Roxana will go ahead and have herself ferried across. She still keeps back, again firing the shortbow, this time from closer range. (Shortbow Attack: 10, Damage: 7 piercing + 4 sneak attack)
Geados rushes to carry Roxana, but as she steps into the shallow water area, Rash lands another of his 'enchanted swipes' with his staff, hitting Solid Shadow squarely in the torso with a resounding thud.
The undead opens his eyes in disbelief and stares at the half-orc wizard: "Damn you! My sacrifice! Now Lombulluth will never see me again... I will never see the Underwave Paradise again... Damn you..."
When the last words die, the shadow form has completely dissolved. Our heroes are masters of the field and can notice, to the north of the room, an imposing spiral staircase that descends (descends underwater, of course, given the flood...)
"Well done Rash," Roxana says. "Let's wait for everyone to get over her then discuss where to go. I suppose down the stairs now? Our boat ride is done?"
Indeed, Geados finishes ferrying all the party members, then announces: "The outward leg of the journey is concluded. I will go and wait for any new customers... but when you return, if you wish to use my services again for the return leg, call my name and I will come... and take you back, asking just for the same fee as the outward journey".
With that, with a final wave of farewell, the fiendish helmsman begins to row slowly along the calm waters of the flooded corridor, soon disappearing from sight.
Mival, meanwhile, can barely contain himself from going down the spiral staircase first, without waiting for everyone, and replies to Roxana: "Of course! What are we waiting for? Now we can all breathe underwater! It's a unique opportunity to explore the underwater level all together!"
Dawnborn, however, more reflective, seems to wait for the opinion of others too...
None of the party objects to the idea of descending the spiral staircase, so Mival finally enthusiastically leads the exploration to the lower level.
Descending the spiral staircase far below the surface of the water, our heroes arrive in a large room.
The room measures 40' x 30' and features a solemn marble-paved floor, but is completely unfurnished. The spiral staircase in the room connects it to the level above.
The west wall has three large openings (10'), one in the northernmost section, one in the center and one in the southernmost section.
In the center of the southernmost region of the room, a circle of mystical runes has been engraved in the marble that emanate disturbing intermittent blue-green flashes. Inside the circle there is a portal of yellow-green shimmering light, whose changing intensity does not allow to distinguish the possible destination, but the pulsations of power that follow one another with an almost hypnotic cadence suggest that the magic of the portal is active and ready to manifest itself.
The effect of walking beneath the surface of the water but still breathing is certainly an odd sensation for Roxana. She tries speaking to Gaer to see what happens, "Hello there, my love." She also starts to move her arms around a bit, wondering whether it will feel more natural being in the water or more like it normally feels.
The pulsing circle of runes definitely catches her attention. But she isn't sure what help she would be investigating what is clearly a sort of magical thing. She is a bit wary though that something may soon appear. She tries to keep an eye on what is happening but is also interested in getting a look at what might be down these 10' wide openings. She moves closer to the center one, taking a look. Her intention though is to glance down all three - with the northern one being next. (Perception: 16)
When Roxana tries to speak to Gaer, her voice actually comes out normally... Yes, there is that unfamiliar sensation of water entering your mouth, nose, lungs... but it is not an unpleasant sensation - it is like breathing... different air.
The tiefling ranger smiles at her beloved: "What a beautiful way you chose to experiment with this new condition of ours... Good, so now we know that we can speak without difficulty..." he takes on a mischievous look "Now I want to try an experiment too!" and he brings his lips close to hers, whose hair, floating freely in the water, like that of a red-haired mermaid, to give her a kiss.
Once down below, Gaer also feels unfit to examine the obviously magical circle; he simply glances at Rash and Anita: "Could this be the famous permanent teleportation circle that the Blackstaff had created centuries ago?"
For the rest, he stays close to Roxana, just in case of unforeseen events...
The two then examine the openings. They discover that the central one opens onto a large corridor that continues straight. Gaer, being equipped with Darkvision, adds that following it leads to an important-looking room, with an elegant black marble-paved floor.
The northernmost one opens onto a large corridor that turns immediately north, partially cluttered with debris, and the southernmost one opens onto a large corridor that turns immediately south, cluttered with a slightly larger amount of debris (both routes are perfectly passable, however).
