Balasar shifts the bookshelf to an out-of-the-way location, then presses the button again.
Rather than falling, the bookshelf remains locked in place at a slight angle in the air. The books, Balasar notes, do seem to shift on the shelf to accommodate the change in direction.
Balasar presses the button again, straightens out the bookshelf and places it levelly on the ground like an ordinary bookself, then presses the button a final time to lock the bookshelf in place.
Balasar peers down the tunnel, then beckons Wendell away from the tunnel before saying in a low voice: before we continue, perhaps it would be a good idea for your otter to scout ahead a bit, to find out who or what our fallen froggy foe confined in such an...out of the way location. I suspect that all we have heard is mere bluster, but better to know than to suspect.
"Fluss, you heard him. Go on, I'll be with you in a moment." Wendell takes a quick scan of the books on the shelf. 8 .
Spying nothing of interest, Wendell sighs and closes his eyes, borrowing Fluss's senses. "The passage goes down after a bit, down and to the right... There's a circular chamber, full of cells. A skull sits in the center, and there is a pale... humanoid chained to one of the walls. Most of the cages are empty, but one is occupied. Three humans, by the look, or perhaps half elves. They are not moving, and Fluss cannot get closer without being observed-"
7 , 18
Wendell winces, then curses as his eyes open. From down the passage, "HA! TOLD YOU NOT TO CROSS ME, SEPIA SCUMSUCKER! MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Elaric, too, looks over the books [OOC: rolling perception and arcana to a) look for any titles or otems of interest generally and b) look for titles giving a clue as to the interests of the library's owner].
Balasar shifts the bookshelf to an out-of-the-way location, then presses the button again.
Rather than falling, the bookshelf remains locked in place at a slight angle in the air. The books, Balasar notes, do seem to shift on the shelf to accommodate the change in direction.
Balasar presses the button again, straightens out the bookshelf and places it levelly on the ground like an ordinary bookself, then presses the button a final time to lock the bookshelf in place.
Balasar peers down the tunnel, then beckons Wendell away from the tunnel before saying in a low voice: before we continue, perhaps it would be a good idea for your otter to scout ahead a bit, to find out who or what our fallen froggy foe confined in such an...out of the way location. I suspect that all we have heard is mere bluster, but better to know than to suspect.
"Fluss, you heard him. Go on, I'll be with you in a moment." Wendell takes a quick scan of the books on the shelf. 8 .
Spying nothing of interest, Wendell sighs and closes his eyes, borrowing Fluss's senses. "The passage goes down after a bit, down and to the right... There's a circular chamber, full of cells. A skull sits in the center, and there is a pale... humanoid chained to one of the walls. Most of the cages are empty, but one is occupied. Three humans, by the look, or perhaps half elves. They are not moving, and Fluss cannot get closer without being observed-"
7 , 18
Wendell winces, then curses as his eyes open. From down the passage, "HA! TOLD YOU NOT TO CROSS ME, SEPIA SCUMSUCKER! MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!"
Wendell growls, "Well, Fluss is dead. AGAIN."
My thanks and my condolences. Were you able to discern how they killed him? Also, is there any lighting down there?
Balasar shifts the bookshelf to an out-of-the-way location, then presses the button again.
Rather than falling, the bookshelf remains locked in place at a slight angle in the air. The books, Balasar notes, do seem to shift on the shelf to accommodate the change in direction.
Balasar presses the button again, straightens out the bookshelf and places it levelly on the ground like an ordinary bookself, then presses the button a final time to lock the bookshelf in place.
Balasar peers down the tunnel, then beckons Wendell away from the tunnel before saying in a low voice: before we continue, perhaps it would be a good idea for your otter to scout ahead a bit, to find out who or what our fallen froggy foe confined in such an...out of the way location. I suspect that all we have heard is mere bluster, but better to know than to suspect.
"Fluss, you heard him. Go on, I'll be with you in a moment." Wendell takes a quick scan of the books on the shelf. 8 .
Spying nothing of interest, Wendell sighs and closes his eyes, borrowing Fluss's senses. "The passage goes down after a bit, down and to the right... There's a circular chamber, full of cells. A skull sits in the center, and there is a pale... humanoid chained to one of the walls. Most of the cages are empty, but one is occupied. Three humans, by the look, or perhaps half elves. They are not moving, and Fluss cannot get closer without being observed-"
7 , 18
Wendell winces, then curses as his eyes open. From down the passage, "HA! TOLD YOU NOT TO CROSS ME, SEPIA SCUMSUCKER! MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!"
