Tormod is genuinely surprised by Flare's gift. Wow, thank you Flare. This is very impressive. Is that why we haven't seen much of you lately?
"Also, it's not polite to stare, and no, we don't know why we're glowing. Least I don't." She grinned as her eyes darted from person to person, before looking to their resident prophet, and tilting her head as a way of asking her.
Oh, are they staring? I hadn't noticed, it happens so often to me. Though, for other reasons. Tormod leans on his spear, grinning like he thought he had made the funniest joke in history.
"My thanks, Flare", Victor says very seriously, examining the statue before carefully tucking it away within his greatcoat, before examining his surroundings, ignoring any glances people were shooting his way. With his attention on the books, Victor wanders over and tries to see the subject material these books deal with.
Riven held the figure in one hand admiring it for a short time,
"That is kind of you Flare, thank you.
Riven wasn't a huge fan of gifts most times, the only other one she didn't decline being the book Master Joyley had given her, but she could tell or at least guess Flare had put a lot of time into the gift.
When they enter the room Riven looks around for any of the books that stands out or a way to enter another room.
Riven tries to recall what she has heard about the length of each test and if she thinks it will take an hour or less she casts mage armor on herself.
Flare looks about the room to see if she can see any anomolies in the structure. A hidden space within the stacks, an area where she would expect a door or window to be, due to the design thereof, and the like. She would immediately share her gleanings with the rest of the group.*
Likewise, she puzzles over the stories she's heard throughout her life to see if this rings any bells, to see if she has any idea on a clue as to how to act. Likewise, she'd share these insights.*
And then her ecclectic bard sense, in addition. If it's a knowledge check that one of the others is well trained in, instead apply this as an aid another check, as she inserts bits of information that might be helpful to the question at hand.
*I'll try to word it in such a way as to make it her own, but I don't like people needing to wait on me to gain access to the knowledge she could readily share.
Most of the others quickly dismiss you and move into the library having a look around. At the edges of the library you notice several doors spaced about 10 feet apart, the doors seem to not have doorknobs or any obvious means of opening. Most contain text written in mixed languages, Thassilonian, Draconic, Auran, Aquan, Terran, Ignan and even druidic.
Examining the books you notice that most of these are historic texts thought some speak of other planes or arcane and religious matters as well.
At the north end of the room is a large set of double doors with a gargoyle perched above. The large door has an obvious lock and a doorknob. The gargoyle has a key hanging from a chain around it's neck.
A few others have stopped in front of the gargoyle and are looking at it while the others are examining some of the many side doors.
Cynthia nodded slightly as she moved throughout the area. All right, taking things into account... the texts were interesting, but there were too many to read in a practical amount of time. Accordingly, they were either supposed to find specific books or the tomes were essentially nothing more than distraction. The gargoyle was interesting... and possibly animated, rather than being just a statue. Either that or the placement of the key was simply a test of creativity and common sense.
She idly made her way over to the Gargoyle, looking to see whether it was a true creature or not.
Thalion continues the scanning as he moves toward the middle of the room, recasting the spell as he moves. Remembering the strange glow, he also begins to pay more attention to whether his mark acts up in response to his movements. Eventually, he settles himself just north of the center of the room, following Cynthia while leaving her room to work. From there, he takes the time to watch what everyone is doing instead.
Victor glances at the Gargoyle, noting the key, as well as how simple and obvious it looked as a possible solution.
Turning away from the statue, Victor looks at some of the written words. Fluent in Draconic, he tries to pick out certain words, wondering if he can read anything of value. Lastly, Victor searches his mind, wondering if he had read something or somewhere that would be important in this situation.
Using my trait to reroll Knowledge History check (once/day)
Well, that can't be that easy, but I doubt they would make every single person on the island have to participate in a battle, that hardly seems fair to those who, say, want to make little sculptures. That being considered, it seems that the obvious solution is the way to go here. Hold this, will you?
Tormod hands his coat to Cynthia and begins to climb up the doors to the gargoyle.
Flare, depending on whether or not she completely drew a blank, started working off of color coordination and the like. She took note of if the doors were expressly colored in any fashion, and whether or not the books followed the same patterns, especially if any symbols -and- colors matched. She agreed that the most direct path was the most obvious, with Tormod, but was still taking in the room's architecture, and supplying what tidbits of information she could to the others for whatever they happened to be looking into.
Also, I forgot to train in a language when I upped my int. I'll train it -after- we get out of here and before we need another language. Sorry for the derp.
The blinks and moves about as Tormod looks to climb.
It chuckles "Not so easy no...If you want this key you will need to either defeat me in combat or answer my riddles...If you answer me incorrectly then I'm allowed to eat you. You could find another way out of this room but the door beneath me is the fastest path to the exit." it says grinning.
One of the others approaches victor...as he examine a door. He takes a peek and says "The third sentence says: You will be the wisest of men. In Thassilonian. Can you read any of the others?"
