In the guttering light of Shamus' torch, the alpha's chest gives a slight heave. The pulse of the blood seeping from his wounds is slowing. He heaves another labored breath a moment later.
As the force of his charge into the lead wolf spins him around, Rend braces for a ferocious counter-attack that never comes. Intead, a silver point emerges from the beast's chest and the creature falls. Rend looks up and finds himself face-to-face with Shamus. "Nice one," he says as he looks around for the other wolves. Seeing them run off deeper into the cave, he allows his shoulders to sag as the adrenaline seeps from his system...
Harlon cautiously lowers his spear, his hands and frame trembling slightly as the raven settles down once again on his shoulder. The halfling exhales deeply, his voice nearly breaking. "That was very brave of you, Rend. You are the bravest person I have ever known. I'm sure you would have killed that wolf... if Shamus hadn't gotten it first."
His hooded head scans the scene. "Everyone okay?" Then, more quietly: "Does everyone still think it's a good idea to carry on deeper inside? Those wolves will come back... although if they do, Rend will be able to take care of them... and I'm sure there are worse things down there... Hector knows it, too..."
"Thanks there, Harlon. I'm happy to prove my worth to the group. Although, give Shamus some credit for dealing the killing blow."
Once the group gathers their wits, Rend pipes up, "Well, no use waiting around for the next predator to stumble into these caves. Shall we continue?"
In the aftermath of the brief attack, you have moved up to the second intersection in the tomb. On the right hand (eastern) side, the alcove ends in a jumbled pile of collapsed rock, completely blocking the passage. On the left side, the alcove extends a good fifteen feet deeper into the rock than the previous pair. In the gloom at the edge of the torchlight, you can make out some kind of statue or object still standing in the alcove.
At your feet, the dying alpha wolf heaves another breath, more labored than the last one. The pace of his blood loss is slowing. He hasn't got much left.
At your feet, the dying alpha wolf heaves another breath, more labored than the last one. The pace of his blood loss is slowing. He hasn't got much left.
Kharid kneels down next to the dying wolf, touching the emaciated flank of the beast. "Looks like they attacked more out of hunger than spite."
"I'm not much of a healer, but now that the fight is over maybe there's no need for this animal to die?"Kharid looks further down the passageway where the other two wolves disappeared, "If this is their leader, then mayhaps showing some mercy will let him and his two companions know that we mean them no harm and they might let us be while we're here?"
"Dalzig, anything ye can do about these wounds?"
At your feet, the dying alpha wolf heaves another breath, more labored than the last one. The pace of his blood loss is slowing. He hasn't got much left.Kharid kneels down next to the dying wolf, touching the emaciated flank of the beast. "Looks like they attacked more out of hunger than spite."
"I'm not much of a healer, but now that the fight is over maybe there's no need for this animal to die?"
Kharid looks further down the passageway where the other two wolves disappeared, "If this is their leader, then mayhaps showing some mercy will let him and his two companions know that we mean them no harm and they might let us be while we're here?"
"Dalzig, anything ye can do about these wounds?"
"Oy! The thing's still alive! Here, I'll kill it."
Rend moves over to where the wolf is lying in a pool of blood and raises his sword to put the animal out of it's misery. Then he realizes Kharid is still kneeling next to it, and that he means to save it!
Rend looks at the dwarf in bewilderment, "You want to heal it? What possible good could that do? It's bad enough there are two more of 'em still roaming around in these tunnels..."
Rend's voice trails off but he continues to stare blankly at Kharid, unsure what to make of this development.
"Thanks. To be honest my line of work in the guild didn't involve much fighting so I haven't had much practice with a blade until the invasion." I say, as I wipe the blood carefully off of my rapier on the old bedroll.
"No offense, master Thunderrune, but is it best not to leave a living enemy at your back? While this creature might not hold malice towards us it is hungry and in my experience hungry creatures do desperate things." I say, skeptically raising an eyebrow.
