Ravi approached the three statues, his heart pounding with excitement and trepidation as he took in the intricate carvings that adorned their surfaces. Each figure stood majestically, their features worn yet expressive, whispering secrets of an ancient culture. He hesitated, his fingers hovering just above the cool stone, a testament to his deep respect for the mystery surrounding them. "So guys, these are likely to be deeply religious in nature," he mused, a thoughtful frown knitting his brow. "But even I know better than to disturb the unknown; touching mysterious statues could lead to unforeseen consequences."
With a final, reluctant glance at their weathered visages, he turned away, his mind buzzing with the myriad stories waiting to be uncovered. Rejoining his group, a spark of exhilaration flickered in his eyes. "Let us not touch them," he suggested a note of urgency in his voice. "Does that sound good?" The thrill of discovery lingered in the air, binding them in shared anticipation.
"Oh this is so confusing but I bet that ruby is worth a lot of gold. We could probably buy our freedom with that."
However as she says this she doesnt move, she appears to realize that there is probably danger in this room, and it appears to be the first sign of wisdom from her.
"I mean, if we have no food or water we are going to die anyway, might as well get try to be rich before the end. What do you all say?"
Oji, you once knew a scholar who, after a few drinks, mentioned the lost ancient underground civilization of the Anak. You don't know for certain these ruins are related to them, but then again, how many ancient underground civilizations can there be? You remember the scholar also talked some about their gods and how the main one, the name escapes you, was often depicted in three aspects. A man with a sword that represents him as a warrior, a man with the harp that represents him as a trickster and lover, and a goat-headed man that depicts him as an inhuman bringer of cosmic knowledge.
Oji would look to the woman of their group with a frown, "You need to get your head in the right mindset. Otherwise you will not be helpful to seeing us survive this. A tiger trapped is at its most dangerous." He would tap his nose before looking over the statues and then the ruby shaking his head, "This could be some sort of puzzle... and if we likely could find the solution in time. Or we could keep moving. Either option has risks." He would move to the brazier before looking to those with Torches, "Come try to light this please."
Bomon watches Ravi’s hesitation at the statues and finds himself quietly relieved when the man steps away without touching them. When Oji speaks, firm and clear, Bomon listens and then steps forward slightly.
“I’ve got a torch,” he says, pulling it from his pack. “I’m hoping maybe one of our magic users could manage a quick spark and light the brazier?”
He glances toward Tyjra and offers a small, reassuring smile.
“That’s good enthusiasm though for the kind of risks we might be forced to take down here.”
Ravi's gaze locked onto Tyjra, his expression a mix of disbelief and concern. "Listen, lass," he began, his voice steady yet tinged with caution, "There's this thing called greed. When something appears too good to be true, it often is." He shifted his eyes toward Oji, who stood nearby, his brow furrowed in uncertainty. With a faint shrug, Ravi conveyed his internal conflict, wrestling with the temptation of taking a risk, yet acutely aware of the possibility that this could all be a cunning trap laid before them. The air was thick with tension, leaving him to question the choices that lay ahead. He then moved himself closer to Oji. "If you think this is a risk worth taking Ill just your judgement, but I vote to leave this behind."
Tyjra Snaps her head around and stares straight at Ravi. "Don't patronize me! I may not fully understand this exploring and dangerous terrain stuff but do not for a second assume I do not know how people work. Look at us? We have nothing out here and we MIGHT show up to some town or city with a torch, a club, and some shitty clothes and bargain with what? What are they going to want with us? From us? How will we bargain?" She lowers her voice and passionately states "I have had to work with a lot of clients and every time its the same thing, you have to have something they want. Currently I am in a better position than all of you as I have something of value I can bargain with."
She pauses a few seconds "Although there are always the type that prefer the other half." She turns to Bomon "and some like youth."
She raises her voice and speaks to the group "You all look strong and healthy for now so I am sure there will be some manual labor for table scraps available. I know I will find a high paying client and use what I have learned but that doesn't mean I want to do it.... but if I will if I have. What are you going to offer these supposed people that has value?"
Oji would nod to Bomon, "A torch will do." Gesturing to the brazier. Looking to other two he would shake his head, "Be silent. The both of you!" His voice stern. "Ravi I respect your opinion. However we have no idea where we are and any potential clue could see to us getting back to the surface." He would then turn to Tyrja, "We -all- have no idea where we are other then beneath the surface, and you are going on about selling yourself. -Calm down-. Breathe. If there are places with civilization down here I highly doubt they will be friendly or kind. A wise man learns his location before making plans on where to journey next. Hmm?" He would offer her a smile, "We are all afraid, just breathe."
