The first man to awaken responds.
"You look alot like Pathfinders. We ain't going to be rescued by no stinkin' Pathfinders. Bugger off."
They look very similarly dressed to the group of Aspis that ambushed you from the statue room. They are definitely tightly chained and some of the wounds on their backs appear to be acid burns.
One of the other men chimes in...
"Yeah, that's right! We are doing just fine on our own."
The third nods.
"Yep. Why don't you all make like a tree and get outta here."
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"Oooh, thankless... and smart too... what a combination! It's 'make like a tree and LEAVE, you idiot... I suspect you'll be here in chains til you starve... have a nice life, jerks." She walks away from them and over to her friends... sniffing slightly with her nose wrinkling... "And ripe too.. .whew... if you DO get free, I recommend some personal hygiene."
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“Thank-you for the healing and the rescue, everyone.” Eadie looks happy but humbled by her recent experience. “I’m definitely gonna stop doing silly things. Perhaps even starting right now.”
"Hi my name is Lore and this is my little sister, Eadie."
Eadie *curtsies* while being introduced by her big sis. “We’re sisters noneth removed. Different mother, different father. Same heart.”
" It's 'make like a tree and LEAVE …”
Eadie frowns under her helm. I’m pretty sure it IS ‘make like a tree and get the heck outta here …
Welp, rather than stand in silence and be thought a fool, I better open my mouth and remove all doubt.
The warrior taps her big sis on the shoulder. “Uh, Lore. I think the expression IS …” but takes a step back as the gnome continues …
" … you idiot... Have a nice life, jerks."
“Let the gnome win.”
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"It's 'make like a tree and LEAVE, you idiot..."
"Yes, that is the correct saying, though I'm fond of an alternative - make like mischievous fey and get the Puck out of here."
As Lore walks away, Maximo steps up, tugs the wrinkles from his coat, and gives the captives a stern eye. "Listen up, you Consortium ne'er-do-wells! While I respect a brave soul, your bravado is laughable under current circumstances. I intend to release you all and send you on your way peacefully, but not until you display proper etiquette and apologize to the ladies!"
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Eadie leaves Smashy standing on his head as she claps her hands together with glee. "Ooh, ooh, I can do one, Maximo! Ready?
"Let's make like a shepherd and get the flock ... away from any wolves - or dingoes!"
€€€€
Noticing the grippli Desperado has his piece locked 'n loaded, Eadie wonders about the fight she missed up top.
"So they were gunning for you, Chochok?" The young warrior looks concerned.
"Who shot first?"
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Chochok rolls his eyes and raises the area of his face where his eyebrows would be at the discussion of trees and leaves. To Eadie he responds, "Well, I was doing most of the gunning, m'lady. Pretty sure it qualifies as self-defense. As for these Aspis buggers, I say we leave 'em tied up so we can take 'em in t'custody."
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"Yes, I know; They're idiots. And good job getting shot earlier, idiot." Turg notes to her floaty assistant, sending Snave back to the First World before he can give any handy tips. She turns her attention to the chained men. "Now, for you pieces of work... I wonder how much you'd be worth on the market, if you're so intent on not being rescued..."
The three of them are not overly cooperative but are cowed by Maximo and Turg.
"Well we ain't going to fight you. If you wants to haul us away, that's your business."
They hold up their wrists to be unshackled from the locks holding them. No keys were found on any bodies you encountered.
The stairs lead downward, clockwise to the east and south and eventually to a set of double doors 50' below the room with the hapless trio.
The shaft ends here in a vast circular pool. An open stair descends thirty feet from a stone archway, ending a few feet above the water and becoming a narrow walkway snaking around the interior curve of the well. This path ends three quarters of the way around the pool where a set of massive bronze doors set with the serpentine goddess in relief stand closed. High above, the opening to the surface seems a dot that could be eclipsed with one hand; even in brightest day any admitted light fades to shadows at the well’s bottom. The only sound comes from the light slapping of water against stone.
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Eadie ignores the Aspis thugs as they lift their manacled wrists. “I think we can safely leave them here until we return.”
♞♞♞♞
On the way down the stairs, Eadie can’t help but play tour guide, as it feels like the well ledge has become her second home. “As we come through the stone arch, ladies and gents, you’ll notice the open staircase eventually becomes a narrow walkway snaking around the interior curve of what we locals call the Well of Tinted Virtue.”
“Do mind your step as you descend. Please keep a firm hold on any animal companions or familiars. There may be any number of chains lying about ready to trip you up! Anyone here from Nidal? Oh, you’ll feel right at home!”
As they pass under the balcony where the party fought Lyone’s crew 110’ above, Eadie points out … “A relatively new feature in the Well … the Enigmatic Rope of Mystery or EROM as us Wellers call it. Some folks say it’s permanent rope trick installed by Runelord Krune to hide from Leng assassins! Others that it’s a strand of Lissala’s hair, let down so her one-time lover, the giant god Minderhal could more easily ascend to her balcony in the heavens …”
Once the party reaches the twin bronze doors, Eadie stops and says in a low voice. “This ends my part of the tour today. Thank-you everyone for your attention. The gift shop and exit are right through these doors. Oh, and if anyone has any questions feel free to ask!”
The prisoners smile and wave as you head down the stairs around the well.
The bronze doors appear to be unlocked, but heavy.
Tour-guide Eadie finds no mechanical traps or threats on or around the doors.
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Eadie waits for her companions to stand back or otherwise indicate their intentions. When everyone's ready she puts her shoulder to the doors.