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"That would be my first guess, brother dear.," Spira agrees, looking at the shimmering yellow-green glow. She circles it three times, examining the circle of runes and the energies within more carefully each time. Though she is not especially familiar with arcane magic, the arts of teleportation and dimensional travel have long fascinated her (Arcana in log: nat 20!), and she calls on all her accumulated lore to learn as much as possible about this portal. She even tries to see if she can deduce the current destination the gate is set for by which sigils flash in what sequences.
That done, she turns solicitously to Darvin. "Are you feeling better now darling? I almost died when that horrible shadow wizard caught you for a moment in his spell ... " She takes a calming breath to waft away the dark memory. Then, as their shared bent for curiosity and investigation rises to the surface once more, she returns to her speculations. "Lombulluth... the shadow wizard mentioned that name as its master. The 'Lord of the Underwave Paradise', wherever that is. I wonder ... " She glances anxiously back at the portal, and falls into silent thought again. But the fear that has crossed her mind is clear -- that the portal has somehow been corrupted into a permanent link to Lombulluth's realm. She also would feel a little easier if she could remember just who Lombulluth is. The name tickles at the edge of her mind, like something she ought to know but just can't quite place. And as his servant just hurt her beloved Darvin, she has just that much more reason to hunt down the memory ... thoroughly.
===***===
Arcana #2 (is Lombulluth an extraplanar / magical power, or even being?) 7
Religion ( ... or maybe a god?) #10
History (or ... who knows ... a historical figure of Faerun! ...perhaps a contemporary of the Blackstaff?) 7
Spira can't actually remember anything about this mysterious name, 'Lombulluth'...
But the arts of teleportation and dimensional travel have long fascinated her, so the tiefling cleric recognizes the circle almost immediately: it is a Permanent Teleportation Circle. Its use is not to teleport subjects elsewhere, but, on the contrary, to allow subjects who know the sequence of runes of the circle to teleport there without the possibility of error (if she wants, she can also copy the sequence of runes, since she has managed to identify it - but it still requires the casting of a Teleportation Circle spell to target the sequence and teleport there).
"Yes, thank you dear..." Darvin brifely hugs the Sergeant of Arvandor to reassure her... and perhaps himself too. "The effect has worn off. I am ashamed of having let myself be so influenced by the spell... That horrible undead could have harmed you without me being able to stop it... It's good for us that we are not alone". His eyes gratefully scan his fellow adventurers.
Roxana had been a bit surprised at Gaer's kiss. Surprised in a good way. "Now what made you think that that wouldn't work!" she says with a smile on her face. "I'm tempted to say you simply wanted to do that!" Having glanced down one hall, Roxana suggests to Gaer they examine the area in the southwest of the room while Spira and Darvin take a look at the teleportation circle.
"I certainly did not hope to deceive your quick and sharp mind" Gaer winks. He then accepts the invitation to further exploration and tries to take a few steps among the rubble that makes the passage to the southwest difficult.
In fact the 'challenge' is not difficult for our two heroes, who after a few steps realize that the rubble must be nothing other than the remains of the floor of the upper floor that has collapsed - in fact, looking up, it is possible to realize that you can swim towards the height of 20', thus reaching the level just left.
"We should be approximately in correspondence with the shrine to Eldath" the tiefling ranger mutters.
Continuing a little towards the south, the pair of adventurers reaches a point where the wide corridor overlooks what once must have been the entrance to a room - but everything is made unrecognizable by other rubble, certainly still the result of the collapse of the ceiling - and of the floor of the upper level. The wide corridor instead continues southwards, for a little more clear, even if it is clear that, continuing, new rubble will be encountered.
In the meantime, Aidwyn and Dawnborn suggest: "If we have now discovered everything possible of this mysterious circle of runes ... shouldn't we assee Roxana and Gaer and continue exploration?"
"Or call them to us," Anita Points Out "if we believe that one of the other paths is more interesting ..." Her eyes run to Rash, while Darvin remains next to Spira, waiting to see what she preferred to do ...
It takes Spira a little while to respond to Aidwyn's suggestion, as she has already drawn out pen and parchment from the pouch at her waist and is busily copying down the rune sequence she has identified. Then she looks up with a silly little laugh. "Most likely pointless, I know ... I don't even know how to teleport, and it certainly doesn't seem likely we'd have any reason to come back here even if Rash had learned that spell as one of his Wrestling Wizard moves." Her face grows more serious suddenly. "But so many beings ... us included ..., " (here she gestures towards Dawnborn and her brother and, then touches her own chest) ", would never have been if the magics of travel hadn't existed. And a teleportation circle's just one step from a dimensional gate."
