Avonathalanthalasa sits down to study the runes. Concentrating hard, she channels her knowledge to understand the nature behind them. After about a minute, she realizes that yes, the rune is magical. There are faint emanations of the evocation school of magic.
Talm quickly bounds up (doing a cartwheel, nonetheless!) to the rune and quickly erases any sight of it. The east way is now *seemingly* clear!
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Voron turns his arcane eye towards that passage, his comfort and trust lessened by the presence of the first trap.
I'm guessing there are more where that came from...
While he approaches his, he raps his staff ahead of him on the initial floor tiles into the passage, while standing comfortably back into the current room.
Voron detects no magic beyond what he already sensed - near the statue. He doesn't detect the other "trap" on the west side either.
Talm nearly trips on his way over to the other rune and corrects himself in the nick of time. He swiftly erases the rune - nothing is left! All is seemingly alright in this room. No more traps that you can see. All that's left is the statue One-Who-Waits and a magical aura beneath it.
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"Talm, you're a natural!" Vixnax smirks. "But let me tell you something, that Maleeka gives me the chills, and I'm sure something will come from either the water or the ceiling and we'll be glad that both runes are gone." Vixnax flexes his muscles, then stretches his back.
"Now let's get this statue." Vixnax raises his buckler and walks towards the one-who-waits, and reaches to grab it as soon as he gets close enough.
Vixnax cautiously approaches One-Who-Waits to grab it. It's heavy and cumbersome () but the kobold can easily carry it.
Behind the pedestal the statue is on, Vixnax glimpses a trunk or a chest.
The chest is definitely magical. Or maybe something inside the chest? Avonathalanthalasa can't exactly tell from where she's standing. The chest is iron bound with solid oak wood that looks relatively recently made. But it doesn't look trapped to anyone.
Voron flips it open and it's not what he expected. He pulls out an iron scepter topped with a sculpture of a talon clutching an orb that continually glows white-hot as if its still being tempered in a forge.
There are two leather bladders containing some sort of liquid.
A leather bound journal tied shut with leather straps.
A set of six scrolls.
Vixnax and Voron start reading the scrolls and quickly realize they aren't arcane in nature. In fact, Vixnax recognizes them as scrolls that describe various occult and martial art techniques. The kobold hasn't seen the techniques before but he can study them.
For the next ten minutes, Voron sits down and studies the scepter. The craftsmanship is exquisite, definitely a Vudrani artifact. It works as an everburning torch.
Another ten minutes go by and Voron studies the two leather bladders. Sniffing and sampling and comparing notes with Avonathalansa, he comes to determine that they are minor elixirs of life.
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"Interesting..." Vixnax exclaims as he reads on. "These are martial arts techniques. Let me look further into them."
The kobold takes the scrolls and lays them out on the floor. He then stands in a neutral martial arts position, and starts copying the movements in the scrolls. The outside world fades, and he pictures himself in a black room, the only thing visible are the scrolls and himself.
To the outside world, he seems entranced. He doesn't notice what the rest are doing, and he only stops once everyone is ready.
Vixnax studies the martial art techniques. It takes him a while before he gets the hang of it.
Avonathalanthalasa watches the room to make sure nothing more comes at them. As of now, it's quiet besides her companions.
Both Talm and Sumner start reading the leatherbound journal and realizes it's Meleeka's personal journal! Though the Pathfinders can't read it fully in depth, they do gain valuable information about Meleeka.
About seven months ago, Meleeka discovered a set of six scrolls written by her ancestors while she studied at the Monastery of Unblinking Flame. When she brought the scrolls to her masters, she was commanded to destroy them and forbid her to use the techniques in the most recent Challenge of Sky and Heaven (the martial arts tournament held between Jalmerays' four Houses of Perfection every 10 years). Meleeka had burned any forgeries though kept the originals for herself. She refrained from using the techniques in the tournament and was eliminated handily in the first round. Enraged, she fled the monastery and stole One-Who-Waits from the Pathfinder Lodge and realized it was the same statue used in the training techniques of her ancestors. Now the proclaimed master of her own monastery - the Temple of Unforgiving Fire - Meleeka intends to build a monastic order strong enough to defeat her former school in the next Challenge of Sky and Heaven.
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He decides to store them back in the chest. He then grabs One-Who-Waits and starts going for the exit.
Yes, we ought to get out of here as soon as is humanoidly possible. If I recall correctly, this level made a sort of loop. So, we could avoid a fight if we can be quiet and avoid the room where our new "friends" were training....?
It's more of a uncertain proposition than a confident statement.
Vixnax grabs a hole of One-Who-Waits. The heavy statue is cumbersome so the little kobold hobbles behind everyone.
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"Now that I think about it, Voron." Vixnax says to the front of the line. Those acolytes were actually bandits, you know. And there were traps leading to the statue. That means those goods are probably stolen! He stands for a second to catch his breath.
However, I don't think us pathfinders should be doing any arrests, but we could as concerned people secure the evidence of said stolen goods. Until we can find the appropriate authorities, of course.
Vixnax visibly struggles as he speaks, walks, and holds one-who-waits, panting and moaning between words. He stops, looking at Voron and the others for a response.
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"Now that I think about it, Voron." Vixnax says to the front of the line. Those acolytes were actually bandits, you know. And there were traps leading to the statue. That means those goods are probably stolen! He stands for a second to catch his breath.
However, I don't think us pathfinders should be doing any arrests, but we could as concerned people secure the evidence of said stolen goods. Until we can find the appropriate authorities, of course.Vixnax visibly struggles as he speaks, walks, and holds one-who-waits, panting and moaning between words. He stops, looking at Voron and the others for a response.
Yes, I think that sounds right. The first goal is to get out of here and return the goods. Avoid fighting. Everybody has the right idea. Let's make haste! He nods and urges them onward to escape.
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Talm falls back to walk with Vixnax.
"You might be right. I can take the statue, if you want to secure the evidence from the chest."
"I can worry about the statue." He replies to Talm. The other items can be secure by the rest of the party. If we split the evidence, we can carry it all without encumberance. He looks to Voron and says "Correct. Let's."
The group talks about who should carry the statue and the rest of the items in the chest.