You make your way out of room and down the opposite hallway towards the runewell. First you pass through the room with the washbasin, then it is down another wide corridor and up a spiral staircase. At the top of the staircase, you are in a wide antechamber. The way is blocked by rubble to one side, but the engraved arch stands to the other, marking the entrance to the well room. Beyond the arch, is utter darkness.
Perception check... (1d20+5=20)
"Shhh..." Zieke holds out a closed fist to ask for silence. "Something in the dark...scratching..." he starts to relay...
Initiative check... (1d20+2=11)
His grip tightens on the throwing axe in his hand as he peers into the dark.
From the back of the group, Valentine peers into the archway from a distance, but only sees darkness.
Sli's and Veran's PER rolls: (1d20-1=1, 1d20+5=22)
Slidell seems to be totally engrossed in an item that refuses to stay in it's pocket.
"Shhh..." Zieke holds out a closed fist to ask for silence. "Something in the dark...scratching..." he starts to relay...
"Hmm. What?" Slidell asks, raising his head and completely oblivious.
Veran, Hissing for silence, quickly whispers in his master's ear.
"Oh!" Slidell's lips shape soundlessly. Very quietly he whispers, barely audible, "Veran says there's something in the dark,...Scratching,..."
Silently he points to Vesh, and then to the candles that both Vesh and he are holding. He points to Vesh again, then past the arch at an angle, then points to himself, and at the arch but a different angle. He then raises the purple candle with a raised eyebrow, nodding in question, yes or no?
Perception; Initiative (1d20+1=21, 1d20+5=7)
"I hear it too..."
Vesh sees Zieke pull up and signal, but hears no noise.
The group pauses midway to the arch as your eyes strain to pierce the shadows and your ears to interpret the muffled sounds emanating from the well chamber....Either not seeing or blatantly disregarding the signal to stop, Malcolm draws his rapier and darts forward, disappearing silently into the shadows ahead.
Zieke gives a start as Mal slips past him and into the gloom. But then he pauses, knowing that calling out or any sudden movement after him might call attention to the rogue. Instead, he motions again for everyone to spread out in the event they need to surround or hold the line against anything that might emerge from the dark.
Vesh steps up to just under the arch to give himself the widest possible field of fire into the room and readies his bow.
Stealth and Perception checks to approach quietly and peer into the room (1d20+5=23, 1d20-4=-1).
Standing behind Vesh, Salome lightly places her hands on his shoulders and whispers a prayer. She draws her scimitar and tries to see beyond the darkness. Perception check (1d20 5=8)
Vesh steps up to just under the arch to give himself the widest possible field of fire into the room and readies his bow.
Zieke moves to the other side of the arch, just outside the range of the eerie light cast by the magic candle. He then listens for any sounds of movement, both by Mal or anything that might be drawn toward him or Vesh's light.
Seeing her chance, the young woman seeks out her foe and stabs with precision, keen and ruthless.
Attack;damage (1d20+7=27, 1d8+3=7)
Crit confirm; damage (1d20+7=16, 1d8+3=11)
Suddenly, there is a flash of movement and the sound of claws raking stone. Zieke flinches back, just in time to avoid the attack.
"Son of a..." Zieke mutters as he retreats a step, putting his sword arm next to arch on his right and using his shield to create another barrier on his left to hold back their newfound attacker.
Seeing her chance, the young woman seeks out her foe and stabs with precision, keen and ruthless.
The flash of Ehlissa's blade certainly helps to illuminate his situation and Zieke looks on appreciatively at the young woman's success.
'There you go, sweetheart,' he thinks to himself, 'Stick him good and let's bring him down!'
Slidell, startled by the sudden appearance and attack of the creature, watches dumbly as it swipes at Zieke. Then, yelling in unison with the frightened shriek of Veran, he reacts with the weapon he has at hand. The purple-radiance eternal candle.
"AHhhhhhh!!" He screams as the candle flies in a perfect arc, landing right between the things eyes.