Turning back to the subject at hand. she continues on, asking the remaining undecided party member, "What do you think, Rash? All these corridors seem interesting enough to check out, but I'd personally suggest finishing the one Roxana and Gaer have started on first. Or at least enough to make sure there are no creatures hidden there who might have seen or heard them searching." Walking up to the southern entrance from where she stands by the circle, she holds up her hand to ask a moment of silence and listens intently for any sounds that may be audible from the south over the soft swishing and quiet voices of the two searchers.
Spira, escorted by Darvin who doesn't lose sight of her, after having struggled a lot to be able to write underwater, approaches with all her senses alert, but for the moment she doesn't detect anything suspicious.
Aidwyn and Dawnborn follow suit, so as not to let the group fragment too much.
Anita meanwhile seems curious to find out if Rash has better ideas or if it's okay for him to follow Roxana and Gaer in exploring the southern exit...
It seems that Roxana and Gaer have been elected as the group's leaders! What will our heroes decide? Will they continue south along the wide corridor that then turns west? Or will they turn west first, through the narrower opening?
Roxana suggests they stop at the narrower passage to see where it goes. Unless someone dissents, she would head down that passage first. "It will be interesting though to get further south. If we can head up we would be in territory we hadn't explored yet."
Roxana and Gaer then lead the party to explore the narrower passage.
This opens immediately into a much larger area, which can be described as a 20' x 25' rectangle and an adjoining 15' x 15' square, is largely cluttered with debris, mostly rock, with a 10' wide opening in the southernmost part of the west wall, another 10' wide opening in the south wall, just 5' from the west wall, and a final 5' wide opening (5') in the center of the east wall.
Due to the collapse of quite a good part of the ceiling, this area is now in communication with the upper Level.
In the northwest corner is a bizarre statue or contraption, mostly stone, but with metal joints and springs that appear to give it potential mobility. The statue is essentially humanoid in shape (and is also similar in height) and wields two large shields (made from the same materials as the statue), one on each arm.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Looking over her brother's shoulder, Spira mutters, "Are you as wary of that statue as I am, Gaer? Let's examine it from a safe distance first, and then approach slowly and carefully." She carefully swims around just enough to be floating beside the two leaders instead of behind them. From this clearer vantage point, she follows her own advice as far as examination from a distance goes. Her further precautions include drawing out her mace in case the statue comes to life and attacks; albeit with some discontent at having to choose such a close range weapon. She files a mental note to consult with the archers of the party as to the feasibility of leaden tipped "bludgeoning quarrels" that might be more useful against beings such as this than she imagines her current sharp-pointed ones would be; and might also have the weight and momentum to be at least marginally effective underwater.
===***===
Perception 8
Arcana (is she familiar enough with constructs to identify this one?) 8
(OOC: assuming the white squares are the ones above water where the ceiling has collapsed. Can we tell anything at all about the space above from what we see peripherally while looking at the statue?)
[[ OOC: White squares are squares free of rubble, colored squares are where the celing (and the floor of the upper level) collapsed. Water is everywhere... the level is completely underwater. ]]
The Sergeant of Arvandor examines the statue for a while, while Gaer, at her words, decides to keep an arrow notched to his bow, as a precaution, and Darvin stands in front of everyone, with his trusty shield ready.
A few moments pass in which the statue remains motionless and the examination reveals no further details... Then, suddenly, it turns its head towards the party says, in a slightly metallic voice: "Hi... Is that you... Rajmund?" and begins to advance.
Gaer holds back from shooting, since the construct's attitude doesn't seem immediately hostile... and in fact the statue stops at a certain point, seems to observe everyone better, then concludes, interspersing pauses between short series of words spoken in the usual metallic voice: "Oh, you're not... Rajmund... And you're not... Rephis... either... Never mind"
The statue returns to its place, once again motionless and silent.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Roxana will go ahead and have herself ferried across. She still keeps back, again firing the shortbow, this time from closer range.
