Readying sources of illumination the companions made their way up the tumbled pile of stone doing their best to avoid the black stained patches of rock and the liquid running down them.
Once above they were able to see that they were in a hand hewn chamber chipped out of the stone, most surfaces are buried under a layer of dust. Away from the fallen section the chamber stretches off into the darkness a rivulet of black liquid trickles along a groove in the floor coming from somewhere off in the darkness.
A steady dripping sound comes from somewhere out in the dark....
Lokilia, Dev, Quinn and Normont-
With your specialised vision you can see the long chamber extends another 45' into the mountain, there is a metal and stone obelisk some 40' in which seems to shift and shudder at times, beyond it a set of stairs leads up within an alcove. There is a pile of items next to the alcove.
"Sorry all, but I can't see my hand in front of my face here." As Magnus reaches up to touch the crystal around his neck and casts light. "At least this way I can see and if I need to I can put wrap it up and put it in a pocket to hide the light."
Dev picks his way up along the tumbled pile of stone, more or less staying in Quinn’s shadow and peeking around the genasi’s weapon arm.
”What is that?,” his eerie voice floats softly across the chamber as he points at the obelisk before his glance falls on the pile of items next to the alcove, at which he peers warily.
"The obelisk is odd," Lokilia responds to Dev's question. She presses forward with Normont, wondering what this might be. While wary of the shifting object, she is curious to see what is here and where this might go. "A man-made chamber. But why would they have made this? Well, whoever 'they' might be. But that... creature we killed was in here, so there must be another way out ahead somewhere. Or there was at some point."
As the group moved up they could eventually see that the obelisk was a frame of basalt holding an adamantine ring some 6' in diameter. Within the ring was a scintillating blue field that occasionally sputtered letting a small amount of black liquid spill out from the base and drip onto the stone, when the field sputtered the companions could see through the ring into a vast chamber composed of raw bleeding flesh, within the chamber a great form, some three storys high, lay against a bone and sinew altar with a black metal barbed spike some 50' long transfixing it in place.
The form was still and its tendrils and too many limbs were slumped against the floor of the chamber, a floor composed of teeth and cartilage....from it a black liquid slowly seeped and pooled upon the floor, trickling into the portal whenever it sputtered open for a fraction of a second.
Beyond the portal near the alcove lay a flattened backpack and a badly bent rifle along with a small number of tentacle tips, clawed appendages and other parts.....all were neatly severed and cauterised and seem to have been gathered together for study judging by the quill, ink and parchment scattered nearby.
Normont can't hide his revulsion at the sight through the portal, moving closer to determine if he can find a mechanism to shut it down. He then moves across to the look through the parchments to see if they hold any further clue.
Normont can't hide his revulsion at the sight through the portal, moving closer to determine if he can find a mechanism to shut it down. He then moves across to the look through the parchments to see if they hold any further clue.
(OOC: @DM - Nice description, and ew! What does Detect Magic reveal?)
There appears to be residue around the bottom part of the ring from where the liquid has flowed out, getting closer to the ring Normont notes that there is a small scratch mark through one of hundreds of inlaid electrum glyphs surrounding the inner surface of the ring.
The parchments are mostly blank with a few very basic descriptions of the biological specimens but little more. There is also a small sealed jar holding what looks like dry residue of the black liquid and beside it a small dagger with the same on the edge of its blade.
Magically, the ring hums with power, there is a faint magical essence to the black liquid wherever it lies and a small reading from within the squashed backpack.
At the moment when Normont senses the magical reading from within the backpack, Dev is opening and peeking inside it. The tiefling seems either not to have noticed the gory scene visible through the ring, or else is utterly unfazed by its violence. His expression is one of industrious curiosity and he is entranced both by the strange objects in the room and, in equal measure, Normont’s investigation of them.
Normont is only half aware of Dev checking the backpack, having gone through what is there and finding of most interest the small scratch on one of the inlaid electrum glyphs. Taking a closer look, he tries to determine whether fixing the glyph would close the portal or at least the goo leaking from the portal, or open the portal permanently allowing more goo and who knows what else out.
As part of this, he wants to know if he can safely touch the glyph in order to mend it.
Lokilia catches a glimpse of the image through the portal. She wonders what exactly they are seeing. But she really doesn't want to think about it.
She joins Normont in looking the scratched glyph. She too tries to understand what effect the scratch might have. "Not sure if I'll be any help. But maybe I'll recall something."
At the moment when Normont senses the magical reading from within the backpack, Dev is opening and peeking inside it. The tiefling seems either not to have noticed the gory scene visible through the ring, or else is utterly unfazed by its violence. His expression is one of industrious curiosity and he is entranced both by the strange objects in the room and, in equal measure, Normont’s investigation of them.