"The simple solution would then be to heal its wounds and feed it... I think I have some dried venison in my pack, I'm sure that'd mollify its behaviour."
"I think they were just protecting their territory, just as some of ye have had experience with... can ye really fault 'em for that?"
Kharid raises an eyebrow towards Shamus and Harlon...
"Besides, should they be up to mischief I'm sure a whiff of Master Rend here would remind them that such things would only end bad for them."
Dalzig looks down at the dying wolf, pity, fear and wonder playing across his face.
"Kharid is right. Death comes for us all soon enough. This animal deserves a better death than to be cut down while looking for a meal."
He reaches down and lays his hands upon the wolf's chest, muttering a prayer to Wee Jas. The alpha's breathing becomes less labored, the bleeding stops, and his wounds partially close up.
With a start, the wolf leaps to his feet, backs up and growls. He eyes the five intruders in his lair, lifts his head, and emits a slow mournful howl, painfully loud in the confines of the tomb. Moments later, the pad of paws trots out of the darkness ahead. The two wolves stop at the edge of the torchlight, afraid to come any closer, until the alpha howls again. Then, one at a time, they run swiftly past you toward the exit, keeping the growling alpha in between you and them as they pass.
Once they are both gone, the alpha stops snarling and rolls onto his side, exposing his neck to the group. Provided no one does anything to him in that moment, the alpha howls again one last time, rises to his feet and leaves the cairn as well.
"The simple solution would then be to heal its wounds and feed it... I think I have some dried venison in my pack, I'm sure that'd mollify its behaviour."
"I think they were just protecting their territory, just as some of ye have had experience with... can ye really fault 'em for that?"
Kharid raises an eyebrow towards Shamus and Harlon...
"You are right, Kharid," responds Harlon meekly. "Please forgive me..."
Once they are both gone, the alpha stops snarling and rolls onto his side, exposing his neck to the group. Provided no one does anything to him in that moment, the alpha howls again one last time, rises to his feet and leaves the cairn as well.
While the lead wolf summons his entourage Kharid rummages through his backpack and produces two days worth of dried meat. Throwing it gently to the ground not far from the wolf he then takes another step back, to show that he means no harm to the hungry creature.
"There, that should help a little until they can find a more natural prey."With a comforting smile in Harlon's direction he continues, "Now now young master Happytoes, I didn't mean to remind ye of the horrors I'm sure ye've witnessed already. I should be the one begging for forgiveness for the crude words of persuasion."
"And to you too Master Rend and Car'das. I can see the prudence in yer words, but it just didn't sit right with me to deprive the creature of its life for following its natural instincts, when no harm really came to us."
Before leaving, the alpha gently picks up the food in his jaws, then departs.
Dalzig looks down at the dying wolf, pity, fear and wonder playing across his face.
"Kharid is right. Death comes for us all soon enough. This animal deserves a better death than to be cut down while looking for a meal."
He reaches down and lays his hands upon the wolf's chest, muttering a prayer to Wee Jas. The alpha's breathing becomes less labored, the bleeding stops, and his wounds partially close up.
Rend grasps his sword tightly as Dalzig administers healing to the dying wolf. Contrary to many of his kin, or half-kin, he never felt any desire to commit needless murder, but surely the wolf was an enemy, regardless of it's hunger. It will attack as soon as it can stand. I'd bet anything. Well, if killing a wolf twice will teach everyone a lesson, so be it, he thinks to himself as he grips his sword even tighter.
Then, as the wolf stands, accepts food from Kharid, and promptly departs, Rend almost drops his sword in shock. Unwilling to admit his error, he simply turns without a word and proceeds down the tunnel, determined to put his efforts into the investigation.
He advances to the second intersection and looks into the alcoves on both sides. In his embarassment over the incident with the wolf, he forgets about his plan to examine the ground for footprints. "Well, this way is blocked," he says as he looks to the right. Turning around, he sees a statue in the other alcove. "Hmm, there's something over here." He heads over to investigate.
From the second intersection, the faint green glow further down the hallway is visible to everyone.