Sli's candle throw: (1d20 3=23)
"Ve-e-e-sh?!" Slidell calls as he brings his crossbow back into ready position. "Can you take that things magic immunity? Otherwise I might as well be throwing noisemakers at it!" He calls, realizing that he's not likely to hit the creature through not one, but three allies. With a curse he drops his crossbow and begins a low chant as he hastily fumbles through his pockets. He rapidly plucks and discards the contents of three pockets before smiling as he finds what he is looking for. His chanting falls into an easy cadence as he waves the spell component thru the air in casual passes. His hands begin to glow as he gathers and focuses the spells energy.
Salome nods approvingly at Ehlissa. "Well done, Milady." She illuminates her shield and walks into the vast room for a closer look at the pile of wrathspawn.
Slidell's flowing chant stumbles to an abrupt halt as the head of the wrathspawn rolls to a similar stop not far from where he is standing.
He exchanges a look with Veran, coughs self-consciously, and,... slowly and deliberately,... places the spell component back into his pocket.
"Very well done indeed!" He declares as he strides to fetch the purple continual flame candle from where it lay after bouncing off of the wrathspawn.
"Will you look at this mess?" He cries. The mage then hurries and busies himself with picking up all of the items that he tossed on the ground looking for his spell component.
Once he has regathered his,... items, Slidell joins Salome in examining the now silent room.
"The seven pointed star again." Slidell thinks out loud as he follows Salome around the room, looking at the construction. " And, No. I'm afraid that I don't know the relevance of that particular symbol. Yet." He answers the unasked question. "However, I found the same, or at least a similar, marking filled with silver on a skull in the 'Milk Room', and the same pattern diagrammed into the book I 'borrowed' from the library." He continues, examining the stonework of one of the arches. He turns and moves to the center of the room to examine the piled Sinspawn bodies clogging the well. He clucks his tongue as he looks at the bodies that are visible in the pile.
"Judging by its prominent use over here, I'd say it's a safe bet that 'Queenie' thought it was important." The mage adds, wrinkling his nose in distaste as he bends to examine the pile closer. After a moment he stands back up and looks around the room again.
"Well, it seems that I may have been mistaken, at least in a fortuitous way." Slidell smiles. "'Queenie' may have had the knowledge of the front door, and possibly even how to replenish the Runewell's power. But it would appear that she lacked complete knowledge on how to reactivate a depleted runewell!" He turns around to face the others."We've done it, Sandpoint is safe from any further threats from here!" He smiles.
"As soon as we explore, de-critter-fy, and verify the security of the rest of this level, tear down the statue of Lammashtuu, clean up the 'milk', and reconsecrate the ground to a kinder, gentler diety, at least" He adds in a hasty undertone, looking around the room again,...
"Let's just say, I've had enough of these things." Ehlissa says simply. "The sooner we get to the bottom of this bally mess, the better."
"Let's just say, I've had enough of these things." Ehlissa says simply. "The sooner we get to the bottom of this bally mess, the better."
"Well, that's our two known threats remaining down here now permanently out of action," Zieke agrees, "Let's make sure the rest of this place is safe and then we can let Corporal Harsk and his men seal it off again."
Before moving to join Salome and Slidell, he gives Ehlissa a warrior's pat on the shoulder and says, "Well done, sweetheart..."
Ehlissa looks at Zieke's hand wryly and then up at him.
"Just so you know, your hand is currently in the Magnimaran court pose for 'this lady and I are stepping out' but thank you." she says, trying not to smirk.
Ehlissa looks at Zieke's hand wryly and then up at him. "Just so you know, your hand is currently in the Magnimaran court pose for 'this lady and I are stepping out' but thank you." she says, trying not to smirk.
"Really? How interesting," Zieke deadpans, "In Korvosa, it's generally a way to say 'nice job'...and 'what a lucky shot'...all at the same time. But, of course, if you're implying it's a way to designate 'lucky' in an entirely different meaning, I can see the use in that. Magnimarians always have been better lovers than fighters...but perhaps you're the counter to that stereotype? As for me, I'm well-versed in both."
