Normont has one last lingering look at the learning screen, before turning away as everyone is now ready to explore.
"I guess it will be still be here when we leave. Hopefully there will be a bit of time to study it more".
With that, he calls Amber to him and gives her a glowing coin, and asks her to fly in front a short distance. He then equips his shield and draws his pistol, not taking any chances.
Magical Tinkering - The object sheds bright light in a 5-foot radius and dim light for an additional 5 feet
Normont has one last lingering look at the learning screen, before turning away as everyone is now ready to explore.
"I guess it will be still be here when we leave. Hopefully there will be a bit of time to study it more".
With that, he calls Amber to him and gives her a glowing coin, and asks her to fly in front a short distance. He then equips his shield and draws his pistol, not taking any chances.
Magical Tinkering - The object sheds bright light in a 5-foot radius and dim light for an additional 5 feet
The companions descend from the first landing on the metal stairs arriving at the next landing which is almost a mirror of the one above....ealking along the landing and descending again the next landing opens out much wider and is filled with glass display cases containing hundreds of different crystals, tiny traces of blue electricity dance along the crystals, jumping from one to the other.
" Hello, My Friends!" called out a jovial voice from below......after a moment they recognised the voice as Magnus'.
Glancing over they are disconcerted to see a laughing Lokilia standing over Quinns charred corpse illuminated momentarily by a glowing red screen, the screen flickers out and the figures vanish......the companions suddenly hear what sounds like the doors of the door swinging open above....
"Umm, what was that?" Lokilia asks. "Was that Magnus? But, I mean, that couldn't have been me down there." Clearly unnerved from the voices and figures, she tries to collect herself to turn her attention back above them. "Was that the door opening?" (Perception: 8)
Normont is also shocked and puzzled by the sounds and visions.
"It seems the screens are showing images designed to unnerve us. It is curious, I wonder why that is happening", he says, before also hearing the sound of the door opening.
He takes the coin off Amber, and asks her to sneak up and take a look above.
Dev, though much recovered from the previous day, remains sad and silent as he continues to confront the fact of Magnus' demise. But as they begin exploring, he is forced, at least temporarily, out of his dark mood. For what he sees — the crystal screens — is so jarringly interesting that he hardly forms a single thought in the face of the barrage of questions that come to him. Why did they build this tower? Why is the light different from one crystal to the next? Why does the electricity jump between them? How does it do that? And so on.
Thus, when Magnus’ voice calls from below, the teenager has momentarily put aside and forgotten the fact of the mage’s death, and Dev turns from looking at the screens, overjoyed to hear his friend’s voice, an expectant smile cracking his face open wide as he cranes his neck to see him. When it becomes plain that his voice was an illusion, and when the images turn nightmarish, and after Normont offers his theory of ‘Why,’ a very dark and ominous crackle comes into the tiefling’s eyes. Whoever created these illusions has already gone way too far if this is some kind of joke or attempt at intimidation. And they will regret it.
Dev didn’t hear the door close the prior evening – he was already fatigued beyond the capacity to notice it. When the noise comes from behind them, his eyes slide to the others pensively, but his focus returns to the crystal screens. His own electricity crackles around his horns as he considers shattering every one of them to dust…
"Umm, what was that?" Lokilia asks. "Was that Magnus? But, I mean, that couldn't have been me down there." Clearly unnerved from the voices and figures, she tries to collect herself to turn her attention back above them. "Was that the door opening?" (Perception: 8)
Normont is also shocked and puzzled by the sounds and visions.
"It seems the screens are showing images designed to unnerve us. It is curious, I wonder why that is happening", he says, before also hearing the sound of the door opening.
He takes the coin off Amber, and asks her to sneak up and take a look above.
Amber flies up trying to keep to the shadows as much as possible, as she slips up the staircase she perches before the top and peeks over, standing in the entry way are a human woman with a severe expression dressed in thick mauve robes and a heavily armoured figure wielding a silver wand in one hand and an axe in the other. Both have a symbol of three diamonds emblazoned on their chests....they begin heading towards the stairs down.....
As Quinn recovers he fancies he sees a group of Earth Ashari being swallowed by the ground they walk upon.....it is only a display on a screen three floors below but then he sees a figure walk in front of the screen, cloaked and quiet....
Dev, though much recovered from the previous day, remains sad and silent as he continues to confront the fact of Magnus' demise. But as they begin exploring, he is forced, at least temporarily, out of his dark mood. For what he sees — the crystal screens — is so jarringly interesting that he hardly forms a single thought in the face of the barrage of questions that come to him. Why did they build this tower? Why is the light different from one crystal to the next? Why does the electricity jump between them? How does it do that? And so on.