Normont is only half aware of Dev checking the backpack, having gone through what is there and finding of most interest the small scratch on one of the inlaid electrum glyphs. Taking a closer look, he tries to determine whether fixing the glyph would close the portal or at least the goo leaking from the portal, or open the portal permanently allowing more goo and who knows what else out.
As part of this, he wants to know if he can safely touch the glyph in order to mend it.
Lokilia catches a glimpse of the image through the portal. She wonders what exactly they are seeing. But she really doesn't want to think about it.
She joins Normont in looking the scratched glyph. She too tries to understand what effect the scratch might have. "Not sure if I'll be any help. But maybe I'll recall something."
(Arcana: 17)
......but Lokilia is able to conjecture that mending the glyph will seal the gate.....she's also fairly sure that it will remain secure unless someone commands it to open....though she's not exactly sure what that would entail.
Dev sniffs appreciatively at the apples. No stranger to dumpster diving, a squashed apple is really what he refers to when he says "apple," since those at the bottom of the barrel that no one else would buy were his source of nourishment throughout his childhood. He crinkles his nose at the cheese, but nevertheless stuffs it, with the apples, into his own backpack.
'What's in here,' he wonders, pulling out the metal flask. He'll Help anyone else Investigate it, swishing it around a bit, checking for a label or markings on its exterior, and in every way trying to draw inspiration from Normont's thorough methods.
Magnus will approach the obelisk and start to study it and see if he can determine just where it leads and what that thing is that they are all seeing. As he hears Normont and Lokilia talk about repairing the glyph he reaches into his backpack and hands over his ink and ink pen to them so they can attempt to repair it.
"I'm pretty sure fixing the glyph will close the gate," Lokilia notes. "We do want to close it, right? Keep the black stuff from coming in?" She examines the ink and pen that Magnus offers. (Does she have an idea if the ink would work? Or does the scratch need to be repaired?) "Hmm, would ink work? I was thinking maybe Normont could fix it with his magic."
Normont nods along as Lokilia speaks, “I was hoping that would be the case. If you are sure, I think it is worth trying. And I agree that ink is unlikely to have the right effect”.
Unless Magnus or Lokilia determine it’s not the best idea, he calls Amber to help him fix the scratched glyph, so she touches it not him.
Readying sources of illumination the companions made their way up the tumbled pile of stone doing their best to avoid the black stained patches of rock and the liquid running down them.
Once above they were able to see that they were in a hand hewn chamber chipped out of the stone, most surfaces are buried under a layer of dust. Away from the fallen section the chamber stretches off into the darkness a rivulet of black liquid trickles along a groove in the floor coming from somewhere off in the darkness.
A steady dripping sound comes from somewhere out in the dark....
Lokilia, Dev, Quinn and Normont-
With your specialised vision you can see the long chamber extends another 45' into the mountain, there is a metal and stone obelisk some 40' in which seems to shift and shudder at times, beyond it a set of stairs leads up within an alcove. There is a pile of items next to the alcove.
Normont moves slowly forward so that the obelisk and the pile of items are within the range of his capability to see magical auras.
"Whatever this place is, it is not a natural cave. We should be careful, that obelisk concerns me", he says.
(OOC: Is it just Dark Vision you are referring to @dm? I think all but Magnus have that)
( Right you are.....I just realised none of my Genasi characters have ever used theirs........)
"Sorry all, but I can't see my hand in front of my face here." As Magnus reaches up to touch the crystal around his neck and casts light. "At least this way I can see and if I need to I can put wrap it up and put it in a pocket to hide the light."
Dev picks his way up along the tumbled pile of stone, more or less staying in Quinn’s shadow and peeking around the genasi’s weapon arm.
”What is that?,” his eerie voice floats softly across the chamber as he points at the obelisk before his glance falls on the pile of items next to the alcove, at which he peers warily.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"The obelisk is odd," Lokilia responds to Dev's question. She presses forward with Normont, wondering what this might be. While wary of the shifting object, she is curious to see what is here and where this might go. "A man-made chamber. But why would they have made this? Well, whoever 'they' might be. But that... creature we killed was in here, so there must be another way out ahead somewhere. Or there was at some point."
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
“Maybe those stairs lead outside?,” Dev offers.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"It does make sense that the Grey Hunter used another entrance, and then got trapped perhaps", Normont says, agreeing with Lokilia and Dev.
