It's impossible not to either momentarily lose sight of Fargas on the landings without getting uncomfortably close to him, potential trap-wise, but the halfling is being cautious, and Galingal doesn't have trouble shadowing him carefully through the intermittently dark and crystal lit stairs that proceed floor after floor after floor without any visible doorways or exits onto lower levels. Galingal finds the halfling's glowing pebble from Lia serves as a handy indication of how close he is... as long as he stays at the edge of the light, he's hopefully far enough back that if the tomb's designers left a surprise for any would be intruders, that it'll only take the halfling, and not him.
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DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Lia and Neth are instructed to stay at the entrance, and everyone else precedes Stena, who apparently trusts Lia and the tiefling enough to leave them at her back as she ushers Petmailer, Yuk Yuk, Spiderbait, Jimjar and Kolose ahead of her, but behind Galingal.
They head down the stairs spiraling back and forth, down and down.
((Is Stena leaving Lia and Neth up top? If everyone just keeps following Fargas, they'll descend a good hundred feet or so of stairs.))
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DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Petmailer casts dancing lights and sends the glowing orbs down the stairs to light their way, helping with visualization to avoid traps. He keeps listening for any odd noises or the strange voice again.
Stena gives it a heave, with Neth moving to help, and it swings much easier now that some of the corrosion and dust has been worked out, and they manage to grind it to a stop short of slamming fully shut.
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DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Galingal continues down the stairs after Fargas. Given the noise they've made and the dancing lights shining light down, he doesn't think there's much need to keep quiet so he calls ahead to the halfling.
Kolose would gladly accept the book- And while he finds himself unable to actually go about and despoil the book, given the importance of his surroundings can compromise slightly and take at least a few notes on the blank space at the back of the book.
On the matter of a quill, Kolose merely reaches behind his ear for a moment, and in the next is holding a slightly glittering quill that had definitely not been there just a second ago. Just with how it seems to be able to write without any notable ink.
While Stena retrieves Neth and Lia, Kolose engages in academic pursuits, while Petmailer provides lighting and Galingal grills Fargas.
"The tomb of a mage of the Netherese age! Noblewoman, the sort whose estate pays for a floating monument to her life, there's got to be all sorts of valuables, you don't go to all that effort of building something like this and putting it in the sky for there to be a clay urn of ashes inside!"
The slow pace of the halfling, cautiously checking and probing for traps gives Stena plenty of time to scoot back up and return with the two more absent minded casters, which given that Kolose is the most 'in the moment' of the magic users, is a bit worrying.
All told, the party descends about a hundred feet before Fargas turns round a landing and hisses back to the closely (but not too closely) following Galingal, "Stairs end ahead, there's a room!"
He rapidly taps his way down to the bottom, and as Petmailer comes around the corner, is able to direct his bobbing light sources to provide additional illumination.
As you descend the worn steps into the quiet chamber below, remnants of ancient grandeur lay strewn amidst the silence. Tattered remnants of once-vibrant tapestries cling to the cold stone floor and walls, whispering tales of bygone glory. The walls, once adorned with intricate friezes, are now rendered nearly incomprehensible, their intricate carvings marred by deep gouges.
Fargas's attention is drawn to his left, and as others slowly descend enough to get a view into the room, you can see why. Dominating that wall of the room is an altar of ethereal pale gray marble, cracked and gouged. Ahead on the far wall, and on the right hand side are heavy bronze clad doors, quite similar to those above.
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DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Galingal listens, but it's as silent as... well, a tomb.
Everyone waits with varying levels of patience as over the next few minutes Kolose begins ritual casting. As he does, he feels a jittery tingling building inside him that seems to increase gradually the more of the arcane components he draws together to bring the spell into existence...
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DM:Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
It's impossible not to either momentarily lose sight of Fargas on the landings without getting uncomfortably close to him, potential trap-wise, but the halfling is being cautious, and Galingal doesn't have trouble shadowing him carefully through the intermittently dark and crystal lit stairs that proceed floor after floor after floor without any visible doorways or exits onto lower levels. Galingal finds the halfling's glowing pebble from Lia serves as a handy indication of how close he is... as long as he stays at the edge of the light, he's hopefully far enough back that if the tomb's designers left a surprise for any would be intruders, that it'll only take the halfling, and not him.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Lia and Neth are instructed to stay at the entrance, and everyone else precedes Stena, who apparently trusts Lia and the tiefling enough to leave them at her back as she ushers Petmailer, Yuk Yuk, Spiderbait, Jimjar and Kolose ahead of her, but behind Galingal.
They head down the stairs spiraling back and forth, down and down.
((Is Stena leaving Lia and Neth up top? If everyone just keeps following Fargas, they'll descend a good hundred feet or so of stairs.))
