This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As the others made and relayed their discoveries, Brix had been pacing about muttering and mumbling to himself. Sometimes in common, some times in gnomish. He examined the wall of words, saw the pedestal react,, noted the moving angels. As he had done before his hand began to ruffle his bushy red hair. As his concentration increased his second hand joined in. Looking up and down he notes out loud,
"It would appear that there are potential matches here of opposites.
A bountiful harvest vs. A war torn battle field
A family vs. A burning city
Two lovers vs. A king executing a man
A pregnant woman vs. A slain fawn
The new born vs. The kneeling woman.
Though the last two might be reversed. Let me see about the alignment."
Brix looks to see if the pictures align and if not how are they're being projected and if he can discern away to make them align.
Milo starts wondering "As Inge said, all the sad ones are at the top. Is it as simple as we need to find a way to travel up? Also, with the other magic clearly going on in this place, I just want to check something"and he walks through the outside corridor to the door at the end that should join up with the room with the bodies, opening it to see if it does in fact lead there, or somewhere else.
When Brix looks at the mechanism more closely, it doesn't appear to have any means to change the way the light reflects and scatters. There is only the plunger with the black cube that covers and uncovers the light source. But, as he looks at the way the light projects the words on the wall, he finds that it has a pattern. With the help of Myrla's keener eyes, both Brix and Myrla come to the conclusion that each word is placed in such a way that it fits in a particular rectangle shape. Looking at the words for a bit longer, and drawing imaginary lines between each word, the wall now no longer looks as if it had been carved from smooth stone, but instead built from bricks with each brick having a word etched on its surface.
As the others puzzle over the new clues, Hunteros walks away and back into the next room. With his mind in turmoil, he manages to glance at a few more important pieces of information from Khalis Thornbeam's journal. The entry was dated about 30 years after the first and it appears that the author finally cracked the clue. The entry reminisces about Thornbeam discovering the light after a few days of puzzling over the next room.
At that time, Paxton and Khalis couldn't find any means to give an answer and could only stare at the words and pictures for weeks and months. It was not until Paxton stumbled in exhaustion and tried to hold himself up against the wall that they discovered that some of the words on the wall could be pressed. Unfortunately, a wrong word could trigger a dangerous noxious gas trap from the ceiling. Paxton almost died before they could safely return to the safe room. They only tried once more, pressing the word 'war' before the room was once again filled with noxious gas. They never attempted another until Paxton died fifteen years later. Afterwards, with the prospect of staying alone in this place, Thornbeam pressed the word that described his sadness then, the word 'death'. The trap was never triggered, but no door was opened. It was then Khalis realized that the answer was not just one word, but a phrase. The death of what, he was not sure as he never attempted another in fear of facing the gas again.
Let's recap what we know. Please add anything important that I may have missed.
There are 7 angel statues that are doing some action in order. Sleeping, then Dance, Bowing, and just now a half-pirouette.
(adding the final 3)
One of them is bending backwards a bit with one of her hands thrown outward and one of her knees bent. Another has both her hands raised upwards and moving hip. The last one has only one hand placed on her chest instead of both, while the other is hidden behind her.
Then we have the words on the wall. Warning, Mind, Test (multiple times) and Secret.
Looking closer at the markings on the wall, it looks like there are some that could resemble other words if one were to add a few lines here and there. There is something missing still with this room. The clues are incomplete, as if missing a starting point still.
Then the voice said 'An alert mind leads to a forewarned decision. What would make an angel weep?'' I think that could be a new born baby.
"
Turning to the group. "Was there anything in the book about the angels moving? I think there are three moves left, since there are seven of them. I wonder if the order of the angles moving is the order we need to do something."
Hunteros leaves the rooms and tells the others about the buttons but also about the noxious gas. It seems he is not fully coordinated though as if he has taken something (taking in the context of taking tylenol.
Let's recap what we know. Please add anything important that I may have missed.
There are 7 angel statues that are doing some action in order. Sleeping, then Dance, Bowing, and just now a half-pirouette.
Then we have the words on the wall. Warning, Mind, Test (multiple times) and Secret.
Looking closer at the markings on the wall, it looks like there are some that could resemble other words if one were to add a few lines here and there. There is something missing still with this room. The clues are incomplete, as if missing a starting point still. Lots of additional words were revealed when the light was activated.
Then the voice was a clue from the words appearing, not a voice said 'An alert mind leads to a forewarned decision. What would make an angel weep?'' I think that could be a new born baby.
"
Turning to the group. "Was there anything in the book about the angels moving? I think there are three moves left, since there are seven of them. I wonder if the order of the angles moving is the order we need to do something."
