Kragen agrees with Trolkarl and gives the Mage a polite. “Time for curiosity and study this is not, let’s stay focused on how to move to our objective.”
“Xymox, would you mind investigating the ceiling murals via close inspection? (Walking up and in the ceiling)”
Then turns and assists Trolkarl in his specific investigation (not sure if that provides a bonus or separate role?)
(( Rolled Investigation rolls for Trolkarl 12, 8 and Kragen 18, 1. Because, you know…..investigating. ))
Trolkarl and Kragen examine the statues. They are made of stone with excellent workmanship. Kragen thinks dwarven workmanship. Maybe Duergar by some of the techniques seen. Both seem to be carved directly from the bedrock of the mountain.
Starker looks up from his notes, “Oh, right, … you are no doubt correct. I am ready whenever you are. Shall we try to open the doors?” Stands up and puts his notes and quills and inkhorn back into his backpack. He leans on Emfer’s Chastisement, his circleted, garnet-eyed mindflayer-skull bedecked quarterstaff, ready to act.
Looks at the corpses on the ground, then back to Starker
When you say we... do you mean some summon or your automaton Sgothmothan? Let's make sure we are far away if that is what you propose. We don't need to consult with the fish about that idea- Not through the doors that tempt with fate - and all of that What about that inscription- are there other interpretations aside from Chadwick's insights? Too bad we can't comprehend languages.
Hmm...does it look like anything else we have come across? What about the script in the Spider's book? It had a bunch of nonsense before the poem although that appeared to be Elvish.
Starker:”Recall the information gleaned from the book “Locating the Tomb”:
“Illiandil's main tomb is located in a pocket, demi-plane of the Abyss. There are strong wards surrounding this demi-plane that prevent direct travel to it without the "key" to attune to the plane.
”We have the key, at least we do if we are correct that the tuning fork is the key. Let me try it. It will be interesting and perhaps educational.”
Kragen agrees with Trolkarl and gives the Mage a polite. “Time for curiosity and study this is not, let’s stay focused on how to move to our objective.”
“Xymox, would you mind investigating the ceiling murals via close inspection? (Walking up and in the ceiling)”
Then turns and assists Trolkarl in his specific investigation (not sure if that provides a bonus or separate role?)
Xymox obliges Kragen and walks up the walls to the ceiling and looks over the murals.
(( I rolled Investigation for Xymox assuming that is what you want. ))
Xymox walks up to the ceiling to examine the carving of demonic birds and other avian creatures. He looks about and determines that the depicted creatures are all pointing to or looking at one wall of the room. It is to the right as you entered. (Marked with blue dot). There is not a specific location on the wall, just all are looking/pointing that way.
Xymox, still weightless and sure-footed as a spider dancing on silk, paces along the ceiling’s carved reliefs, his violet eyes narrowed and intent beneath the hood of his shadow-cloak. The faint glimmer of eldritch vision traces through his gaze as he studies the weathered forms above: grotesque avian monstrosities with hooked talons, twisted wings, and eyes carved with unsettling precision.
He halts mid-step, head cocked. A slow smile creeps across his face—not amusement, but something more serpentine, like a tune finally slipping into key.
Xymox (calling down softly): "My friends... I believe our hosts above are trying to say something."
He kneels, examining the avian forms, then pivots on a boot heel to follow their line of sight. One by one, his eyes track their positions. Each monstrous bird, every demon with feathers or wings, all gaze or gesture subtly in the same direction.
Xymox (continuing): "Every beak, claw, and cursed eye on this ceiling is turned—not toward grandeur or the doors that tempt us so charmingly with doom—but toward one wall. The one to our right as we entered. Over there."
He gestures with a lazy wave of his hand toward the indicated wall, then begins his descent, boots whispering against stone as gravity casually readjusts its expectations.
Xymox (once grounded): "Now, I’ve seen many things carved in shadowed halls—warnings, misdirections, art with too many teeth—but this? This feels deliberate. Hidden, yes, but not coy. The riddle said, 'Wisdom lies beyond the gate, not through the doors that tempt with fate.' Perhaps the ‘gate’ is not the obvious one."
A beat, then he grins.
"Or perhaps the dead simply have a flair for stagecraft. Shall we see what lies behind the curtain?"
He gestures toward the wall, allowing one of the more durable members—Chadwick, perhaps—to approach first, while he unslings his violin in readiness, the soft hum of a minor chord rising, just in case the wall... protests.
