Coming off their rest, Daisy feels a swell of power - much like that when she first begun to study the druidic arts. She turns to Barakor and gives him a smile. While the others continue down below, Daisy begins to chant quietly in druidic and takes the time to focus her mind on that of the animal world. With her casting complete, she looks to the wolf again and begins communicate with her new companion in what others would consider a series of low growls and barks.
"Hello, my new friend. Thank you for staying by my side. Do you have a name you'd like me to call you, or does Barakor work for you?"
(OOC: Taking 10 minutes to ritually cast Speak with Animals... Also, was there any food in the kitchen that Daisy could use to feed the wolf?)
Ardana is startled by the disappearing butler, "How are we going to explore those 4 fog-filled corridors now? And does the mosaic pattern on the floor mean anything?" She then descends and takes a look at the hallway mosaics (without going in the hallways)
(OOC: not Ardana's strong suit, but will roll investigation anyway - 15!)
In the past (before you went down the stairs to the lower level):
Daisy uses her new powers to talk to the wolf.
"It is my duty to serve you, Earth Lady" replies Barakor, with the serenity of one stating a fact. "You are my pack leader; you are not my own species, you don't have fangs like mine... but you take care of me, you can command the Earth, you can even communicate with me... It is clear that you are the pack leader and I'll follow you anywhere. I've been too much alone, Earth Lady, and I've been so ill-treated, alone, a prisoner of those wicked ones... We don't give each other names, we wolves, Earth Lady. I've given one now to you because you are very special... I like, however, the sound of the name you have chosen for me. I will gladly be Barakor. Lead me on, Earth Lady, I look forward to serving the pack under your wise guidance. I am sure that together we will thrive".
(OOC: Of course Daisy can continue this 'conversation in the past' if she so wishes – before you went downstairs there was surely time to talk at will)
Now:
As it turns out, this blinking-butler left far more questions than answers. So, start scrambling to find them.
Clas, after he has discovered that you ended up on the other side of the wall which seemed different from the others, rejoins you, with his usual joviality, but suspecting illusions and advising prudence.
Then go down the stairs again and Nim reachs out a tentative hand towards to mist wall facing south. Nothing frightening happens…but one sure wouldn't expect to find fog in the corridors of an underground complex. And moving in the fog would mean having to deal with very reduced visibility.
Ardana (OOC: who with her roll didn't get the impression that the butler is illusory, by the way) instead examines the mosaics, which are fortunately in excellent condition:
This is the east one:
This is the south one:
Anyway, after a while you've been scanning the room, suddenly Elky appears again! And… apparently, he acts as if he is meeting you now for the very first time! Exactly as before, the young halfling butler promptly introduces himself: "Hello esteemed visitors. I'm Elky and I'm here to serve you. Would you like something to drink or eat, by any chance? I could have you brought some tea, water, wine, eggs and bacon, a few bites of game, horse meat... Or would you prefer to decline the offer?"
Nim steps behind Elky while he adresses the party giving his initial speil again and abruptly slaps him across the back of the head and awaits his reaction...
Nim relives, with parts reversed, the scene between him and Mhurren Flick, when the brute had attacked 'Akhim' to the head... and the blow had gone through it, because in reality there was nothing there - the bard's slap passes through the back of the head of the young butler to no effect.
So perhaps, despite that the figure, to simple observation, appears to be true in all respects, Clas' theory that it could be an illusion is not too far-fetched.
Anyway, Elki, not at all disturbed by what happened, awaits your answers... Are you going to give him any? And if so, what do you answer? Do you want something to eat and drink or not?
Clas ignores Elky, as he assesses the situation. "If we don't like these corridors," he suggests, his tone brimming with determination, "perhaps we should look for another one."
His eyes sweep across the fog-filled corridors of the room, his curiosity piqued. Murals line the walls, and Clas's mind races with possibilities. "Let's take a look at those murals, of wolves and jumping deer" he points out. "They might hide a secret door or passage. Let's investigate further and see what we can uncover!"
Clas goes and begins to search the walls for a secret or hidden door. Perception 9 Investigation 10
A thought passes quickly through Clas' mind. "Perhaps the password is in choosing the right offering or combination of offering. Or Elky is nothing more than a distraction. Hahahaha!"
Nodding to Ardana's reply, Elky then proposes another question that you had already heard from him before: "Surely you gentlemen have been invited, haven't you? Do you remember the password you will have to tell the yellow flags keeper?"
Meanwhile, Clas finds no new secret passages by searching the walls and their bas-relief decoration.