Wendell growls, "Well, Fluss is dead. AGAIN."
My thanks and my condolences. Were you able to discern how they killed him? Also, is there any lighting down there?
"Something like smoke or shadow from around the skull, I think. One of the prisoners might have rigged it as a trap. There's some lighting, but it isn't decent. My guess is that means whoever originally owned the laboratory was human. I've readied a counterspell just in case, but I'd recommend we announce ourselves before stepping into view. Maybe they can disarm the trap and I won't need to tap my reserves."
Balasar nods, then leads the party into the tunnel. He stops just before rounding the curve that Wendell described, then calls out: Your captor is dead; lowering your weapons and disarming your traps will facilitate your rescue.
You could stand to mind your manners yourself, Balasar growls. There are five of us total, though I wouldn't blame anyone who decides they'd rather not share a room with you.
With that, he steps around the corner into the cell room.
Elaric, too, looks over the books [OOC: rolling perception and arcana to a) look for any titles or otems of interest generally and b) look for titles giving a clue as to the interests of the library's owner].
Perception: 16
Arcana: 20
One book in particular stands out on the shelf due to its unusual sheen. On touching it, Elaric finds the binding to be made of a strange black rubber. The cover is unmarked, but the first page lists in large print: Archinarex's Nice and Efficient Treatise. The book seems to deal with alchemy and potion making, specifically in making them more cost effective or longer lasting, depending on how the book's principles are applied.
One book in particular stands out on the shelf due to its unusual sheen. On touching it, Elaric finds the binding to be made of a strange black rubber. The cover is unmarked, but the first page lists in large print: Archinarex's Nice and Efficient Treatise. The book seems to deal with alchemy and potion making, specifically in making them more cost effective or longer lasting, depending on how the book's principles are applied.
Elaric takes the book - briefly holding it up for Wendell to see while mouthing the word "ALCHEMY" - and puts it in his pack. He then turns his attention and curiosity back to the situation at hand, prepared to jump in with a spell if necessary.
You could stand to mind your manners yourself, Balasar growls. There are five of us total, though I wouldn't blame anyone who decides they'd rather not share a room with you.
With that, he steps around the corner into the cell room.
As Balasar steps into the room, he spies a skull in what appears to be a small golden cage, a pale humanoid bound to the wall, and the three humans Wendell described.
The skull's eyes pulse an eerie yellow green, "Well, damn... you're really not the Slaad after all. Good on you, saved me quite a bit of bother. What's your name, Scales?"
The humanoid sighs, "I am not with him-"
The glow in the skull's eye sockets flares in the humanoid's direction, "You daft doppleganger, of course you're with me! Where else would you be? Or are you wearing those chains for fun? Ignore my friend's foolishness... he-er it's clearly been down here too long."
The humanoid shifts uncomfortably, "Could you let me down please? This isn't as comfortable as it looks."
Insight Check to see if the doppleganger or any of the other inhabitants of the room seem likely to cause mischief once released: 14
Balasar doesn't sense any immediate malice from any of the prisoners. The pale humanoid looks utterly exhausted, and none of the humans in the cell seem to be moving. The skull... you've never had to read emotions or intent from a bare skull before, but... it doesn't look any more threatening than any other human skull you've seen?
"Grave bolts" rings a bell, as does "Ghaunadaur," the name of a Great Old One and patron deity of slimes, oozes, and outcasts. Putting two and two together, the skull is probably the remains of a Deathlock, undead warlocks whose patrons required additional service after death. They're usually more intact than this.
With the bemused look of one studying an unexpected oddity, Elaric appraises the skull. "Phillip the Apt, I presume? Deathlock in service - or perhaps servitude - to Ghaunadaur?"
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Wendell winces, then curses as his eyes open. From down the passage, "HA! TOLD YOU NOT TO CROSS ME, SEPIA SCUMSUCKER! MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM!"
Wendell growls, "Well, Fluss is dead. AGAIN."