As the group moved up they could eventually see that the obelisk was a frame of basalt holding an adamantine ring some 6' in diameter. Within the ring was a scintillating blue field that occasionally sputtered letting a small amount of black liquid spill out from the base and drip onto the stone, when the field sputtered the companions could see through the ring into a vast chamber composed of raw bleeding flesh, within the chamber a great form, some three storys high, lay against a bone and sinew altar with a black metal barbed spike some 50' long transfixing it in place.
The form was still and its tendrils and too many limbs were slumped against the floor of the chamber, a floor composed of teeth and cartilage....from it a black liquid slowly seeped and pooled upon the floor, trickling into the portal whenever it sputtered open for a fraction of a second.
Beyond the portal near the alcove lay a flattened backpack and a badly bent rifle along with a small number of tentacle tips, clawed appendages and other parts.....all were neatly severed and cauterised and seem to have been gathered together for study judging by the quill, ink and parchment scattered nearby.
Normont can't hide his revulsion at the sight through the portal, moving closer to determine if he can find a mechanism to shut it down. He then moves across to the look through the parchments to see if they hold any further clue.
Investigation (with Guidance): 19+5+2=26
(OOC: @DM - Nice description, and ew! What does Detect Magic reveal?)
There appears to be residue around the bottom part of the ring from where the liquid has flowed out, getting closer to the ring Normont notes that there is a small scratch mark through one of hundreds of inlaid electrum glyphs surrounding the inner surface of the ring.
The parchments are mostly blank with a few very basic descriptions of the biological specimens but little more. There is also a small sealed jar holding what looks like dry residue of the black liquid and beside it a small dagger with the same on the edge of its blade.
Magically, the ring hums with power, there is a faint magical essence to the black liquid wherever it lies and a small reading from within the squashed backpack.
At the moment when Normont senses the magical reading from within the backpack, Dev is opening and peeking inside it. The tiefling seems either not to have noticed the gory scene visible through the ring, or else is utterly unfazed by its violence. His expression is one of industrious curiosity and he is entranced both by the strange objects in the room and, in equal measure, Normont’s investigation of them.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Normont is only half aware of Dev checking the backpack, having gone through what is there and finding of most interest the small scratch on one of the inlaid electrum glyphs. Taking a closer look, he tries to determine whether fixing the glyph would close the portal or at least the goo leaking from the portal, or open the portal permanently allowing more goo and who knows what else out.
As part of this, he wants to know if he can safely touch the glyph in order to mend it.
Arcana (with Guidance): 5+5+1=11
Lokilia catches a glimpse of the image through the portal. She wonders what exactly they are seeing. But she really doesn't want to think about it.
She joins Normont in looking the scratched glyph. She too tries to understand what effect the scratch might have. "Not sure if I'll be any help. But maybe I'll recall something."
(Arcana: 17)
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
Within the backpack are:-
- a very squashed wheel of brie.
- 3 equally squashed apples
- thick socks and underwear
- a metal flask.
Normont is uncertain about what will happen.......
......but Lokilia is able to conjecture that mending the glyph will seal the gate.....she's also fairly sure that it will remain secure unless someone commands it to open....though she's not exactly sure what that would entail.
Dev sniffs appreciatively at the apples. No stranger to dumpster diving, a squashed apple is really what he refers to when he says "apple," since those at the bottom of the barrel that no one else would buy were his source of nourishment throughout his childhood. He crinkles his nose at the cheese, but nevertheless stuffs it, with the apples, into his own backpack.
'What's in here,' he wonders, pulling out the metal flask. He'll Help anyone else Investigate it, swishing it around a bit, checking for a label or markings on its exterior, and in every way trying to draw inspiration from Normont's thorough methods.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Arcana: 17
Religion (guidance): 7+2=9
Magnus will approach the obelisk and start to study it and see if he can determine just where it leads and what that thing is that they are all seeing. As he hears Normont and Lokilia talk about repairing the glyph he reaches into his backpack and hands over his ink and ink pen to them so they can attempt to repair it.
"I'm pretty sure fixing the glyph will close the gate," Lokilia notes. "We do want to close it, right? Keep the black stuff from coming in?" She examines the ink and pen that Magnus offers. (Does she have an idea if the ink would work? Or does the scratch need to be repaired?) "Hmm, would ink work? I was thinking maybe Normont could fix it with his magic."
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 nods along as Lokilia speaks, “I was hoping that would be the case. If you are sure, I think it is worth trying. And I agree that ink is unlikely to have the right effect”.
Unless Magnus or Lokilia determine it’s not the best idea, he calls Amber to help him fix the scratched glyph, so she touches it not him.
Amber alights on the ring and after a few moments the blue field returned to a solid robust state, then was gone. The ring was empty and inert.