Victor narrows his eyes on concentration "I believe the second sentance states "Open up our Stomachs" in Draconic...thats as far as I can get"
Flare sighed. She didn't speak any of the languages... and she was no where near as clever as Victor... or, well... most of the others. She moved over to the Gargoyle, seeing as how she couldn't help with riddles she couldn't hear... or read. "How many riddles? If anyone gets the answer, does everyone get to go through the door? How much time do we have?"
"Open up our stomachs...You will be the wisest of men...Books?" he says
The door in front of you grinds open revealing an empty stone chamber.
"Ah excellent! Come we should proceed." he says to Victor and he steps inside.
The door starts to close a moment later. There is enough time for Victor to make it but nobody else is close enough to get in before it closes.
Victor feels slightly disgruntled that the answer, while obvious in hindsight, had eluded him at that particular moment. Standing in the empty stone chamber, Victor writes down the appropriate lines in case he ever hears something similar again, while pressing his hands against the closed door. Sensing its firmly locked, Victor turns around to evaluate his surroundings.
Cynthia quietly walked to other doors, looking for any that had text in Draconic or Celestial - and offering to help translate for others what they couldn't do for themselves, especially if they would do the same for her in return.
When Riven saw the others reading the door she moved to do the same and depending on what she read there she might move on to the talking gargoyal as it interested her.
"What've you found Tormod?"
Hey! Wait...grr. Thalion shakes his head as the door closes behind Victor. A slight shiver overcomes Thalion as he realizes Cynthia and Victor have been separated, a combination Thalion had trusted to guide them through the day.
Stepping up beside Cynthia, Thalion asks tentatively, "I'm afraid most of this is beyond me. Anything I can do to help?"
All Flare did as the two disappeared through the door is look a little sad. There wasn't really anything she could do... so better to deal with what she did have.
Flare sighed. She didn't speak any of the languages... and she was no where near as clever as Victor... or, well... most of the others. She moved over to the Gargoyle, seeing as how she couldn't help with riddles she couldn't hear... or read. "How many riddles? If anyone gets the answer, does everyone get to go through the door? How much time do we have?"
A single riddle and you can take as much time as you need you can even do research." it replies waving to the rows of books.
"If you answer correctly I give you the key what happens after that is none of my business It adds.
"If you ask a question, do we have to answer? Or can we safely leave the room without having to worry about you hunting us down? If that's the case, go ahead and ask the riddle. It's good to have options available."
"I doubt any one of us could defeat a gargoyle alone." Cynthia said calmly. "It would require a team effort, at least - or we could simply work together, translate the passages on these doorways, and attempt to provide answers for everyone before any of us go through. Each person that steps through takes away from the rest of the group's ability - working together, at a time like this, is something that helps everyone." She raised her voice slightly, loud enough for others nearby to hear. "And we are good citizens who want to help each other, aren't we? It would be quite dreadful if jumping ahead of others for fame and glory while leaving others behind was actually a condition for failing..." She smiled slightly. For those closest to her, the goal was clear - convince all of the participants to work together and help each other out by playing on their fear of failure. After all, those who couldn't help others... well, they tended to not be the type who stayed on the island.
Suddenly, Thalion falls into thought. "Ok, I know this sounds crazy. But, what are the chances there is a way to read the text? I mean, if this is a test, and we're supposed to be able to pass somehow, right? Doesn't that mean either together we can read them, or there is something in here that would allow us to? May be?" The words come tumbling out, and Thalion gulps at the unspoken alternative at the end of his line of thought, that he may well be on his way to failing the test, and the likely exile afterwards.
In desperation, he leaves with a quick word for his friends, "I saw some signs of divination magic about this room. I'm going to go see if I can pinpoint where they're coming from. Let me know if you need me for anything."
Act, don't think...
Calling on Erastil, Thalion begins focusing on signs of divination, doing his best to trace where the aura is coming from and hoping against hope that he may find something to help against the languages that apparently keeps them barred within this room. As he passes each of Riven, Flare and Tormod, he tosses a quick word out their way. "Any luck on this test? Let me know if you need me for anything!"
"Very well here is my question. What happens when an unstoppable force meets an unmovable object?" says the gargoyle.
You notice someone who had been examining a door take out a waterskin and splash the door. The door dissolves and he an another nearby contestant enter and a stone wall appears to replace the door.
Examining other doors you can make out some words and sentence to know they are not all riddles, some have numbers of ask questions.
You also realize that the number of people in the room has gone down to nine.
Two are working on another door apparently using a book they found as reference and another is leaning against a wall casually playing with a knife watching and he seems in no hurry to get anywhere.
Among the doors you examine you see there that you can decipher.
Door 1
-The hungry wolf howls
-
-His howl goes unheard
-
Door 2
-nothing (locked)
Door 3
-Which is better?
-A man who respects the law no matter what
-A man who does what he thinks is best while breaking the law
-
Door 4
-What are the five great Ages?
door 5
-What is perfection of man?
Door 6
-nothing (locked)
Door 7
The text on this door contains no letters that you can recognize but rather symbols with one being the symbol for Numeria.
and more...
"I... don't know." She frowns, sighing, and turning to the others. "Guess it's the other doors and the books.. to look for the answer to his riddle."
