Rico, "Apparently my brass face is not enough to trigger it. My guess is that there a bronze mask somewhere nearby that is the key to this alcove. That seems to be the pattern of having a mask near the puzzle it is the key to."
"We know that there are bugbears past this door. They sound as if they are a distance away from the door, as if the room is fairly large and they are at the far end of it, but since we know that they are there we could go check out the lit hallway to the south. The hallway being lit and clean makes me a little uneasy but if we are all on guard for a trap of some sort we may be okay. If we can find a mask, helmet, or mirror of bronze then maybe that can be used to activate the inscription on the harp. I'll lead the way to the corridor. Nikk, will you lag toward the back of the stack and give a warning if the bugbears come up behind us?"
Pisgah will head off to the south stopping to look first to the west down the lit corridor and then to the east. He will also use the horn to try and pick up any sounds that may indicate something he missed visually.
West Corridor Looksee: Perception roll of 6 (on a Nat 1) ;;; West Corridor Ear Horn: Perception roll of 17
East Corridor Looksee: Perception roll of 12;;; East Corridor Ear Horn: Perception roll of 17
Jaya: The alcove and the bas-relief do not react to the copper helmet.
Pisgah: You hear no sounds and spot no movement from either direction. However, to the very east you make out a different light source than the candles: A blueish shine, from around a corner. To the west you see a dead-end. A few dozen feet before the dead-end, you spot a doorway (without the corresponding door) in the northern wall and a corridor leading to the south.
I tell the group about what see down each wing of the corridor and suggest that we head down the east wing and check out what may be causing the bluish light. Again, I'll say to let me stay about 20 feet ahead so if something goes wrong we don't all get hit. I will then creep down the hall Stealth roll of 13 and take a look around the corner Perception roll of 7.
Quietly, Pisgah moves down the hallway. The floating candles flames flicker softly as you pass by and finally peer around the corner. You come face to face with a portal of some sort. This gate consists of a wall-mounted mirror encased in a carved stone frame depicting the graven image of a human wizard wielding a wand. The mirror is 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
The mirror-like construction is clearly magical, emanating the pale blue light you've seen before and it's surface is covered in a swirling mist.
Pisgah calls back the group as he waves them forward, "I think it is okay. It is just a mirror type of thing with an old guy holding a wand. Like a painting on a mirror? It's kind of odd." Then Pisgah steps on around the corner and walks up to the mirror to look closer.
As Pisgah moves up to the mirror, suddenly a vaguely female voice becomes audible, emerging seemingly out of the stonework around you itself.
"Turn back.You are not yet ready for what lies beyond."
Whoever spoke, it seems like they did so with great difficulty, enunciating each word clearly and slowly.
Nikkitch immediately recognizes this portal for what it is. The foggy surface suggests that it's not yet active. A highly unusual and complex construction, this portal was probably the work of a master wizard and there may be a specific way to activate it. This is normally some kind of phrase, an item or a sequence of gestures.
The kenku relays what he can, including the properties of the mirror, though the palpable excitement in his (well, Canti's) seemingly disembodied voice is... a little unsettling.
"Jaya. You. Have. That helm. Right? Could that. Be. What it. Refers. To?"
"I have the helmet we found earlier with the wand; it is green copper though."
"It's. Old. So is. This. Statue. Does it. Hurt. To try?"
Rico, "Apparently my brass face is not enough to trigger it. My guess is that there a bronze mask somewhere nearby that is the key to this alcove. That seems to be the pattern of having a mask near the puzzle it is the key to."
The satyr on the bas-relief is indeed broadly indifferent towards any sort of brass or copper.
In a low voice, Pisgah warns of the bugbears talking on the other side.
"Then. I. Will. Stay. Silent."
Rico asks, "So do we search the lit corridor for a bronze mask, or do we go talk with the bugbears and continue on?"
"We know that there are bugbears past this door. They sound as if they are a distance away from the door, as if the room is fairly large and they are at the far end of it, but since we know that they are there we could go check out the lit hallway to the south. The hallway being lit and clean makes me a little uneasy but if we are all on guard for a trap of some sort we may be okay. If we can find a mask, helmet, or mirror of bronze then maybe that can be used to activate the inscription on the harp. I'll lead the way to the corridor. Nikk, will you lag toward the back of the stack and give a warning if the bugbears come up behind us?"
Pisgah will head off to the south stopping to look first to the west down the lit corridor and then to the east. He will also use the horn to try and pick up any sounds that may indicate something he missed visually.
West Corridor Looksee: Perception roll of 6 (on a Nat 1) ;;; West Corridor Ear Horn: Perception roll of 17
East Corridor Looksee: Perception roll of 12;;; East Corridor Ear Horn: Perception roll of 17
Jaya will put on the Green Copper helmet we found and go stand in the alcove, and I will gaze at the statue.
Jaya: The alcove and the bas-relief do not react to the copper helmet.
Pisgah: You hear no sounds and spot no movement from either direction. However, to the very east you make out a different light source than the candles: A blueish shine, from around a corner. To the west you see a dead-end. A few dozen feet before the dead-end, you spot a doorway (without the corresponding door) in the northern wall and a corridor leading to the south.
I tell the group about what see down each wing of the corridor and suggest that we head down the east wing and check out what may be causing the bluish light. Again, I'll say to let me stay about 20 feet ahead so if something goes wrong we don't all get hit. I will then creep down the hall Stealth roll of 13 and take a look around the corner Perception roll of 7.
Quietly, Pisgah moves down the hallway. The floating candles flames flicker softly as you pass by and finally peer around the corner. You come face to face with a portal of some sort. This gate consists of a wall-mounted mirror encased in a carved stone frame depicting the graven image of a human wizard wielding a wand. The mirror is 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
The mirror-like construction is clearly magical, emanating the pale blue light you've seen before and it's surface is covered in a swirling mist.
Pisgah calls back the group as he waves them forward, "I think it is okay. It is just a mirror type of thing with an old guy holding a wand. Like a painting on a mirror? It's kind of odd." Then Pisgah steps on around the corner and walks up to the mirror to look closer.
"Careful..." comes a formless whisper of Pisgah's own voice.
Nikkitch is examining the mirror as well, though more to discern it's magical capabilities. [Arcana: non-Nat 20]
As Pisgah moves up to the mirror, suddenly a vaguely female voice becomes audible, emerging seemingly out of the stonework around you itself.
"Turn back.You are not yet ready for what lies beyond."
Whoever spoke, it seems like they did so with great difficulty, enunciating each word clearly and slowly.
Nikkitch immediately recognizes this portal for what it is. The foggy surface suggests that it's not yet active. A highly unusual and complex construction, this portal was probably the work of a master wizard and there may be a specific way to activate it. This is normally some kind of phrase, an item or a sequence of gestures.
"Okay...Nikk what is going on here?" Pisgah begins to slowly back up away from the mirror.
The kenku relays what he can, including the properties of the mirror, though the palpable excitement in his (well, Canti's) seemingly disembodied voice is... a little unsettling.
"If we can't go forward here, then should we try the west end of this lighted corridor?"
"sure!"