The spark from Ceres' cantrip does not set anything on fire, but the mould does seem to react, ripples flow through it and it spreads out just a little further along the wall and to the floor.
The scene disconcerts Gildevar, causing disgust to be written all over his face. "It seems to ... like that. Best keep that icy blue vial close at hand, just in case the mold gets any ideas ..."
Tawg points a stubby green finger at the mold. "Why not just throw the damn ice rock at the mold now?!" He takes a step closer and clenches his fist. "If its idea is to try and eat us, I'll punch it into a paste."
"How very interesting." Araton murmured, watching the mold grow out that much more in response to the burst of heat. How would it react to a person's body heat? It'd have to be lethal. Tawg spoke up about using the ice rock and Araton would look back at him with a little nod.
"It makes sense. The lantern is a trick; you use it to try and burn the mold away and it only grows. Throw it onto it and then you have a real mess. The cold crystal laid opposite of the door, away from where one would go to get further into the Lessons." Taking the icy blue vial in hand, he would look to the others first to see if they contested using it to try and destroy the mold. If none did, he would through it into the thickest mess of it, waiting to see what would happen next.
Araton throws the gem at the mold. It hits near the center of the door and makes contact with the violet mold. Instantly the mold begins to frost over. Instead of rippling, it shrinks and cracks. Warmth begins to return to the room. The mold has been destroyed, but so has the gem that destroyed it.
Now all three doors are accessible.
"Fantastic throw, Araton. Now, where do we start? With the one you just made available to us?"
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If Gildevar doesn't spot any traps on the door, Tawg will approach and pick up a piece of the mold, giving it a sniff and a lick if his sniffing doesn't tip him off to anything bad.
Ceres watches Tawg now, a look of wonder crossing her face as the goblin inches towards the mold, his (bigger) little nose quivering. Will he?
"I think so friend." Araton says, approaching the door that the mold had protected before. Perhaps there was another hidden reward in there that would aid them in their tasks. With his face to the door as Gildevar inspected it, he would be oblivious to Tawg's experimentation with the mold that remained.
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No traps are detected on the door. It is unlocked and opens to another hallway to get to the next room.
As Tawg licks the dead mold he experiences brain freeze! A strange sensation he has never felt before as a cold sensation fills his large head. It subsides after a few seconds.
The hallway runs to the left, then turns left again, running around the room you were just in to finally arrive at another door with another lesson inscribed above it.
Know your enemy. Shatter all that blinds you and then burn thy adversary to ashes.
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Tawg's eyes squint as a pain rushes through his head and locks him in place for a few seconds. When it subsides, he shakes his head and turns back to the group with a big smile on his. "This stuff makes your head feel good!" He pockets a couple pieces, thinking to snack on it later like candy, and follows after the party into the hallway.
As the group takes a left and then another left, it strikes Gildevar that they must be circling around the mold-touched main room. He quickly puts one and one together and snorts appreciatively. A feeble hand reaches out for the wall and knocks where the door 'should' be if both places were actually connected by a hallway. "I take it the other two exits would've seen us being overwhelmed by fire. Well, good job, on to the next challenge."
Ceres murmurs, her mouth moving as she reads over the inscription. Despite her supernatural cunning and patron-gifted knowledge, the witch had no formal education, and the words came slowly. Know your enemy. Shatter all that blinds you and then burn thy adversary to ashes.
"Sounds like we should be prepared for a fight. Gildevar, is this door safe to open?" Grinning, the witch reaches out a wiry arm and pushes the door open, her hair twitching in anticipation of a fight just beyond.
Gildevar does as Ceres asks and inspects the door and its immediate surroundings for any and all dangers.
"Burn thy adversary? You think they mean with the lantern from the mold room?" He makes his way back to the lantern and reaches up to grab it, but is way too short. He squats down and jumps as high as he can.
...after he picks himself back up off the floor, he meekly asks for help to grab the lantern then returns back to the door.
"That...is not a poor observation Tawg. Things from the previous room have proven to be quite helpful to us further on." Araton says, staring miraculously at the goblin. The creature was incredibly tough, consuming the freezing mold like there was no issue. Maybe he had underestimated the goblinoid. Then he watch Tawg jump and reassessed his observation another time.
