"Ohh, ooh, slither knows this, yes? "

What do you think it is?

Ooc: no clue, hence the arcana roll previous page :)

Oh. Pff. Would help to scroll back, huh.

Oh shit, you nat20'ed the hell out of that.

It's an intricate teleportation system throughout the compound. You're not sure WHERE they lead, but that you know with absolutely certainty they are regularly used and do take you from one room to another.

Also, those spectacles make you look super smart.

OOC: Oh! I have idea! Shariel does the “There and Back” ability, clicks the rune, and then is pulled back by “there and back.” Easy, breezy scouting.

OOC > That would be pretty cool if it works.

That would work, yes.

Mal lets out a low whistle.

"That is a lot of blood. Whatcha think they need so much of it for?"

Bree

She walks up to Mal, her warding wind now gone. "I've seen as much or more, in the centuries I was away," she says it matter of factly. "It's never anything good."

"We should desecrate it, or drain it away. If only to take whatever power it has for them."

"Your idea is pretty sound, Bacon, though we should be prepared for them to follow her back here, should she find anyone."

"Does anyone think we should take care not to bump that gong? Can we take it down? I suppose that might be even noisier."

You can tell that the blood appears to be sacrificial in nature, due to the ambiance and setup of the immediate surroundings. The bowl is large enough to hold a humanoid.

Are there any obvious (or non-obvious, Investigation: 9) ways of draining the blood from either receptacle?

Mmm...not exactly, no.

You hear a voice on the balcony. A half woman, half snake is standing at the balcony. She is powerful and commanding, yet speaks in interested tones. Her human half is Chultan, her torso a beautiful snake's body. She has dark skin, is lean and strong, dressed in a very regal outfit that reveals a little too much.

"You." She says. "Who are you? What are your intentions?"

“Howdy, ma’am. We’re just some new trainees that have been assigned to patrol the area. Xopal discussed locating test subjects.” Clayton glances over to Bree who just said Bacon.

Ooc: sorry, my snake god has a thing for the truth

Slither double takes both Clayton and the yuanti. "Trainees? Slither thought we came to punish Ras Nsi, no?"

The woman almost rolls her eyes. "You are clearly not trainees," she says. "Especially with how you are all armed and dressed. I will give you one more chance to identify yourselves. Don't waste it."

"For fu- I'm Mal. Hi. Hello. Teifling, demon, hellspawn right here. I'm an amazing performer and, when I find a brush, a guy with real great hair. I'm here to fight someone and steal an artifact? Maybe destroy it? I don't know but its one of those two, most likely." Mal waves to the snake lady up top.

"We don't really have a problem with you at the moment so I'd prefer not to fight you if we can. Who are you by the way?"

She studies you for a moment. "Fight someone? Steal an artifact? I see.."

"I am Fenthaza." She says. "I am the High Priest and second in command of the yuan-ti here - next to Ras Nsi. He will not be pleased you are here."

She slithers towards the gong, coming a bit closer. "You are unlike the others who have come before you. You are here to kill Ras Nsi and take the cube?"

Clayton huffs and runs a hand through his hair as Slither ousts them, “Yep, Slither, thanks for that. That is what we’re doing. My name’s Clayton Pendragon. Assuming ol’ Honest Abe is gonna live up to his name, we might as well be transparent. We are going to kill Ras Nsi and steal the cube. We’re then going to stop the death curse that Acerak started with his Soulmonger. We figure it’s fair play for killing us and all.”

Bree

She steps up, clearly not cowed by the woman or the surroundings. ”We intend to be successful, and that would leave an open spot at the top. You would do well to consider stepping aside.”