Chroma appears alert and interested in the changing scenery following their departure from Phlan. The forest was certainly curious, and she wonders when they will approach the area they were sent to trawl.
"Allow me," says Chroma, extending her hand towards Jules, asking if she could borrow the spyglass. Whether or not Jules parts with the instrument, she approaches the tallest tree that looks like it could support Chroma's weight. Her years training in monasteries left her keen as to where she should place her weight on the branches - the trainees at the monastery had one such trial where Chroma was required to walk along branches and climb up trees above pits of spikes. Blindfolded, as well. That had been challenging. With the grace of a practiced expert, Chroma deftly scales the tree, somewhat surprisingly, given the dragonborn's size, and will scan the periphery of the horizon, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
As the others prepare to climb the tree, Qiran quietly stays below, scanning their surroundings. It had been quiet, so far, but he didn't want to be caught unawares when the 'muscle' was away.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Attending Academy until November, slowdown in posts continue.
"The luminous chamber, according to the records... well, frankly we have no idea what it's for but it was important enough to be guarded by extra thick walls and apparently was one third of a massive construction effort in Phlan's golden age to 'make Phlan a beacon of progress', whatever that means." Jules responds to Faerith.
Faerieth gets an uncanny feeling that the ancient trees growing in the area are actually PART of the luminous chamber. Their roots are touching one another, connected in a way that speaks of a powerful enchantment long forgotten by all but the trees themselves.
This is confirmed by Chroma who, as she approaches a tree to climb, notices runes etched into the bark in such a way that can only be felt, as the texture of the bark hides the indentations with a simple optical illusion. Seeing the runes clearly requires being at a certain angle... looking down on them.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM, professional illustrator and comic artist, suffering from severe spinal stenosis, married, middle aged, and nerdy.
Chroma is puzzled at the strange adornment of trees in the surrounding area. Krinix or Faerieth would have more of an idea of what the symbols entail. She motions for either of the two to join her on the tree, offering a helping hand to anyone attempting to climb upwards.
What Krinix finds (using the previous arcana skill roll ;3 ) is that the runes are not only quite old, but written in an archaic form of draconian. The runes were not etched by human, elven, or even dragonborn hands, they were etched by full dragon claw, meticulously, like painting on a pebble. It would take hours or days to fully translate the runes and the spell weave (Less, if he had help, but even then, quite a while), but what Krinix can translate at the moment seems to suggest that the trees are being used as the anchors for a spell. Spells that are meant to last decades or centuries need to be bound by something; a soul, a contract with a living being, another magical item... to use trees as the anchor is especially difficult because it requires getting unconditional consent, and enchanting a tree without it will eventually twist the spell in dark and vengeful ways.
In the past, such anchors have had disastrous results and are responsible for every horrible haunted forest in the Forgotten Realms. These trees, after all these years, are still bonded and loyal to the will of the original caster. Even more difficult, the original caster used multiple trees and bound them to one another in the enchantment, in case one of them should die.
More importantly though, is that if the trees are enchanted, they would need to be close to this 'luminous chamber'. It should be somewhere very, very close by.
Krinix will explain that to the party. He will then vocally surmise that the enchantment could be ended if the trees were destroyed. Just hypothetically speaking! He doesn’t want to offend Faerieth. Still don’t know what the enchantment actually is, so don’t know if it would be favorable to take such an action. Krinix feels like there must be an entrance or opening somewhere to “the chamber”.
Krinix will say that the entrance to the luminous chamber must be very nearby. He will suggest everyone spread out to look for it, staying within earshot though. He will send his lizard familiar back to its pocket dimension and then resummon it, this time sending it up a tree to see from up there. Then Krinix will walk in the direction opposite where the lizard had already gone, and telepathically ask it, Did you see anything over there?
"Well then, search we must. Within shouting range, yes."
Qiran was a little irked that he was the only one not to see the signs from above. But it would have been reckless. He couldn't do much with a broken back. Banishing the irritation and best he could, he begins to stalk further through the trees, using his staff where necessary to clear brush and support himself.
Krinix's familiar has spotted something, or rather, is crawling over another set of runes etched onto a root line. They're heading... underground.
With his persistence and a lead to follow, Qiran spots something unusual from his vantage point.
In a small clearing, it becomes evident why the group wasn't seeing anything from above; there's what looks like an ancient amphitheater within a circle of standing walls that could easily be a gathering spot or a place to put on plays or other performances, but most importantly, the 'stage' has a seam around it. It looks like it can move. After so many years, the earth around the roots, where it connects down under this stage area, have shifted and left just a little bit of space for the lizard to venture down into, but it's pitch black inside.
Additionally, there are spaces where there may have, at one time, been rigging; there's enough space to get a hand inside, making these spaces, of which there are six, evenly spaced out around the circular 'stage'. They could be effective hand holds. This 'stage area' is covered by a layer of dirt and debris as well, where some has already fallen into the 'seam'.
Faerieth's inquiry is met with silence at first, but then Qiran sees a thin circle of leaves gently waft up from the gaps.
Faerieth smiles as they begin to pass by all the trees, "What... are you looking for?"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Chroma appears alert and interested in the changing scenery following their departure from Phlan. The forest was certainly curious, and she wonders when they will approach the area they were sent to trawl.
"Allow me," says Chroma, extending her hand towards Jules, asking if she could borrow the spyglass. Whether or not Jules parts with the instrument, she approaches the tallest tree that looks like it could support Chroma's weight. Her years training in monasteries left her keen as to where she should place her weight on the branches - the trainees at the monastery had one such trial where Chroma was required to walk along branches and climb up trees above pits of spikes. Blindfolded, as well. That had been challenging. With the grace of a practiced expert, Chroma deftly scales the tree, somewhat surprisingly, given the dragonborn's size, and will scan the periphery of the horizon, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
Let me know if you would like to make any rolls.
