"Alright, if that's what you'd like Jeny," Kessel says, "I'm going to go down . . . perhaps if you have any wood craft you could get some meat out of those snakes over there. Might keep you busy while we explore this potentially dangerous ruins. I think we might need the supplies to be honest."
Jeny sets herself down to both keep an eye on the mule and work on making something useful for the group from the things that have been found so far.
Darie looked up towards the gap between the stone block and the arch. "Hmm... Tobin, do you think you'd fit through there if someone gave you a lift up? Maybe there is some way to move that thing from the other side?" She smiled encouragingly at the halfling.
"Wait," Kessel says holding up his hands, "before we touch anything down here, let's check for traps."
Tobin inspects the large block carefully for a while, making the occasional intrigued sound. Soon he moves away and starts climbing up the bas-relief figures and blocking off their mouths.
The halfling explains that the block is on a pressure plate, he's stopped the valves that release the gas if the block is moved but he won't be able to move the block on his own, it's much too heavy.
Kessel looks confused.
"Wait," he says, "the block isn't part of the trap . . . or wasn't part of a trap? What I mean is it isn't something that dropped down to squash someone? How did it get here? The passage continues past this doesn't it? This block looks really out of place."
Tobin explains the setup of the trap. The stone blocks your path and could possibly be toppled to clear your path onwards. Usually when the weight of the rock is shifted a pressure pad would life and the chamber would fill with gas from the mouths of the bas-relief figures. Now the trap will still go off but the cunning halfling has backed up the gas release valves so the noxious substance won't escape into the room you're in.
Kessel nods.
"Well if this slab is in our way that bodes well for the hope that we've found an area that hasn't been explored then. If anyone had come through here earlier that block would have been already toppled over."
Darie eyed the huge block of stone once more, nodding. "Yes. Unless they had a way of getting that chunk of rock out of the way. Neatness and all aside, i really doubt anyone would put this back into place after finishing with exploring."
The idea of having Tobin scout ahead was still not quite out of her head - but he would be alone, without backup. Better not to push it. "So, do you think we can move this? If we all work together, it should be possible, right?"
The idea of having Tobin scout ahead was still not quite out of her head - but he would be alone, without backup. Better not to push it. "So, do you think we can move this? If we all work together, it should be possible, right?"
"I don't think we can shove it, but we might be able to topple it towards us," Tobin observes. "If I attach my grappling hook to the top of the block in the middle, we could run two ropes off it and then have two teams pulling in each far corner of the room. That way, we wouldn't get crushed by the block as it topples!" Tobin looks pleased with his plan. "I guess this was a two-stage trap - first the block falls, then the gas is released if the block is moved. Hopefully, we should be safe now, though." Tobin sets about rigging up the ropes and grappling hook in the manner he described.
"Did you check everything for Traps first Tobin?" Kessel asks, "we can't be too cautious . . ."
"Well if we get myself and Kells on each rope and then Darie, Khadath, Kessel and tobin fill in on each team we should be able to move this block no problem" Zereta grabs one of the ropes and pulls it taut.
"sound like a good plan to me" Khadath adds and moves to grab his assigned rope
With a mighty heave you manage to topple the large stone block and see into the dark passageway beyond. Curious carvings that seem to represent a stirring tempest cover the walls of this ten-foot-wide passage. At ten-foot intervals, small alcoves flank the passage, and each alcove contains an androgynous humanoid figure with cupped hands. The figues stand roughly 7 feet tall. A faint wind seems to play within the passage but it's difficult to tell where it's coming from.
"Let's proceed carefully," Kessel says, "The builders have proven to be pretty devious so far so let's all assume that this trend is going to continue. Everyone follow Tobin and step where he says step."
Darie nodded, and while she waited for the halfling to give his "proceed", already looked down the corridor. Maybe this time around, they would hit the major treasure - this corridor had been hidden well enough, she considered it unlikely anyone had been here before them
Kells looks at the sculptures ast thy proceed slowly down the passageway. "So, Darie... Do these things look like the wind spirits from the legends you've heard of?"
Tobin seems quite certain that it's safe to porceed, he can't spot any further sign of traps in the entrance to the corridor at least. He can explore the entire corridor for you but it would take quite a while.
"I am ready and quite excited about what we may uncover. Let's proceed." Khadath says as he checks to make sure his shield is secure.