(Shortbow Attack: 10, Damage: 7 piercing + 4 sneak attack)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Round 2
Geados rushes to carry Roxana, but as she steps into the shallow water area, Rash lands another of his 'enchanted swipes' with his staff, hitting Solid Shadow squarely in the torso with a resounding thud.
The undead opens his eyes in disbelief and stares at the half-orc wizard: "Damn you! My sacrifice! Now Lombulluth will never see me again... I will never see the Underwave Paradise again... Damn you..."
When the last words die, the shadow form has completely dissolved. Our heroes are masters of the field and can notice, to the north of the room, an imposing spiral staircase that descends (descends underwater, of course, given the flood...)
Gratz! Combat won!
"Well done Rash," Roxana says. "Let's wait for everyone to get over her then discuss where to go. I suppose down the stairs now? Our boat ride is done?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Indeed, Geados finishes ferrying all the party members, then announces: "The outward leg of the journey is concluded. I will go and wait for any new customers... but when you return, if you wish to use my services again for the return leg, call my name and I will come... and take you back, asking just for the same fee as the outward journey".
With that, with a final wave of farewell, the fiendish helmsman begins to row slowly along the calm waters of the flooded corridor, soon disappearing from sight.
Mival, meanwhile, can barely contain himself from going down the spiral staircase first, without waiting for everyone, and replies to Roxana: "Of course! What are we waiting for? Now we can all breathe underwater! It's a unique opportunity to explore the underwater level all together!"
Dawnborn, however, more reflective, seems to wait for the opinion of others too...
None of the party objects to the idea of descending the spiral staircase, so Mival finally enthusiastically leads the exploration to the lower level.
Descending the spiral staircase far below the surface of the water, our heroes arrive in a large room.
The room measures 40' x 30' and features a solemn marble-paved floor, but is completely unfurnished. The spiral staircase in the room connects it to the level above.
The west wall has three large openings (10'), one in the northernmost section, one in the center and one in the southernmost section.
In the center of the southernmost region of the room, a circle of mystical runes has been engraved in the marble that emanate disturbing intermittent blue-green flashes. Inside the circle there is a portal of yellow-green shimmering light, whose changing intensity does not allow to distinguish the possible destination, but the pulsations of power that follow one another with an almost hypnotic cadence suggest that the magic of the portal is active and ready to manifest itself.
The effect of walking beneath the surface of the water but still breathing is certainly an odd sensation for Roxana. She tries speaking to Gaer to see what happens, "Hello there, my love." She also starts to move her arms around a bit, wondering whether it will feel more natural being in the water or more like it normally feels.
The pulsing circle of runes definitely catches her attention. But she isn't sure what help she would be investigating what is clearly a sort of magical thing. She is a bit wary though that something may soon appear. She tries to keep an eye on what is happening but is also interested in getting a look at what might be down these 10' wide openings. She moves closer to the center one, taking a look. Her intention though is to glance down all three - with the northern one being next. (Perception: 16)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
When Roxana tries to speak to Gaer, her voice actually comes out normally... Yes, there is that unfamiliar sensation of water entering your mouth, nose, lungs... but it is not an unpleasant sensation - it is like breathing... different air.
The tiefling ranger smiles at her beloved: "What a beautiful way you chose to experiment with this new condition of ours... Good, so now we know that we can speak without difficulty..." he takes on a mischievous look "Now I want to try an experiment too!" and he brings his lips close to hers, whose hair, floating freely in the water, like that of a red-haired mermaid, to give her a kiss.
Once down below, Gaer also feels unfit to examine the obviously magical circle; he simply glances at Rash and Anita: "Could this be the famous permanent teleportation circle that the Blackstaff had created centuries ago?"
For the rest, he stays close to Roxana, just in case of unforeseen events...
The two then examine the openings. They discover that the central one opens onto a large corridor that continues straight. Gaer, being equipped with Darkvision, adds that following it leads to an important-looking room, with an elegant black marble-paved floor.
The northernmost one opens onto a large corridor that turns immediately north, partially cluttered with debris, and the southernmost one opens onto a large corridor that turns immediately south, cluttered with a slightly larger amount of debris (both routes are perfectly passable, however).
