The statue leans against a huge stone slab, as though holding it in place; its hands even grip the stone with perfect precision. The giant depicted in the statue is fully detailed with a backpack, finely wrought hair, a coil of rope, laced boots—all rendered sharply from a single stone. He’s positioned near the only gap around the slab, just a foot or so wide, and seems to peer through it.
Tauzan peers into the entrance, watching as the now light-emitting ball bearing rolls up near the statue. "A very useful skill there," he comments to Walks. "You don't suppose that is the giant those rocks spoke of and something has turned him to stone?"
The Blood Hawk familiar flies towards the entrance of the cave, bends downwards while crossing the mouth of the cavern then remains perched on the head of the giant statue...moving it's beak near the nose of the structure to peck at it.
"I knew that something's wrong with the place, may be the whole place is haunted."
Marlyth whispers something under her breath while holding the Totem firmly in her grip and examining the chamber frantically.
"Well it is clearly haunted , we fought zombie serpents and a bone monster, remember?" smirks Tabaqui. "This statue looks a bit too realistic to be a work of art. I'm fairly certain whatever he saw through that gap was petrifying. Literally."
Looking around you see near the feet of the statue a very large wooden shield that had rotted to bits. Within the gap in the stone, the scenery looks familiar. Its the well yiubwere in before from the other side.
[You and the satue are roughly where that bluish green blonde is]
Marlyth will cast Greater Restoration on the statue of the giant using the charges of the 'Amulet of Restoration' while channeling the restorative effect through her wild companion in order to find out if their suspicion is true regarding the Petrified condition of the structure.
"If all those legends and lore that I heard during my childhood were true, we would be in trouble. I do have a fancy mirror and a herbal remedy in my stock, in case the petrifying entity decides to meet the party."
The restorative power of the magic Marlyrh releases takes immediate effect. The inert giant's fingers begin to move, then his arms, soon as the natural brown color and softness of flesh return, the giant becomes fully animated. As his mouth returns to life, he shouts "Nooooo!" The giant stands straight and tall as he takes I'm his surroundings. Looking at the lot of you, his face expresses confusion, then in an instant uderstanding. "You have saved me from my fate. Where is Sylvene? And Waltarn and Artura? Are they safe? Have they sent you?"
The giant's grave tone suggests genuine concern for the welfare of the three he names.
<Back in the tomb I did mention Sylvene's last adventuring party was depicted near the sarcophagus holding her husband Waltarn Everlake: the dwarf Artura, Sylvene, Waltarn and another figure: one Hamish Hewland. The thing is, these artistic impressions aren't to scale, so the fact that he is a giant is easy to miss. I could have told you when you were looking at him that he looked familiar, and possibly on a successful check told you exactly what this message states. Fortunately now he can tell you himself. >
Tauzan listens with interest, but keeps back as he doesn't share the memory of the picture from the tomb. He is intrigued though that this giant seems to have actually known Sylvene.
Marlyth observes the gradual transformation of the statue while mentally processing the suggestion offered by Angus, but she's already cast the spell without thinking about the outcome. She decides to let the stranger know about the current state of Sylvene and Waltarn when she finds him worried about their wellbeing:
"Waltarn sent us here, it was his departed spirit that instructed us to take a look at this site. Sylvene's sarcophagus was right beside his own coffin, but it was empty and there's no sign of her ghost. And Artura.."
<Artura's brother sent you. He left you with the impression that he was unavailable, distant but presumed living.>
The giant's face brightens for a split second at the mention if food, but his serious expression returns the moment he learns that Waltarn has died.
"Waltarn... is gone. And I wasn't there to save him. We should have never come here. And you shouldn't have either. Why would he send you here? This place was. It meant to be found. I learned that the hard way. It would seem Waltarn did not. Take my advice: stay out if that well."
The wild companion bird lets out a shrieking noise at the sight of the small piece of ration offered by Calner to the gigantic male, then it leaps forward to snatch away the edible item and uses the gap in the stone to leave the outer chamber.