Hahahaha! If we go into one of these corridors, then I suggest we follow it with each of us with a hand, shield, weapon or shoulder against the wall and we run a rope between us. Hahahaha! Follow a wall and it will always take you somewhere, eventually! Hahahaha!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Never underestimate the power of a finely crafted barrel, my friend! It is both a vessel of strength and a symbol of resilience.
Elky turns to Clas and insists, with a reproachful tone and a slightly worried air: "Gentlemen... it's important... above all for you! Have you been invited here or not?"
Clas answers the question with a friendly smile, "Why, yes, I have been invited to come here!" He pauses for a moment and raises an eyebrow, "She seemed quite insistent upon its urgency in fact, Dobbian. Clear the way to the keeper, we are in a rush, my friend!"
Elky smiles: "Very well, gentlemen! I'll take you straight to the keeper. Follow me and don't deviate for any reason, please. Remember that each yellow flag can protect up to eight people who hold hands, as long as at least one of them is holding the flag. And don't tell a wrong password... if at the last moment you have a memory lapse, look at the keeper on his forehead and the word will come back to you for sure. It is just a single word, after all... Oh, and If you are headed to the prison itself, at Level 3, remember to also get a purple flag, before going down. Once in the other alcove, remember the old saying: 'Leave loneliness, later; remember lore, really! And be constant'. Right? Well, let's go"
The young halfling butler leads the party through the east alcove (OOC: I'm assuming the party follows... if someone prefers not to, just post what else the character does, no problem), then immediately south, through a very short walk through the mist, stopping before a door.
Elky say: "Knock, please. And remember what I told you! I wish you a pleasant visit".
Assuming everyone else follows Nim looks at each party member in turn as they pass him, mouth agape in a look of sheer befuddlement as the cogs in his little halfling brain turn. He may be a wizard with words and pleasantries, even with logistics and mathematical problems. But situations like this leave him puzzled and frustrated.
If everyone follows Into the mist he stands there confused until the last member disappears into the mist. He then shouts “HEY WAIT FOR ME!” And rushes after them I to the shrouded wall of vapour.
Tarysaa was afraid of this. When 'Elky' appeared again and ran through his prepared speech with zero acknowledgement of having met the party just moments before, her suspicions were confirmed. 250 year old spells still running like they were cast today. How did that bode for potential traps? She wanted to voice her concerns to the party but also did not wish to trigger nerves, in case nothing untoward happened.
Taking a large breath and slowly exhaling, she moved forward with the others.
Shortly after Clas knocks, the typical clatter of someone moving in metal armor is heard from beyond the door; then the door is opened, revealing a room that is practically bare, except for a few things.
First, near the door is a self moving Scale Mail (no creatures are seen inside the armor, but the armor still moves). The number "1" was drawn, apparently in blood, on the forehead of the helmet.
Near the self moving Scale Mail, against the wall, there is a gong. Near the east wall there is a second, smaller rock wall, only 5' high. This second wall is as long as the room's east wall, thus marking off a narrow space between itself and the latter.
The self moving Scale Mail remains on the doorstep, blocking the passage, while it counts with an armored finger the members of the group and declares: "Stay where you are, please. There are 7 of you, I have to give you 1 Yellow Kylth's Flag. What is the password?"
Helper of Create a World thread/Sedge is Chaotic Neutral/ Mega Yahtzee High: 34, Low: 14/I speak English, je me parle le Francais, agus Labhraim beagan Gaeilge
One! Clas says with a stern smiling satisfaction, his arm pulling Barrel up closer to his chest and his fingers tightening around the pommel of Ale, ready to unsheathe it. And his posture poised to throw himself into the suit or armor to prevent the door from being closed.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Never underestimate the power of a finely crafted barrel, my friend! It is both a vessel of strength and a symbol of resilience.
Clas is about to answer "One", but Ilwythe, who prefers "my axes", is quicker.
Without saying anything more, the Scale Mail turns to the gong next to it and strikes it with its armor gauntlet; the sound of the shot rumbles loudly through the narrow corridors.
Soon after that, the self-moving armor seems to have every intention of throwing itself at you all!
Coming off their rest, Daisy feels a swell of power - much like that when she first begun to study the druidic arts. She turns to Barakor and gives him a smile. While the others continue down below, Daisy begins to chant quietly in druidic and takes the time to focus her mind on that of the animal world. With her casting complete, she looks to the wolf again and begins communicate with her new companion in what others would consider a series of low growls and barks.
"Hello, my new friend. Thank you for staying by my side. Do you have a name you'd like me to call you, or does Barakor work for you?"