As the others prepare to climb the tree, Qiran quietly stays below, scanning their surroundings. It had been quiet, so far, but he didn't want to be caught unawares when the 'muscle' was away.
Attending Academy until November, slowdown in posts continue.
(Chroma, Krinix, Faerieth, roll for perception.)
"The luminous chamber, according to the records... well, frankly we have no idea what it's for but it was important enough to be guarded by extra thick walls and apparently was one third of a massive construction effort in Phlan's golden age to 'make Phlan a beacon of progress', whatever that means." Jules responds to Faerith.
DM, professional illustrator and comic artist, suffering from severe spinal stenosis, married, middle aged, and nerdy.
Perception: 6
Perception: 14
Perception: 22
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Faerieth gets an uncanny feeling that the ancient trees growing in the area are actually PART of the luminous chamber. Their roots are touching one another, connected in a way that speaks of a powerful enchantment long forgotten by all but the trees themselves.
This is confirmed by Chroma who, as she approaches a tree to climb, notices runes etched into the bark in such a way that can only be felt, as the texture of the bark hides the indentations with a simple optical illusion. Seeing the runes clearly requires being at a certain angle... looking down on them.
DM, professional illustrator and comic artist, suffering from severe spinal stenosis, married, middle aged, and nerdy.
"We are at the... correct location," Faerieth says, "there is... a powerful enchantment working within the roots."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Krinix is interested.
”Can you explain that to me? How do you know?”
Krinix will begin studying the root system and comparing that to his arcane studies.
if appropriate, arcana check: 15
(If Chroma shows Krinix the runes, you can use your arcana skill.)
DM, professional illustrator and comic artist, suffering from severe spinal stenosis, married, middle aged, and nerdy.
Chroma is puzzled at the strange adornment of trees in the surrounding area. Krinix or Faerieth would have more of an idea of what the symbols entail. She motions for either of the two to join her on the tree, offering a helping hand to anyone attempting to climb upwards.
Krinix is studying the tree tunes now, too.
What Krinix finds (using the previous arcana skill roll ;3 ) is that the runes are not only quite old, but written in an archaic form of draconian. The runes were not etched by human, elven, or even dragonborn hands, they were etched by full dragon claw, meticulously, like painting on a pebble. It would take hours or days to fully translate the runes and the spell weave (Less, if he had help, but even then, quite a while), but what Krinix can translate at the moment seems to suggest that the trees are being used as the anchors for a spell. Spells that are meant to last decades or centuries need to be bound by something; a soul, a contract with a living being, another magical item... to use trees as the anchor is especially difficult because it requires getting unconditional consent, and enchanting a tree without it will eventually twist the spell in dark and vengeful ways.
In the past, such anchors have had disastrous results and are responsible for every horrible haunted forest in the Forgotten Realms. These trees, after all these years, are still bonded and loyal to the will of the original caster. Even more difficult, the original caster used multiple trees and bound them to one another in the enchantment, in case one of them should die.
More importantly though, is that if the trees are enchanted, they would need to be close to this 'luminous chamber'. It should be somewhere very, very close by.
DM, professional illustrator and comic artist, suffering from severe spinal stenosis, married, middle aged, and nerdy.
Krinix will explain that to the party. He will then vocally surmise that the enchantment could be ended if the trees were destroyed. Just hypothetically speaking! He doesn’t want to offend Faerieth. Still don’t know what the enchantment actually is, so don’t know if it would be favorable to take such an action. Krinix feels like there must be an entrance or opening somewhere to “the chamber”.
(I just noticed DM’s last paragraph there)
Krinix will say that the entrance to the luminous chamber must be very nearby. He will suggest everyone spread out to look for it, staying within earshot though. He will send his lizard familiar back to its pocket dimension and then resummon it, this time sending it up a tree to see from up there. Then Krinix will walk in the direction opposite where the lizard had already gone, and telepathically ask it, Did you see anything over there?
May I also ask what time of day it is?
"Well then, search we must. Within shouting range, yes."
Qiran was a little irked that he was the only one not to see the signs from above. But it would have been reckless. He couldn't do much with a broken back. Banishing the irritation and best he could, he begins to stalk further through the trees, using his staff where necessary to clear brush and support himself.
Attending Academy until November, slowdown in posts continue.
(It's mid-afternoon.)
9
DM, professional illustrator and comic artist, suffering from severe spinal stenosis, married, middle aged, and nerdy.
Faerieth approaches one of the trees, "I don't suppose you can assist us in finding the entrance?"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Krinix's familiar has spotted something, or rather, is crawling over another set of runes etched onto a root line. They're heading... underground.
With his persistence and a lead to follow, Qiran spots something unusual from his vantage point.
In a small clearing, it becomes evident why the group wasn't seeing anything from above; there's what looks like an ancient amphitheater within a circle of standing walls that could easily be a gathering spot or a place to put on plays or other performances, but most importantly, the 'stage' has a seam around it. It looks like it can move. After so many years, the earth around the roots, where it connects down under this stage area, have shifted and left just a little bit of space for the lizard to venture down into, but it's pitch black inside.
Additionally, there are spaces where there may have, at one time, been rigging; there's enough space to get a hand inside, making these spaces, of which there are six, evenly spaced out around the circular 'stage'. They could be effective hand holds. This 'stage area' is covered by a layer of dirt and debris as well, where some has already fallen into the 'seam'.
Faerieth's inquiry is met with silence at first, but then Qiran sees a thin circle of leaves gently waft up from the gaps.
DM, professional illustrator and comic artist, suffering from severe spinal stenosis, married, middle aged, and nerdy.