Thus, when Magnus’ voice calls from below, the teenager has momentarily put aside and forgotten the fact of the mage’s death, and Dev turns from looking at the screens, overjoyed to hear his friend’s voice, an expectant smile cracking his face open wide as he cranes his neck to see him. When it becomes plain that his voice was an illusion, and when the images turn nightmarish, and after Normont offers his theory of ‘Why,’ a very dark and ominous crackle comes into the tiefling’s eyes. Whoever created these illusions has already gone way too far if this is some kind of joke or attempt at intimidation. And they will regret it.
Dev didn’t hear the door close the prior evening – he was already fatigued beyond the capacity to notice it. When the noise comes from behind them, his eyes slide to the others pensively, but his focus returns to the crystal screens. His own electricity crackles around his horns as he considers shattering every one of them to dust…
Dev is not in the best of places currently....but he sees nothing more below for the meantime....
Amber returns to Normont and there is a brief exchange between the pair before Normont turns to the others and whispers urgently.
"We have company from outside. Two people, one wearing a robe, the other in heavy armour but carrying a wand as well as an axe. They both wear a symbol of three diamonds. They are coming down the stairs. We should hide".
Dev snaps out of his anger and now a line of worry forms between his brows. “Are they from the Cerberus Assembly? Is that what the three diamonds, um, signifies?,” he whispers to the others as he moves out of sight with them. (History: 6+3=9)
Lokilia also looks about for a place to hide once Normont reveals there are people above. (Perception: 17) 'What does the three diamonds mean,' she wonders. But she's willing to accept Normont's judgement that they should hide.
Amber returns to Normont and there is a brief exchange between the pair before Normont turns to the others and whispers urgently.
"We have company from outside. Two people, one wearing a robe, the other in heavy armour but carrying a wand as well as an axe. They both wear a symbol of three diamonds. They are coming down the stairs. We should hide".
He begins to look for a place to hide.
Investigate: 3+5=8 (Passive: 15)
Normont notes there is nowhere to hide on the first level down and very little cover on the second level......there might be more below?
Dev snaps out of his anger and now a line of worry forms between his brows. “Are they from the Cerberus Assembly? Is that what the three diamonds, um, signifies?,” he whispers to the others as he moves out of sight with them. (History: 6+3=9)
Dev tries to recall what Magnus and his associates said....he thinks there were diamonds mentioned perhaps...
Lokilia also looks about for a place to hide once Normont reveals there are people above. (Perception: 17) 'What does the three diamonds mean,' she wonders. But she's willing to accept Normont's judgement that they should hide.
Like Normont, Lokilia determines they'll need to head down to find a hiding place...
Above the woman spoke, " Ja, I am certain dey are hare. Flugel! Fly down und see who's there. Remain invisible, Bitte." There is an inhuman sound of snickering....
“Wait!,” Dev whispers. He takes his pan pipes in hand and blows a few agitated, airy tones. A cube, five feet square, appears to one side of the ramp, covered in the same kind of screens as they’ve been studying, though the screens are dark. “Get in here, quietly.” The tiefling squats inside. (OOC: minor illusion. The four of them should be able to just fit, I hope.)
Normont stops, and turns back to Dev. Seeing the illusory hiding place he grins at the tiefling, and moves into it. Fortunately he is very small and doesn't take up much space.
"We'll all fit you think?" Lokilia whispers. She quickly moves into position, hoping she doesn't take up much space either. Not completely sure they'll fit, she has a backup plan in case she needs to hide separately. (She is ready to use her Wild Shape feature if necessary.)
(Lokilia wouldn't want to lead. I'm thinking Quinn first. Maybe Normont after, but Lokilia could go 2nd if necessary.)
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
(OOC: Calling it: Quinn, Normont, Lokilia, Dev)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Normont has one last lingering look at the learning screen, before turning away as everyone is now ready to explore.
"I guess it will be still be here when we leave. Hopefully there will be a bit of time to study it more".
With that, he calls Amber to him and gives her a glowing coin, and asks her to fly in front a short distance. He then equips his shield and draws his pistol, not taking any chances.
Magical Tinkering - The object sheds bright light in a 5-foot radius and dim light for an additional 5 feet
The companions descend from the first landing on the metal stairs arriving at the next landing which is almost a mirror of the one above....ealking along the landing and descending again the next landing opens out much wider and is filled with glass display cases containing hundreds of different crystals, tiny traces of blue electricity dance along the crystals, jumping from one to the other.
" Hello, My Friends!" called out a jovial voice from below......after a moment they recognised the voice as Magnus'.
Glancing over they are disconcerted to see a laughing Lokilia standing over Quinns charred corpse illuminated momentarily by a glowing red screen, the screen flickers out and the figures vanish......the companions suddenly hear what sounds like the doors of the door swinging open above....
"Umm, what was that?" Lokilia asks. "Was that Magnus? But, I mean, that couldn't have been me down there." Clearly unnerved from the voices and figures, she tries to collect herself to turn her attention back above them. "Was that the door opening?" (Perception: 8)
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
Normont is also shocked and puzzled by the sounds and visions.
