While they try to figure out what's going on with Titus and the Bears (that's his new band name :P), Rethan summons Midnight and sends the cat up the stairs to scout what's there.
Looking closely at Titus, Mal has a moment's joke with himself, poking the dragonborn in the face lightly. "I'm not sure I can do anything to help these guys - my kind can remove some afflictions, but this is clearly magical in nature. Perhaps if we destroy the mural?"
Morph finishes going through his book, but not finding anything that will break this kind of magic, he lets out a sigh.
Looking at Titus, Morph readies himself to try striking his friend a heavy blow to the head.
Looking down at his arms, he looks up at Rethan.
"Ah, Rethan, you're better built for this than me."
Morph squeezes his not at all impressive bicep.
"Could I get you to try giving Titus a cognitive realignment? Could you punch him in the head for me? We will see if we can snap him out of his...infatuation."
Rethan chuckles at Mal's comment. Looking back and forth between Titus and the painting, he goes for the option less likely to accidentally kill a friend. Drawing one of his javelins, he walks over to the fresno and trags the blade from the top right corner across the painting to the bottom left, leaving a long scratch in the paint.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Is it imbued or is it just a spell?" Laniel says. After a long, deep breath, he attempts three forceful punches against the fresco.
Attack: 22 Damage: 8
Attack: 24 Damage: 8
Attack: 8 Damage: 6
The first blow does nothing, but the second and third strikes cause a significant crack in the fresco. None of the three charmed people snap out of their reverie.
A large section of the fresco shatters, pieces of it and the wall raining to the ground. The two bugbears and Titusblink again, then begin to look around the room at everyone staring at them.
When Rethanis silent, Morphlooks over to see he is seated with his eyes closed. Upon opening his eyes, he relays what Midnightsaw.
At the top of a long flight of stairs is a 20-foot-high hall with three pillars periodically along the length of the hall, which have been carved to resemble warhammers, their square heads pressed against the floor. The west wall bears a cracked mosaic that depicts a dwarf smith at a forge, crafting dwarves out of black metal and diamonds. Three archways open to the east, each leading to crumbling bridges that span the entrance foyer just east of where the adventurers now sit (with the false doors). At the end each bridge sits an adamantine door.
“We should be wary of the mosaic... These ancient Dwarves have weaved their magic into this place, we must proceed with the utmost caution. We should make sure not to look directly at it.
Still, I think it’s best if I go first with Elezu and Zakul by my side. Do we have any ideas how we could cross the room if the bridges are unstable?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Vercinius Thrax: Lizardfolk Cleric - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
L’Ouverture Zinn: Kobold Sorcerer - Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Titus Vorenus: Dragonborn Paladin - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Nemean Goldenmane: Tabaxi Fighter - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Retired)
Mal spreads his arms as a gesture of his inability to help in this situation, though, being invisible, this goes unnoticed, much to his disappointment.
"Well, if we all start falling, I can probably help us from dying on impact. Beyond that, well..."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The party climbs the stairs, ignoring Laniel'scomment that it reminded him of climbing the Mount Waterdeep. At the top, they see the archways with the crumbling bridges beyond them. As they are deciding which archway to go through first, a slurping sound comes from behind.
DM shield:
BP: 5
L: 6
R: 7
Ma: 15
Mo: 6
T: 17
ER: 16
E: 18
Z: 4
V: 5
A black pudding oozes out of a crack in the wall! (Titusand Malmay take their turns.)
While they try to figure out what's going on with Titus and the Bears (that's his new band name :P), Rethan summons Midnight and sends the cat up the stairs to scout what's there.
Looking closely at Titus, Mal has a moment's joke with himself, poking the dragonborn in the face lightly. "I'm not sure I can do anything to help these guys - my kind can remove some afflictions, but this is clearly magical in nature. Perhaps if we destroy the mural?"
Morph finishes going through his book, but not finding anything that will break this kind of magic, he lets out a sigh.
Looking at Titus, Morph readies himself to try striking his friend a heavy blow to the head.
Looking down at his arms, he looks up at Rethan.
"Ah, Rethan, you're better built for this than me."
Morph squeezes his not at all impressive bicep.
"Could I get you to try giving Titus a cognitive realignment? Could you punch him in the head for me? We will see if we can snap him out of his...infatuation."
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
Laniel holds up his hands. "Whoa, whoa," he says. "I'm with Mal here. Let's pound on the priceless artwork instead of the priceless friend and partner."
Mal rubs his chin. "Actually, Operation Noggin is sounding pretty appealing, all things considered.'"
