Graxx will leave the terrified thief and approach Neya quietly while Utar continues his questioning.
"What are you thinking here, Neya?" says Graxx.
Graxx puts his hand to his chin.
"I mean we came all the way here. Might as well see if we can find this thing. Then we can take ol' Spernik back and hand them over."
Graxx shrugs.
"Or chances are, no one else knows where this place is. We could take Spernik back and come back at our leisure so we ain't gotta worry about him pulling a fast one on us."
Obsben still appeared unconvinced of any dieting at work on the Swolbolds, but couldn't keep from at least giggling a little over Utar's insistence. With her suspicions all but being confirmed soon after, the halfling's eyes pretty much glazed over a little wonderment and idle considerations of the sort of permanency magics the Thayans had to have wrought for such results.
Only the spell at work and arcane discipline kept her from losing touch for too long, before eventually setting her sights again on Spernik to help focus her attention. "Utar here raises some pretty good points. If this whole cult thing is just a phase, I could maybe even reach out to some vewy special, vewy clever, and vewy secretive friends to even protect you once all this blows over. 'cause like..." She trailed off in thought for a second before canting her head slightly to the side.
"Actually... Remind me again why you joined the Cult? Like, do you really like dragons in general that much? Or was there something else that got into this whole... thing. Also, like, uhm, when was the next time you were suppose to reach out to others? Or how for that matter?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
“I must admit, curiosity is getting better of me. We are unlikely to return. Perhaps the secrets of this temple may reveal more than we could imagine. Perhaps, less. The only way to know for certain is to find out what’s beyond that big door.”
While Graxx and Neya discuss the pros and cons of continuing their exploration presently, Utar and Obsben continue to interrogate CRAP's prisoner. Spernik grimaces at mentions of being turned over to the Black Fist, but it is clear he doesn't like the idea of being confronted by the Lord Sage either. The scribe welcomes the next question, which allows him to not have to think about either possibility for a few precious seconds. "We planned to present it as a gift to a powerful potential ally," he answers in a truthful but still cautions manner. He then looks at Obsben for an intense second or two.
Surface thoughts for @Obby:
"Don't think of the name, don't think of the name, don't think of the name...."
He continues: "The Scale, the relic, might not do what the legends claim it does but it is still a mighty artifact of yore; not necessarily in power, but certainly in significance, though I can't be sure of either before studying it for a prolonged period of time. The right recipient of such a gift would know the weight it carries and be very pleased, and that is the relic's main use in the Cult's perspective: forming alliances. You have surely seen how many alliances they have pursued in recent times. You know I am telling you the truth."
The questioning then turns to the topic of Thayans and kobolds: "These... swolbolds, as you named them, are of little interest to me. I have no understanding of how they were created. I am a scribe, a historian, and yes, a true follower of the Queen of Dragons..." he stares at Obby again, "...but I am no necromancer or negotiator. I know naught of the Thayans' methods or their specific arrangements with the Cult."
@Utar: You are chipping away at Spernik and his knowledge here, but you understand you are not speaking with a leader of the Cult here. Your prisoner has a particular set of skills and knows little beyond the mission he was given. He is more likely to be guarding knowledge about the circle of druids and the relic than any of these other lines of questioning you are seeking.
The mention of a potential secret faction providing him protection seems to resonate with Spernik, and his surface thoughts confirm this as well. Regarding contact with the Cult, his answer to Obby's questions is curt: "Periodic letters. I sent them but never received replies."
-> We are getting into the last couple minutes worth of Utar's spell here.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Utar rolls his eyes as Spernik once again tries his hand at a lie of ommission.
"Who is this 'powerful, potential ally', Spernik? And who exactly were you sending letters to? Names would be nice. If we get you back to Phlan and you are less than forthcoming with our contacts, your subsequent questioning is likely to be more of an interrogation. That doesn't normally go well for the subject."
Pausing and giving Obsben a chance to ask any final questions of her own, Utar takes a knife and fashions two long strips of cloth from this usual attire. Once the power of the spell fades away, he gags and blindfolds Spernik, before attempting to hoist the human onto his shoulders.
(OOC Blindfold and gag are made from Utar's normal weather clothing, happy to destroy it in his inventory. Also, do you want another check for his knotwork?)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"It wasn't a complete lie."Obsben spoke up as she's stared at the second, but would fail or simply choose not to elaborate further on her meaning. She also looked almost sad and regretful for a moment. But then, her demeanor slipped back into its usual nonchalance and eeriness.