"It seems the screens are showing images designed to unnerve us. It is curious, I wonder why that is happening", he says, before also hearing the sound of the door opening.
He takes the coin off Amber, and asks her to sneak up and take a look above.
Amber Stealth: 17+4=21
Amber Perception: 6+4=10 (Passive: 14)
Quinn shivers at the sight of his own corps.
Dev, though much recovered from the previous day, remains sad and silent as he continues to confront the fact of Magnus' demise. But as they begin exploring, he is forced, at least temporarily, out of his dark mood. For what he sees — the crystal screens — is so jarringly interesting that he hardly forms a single thought in the face of the barrage of questions that come to him. Why did they build this tower? Why is the light different from one crystal to the next? Why does the electricity jump between them? How does it do that? And so on.
Thus, when Magnus’ voice calls from below, the teenager has momentarily put aside and forgotten the fact of the mage’s death, and Dev turns from looking at the screens, overjoyed to hear his friend’s voice, an expectant smile cracking his face open wide as he cranes his neck to see him. When it becomes plain that his voice was an illusion, and when the images turn nightmarish, and after Normont offers his theory of ‘Why,’ a very dark and ominous crackle comes into the tiefling’s eyes. Whoever created these illusions has already gone way too far if this is some kind of joke or attempt at intimidation. And they will regret it.
Dev didn’t hear the door close the prior evening – he was already fatigued beyond the capacity to notice it. When the noise comes from behind them, his eyes slide to the others pensively, but his focus returns to the crystal screens. His own electricity crackles around his horns as he considers shattering every one of them to dust…
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Perception A-12
Perception B-7
Distracted....Lokilia can't hear anything else....
Amber flies up trying to keep to the shadows as much as possible, as she slips up the staircase she perches before the top and peeks over, standing in the entry way are a human woman with a severe expression dressed in thick mauve robes and a heavily armoured figure wielding a silver wand in one hand and an axe in the other. Both have a symbol of three diamonds emblazoned on their chests....they begin heading towards the stairs down.....
As Quinn recovers he fancies he sees a group of Earth Ashari being swallowed by the ground they walk upon.....it is only a display on a screen three floors below but then he sees a figure walk in front of the screen, cloaked and quiet....
Dev is not in the best of places currently....but he sees nothing more below for the meantime....
Lokilia looks at Normont. "So do we go up to see what's happening?" She waits to see what he learns from Amber.
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
Amber returns to Normont and there is a brief exchange between the pair before Normont turns to the others and whispers urgently.
"We have company from outside. Two people, one wearing a robe, the other in heavy armour but carrying a wand as well as an axe. They both wear a symbol of three diamonds. They are coming down the stairs. We should hide".
He begins to look for a place to hide.
Investigate: 3+5=8 (Passive: 15)
Dev snaps out of his anger and now a line of worry forms between his brows. “Are they from the Cerberus Assembly? Is that what the three diamonds, um, signifies?,” he whispers to the others as he moves out of sight with them. (History: 6+3=9)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Quinn prepares for an attack.
Lokilia also looks about for a place to hide once Normont reveals there are people above. (Perception: 17) 'What does the three diamonds mean,' she wonders. But she's willing to accept Normont's judgement that they should hide.
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
Normont notes there is nowhere to hide on the first level down and very little cover on the second level......there might be more below?
Dev tries to recall what Magnus and his associates said....he thinks there were diamonds mentioned perhaps...
Like Normont, Lokilia determines they'll need to head down to find a hiding place...
Above the woman spoke, " Ja, I am certain dey are hare. Flugel! Fly down und see who's there. Remain invisible, Bitte." There is an inhuman sound of snickering....
Normont also thinks back to what Magnus said of the Cerberus assembly, and also if he had read or seen anything that included their symbol.
He is disturbed then by the voice of the lady.
"We need to move down, and quietly", he whispers, following his own direction, Amber perched back on his shoulder for now.
History: 7+3=10
Stealth: 12+2=14
“Wait!,” Dev whispers. He takes his pan pipes in hand and blows a few agitated, airy tones. A cube, five feet square, appears to one side of the ramp, covered in the same kind of screens as they’ve been studying, though the screens are dark.
“Get in here, quietly.” The tiefling squats inside. (OOC: minor illusion. The four of them should be able to just fit, I hope.)
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Normont stops, and turns back to Dev. Seeing the illusory hiding place he grins at the tiefling, and moves into it. Fortunately he is very small and doesn't take up much space.
"We'll all fit you think?" Lokilia whispers. She quickly moves into position, hoping she doesn't take up much space either. Not completely sure they'll fit, she has a backup plan in case she needs to hide separately. (She is ready to use her Wild Shape feature if necessary.)
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