"No!" Chadwick yells and grabs Starker by his backpack. "I know you like being in the thick of it, but this whole thing screams traps and danger. Let's take a second to check for traps, bad magic, evil soul eating spirits, and or that furniture that tries to eat you."
Chadwick grins at Starker and says "I'll help you investigate." He says knowing what Starker thinks of him "helping".
"Trolkarl, maybe our Fey friend could bring the book to Starker?
You see Kragen is visibly uneasy being in this place, hammer in hand and shield in defensive position. Moves to support Chadwick as he moves towards the altar.
grimacing "Fell acts have happened here, let us investigate quickly." seeing Starker curiousity get the best of him "Starker, don't touch that Tomb, use your head fool Mage! This place reeks of evil. I assume you want to be Alive to continue to conduct your experiments!"
"Yartol, Trolkarl, stay in range otherwise you'll lose Tyr's blessing."
Moves for a closer examination of the Altar and the back wall and pedastals.
Xymox steps slightly closer, eyes narrowed. "A living book. Lovely. I once watched a scroll of demonic genealogy strangle its owner in a private library in Menzoberranzan. This seems friendlier… though perhaps just as deadly. Do not let it yawn."
"Tomes that breathe, chalices of ritual, and silver boxes. Either this is a well-staged performance, or we're interrupting a god’s bedtime routine."
Xymox searches his Bardic lore for any mention of a breathing tome. (History check: = 9)
Whisper to Trolkarl: "If Starker goes blank-eyed and starts chanting in Abyssal, knock him out before he starts levitating."
Chadwick reacts to Starker's eagerness vocally and physically. You see the floor beneath him become more active and more intense with ropey flames centered upon his feet. (Think like putting your finger on a plasma lamp)
Kragen's examination of the altar, skull carving and skull pedestals convince him that this was a place of ritual sacrifice to the deity Bhaal, god of violence and ritual killing. The dragon statues are symbolic for judgement or guidance through the Veil of Death. The inscription in gold is in some language unknown to you. Possibly Infernal or Abyssal.
Xymox is not able to recall anything specific about a tome fitting the description of the one on the altar.
Observing Chadwick's interaction with Starker, Trolkarl is lost in thought, taking a few extra moments before responding. Measured and deliberate when he was always so impulsive. A knight now. The land, lady Arin- he might be thinking of a future beyond the Company. First Erbert, then Gnuman, and Hoid. Now he carries reason rather than running through the damn webs... is he next.
Shakes his head.
A sound plan, SIR Chadwick. Caution suits you. Happy to have my charming guest keep Starker out of peril. Though mage hand may be a safer approach still.And perhaps Kragen is right, perhaps we just look and don't touch anything.
And next time we’re in a proper market, someone remind me—scroll of Comprehend Languages. I’m tired of guessing what the sort of cautions and directions we are ignoring
The book's pages are covered in text, diagrams, margin notes and other figures that appear to be arcane in nature. All of the writings are in languages you do not recognize or read. There are several languages used it seems. You also perceive that the writings are by different authors as the styles of writing are different.
Starker investigates the tome’s arcane diagrams and figures, using Mage Hand to steady or turn the pages as necessary. Perhaps they convey information that can be discerned even by those who do kot recgnize the language(s) of the writing
Draconic is one of the languages you recognize in the book. From the snippets you can read you gather the book discusses the nature of the planes of the multiverse and the boundaries between them.
Its brittle pages are vellum-like and inked with a strange silvery-black script that glimmers faintly when viewed at an angle. Margins are crammed with footnotes in other, older hands, and diagrams range from anatomical renderings of extraplanar beings to meticulous geometric patterns of spell circles and planar alignments.
Starker:”If we want to take the time I can invoke the rituals to detect and identify magic. However, by the time I am done many of the spells we cast earlier will expire. Or we can put these things in our backpacks for future study.
“Shall I start the rituals, stash the items, or strike the pitchfork.”
Please humor me a moment before our inevitable dogmatic exchange on the merits of destroying the items with Tyr’s might or taking them back to lab for research.
Our business here is to put an end to his influence and threat to the realms- in this place and any other plane. I have been inclined to use the fork at every opportunity to find and destroy the lich. But is there any more we should consider in our approach to business here?