(OOC: Taking 10 minutes to ritually cast Speak with Animals... Also, was there any food in the kitchen that Daisy could use to feed the wolf?)
Ardana is startled by the disappearing butler, "How are we going to explore those 4 fog-filled corridors now? And does the mosaic pattern on the floor mean anything?" She then descends and takes a look at the hallway mosaics (without going in the hallways)
(OOC: not Ardana's strong suit, but will roll investigation anyway - 15!)
In the past (before you went down the stairs to the lower level):
Daisy uses her new powers to talk to the wolf.
"It is my duty to serve you, Earth Lady" replies Barakor, with the serenity of one stating a fact. "You are my pack leader; you are not my own species, you don't have fangs like mine... but you take care of me, you can command the Earth, you can even communicate with me... It is clear that you are the pack leader and I'll follow you anywhere. I've been too much alone, Earth Lady, and I've been so ill-treated, alone, a prisoner of those wicked ones... We don't give each other names, we wolves, Earth Lady. I've given one now to you because you are very special... I like, however, the sound of the name you have chosen for me. I will gladly be Barakor. Lead me on, Earth Lady, I look forward to serving the pack under your wise guidance. I am sure that together we will thrive".
(OOC: Of course Daisy can continue this 'conversation in the past' if she so wishes – before you went downstairs there was surely time to talk at will)
Now:
As it turns out, this blinking-butler left far more questions than answers. So, start scrambling to find them.
Clas, after he has discovered that you ended up on the other side of the wall which seemed different from the others, rejoins you, with his usual joviality, but suspecting illusions and advising prudence.
Then go down the stairs again and Nim reachs out a tentative hand towards to mist wall facing south. Nothing frightening happens…but one sure wouldn't expect to find fog in the corridors of an underground complex. And moving in the fog would mean having to deal with very reduced visibility.
Ardana (OOC: who with her roll didn't get the impression that the butler is illusory, by the way) instead examines the mosaics, which are fortunately in excellent condition:
This is the east one:
This is the south one:
Anyway, after a while you've been scanning the room, suddenly Elky appears again! And… apparently, he acts as if he is meeting you now for the very first time! Exactly as before, the young halfling butler promptly introduces himself: "Hello esteemed visitors. I'm Elky and I'm here to serve you. Would you like something to drink or eat, by any chance? I could have you brought some tea, water, wine, eggs and bacon, a few bites of game, horse meat... Or would you prefer to decline the offer?"
Nim steps behind Elky while he adresses the party giving his initial speil again and abruptly slaps him across the back of the head and awaits his reaction...
Nim relives, with parts reversed, the scene between him and Mhurren Flick, when the brute had attacked 'Akhim' to the head... and the blow had gone through it, because in reality there was nothing there - the bard's slap passes through the back of the head of the young butler to no effect.
So perhaps, despite that the figure, to simple observation, appears to be true in all respects, Clas' theory that it could be an illusion is not too far-fetched.
Anyway, Elki, not at all disturbed by what happened, awaits your answers... Are you going to give him any? And if so, what do you answer? Do you want something to eat and drink or not?
Clas ignores Elky, as he assesses the situation. "If we don't like these corridors," he suggests, his tone brimming with determination, "perhaps we should look for another one."
His eyes sweep across the fog-filled corridors of the room, his curiosity piqued. Murals line the walls, and Clas's mind races with possibilities. "Let's take a look at those murals, of wolves and jumping deer" he points out. "They might hide a secret door or passage. Let's investigate further and see what we can uncover!"
Clas goes and begins to search the walls for a secret or hidden door. Perception 9 Investigation 10
A thought passes quickly through Clas' mind. "Perhaps the password is in choosing the right offering or combination of offering. Or Elky is nothing more than a distraction. Hahahaha!"
Never underestimate the power of a finely crafted barrel, my friend! It is both a vessel of strength and a symbol of resilience.
Ardana says "Nothing for us right now, Elky."
Nodding to Ardana's reply, Elky then proposes another question that you had already heard from him before: "Surely you gentlemen have been invited, haven't you? Do you remember the password you will have to tell the yellow flags keeper?"
Meanwhile, Clas finds no new secret passages by searching the walls and their bas-relief decoration.
Hahahaha! If we go into one of these corridors, then I suggest we follow it with each of us with a hand, shield, weapon or shoulder against the wall and we run a rope between us. Hahahaha! Follow a wall and it will always take you somewhere, eventually! Hahahaha!
Never underestimate the power of a finely crafted barrel, my friend! It is both a vessel of strength and a symbol of resilience.