"I...I will help you." The antipaladin murmurs, reaching for the lantern and pulling it up and off of its hook. He hands it to the slightly embarrassed goblin and makes no further mention of it. A sly, amused grin cannot stop from appearing on his face as they return to the door that Gildevar is checking over.
While some go back for the lantern, Gildevar checks the door for traps. He finds none and Ceres opens it.
Darkness rushes out of the room to swallow the light around you. Darkness that the lantern cannot pierce, even eyes that are used to the dark are unable to see even a hand directly in front of them. A strange sort of whispering can be heard from inside the pitch black room.
Feeling like a fool for giving in to temptation and curiosity, Gildevar opens his third eye and reaches out with his senses to spot and identify any creatures within the room. "Give me a moment, I'm looking to see who or what is inside."
Casting Time 1 standard action
Range: 60 ft.
Area: cone-shaped emanation
Duration: concentration, up to 1 min./level (D)
Saving Throw: Will negates; see text; Spell Resistance no
You detect surface thoughts. The amount of information revealed depends on how long you study a particular area or subject.
1st Round: Presence or absence of thoughts (from conscious creatures with Intelligence scores of 1 or higher).
2nd Round: Number of thinking minds and the Intelligence score of each. If the highest Intelligence is 26 or higher (and at least 10 points higher than your own Intelligence score), you are stunned for 1 round and the spell ends. This spell does not let you determine the location of the thinking minds if you can't see the creatures whose thoughts you are detecting.
3rd Round: Surface thoughts of any mind in the area. A target's Will save prevents you from reading its thoughts, and you must cast detect thoughts again to have another chance. Creatures of animal intelligence (Int 1 or 2) have simple, instinctual thoughts.
Each round, you can turn to detect thoughts in a new area. The spell can penetrate barriers, but 1 foot of stone, 1 inch of common metal, a thin sheet of lead, or 3 feet of wood or dirt blocks it.
PFS Legal Detect Anxieties
Gildevar reaches out with his mind, searching the room for intelligence. He discovers there is an intelligent thinking creature, just 1 but is unable to read any of its thoughts as it resists him. The whispering in an unknown language continues.
"There's a sentient being in there, but whatever language they speak, is one I do not know. Hrm, do any of you have the ability to conjure forth magical light? ..." Gildevar looks around him and hopes that soon enough, one of his companions will dispel the darkness with magical light.
If that fails, they'll have to stick to the words and shatter whatever in the room is enchanted to drown the area in darkness.
Words bubble to mind, like steam escaping on of Ghastenhall's famed hot springs. A twitch of her fingers and a couple of harshly barked syllables later, light - sickly pale and green - bursts from one of Ceres' thick, twitching braids. It lifts and the witch steps into the darkness, curious to see the results of Gildevar's suggestion...
A short disappointed sigh escapes from Tawg when the lantern's light proves ineffective. He then pushes his way to the front of the group and yells into the darkness. "If you're in there, stop hiding! We have a thing to find and you're slowing us down!"
Araton waits a moment to watch the results of his comrade's actions. The shadows that emanate from that room were quite dangerous though, their power enough that not even his devilish sight could pierce through it.
"Does anyone have a lot of coins. We can't see what is in there but we might be able to hear what is in there awaiting us." Araton offers, taking out a handful of copper coins.
You were thought dead, so the others left you. But you stabilised and managed to escape still but without the map, it took longer to get to the manor, 3 days longer in fact, due to hiding from guard patrols searching the moor for the escaped criminals. But eventually you made it to the manor and were greeted by Tiadora as well.
After several hours of rest and restoration, assisted by the slaves and healed by restorative potions you are summoned before your benefactor. A slave leads you to a large door where Tiadora again waits outside. She dismisses the slave and leads you inside to a beautifully appointed office richly decorated with dark wood and sumptuous brocade tapestry.
Sitting in a leather high-backed chair is a devilishly handsome fellow who smiles as you enter. “I did not think you would be joining us. Well done! You have shown the kind of determination that I am looking for,” he says with a wicked smile. “But enough with the pleasantries. You must be curious why I’ve helped you. Rest assured this is no random act of altruism. I have brought you here for a reason. My name is Cardinal Adrastus Thorn. I am the last high priest of Asmodeus left on the island of Talingarde. Once the Prince of Nessus was rightly revered alongside the other great powers. Now, the king of Talingarde has become a puppet to Mitran fanatics who wish to destroy any religion that does not bow to their insipid sun god."