"That would be my first guess, brother dear.," Spira agrees, looking at the shimmering yellow-green glow. She circles it three times, examining the circle of runes and the energies within more carefully each time. Though she is not especially familiar with arcane magic, the arts of teleportation and dimensional travel have long fascinated her (Arcana in log: nat 20!), and she calls on all her accumulated lore to learn as much as possible about this portal. She even tries to see if she can deduce the current destination the gate is set for by which sigils flash in what sequences.
That done, she turns solicitously to Darvin. "Are you feeling better now darling? I almost died when that horrible shadow wizard caught you for a moment in his spell ... " She takes a calming breath to waft away the dark memory. Then, as their shared bent for curiosity and investigation rises to the surface once more, she returns to her speculations. "Lombulluth ... the shadow wizard mentioned that name as its master. The 'Lord of the Underwave Paradise', wherever that is. I wonder ... " She glances anxiously back at the portal, and falls into silent thought again. But the fear that has crossed her mind is clear -- that the portal has somehow been corrupted into a permanent link to Lombulluth's realm. She also would feel a little easier if she could remember just who Lombulluth is. The name tickles at the edge of her mind, like something she ought to know but just can't quite place. And as his servant just hurt her beloved Darvin, she has just that much more reason to hunt down the memory ... thoroughly.
===***===
Arcana #2 (is Lombulluth an extraplanar / magical power, or even being?) 7
Religion ( ... or maybe a god?) #10
History (or ... who knows ... a historical figure of Faerun! ...perhaps a contemporary of the Blackstaff?) 7
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Spira can't actually remember anything about this mysterious name, 'Lombulluth'...
But the arts of teleportation and dimensional travel have long fascinated her, so the tiefling cleric recognizes the circle almost immediately: it is a Permanent Teleportation Circle. Its use is not to teleport subjects elsewhere, but, on the contrary, to allow subjects who know the sequence of runes of the circle to teleport there without the possibility of error (if she wants, she can also copy the sequence of runes, since she has managed to identify it - but it still requires the casting of a Teleportation Circle spell to target the sequence and teleport there).
"Yes, thank you dear..." Darvin brifely hugs the Sergeant of Arvandor to reassure her... and perhaps himself too. "The effect has worn off. I am ashamed of having let myself be so influenced by the spell... That horrible undead could have harmed you without me being able to stop it... It's good for us that we are not alone". His eyes gratefully scan his fellow adventurers.
Roxana had been a bit surprised at Gaer's kiss. Surprised in a good way. "Now what made you think that that wouldn't work!" she says with a smile on her face. "I'm tempted to say you simply wanted to do that!" Having glanced down one hall, Roxana suggests to Gaer they examine the area in the southwest of the room while Spira and Darvin take a look at the teleportation circle.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"I certainly did not hope to deceive your quick and sharp mind" Gaer winks. He then accepts the invitation to further exploration and tries to take a few steps among the rubble that makes the passage to the southwest difficult.
In fact the 'challenge' is not difficult for our two heroes, who after a few steps realize that the rubble must be nothing other than the remains of the floor of the upper floor that has collapsed - in fact, looking up, it is possible to realize that you can swim towards the height of 20', thus reaching the level just left.
"We should be approximately in correspondence with the shrine to Eldath" the tiefling ranger mutters.
Continuing a little towards the south, the pair of adventurers reaches a point where the wide corridor overlooks what once must have been the entrance to a room - but everything is made unrecognizable by other rubble, certainly still the result of the collapse of the ceiling - and of the floor of the upper level. The wide corridor instead continues southwards, for a little more clear, even if it is clear that, continuing, new rubble will be encountered.
In the meantime, Aidwyn and Dawnborn suggest: "If we have now discovered everything possible of this mysterious circle of runes ... shouldn't we assee Roxana and Gaer and continue exploration?"
"Or call them to us," Anita Points Out "if we believe that one of the other paths is more interesting ..." Her eyes run to Rash, while Darvin remains next to Spira, waiting to see what she preferred to do ...
It takes Spira a little while to respond to Aidwyn's suggestion, as she has already drawn out pen and parchment from the pouch at her waist and is busily copying down the rune sequence she has identified. Then she looks up with a silly little laugh. "Most likely pointless, I know ... I don't even know how to teleport, and it certainly doesn't seem likely we'd have any reason to come back here even if Rash had learned that spell as one of his Wrestling Wizard moves." Her face grows more serious suddenly. "But so many beings ... us included ..., " (here she gestures towards Dawnborn and her brother and, then touches her own chest) ", would never have been if the magics of travel hadn't existed. And a teleportation circle's just one step from a dimensional gate."