In the alcove, the statue -- or whatever it is -- appears broken. It seems to be part of an oval frame, standing vertically atop a marble base with some kind of glyph carved on it. The partial frame has the color and appeareance of wood, but feels hard and cold to the touch, like stone. It almost looks like a noble's dressing mirror, but most of the frame, and whatever it used for glass, are broken and long gone.
Actually, Rend, as you look at the frame, you spot two small pieces of something wedged into the frame. They bits of a shiny, black substance, hard and cold like stone, but with sharp, conical fractures, like broken glass.
I cuatiously walk up to the shattered mirror, keeping my rapier out and at the ready. I do a quick inspection of area, looking for traps or anything of value.
From the second intersection, the faint green glow further down the hallway is visible to everyone.
In the alcove, the statue -- or whatever it is -- appears broken. It seems to be part of an oval frame, standing vertically atop a marble base with some kind of glyph carved on it. The partial frame has the color and appeareance of wood, but feels hard and cold to the touch, like stone. It almost looks like a noble's dressing mirror, but most of the frame, and whatever it used for glass, are broken and long gone.
Actually, Rend, as you look at the frame, you spot two small pieces of something wedged into the frame. They bits of a shiny, black substance, hard and cold like stone, but with sharp, conical fractures, like broken glass.
Rend performs a cursory examination of the statue-mirror, but, having finally seen the green light everyone was talking about earlier, he quickly loses interest and leaves Shamus to the task.
Returning to the intersection, he peers down the passageway, trying to see where the light is coming from.
"Why is there a green light in this cave, that's odd. I'll go check it out."
He immediately sets off further into the cairn, and is a good 30' down the passageway before anyone realizes what he's doing and can call out to him, if they so choose.
"Why is there a green light in this cave, that's odd. I'll go check it out."He immediately sets off further into the cairn, and is a good 30' down the passageway before anyone realizes what he's doing and can call out to him, if they so choose.
"Rend, wait, don't go alone," cries the halfling with the unusual concern he has been exhibiting towards the half-orc since the morning. "You could get hurt! Hector, fly, see what lies ahead..." The raven leaps from Harlon's shoulder, flapping and cawing noisily past Rend down the tunnel...
Shamus, as you examine the broken frame, you find a series of repeating runes and glyphs carved inside the slot on the inner ring of the frame, where the "glass" would have been held.
Also, the large glyph carved into the marble base looks like this.
Rend, your quick run down the hallway brings you to a large octagonal chamber, with wings leading to the east and west. To the east, huge piles of stone and debris choke the room, suggesting a complete collapse, but a small notch at the top leads beyond the debris, presumably into the wolves' former lair.
To the west, three short stairs lead to a wide marble dias, but the far wall of that wing lies in darkness, just out of the range of your darkvision.
Across from you, on the north wall of the chamber, is a twenty foot wide open archway, choked top to bottom with cobwebs. The eerie green light flickers from beyond the webs, casting strange shadows around the room. The entire chamber smells of wolf spoor and wet fur.
The faintest of breezes seems to gust in from the entrance and the hair (if any) on the back of your neck stands on end as you realise that the sibilant whispers of the wind echoing through the cairn have not only risen in volume here, they have become clear, discernable words. They are in a language you do not speak, but they are fully formed and audible words.
It is at that moment that the raven circles around the room near the top of its twenty foot ceiling, and lands on your head, his sharp talons poking hard and firm into your scalp.
"Master Thunderrune, come take a look at this. I found a rune that you might recognize."
"Master Thunderrune, come take a look at this. I found a rune that you might recognize."
"Hmmmm, nothing..." mutters Harlon while in deep concentration, hooded face peering toward the ground. After a moment, the hood bobs up again. Although it is not he that Shamus called over, Harlon joins the human and, standing on the tip of his toes, tries to get a better look at the rune that his companion has identified.
"Do you recognize it?" I ask, failing to remember anything about such a symbol.