Vesh puts away his bow, muttering something about the extra expense of cold iron arrows that he's not used. He then pads into the runewell room towards Mal, if for no other reason than to escape the banter that has flowered between Ehlissa and Zieke.
Following Slidell's lead, Vesh makes a search of the runewell for clues (1d20+8=23)...
After making his search, Vesh enlists Malcolm's help to carefully secure a way up to the balcony using his silk rope, grappling hook, and one remaining piton.
Ehlissa replies, "Well, Mr Halveran, I am of the opinion that in many ways, there is little difference between love and war. The only difference being that in love-making, skill is paramount."
With a knowing smile, she leaves the conversation.
Ehlissa replies, "Well, Mr Halveran, I am of the opinion that in many ways, there is little difference between love and war. The only difference being that in love-making, skill is paramount." With a knowing smile, she leaves the conversation.
Zieke grins as he watches Ehlissa walk away. He only half-stifles a chuckle. 'Well, I've got skill in both then, sweetheart...' he muses, before finally turning away to join Salome and Slidell.
"So...what's the verdict, sister?" he asks Salome, "Sounds like the Sli old devil here has pronounced this well won't be summoning any more hellspawn our way." He waves away the stench of the decaying wrathspawn bodies for a second. "They certainly continue to assault the senses, though," he adds.
"So what now? Is there more to this place to explore and secure? I assured the Mayor we'd clean out every room and slay every threat this place might pose toward Sandpoint..." he says.
"Let's make sure the rest of this place is safe and then we can let Corporal Harsk and his men seal it off again."
Thoroughly engrossed in examining the room, a luxury he didn't have the last time they were here, these words finally manage to penetrate Slidell's 'obliviousness defenses' like a sword to the heart.
"NO! You can't!" He cries in a panic, turning to face Zieke. He continues in a normal tone, still talking very rapidly. "You heard what Salome said earlier. Even after we clear the place of monsters, At least the places we can reach, what I wouldn't give for a fly spell, the statue and 'milk' collecting around it is a growing threat in and of itself! We have to destroy and tear down the statue, get rid of the 'milk', and re-consecrate the ground to a beneficial deity! And then, this place is an absolute treasure-trove of knowledge, A gateway to our ancient past. The construction alone will give us more information about the ancient Thassilonians than our past 1,000 years of research combined! And I'm not even going to TRY to explain about the possible mystical knowledge that can be recovered from these ruins! The one book I have in my pack alone is possibly worth more than most Archmage's libraries! You can't just,... just,... put up a wall and pretend it isn't here!"
"Look,..." Slidell rubs his eyes, then continues in his 'normal' voice. "I'm not saying that we open it up and give general tours to the public. We take precautions. For starters, we don't tell anyone what's actually down here. The guards at the entrance to the tunnel haven't even seen the Thassilonian stonework. All we told them was that there were monsters down here. So no one knows it's here. And even Alzanist herself felt that this area was completely secure, or she would have had more doorways and precautions. And at this point, there are only,..." He holds up a hand and counts fingers. "Four people in town that I know of that could figure out how to open the door, and do it themselves. Two of us are in the room already, and the other two don't know it exists. We aren't going to get much safer than that!"
Slidell looks around at the others, silently imploring them to agree with him.
"NO! You can't!"
Zieke turns to eye Slidell, curious as to the wizard's obvious eagerness in leaving the place open. Rather then rebut or question him right away, he let's him say his piece first.
"Look...I'm not saying that we open it up and give general tours to the public. We take precautions. For starters, we don't tell anyone what's actually down here. The guards at the entrance to the tunnel haven't even seen the Thassilonian stonework. All we told them was that there were monsters down here. So no one knows it's here. And even Alzanist herself felt that this area was completely secure, or she would have had more doorways and precautions. And at this point, there are only,..." He holds up a hand and counts fingers. "Four people in town that I know of that could figure out how...
"Look," Zieke responds, "Any other time and under different circumstances, I might agree with you. But, in case you've forgotten, the Swallowtail Festival was overrun by goblins not all that long ago. There's evidence of a possible future attack with even more of their ilk, championed by someone with a seemingly real reason to raze this town to the ground."