Elaric, too, looks over the books [OOC: rolling perception and arcana to a) look for any titles or otems of interest generally and b) look for titles giving a clue as to the interests of the library's owner].
Perception: 16
Arcana: 20
My thanks and my condolences. Were you able to discern how they killed him? Also, is there any lighting down there?
"Something like smoke or shadow from around the skull, I think. One of the prisoners might have rigged it as a trap. There's some lighting, but it isn't decent. My guess is that means whoever originally owned the laboratory was human. I've readied a counterspell just in case, but I'd recommend we announce ourselves before stepping into view. Maybe they can disarm the trap and I won't need to tap my reserves."
Balasar nods, then leads the party into the tunnel. He stops just before rounding the curve that Wendell described, then calls out: Your captor is dead; lowering your weapons and disarming your traps will facilitate your rescue.
"YOU SMOKE ADDLED SALAMANDER! I AM THE WEAPONS AND TRAPS!
...
Though, if what you say is true, then you've saved me and my friend here quite a bit of bother."
The other voice sounds disgusted, "Since when did we become frein-"
"YOU HAVE MY PERMISSION TO APPROACH, BUT I'VE GOT A WARY MIND AND AN ITCHY TRIGGER FINGER SO MIND YOUR MANNERS. And uh... sorry I killed your rat."
Wendell looks aggrieved, "Otter! You psychotic ingrate! It was an otter!"
"What's that Lizard? For a moment my ears detected the clarion call of a NERD. How many of you are there besides you and your limp-wristed sycophant?"
Wendell splutters, furious.
You could stand to mind your manners yourself, Balasar growls. There are five of us total, though I wouldn't blame anyone who decides they'd rather not share a room with you.
With that, he steps around the corner into the cell room.
One book in particular stands out on the shelf due to its unusual sheen. On touching it, Elaric finds the binding to be made of a strange black rubber. The cover is unmarked, but the first page lists in large print: Archinarex's Nice and Efficient Treatise. The book seems to deal with alchemy and potion making, specifically in making them more cost effective or longer lasting, depending on how the book's principles are applied.
Elaric takes the book - briefly holding it up for Wendell to see while mouthing the word "ALCHEMY" - and puts it in his pack. He then turns his attention and curiosity back to the situation at hand, prepared to jump in with a spell if necessary.
As Balasar steps into the room, he spies a skull in what appears to be a small golden cage, a pale humanoid bound to the wall, and the three humans Wendell described.
The skull's eyes pulse an eerie yellow green, "Well, damn... you're really not the Slaad after all. Good on you, saved me quite a bit of bother. What's your name, Scales?"
The humanoid sighs, "I am not with him-"
The glow in the skull's eye sockets flares in the humanoid's direction, "You daft doppleganger, of course you're with me! Where else would you be? Or are you wearing those chains for fun? Ignore my friend's foolishness... he-er it's clearly been down here too long."
The humanoid shifts uncomfortably, "Could you let me down please? This isn't as comfortable as it looks."
[How much does Balasar know about dopplegangers?]
[Make a knowledge roll]
Knowledge (doppleganger) roll: 14
Insight Check to see if the doppleganger or any of the other inhabitants of the room seem likely to cause mischief once released: 12
Balasar doesn't sense any immediate malice from any of the prisoners. The pale humanoid looks utterly exhausted, and none of the humans in the cell seem to be moving. The skull... you've never had to read emotions or intent from a bare skull before, but... it doesn't look any more threatening than any other human skull you've seen?
Elaric! Could you please join me in here? Balasar calls as he begins releasing the pale humanoid. I think this calls for your expertise.
Strolling casually around the corner, Elaric stops rather abruptly. However, only a slight quirk of his brows gives any hint to his thoughts.
[OOC: Appropriate roll for recognizing the skull-creature? Arcana? Nature?]
[Arcana]
Arcana check: 24
"Grave bolts" rings a bell, as does "Ghaunadaur," the name of a Great Old One and patron deity of slimes, oozes, and outcasts. Putting two and two together, the skull is probably the remains of a Deathlock, undead warlocks whose patrons required additional service after death. They're usually more intact than this.
With the bemused look of one studying an unexpected oddity, Elaric appraises the skull. "Phillip the Apt, I presume? Deathlock in service - or perhaps servitude - to Ghaunadaur?"