Obviously bored, Roylenna wanders away from the interrogation and makes her way over to Proteus to see what he's found.
Proteus begins searching the statue for any type of secret openings.
Ka'kara looks at the empty chest, "They must of made off with whatever was in there. Shall we give chase?" Seeing nothing else of interest in the chamber she goes over to the exit the kobolds fled out of and looks down it.
Proteus begins searching the statue for any type of secret openings.
There doesn't seem to be any secret openings in or near the statue.
Are you perhaps ready to move on?
The orc's strongbox isn't trapped and Grond has no trouble picking the lock even without tools.
Are you perhaps ready to move on?
Roylenna whispers to the priest, "The kobold says there's an underground lake with a monster in it! Isn't that exciting? Well, I'm not very good with their language yet, but I think that's what it said. I wonder which way it is!"
Sandros studies the kobold for a long moment before asking one final question.
In Draconic:
Grond is ready to go whenever.
Sandros studies the kobold for a long moment before asking one final question.
In Draconic:
** spoiler omitted **
So, to the lake then? Some kind of marching order would help.
Roylenna will cast her Dancing Lights, as normal, ready to push them up to the fray if necessary.
As you gingerly head down the corridor from the room with the statue, Grond gets temporarily inconvenienced by another net trap that he failed to spot, but with some help he manages to extricate himself easily enough.
The passage leads to a huge chamber, with a ceiling height of 20 to 25 feet and dominated by a lake with three little islands. There is a narrow passage to your left (east) along the lakeside and a large open area to your right (west). To the right there are also two visible exits, one passage at floor-level and one right next to it some 10 feet up along the wall. There is also a passage on the far (south) side of the lake.
All is still.
Proteus looks around the large room. "I suggest we stay clear of the lake until we can at least come up with some defense against acid spitting creatures. That leaves us with the two passageways to the right and the one across the room."
Proteus looks around the large room. "I suggest we stay clear of the lake until we can at least come up with some defense against acid spitting creatures. That leaves us with the two passageways to the right and the one across the room."
Sandros shudders theatrically. "Acid washes are entirely last season," he says dryly. He gestures with the rapier in his hand, still unsheathed from the interrogation of the kobold. "There is supposedly treasure across there, but we're here on a rescue mission, so I suggest we proceed in something like a thorough manner. Let's begin with the lower passage on the right, and proceed on around once we explore further."
He glances around at his companions. "We should be careful, too - the kobold specifically mentioned goblins, and we've seen none of those so far."
The passageway to the west branches off to the north. A quick glance assures you that this passage is the one that leads to the kobold main room. After another twenty feet or so, it splits into two 10 feet wide passages, once going slightly north and one slightly south. To the south there seems to be some kind of natural cave with a limestone pillar in the middle. The right-hand passage twists to the left, out of sight, after 40 feet.
A momentary look of disappointment crosses her face when they don't head across the lake but nods at the wisdom of getting protecting themselves from acid. Just happy to be moving Ka'kara follows the groups decisions on which ways to go without question. That pillar does look mighty interesting to her.....
A momentary look of disappointment crosses her face when they don't head across the lake but nods at the wisdom of getting protecting themselves from acid. Just happy to be moving Ka'kara follows the groups decisions on which ways to go without question. That pillar does look mighty interesting to her.....
Proteus agrees and turns to Roylenna. "Royl, can you move your lights to the pillar so we can possibly see its nature before approaching?"
The pillar is really an overgrown stalactite, and the room is basically just a four-way intersection. Two ways end in empty rooms littered with bones, fur, broken arrows and similar debris, none of it recent. The fourth looks more promising.
Closer examination reveals some ancient and faded letters carved into the pillar in Draconic:
The fourth passage is a 100 feet long and leads into a cave with a dirt floor with three alcoves, each containing a large smooth rock roughly 2 feet in diameter that glows red faintly.
Roylenna lets her lights dance near each of the alcoves so that they may be studied from a distance.
Roylenna lets her lights dance near each of the alcoves so that they may be studied from a distance.
There is nothing in the alcoves apart from the stones, but you think you can spy some of the same red color under the dirt in the middle of the room.
Proteus will go and examine one of the alcoves without stepping into it. "Royl, can you determine if the pillar is magical?"
The stones are actually warm to the touch. There is nothing else remarkable with the alcoves.
Both the centre of the floor and the stones radiate moderate transmutation magic.
The stones are actually warm to the touch. There is nothing else remarkable with the alcoves.
Both the centre of the floor and the stones radiate moderate transmutation magic.
Proteus tries to determine if he can recall anything in the knowledge he has learned about history or spellcraft.
As requested, Roylenna will scan everything in sight using Detect Magic, including the pillar in the intersection earlier. I'm assuming you've already provided what she would have learned from that action, so...
Her Bardic Knowledge gives her access to Knowledge skills, too, so she will rack her brain for anything she might have heard -- or use Aid Another to assist Proteus, as appropriate. Feel free to roll the check, Black Tom.