"Now I'm not the greatest battlefield general from Korvosa," he admits, "But these tunnels below the Glassworks are known to the enemy. They've used them before to infiltrate the town. And, for a proper defense, we've got to find some way to keep them from using it again. I'm more inclined to make sure they can't get down into Alzanist's ruins in case they find some other horror to unleash on the innocent folk living above us. Someone made contact with that she-devil before. So it doesn't matter that there's only four people in town that could figure out how to get down here. I'm more worried about the people outside of town who might try to come back here. They've got a lot more reason to stir up trouble than those living in Sandpoint."
He holds up a hand to forestall Sli's continued protests. "Alright, alright. I understand you're the academic here and you'd like a chance to study," he concedes, "I'll talk to the Mayor and the Sheriff about it when we get back. We can always tear down the brickwork again if they agree to support your efforts to come back. But for now, safety first...or I'd be remiss in my duties to Sandpoint. You understand?"
"Alright, alright. I understand you're the academic here and you'd like a chance to study," he concedes, "I'll talk to the Mayor and the Sheriff about it when we get back. We can always tear down the brickwork again if they agree to support your efforts to come back. But for now, safety first...or I'd be remiss in my duties to Sandpoint. You understand?"
Slidell stares at Zieke for a moment. And then another moment. Then he says, calmly but clipped. "Safety first. Right. I Understand."
The tall thin mage then turns on his heel, and stalks back across the room. With his head thrust low and forward, his arms held ramrod stiff at his sides, and steam all but visible pouring from the top of his hat as he almost goose-steps across the tiled floor.
"Mumble-Grumble Mayor,... Rassin-Frackin Sheriff,... What part of We don't tell anyone did YOU not understand you hyper thyroidal throwback?!?!" He kvetches sotto-voice as he stomps past Salome and the Runewell.
"He wants security? I'LL give him security! I'll spell-ward this place so tight that if a cockroach tries to get in, I'll know his first and last names, and whose outhouse he last crawled through! If a thief does manage to get in, he'll get hit by a spell-trap so powerful that his grandmother will feel it!" Slidell continues as he crosses the floor and ends up under the balcony that Vesh and Mal have just finished successfully ascending. With an exasperated raspberry, the Chelaxian leans against the column he is standing next to and looks up at the dexterous duo.
"Find anything interesting?" He calls softly with a smile, all sweetness and light. His thin, nimble fingers begin to idly trace the runes they are leaning on.
Slidell stares at Zieke for a moment. And then another moment. Then he says, calmly but clipped. "Safety first. Right. I Understand." The tall thin mage then turns on his heel, and stalks back across the room. With his head thrust low and forward, his arms held ramrod stiff at his sides, and steam all but visible pouring from the top of his hat as he almost goose-steps across the tiled floor.
After his exchange with Ehlissa and now Slidell, Zieke can only grin and shake his head. 'These people get set off easier than a heavy crossbow in the hands of a palsied halfling...' he wonders to himself, 'Hell if I know how I keep rubbing them the wrong way.'
Looking to rebalance himself with someone who typically makes sense, he seeks out Salome again.
"So...what's the verdict, sister?...Sounds like the Sli old devil there has pronounced this well won't be summoning any more hellspawn our way." He waves away the stench of the decaying wrathspawn bodies for a second. "They certainly continue to assault the senses, though," he adds.
"So what now? Is there more to this place to explore and secure? I assured the Mayor we'd clean out every room and slay every threat this place might pose toward Sandpoint..."
Looking to rebalance himself with someone who typically makes sense, he seeks out Salome again.
"We've done it, Sandpoint is safe from any further threats from here!" He smiles.
"You seem very sure of yourself, majji," cautions Salome as she takes in the enormity of the room. "And did Veran check the landings and the tunnels beyond the fallen-down rocks while we were fighting the djini? I get the sense we have only seen a fraction of this place," she shines her shield-light toward the distant towering walls.
"So...what's the verdict, sister?" he asks Salome.
Salome raises an eyebrow. "Ziq naz-Sharif," Salome addresses the guardsman and bows in the most formal way possible. "Where I come from, a gentleman does not presume such familiarity with a lady within hardly a day of their first meeting. Nor does he seek to change her name without a formal proposal of marriage," she tilts her head slightly and smiles too-politely. "My name is Salome bajAtru, Daughter of Fire and Peace, Child of None. Perhaps one day we shall be cousins, but for now you may call me Salome." She bows again, but with a more generous smile this time.
"Let's make sure the rest of this place is safe and then we can let Corporal Marsk and his men seal it off again."
"NO! You can't!" He cries in a panic...[Slidell rants] You can't just,... just,... put up a wall and pretend it isn't here!"
As Zieke and Slidell argue about the fate of the tunnels, Salome listens but continues to look around the room.
While looking around, you also notice (again) the seven curved pillars arrayed around the well. Looking closer, you see that each is marked with Alzanist's rune. The pillar opposite the balcony has the rune featured most prominantly. The markings on the other six are a little smaller. Below each of these runes is another, smaller rune. While similar, each smaller rune is different.
Seeing Slidell march off in a huff, Salome follows him to the balcony and turns him around. "You," she glares accusingly, "are the most selfish, spoiled-child majji I have ever seen! You may not see yourself as wicked as the power-hungry, conniving, and charlatan majji of Qadira, but your self-centeredness makes you just as dangerous. You were perfectly willing to sacrifice your friends for your own wants, and now you believe you are entitled to turn your back on the people you have been commissioned to protect in order to achieve your own desires. You walk around declaring this safe or that important without any evidence beyond that fact that it suits you. And when things do not go your way, you argue, whine, or stomp off rather than use that "superior intellect" of yours to find a viable solution.
"How hard would it be for you to make a rubbing or write some notes on your ever-present scrolls? We do not have much time. You know it was not our choice that the walls of this cave would be sealed; it was your employers'. I am sure that once we have completed our duty here we can go back and re-explore. But clearly, keeping your promises and keeping your friends are not your top priorities.
"If you want to be sealed up in here with all this ancient knowledge, be my guest. But if you decide that you have no reason to protect the people of this town, then I have no reason to protect you. I have other places to focus my energy."
Salome strides to the archway. "I think we are about done here."
Looking to rebalance himself with someone who typically makes sense, he seeks out Salome again. "So what now? Is there more to this place to explore and secure? I assured the Mayor we'd clean out every room and slay every threat this place might pose toward Sandpoint..."
"I do not know if that is a promise we can keep this night. You have seen the piles of rubble blocking stairs and passages. We have no idea how big this place really is. These caverns and rooms are so huge; whoever created them must have been much larger and stronger than we six. There is no way we could explore every room and tunnel before our time here is up.
"I think we have dealt with two of the three most urgent threats: the wrathspawn and the djini. Let me take care of the shrine and then let the Guard block off the entrances. Perhaps, once we figure out what was behind the Swallowtail massacre and get rid of the goblins and whoever is commanding them, we can come back with a work ganya and finish securing the impassable tunnels."
Seeing Slidell march off in a huff, Salome follows him to the balcony and turns him around. "You," she glares accusingly, "are the most selfish, spoiled-child majji I have ever seen!,...
As Salome lays into the taller Chelaxian with abandon, Slidell can only stare at her in astonishment as the usually spare-worded priestess wields the torrent of words as wickedly as she wields her scimitar.
You may not see yourself as wicked as the power-hungry, conniving, and charlatan majji of Qadira, but your self-centeredness makes you just as dangerous. You were perfectly willing to sacrifice your friends for your own wants, and now you believe you are entitled to turn your back on the people you have been commissioned to protect in order to achieve your own desires.
Slidell opens his mouth,...
You walk around declaring this safe or that important without any evidence beyond that fact that it suits you. And when things do not go your way, you argue, whine, or stomp off rather than use that "superior intellect" of yours to find a viable solution.
Slidell holds up a finger and opens his mouth,...
