Theldrin keeps towards the middle of the group, following Coriana's lead as the party enters the tannery. He studies the surroundings as they approach the humanoid and glowing wand stain.
Khessa remains at Coriana's side, with the confident air of a bodyguard to a legitimate guest. The idea of trying the password right away seems a good one... but if the correct procedure for passing without a fight is different, she intends to be on the front lines, ready to face any potential attack.
The figure starts at Coriana's announcement, standing straight up. You see a sickly and pockmarked drow with hair springing out at all angles and a crazed look in his eye. He yells, "I am Numa, a prophet! I see what will be, and I see the end of existence!" He then walks over to the corner, seemingly addressing the wall, "See there? It punches up from the deep core to the sunburned surface, rising higher and higher, until it is lost in the white mists that shroud the top of the world!"
"This is really a serious matter!" Khessa pretends to be concerned "We will notify the house. You go out, quickly, warn the people on the street, warn the citizens... what are you waiting for? A prophet must prophetize, nott stay hidden!"
The drow doesn't seem to hear you at first, wanting to finish his conversation with the wall, "What is it? Not alive, not quite. It is a glyph-scribed obelisk wrapped in eternal storm, hollowed and inhabited by slimy creatures whose hunger can never be sated! It is the City that heralds the end! A city primeval regurgitated by the earth! Vast creatures of the deeps wing about it, and tentacles slither within." He then turns around and speaks directly to Khessa with a deadpan look, "I wish the bugs in my hair would comb it!" Numa then waddles out of the Old Tannery, the sound of his prophesies becoming quieter as he get's further away.
You are now alone in the Old Tannery. The passphrase does not seem to have any effect on the stain on the wall.
Khessa maintains a certain distance from the prophet—she usually styles her long, wavy blonde hair herself and doesn't want to risk some of the prophet's unresponsive bugs transferring to her.
The blonde arcane warrior briefly notes the 'prophecy' in her Spellbook, certainly not wanting to dismiss it as madness—it could be a real and valuable warning, for another day. But today is not that day. Today is the day of the drow matron's departure.
The tall adventuress therefore tries to press her hand onto the glowing gold stain, repeating, for good measure, the passphrase 'Blood for Lolth'.
"What is it? Not alive, not quite. It is a glyph-scribed obelisk wrapped in eternal storm, hollowed and inhabited by slimy creatures whose hunger can never be sated! It is the City that heralds the end! A city primeval regurgitated by the earth! Vast creatures of the deeps wing about it, and tentacles slither within."
(OOC: "A glyph-scribed obelisk...." Oooh! Another mystery for Xanrym to ponder!)
Numa's ravings put Xanrym on edge. He wonders whether this "prophecy" hints at what will happen if The Company does not succeed in recovering the Lost King's bones to prevent them from being used by Xeron's cult for some evil purpose. Or maybe Numa really can see the future, and The Company will soon find themselves battling the "slimy creatures" in the "gylph-scribed obelisk" to recover the Lost King's bones.
Xanrym would very much like to ask Numa for more details. Is the the thing that "rises higher and higher" the huge column at the center of Pedestal? Or is the "obelisk" something else? Perhaps the origin of the yuan-ti sorcerer, Xeron, and his cult? But he cannot really talk to Numa without giving up his Invisibility, and for all they know, this poor, afflicted Drow has simply spent too much time inhaling in the noxious humors of this building! The mention of "slimy things" reminds Xanrym of the Aboleth beneath the surface of the Sullen Sea, which makes him squirm as though he's being watched. He forces his focus back to the present and their next step. They need to get through the secret door...
If Khessa is unable to open the secret door:
Invisible-Xanrym asks Theldrin to provide some Light so that they can examine the section of wall marked with the golden wand. Xanrym will try to help Theldrin figure out the workings of this secret door. He has made a study of the workings of secret doors. Some doors are cleverly concealed but can be simply pushed open like a regular door, and others may require a key. Some secret doors can be opened by manipulating a hidden lever or catch, like the sconce under The Golden Grain Inn. Others are imbued with magic so that they only open when given a passphrase or under specific conditions.
(OOC: I they cannot figure out how to open the secret door, I have 2 or 3 other ideas to try, but I'll wait and give others a chance to make their suggestions first.)
Theldrin finds himself fascinated by Numa's prophecies, thinking to himself that even the ramblings of a madman will often contain hidden truths. He considers if anything the drow mentioned reminds him of legends or lore he's encountered in his studies.
History: 15
If the first attempts to open the secret door don't succeed he will cast Light and examine the area more thoroughly.
"Follow me, guys," says Coriana, striding in confidently.
She walks directly up to the figure with it's back to the wall and states in a clear voice, "Blood for Lolth."
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Theldrin keeps towards the middle of the group, following Coriana's lead as the party enters the tannery. He studies the surroundings as they approach the humanoid and glowing wand stain.