“For their blasphemy, I will see the same people who imprisoned and condemned you suffer. I understand what you went through for I have faced it myself.” With that, he pulls down the sleeve of his robe and reveals his own runic ‘F’ brand. “I am going to burn Talingarde to the ground and from the ashes I will build a new nation that knows its rightful master. I cannot do this alone. I seek servants worthy of our Infernal Father’s majesty. Have I found them in you?” He rises and his eyes flash with hellfire and divine purpose. “Join me! Serve me well in this holy endeavor and I will raise you up in the eyes of gods and men. I will make you princes of the new Talingarde. Today, swear fealty to me and to Asmodeus. Put aside forgiveness and I shall give you vengeance. Put aside mercy and be made powerful. Put aside peace and become my harbingers of war. What say you? Will you swear your allegiance or will you burn with the rest of the blind fools?”
Disheveled, smelly, caked in mud and dried blood, Sarela had stumbled from the moor to see the manor house. Staggering up to it, she'd knocked, and been taken in.
The manor house itself she found to be well appointed, a calback to her youth. She soaked herself in a luxurious hot bath, removing all the grime and filth from her skin and hair until she was once again flawless - save for the brand on her arm that marred her once-perfect flesh. I will see the Mitrans pay for this offense! she though to herself, not for the first time.
Once she was fed, bathed, and dressed, she was summoned to the benefactor's study. Entering, she studied the man - handsome, yet with an air about him that spoke of authority and command. He likely had great wealth, as well as the necessary connections to smuggle the means of the prisoners' escape into Branderscar.
Listening to Cardinal Thorn's speech, she waits until he finishes, and says, "I wish to see the Mitrans pay for their affronts to me. I know little of Asmodeus, but if He will aid me in getting my revenge, I will happily swear allegiance to you and Asmodeus."
Ceres clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth and her braids wave, agitated, as she steps back out of the darkness. "More magic than my bauble can punch through. I've got no coins."
"Perhaps we missed something? Or one of the other doors will lead us to a tool helpful here?"
"Opening any of the other doors could expose us to any traps as well. Let us see what we can hear though." Araton says, taking the handful of copper. He throws it into the room, aiming for about ten feet into the shadows to hear what it hits and what information they could gain."[/b]
The coins clink and echo several times as they bounce off the floor of the room. Silence falls as the coins finally come to rest. The whispers have ceased.
The sounds of the coins indicates a metal floor that seems to have a space or cavity below it.
Cardinal Thorn smiles. “Excellent. Let us make it official. Signing in blood is traditional.” He brings out a quill, a silver ritual knife and two copies of a contract written on some unidentifiable leather and written in dark red ink – the Pact of Thorns. On it are 5 other signatures, with a space still to add yours.
Gildevar scratches the back of his head. "None of that sounds like we can easily shatter it, let alone shatter it while we're blind."
Tawg's ears turn to listen into the dark silence...
He thinks back to being bound in the dark while waiting for his time in the pits and begins rummaging around in his backpack. "Maybe there's someone in there who can't talk, but we can pull out!" He fishes out a rope from his backpack, swings it a couple times, then tosses one end into the room while holding onto the other end.
Ceres shrugs, tamping down a rising tide of anger. Stymied already! "I don't know what to do," she mumbles, cracking her knuckles and staring into the darkness.
"Well done. Your former inmates are already on task to retrieve a pendant of silver and sapphire. Tiadora will lead you to the basement where they currently are. First I have 2 items for you." He hands you a silver holy symbol of asmodeus and an iron circlet. "One to remind you of your loyalties, one to allow you to walk among your enemies undetected." Tiadora waits for you to follow her once you have taken your items.
Sarela puts the circlet on her head and spends a little time fiddling with it, figuring out how it works. The symbols he places around her neck before turning to Tiadora and saying, "Please, show me where to go."
"The ground is metal, seems like there is space beneath it. Perhaps the danger comes from below. Prepare yourselves when we enter." Araton murmurs, standing up straight before looking into the darkness.