"How hard would it be for you to make a rubbing or write some notes on your ever-present scrolls? We do not have much time. You know it was not our choice that the walls of this cave would be sealed; it was your employers'. I am sure that once we have completed our duty here we can go back and re-explore. But clearly, keeping your promises and keeping your friends are not your top priorities."
Slidell frowns at this, and manages to get out, "Now wait just a spell-struck second,...!"
"If you want to be sealed up in here with all this ancient knowledge, be my guest. But if you decide that you have no reason to protect the people of this town, then I have no reason to protect you. I have other places to focus my energy."
Salome strides to the archway. "I think we are about done here."
Slidell Stares at Salome, possibly because he is unsure whether or not she is done yet. He blinks, then looks at Veran, who returns his look.
Slidell bursts out laughing. It is not the laughter of ridicule or scorn, but of joyous release, of true happiness.
"Ah, Salome, YOU are indeed a true treasure of the desert!" He manages to get out, wiping a tear from his eye. "Always leaping to the defense of others! But I regret to inform you that you are spending your venom unnecessarily. I think what we have here is a simple misunderstanding."
Slidell points to the Runewell, smiling. "Of course I cannot vouch for the threats that are possibly hiding in the rest of this structure. I was merely glad that the threat from the Runewell has been nullified."
The tall mage leans against the pillar. "As for the rest, I'll confess to being moderately selfish. I know very little about the majji of Quadira, but It would be a lie to tell you anything except, I want to be the one to read every book, study every rune, and explore every nook and cranny of this facility. If I thought it were possible."
He shakes his head slowly, "But not for personal gain. If I thought it would do any good, I would gladly sacrifice any further gains in my personal mystic power in order to devote my life to studying the wonders buried here. In order to share it with the world! Just think about it! Hidden in here could be the secrets to cure diseases in children, prevent crops from dying, or heal the mentally wounded. Or perhaps we may find secrets that could make life easier for everyone! Think of how,... carriages that travel on lightning bolts or ships that sail the sky could revolutionize travel and exploration!" The mage almost glows with excitement.
Slidell stops and sighs. "Now, Zieke makes a valid point. Anything down here that we do not secure could, possibly, be recovered by another and used against Sandpoint above, or elsewhere. But I counter with the fact that ANYthing can be 'turned against you'. A simple sword can be used to defend or attack. But you don't bury yours in the sand because your afraid that someone else might take it away and use it against you!"
Slidell shrugs. "As for the rest, I cannot undue mistaken impressions. But I assure you that the only one I was willing to sacrifice at any point during our time together was myself. You are not the only one who thinks of others,..." He mutters almost too low to hear.
He is still for a moment, lost in thought. He shivers and looks up, smiling as he strokes his chin. "As for locking my self in,... not just yet, thank you! Well! Anyway, I hope your right, almost done that is! Just a few notes to make,..." He continues muttering as he pulls out a couple of rolled up parchments and his charcoal stick, and proceeds to copy the runes on teh pillar he is standing next to,...
Slidell bursts out laughing...."Ah, Salome, YOU are indeed a true treasure of the desert!" He manages to get out, wiping a tear from his eye. "Always leaping to the defense of others! But I regret to inform you that you are spending your venom unnecessarily. I think what we have here is a simple misunderstanding...."
Salome glares at Slidell, her eyes flashing dangerously. "Yes. We do have a misunderstanding. I cannot understand how you can live so gleefully in your own little world with so little regard for others. Someday, you are going to kill someone, and you will not even realize it. May Sarenrae withdraw her light..." she whispers as she turns her back on the mage, once again obliviously engrossed in his work.
"Where I come from, a gentleman does not presume such familiarity with a lady within hardly a day of their first meeting. Nor does he seek to change her name without a formal proposal of marriage," she tilts her head slightly and smiles too-politely. "My name is Salome bajAtru, Daughter of Fire and Peace, Child of None. Perhaps one day we shall be cousins, but for now you may call me Salome." She bows again, but with a more generous smile this time.