Rethan chuckles at Mal's comment. Looking back and forth between Titus and the painting, he goes for the option less likely to accidentally kill a friend. Drawing one of his javelins, he walks over to the fresno and trags the blade from the top right corner across the painting to the bottom left, leaving a long scratch in the paint.
DM shield:
Attack: 8 Damage: 5
Rethan's javelin does nothing to even scratch the surface of the fresco, given the light touch he gives the attempt.
"Magic has a way of imbuing objects it is embedded into, with a kind of indestructible quality."
"What if we try and take it down, try moving it somewhere else, see what happens?"
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
"Is it imbued or is it just a spell?" Laniel says. After a long, deep breath, he attempts three forceful punches against the fresco.
Attack: 22 Damage: 8
Attack: 24 Damage: 8
Attack: 8 Damage: 6
The first blow does nothing, but the second and third strikes cause a significant crack in the fresco. None of the three charmed people snap out of their reverie.
(And Laniel breaks his hands punching the wall as hard as he can! :P)
"We could try dragging them away, either towards the door where we entered or else up the stairs.
(What's Midnight seen up the stairs anyway?)
When Rethan checks in with Midnight, the familiar is still climbing the stairs (it is 70 vertical feet!)
Meanwhile Laniel flexes his hands and finds them fine (like the tough monk he is!) He whirls and kicks the fresco again.
Attack: 26 Damage: 9
More cracks spider along the fresco. The trio of charmed people blink a few times, then return to staring.
Seeing it having an effect, Rethan puts away his javelin and swings at the fresco with his glaive instead.
Attack: 22 Damage: 11
A large section of the fresco shatters, pieces of it and the wall raining to the ground. The two bugbears and Titus blink again, then begin to look around the room at everyone staring at them.
"What?" says Elezu.
Titus shakes his head and stumbles a bit as he looks around at his companions staring at him. “Ugh... What happened? Is everyone okay?”
Vercinius Thrax: Lizardfolk Cleric - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
L’Ouverture Zinn: Kobold Sorcerer - Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Titus Vorenus: Dragonborn Paladin - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Nemean Goldenmane: Tabaxi Fighter - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Retired)
"Yeah, our physically gifted friends have taken care of the problem."
Morph indicates Laniel and Rethan, and then the destroyed fresco.
"This fresco had some magical properties designed to capture peoples minds and hold them captive."
"You and our two new associates, unfortunately succumb to the magic, but are now free again."
Morph turns to Rethan,
"Anything from Midnight? I saw you send him ahead of us."
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
When Rethan is silent, Morph looks over to see he is seated with his eyes closed. Upon opening his eyes, he relays what Midnight saw.
At the top of a long flight of stairs is a 20-foot-high hall with three pillars periodically along the length of the hall, which have been carved to resemble warhammers, their square heads pressed against the floor. The west wall bears a cracked mosaic that depicts a dwarf smith at a forge, crafting dwarves out of black metal and diamonds. Three archways open to the east, each leading to crumbling bridges that span the entrance foyer just east of where the adventurers now sit (with the false doors). At the end each bridge sits an adamantine door.
“We should be wary of the mosaic... These ancient Dwarves have weaved their magic into this place, we must proceed with the utmost caution. We should make sure not to look directly at it.
Still, I think it’s best if I go first with Elezu and Zakul by my side. Do we have any ideas how we could cross the room if the bridges are unstable?”
Vercinius Thrax: Lizardfolk Cleric - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
L’Ouverture Zinn: Kobold Sorcerer - Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Titus Vorenus: Dragonborn Paladin - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Nemean Goldenmane: Tabaxi Fighter - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Retired)
Mal spreads his arms as a gesture of his inability to help in this situation, though, being invisible, this goes unnoticed, much to his disappointment.
"Well, if we all start falling, I can probably help us from dying on impact. Beyond that, well..."
"I'm pretty sure the broom could handle the weight of two people, I could ferry everyone over, one at a time."
"Unless anyone has a better idea?"
Morph turns back to Rethan,
"Do you think Midnight could try getting to the other side? See what's there, before we try to cross?"
David Gearlock | Human | Artificer | Revenge Heist
Knox | Warforged | Cleric | Shadowthorn's Out of the Abyss
The party climbs the stairs, ignoring Laniel's comment that it reminded him of climbing the Mount Waterdeep. At the top, they see the archways with the crumbling bridges beyond them. As they are deciding which archway to go through first, a slurping sound comes from behind.
DM shield:
A black pudding oozes out of a crack in the wall! (Titus and Mal may take their turns.)