"By the power invested in me by the Master of the First Vault ... Open up in the Name of the Law!"
"Uh ... a little help, please guys? Guys?"
"STUPID DOOR!!" The warrior 'princess' gives Lissala's portal a kick, before standing aside with crossed arms and pouty face. *Hmph*
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Eadie pulls on the door handles...twice. They do not budge.
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On the way down the stairs, Eadie can’t help but play tour guide, as it...
Turg takes note of what she says, as if it were factual. "Yes, very good, subject. I am glad we have an expert on our hands."
She then awaits the opening of the door, and answers the call for help with a SLA summoning of Mites (which will last a maximum of 9 minutes; usually less.) Unfortunately, they dally too long and can only help the other gnome open.
(looks like 3 of them succeed)
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Before descending Maximo takes a minute to mix up one last extract.
"Well of Tainted Virtue? Indeed.." Maximo nods, listening seriously to Eadie's tour. "Fascinating. I was unaware Lissala even had hair..."
***
At the door, Maximo prepares any further trouble by taking his extract of shield, then holds forth Big Love and imbuing it with the holy power of Shelyn.
"Burn bright with the power of love!"
In response, Maximo's greatsword bursts into flame.
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Feeling left out that everyone else is prepping for combat, while she has already used up her buffy tricks, Eadie pulls out an empty antiplague vial, flips her visor and pretends to drink from it.
She wipes her mouth with her grubby tasset. “AAAAAAHH ... THAT HIT SPOT.”
“Me STROOOONG now! But pretty dumb … So no casty people use big words, OK?”
Ugh! I sound like Corbalias.
Holding Smashy’s haft casually in one hand, Eadie moves back to the doors that Lore pushed open and gives the image of Lissala an irritated slap on her seven-pointed face.
Lore, helped by a pack of mites, pushes the doors open.
Maximo calls divine flame into his blade while Eadie imitates her pal, Corbalias.
The bronze doors open onto a darkened shrine. A dais rises off the floor, every foot of it inlaid with runes of assorted metals.
On it, a marble sculpture of the serpentine goddess coils around an altar carved to resemble a book.
Six pillars line the sides of the hall, each wrapped by a twenty-foot-tall statue of the goddess;
their snaky tails coil about the bottoms, unfurled wings brushing each other and rune-like heads gazing down at the altar.
Each holds a different implement; a quill, a chain, an hourglass, a scroll, a spool of thread, and a whip.
The ceiling rises higher here than in previous rooms; at least thirty feet tall.
High above, deep purple banners emblazoned with golden runic text hang from granite buttresses linking the pillars.
A tall, wiry redheaded Shoanti man decked in rune-covered armor stands at the altar. He turns and addresses your group.
Enter and fall to your knees!
I promise each of you that your lives will be spared,
so that your minds may be wiped clean and rededicated as the newest thralls of mighty Lissala."
He motions to the area in front of the altar for you to supplicate yourselves.
He calls out down the hall to you.
"You two appear to be misguided in your faith. Once you have heard the tenets of Lissala, you will see the error in your ways. I will freely share this wisdom if you will but listen ."
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“Hey! The rest of us are just as misguided in our faith too!”
Eadie inclines her head to listen. “Mmm … I am interested in what you have to say, Bluey. You’ll have to come closer but.”
“You see, I got some custard in my ear when I collapsed into my dessert at Lore’s party ... And now I’m a trifle deaf.”
The man steps around the altar and continues to yell (Corbalias's cousin perhaps?)
"COME CLOSER! I cannot hear you from there and besides, the hallway is DARK. Did you say you were just arrived from the DESERT? WHO ARE YOU at least, so I may know my GUESTS?"
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Ms Navhelan draws a javelin. “Bluey, let’s stop beating about the Snave. You had creatures from hell torturing people upstairs. Ergo you’re a bad man.”
“It’s been a trying day and frankly, I’m happy to drop you from range, while the Fey Queen smothers you in mites and pugs.”
Keeping her eyes on the high priest, Eadie answers the grippli. “I’ll chuck my spear, then give you my space if you want it, Chochok.”
Initiative, for those of you interested in engaging in more than dialog with the speaker.
Eadie draws her spear and makes room for the rifleman.
Chochok misfires at the man while Maximo begins his inspiring speech.
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Lore casts blessing of fervor on the party:
Each turn you can do one of the following: lasts 7 rounds.
Increase its speed by 30 feet.
Stand up as a swift action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Make one extra attack as part of a full attack action, using its highest base attack bonus.
Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves.
Cast a single spell of 2nd level or lower as if it were an enlarged, extended, silent, or still spell.
These effects are not cumulative with similar effects, such as those provided by haste or a speed weapon, nor do they actually grant an extra action, so you can't use it to cast a second spell or otherwise take an extra action in the round. Blessing of fervor does not stack with haste.
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The Mites from door-help-opening rush forward, with some of them likely not chosen to be blessed with Fervkr. A smart choice, as they will move into the room as far as they can, in an attempt to assail the guy in the room. The ones that could be affected choose Bonus Movement.
-Posted with Wayfinder
The mites rush into the room (I forgot how many you have - I put 4 on the map).
"Bonzai!!!!
The man shouts as the minions close to attack.
"I offer you a chance to broaden your minds and this is how you respond? Sending in your minions?"
He lets out a rage-filled bellow
"LISSSSAAAAALLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!
As he withdraws to shadows of the northern wall (out of sight from the well and doorway).