Elky turns to Clas and insists, with a reproachful tone and a slightly worried air: "Gentlemen... it's important... above all for you! Have you been invited here or not?"
Clas answers the question with a friendly smile, "Why, yes, I have been invited to come here!" He pauses for a moment and raises an eyebrow, "She seemed quite insistent upon its urgency in fact, Dobbian. Clear the way to the keeper, we are in a rush, my friend!"
Persuasion 16
Never underestimate the power of a finely crafted barrel, my friend! It is both a vessel of strength and a symbol of resilience.
Elky smiles: "Very well, gentlemen! I'll take you straight to the keeper. Follow me and don't deviate for any reason, please. Remember that each yellow flag can protect up to eight people who hold hands, as long as at least one of them is holding the flag. And don't tell a wrong password... if at the last moment you have a memory lapse, look at the keeper on his forehead and the word will come back to you for sure. It is just a single word, after all... Oh, and If you are headed to the prison itself, at Level 3, remember to also get a purple flag, before going down. Once in the other alcove, remember the old saying: 'Leave loneliness, later; remember lore, really! And be constant'. Right? Well, let's go"
The young halfling butler leads the party through the east alcove (OOC: I'm assuming the party follows... if someone prefers not to, just post what else the character does, no problem), then immediately south, through a very short walk through the mist, stopping before a door.
Elky say: "Knock, please. And remember what I told you! I wish you a pleasant visit".
And with that, he disappears.
Assuming everyone else follows Nim looks at each party member in turn as they pass him, mouth agape in a look of sheer befuddlement as the cogs in his little halfling brain turn. He may be a wizard with words and pleasantries, even with logistics and mathematical problems. But situations like this leave him puzzled and frustrated.
If everyone follows Into the mist he stands there confused until the last member disappears into the mist. He then shouts “HEY WAIT FOR ME!” And rushes after them I to the shrouded wall of vapour.
Tarysaa was afraid of this. When 'Elky' appeared again and ran through his prepared speech with zero acknowledgement of having met the party just moments before, her suspicions were confirmed. 250 year old spells still running like they were cast today. How did that bode for potential traps? She wanted to voice her concerns to the party but also did not wish to trigger nerves, in case nothing untoward happened.
Taking a large breath and slowly exhaling, she moved forward with the others.
Hahahaha! Clas knocks.
Never underestimate the power of a finely crafted barrel, my friend! It is both a vessel of strength and a symbol of resilience.
Shortly after Clas knocks, the typical clatter of someone moving in metal armor is heard from beyond the door; then the door is opened, revealing a room that is practically bare, except for a few things.
First, near the door is a self moving Scale Mail (no creatures are seen inside the armor, but the armor still moves). The number "1" was drawn, apparently in blood, on the forehead of the helmet.
Near the self moving Scale Mail, against the wall, there is a gong. Near the east wall there is a second, smaller rock wall, only 5' high. This second wall is as long as the room's east wall, thus marking off a narrow space between itself and the latter.
The self moving Scale Mail remains on the doorstep, blocking the passage, while it counts with an armored finger the members of the group and declares: "Stay where you are, please. There are 7 of you, I have to give you 1 Yellow Kylth's Flag. What is the password?"
”The password right now is my axes”
Helper of Create a World thread/Sedge is Chaotic Neutral/ Mega Yahtzee High: 34, Low: 14/I speak English, je me parle le Francais, agus Labhraim beagan Gaeilge
Dream of Days Lore Bard 9/Wizard 4 Baulder's Gate: Descent to Avernus (In Person/Over Zoom)
Saleadon Morgul Battle Smith Artificer 11 Tyranny of Dragons (In Person/Over Zoom)
Hurtharn Serpti Ghostslayer Blood Hunter 7 Spelljammer (Over Zoom)
Ex Sig
One! Clas says with a stern smiling satisfaction, his arm pulling Barrel up closer to his chest and his fingers tightening around the pommel of Ale, ready to unsheathe it. And his posture poised to throw himself into the suit or armor to prevent the door from being closed.
Never underestimate the power of a finely crafted barrel, my friend! It is both a vessel of strength and a symbol of resilience.
Clas is about to answer "One", but Ilwythe, who prefers "my axes", is quicker.
Without saying anything more, the Scale Mail turns to the gong next to it and strikes it with its armor gauntlet; the sound of the shot rumbles loudly through the narrow corridors.
Soon after that, the self-moving armor seems to have every intention of throwing itself at you all!
Please roll all initiative!
INITIATIVE 7!