Zieke grins, half-tempted to tease the priestess about being so uptight in sticking to the strict traditions of her culture in a foreign land...and also considering passing along his own expectations around how he'll behave within his own nation. But he surmises Salome is a bit too serious about it, and teasing or arguing over something of so little significance isn't worth the time or effort. 'No need to have everyone ticked off at me,' he thinks.
"Alright, sist...um, Salome, I mean," he catches himself, "I can extend that small courtesy out of respect for you. Understand, in these lands, though, it's more a form of endearment and acceptance...warrior-to-warrior. I meant no disrespect..."
Once Salome leaves him to seek out Slidell, Zieke once again busies himself with inspecting the rest of the well room. He didn't really get a good look at it during the combat and retreat their last time through. At first, he's only vaguely aware of the dressing down Salome proceeds to give to the wizard. But as their conversation draws out, he does glance in their direction.
'Well, well...give it to him, sister,' he mentally smiles, 'Maybe it'll sink in better coming from one of his own for a change.'
After Salome leaves him and returns in Zieke's direction, he rubs his chin, curious if her angry mood is about to include him.
"You have seen the piles of rubble blocking stairs and passages. We have no idea how big this place really is. These caverns and rooms are so huge; whoever created them must have been much larger and stronger than we six. There is no way we could explore every room and tunnel before our time here is up.
"I think we have dealt with two of the three most urgent threats: the wrathspawn and the djini. Let me take care of the shrine and then let the Guard block off the entrances. Perhaps, once we figure out what was behind the Swallowtail massacre and get rid of the goblins and whoever is commanding them, we can come back with a work ganya and finish securing the impassable tunnels."
"I don't necessarily disagree with you. But by my reckoning, we haven't been down here too long," Zieke replies, "There's still plenty of time before the corporal orders his men to seal this place off. And I trust him to honor his word on that."
He looks past her at the others, mentally assessing their injuries.
"No one seems terribly hurt," he adds, "We didn't expend too many of our resources taking out the she-devil and that creature from the well. And if, as you say, we've eliminated most of the urgent threats, there shouldn't be too much left down here to oppose us. So I'd like to ensure we at least mark any remaining passages we haven't explored. This place is ancient...and obviously falling apart. Some of the passages may be sealed off already anyway."
"Before we head back," he finishes, "I want to know if there's sign of anything else living down here that might find its way up to Sandpoint. I owe the Mayor and the Sheriff some assurances on that matter, because if I go back and tell them all we did was kill a few more things...granted some of the most dangerous things...it's still not going to set their mind at ease if I tell them we left several rooms and tunnels unexplored."
Vesh absently wipes the dust off of his clothing as he walks a few circles about the landing and alcove. "Vaelaer eisae," he commands as he revolves, hands outstretched.
and makes up to three Spellcraft check to identify auras (1d20+6=16, 1d20+6=26, 1d20+6=23).
"You," she glares accusingly, "are the most selfish, spoiled-child majji I have ever seen!"...
He frowns as the battle of words ensues below, he tries to block it out, but the increasing volume and venom in their argument makes it difficult.
"Ah, Salome, YOU are indeed a true treasure of the desert!" ...
Vesh's frown deepens as the bickering from below continues. He turns to Mal in exasperation and then turns to the balcony.
"Both of you, please!" He calls down in frustration. "Shut your mouths until we get out of this hell-hole, or take my place up here. Between your incessant arguing and those two flirting with one another...it's maddening...and distracting!"
He turns back to Mal, "And to think that I was the one to succumb to the Milk of the B!7$h Queen. You'd think it was one of them." He says a little too loudly.
After making his search, Vesh carefully removes and confiscates the unlit candles if it seems safe to do so.
When Vesh is finished making what he believes to be a thorough search of the balcony and alcove, he turns to Mal. "I think I'm done up here. Did you find anything?" After conferring with him, he makes his way down.
"Perhaps we should start arguing," he says to Mal, "I'm feeling a little left out, frankly." He flashes one of his rare, crooked smiles at the rogue and descends. At the bottom, he carefully retrieves his grappling hook and coils his rope as he quickly relates the details of the search to Slidell and the others.