Perception: 11
InvestigationL 20
Avery watches around them as they move into the tannery. Perception: 2
Khessa remains at Coriana's side, with the confident air of a bodyguard to a legitimate guest. The idea of trying the password right away seems a good one... but if the correct procedure for passing without a fight is different, she intends to be on the front lines, ready to face any potential attack.
The figure starts at Coriana's announcement, standing straight up. You see a sickly and pockmarked drow with hair springing out at all angles and a crazed look in his eye. He yells, "I am Numa, a prophet! I see what will be, and I see the end of existence!" He then walks over to the corner, seemingly addressing the wall, "See there? It punches up from the deep core to the sunburned surface, rising higher and higher, until it is lost in the white mists that shroud the top of the world!"
"This is really a serious matter!" Khessa pretends to be concerned "We will notify the house. You go out, quickly, warn the people on the street, warn the citizens... what are you waiting for? A prophet must prophetize, nott stay hidden!"
The drow doesn't seem to hear you at first, wanting to finish his conversation with the wall, "What is it? Not alive, not quite. It is a glyph-scribed obelisk wrapped in eternal storm, hollowed and inhabited by slimy creatures whose hunger can never be sated! It is the City that heralds the end! A city primeval regurgitated by the earth! Vast creatures of the deeps wing about it, and tentacles slither within." He then turns around and speaks directly to Khessa with a deadpan look, "I wish the bugs in my hair would comb it!" Numa then waddles out of the Old Tannery, the sound of his prophesies becoming quieter as he get's further away.
You are now alone in the Old Tannery. The passphrase does not seem to have any effect on the stain on the wall.
Khessa maintains a certain distance from the prophet—she usually styles her long, wavy blonde hair herself and doesn't want to risk some of the prophet's unresponsive bugs transferring to her.
The blonde arcane warrior briefly notes the 'prophecy' in her Spellbook, certainly not wanting to dismiss it as madness—it could be a real and valuable warning, for another day.
But today is not that day.
Today is the day of the drow matron's departure.
The tall adventuress therefore tries to press her hand onto the glowing gold stain, repeating, for good measure, the passphrase 'Blood for Lolth'.
(OOC: "A glyph-scribed obelisk...." Oooh! Another mystery for Xanrym to ponder!)
Numa's ravings put Xanrym on edge. He wonders whether this "prophecy" hints at what will happen if The Company does not succeed in recovering the Lost King's bones to prevent them from being used by Xeron's cult for some evil purpose. Or maybe Numa really can see the future, and The Company will soon find themselves battling the "slimy creatures" in the "gylph-scribed obelisk" to recover the Lost King's bones.
Xanrym would very much like to ask Numa for more details. Is the the thing that "rises higher and higher" the huge column at the center of Pedestal? Or is the "obelisk" something else? Perhaps the origin of the yuan-ti sorcerer, Xeron, and his cult? But he cannot really talk to Numa without giving up his Invisibility, and for all they know, this poor, afflicted Drow has simply spent too much time inhaling in the noxious humors of this building! The mention of "slimy things" reminds Xanrym of the Aboleth beneath the surface of the Sullen Sea, which makes him squirm as though he's being watched. He forces his focus back to the present and their next step. They need to get through the secret door...
If Khessa is unable to open the secret door:
Invisible-Xanrym asks Theldrin to provide some Light so that they can examine the section of wall marked with the golden wand. Xanrym will try to help Theldrin figure out the workings of this secret door. He has made a study of the workings of secret doors. Some doors are cleverly concealed but can be simply pushed open like a regular door, and others may require a key. Some secret doors can be opened by manipulating a hidden lever or catch, like the sconce under The Golden Grain Inn. Others are imbued with magic so that they only open when given a passphrase or under specific conditions.
(OOC: I they cannot figure out how to open the secret door, I have 2 or 3 other ideas to try, but I'll wait and give others a chance to make their suggestions first.)
Theldrin finds himself fascinated by Numa's prophecies, thinking to himself that even the ramblings of a madman will often contain hidden truths. He considers if anything the drow mentioned reminds him of legends or lore he's encountered in his studies.
History: 15
If the first attempts to open the secret door don't succeed he will cast Light and examine the area more thoroughly.
Investigation: 9
(OOC: Don't forget that Xanrym was helping, so that check should be with advantage.)
[[ Is the direction of the corner the direction of the column? ]]
Coriana backs up a bit, as she doesn't think she can really contribute much here.
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
(OOC: Thanks for the reminder, hopefully we can beat a 2)
Investigation 2nd roll for Advantage: Dice rolls not yet available for this section.
Trying again...
8
(OOC: LOL, must still be distracted by Numa's prophecies)
Coriana steps up and pokes wildly in the corner with her rapier.
Investigation: 12 (Lucky)
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep
Coriana grows frustrated. turns away from the wall and kicks back. (Heroic Inspiration reroll: 19, for an 18 Investigation check)
Coriana - Company of the Grey Chain
Wagner - Dragon Heist: Bards.
DM - The Old Keep