You find that the cavern is divided by an escarpment, into which a flight of stairs has been cut. You also find a set of doubles doors that are just as damaged as the other but stand slightly ajar. Halflings could enter but a half-orc will need to pull the doors open more.
Badger: Because you are proficient in Arcana, you can sense a subtle aura of magic in this cavern. It is strongest near this northern building.
Badger looks up at the shining ceiling and feels the arcane aura. "Have we... found the Forge of Spells? There is a magic aura here and those zombies may be what is blocking the Spider. We just happened through a hidden passage."
K glances at the ceiling and then the building. "Let's find out. Help me with these doors, Badger." Strength: 5
Badger strength: 4
Ash tries to help with his mage hand. Strength: 13
This large workshop was badly damaged by the ancient spell battle that laid waste to the mine. Worktables taking up two corners of the room are scorched, and the plaster has been burned off the masonry walls. In the middle of the room, a stone pedestal holds a small brazier in which an eerie green flame dances and crackles. The brazier and its pedestal appear to have been untouched by the forces that destroyed this area.
Behind the brazier of green flame floats a spherical creature measuring roughly four feet in diameter. Four eyestalks protrude from its central mass, two on each side. In the center of the body is a large eye that stares at you. "Hello," says a thick, burbling voice inside your head.
Kristofferson also freezes. He looks at Badger helplessly.
Badger squeezes in and sees the halflings' panicked looks before seeing the large eyeball monster. "Oh! Hello there. We were just looking for a safe place to rest. You wouldn't happen to know of one, would you?"
You all hear in your minds: "Well this is a curious crew. You two look like miniature versions of my summoner, but you look like a more cultured version of the enemies from which I am meant to protect this area. So what do I do?"
Badger: "Noble protector of this mine, I am no enemy. We, the Quote Unquote Fantastic, are here to secure the mine for a noble human knight Sir Sildar Hallwinter and his equally noble entrepreneurial dwarves, the Rockseeker brothers, who aim to reclaim this mine for good and return it to its glory. We ask of you peace and rest only."
You all hear in your minds: "Reclaim? Restore? These mines are already under the control of dwarf and wizard. They battle the orc raiders as we speak to retain control, and I am here to help them. Why do you lie to me?"
Badger: "That battle was more than 400 years ago. When have you last seen wizards, dwarves, or orcs in the area? The skeletons outside this room tell the story. Please, we do not want to cause you trouble or harm your summoner; we want only a safe place to rest."
You see an anger flash through its eye and hear in your minds: "If you are so peaceful why lie about the state of the mine and the time that has passed!? I have no interest in skeletons or when I last saw what. I am the greatest of all spectators and will carry out my task of protecting this area for my summoner."
Badger: "Forgive me, noble one. I may misspeak but mean you no harm. I do not intend to lie and may only be confused. We have been battling an evil Spider trying to take this mine from the dwarves, and we are tired and in need of rest. Please, may we rest here?" Persuasion: 9
You see the anger dissipate. "No, alas, not here in this hallowed room. In that room there," he motions towards the northern room, "you should be relatively safe from the battle. Touch nothing. Take nothing. Or I will have to act, you understand."
Kristofferson also follows. "Is that very workshop the Forge of Spells, what the Spider and the Rockseekers are after?"
Badger: "It appears so. I sense a magical aura around this building, and apparently a human wizard, in the throws of battle, summoned that thing to help protect it."
Ash: "Hopefully now it protects us as we sleep. Do we trust it?"
Badger: "I do. As long as we don't touch any of its magic items."
Kristofferson: "Do you think the Rockseekers have a plan to deal with the zombies and flaming skull and flying eyeball?"
Badger: "Perhaps, but I'd guess not. They seem in over their heads."
Kristofferson: "What is our goal here, then?"
Badger: "First, we rest. Then, we go find and free the Rockseekers."
Kristofferson nods. As the others get comfortable, K meditates and then rests.
When they are all awake and ready, K asks, "Should we head back to the Spider's hall and confront him? Or do we look elsewhere for the dwarves?"
Ash: "We could lure him to the Forge then turn on him; help the spectator kill him."
Kristofferson: "He didn't trust us before; I doubt he'll trust us now."
Ash: "Unless we bring evidence of having been in the Forge..."
Badger: "No. Absolutely not. We cannot take anything from here. We need the spectator's trust."
Ash: "Perhaps there is another way to prove we've been here."
K: "What was that brazier? It looked different from most. Is it magical? Can we somehow take some of it's aura with us?"
Badger: "We could ask the spectator."
Badger leads them back to the other room. "Noble one. We thank you for your hospitality. We now ask one more favor. Can you tell us about that brazier?"
The door won't budge.
Badger motions to continue around.
Ash shrugs, looking doubtful, and points at the door.
Badger motions the shape of another door or window.
Ash just looks confused and points at the door.
Kristofferson rolls his eyes and says, "Let's see if there's another way in."
Ash creeps around, looking for another way in.