"The arrows rained from the darkness beyond these stones, No! Don't look in there! I felt it ad it began. I knew I was being petrified, but it was too late. I told them to go on as I held moved these stones to block the exit. I know not what to call the creature I saw beyond these stones, but I will never forget those glowing green eyes. The last thing I saw. I beg you, turn back. Sylvene took the artifact she came for. It cost Waltarn his life. Poor Waltarn. I remember when they met, so young, so full of life. And now. Then back, before the snakes or whatever attacked us brings more death. We should seal this place and leave it sealed." Hamish begs, leaning on the handle of his massive axe.
Hamish is super loyal and also really gullible. He's petrified of going back in there but he csn supply you with anything you light want. He carries a bunch of stuff with him. Pockets full of food, explorers pack and a dungeoneering pack. No shield at the moment, but he does have that axe.
Angus introduces himself to the giant. "We thank you for your concern, friend. We have already defeated the serpents on the other side of this opening. We saw nothing there that could fire arrows, nor turn a great warrior such as yourself into stone. Perhaps whatever it was fled or died long ago. "We welcome you to join us, however if you are determined to depart, do you have anything that could aid us in our quest? That axe looks like it might come in handy...."
(Is the axe too large for a medium-sized character to wield effectively?)
"My axe is mine.. What brings you here? You must have heard of the artifact sealed in this vessel. I would die for Sylvene and Artura and Waltarn, but I wonder if we were wrong. I know her intent was pure, but why did the ancients seal away this object? Why did they place these guardians with it? Perhaps we should not have disturbed it?"
[He's a pretty cut and dry guy. He's either on board with your exploration of this space or he's really against it. I suggest you give him a reason to tewat you as allies. Otherwise, this might take a dark turn.]
"If Sylvene already got what she wanted from here what reason do we have to continue?"
Calner begins to pace back and forth while speaking, "Unless she left clues or something else for us to find."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Meanwhile, Marlyth attempts to scout the bottom/ceiling of the dark chamber through her familiar's eyes but she finds the task difficult to perform since the Blood Hawk (Hawk) relies on sight for perception.
"So, Waltarn's spirit told you to come here, but he didn't tell you why? And you say you've been in rhe well, and the snakes are defeated?" Hamish replies, eyeing yiu incredulously. "How, then are the stones I set in place still standing fast before me?"
<You're here because Waltarn's ghost sent you here. Ghosts are notoriously unreliable because they are not omniscient and not only have a limited understanding of the events that preceded their demise but seldom know much of what has happened since. Waltarn actually does know something of how he met his end and more importantly has new knowledge of recent worldly events. Mainly, that his grandson is close to obtaining the artifact and that he is intentions are malicious. Knowing something about what is here and that his evil grandson has the artifact from here, he told you to go here.
What Hamish doesn't know is that Waltarn even has a grandson (he does know of Waltarn and Sylvene having a son, though), much less that he's bent on taking over Faerûn using the stone of creation. Artura's brother also sent you after Tyreus, so that might carry some weight. Plus this guy's pretty gullible, so DCs for persuasion or deception are pretty low.
Its not a puzzle; you can get through to him in a lot of ways, but... he really doesn't want to see anyone get hurt, and that includes the prospect of letting put the things that were sealed within. He doesn't know there is another opening on the other side: No galeb duhr at rhe time to move things about. >
<I'm trying to work out what the hawk sees. The light emitting ball bearing would have fallen up, so if tbe hawk is exploring down where the hole is, it's dark there so he wouldn't see anything and probably ly hits a wall taking 1dy fall damage because I am too familiar with birds to reasonably expect anything less. Or am I missing another light source?>
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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The statue leans against a huge stone slab, as though holding it in place; its hands even grip the stone with perfect precision. The giant depicted in the statue is fully detailed with a backpack, finely wrought hair, a coil of rope, laced boots—all rendered sharply from a single stone. He’s positioned near the only gap around the slab, just a foot or so wide, and seems to peer through it.
