Avery look s at the body and shakes his head. "Well, this is starting to confirm our suspicions, we may have to deal with our friends in the temple." Avery will attempt to see how long the acolyte has been dead. (Perception: 13 Investigation: 15)
(OOC: Oh? Good on Xanrym! I was really thinking about traps, but I just threw the "secret doors" part in there since finding traps and secret doors are generally handled similarly.)
On the side of the wall to your left is an indentation, when you push on it, it easily slides back and around on hinges inside. The smell of must and death fills a cramped hallway. A body lies at the end of it to the north. So now you have three options.
Xanrym recoils from the smell in the hidden hallway. "Ugh!", he gasps to avoid retching, "This temple has certainly provided a surfeit of odiferous experiences." He points out the secret door to the others and steps out of the way to let Theldrin and Avery explore. He'll stay in the main hallway L-hallway with his lantern and keep watch, especially up the hall toward the north. (Perception13)
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Theldrin nods grimly in reply to Avery as he examines the hallway with the body, looking for any other secret doors. (OOC: sounds like it appears to be a dead end?)
Avery - It seems the acolyte has been dead a fair while. Judging by the dirt decay on the robes, possibly about 6 to 18 months. Which matches up with the timeline of Misha arriving.
Xanrym - You see that further into the hallway the stone becomes more unformed, more cave-like.
Theldrin - Yes this is a dead end. It seems like this hallway was carved out for the purpose of storage, but was never properly completed.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
When you round the corner with the coins, you see a giant chest bursting with gold and gems; a bountiful hoard of treasure. You bend over and pick up one of the coins littered on the floor:
Avery moves up, "I urge caution my friend," he warns, eying the chest. "So far everything in this place does not appear to be what it is supposed to be. I have heard of creatures that mimic items to draw their prey in."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Theldrin rubs his beard as he studies the chest without getting too close, knitting his brow into a thoughtful frown. "That is wise..." he replies slowly, then casts Mage Hand again, sending the hand in to touch the treasure hoard.
The Mage Hand touches the treasure hoard and it seems like normal coins and gems. It moves and makes the sounds you’d expect from a hand touching treasure.
"Hmm, seems real enough..." Theldrin muses as he stares intently at the chest. He directs the Mage Hand to pick up a gem and bring it to him for closer inspection.
Xanrym cranes his neck to try to see around Avery and Theldrin. He says, "Take care, Theldrin! I know we found a treasure chest under the Golden Grain Inn, but this feels different. I don't think that Misha would rely on such a simple maze of tunnels and the ettin to guard so much treasure. Don't you think that she'd keep it in a secret room under lock and key?"
Xanrym doesn't have a great view from the back of the line, but he suggests, "Perhaps it's just an illusion -- did you check? I could shoot it with my crossbow if you want to shuffle around and let me up front.
"Or, if it is real, there must be some trick or trap to it. Liarin, can you see anything? We already know that the cult is willing to use snakes and ghouls and giant-kin. Maybe there's something hidden behind the chest or among the coins. Or maybe it's just lurking on the ceiling or camouflaged somehow?"
While the others continue to investigate the chest, Xanrym returns the point where this hallway originally branched north and east. He wants to keep watch up the north tunnel without getting too far away from the others. He wonders whether the treasure is real, but then troglodytes sneak up from the tunnel to the north and attack any thieves from behind.
The mage hand returns to you with the biggest gem. It's a Garnet , seems real enough. You can add it to your inventory. Plenty more treasure in that chest, and on the floor in front. But if you want to cut your losses you could just walk away.
If that's the case, it seems you have two options open to you:
1. Go into the stinking tunnels to the north.
2. Go back to the temple entrance.
By the way, you still hear no evidence of anyone following you.
Avery shrugs. "Shall we scoop it up? Perhaps this was placed down here to be guarded, or it's still a trap. Either way, who dares wins, yes? I'll go up there ready to swing if someone wants to scoop or look for traps."
Avery shrugs. "Shall we scoop it up? Perhaps this was placed down here to be guarded, or it's still a trap. Either way, who dares wins, yes? I'll go up there ready to swing if someone wants to scoop or look for traps."
Xanrym suggests, "If it's just treasure, then maybe leave it for now? We could try to get it on our way out if there's not another exit from these tunnels. I think it's clear that the whole temple has been taken over by the cultists. But we should try to find some concrete evidence of that: writings, idols of worship, or more information about the naga they revere. And maybe we'll find Abramo, the original high cleric -- or his body."
Once they're done with the treasure chest, Xanrym would like to rig the door that leads back to the ettin so that it makes a sound if anything follows after them. Then he'll be ready to head through the tunnel to the north that smells like troglodytes.
Avery shrugs. "Aye, we can continue our search and come back for it. Seems it has been down here for a bit, and unless it really has legs, it's not going anywhere."
Theldrin nods in agreement, "We could return for it..." He stashes the garnet in his backpack and then prepares to explore the tunnel towards the north.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Xanrym checks back through the door (i.e., back the way they came up the hallway from the ettin) to make sure that he doesn't see any of the cultists following in the basement yet. Then he closes the door and tries to make sure no one can sneak up behind them here. He asks Liarin for guidance and then, as stated above, rigs a bell so that it rings if anyone opens the door.