Turning back to the subject at hand. she continues on, asking the remaining undecided party member, "What do you think, Rash? All these corridors seem interesting enough to check out, but I'd personally suggest finishing the one Roxana and Gaer have started on first. Or at least enough to make sure there are no creatures hidden there who might have seen or heard them searching." Walking up to the southern entrance from where she stands by the circle, she holds up her hand to ask a moment of silence and listens intently for any sounds that may be audible from the south over the soft swishing and quiet voices of the two searchers.
===***===
Perception 14
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
Spira, escorted by Darvin who doesn't lose sight of her, after having struggled a lot to be able to write underwater, approaches with all her senses alert, but for the moment she doesn't detect anything suspicious.
Aidwyn and Dawnborn follow suit, so as not to let the group fragment too much.
Anita meanwhile seems curious to find out if Rash has better ideas or if it's okay for him to follow Roxana and Gaer in exploring the southern exit...
Rash just shrugs.
"I guess we might as well follow those two," he says with a little smile. "They seem to be the ones who have a plan around here..."
Unhappy that the market got rid of individual purchases for one-off subclasses, magic items, and monsters?
Provide feedback!
It seems that Roxana and Gaer have been elected as the group's leaders! What will our heroes decide? Will they continue south along the wide corridor that then turns west? Or will they turn west first, through the narrower opening?
Roxana suggests they stop at the narrower passage to see where it goes. Unless someone dissents, she would head down that passage first. "It will be interesting though to get further south. If we can head up we would be in territory we hadn't explored yet."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Satina Cindermark, Fighter || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Roxana and Gaer then lead the party to explore the narrower passage.
This opens immediately into a much larger area, which can be described as a 20' x 25' rectangle and an adjoining 15' x 15' square, is largely cluttered with debris, mostly rock, with a 10' wide opening in the southernmost part of the west wall, another 10' wide opening in the south wall, just 5' from the west wall, and a final 5' wide opening (5') in the center of the east wall.
Due to the collapse of quite a good part of the ceiling, this area is now in communication with the upper Level.
In the northwest corner is a bizarre statue or contraption, mostly stone, but with metal joints and springs that appear to give it potential mobility. The statue is essentially humanoid in shape (and is also similar in height) and wields two large shields (made from the same materials as the statue), one on each arm.
Looking over her brother's shoulder, Spira mutters, "Are you as wary of that statue as I am, Gaer? Let's examine it from a safe distance first, and then approach slowly and carefully." She carefully swims around just enough to be floating beside the two leaders instead of behind them. From this clearer vantage point, she follows her own advice as far as examination from a distance goes. Her further precautions include drawing out her mace in case the statue comes to life and attacks; albeit with some discontent at having to choose such a close range weapon. She files a mental note to consult with the archers of the party as to the feasibility of leaden tipped "bludgeoning quarrels" that might be more useful against beings such as this than she imagines her current sharp-pointed ones would be; and might also have the weight and momentum to be at least marginally effective underwater.
===***===
Perception 8
Arcana (is she familiar enough with constructs to identify this one?) 8
(OOC: assuming the white squares are the ones above water where the ceiling has collapsed. Can we tell anything at all about the space above from what we see peripherally while looking at the statue?)
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
[[ OOC: White squares are squares free of rubble, colored squares are where the celing (and the floor of the upper level) collapsed. Water is everywhere... the level is completely underwater. ]]
The Sergeant of Arvandor examines the statue for a while, while Gaer, at her words, decides to keep an arrow notched to his bow, as a precaution, and Darvin stands in front of everyone, with his trusty shield ready.
A few moments pass in which the statue remains motionless and the examination reveals no further details... Then, suddenly, it turns its head towards the party says, in a slightly metallic voice: "Hi... Is that you... Rajmund?" and begins to advance.
Gaer holds back from shooting, since the construct's attitude doesn't seem immediately hostile... and in fact the statue stops at a certain point, seems to observe everyone better, then concludes, interspersing pauses between short series of words spoken in the usual metallic voice: "Oh, you're not... Rajmund... And you're not... Rephis... either... Never mind"
The statue returns to its place, once again motionless and silent.