Why were all the others looking for this place? The bodies in the last room? The author of locating the tomb- did he have a fixation on the staff of power as much as extra Cs? Iarno? Craddock and the Spider? What business were they seeking at this place? Is it all for plunder?
Starker strikes the tuning fork on the altar. The flames in the floor become more concentrated and intense where he stands. Those under Chadwick have now dissipated. No other effect is seen. (no other intonations of the tuning fork performed yet)
“I think the floor might shatter or become immaterial. Wouldn’t that be interesting?! Perhaps if we moved back into the hallway and then I used Mage Hand to stike the tuning fork on this floor and hold its stem to the floor of this room? I will pause a moment in case any of you care to join me.”
moves to entrance
waits to let others prepare/move, then nage hands the pitchfork, banging it on floor of plasma-globe-y-ness and then holding stem on same
if that doesn’t work, then tries pitchfork on giant skull thing on western wall after investigating
(investigation roll in case floor thing doesn’t work 27)
Starker experiments with the tuning fork. Striking it on the floor and then holding it to the floor has no discernible effect. He does notice that the flames writhing through the floor do not concentrate upon his location or the tuning fork's location at the hallway entrance.
Striking the tuning fork on the wall skull has no discernible effect. Also, no concentration of flames under his feet.
No one other than Starker and Chadwick have had the flames concentrate under their feet.
Starker strikes the tuning fork on the book. No effect other than the ropy flames in the floor concentrating at his feet occurs. He then strikes the tuning fork upon the silver chalice. A rope of flame then erupts from the floor and snakes out at Starker, DC 14 DEX save = 13, fail. Starker is enwrapped by the flaming tendril and suffers 24 Fire damage. The rope of flame remains lashing about beside the altar.
"No!" Chadwick yells and grabs Starker by his backpack. "I know you like being in the thick of it, but this whole thing screams traps and danger. Let's take a second to check for traps, bad magic, evil soul eating spirits, and or that furniture that tries to eat you."
Chadwick grins at Starker and says "I'll help you investigate." He says knowing what Starker thinks of him "helping".
"Trolkarl, maybe our Fey friend could bring the book to Starker?
You see Kragen is visibly uneasy being in this place, hammer in hand and shield in defensive position. Moves to support Chadwick as he moves towards the altar.
grimacing "Fell acts have happened here, let us investigate quickly." seeing Starker curiousity get the best of him "Starker, don't touch that Tomb, use your head fool Mage! This place reeks of evil. I assume you want to be Alive to continue to conduct your experiments!"
"Yartol, Trolkarl, stay in range otherwise you'll lose Tyr's blessing."
Moves for a closer examination of the Altar and the back wall and pedastals.
Investigation = 20 nat
Xymox steps slightly closer, eyes narrowed.
"A living book. Lovely. I once watched a scroll of demonic genealogy strangle its owner in a private library in Menzoberranzan. This seems friendlier… though perhaps just as deadly. Do not let it yawn."
"Tomes that breathe, chalices of ritual, and silver boxes. Either this is a well-staged performance, or we're interrupting a god’s bedtime routine."
Xymox searches his Bardic lore for any mention of a breathing tome. (History check: = 9)
Whisper to Trolkarl: "If Starker goes blank-eyed and starts chanting in Abyssal, knock him out before he starts levitating."
Chadwick reacts to Starker's eagerness vocally and physically. You see the floor beneath him become more active and more intense with ropey flames centered upon his feet. (Think like putting your finger on a plasma lamp)
Kragen's examination of the altar, skull carving and skull pedestals convince him that this was a place of ritual sacrifice to the deity Bhaal, god of violence and ritual killing. The dragon statues are symbolic for judgement or guidance through the Veil of Death. The inscription in gold is in some language unknown to you. Possibly Infernal or Abyssal.
Xymox is not able to recall anything specific about a tome fitting the description of the one on the altar.
Observing Chadwick's interaction with Starker, Trolkarl is lost in thought, taking a few extra moments before responding.
Measured and deliberate when he was always so impulsive. A knight now. The land, lady Arin- he might be thinking of a future beyond the Company. First Erbert, then Gnuman, and Hoid. Now he carries reason rather than running through the damn webs... is he next.
Shakes his head.
A sound plan, SIR Chadwick. Caution suits you. Happy to have my charming guest keep Starker out of peril.