Avery look s at the body and shakes his head. "Well, this is starting to confirm our suspicions, we may have to deal with our friends in the temple." Avery will attempt to see how long the acolyte has been dead. (Perception: 13 Investigation: 15)
(OOC: Oh? Good on Xanrym! I was really thinking about traps, but I just threw the "secret doors" part in there since finding traps and secret doors are generally handled similarly.)
Xanrym recoils from the smell in the hidden hallway. "Ugh!", he gasps to avoid retching, "This temple has certainly provided a surfeit of odiferous experiences." He points out the secret door to the others and steps out of the way to let Theldrin and Avery explore. He'll stay in the main hallway L-hallway with his lantern and keep watch, especially up the hall toward the north. (Perception 13)
Theldrin nods grimly in reply to Avery as he examines the hallway with the body, looking for any other secret doors. (OOC: sounds like it appears to be a dead end?)
Investigation: 13
Avery - It seems the acolyte has been dead a fair while. Judging by the dirt decay on the robes, possibly about 6 to 18 months. Which matches up with the timeline of Misha arriving.
Xanrym - You see that further into the hallway the stone becomes more unformed, more cave-like.
Theldrin - Yes this is a dead end. It seems like this hallway was carved out for the purpose of storage, but was never properly completed.
Theldrin moves back to the area with the coins and moves in more closely, still proceeding slowly and looking for traps as he goes.
Perception: 23
If all seems normal he will stoop down and pick up one of the coins.
When you round the corner with the coins, you see a giant chest bursting with gold and gems; a bountiful hoard of treasure. You bend over and pick up one of the coins littered on the floor:
17
It's a Gold Piece. Older than most you've seen but no less valuable.
Avery moves up, "I urge caution my friend," he warns, eying the chest. "So far everything in this place does not appear to be what it is supposed to be. I have heard of creatures that mimic items to draw their prey in."
Theldrin rubs his beard as he studies the chest without getting too close, knitting his brow into a thoughtful frown. "That is wise..." he replies slowly, then casts Mage Hand again, sending the hand in to touch the treasure hoard.
Perception: 8
Investigation: 7
The Mage Hand touches the treasure hoard and it seems like normal coins and gems. It moves and makes the sounds you’d expect from a hand touching treasure.
"Hmm, seems real enough..." Theldrin muses as he stares intently at the chest. He directs the Mage Hand to pick up a gem and bring it to him for closer inspection.
Investigation: 9
Xanrym cranes his neck to try to see around Avery and Theldrin. He says, "Take care, Theldrin! I know we found a treasure chest under the Golden Grain Inn, but this feels different. I don't think that Misha would rely on such a simple maze of tunnels and the ettin to guard so much treasure. Don't you think that she'd keep it in a secret room under lock and key?"
Xanrym doesn't have a great view from the back of the line, but he suggests, "Perhaps it's just an illusion -- did you check? I could shoot it with my crossbow if you want to shuffle around and let me up front.
"Or, if it is real, there must be some trick or trap to it. Liarin, can you see anything? We already know that the cult is willing to use snakes and ghouls and giant-kin. Maybe there's something hidden behind the chest or among the coins. Or maybe it's just lurking on the ceiling or camouflaged somehow?"
While the others continue to investigate the chest, Xanrym returns the point where this hallway originally branched north and east. He wants to keep watch up the north tunnel without getting too far away from the others. He wonders whether the treasure is real, but then troglodytes sneak up from the tunnel to the north and attack any thieves from behind.
The mage hand returns to you with the biggest gem. It's a Garnet , seems real enough. You can add it to your inventory. Plenty more treasure in that chest, and on the floor in front. But if you want to cut your losses you could just walk away.
If that's the case, it seems you have two options open to you:
1. Go into the stinking tunnels to the north.
2. Go back to the temple entrance.
By the way, you still hear no evidence of anyone following you.
Avery shrugs. "Shall we scoop it up? Perhaps this was placed down here to be guarded, or it's still a trap. Either way, who dares wins, yes? I'll go up there ready to swing if someone wants to scoop or look for traps."
Xanrym suggests, "If it's just treasure, then maybe leave it for now? We could try to get it on our way out if there's not another exit from these tunnels. I think it's clear that the whole temple has been taken over by the cultists. But we should try to find some concrete evidence of that: writings, idols of worship, or more information about the naga they revere. And maybe we'll find Abramo, the original high cleric -- or his body."
Once they're done with the treasure chest, Xanrym would like to rig the door that leads back to the ettin so that it makes a sound if anything follows after them. Then he'll be ready to head through the tunnel to the north that smells like troglodytes.
Seems like you’re slightly divided on your approach. I’ll let the others way in on weather they want to grab the chest or not
Avery shrugs. "Aye, we can continue our search and come back for it. Seems it has been down here for a bit, and unless it really has legs, it's not going anywhere."
Theldrin nods in agreement, "We could return for it..." He stashes the garnet in his backpack and then prepares to explore the tunnel towards the north.
Avery joins Theldrin, ready to continue the exploration.
Xanrym checks back through the door (i.e., back the way they came up the hallway from the ettin) to make sure that he doesn't see any of the cultists following in the basement yet. Then he closes the door and tries to make sure no one can sneak up behind them here. He asks Liarin for guidance and then, as stated above, rigs a bell so that it rings if anyone opens the door.
(I guess that's some sort of DEX check, like Thieves' Tools or Sleight of Hand: 11)
Once he's done with that, Xanrym is ready to continue and reshuffles with the others to their regular marching order.