"Do you recognize it?" I ask, failing to remember anything about such a symbol.
"No," replies Harlon with a deep sigh. "Though perhaps it would be wise if I strove to remember it." The halfling peers intently at the inscription, as if trying to commit its fluid lines to memory. "You never know what it might represent," he whispers.
"Master Thunderrune, come take a look at this. I found a rune that you might recognize."
"A rune ye say?" Excitement enters Kharid's voice as he quickly strides over to the shattered statue.
"Here now, if ye'll excuse me Master Happytoes," he mumbles breathlessly as he puts his hands on the halflings shoulders and gently tries to push him out of the way."A rune indeed! Let's see now... a triangle, a flame... most interesting... I wonder..."
Kharid's thick fingers trace the outline of the rune several times, mumbling into his moustache.
The glyph is reminiscent of arcane symbols representing elemental air. You think the glyph on the base is probably a name, but it would help if you could find more glyphs to compare it to. In fact, the glyph looks very similar to the glyphs in the ancient symbol language of Vaati. You attended a lecture in Jhesail on the subject of Vaati that was very controversial -- the visiting professor was putting forth a theory that Vaati was the original written form of Auran, not Draconic as the prevailing wisdom has it.
Also, as you examine the tiny runes carves inside the frame, you instantly recognise them as arcane symbols of transport.
"Yes indeed, how fitting... these are runes pertaining to the element of air and the cairn is called the Whispering Cairn... very fitting."
"These on the other hand," Kharid continues, indicating the runes on the inside of the frame. "These are clearly runes of transp... OUCH!" Kharid withdraws his finger from running along the frame, a small bubble of blood trickling to the surface of his finger.
Sticking his finger in his mouth Kharid bends down even further to see what pricked him.
Knowledge: Architecture and Engineering roll, please:
DC 10
"Now THAT is interesting... would ye look here? See those small fragments there? Those are from a volcanic glass-like rock not found anywhere near here!"
Kharid takes a few steps back, puts his hands on his hips and surveys the whole of the "statue."
"An elemental "mirror" with an obsidian surface and runes of transportation... I wonder what the purpose of it was... And why is it in a cairn?"
Rend advances to the next intersection, which opens into an octogonal chamber. He can see the light coming from somewhere ahead of him, through a cobwebbed archway. As he's taking stock of his surroundings, he hears Harlon's voice calling for him to wait. Shortly thereafter, the raven lands on his head rather painfully. To make matters worse, he begins to hear voices in the wind, speaking some weird foreign language.
Well, he thinks to himself, fire will get us past the webs, at least. Cursing his lack of foresight at not packing a torch, he looks back at the others. Seeing only Dalzig standing there in his armor, frowning, he decides that he better make sure the others don't get into any trouble while he goes off exploring. Slowly, he makes his way back to the group, who are all gathered around the broken mirror.
"What's so interesting about that ruined statue? Without waiting for an answer, he continues, "I've got a use for that torch when you're all done playing detective."
Kharid, you're not entirely certain, but this does sound like a kind of ancient magic artifact you've heard of in your studies -- a transportation portal. It's probably linked to a similar artifact in some other location, which could be just about anywhere. When active, the portal allows instantaneous transportation to the location of the other portal. As to why such a portal is in a cairn -- a place for dead people -- you have no idea.
Also, I failed to mention in my previous post, those bits of obsidian are likely worth up to 20gp a piece to the right person.
I quickly scoop up the shards of the glass, being careful not to cut myself saying "Might be valuable if there isn't any near here."
I hurry down the corridor after Rend, rapier in one hand, torch in the other.
Once everybody has moved to the large octagonal room, please make spot checks.
Once the others are ready to move on, Harlon makes his way to the octagonal chamber, keeping as close to Rend as possible. Hector croaks a greeting as the party reaches the chamber. "Come Hector," whispers the halfling to the raven, holding his arm out like a perch for the bird.
Harlon, you notice three things in the torchlight --
2) The cobweb filled archway seems to lead to a staircase down.