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Petmailer casts dancing lights and sends the glowing orbs down the stairs to light their way, helping with visualization to avoid traps. He keeps listening for any odd noises or the strange voice again.
Stena ignores the drow, and watches them move forward. Once she understands the stairs descend a good distance she'll say,
"Keep following Galingal. Aye'm going to get Neth and Lia in here."
Stena will return to the entrance, slipping back into visibility, and say to the pair,
"Come on."
Before seeing if she can partially close the door so it isn't immediately evident where they are if someone/thing is following them.
(Athletics check from Stena, with advantage from Neth helping.)
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Athletics: 20
Stena gives it a heave, with Neth moving to help, and it swings much easier now that some of the corrosion and dust has been worked out, and they manage to grind it to a stop short of slamming fully shut.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
She'll head down, sending Neth on ahead of her with a wave.
Neth shrugs, not at all bothered by Stena being dismissive, and Lia trails along beside her, humming a tune under her breath.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Galingal continues down the stairs after Fargas. Given the noise they've made and the dancing lights shining light down, he doesn't think there's much need to keep quiet so he calls ahead to the halfling.
"What does map says supposed to be down here?"
(Just to check, I don't think Kolose actually has any parchments or such, right?)
Assuming Kolose has nothing, he will actually ask if any has any to spare.
"Records of this place would be worth a lot by themselves..!" he muses, overly eager for his age, but otherwise follows along.
(Assume he'd need something to write with too? Galingal has an old book they took off some goblins but no writing implements)
Kolose would gladly accept the book- And while he finds himself unable to actually go about and despoil the book, given the importance of his surroundings can compromise slightly and take at least a few notes on the blank space at the back of the book.
On the matter of a quill, Kolose merely reaches behind his ear for a moment, and in the next is holding a slightly glittering quill that had definitely not been there just a second ago. Just with how it seems to be able to write without any notable ink.
Somewhere during travel he also suddenly stops, speaking up softly.
"... Should I leave an alarm spell here on the staircase, in case someone else may follow..?"
While Stena retrieves Neth and Lia, Kolose engages in academic pursuits, while Petmailer provides lighting and Galingal grills Fargas.
"The tomb of a mage of the Netherese age! Noblewoman, the sort whose estate pays for a floating monument to her life, there's got to be all sorts of valuables, you don't go to all that effort of building something like this and putting it in the sky for there to be a clay urn of ashes inside!"
The slow pace of the halfling, cautiously checking and probing for traps gives Stena plenty of time to scoot back up and return with the two more absent minded casters, which given that Kolose is the most 'in the moment' of the magic users, is a bit worrying.
All told, the party descends about a hundred feet before Fargas turns round a landing and hisses back to the closely (but not too closely) following Galingal, "Stairs end ahead, there's a room!"
He rapidly taps his way down to the bottom, and as Petmailer comes around the corner, is able to direct his bobbing light sources to provide additional illumination.
As you descend the worn steps into the quiet chamber below, remnants of ancient grandeur lay strewn amidst the silence. Tattered remnants of once-vibrant tapestries cling to the cold stone floor and walls, whispering tales of bygone glory. The walls, once adorned with intricate friezes, are now rendered nearly incomprehensible, their intricate carvings marred by deep gouges.
Fargas's attention is drawn to his left, and as others slowly descend enough to get a view into the room, you can see why. Dominating that wall of the room is an altar of ethereal pale gray marble, cracked and gouged. Ahead on the far wall, and on the right hand side are heavy bronze clad doors, quite similar to those above.
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock
Starting to see all the magic crystals, just moments after wondering if he should set up an alarm spell, Kolose wonders something else out loud.
"... There's a lot of magic in here. I think I should," he starts, fluttering through his spellbook, before landing on the page of his intention.
"Right, I have a spell that will allow me to see it all, Do we have ten minutes..?"
Galingal waves his hand for Kolose to go ahead with his spell.
He then examines the room, listening for noise at the doors.
Perception: 14
Stena keeps her eyes on the stairs behind them, in case anyone/thing is trying to follow them.
Kolose starts ritual casting detect magic.
And if only Stena didn't mentally mute out the old man. Literally offering a spell that would alert them directly if someone passed by that hallway...
Galingal listens, but it's as silent as... well, a tomb.
Everyone waits with varying levels of patience as over the next few minutes Kolose begins ritual casting. As he does, he feels a jittery tingling building inside him that seems to increase gradually the more of the arcane components he draws together to bring the spell into existence...
DM: Forged in Chaos, Spiders of the Abyss, The Sundered Way, Champions of the Citadel
Active Characters:
Breldo, Halfling Ranger | Kathryn, Wood Elf Rogue/Ranger | Kroshav, Dragonborn Paladin | T'laren Farsiel, Wood Elf Fighter | Trill, Kenku Bard | Val "Janellae", Mark of Shadow Elf Warlock