Kessel walks over to the statues to examine them closer when he gets the chance.
"Not a very attractive people were they?" he says
Darie approached one of the statues, tilting her head. She examined the statue more closely. "Let me have a look at this. I mean, it stands to reason, but we shouldn't jump to conclusions". She seemed almost eager to get to the examination, maybe because she had not been much help with the boulder earlier.
http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1613172/
You all start down the passageway, looking up at the statues who all hold out their cupped hands before them and trying to keep your wits about you. You're about halfway down the corridor.
Listen DC 18:
Darie was oblivious to anything and kept looking at the statues. "Well, they do look similar to the tomb on the upper floor, so i guess it might be the same kind of air spirit. I just wonder what these outstretched hands mean. As if something should be placed in them..."
"Hmmm, keys maybe, perhaps this opens up another chamber? Let's continue and see if we can find something to place in their hands."
Kessel's listen check is worse:
Kells tilts his ear toward the celing and listens for a long moment, but then shakes his head.
"No,I don't hear anything," the paladin says. "But I wouldn't be surprised... It seems like whoever built this place liked a few wind channels in the walls."
Khadath:
Kells tilts his ear toward the ceiling and listens for a long moment, but then shakes his head. "No, I don't hear anything" the paladin says. "But I wouldn't be surprised... It seems like whoever built this place liked a few wind channels in the walls."
"I don't know my friend. What I'm hearing sounds different. If I'm not mistaken, it sounds as if something were drawing nearer or stalking ever closer to our position." Khadath says with a bit of apprehension in his voice.
”Everyone be on your guard.” he adds as he adjust his grip on his mace.
”Ms. Billown, perhaps it would be best if you moved behind me for cover if the need arises”
”also, was there anything more you can recall of these Auran?” he ask as he tries to remember anything useful himself but nothing comes to mind. Though he does begin to ponder on what was said about placing something in the hands of the statues.
Darie did not know what the Reverent was sensing, but she knew better than to question the warning, so she fell back, while going over what her aunt had told her. Something about these... spirits. Anything...
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Khadath and Darie can recall no end of things about things that may speak Auran; Elementals, beings made of the air itself, Gensai, people with elements in their blood, a lot of Djinn (both wish granting and not) weild the power of the air... the thoughts go on and on, there are quite simply too many possibilities to be of much use right now.
Spot DC 19:
"Where does the noise sound like it's coming from?" Kessel asks.
Kells raises the everburning torch a bit higher and looks around but sees nothing.
"I'm sorry Khadath, but I don't see or hear anything... let me see if I can detect anything nefarious that way." Kells concentrates on detecting evil in the direction that Khadath has indicated.
Tobin appears to be at a loss when it comes to spotting or hearing anything as well.
"Where does the noise sound like it's coming from?" Kessel asks.
Khadath notices nothing as he motions toward the indicated statue.
”Let’s remember that were the intruders here, and anything we come across may simply be defending its home as it may view our incursion as hostile. So restrain from attacking if possible.” he states with a calmness in his voice that he hopes also shows upon his visage even though the butterflies are swirling about in his gut.
Spot Check = 15
Perhaps someone could roll for Lord Thasmudyan? As Zereta is the only one we're missing (besides Tobin who's on vacation) from the current spot and listen checks.
Darie sighed, and nodded. "Maybe we should turn back right now. I mean, i would hate to stoop so low as to burgle some creatures home... unless of course it's a goblin, orc, or anything like that."
"But on the other hand, do you really expect someone to still live here? I mean, they would have showed up in town at least once or twice, right?"
"There!" Zereta points, with her direction you all catch a glimpse of something behind one of the statues, one a little closer than the one Khadath pointed out. It's small but it's gruesome, a pair of floating eyes connected by a string of striated muscle.
Kessel is somewhat shocked be the monster and is slow to react
Khadath's Initiative = 18
Initiative on seeing the floating eye thing: (1d20+4=8)
"What is that thing?" Tobin gasps. "I've never seen anything like it!"
Kells step forward and swings his hammer at the disgusting little thing. He cannot help but think about popping them like rancid little grapes.
Darie ripped out her crossbow, and tried to level it against the eye creature, but the surprise and hasty movement ruined her aim completely, succeeding only in bouncing her bolt harmlessly off one of th hallways statues. She cursed under her breath, and tried to move out of the way for the more combat-inclined members of the expedition.