Feeling her own spell beginning to wane, Obsben at least whispers an apology before delving deeper in hopes of digging up the name Spernik tried to hide from her before. Come what may of the results, she waves off any silent offer to ask more to start studying the ring. "You go on ahead. I sensed some magic from this ring and... I'd like -- need to find out more." She replied, and if left to her own devices, mentally bid Salty Bottom to keep an eye on entrance while she began her ritual from the top of the stairs.
"I'd rather not say,"is the only response Utar gets to his latest line of questioning. Frustrated with gathering much information but falling short of hearing a name, Utar gives Obsben a chance to ask her next question. Despite her dismissal of such an opportunity, the halfling still silently delves deeper into Spernik's mind. The scribe screams in fear once again, clearly aware of what is happening based on recent experience.
@Obsben:
"I can't let them know... I can't... They will kill me... I'll die.. If not the Cult, then certainly Scorlworyx herself if we ever find her."
Once the screaming subsides, Utar destroys some of his own clothing to gag and blindfold Spernik. Then, the robust half-orc easily hoists the skinny man over a shoulder. He grunts and complains, but his words can't be discerned. Utar and Spernik join Graxx and Neya in the misty room (described here) and let's them know that Obsben is occupied elsewhere for now.
With SB supposedly keeping watch, but getting distracted easily once again, Obby spends a good amount of time casting a ritual to identify the magical properties of Spernik's ring.
(OOC: Let's see what the others do with these 10 minutes first, before I reveal further info on the ring.)
Entering the misty chamber, Utar waves a quick greetings to Graxx and Neya then sets his new baggage down in a corner. Eyeing the dead swolbolds, he winces, "Spernik said something about this place being trapped, guess they found out."
"Since Obsben is doing this in the next room, let's see if the traps are magical in nature." Setting himself down, he begins on a ritual casting of detect magic.
"This thing can only be used so many times before it's out of charges. I think it's pretty clear that altar right there putting this mist out is the trap, but this thing could come in handy."
Graxx stares intensely at the altar.
"Should I just start throwing Javelins at whatever is on top of the altar? Or do we have some way to blow the mist away to see where it's coming from?" asks Graxx.
Neya takes a cursory look around the room from the entrance. She is looking for anything strange around the room that may have cause the swolbolds' deaths.
Utar's arrival and the sight of Spernik's gagged, bound, and blindfolded form hitting the ground were the incentive the explorers needed to start analyzing the misty room more closely. Since Obsben is off in a corner performing a ritual, Utar sees no issue in taking the time to perform one of his own. While the halfling is busy with a valuable pearl and an owl feather, the half-orc chants in a low voice as if praying.
Spernik grunts as loud as he can when being dropped into the mist, and it was not only due to the drop. He seems to be afraid of the mist or the side-room altogether.
Although their companions' efforts are certainly appreciated, Graxx and Neya are not about to wait idly for 10+ minutes. After a moment in thought, the tribesman recalls being gifted a wand of secrets by Doozey and decides to put it to good use. Uttering the magic word taught to him by the stouling, Graxx watches as the wand pulses and guides his hand toward the first of two steps leading up to the misty dais. The wand seems to warn the barbarian about a trap being triggered by pressure being put on most of the area of that first step.
With this new piece of information at hand, Neya takes another look around the room. Surely enough, she spots thin gaps on the wall to either side of the first step. She even notices the glint of a sharp curved blade hiding within the farthest gap. There is a twin scythe blade hiding in the nearest narrow gap as well.
Utar's ritual comes to an end. Nothing apart from the item being carried and worn by the CRAPers lights up in magical auras, at least not in this misty side-room. Obsben's ritual is also completed. She now understand that Spernik's ring shall partially protect its wearer from being harmed by certain sources. The ring's garnet seems to respond specifically to flames.
Half chiding himself at setting Spernik down so roughly, half enjoying paying him back for his elusive answers, Utar turns to Graxx and Neya and let's them know there is nothing magical about the traps within this room. Turning back to Spernik, he asks, "What do you know about the mist in this room, Spernik? Tell me and I'll lift you back out of it."
Kneeling beside Spernik, Utar pulls the gag down to allow Spernik to reply.
"Hm~ Well this will certainly come in handy later."Obsben quietly mused. She slipped on the ring and marveled at it for a few seconds, before starting in on one of the books. She paused just prior to touching one, brows furrowing at a new thought.
"No, no, no. That won't do."She murmured as she ultimately grasped the book only to start packing both it and the rest of them away among the rest of her travel gear. "There'll be plenty of time later."Just as soon as everything was neatly tucked away(or as neat as could be), the halfling broke out her journal meaning to spend at least the next few minutes jotting down notes of the group's finding so far, as well as a rough sketch of the layout.