There is nothing about the seven angels on the corridor in the book. It appears the author missed, ignored, or didn't deem it important enough.
With the new information from Hunteros, Brix can see that pressing the words 'death' and 'infant' could answer the riddle. However, the same can be said when pressing the words 'life' and 'birth'. The author never specified what word they pressed to engage the trap and there is the same chance of birth being the answer instead of death as both are equally cry-worthy event.
There is nothing about the seven angels on the corridor in the book. It appears the author missed, ignored, or didn't deem it important enough.
With the new information from Hunteros, Brix can see that pressing the words 'death' and 'infant' could answer the riddle. However, the same can be said when pressing the words 'life' and 'birth'. The author never specified what word they pressed to engage the trap and there is the same chance of birth being the answer instead of death as both are equally cry-worthy event.
Myrla points out that Hunteros found in the journal that ‘death’ was already proven to be part of the correct answer, and they know nothing about ‘life’ or ‘birth’.
Brix had been rubbing his head with such intensity anyone might wonder how the gnome wasn't bald. When Wadi mentions the "death" connection he pipes up.
"Wonderful reminder Myrla! From what I see "infant" appears to be another word tha can solve the puzzle. If we push them in order we may have our answer. But how do we survive the gas if we're wrong?
“I’m not sure if we can avoid the gas entirely if we are wrong. Perhaps the only thing we can try is to reduce the risk for most of us. One of us could respond while the others remain in the other room. We could bind a rope around the waist of the one who replies as a life line to get them out if necessary. Should we try? And who’d be the most resistant of us? I can try if no one else wants.” Myrla suggests.
Myrla helps to identify the bricks with ‘death’ and ‘infant’ written on them (Perception:13 or 16 with help) and, then binds a rope around Wadi’s waist, “This way we can pull you out should you not be able to leave by yourself.” Myrla waits with the rope in hand in the chamber with the food, ready to pull out Wadi. “Ready when you are,” she calls when everyone is in place.
Birth, infant, life, secret, warning, mind, test, death... one of us already fast asleep and groaning while the rest are forming some strange plan.
Inge shakes her head and smiles at the surreal situation, the nuance of the puzzle beyond her. She wonders if it is time for a meal yet and her belly rumbles in sympathy. She grabs the other end of rope which is tied around Wadi and grins broadly in a way that the druid would remember from childhood.
"You're all good, nature walker. I got you. In case the puzzles or the angels don't play nice, I mean."
Wadi presses the first word and freezes in place. There is a strange groaning echoing through the room, but fortunately no sign of the noxious gas mentioned in the book. He presses the second word and a loud thump sounds from the western side of the room followed by another groan. The light sputters as the black cube and middle cylinder on the pedestal seem to move by themselves to cover the light source. As the blue light highlighting the scripts on the wall disappears, an outline of a door on the western side of the room materializes before moving downward to open a passage.
The corridor splits north and south on the other side of the secret passage. There is no relief or decor along this corridor. The wall, ceiling, and floor are smooth and unblemished. Two doors along the corridor seem to lead to the same room. The door on the north corridor is made of wrought iron and has no handle. The door on the south corridor is made of wood. Atop the door is a wooden plaque with words written in common saying, 'Find me at the place where the wind whispers sweet nothing. Sing to me softly and I will open the path to salvation.' A faint whistling, barely audible, can be heard from within the room. Another door on the south corridor seems to lead further south and is made of stone with no discernable way to open it.
As the others made and relayed their discoveries, Brix had been pacing about muttering and mumbling to himself. Sometimes in common, some times in gnomish. He examined the wall of words, saw the pedestal react,, noted the moving angels. As he had done before his hand began to ruffle his bushy red hair. As his concentration increased his second hand joined in. Looking up and down he notes out loud,
"It would appear that there are potential matches here of opposites.
A bountiful harvest vs. A war torn battle field
A family vs. A burning city
Two lovers vs. A king executing a man
A pregnant woman vs. A slain fawn
The new born vs. The kneeling woman.
Though the last two might be reversed. Let me see about the alignment."
Brix looks to see if the pictures align and if not how are they're being projected and if he can discern away to make them align.
Articifers lore: 13
Rogue Quin Oberon /Mercer's Tavern
Ranger Rigel Foresyth /LMOP
Fighter Barnabus Ironheel /North lands campaign
Fighter Flynt McGraw /Stormraider
Milo starts wondering "As Inge said, all the sad ones are at the top. Is it as simple as we need to find a way to travel up? Also, with the other magic clearly going on in this place, I just want to check something" and he walks through the outside corridor to the door at the end that should join up with the room with the bodies, opening it to see if it does in fact lead there, or somewhere else.