As Proteus kneels to examines the stones, Roylenna comes up beside him and they begin discussing what knowledge each other may have regarding the magical power contained within. As they discuss, he looks at Royl and his eyes become warmhearted.
Royl
"I enjoy collaborating with you, Royl. In fact, when the kobolds pierced you with their weapons, I was horrified that you may be lost to us. I appreciate the bravery of your actions, but sincerely hope that you do not decide to be so reckless in the future; especially when there are others more suited to the action. I have watched your deeds as we have travelled and I have seen the way you care for others. You are model to me of goodness. I just thought it important to say.
Now, what do you make of these stones?"
Roylenna laughs and gives the kneeling man a hug.
Proteus:
"And I must confess, my judgement was clouded by a grand plan to see my fire used on those we faced. Now I realize they had done nothing to deserve such a fate - yet. I fear I must remind myself to hold back my power until I know that those I harm deserve such.
"In truth, I find myself wishing I had your restraint and generosity. Maybe in time, I will."
Turning to the task at hand, she says, "As to these stones, the dweomer I see is one of change-magic. I know such can be used to provide good or bad effects to its targets. Does that help?
Ka'kara walks up and looks over the stones closely, "Which stone should I move first?"
Making an attempt to be gallant, Grond intercepts Ka'kara. "Let me try it first," he says.
Ka'kara walks up and looks over the stones closely, "Which stone should I move first?"
"The stones have a magical aura. Grond is right to check for traps first, but even if he thinks they are safe to move, we don't know of moving them would be good or bad - or if it would have no effect at all.
"I know it's difficult, but Proteus and I need a moment to study them first."
Seriously, I will be afk for a while today, so if the ball gets rolling this afternoon, don't wait for me.
Sandros frowns at Royl's description of the magical effects. "Could it be some kind of magical cooking and heating arrangement?" he asks. "My father's people had a few such things, though they were far more ornate and beautiful than this..."
Making an attempt to be gallant, Grond intercepts Ka'kara. "Let me try it first," he says.
Grond can't find any traps, and the stones can't be moved. There is a red circle on the floor in the middle of the room.
There is a red circle on the floor in the middle of the room.
"Um... what is that?" asks Sandros slowly.
Ka'kara seeing the others to be mystified goes and collects some bones, fur, broken arrows and similar debris from the two empty rooms and if the rest have not done anything by her return she will toss it into the red circle.
Grond can't find any traps, and the stones can't be moved. There is a red circle on the floor in the middle of the room.
Grond can't find any traps, and the stones can't be moved. There is a red circle on the floor in the middle of the room.
No, I'm sorry. You need Knowledge (arcana) to understand this.
To be specific, you realize that this is some kind of orcish magic, but you have no clue as to how it works or what it does. Ka'kara's throwing stuff into the circle doesn't seem to have any effect either.
Proteus turns to the rest of the group.
"Other than it is orcish, I cannot make anything of it. I suggest we leave it alone and move on."
Ka'kara puts her greatsword in the ring just as Proteus starts to say that.
As there are no exits from the room with the stones and as the other unexplored passage seems to connect with the room with the club trap, you return to the lake.
As you enter the cave with the lake, you are addressed by a squeaky, bubbly kind of voice: “Hey landlubbers, you like shiny things and killing stuff, right?” Squinting (except for Sandros and Grond) you can make out the head, shoulders and upper arms of a small figure leaning on his elbows on the bank of the lake. Most of him is submerged but he looks like he could be about 4 feet tall. He looks like some sort of imp, with pointy ears and a mischievous grin, and skin the color of murky water.
Proteus moves forward to allow his light to envelop the creature speaking.
Roylenna continues to study and think after Proteus' pronouncement.
"I'm afraid I can't offer much more, but since it is orcish, I have to ask - Grond, does anything about this look familiar to you?"
Roylenna ignores the newcomer and begins to poke, prod and generally try to get a response from the magical stones.
Yeah, it's been dead to me for hours.
Ka'kara watches Lenna tinker with the stones warily, ready to pull her away at a moments notice.
later....
Ka'kara follows Proteus, "Don't like killing just for killings sake but if it's a creature that has been terrorizing lesser beings than maybe we can help. Oh, and shiny stuff is always welcome." She looks to the others to see if they are in agreement.
Roylenna continues to study and think after Proteus' pronouncement.
"I'm afraid I can't offer much more, but since it is orcish, I have to ask - Grond, does anything about this look familiar to you?"
Roylenna ignores the newcomer and begins to poke, prod and generally try to get a response from the magical stones.
Roylenna tries putting her hands on the warm stone. She realizes that this is the way to work them. But you need to touch all of the stones at the same time while someone stands in the circle.
Roylenna tries putting her hands on the warm stone. She realizes that this is the way to work them. But you need to touch all of the stones at the same time while someone stands in the circle.
"I think that they require someone to be touching each one, all at once, to do their magic, but I'm still unsure what exactly they would do."
Knowledge (The planes) (1d20+3=22)
Knowledge (The planes) (1d20+3=22)
For Roylenna: