Seeing Khessa hurry over to go through the desk, Katryl shakes her head, mumbling. "Shouldn't we find Horkas first?" She would go to inspect the statue and the area where it had been sitting when the gnome vanished. (Insight: 11)
While so far you all aren't too sure what's going on, the statue itself seems mundane now and of little value. But considering this is the sanctum of a very powerful mage, it is likely there are some high magics going on. You are also pretty sure that most magical traps are rendered inert once they've been set off, so likely whatever happened to Horkas isn't about to happen again. While the situation is a bit befuddling, it seems likely that there may be more answers through the secret door.
Khessa turns her blue eyes to her Genasi friend: "I'm also worried about Horkas - and I certainly don't intend to leave him here - but if we came here, taking no less risks than Horkas did, it's to find the Grimoire... So it seems necessary to find that too. And since we're in this room and the drawers didn't seem empty - even if they are now..."
The blonde arcane warrior is about to investigate the drawers with a different spell, when Lunaria raises the problem of the secret door: "Yes, Lulu, I confirm, we have exactly the spell scroll that is right for us - if the secret door is closed and we can't open it. But I'd like to finish examining these mysterious drawers first... I know a ritual that will reveal whether they are enchanted - and with what spell. Or do we have reason to postpone this examination and dedicate ourselves to the secret door first?"
[[ OOC: @Felow players: OK, I know, the DM hinted that we should go for the secret door - but from Khessa's point of view there is no reason to postpone checking the drawers... As far as she knows, the Grimoire could be there! But if you explain her why it is better to go for the secret door first, no problem, she will agree. ]]
"If it's something as important as that grimoire, lass, I'd think it would be behind the secret door that was guarded by the enchanted statue that tried to kill us," Lulu posits. "Or it may very well be a holding cell where Horkas has been transported to."
((OOC: And if Khessa is referring to Detect Magic, she'd know by now that Lulu can do it innately with her firbolg magic! So she's welcome to ask her to check things out with her special eyes any time lol!))
[[ OOC: No, I had Identify in mind. With that, I can find out what spell exactly has been cast on the drawers - so maybe we can think of a way to circumvent it. Anyway, waiting for the DM to narrate the outcome of Traydark's lucky roll... Then I'll have Khessa reply. (She will probably agree to go for the door first then). ]]
Taking a moment more to assess the room and what has transpired so far, Traydark can reasonably conclude that the statue was animated when the desk was searched and messed with; that Horkas was likely taken by a spell capable of pulling creatures from one place to another, maybe even imprison them, and that if the desk sounds full but appears empty, despite no one seeing anything, even with Truesight, there are magics that can hide things in demiplanes making them all but inaccessible to most people. And while that's a lot of effort to hide things in a desk, the whole room is rather...bare. There is probably another place that houses Gromph's things.
"I'm with you Traydark" Khessa agrees, in light of the new considerations. She tries to open the secret door normally (Is there a handle? Or a grip to pull? Or can it be pushed?).
If the door does not open (or if it is not clear how to open it) the blonde arcane warrior takes the magical scroll of Knock in her hands and carefully pronounces, one after the other, the esoteric high-sounding syllables, forcing the secret door to open.
Lulu sighs as her own reasoning was all but ignored by the wizard. She steps back and taps into her innate spellcasting to enable her eyes to see arcane auras, as well as readying herself to Dispel any foul magics once the door is open.
Lulu sighs as her own reasoning was all but ignored by the wizard. She steps back and taps into her innate spellcasting to enable her eyes to see arcane auras, as well as readying herself to Dispel any foul magics once the door is open.
[[ Sorry, i did not mean to ignore you... Didn't you also suggest using Knock on the door? ]]
Using her growing body of knowledge of the arcane, Khessa is able to search the nearly imperceptible door and a few touches and possibly arcane words, get the door to open, without resorting to a special spell.
Upon open the door though, you are all greeted with a deep, dark void.
Khessa sighs: "Even I, who should be able to penetrate any darkness, see nothing inside. Perhaps we are looking at yet another Demiplane created by Gromph, like in the case of the drawers. Do you want to try sending your familiar in, Traydark? If it is a Demiplane you would lose contact with him, I suppose... and we would know that, probably, we do not have much else to do but follow him in".
"Chase the unicorn until ye can see the moonlight in her eyes," Lulu says, reciting her Goddess' dogma. She steps forward to peer into the infinite darkness, "No time like the present for a leap of faith. And Horkas may no' have time for us to waste." The firbolg looks back over her shoulder, a Fey-ish twinkle in her eyes, before she leaps into the void.
"...But Horkas will have no help if those who care about him mindlessly fall into traps similar to the one he fell into!" Khessa quickly retorts, with sudden concern deep in her blue eyes...
[[ OOC: ...But not fast enough to stop the careless firbolg, I suppose. And if I'm right, what happens? Does Lulu disappear into the void? ]]
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Lulu inspects the secret door, running her fingers along the barely visible seam.
"Didnae we find some sort o' scroll for 'knocking' on doors? This is a door, is it no'?"
Seeing Khessa hurry over to go through the desk, Katryl shakes her head, mumbling. "Shouldn't we find Horkas first?" She would go to inspect the statue and the area where it had been sitting when the gnome vanished. (Insight: 11)
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
While so far you all aren't too sure what's going on, the statue itself seems mundane now and of little value. But considering this is the sanctum of a very powerful mage, it is likely there are some high magics going on. You are also pretty sure that most magical traps are rendered inert once they've been set off, so likely whatever happened to Horkas isn't about to happen again. While the situation is a bit befuddling, it seems likely that there may be more answers through the secret door.
Khessa turns her blue eyes to her Genasi friend: "I'm also worried about Horkas - and I certainly don't intend to leave him here - but if we came here, taking no less risks than Horkas did, it's to find the Grimoire... So it seems necessary to find that too. And since we're in this room and the drawers didn't seem empty - even if they are now..."
The blonde arcane warrior is about to investigate the drawers with a different spell, when Lunaria raises the problem of the secret door: "Yes, Lulu, I confirm, we have exactly the spell scroll that is right for us - if the secret door is closed and we can't open it. But I'd like to finish examining these mysterious drawers first... I know a ritual that will reveal whether they are enchanted - and with what spell. Or do we have reason to postpone this examination and dedicate ourselves to the secret door first?"
[[ OOC: @Felow players: OK, I know, the DM hinted that we should go for the secret door - but from Khessa's point of view there is no reason to postpone checking the drawers... As far as she knows, the Grimoire could be there! But if you explain her why it is better to go for the secret door first, no problem, she will agree. ]]
Traydark Insight: 23
"If it's something as important as that grimoire, lass, I'd think it would be behind the secret door that was guarded by the enchanted statue that tried to kill us," Lulu posits. "Or it may very well be a holding cell where Horkas has been transported to."
((OOC: And if Khessa is referring to Detect Magic, she'd know by now that Lulu can do it innately with her firbolg magic! So she's welcome to ask her to check things out with her special eyes any time lol!))
[[ OOC: No, I had Identify in mind. With that, I can find out what spell exactly has been cast on the drawers - so maybe we can think of a way to circumvent it. Anyway, waiting for the DM to narrate the outcome of Traydark's lucky roll... Then I'll have Khessa reply. (She will probably agree to go for the door first then). ]]
Taking a moment more to assess the room and what has transpired so far, Traydark can reasonably conclude that the statue was animated when the desk was searched and messed with; that Horkas was likely taken by a spell capable of pulling creatures from one place to another, maybe even imprison them, and that if the desk sounds full but appears empty, despite no one seeing anything, even with Truesight, there are magics that can hide things in demiplanes making them all but inaccessible to most people. And while that's a lot of effort to hide things in a desk, the whole room is rather...bare. There is probably another place that houses Gromph's things.
The noble drow shares his insights with the others. "Let us use the scroll to open the door." He says firmly.
"I'm with you Traydark" Khessa agrees, in light of the new considerations. She tries to open the secret door normally (Is there a handle? Or a grip to pull? Or can it be pushed?).
If the door does not open (or if it is not clear how to open it) the blonde arcane warrior takes the magical scroll of Knock in her hands and carefully pronounces, one after the other, the esoteric high-sounding syllables, forcing the secret door to open.
Lulu sighs as her own reasoning was all but ignored by the wizard. She steps back and taps into her innate spellcasting to enable her eyes to see arcane auras, as well as readying herself to Dispel any foul magics once the door is open.
(Khessa feel free to make another Arcana check on the door)
Khessa's Arcana: 14
[[ Sorry, i did not mean to ignore you... Didn't you also suggest using Knock on the door? ]]
Using her growing body of knowledge of the arcane, Khessa is able to search the nearly imperceptible door and a few touches and possibly arcane words, get the door to open, without resorting to a special spell.
Upon open the door though, you are all greeted with a deep, dark void.
Needless to say, even to Khessa, with her momentary Truesight what lies beyond seems like nothing more than a dark void?
Khessa sees nothing but the deep void staring back at her, waiting.
Khessa sighs: "Even I, who should be able to penetrate any darkness, see nothing inside. Perhaps we are looking at yet another Demiplane created by Gromph, like in the case of the drawers. Do you want to try sending your familiar in, Traydark? If it is a Demiplane you would lose contact with him, I suppose... and we would know that, probably, we do not have much else to do but follow him in".
"Chase the unicorn until ye can see the moonlight in her eyes," Lulu says, reciting her Goddess' dogma. She steps forward to peer into the infinite darkness, "No time like the present for a leap of faith. And Horkas may no' have time for us to waste." The firbolg looks back over her shoulder, a Fey-ish twinkle in her eyes, before she leaps into the void.
"...But Horkas will have no help if those who care about him mindlessly fall into traps similar to the one he fell into!" Khessa quickly retorts, with sudden concern deep in her blue eyes...
[[ OOC: ...But not fast enough to stop the careless firbolg, I suppose. And if I'm right, what happens? Does Lulu disappear into the void? ]]