3) There appears to be some kind of fresco on the wall of the west wing, though you can only make out the scroll work on the edges of the image -- the rest of the image being shrouded in darkness outside the torchlight.
"Shamus, clear those cobwebs from the archway and we'll see where that light's coming from."
Rend moves next to the archway, sword in hand, and waits for Shamus to set the webs on fire. "I've seen some pretty nasty spiders in caves like this, so keep an eye out. Fire should do the trick."
"Shamus, clear those cobwebs from the archway and we'll see where that light's coming from."
Rend moves next to the archway, sword in hand, and waits for Shamus to set the webs on fire. "I've seen some pretty nasty spiders in caves like this, so keep an eye out. Fire should do the trick."
"Wait," murmurs the halfing. "Look, over there, to the east. There's a strip of cloth caught in the rubble at the opening to the wolf den. And there, on the wall, west of the wing... the outer edges of a fresco? An image that might provide us with hints concerning the nature of this cairn? We should take a closer look... And careful, Shamus, there is a flight of stairs leading deeper underground beyond those cobwebs..."
Harlon cautioulsy steps toward the western wall to give it a closer inspection. Hector caws three times in rapid succession.
I look askance ar Harlon, wondering how he knew that. I begin waving the torch around, burning the webs away.
Suddenly realizing that the light is moving away, Kharid looks befuddled around having clearly been lost in thought.
Making sure that Dalzig is following along, Kharid hurries after the rest of the group.
Getting to the octagonal chamber just as Shamus starts burning away the webs, he notices Harlon starting towards something that has caught his attention on the western wall.
Intrigued by what the mysterious halfling might have discovered, Kharid moves toward the western wall too.
"Found anything interesting Master Happytoes?"
"Shamus, clear those cobwebs from the archway and we'll see where that light's coming from."
Rend moves next to the archway, sword in hand, and waits for Shamus to set the webs on fire. "I've seen some pretty nasty spiders in caves like this, so keep an eye out. Fire should do the trick."
"Wait," murmurs the halfing. "Look, over there, to the east. There's a strip of cloth caught in the rubble at the opening to the wolf den. And there, on the wall, west of the wing... the outer edges of a fresco? An image that might provide us with hints concerning the nature of this cairn? We should take a closer look... And careful, Shamus, there is a flight of stairs leading deeper underground beyond those cobwebs..."
Harlon cautioulsy steps toward the western wall to give it a closer inspection. Hector caws three times in rapid succession.
"A flight of stairs? But how would we see the light if it was below us?" More curious than ever, Rend leans in close as the webs begin to burn away, almost singeing his face in the process.
Dalzig stands quietly in the back of the group, pondering what he was doing in such a place. Surely we should not be interrupting a sacred site like this. The dead are meant to be dead and left alone. Thoughts such as this run around in his mind until he sees Rend quickly move away from everyone. Then, being slightly pushed along by Kharid, he snaps back to mind and hustles along, short legs pumping. Seeing the large webs being burned by Shamus, he freaks out a little.
"H-how big a spider do you think made that?! It looks like it could eat me whole!"
Getting to the octagonal chamber just as Shamus starts burning away the webs, he notices Harlon starting towards something that has caught his attention on the western wall.
Intrigued by what the mysterious halfling might have discovered, Kharid moves toward the western wall too.
"Found anything interesting Master Happytoes?"
"Here," says the halfling in a dreamy voice, as he gently dusts the wall section. "Do you see? Out here, what resembles the edges of a painted scroll... but the main image is faded or perhaps covered beneath centuries of dust..." Hector, quiet for a change, peers intently at the wall from Harlon's shoulder.
"H-how big a spider do you think made that?! It looks like it could eat me whole!"
"I wish you hadn't said that," responds Harlon flatly, suddenly nervous and looking over his shoulder as he continues to rub the surface of the wall (the lower third of it, anyway) that he is inspecting.
"A flight of stairs? But how would we see the light if it was below us?" More curious than ever, Rend leans in close as the webs begin to burn away, almost singeing his face in the process.