Yartol gets more attentive to the right side of the room with Xymox's discovery. He seems to be examining the wall closely as he draws short sword and scimitar.
Starker:”Well spotted, Bard! Perhaps this wall is or conceals a gate. Can one of your instruments play the note that sounded when the tuning fork rang? Or perhaps a octave or harmonic it migh cause a partial reverberation which could give us more information before we use the tuning fork.”
looks carefuly at indicated wall, probing cracks with Cyrus’ scalpel
Xymox steps delicately along the ceiling and down the wall, head tilted like a raven catching wind of secrets.
"Ah, dear Starker, ever the academic alchemist—stirring sound and theory like a bubbling cauldron. I commend your cunning."
He reaches into the folds of his cloak and draws forth his violin, The Twisted Tune, dark wood gleaming like obsidian in torchlight. With a few practiced adjustments, he draws the bow lightly across the strings.
"I shall attempt to replicate the resonance of the tuning fork. Not precisely, mind you—I'm a musician, not a blacksmith—but sometimes, the walls respond better to poetry than precision."
He draws out a single low, haunting note—a hum that trembles at the edges of silence, and then shifts, finding a harmonic one step above, resonating like a distant bell under water. A third note follows—a dissonant echo, vibrating with arcane undertones.
"And now we listen… to see if the stone sings back."
Prepared to swing Darkbane at anything that strolls along alerted by the cacophony of experiments at 131hz or at the first devil he sees if transported to a new plane.
After five minutes passes, Starker again strikes the tuning fork. It emits a low C note. You stand and look about, listening for anything to happen. Nothing perceptible occurs.
Trolkarl will inspect the secret door. If there are no obvious dangers.
Any opposition to trying this one? Kragen, can you Find Traps?
If no opposition and no find traps capability, he will try first with mage handto touch the door, looking for a way to push or pull it.If mage hand doesnt work he will try the old-fashioned muggle way.
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That is an hour. Both spells will expire.
Kragen agrees with Trolkarl and gives the Mage a polite. “Time for curiosity and study this is not, let’s stay focused on how to move to our objective.”
“Xymox, would you mind investigating the ceiling murals via close inspection? (Walking up and in the ceiling)”
Then turns and assists Trolkarl in his specific investigation (not sure if that provides a bonus or separate role?)
(( Rolled Investigation rolls for Trolkarl 12, 8 and Kragen 18, 1. Because, you know…..investigating. ))
Trolkarl and Kragen examine the statues. They are made of stone with excellent workmanship. Kragen thinks dwarven workmanship. Maybe Duergar by some of the techniques seen. Both seem to be carved directly from the bedrock of the mountain.
Starker looks up from his notes, “Oh, right, … you are no doubt correct. I am ready whenever you are. Shall we try to open the doors?” Stands up and puts his notes and quills and inkhorn back into his backpack. He leans on Emfer’s Chastisement, his circleted, garnet-eyed mindflayer-skull bedecked quarterstaff, ready to act.
Looks at the corpses on the ground, then back to Starker
When you say we... do you mean some summon or your automaton Sgothmothan? Let's make sure we are far away if that is what you propose. We don't need to consult with the fish about that idea- Not through the doors that tempt with fate - and all of that
What about that inscription- are there other interpretations aside from Chadwick's insights? Too bad we can't comprehend languages.
Hmm...does it look like anything else we have come across? What about the script in the Spider's book? It had a bunch of nonsense before the poem although that appeared to be Elvish.
Starker:”Recall the information gleaned from the book “Locating the Tomb”:
“Illiandil's main tomb is located in a pocket, demi-plane of the Abyss. There are strong wards surrounding this demi-plane that prevent direct travel to it without the "key" to attune to the plane.
”We have the key, at least we do if we are correct that the tuning fork is the key. Let me try it. It will be interesting and perhaps educational.”
Spells elapsed time = 25 minutes
Xymox obliges Kragen and walks up the walls to the ceiling and looks over the murals.
(( I rolled Investigation for Xymox assuming that is what you want. ))
Xymox walks up to the ceiling to examine the carving of demonic birds and other avian creatures. He looks about and determines that the depicted creatures are all pointing to or looking at one wall of the room. It is to the right as you entered. (Marked with blue dot). There is not a specific location on the wall, just all are looking/pointing that way.