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
When Brix looks at the mechanism more closely, it doesn't appear to have any means to change the way the light reflects and scatters. There is only the plunger with the black cube that covers and uncovers the light source. But, as he looks at the way the light projects the words on the wall, he finds that it has a pattern. With the help of Myrla's keener eyes, both Brix and Myrla come to the conclusion that each word is placed in such a way that it fits in a particular rectangle shape. Looking at the words for a bit longer, and drawing imaginary lines between each word, the wall now no longer looks as if it had been carved from smooth stone, but instead built from bricks with each brick having a word etched on its surface.
As the others puzzle over the new clues, Hunteros walks away and back into the next room. With his mind in turmoil, he manages to glance at a few more important pieces of information from Khalis Thornbeam's journal. The entry was dated about 30 years after the first and it appears that the author finally cracked the clue. The entry reminisces about Thornbeam discovering the light after a few days of puzzling over the next room.
At that time, Paxton and Khalis couldn't find any means to give an answer and could only stare at the words and pictures for weeks and months. It was not until Paxton stumbled in exhaustion and tried to hold himself up against the wall that they discovered that some of the words on the wall could be pressed. Unfortunately, a wrong word could trigger a dangerous noxious gas trap from the ceiling. Paxton almost died before they could safely return to the safe room. They only tried once more, pressing the word 'war' before the room was once again filled with noxious gas. They never attempted another until Paxton died fifteen years later. Afterwards, with the prospect of staying alone in this place, Thornbeam pressed the word that described his sadness then, the word 'death'. The trap was never triggered, but no door was opened. It was then Khalis realized that the answer was not just one word, but a phrase. The death of what, he was not sure as he never attempted another in fear of facing the gas again.
Wadi says"
Let's recap what we know. Please add anything important that I may have missed.
There are 7 angel statues that are doing some action in order. Sleeping, then Dance, Bowing, and just now a half-pirouette.
(adding the final 3)
One of them is bending backwards a bit with one of her hands thrown outward and one of her knees bent. Another has both her hands raised upwards and moving hip. The last one has only one hand placed on her chest instead of both, while the other is hidden behind her.
Then we have the words on the wall. Warning, Mind, Test (multiple times) and Secret.
Looking closer at the markings on the wall, it looks like there are some that could resemble other words if one were to add a few lines here and there. There is something missing still with this room. The clues are incomplete, as if missing a starting point still.
Then the voice said 'An alert mind leads to a forewarned decision. What would make an angel weep?'' I think that could be a new born baby.
"
Turning to the group. "Was there anything in the book about the angels moving? I think there are three moves left, since there are seven of them. I wonder if the order of the angles moving is the order we need to do something."
D&D since 1984
Hunteros leaves the rooms and tells the others about the buttons but also about the noxious gas. It seems he is not fully coordinated though as if he has taken something (taking in the context of taking tylenol.
I AM HOMICIDE I AM THE EMBODIMENT OF FIRE I AM STRENGTH AND POWER PRAISE LORD JEFF THE EVIL ROOOOOOOMMMBBBAAAAA
I AM PURE HATE! MY NAME IS BURDURXA SHADEMAKER! TREMBLE IN FEAR AT ITS MENTION!!!! PM ME THE WORD TOMATO OR I WILL SLAP YOUR FIRST BORN CHILD!!
MY VENOM SYMBIOTE: FFFFUUUUUURRRRRRRRYYYYYYYY
Made some additions in red
After joining more my signature got out of hand so I am now a proud member of the extended signature club!! :)
There is nothing about the seven angels on the corridor in the book. It appears the author missed, ignored, or didn't deem it important enough.
With the new information from Hunteros, Brix can see that pressing the words 'death' and 'infant' could answer the riddle. However, the same can be said when pressing the words 'life' and 'birth'. The author never specified what word they pressed to engage the trap and there is the same chance of birth being the answer instead of death as both are equally cry-worthy event.
With the info relayed hunteros goes back to the room and falls into a deep sleep
I AM HOMICIDE I AM THE EMBODIMENT OF FIRE I AM STRENGTH AND POWER PRAISE LORD JEFF THE EVIL ROOOOOOOMMMBBBAAAAA
I AM PURE HATE! MY NAME IS BURDURXA SHADEMAKER! TREMBLE IN FEAR AT ITS MENTION!!!! PM ME THE WORD TOMATO OR I WILL SLAP YOUR FIRST BORN CHILD!!
MY VENOM SYMBIOTE: FFFFUUUUUURRRRRRRRYYYYYYYY
Myrla points out that Hunteros found in the journal that ‘death’ was already proven to be part of the correct answer, and they know nothing about ‘life’ or ‘birth’.