If after all that the group still hadn't finished things in the misty room, only then would she make an appearance at the entryway to ask, "Any luck so far?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Once un-gagged, Spernik has a little fit of a response to share with Utar: "I already told you I know nothing about these trapped alcoves. My kobolds went in and many did not return. Who knows if it was the mist in this particular side-room. Why wouldn't I be afraid of it?!"
By then, Graxx already knows that the mist is not the problem, and Utar's ritual helped support that thought too. Skipping the trapped step, Graxx reaches the dais an looks into the bowl. The mist pours from it as if the bowl itself was producing it. Whatever the bowl holds is completely masked by the mist. His eyes alone will not be able to discern what that may be. Reminding himself that the wand did not point directly to the bowl, Graxx reaches inside and touches something cold... something really cold. As soon as he removes a white-tinted quarter-key from inside, the mist subsides. It no longer pours from within the bowl and, slowly, the mist already within the small room begins to dissipate. The white key looks very similar to the black and green ones the group pilfered from Spernik.
Wearing a new ring, Obsben has to convince herself that this might not be the best time for leisurely reading. She instead busies herself with note-taking and map-sketching. The efforts remind her that the group passed by two other doors on their way to this circular chamber which, in turn, also contains three other alcoves and the red double doors Spernik was trying to open.
(OOC Advantage rolls as per chat. Persuasion - 15. Insight - 28 (11).)
Graxx will leave the terrified thief and approach Neya quietly while Utar continues his questioning.
"What are you thinking here, Neya?" says Graxx.
Graxx puts his hand to his chin.
"I mean we came all the way here. Might as well see if we can find this thing. Then we can take ol' Spernik back and hand them over."
Graxx shrugs.
"Or chances are, no one else knows where this place is. We could take Spernik back and come back at our leisure so we ain't gotta worry about him pulling a fast one on us."
Graxx looks to Neya for guidance.
Obsben still appeared unconvinced of any dieting at work on the Swolbolds, but couldn't keep from at least giggling a little over Utar's insistence. With her suspicions all but being confirmed soon after, the halfling's eyes pretty much glazed over a little wonderment and idle considerations of the sort of permanency magics the Thayans had to have wrought for such results.
Only the spell at work and arcane discipline kept her from losing touch for too long, before eventually setting her sights again on Spernik to help focus her attention. "Utar here raises some pretty good points. If this whole cult thing is just a phase, I could maybe even reach out to some vewy special, vewy clever, and vewy secretive friends to even protect you once all this blows over. 'cause like..." She trailed off in thought for a second before canting her head slightly to the side.
"Actually... Remind me again why you joined the Cult? Like, do you really like dragons in general that much? Or was there something else that got into this whole... thing. Also, like, uhm, when was the next time you were suppose to reach out to others? Or how for that matter?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
“I must admit, curiosity is getting better of me. We are unlikely to return. Perhaps the secrets of this temple may reveal more than we could imagine. Perhaps, less. The only way to know for certain is to find out what’s beyond that big door.”
Extended Signature
While Graxx and Neya discuss the pros and cons of continuing their exploration presently, Utar and Obsben continue to interrogate CRAP's prisoner. Spernik grimaces at mentions of being turned over to the Black Fist, but it is clear he doesn't like the idea of being confronted by the Lord Sage either. The scribe welcomes the next question, which allows him to not have to think about either possibility for a few precious seconds. "We planned to present it as a gift to a powerful potential ally," he answers in a truthful but still cautions manner. He then looks at Obsben for an intense second or two.
Surface thoughts for @Obby:
"Don't think of the name, don't think of the name, don't think of the name...."
He continues: "The Scale, the relic, might not do what the legends claim it does but it is still a mighty artifact of yore; not necessarily in power, but certainly in significance, though I can't be sure of either before studying it for a prolonged period of time. The right recipient of such a gift would know the weight it carries and be very pleased, and that is the relic's main use in the Cult's perspective: forming alliances. You have surely seen how many alliances they have pursued in recent times. You know I am telling you the truth."
The questioning then turns to the topic of Thayans and kobolds: "These... swolbolds, as you named them, are of little interest to me. I have no understanding of how they were created. I am a scribe, a historian, and yes, a true follower of the Queen of Dragons..." he stares at Obby again, "...but I am no necromancer or negotiator. I know naught of the Thayans' methods or their specific arrangements with the Cult."
@Utar: You are chipping away at Spernik and his knowledge here, but you understand you are not speaking with a leader of the Cult here. Your prisoner has a particular set of skills and knows little beyond the mission he was given. He is more likely to be guarding knowledge about the circle of druids and the relic than any of these other lines of questioning you are seeking.