You find that the cavern is divided by an escarpment, into which a flight of stairs has been cut. You also find a set of doubles doors that are just as damaged as the other but stand slightly ajar. Halflings could enter but a half-orc will need to pull the doors open more.
Badger: Because you are proficient in Arcana, you can sense a subtle aura of magic in this cavern. It is strongest near this northern building.
Map:
Badger looks up at the shining ceiling and feels the arcane aura. "Have we... found the Forge of Spells? There is a magic aura here and those zombies may be what is blocking the Spider. We just happened through a hidden passage."
K glances at the ceiling and then the building. "Let's find out. Help me with these doors, Badger." Strength: 5
Badger strength: 4
Ash tries to help with his mage hand. Strength: 13
The doors screech and pull and Badger will be able to squeeze at half speed.
Ash squeezes in.
Kristofferson follows.
Badger squeezes in eventually.
This large workshop was badly damaged by the ancient spell battle that laid waste to the mine. Worktables taking up two corners of the room are scorched, and the plaster has been burned off the masonry walls. In the middle of the room, a stone pedestal holds a small brazier in which an eerie green flame dances and crackles. The brazier and its pedestal appear to have been untouched by the forces that destroyed this area.
Behind the brazier of green flame floats a spherical creature measuring roughly four feet in diameter. Four eyestalks protrude from its central mass, two on each side. In the center of the body is a large eye that stares at you. "Hello," says a thick, burbling voice inside your head.
Ash freezes and looks at K helplessly.
Kristofferson also freezes. He looks at Badger helplessly.
Badger squeezes in and sees the halflings' panicked looks before seeing the large eyeball monster. "Oh! Hello there. We were just looking for a safe place to rest. You wouldn't happen to know of one, would you?"
You all hear in your minds: "Well this is a curious crew. You two look like miniature versions of my summoner, but you look like a more cultured version of the enemies from which I am meant to protect this area. So what do I do?"
Badger: "Noble protector of this mine, I am no enemy. We, the Quote Unquote Fantastic, are here to secure the mine for a noble human knight Sir Sildar Hallwinter and his equally noble entrepreneurial dwarves, the Rockseeker brothers, who aim to reclaim this mine for good and return it to its glory. We ask of you peace and rest only."
You all hear in your minds: "Reclaim? Restore? These mines are already under the control of dwarf and wizard. They battle the orc raiders as we speak to retain control, and I am here to help them. Why do you lie to me?"
Badger: "That battle was more than 400 years ago. When have you last seen wizards, dwarves, or orcs in the area? The skeletons outside this room tell the story. Please, we do not want to cause you trouble or harm your summoner; we want only a safe place to rest."
You see an anger flash through its eye and hear in your minds: "If you are so peaceful why lie about the state of the mine and the time that has passed!? I have no interest in skeletons or when I last saw what. I am the greatest of all spectators and will carry out my task of protecting this area for my summoner."
Badger: "Forgive me, noble one. I may misspeak but mean you no harm. I do not intend to lie and may only be confused. We have been battling an evil Spider trying to take this mine from the dwarves, and we are tired and in need of rest. Please, may we rest here?" Persuasion: 9
You see the anger dissipate. "No, alas, not here in this hallowed room. In that room there," he motions towards the northern room, "you should be relatively safe from the battle. Touch nothing. Take nothing. Or I will have to act, you understand."
Map:
Badger leads the way into the northern room.
Ash follows closely.
Kristofferson also follows. "Is that very workshop the Forge of Spells, what the Spider and the Rockseekers are after?"
Badger: "It appears so. I sense a magical aura around this building, and apparently a human wizard, in the throws of battle, summoned that thing to help protect it."
Ash: "Hopefully now it protects us as we sleep. Do we trust it?"
Badger: "I do. As long as we don't touch any of its magic items."
Kristofferson: "Do you think the Rockseekers have a plan to deal with the zombies and flaming skull and flying eyeball?"
Badger: "Perhaps, but I'd guess not. They seem in over their heads."
Kristofferson: "What is our goal here, then?"
Badger: "First, we rest. Then, we go find and free the Rockseekers."
Kristofferson nods. As the others get comfortable, K meditates and then rests.
You all achieve a long rest.
When they are all awake and ready, K asks, "Should we head back to the Spider's hall and confront him? Or do we look elsewhere for the dwarves?"
Ash: "We could lure him to the Forge then turn on him; help the spectator kill him."
Kristofferson: "He didn't trust us before; I doubt he'll trust us now."
Ash: "Unless we bring evidence of having been in the Forge..."
Badger: "No. Absolutely not. We cannot take anything from here. We need the spectator's trust."
Ash: "Perhaps there is another way to prove we've been here."
K: "What was that brazier? It looked different from most. Is it magical? Can we somehow take some of it's aura with us?"
Badger: "We could ask the spectator."
Badger leads them back to the other room. "Noble one. We thank you for your hospitality. We now ask one more favor. Can you tell us about that brazier?"
You hear in your minds: "Rested already? Very well. The brazier? An important artifact, to be sure. But pay it no mind, it is not yours."
Badger: give me an arcana check.
Badger arcana: 8