Bomon kneels by the brazier, placing the torch and twisting a few torn threads from his tunic beneath it. He borrows Tyra's short sword with a nod, then finds a flat stone nearby.
He strikes once. Nothing. He opens his mouth, then closes it again. A mixture of emotions on his face. Another several strikes. A spark jumps, then fades.
“I…”
One more strike. A spark catches. The threads curl and smoke, then begin to burn. He glances at Oji, then back to the growing light.
“We’ll find our way.”
He hands the sword back to Tyjra and steps back as he lights the brazier.
As you ignite the brazier, an unexpected blood-red flame erupts, casting unnaturally elongated shadows across the chamber. The flame's crimson glow hits an unnoticed red stone on a goat-headed statue, where a third eye might sit, and pulses, sending twin beams of coherent red light into similar red stones atop the adjacent statues. Reflected outward, the beams travel further down the room, towards two more statues. On the far right, the light ricochets smoothly into the ruby at the far end of the room, deflected by the reflective shield the statue carries. To the far left, however, the damaged statue stands incomplete—its missing shield leaving the beam to scatter uselessly against the opposite wall.
Ravi narrowed his eyes as he observed the unnatural crimson beam scattering against the wall. "Well, isn't that just perfect," he muttered under his breath, stepping beside Oji and squinting at the shattered statue. "It looks like someone's light show forgot its left hand."
He folded his arms, his slender frame illuminated by the eerie red glow. "Whatever this is, it needs symmetry, and that broken statue isn't holding up its end." He looked over at Bomon and the others. "We either fix it or find another way to reflect that beam."
His gaze lingered on the damaged statue, both cautious and intrigued. "I can scout around, quick and careful. But I'm not touching that statue unless we’re sure it won't try to bite me."
Tyjra looks at the light before her and says "I do not know of a way to bend the light. My illusions only seem to work on people, not light beams. Ravi could you look around and see if the shield is laying around somewhere?"
Anyone who wants to look around can roll either an Investigation or Perception roll. Same as before, everyone can roll now outside of their turn order, so you know the results in advance of your turn. Please remember to say what you are rolling and not just post a number with no context!
Ravi approached the three statues, his heart pounding with excitement and trepidation as he took in the intricate carvings that adorned their surfaces. Each figure stood majestically, their features worn yet expressive, whispering secrets of an ancient culture. He hesitated, his fingers hovering just above the cool stone, a testament to his deep respect for the mystery surrounding them. "So guys, these are likely to be deeply religious in nature," he mused, a thoughtful frown knitting his brow. "But even I know better than to disturb the unknown; touching mysterious statues could lead to unforeseen consequences."
With a final, reluctant glance at their weathered visages, he turned away, his mind buzzing with the myriad stories waiting to be uncovered. Rejoining his group, a spark of exhilaration flickered in his eyes. "Let us not touch them," he suggested a note of urgency in his voice. "Does that sound good?" The thrill of discovery lingered in the air, binding them in shared anticipation.
"Oh this is so confusing but I bet that ruby is worth a lot of gold. We could probably buy our freedom with that."
However as she says this she doesnt move, she appears to realize that there is probably danger in this room, and it appears to be the first sign of wisdom from her.
"I mean, if we have no food or water we are going to die anyway, might as well get try to be rich before the end. What do you all say?"
23 Rolling disadvantage history
Lucky reroll 3
Oji, you once knew a scholar who, after a few drinks, mentioned the lost ancient underground civilization of the Anak. You don't know for certain these ruins are related to them, but then again, how many ancient underground civilizations can there be? You remember the scholar also talked some about their gods and how the main one, the name escapes you, was often depicted in three aspects. A man with a sword that represents him as a warrior, a man with the harp that represents him as a trickster and lover, and a goat-headed man that depicts him as an inhuman bringer of cosmic knowledge.
Oji would look to the woman of their group with a frown, "You need to get your head in the right mindset. Otherwise you will not be helpful to seeing us survive this. A tiger trapped is at its most dangerous." He would tap his nose before looking over the statues and then the ruby shaking his head, "This could be some sort of puzzle... and if we likely could find the solution in time. Or we could keep moving. Either option has risks." He would move to the brazier before looking to those with Torches, "Come try to light this please."
Bomon watches Ravi’s hesitation at the statues and finds himself quietly relieved when the man steps away without touching them. When Oji speaks, firm and clear, Bomon listens and then steps forward slightly.