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||
Brix had been rubbing his head with such intensity anyone might wonder how the gnome wasn't bald. When Wadi mentions the "death" connection he pipes up.
"Wonderful reminder Myrla! From what I see "infant" appears to be another word tha can solve the puzzle. If we push them in order we may have our answer. But how do we survive the gas if we're wrong?
Rogue Quin Oberon /Mercer's Tavern
Ranger Rigel Foresyth /LMOP
Fighter Barnabus Ironheel /North lands campaign
Fighter Flynt McGraw /Stormraider
“I’m not sure if we can avoid the gas entirely if we are wrong. Perhaps the only thing we can try is to reduce the risk for most of us. One of us could respond while the others remain in the other room. We could bind a rope around the waist of the one who replies as a life line to get them out if necessary. Should we try? And who’d be the most resistant of us? I can try if no one else wants.” Myrla suggests.
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||
Wadi is willing to try and press a button.
D&D since 1984
Hunteros is fast asleep and appears to be moving and groaning. He has no input.
I AM HOMICIDE I AM THE EMBODIMENT OF FIRE I AM STRENGTH AND POWER PRAISE LORD JEFF THE EVIL ROOOOOOOMMMBBBAAAAA
I AM PURE HATE! MY NAME IS BURDURXA SHADEMAKER! TREMBLE IN FEAR AT ITS MENTION!!!! PM ME THE WORD TOMATO OR I WILL SLAP YOUR FIRST BORN CHILD!!
MY VENOM SYMBIOTE: FFFFUUUUUURRRRRRRRYYYYYYYY
Myrla helps to identify the bricks with ‘death’ and ‘infant’ written on them (Perception:13 or 16 with help) and, then binds a rope around Wadi’s waist, “This way we can pull you out should you not be able to leave by yourself.” Myrla waits with the rope in hand in the chamber with the food, ready to pull out Wadi. “Ready when you are,” she calls when everyone is in place.
|| Tryncaryn - Halfling Monk/Wizard - Dragon of Icespire Peak || Berry - Fairy Barbarian - Deathworld: Lost Mine of Phandelver || Taya - Mysterious Fighter - Echoes of Empire || Myrla Stardust - Wood Elf Rogue - After the Fall ||
Wadi will look to see if there are there any other words that look they can be pressed? (without pressing them)
D&D since 1984
So far I believe the words are death, war, life, infant and birth. Curious if there are others before he goes and presses infant than birth.
D&D since 1984
Birth, infant, life, secret, warning, mind, test, death... one of us already fast asleep and groaning while the rest are forming some strange plan.
Inge shakes her head and smiles at the surreal situation, the nuance of the puzzle beyond her. She wonders if it is time for a meal yet and her belly rumbles in sympathy. She grabs the other end of rope which is tied around Wadi and grins broadly in a way that the druid would remember from childhood.
"You're all good, nature walker. I got you. In case the puzzles or the angels don't play nice, I mean."
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
"Don't hang me on a tree ok Inge." he says with a reminesant smile back to his childhood.
Deep breath. "Here we go."
He presses 'infant' and then 'death'
D&D since 1984
Wadi presses the first word and freezes in place. There is a strange groaning echoing through the room, but fortunately no sign of the noxious gas mentioned in the book. He presses the second word and a loud thump sounds from the western side of the room followed by another groan. The light sputters as the black cube and middle cylinder on the pedestal seem to move by themselves to cover the light source. As the blue light highlighting the scripts on the wall disappears, an outline of a door on the western side of the room materializes before moving downward to open a passage.
The corridor splits north and south on the other side of the secret passage. There is no relief or decor along this corridor. The wall, ceiling, and floor are smooth and unblemished. Two doors along the corridor seem to lead to the same room. The door on the north corridor is made of wrought iron and has no handle. The door on the south corridor is made of wood. Atop the door is a wooden plaque with words written in common saying, 'Find me at the place where the wind whispers sweet nothing. Sing to me softly and I will open the path to salvation.' A faint whistling, barely audible, can be heard from within the room. Another door on the south corridor seems to lead further south and is made of stone with no discernable way to open it.
The groaning wakes hunteros up the drugs losing their affect. "what happened?"
I AM HOMICIDE I AM THE EMBODIMENT OF FIRE I AM STRENGTH AND POWER PRAISE LORD JEFF THE EVIL ROOOOOOOMMMBBBAAAAA
I AM PURE HATE! MY NAME IS BURDURXA SHADEMAKER! TREMBLE IN FEAR AT ITS MENTION!!!! PM ME THE WORD TOMATO OR I WILL SLAP YOUR FIRST BORN CHILD!!
MY VENOM SYMBIOTE: FFFFUUUUUURRRRRRRRYYYYYYYY