The mention of a potential secret faction providing him protection seems to resonate with Spernik, and his surface thoughts confirm this as well. Regarding contact with the Cult, his answer to Obby's questions is curt: "Periodic letters. I sent them but never received replies."
-> We are getting into the last couple minutes worth of Utar's spell here.
Utar rolls his eyes as Spernik once again tries his hand at a lie of ommission.
"Who is this 'powerful, potential ally', Spernik? And who exactly were you sending letters to? Names would be nice. If we get you back to Phlan and you are less than forthcoming with our contacts, your subsequent questioning is likely to be more of an interrogation. That doesn't normally go well for the subject."
Pausing and giving Obsben a chance to ask any final questions of her own, Utar takes a knife and fashions two long strips of cloth from this usual attire. Once the power of the spell fades away, he gags and blindfolds Spernik, before attempting to hoist the human onto his shoulders.
"C'mon Obsben, best go find the others."
Athletics - 21 (28)
(OOC Blindfold and gag are made from Utar's normal weather clothing, happy to destroy it in his inventory. Also, do you want another check for his knotwork?)
"It wasn't a complete lie." Obsben spoke up as she's stared at the second, but would fail or simply choose not to elaborate further on her meaning. She also looked almost sad and regretful for a moment. But then, her demeanor slipped back into its usual nonchalance and eeriness.
Feeling her own spell beginning to wane, Obsben at least whispers an apology before delving deeper in hopes of digging up the name Spernik tried to hide from her before. Come what may of the results, she waves off any silent offer to ask more to start studying the ring. "You go on ahead. I sensed some magic from this ring and... I'd like -- need to find out more." She replied, and if left to her own devices, mentally bid Salty Bottom to keep an eye on entrance while she began her ritual from the top of the stairs.
Stealth: 16.
Perception: 4.
(In case it winds up mattering)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx nods to Neya.
"I guess it's settled then. Once the others join us we will set about figuring out these traps and get these keys."
Graxx waits for others to regroup.
DM's Screen:
WIS save {DC 16}: 12
(@MB: Yes, please remove the clothes, common item from your inventory.)
"I'd rather not say," is the only response Utar gets to his latest line of questioning. Frustrated with gathering much information but falling short of hearing a name, Utar gives Obsben a chance to ask her next question. Despite her dismissal of such an opportunity, the halfling still silently delves deeper into Spernik's mind. The scribe screams in fear once again, clearly aware of what is happening based on recent experience.
@Obsben:
"I can't let them know... I can't... They will kill me... I'll die.. If not the Cult, then certainly Scorlworyx herself if we ever find her."
Once the screaming subsides, Utar destroys some of his own clothing to gag and blindfold Spernik. Then, the robust half-orc easily hoists the skinny man over a shoulder. He grunts and complains, but his words can't be discerned. Utar and Spernik join Graxx and Neya in the misty room (described here) and let's them know that Obsben is occupied elsewhere for now.
With SB supposedly keeping watch, but getting distracted easily once again, Obby spends a good amount of time casting a ritual to identify the magical properties of Spernik's ring.
(OOC: Let's see what the others do with these 10 minutes first, before I reveal further info on the ring.)
Entering the misty chamber, Utar waves a quick greetings to Graxx and Neya then sets his new baggage down in a corner. Eyeing the dead swolbolds, he winces, "Spernik said something about this place being trapped, guess they found out."
"Since Obsben is doing this in the next room, let's see if the traps are magical in nature." Setting himself down, he begins on a ritual casting of detect magic.
Graxx looks at the mist and kneels down for a minute.
"What are you hiding?" says Graxx aloud in a hushed tone.
Graxx stands up from his kneeling position.
"If only we had a way to..." Graxx trails off.
"Wait!" Graxx exclaims!
Graxx searches through his bag for an item had he nearly forgotten.
Graxx retrieves the Wand of Secrets.
Graxx holds it but doesn't use it quiet yet.
"This thing can only be used so many times before it's out of charges. I think it's pretty clear that altar right there putting this mist out is the trap, but this thing could come in handy."
Graxx stares intensely at the altar.
"Should I just start throwing Javelins at whatever is on top of the altar? Or do we have some way to blow the mist away to see where it's coming from?" asks Graxx.
Neya takes a cursory look around the room from the entrance. She is looking for anything strange around the room that may have cause the swolbolds' deaths.
Perception: 19
Extended Signature
Utar's arrival and the sight of Spernik's gagged, bound, and blindfolded form hitting the ground were the incentive the explorers needed to start analyzing the misty room more closely. Since Obsben is off in a corner performing a ritual, Utar sees no issue in taking the time to perform one of his own. While the halfling is busy with a valuable pearl and an owl feather, the half-orc chants in a low voice as if praying.