Door 3:
(Saving this for later, don't apply it yet. She'd make sure one or two people were there before offering it.)'A man who respects his fellow man'. Might be wrong, but she'd try it.
Door 4:
Door 5:
(also saving this one. She'd make sure one or two people were there, before offering it.)'Woman'
Door 7:
She'd study the symbols, and try to discount the fact that one of them is a country, and instead simply see them as individual pieces that make a difference.
"There aren't enough doors for everyone, unless we include the gargoyle."
If Riven was the one reading the door she would read it aloud so that her friend and any of the others could hear.
"Any ideas, I can't read all of it.
At door 4, Flare had paused, and spoke loudly enough for those around herself to hear... but only if at least two were near the door. "The Age of Legends, the Age of Darkness, and the Age of Omens are the only three that come to mind."
The two at one of the doors manage to get it open and they cross over leaving just you six and the one guy in the corner.
Thalion looks around as people fall into groups. The man with the knife piqued his interest, and he approaches the man. "Are you not worried? It seems our options are shrinking."
You're making an assumption, Cynthia.
Tormod puts his coat back on.
Is this combat you mention to be one vs one, or are we to fight you as a group?
Cynthia smiles slightly at the gargoyle's question. "Are there different riddles for each of us, or can anyone give an answer?" she inquires of the stone creature.
"I'm not worried no. I've decided to linger here for a little while and when I'm ready I will move on." he replies putting away his knife with a smooth motion.
He moves along going into the rows of books.
"Speak your answer if you have one, if it's wrong the others can attempt to answer, after I have eaten." replies the gargoyle.
Flare looked over to Tormod and rolled her eyes, moving to stand near him, and readying her polearm to interpose herself between the two. "This seems like a bad idea..."
She steels herself, "Attack my friend, and you'll have your answer."
Thalion looks over and realizes Tormod is up to something. "Ah, if you'll excuse me." With a quick nod to the man, Thalion heads over to Tormod. "Tormod, you're not thinking..."
He quickly gestures and invokes another chant.
Tormod limbers up somewhat and awaits for the gargoyle to answer his question.
Oh yes I am. Think about it. That is a key in his hands, if we take him out and get the key everyone goes through that one door. It's clearly the best solution. The only potential problem I see is if we can all gang up on him or if we try that the others might interfere.
"Well... trying to brute force our way probably doesn't qualify as passing it. But breaking the test for the specific purpose of helping out those who are less... fortunate... means that we're doing the right thing, right? I mean, it's really unfair to expect everyone to be good at everything. So it's for the good of everyone in this room to do it, right?"
Ok, if we have to do this, we have to do this. But should we at least see if someone has an answer we can offer up?" Thalion wipes the sweat above his brow as he worries over what's to come.
"Well, I've got a few really bad ideas. Though I thought my witty oneliner was pretty excellent. I have ideas for other doors, as well... but we just weaken everyone but separating ourselves into tiny groups. So I guess I could try to help people who are afraid move through other doors, before we... you know."
Thalion nods. "Perhaps we can see who would rather move on, and help them through. Then those who wants to stay with us and face down the gargoyle..." He looks over to the guardian and gulps.
Flare breathed deeply, and exhaled. "Three, to me, the man who respects his fellow man, is the best man. I don't know the full question. I'm certain you could use the books to translate if you found the right one." then she looked to the gargoyle, and prayed to Shelyn that she had this right, looking into it as dogmatically as she could. "There are no such things as absolutes. There is no evil that cannot be redeemed, no object that cannot be made beautiful. Therefore there cannot be an immovable object while an unstoppable force exists. That is my answer."
Riven drew her spear and readied it but kept one hand free for spells in case the gargoyle decided to attack Flare.
If they kill him after he attacks that was still beating him in combat, right? Surely they'd be able to gang up on him and pass.
"Everyone get ready."
Thalion pulls his sling and readies a bullet in it. Are we really going to be fighting that...thing? Thalion looks to his friends. If he's going to die, he's glad it is alongside those he has grown close to. "If only Victor were here. I wonder when was the last time someone died in a test. Er...has anyone ever died to the test before?"
"...I think it would be more accurate to say that when they meet each other, they are compelled to surrender." Cynthia said, looking up at the gargoyle and waiting patiently.
"That is...Incorrect!"
The gargoyle steps off his ledge dropping down in front of Flare.
He swings his massive stone arms in an arcs trying to clobber Flare but she manages to avoid his swings.
Init:
Thalion, Tormod, Cynthia and Victor can post.
"STAY AWAY!" Thalion yells at the gargoyle as he drops his sling, pulls out his Morningstar, and attempts to smash the gargoyle.
As the creature leaped forward, Cynthia opened her Eye - the power within her that gave her knowledge and wisdom for identifying monsters and understanding their actions. More importantly, she was quite ready to relay the relevant parts of its abilities to her companions, ensuring they were better prepared to deal with it.
"I believe offensive magic would be the right choice here." she said calmly. "Normal weapons won't do much to creatures of stone."