Walks casts light on a ball bearing and tosses it near the statue so it can be seen more easily.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Tauzan peers into the entrance, watching as the now light-emitting ball bearing rolls up near the statue. "A very useful skill there," he comments to Walks. "You don't suppose that is the giant those rocks spoke of and something has turned him to stone?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
The Blood Hawk familiar flies towards the entrance of the cave, bends downwards while crossing the mouth of the cavern then remains perched on the head of the giant statue...moving it's beak near the nose of the structure to peck at it.
"I knew that something's wrong with the place, may be the whole place is haunted."
Marlyth whispers something under her breath while holding the Totem firmly in her grip and examining the chamber frantically.
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
"Well it is clearly haunted , we fought zombie serpents and a bone monster, remember?" smirks Tabaqui. "This statue looks a bit too realistic to be a work of art. I'm fairly certain whatever he saw through that gap was petrifying. Literally."
Looking around you see near the feet of the statue a very large wooden shield that had rotted to bits. Within the gap in the stone, the scenery looks familiar. Its the well yiubwere in before from the other side.
[You and the satue are roughly where that bluish green blonde is]
Marlyth will cast Greater Restoration on the statue of the giant using the charges of the 'Amulet of Restoration' while channeling the restorative effect through her wild companion in order to find out if their suspicion is true regarding the Petrified condition of the structure.
"If all those legends and lore that I heard during my childhood were true, we would be in trouble. I do have a fancy mirror and a herbal remedy in my stock, in case the petrifying entity decides to meet the party."
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
Angus clears his throat. "Um, perhaps waking up the giant without knowing if it is friendly or not isn't a fabulous idea."
The restorative power of the magic Marlyrh releases takes immediate effect. The inert giant's fingers begin to move, then his arms, soon as the natural brown color and softness of flesh return, the giant becomes fully animated. As his mouth returns to life, he shouts "Nooooo!" The giant stands straight and tall as he takes I'm his surroundings. Looking at the lot of you, his face expresses confusion, then in an instant uderstanding. "You have saved me from my fate. Where is Sylvene? And Waltarn and Artura? Are they safe? Have they sent you?"
The giant's grave tone suggests genuine concern for the welfare of the three he names.
<Back in the tomb I did mention Sylvene's last adventuring party was depicted near the sarcophagus holding her husband Waltarn Everlake: the dwarf Artura, Sylvene, Waltarn and another figure: one Hamish Hewland. The thing is, these artistic impressions aren't to scale, so the fact that he is a giant is easy to miss. I could have told you when you were looking at him that he looked familiar, and possibly on a successful check told you exactly what this message states. Fortunately now he can tell you himself. >
Tauzan listens with interest, but keeps back as he doesn't share the memory of the picture from the tomb. He is intrigued though that this giant seems to have actually known Sylvene.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Marlyth observes the gradual transformation of the statue while mentally processing the suggestion offered by Angus, but she's already cast the spell without thinking about the outcome. She decides to let the stranger know about the current state of Sylvene and Waltarn when she finds him worried about their wellbeing:
"Waltarn sent us here, it was his departed spirit that instructed us to take a look at this site. Sylvene's sarcophagus was right beside his own coffin, but it was empty and there's no sign of her ghost. And Artura.."
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
<Artura's brother sent you. He left you with the impression that he was unavailable, distant but presumed living.>
The giant's face brightens for a split second at the mention if food, but his serious expression returns the moment he learns that Waltarn has died.
"Waltarn... is gone. And I wasn't there to save him. We should have never come here. And you shouldn't have either. Why would he send you here? This place was. It meant to be found. I learned that the hard way. It would seem Waltarn did not. Take my advice: stay out if that well."
The wild companion bird lets out a shrieking noise at the sight of the small piece of ration offered by Calner to the gigantic male, then it leaps forward to snatch away the edible item and uses the gap in the stone to leave the outer chamber.
"No! Get back, Fivepoint!"
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
Walks looks up and up at the giant, "What is it that worries you here? How did you get turned to stone?"