"Rend, the light is no longer there... perhaps it is luring us down?" Still feeling his way along the west wall while glancing periodically over his shoulder, the halfling shares an afterthought: "Does someone want to take a closer look at the dais and the wolf lair while I inspect this wall?"
As the cobwebs in the front half of the archway evaporate, you see that the flickering green light was being reflected through the webs from the area at the bottom of the stairs, some ten feet below. The flickering can be seen still in the cobwebs filling the lower half of the stairs, but the light no longer seems to carry all the way up to the top of the stairs now that this part has been cleared.
As Harlon draws everyone's attention to the fresco, the image becomes visible as you approach with the torch. The faded relief painting covers the entire south, west and north walls. From a vantage point standing in the center of the dias, the painting makes it appear as if you are all standing in a large room with seven short hallways radiating outward from a central point. A chain dangles from the ceiling at the end of each hallway, and at the end of each hangs a gleaming colored lantern. From left to right, the colors of the laterns depicted in the fresco are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
You find no secret doors.
"Rend, the light is no longer there... perhaps it is luring us down?" Still feeling his way along the west wall while glancing periodically over his shoulder, the halfling shares an afterthought: "Does someone want to take a closer look at the dais and the wolf lair while I inspect this wall?"
"Luring us...? What do you mean?" Rend asks, frowning. He continues to stare down the stairs beyond the burning webs, his brow furrowed in deep concentration. The rest of Harlon's words seem to fall on deaf ears for the moment.
After a minute or so, Rend snaps to attention and realizes the rest of the party has temporarily lost interest in the green light, preferring to search the large chamber for clues.
"Interesting," Rend comments as the torchlight illuminates the frescoes on the wall. "Hey, look, that one has a green light, too."
Then, as Harlon's request is silently replayed in his mind, Rend decides to investigate the dais, having no interest in seeing where the wolves slept.
Feeling the need to do more than stand around, Dalzig reaches in his pack and pulls out short stick. Breaking off the tip, a bright flare momentarily fills the room then dies away to s gentle light. He slowly walks over to the blocked corridor, searching for anything interesting along the way.
As Harlon draws everyone's attention to the fresco, the image becomes visible as you approach with the torch. The faded relief painting covers the entire south, west and north walls. From a vantage point standing in the center of the dias, the painting makes it appear as if you are all standing in a large room with seven short hallways radiating outward from a central point. A chain dangles from the ceiling at the end of each hallway, and at the end of each hangs a gleaming colored lantern. From left to right, the colors of the laterns depicted in the fresco are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
Harlon advances cautiously to the "entrance" in each painting and touches his hand to them, making sure they are not real passageways. Assuming that they are all, in fact, mere images, the halfling then scampers quickly to the mouth of the wolf den to snatch the piece of cloth he spotted there, and then back to the safety of his companions before taking a closer look at it.
Then, as Harlon's request is silently replayed in his mind, Rend decides to investigate the dais, having no interest in seeing where the wolves slept.
It is a large, flat dias, about three feet above the main level of the chamber. Three short steps lead up to it. It is unadorned, save for dust.
You keep getting distracted by the painting on the walls. When you look at the painting on the walls, you get distracted by other things. Everybody's looking at something different, so you're not really sure what to look at.
Feeling the need to do more than stand around, Dalzig reaches in his pack and pulls out short stick. Breaking off the tip, a bright flare momentarily fills the room then dies away to s gentle light. He slowly walks over to the blocked corridor, searching for anything interesting along the way.
As you walk toward the large rubble pile with your sunrod in hand, one small piece of debris catches your eye, Dalzig. You think it would normally look like all the other debris in the pile, but it seems to be a different kind of stone, and when the flaring white light of the sunrod hits it, it stands out like a dandilion in a field green grass.
You pick it up and turn it over in your hand. It seems to be a marble finger, broken off from a statue. It is curled in on itself as if making a "come hither" gesture.