"Both of you, please!" He calls down in frustration. "Shut your mouths until we get out of this hell-hole, or take my place up here. Between your incessant arguing [indicating Slome and Slidell] and those two [nodding to Zieke and Ehlissa] flirting with one another...it's maddening...and distracting!"
He turns back to Mal, "And to think that I was the one to succumb to the Milk of the B!7$h Queen. You'd think it was one of them." He says a little too loudly.
Usually oblivious Slidell makes no attempt to hide the rolling of his eyes. But a smile teases playfully at the frown of concentration he is attempting to maintain.
"Yes mother,..." he replies sotto voice as he moves to the next pillar and begins to painstakingly copy the runes inscribed upon it.
'Hmph. The boy doesn't need as much help as I originally thought. Between his obvious skills, and his ability to take and use my own magic against me, I wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley! Speaking of which, I wonder who IS following him? And why?' The mage muses, his hyperactive mind multi-tasking as he quickly but neatly copies the markings and moves on to the next.
Veran buts his head against Slidell's, drawing a raised eyebrow from his 'master'. The familiar mutters something into Slidell's ear that does not escape the wide protection of the hat brim, but causes an instantaneous reaction from the mage.
"NO! You Can',...!" Slidell snaps his mouth shut, looking hastily around before continuing in a much softer tone. "Veran, It's too dangerous!" He almost hisses. The raven replies with a pointed look at the balcony.
Slidell closes his eyes and sighs.
"I hate it when you use my own words against me! OK. Fine. Just ,... Ooof!" He says as the large raven launches unannounced from his shoulder.
",... be careful." He says to the retreating back of his familiar. He glances around to see if any of the others noticed the exchange. He Beams a smile at any who look back, and then quickly returns to his work, scribbling furiously.
Veran flaps swiftly upwards, he makes a single circuit of the room, and then heads to the balcony. He wings to a stall above Vesh as the other is checking out the alcoves, and then drops to the spellthief's shoulder.
"You guys looked like you needed company. And it's getting to loud down there." the raven says by way of explanation in it's reedy voice. "What did you find? Anything,... shiny?" He asks hopefully.
Someone should pick up the wrathspawn's dagger. 200 gp will help finance some leveling-up stuff.
Seeing that no one has done so, Vesh pulls the dagger out of the dead wrathspawn and tests its weight. "Nice," he comments flatly, "this should get us a nice bonus."
Taking a corner of his burnt and mostly-ruined cloak, he starts to clean the blade.
"The Quasit seemed pretty sure of herself, and her control over her environs." Slidell Offers to the group in general as he finishes off a sketch of the last rune on the seventh column.
"While there is no way to know for certain without actually exploring every nook and cranny,..." He continues, with a sideways look at both Zieke and Salome, "It is logical to presume that if there were any other monsters or servants here, Queenie would have either thrown them at us when we first entered, like she did her spellwarped Goblin and zombies, or at least have it guarding the entrance upon the possibility of our return."
"I'm up for continuing to explore, naturally. At the very least, I would like to take a peek into every room that isn't completely blocked and sealed by rubble. We have gathered many interesting and potentially valuable clues, but this is one puzzle I do NOT relish trying to put together without all of the pieces!" He says with a smile.
He pushes his hat back on his head as he takes another look around the chamber. "Is there any part of this room we haven't explored, poked or prodded? Given the proclivity of archmages towards secrets, much less uber-mages, I would not be surprised to find hidden passages or rooms hidden at the heart of their sanctum!"
"The Quasit seemed pretty sure of herself, and her control over her environs." Slidell Offers to the group in general as he finishes off a sketch of the last rune on the seventh column.
Vesh responds as he repacks his rope and other gear, "Yes, but I think she overestimated her own abilities." He looks at the bodies piled into the Runewell. "This mess has the stink of desperation on it."
"Yes, but I think she overestimated her own abilities....This mess has the stink of desperation on it."
"And madness..." Zieke adds as he surveys the well once more, "What a foul and wretched little beast. This is the kind of magic to be shunned in my opinion. Not that my opinion counts all that much on such a subject."