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
"The arrows rained from the darkness beyond these stones, No! Don't look in there! I felt it ad it began. I knew I was being petrified, but it was too late. I told them to go on as I held moved these stones to block the exit. I know not what to call the creature I saw beyond these stones, but I will never forget those glowing green eyes. The last thing I saw. I beg you, turn back. Sylvene took the artifact she came for. It cost Waltarn his life. Poor Waltarn. I remember when they met, so young, so full of life. And now. Then back, before the snakes or whatever attacked us brings more death. We should seal this place and leave it sealed." Hamish begs, leaning on the handle of his massive axe.
Hamish is super loyal and also really gullible. He's petrified of going back in there but he csn supply you with anything you light want. He carries a bunch of stuff with him. Pockets full of food, explorers pack and a dungeoneering pack. No shield at the moment, but he does have that axe.
Angus introduces himself to the giant. "We thank you for your concern, friend. We have already defeated the serpents on the other side of this opening. We saw nothing there that could fire arrows, nor turn a great warrior such as yourself into stone. Perhaps whatever it was fled or died long ago.
"We welcome you to join us, however if you are determined to depart, do you have anything that could aid us in our quest? That axe looks like it might come in handy...."
(Is the axe too large for a medium-sized character to wield effectively?)
"My axe is mine.. What brings you here? You must have heard of the artifact sealed in this vessel. I would die for Sylvene and Artura and Waltarn, but I wonder if we were wrong. I know her intent was pure, but why did the ancients seal away this object? Why did they place these guardians with it? Perhaps we should not have disturbed it?"
[He's a pretty cut and dry guy. He's either on board with your exploration of this space or he's really against it. I suggest you give him a reason to tewat you as allies. Otherwise, this might take a dark turn.]
"If Sylvene already got what she wanted from here what reason do we have to continue?"
Calner begins to pace back and forth while speaking, "Unless she left clues or something else for us to find."
Meanwhile, Marlyth attempts to scout the bottom/ceiling of the dark chamber through her familiar's eyes but she finds the task difficult to perform since the Blood Hawk (Hawk) relies on sight for perception.
Hawk: Wisdom(Perception) (9, 18)
InkedBee (Undead_Analyst)
Covetous, Dragonish Thoughts - Jenviel Tsumara: Fallen Aasimar- Monk|Crimson Sands of Time - Navarra Iltazyara: Human- Druid/Warlock| Bleak Prospect - Ermasnietsz: Reborn- Clockwork Soul Sorcerer
"So, Waltarn's spirit told you to come here, but he didn't tell you why? And you say you've been in rhe well, and the snakes are defeated?" Hamish replies, eyeing yiu incredulously. "How, then are the stones I set in place still standing fast before me?"
<You're here because Waltarn's ghost sent you here. Ghosts are notoriously unreliable because they are not omniscient and not only have a limited understanding of the events that preceded their demise but seldom know much of what has happened since. Waltarn actually does know something of how he met his end and more importantly has new knowledge of recent worldly events. Mainly, that his grandson is close to obtaining the artifact and that he is intentions are malicious. Knowing something about what is here and that his evil grandson has the artifact from here, he told you to go here.
What Hamish doesn't know is that Waltarn even has a grandson (he does know of Waltarn and Sylvene having a son, though), much less that he's bent on taking over Faerûn using the stone of creation. Artura's brother also sent you after Tyreus, so that might carry some weight. Plus this guy's pretty gullible, so DCs for persuasion or deception are pretty low.
Its not a puzzle; you can get through to him in a lot of ways, but... he really doesn't want to see anyone get hurt, and that includes the prospect of letting put the things that were sealed within. He doesn't know there is another opening on the other side: No galeb duhr at rhe time to move things about. >
<I'm trying to work out what the hawk sees. The light emitting ball bearing would have fallen up, so if tbe hawk is exploring down where the hole is, it's dark there so he wouldn't see anything and probably ly hits a wall taking 1dy fall damage because I am too familiar with birds to reasonably expect anything less. Or am I missing another light source?>