Though mage hand may be a safer approach still.And perhaps Kragen is right, perhaps we just look and don't touch anything.
And next time we’re in a proper market, someone remind me—scroll of Comprehend Languages. I’m tired of guessing what the sort of cautions and directions we are ignoring
Starker:”Perhaps this is the room where the pitchfork’s pitch will pitch is into another dimension! Shall I give it a go?”
Are we able to read anything on the tome?
The book's pages are covered in text, diagrams, margin notes and other figures that appear to be arcane in nature. All of the writings are in languages you do not recognize or read. There are several languages used it seems. You also perceive that the writings are by different authors as the styles of writing are different.
Starker investigates the tome’s arcane diagrams and figures, using Mage Hand to steady or turn the pages as necessary. Perhaps they convey information that can be discerned even by those who do kot recgnize the language(s) of the writing
investigation=25
arcana=26
Draconic is one of the languages you recognize in the book. From the snippets you can read you gather the book discusses the nature of the planes of the multiverse and the boundaries between them.
Its brittle pages are vellum-like and inked with a strange silvery-black script that glimmers faintly when viewed at an angle. Margins are crammed with footnotes in other, older hands, and diagrams range from anatomical renderings of extraplanar beings to meticulous geometric patterns of spell circles and planar alignments.
Starker:”If we want to take the time I can invoke the rituals to detect and identify magic. However, by the time I am done many of the spells we cast earlier will expire. Or we can put these things in our backpacks for future study.
“Shall I start the rituals, stash the items, or strike the pitchfork.”
Please humor me a moment before our inevitable dogmatic exchange on the merits of destroying the items with Tyr’s might or taking them back to lab for research.
Our business here is to put an end to his influence and threat to the realms- in this place and any other plane. I have been inclined to use the fork at every opportunity to find and destroy the lich. But is there any more we should consider in our approach to business here?
Why were all the others looking for this place? The bodies in the last room? The author of locating the tomb- did he have a fixation on the staff of power as much as extra Cs? Iarno? Craddock and the Spider? What business were they seeking at this place? Is it all for plunder?
Starker:”I believe several necromancers have been looking to find the tomb in order to retrieve powerful artifacts such as the staff.
”Ready yourselves in case this should open a doorway to another plane. Unless someone objects I will sound the pitchfork in 2 minutes’ time.”
if noone objects in two minutes, strike pitchfork on altar, book, silver box …
Starker strikes the tuning fork on the altar. The flames in the floor become more concentrated and intense where he stands. Those under Chadwick have now dissipated. No other effect is seen. (no other intonations of the tuning fork performed yet)
The Bless has now expired.
Other spells durations updated on Owlbear.
“I think the floor might shatter or become immaterial. Wouldn’t that be interesting?! Perhaps if we moved back into the hallway and then I used Mage Hand to stike the tuning fork on this floor and hold its stem to the floor of this room? I will pause a moment in case any of you care to join me.”
moves to entrance
waits to let others prepare/move, then nage hands the pitchfork, banging it on floor of plasma-globe-y-ness and then holding stem on same
if that doesn’t work, then tries pitchfork on giant skull thing on western wall after investigating
(investigation roll in case floor thing doesn’t work 27)
Chadwick looks around to see if any of the other spell casters have the flames around them.
Starker experiments with the tuning fork. Striking it on the floor and then holding it to the floor has no discernible effect. He does notice that the flames writhing through the floor do not concentrate upon his location or the tuning fork's location at the hallway entrance.
Striking the tuning fork on the wall skull has no discernible effect. Also, no concentration of flames under his feet.
No one other than Starker and Chadwick have had the flames concentrate under their feet.
Spell durations updated.
Starker goes back to the altar and starts pitchforking all over it and the things on it
Starker strikes the tuning fork on the book. No effect other than the ropy flames in the floor concentrating at his feet occurs. He then strikes the tuning fork upon the silver chalice. A rope of flame then erupts from the floor and snakes out at Starker, DC 14 DEX save = 13, fail. Starker is enwrapped by the flaming tendril and suffers 24 Fire damage. The rope of flame remains lashing about beside the altar.
Starker:”ouch. Curious! OUCH!”
backs away quickly towards the door, patting out flames. Reflects on what just occured and on the context overall. Tries to grok an arcane gestalt.
arcana roll = 21