a sleeping dragon of some kind, it is only large but he knows size can be misleading. He stays as far as he can from it and then sees another. These could be the guard dogs or worse the kids of who owns this hoard. He begins backing up the way he came but then sees the prize he must have, a large glowing greaysword. He sheathes his adamantine greatsword and puts it in his Handy Haversack. He eyes a few precious gems he collects on the way. A statue. A silk rope. Then he hears movement and stops.
One of the dragons is moving and looking around. To his luck a large statue is between him and the beast. With a few quiet steps it stops and finds a new cozy place to sleep.
As Aukan hears it snoring again he takes his last few quiet steps to the sword, he resists grabbing a few other items going straight to the sword. Putting his hand around the hilt he knew he was destined to weild it. Though it wouldn't let a coward keep it and pronounced to the room, "A new master has come prove his worth! Now Aukan prove you are worthy of me!"
Aukan took the sword and from his new position saw that there was at least five of them and didn't waste any time. He first drew his wand of shield and cast it upon himself, then stowing it. AC 23. Then he pointed the sword at the closest dragon he announced I am coming for you, charging. The sword says, defeat three then you can return later with companions to claim the rest of the hoard.
AC 19, touch 10, flat-footed 10 (+9 natural)
hp 68 (8d10+24)
Fort +11; Ref +6; Will +5
OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft.
Melee bite +11 (2d6+4 plus 1d6 acid)
Special Attacks acidic bite, blood frenzy, wounding gaze
12 damage to Aukan.
He finishes first one off.
Misses
26 damage to 2nd B
Misses.
28 total damage to Aukan.
49 damage to 2nd B
28 damage to 3rd B
Cleave AC 21.
down the 2nd B
down the 3rd B
Cleave AC 21.
The last two focus their gazes upon him and he retreats with his prize.
Finding the three females very impressed. In broken Terran the one who knows it says they will serve you until they can pay back the favor.
Aukan finds himself tossing the rock up to see if the trap has reset, it hasn't and takes them with him. Up the stairs to the dark portal.
The elf nods at his approach with his new friends. Finding out Ignan is their primary language he knows he will have to learn it. He finds all the tents have obviously been occupied he takes them over to the spring to clean up.
Once the four of them exit the portal, it closes and the stone, is recovered by Aukan, lands on the ground. Needing a week to charge.
These doors seem to be well made compared to the others. No traps can be found. Opening either of them using a prybar or crowbar reveals a shift that drops at least 60 feet. If you drop something lit on it, you might find how long they drop.
Less curious than the others, Aramyros opened the heavy doors and investigated the two rooms with Lilianne. He grabs a piece of stone that has fallen from the ceiling and lights it up with a magic spell. Than he carefully leans over and drops it, counting up, until the light is no longer visible or stops getting smaller.
"It at least seems his is more likely to harm himself than us, so far. Yet it is another mystery for us to ponder over...much like these shafts." Baahir says watching as Aramyros works.
"Cleansing a goblin threat has certainly taken a turn for the complex. I have to take back what I said about it being too simple for us."
"Nothing is simple. The best of pranks can go wrong and why would there be so many cursed items around?" Thorn speaks up as he tries to ignore his thoughts on Aria. He was sure of their link but also of his gut feeling that she wasn't just an elf.
"Sending Aurkan up to Aria, would those two get along?" he muses.
"Should we send someone down to investigate those shafts?"
She leaves Andrei's side to do her job. As she does, she responds to Baahir, "Let us hope so, Baahir. In training, there were always those who wanted to be first and put others in harms way. I was getting that feeling from him, but who can say?"
She will help force open the door and then will peer down into the darkness 60ft, as she is capable of seeing that far. Was this a bathroom she wonders?
"Go for it," she nods to Aramyros as he lights up a rock to drop it in. She will wait to see how far down it goes as well.
She nods to Thorn, "On pedestals no less."
You can see the light spell and would estimate it to be about 100 feet deep.
There seems to be a button on the wall next to each door. Touching it does nothing.
Aramyros investigates the button. He seems to be frustrated from the beginning as remembers his inability to get the automation going. [i]Ethos should have hired a proper Wizard, with all that magi tech sitting here[/]
He senses that the button might be able to do something, but doesn't work. He tries to repair it, a spell Aramyros usually uses for broken arrows and the like.