Spernik grunts as loud as he can when being dropped into the mist, and it was not only due to the drop. He seems to be afraid of the mist or the side-room altogether.
Although their companions' efforts are certainly appreciated, Graxx and Neya are not about to wait idly for 10+ minutes. After a moment in thought, the tribesman recalls being gifted a wand of secrets by Doozey and decides to put it to good use. Uttering the magic word taught to him by the stouling, Graxx watches as the wand pulses and guides his hand toward the first of two steps leading up to the misty dais. The wand seems to warn the barbarian about a trap being triggered by pressure being put on most of the area of that first step.
With this new piece of information at hand, Neya takes another look around the room. Surely enough, she spots thin gaps on the wall to either side of the first step. She even notices the glint of a sharp curved blade hiding within the farthest gap. There is a twin scythe blade hiding in the nearest narrow gap as well.
Utar's ritual comes to an end. Nothing apart from the item being carried and worn by the CRAPers lights up in magical auras, at least not in this misty side-room. Obsben's ritual is also completed. She now understand that Spernik's ring shall partially protect its wearer from being harmed by certain sources. The ring's garnet seems to respond specifically to flames.
Half chiding himself at setting Spernik down so roughly, half enjoying paying him back for his elusive answers, Utar turns to Graxx and Neya and let's them know there is nothing magical about the traps within this room. Turning back to Spernik, he asks, "What do you know about the mist in this room, Spernik? Tell me and I'll lift you back out of it."
Kneeling beside Spernik, Utar pulls the gag down to allow Spernik to reply.
Graxx smiles as he thinks fondly of Doozey.
"We can thank Doozey for that one. Watch that step there."
Graxx points with the wand to trapped step.
"I guess the mist isn't the trap at all but instead it was covering the awaiting death." says Graxx.
Graxx takes a deep breath.
"I'll go first..."
Graxx slowly sticks one leg into the mist... Then the other...
Graxx will walk up and step over the first step onto the second step.
Graxx will look at the misty dais now that he is up close.
Perception: 21
"Hm~ Well this will certainly come in handy later." Obsben quietly mused. She slipped on the ring and marveled at it for a few seconds, before starting in on one of the books. She paused just prior to touching one, brows furrowing at a new thought.
"No, no, no. That won't do." She murmured as she ultimately grasped the book only to start packing both it and the rest of them away among the rest of her travel gear. "There'll be plenty of time later." Just as soon as everything was neatly tucked away(or as neat as could be), the halfling broke out her journal meaning to spend at least the next few minutes jotting down notes of the group's finding so far, as well as a rough sketch of the layout.
If after all that the group still hadn't finished things in the misty room, only then would she make an appearance at the entryway to ask, "Any luck so far?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Once un-gagged, Spernik has a little fit of a response to share with Utar: "I already told you I know nothing about these trapped alcoves. My kobolds went in and many did not return. Who knows if it was the mist in this particular side-room. Why wouldn't I be afraid of it?!"
By then, Graxx already knows that the mist is not the problem, and Utar's ritual helped support that thought too. Skipping the trapped step, Graxx reaches the dais an looks into the bowl. The mist pours from it as if the bowl itself was producing it. Whatever the bowl holds is completely masked by the mist. His eyes alone will not be able to discern what that may be. Reminding himself that the wand did not point directly to the bowl, Graxx reaches inside and touches something cold... something really cold. As soon as he removes a white-tinted quarter-key from inside, the mist subsides. It no longer pours from within the bowl and, slowly, the mist already within the small room begins to dissipate. The white key looks very similar to the black and green ones the group pilfered from Spernik.
Wearing a new ring, Obsben has to convince herself that this might not be the best time for leisurely reading. She instead busies herself with note-taking and map-sketching. The efforts remind her that the group passed by two other doors on their way to this circular chamber which, in turn, also contains three other alcoves and the red double doors Spernik was trying to open.
Utar rolls his eyes, he suspects Spernik might be scared of his own shadow some days. Replacing the gag, Utar hoists Spernik back over his shoulder.
"Three keys so far. Which rooms ain't we visited?"
(OOC Utar maintains concentration on his spell.)
Graxx laughs as he holds the key.
"Well that was easy enough!"
Graxx takes a carefully steps over the trapped step and rejoins the group.
"Yes, plenty of luck Obsben! We have retrieved a key with no lives or limbs lost." says Graxx.
Graxx looks toward to North Western path leading of the circular room.
"Have we been that way yet? If not, let's try that." says Graxx.