"Know your enemy. Shatter all that blinds you and then burn thy adversary to ashes." Araton repeats the words above the door where the darkness coils out from. He thinks on it for just a moment before looking to the others. "Most magic like this is either created by a creature or is tied to an object. I am thinking the latter. Perhaps if we are skilled and fortunate, we could fire a series of arrows in with the luck of hitting our target?" The difficulty was high and the chance was slim but it was better than blindly walking in and swinging away.
"Whatever threat remains in there; fire is likely the best way to deal with it. What do you all think?" Araton asks as he begins to take out his bow.
Araton deduces there is a space below the floor, likely meant to hide something.
Tiadora motions to to follow her and she leads you away through the manor to the lowest level. You finally arrive through a door that reveals a set of stairs leading down. You can see light coming from below but the angle and length of the stairs hides what might be below.
“Below you will find the Nine Lessons and the other members of your knot. Perhaps they are still alive. Others have failed before.”
"Lovely. Thank you, Tiadora. If I find them dead, I assume I am to retrieve the pendant of sapphire and silver regardless?"
Once she has her answer, Sarela descends the stairs into the basement and the Nine Lessons.
Tiadora chuckles quietly and shrugs. "If you managed to retrieve it on your own..." She doesn't finish the thought.
Down the stairs you find an empty square room about 40 ft. across. There are 2 doors. One is a false door, the other is opened to a hallway beyond. The others must have gone that way but you don't see them currently.
After hearing Araton's explanation about the floor, Tawg winds his rope back up and tucks it back into his backpack. He then walks up to the door, hands out to make sure he stops before entering the room, then draws his bow. "I'm ok not going into the dark room. If the lantern was on the ceiling in the last room, maybe the darkness object is on the ceiling in this room." He leans back slightly, preparing to aim where he thinks the center of the ceiling might be.
Sarela looks over the room for any messages or if she can hear any sounds of her fellow prisoners, just to make sure the hallway is the correct path.
"Certainly Tawg, that is a good plan. I'll fire straight ahead." Araton offers, stringing back his arrow in hand. He takes a moment to breathe and relax before firing off the arrow.
Above the false door is a message. Deception is a tool. Self-deception is death. Deceive always thy enemy but never thyself. You don't hear any other sounds right now. Perhaps they are further ahead. You can see the door at the end of the hallway is also open, a sign that the others went that way. Another inscription is above the door at the end of the hallway. Following the herd is for fools. Fear not their icy derision. Instead, fear only thy Infernal Lord.
Araton aims blindly into the center of the room. The arrows chink, deflecting off something in the middle of the room. It sounds higher pitched than arrows hitting stone, like glass or crystal. The darkness stays, the arrows deflecting off but not seeming to affect whatever it was they hit.
Sarela enters the next room and looks over it, seeing if she can tell where they went.
Araton's head perks up when he hears the strange crystalline sound from the darkness, another arrow notched and loosed into the darkness but without the same effect.
"There is something there, straight ahead, in the darkness. Most spells that create darkness require some kind of focus and the riddle adds a greater chance to it. If we destroy it, we may be able to see again." Drawing his longsword, Araton steps up to the entranceway and takes a breath. Asmodeus had no need for cowards. "I will return momentarily." He says, stepping into the darkness.
In the second room there are three more doors. The room is a little chillier than the previous but nothing uncomfortable. Two of the doors (south and east are unopened and the third door is open. Around the third door are crumbling flakes of some sort of dead mold. On the floor you see some footprints in the dust on the ground leading to both of the closed doors.
Sarela looks over the room, thinking to herself, Well, if all the footprints lead to the closed doors, then that's where the herd is going. I'd like to think I'm not a fool, so I'll go to the other door. I wonder what the icy derision was supposed to be?
Sarela goes through the open door, following the hallway there.
Hearing Araton's proclamation of walking into the room, Tawg tells him to hold for a second. He shoulders his bow, quickly picks up the lantern and reaches out to grab onto the back of Araton's shirt so he can follow him into the room. When Araton reaches his destination, Tawg taps his back and holds the lantern to Araton's hand. "Burn thy adversary..."