“I’ve got a torch,” he says, pulling it from his pack. “I’m hoping maybe one of our magic users could manage a quick spark and light the brazier?”
He glances toward Tyjra and offers a small, reassuring smile.
“That’s good enthusiasm though for the kind of risks we might be forced to take down here.”
Ravi's gaze locked onto Tyjra, his expression a mix of disbelief and concern. "Listen, lass," he began, his voice steady yet tinged with caution, "There's this thing called greed. When something appears too good to be true, it often is." He shifted his eyes toward Oji, who stood nearby, his brow furrowed in uncertainty. With a faint shrug, Ravi conveyed his internal conflict, wrestling with the temptation of taking a risk, yet acutely aware of the possibility that this could all be a cunning trap laid before them. The air was thick with tension, leaving him to question the choices that lay ahead. He then moved himself closer to Oji. "If you think this is a risk worth taking Ill just your judgement, but I vote to leave this behind."
Tyjra Snaps her head around and stares straight at Ravi. "Don't patronize me! I may not fully understand this exploring and dangerous terrain stuff but do not for a second assume I do not know how people work. Look at us? We have nothing out here and we MIGHT show up to some town or city with a torch, a club, and some shitty clothes and bargain with what? What are they going to want with us? From us? How will we bargain?" She lowers her voice and passionately states "I have had to work with a lot of clients and every time its the same thing, you have to have something they want. Currently I am in a better position than all of you as I have something of value I can bargain with."
She pauses a few seconds "Although there are always the type that prefer the other half." She turns to Bomon "and some like youth."
She raises her voice and speaks to the group "You all look strong and healthy for now so I am sure there will be some manual labor for table scraps available. I know I will find a high paying client and use what I have learned but that doesn't mean I want to do it.... but if I will if I have. What are you going to offer these supposed people that has value?"
Oji would nod to Bomon, "A torch will do." Gesturing to the brazier. Looking to other two he would shake his head, "Be silent. The both of you!" His voice stern. "Ravi I respect your opinion. However we have no idea where we are and any potential clue could see to us getting back to the surface." He would then turn to Tyrja, "We -all- have no idea where we are other then beneath the surface, and you are going on about selling yourself. -Calm down-. Breathe. If there are places with civilization down here I highly doubt they will be friendly or kind. A wise man learns his location before making plans on where to journey next. Hmm?" He would offer her a smile, "We are all afraid, just breathe."
Bomon kneels by the brazier, placing the torch and twisting a few torn threads from his tunic beneath it. He borrows Tyra's short sword with a nod, then finds a flat stone nearby.
He strikes once. Nothing. He opens his mouth, then closes it again. A mixture of emotions on his face. Another several strikes. A spark jumps, then fades.
“I…”
One more strike. A spark catches. The threads curl and smoke, then begin to burn. He glances at Oji, then back to the growing light.
“We’ll find our way.”
He hands the sword back to Tyjra and steps back as he lights the brazier.
As you ignite the brazier, an unexpected blood-red flame erupts, casting unnaturally elongated shadows across the chamber. The flame's crimson glow hits an unnoticed red stone on a goat-headed statue, where a third eye might sit, and pulses, sending twin beams of coherent red light into similar red stones atop the adjacent statues. Reflected outward, the beams travel further down the room, towards two more statues. On the far right, the light ricochets smoothly into the ruby at the far end of the room, deflected by the reflective shield the statue carries. To the far left, however, the damaged statue stands incomplete—its missing shield leaving the beam to scatter uselessly against the opposite wall.
Ravi narrowed his eyes as he observed the unnatural crimson beam scattering against the wall. "Well, isn't that just perfect," he muttered under his breath, stepping beside Oji and squinting at the shattered statue. "It looks like someone's light show forgot its left hand."
He folded his arms, his slender frame illuminated by the eerie red glow. "Whatever this is, it needs symmetry, and that broken statue isn't holding up its end." He looked over at Bomon and the others. "We either fix it or find another way to reflect that beam."
His gaze lingered on the damaged statue, both cautious and intrigued. "I can scout around, quick and careful. But I'm not touching that statue unless we’re sure it won't try to bite me."
Tyjra looks at the light before her and says "I do not know of a way to bend the light. My illusions only seem to work on people, not light beams. Ravi could you look around and see if the shield is laying around somewhere?"
Anyone who wants to look around can roll either an Investigation or Perception roll. Same as before, everyone can roll now outside of their turn order, so you know the results in advance of your turn. Please remember to say what you are rolling and not just post a number with no context!
The campaign has ended due to a loss of players.