Xymox, still weightless and sure-footed as a spider dancing on silk, paces along the ceiling’s carved reliefs, his violet eyes narrowed and intent beneath the hood of his shadow-cloak. The faint glimmer of eldritch vision traces through his gaze as he studies the weathered forms above: grotesque avian monstrosities with hooked talons, twisted wings, and eyes carved with unsettling precision.
He halts mid-step, head cocked. A slow smile creeps across his face—not amusement, but something more serpentine, like a tune finally slipping into key.
Xymox (calling down softly):
"My friends... I believe our hosts above are trying to say something."
He kneels, examining the avian forms, then pivots on a boot heel to follow their line of sight. One by one, his eyes track their positions. Each monstrous bird, every demon with feathers or wings, all gaze or gesture subtly in the same direction.
Xymox (continuing):
"Every beak, claw, and cursed eye on this ceiling is turned—not toward grandeur or the doors that tempt us so charmingly with doom—but toward one wall. The one to our right as we entered. Over there."
He gestures with a lazy wave of his hand toward the indicated wall, then begins his descent, boots whispering against stone as gravity casually readjusts its expectations.
Xymox (once grounded):
"Now, I’ve seen many things carved in shadowed halls—warnings, misdirections, art with too many teeth—but this? This feels deliberate. Hidden, yes, but not coy. The riddle said, 'Wisdom lies beyond the gate, not through the doors that tempt with fate.' Perhaps the ‘gate’ is not the obvious one."
A beat, then he grins.
"Or perhaps the dead simply have a flair for stagecraft. Shall we see what lies behind the curtain?"
He gestures toward the wall, allowing one of the more durable members—Chadwick, perhaps—to approach first, while he unslings his violin in readiness, the soft hum of a minor chord rising, just in case the wall... protests.
Yartol gets more attentive to the right side of the room with Xymox's discovery. He seems to be examining the wall closely as he draws short sword and scimitar.
Starker:”Well spotted, Bard! Perhaps this wall is or conceals a gate. Can one of your instruments play the note that sounded when the tuning fork rang? Or perhaps a octave or harmonic it migh cause a partial reverberation which could give us more information before we use the tuning fork.”
looks carefuly at indicated wall, probing cracks with Cyrus’ scalpel
investigation = 16
Starker finds the outline of a door well hidden by the stonemasonry expertise of the crafters of this mausoleum.
Xymox steps delicately along the ceiling and down the wall, head tilted like a raven catching wind of secrets.
"Ah, dear Starker, ever the academic alchemist—stirring sound and theory like a bubbling cauldron. I commend your cunning."
He reaches into the folds of his cloak and draws forth his violin, The Twisted Tune, dark wood gleaming like obsidian in torchlight. With a few practiced adjustments, he draws the bow lightly across the strings.
"I shall attempt to replicate the resonance of the tuning fork. Not precisely, mind you—I'm a musician, not a blacksmith—but sometimes, the walls respond better to poetry than precision."
He draws out a single low, haunting note—a hum that trembles at the edges of silence, and then shifts, finding a harmonic one step above, resonating like a distant bell under water. A third note follows—a dissonant echo, vibrating with arcane undertones.
"And now we listen… to see if the stone sings back."
Xymox replicates the note and a harmonic as well. You wait and listen. Your only reward is the silence of the mountain.
30 minutes have elapsed on the spells.
Starker:”Unless someone objects in the next five minutes. I will sound the pitchfork. Protest or prepare!”
Waits 5 minutes. If noone objects, strike the pitchfork on the nearly perrectly hidden door.
Trolkarl will watch Starker silently. No bjection
Prepared to swing Darkbane at anything that strolls along alerted by the cacophony of experiments at 131hz or at the first devil he sees if transported to a new plane.
“Good find Xymox, Starker, let us see where this deception leads and snuff out this evil! Lead on.”
After five minutes passes, Starker again strikes the tuning fork. It emits a low C note. You stand and look about, listening for anything to happen. Nothing perceptible occurs.
35 minutes have elapsed on the spells.
Trolkarl will inspect the secret door. If there are no obvious dangers.
Any opposition to trying this one? Kragen, can you Find Traps?
If no opposition and no find traps capability, he will try first with mage handto touch the door, looking for a way to push or pull it.If mage hand doesnt work he will try the old-fashioned muggle way.