Dungeon of the Mad Mage (#9 PbP)

Evrik is amazed at the stonework and looks carefully at the walls and the carvings in an attempt to recall Dwarven lore that may have mentioned such a place. (History using stonecunning 22)

This appears to have once been a temple dedicated to the dwarven god Dumathoin, the Keeper of Secrets under the Mountain.

"I do dare say. This place continues to get quite unnerving. Wedge. See about that way, won't ya?" The bugbear requests. Wedge flies off towards a nearby door(Room E) to investigate, and mentally poke him if he finds anything. He turns back to watch the tentacles of room B for a moment before following after the others. "Whoo-wee! Just look'em." Biggs, against perhaps his better judgement, he goes over to examine the fallen dragonborn to try and gauge its worth. 

 Investigation: 16.

Biggs: The bones are not really worth anything. 

Wedge: This room appears to be a storage facility. Supporting the 20-foot-high ceiling are four pillars of white marble, each shaped in the likeness of a stoic female elf in flowing robes with a flowering branch clutched to her chest. The caryatids face inward. The walls are carved with bas-reliefs of unicorns and bare-branched trees. You can hear clicking and clacking noises, as if something metallic is walking around.

Lythril goes before the statue of Dumathoin kneels, and prays giving thanks to the dwarven god. "Hail Dumathoin, keeper of secret, thank you for unlocking our eyes to danger and shielding our souls from fear."

Wedge does what Wedge does best: Survive. Thus, he quickly sent of an impression of what he saw before flying at maximum speed to Biggs shoulder. By which point, the bugbear has long since taken to gnawing on the fallen bone. "I don't know about you fellows, but this is starting to seem more like museum area, if anything. Oh, and there's apparently something mechanical back the other way. Probably a friend of yours, OU812?" 

Grianne sighs Still no evil wizard summoning the end of the world?! I pray to the forest gods we find him soon.

Danitriel goes to the statue and gives it a good look to see if there are any interesting details.

Perception: 14

Investigation: 9

Azrael would follow close behind the group, admiring the stonework. " as dangerous as this place may be, I find it hard to not find it beautiful. If a bit unnerving at times."

Azrael kept a close eye on the tentacles in case they truly did spring to life but it is best to avoid being near them, walking around them if necessary until they reach the other room.

Seeing the dragon skeletons, Azrael seems awestruck. After a few moments hesitation, he precedes over to the dragon skeletons. He immediately begins attempting to pull the teeth from the displays, intending to use them as a necklace or Charm of some sort.

"These are so cool!" Ra'iik says, collecting the fallen bones of the skeletal dragons for scrap for Stella. "Azrael! I thought you'd have more respect for your ancestors remains!" He says with a grin, fully intending to stir him up.

"That might be how Dragonborn honour their ancestors." Dani suggested with a shrug.

OU812 just smiles broadly at Mr. Biggs' comment about meeting another mechanical construct.  "My brother at arms!  Come, let us further explore these dragon bones, and then we visit with my relative....and kill it."

Azrael would chuckle at Raiik's comment, as he pried off the teeth, as many as he could (not sure if/what check is wanted) Some cultures revere their dead by leaving them alone, others by worshiping them, or reanimating their bodies or spirits. But for my clan, a single dragon's tooth is considered a massive charm of good fortune, let alone however many are here!

Regardless, Azrael would put whatever he managed to collect into his pouch, intending to work on them later.. perhaps even have a dragon-tooth dagger crafted, or perhaps a dragon-bone staff or wand. Grabbing a femur, or other similarly usable part to serve as the frame (check?) before being satisfied with moving on.

He smiled despite himself, and his joviality making him forget as he falls into prayer. Letting everyone go about their business, as he sets down a single candle, lighting it with a spark between his fingers, and praying quietly to Bahamut (Religious intensity: 19) Gettign to his knee's and prostrating himself with the dignity of a proud race - Oh Bahamut, who art in Celestia, your boons are endless, and your power vast, your justice absolute, and you will indomitable. I thank you for this discovery, and this honor. However, I must needs pray to you.

I am troubled, about several things; Namely, it seems as if my prayers are going to your Sister.. Tiamat, who was supposed to have been slain by several heroes in the recent past, though it seems as though she still yet lives... And somehow, my prayers are being diverted to her.. even now I wonder if this will reach you. Though my faith has been shaken, it will not waver, for ever have you been my northern star, guiding my actions, my fate, and my life. You taught me justice, and how it must needs be enforced.

The other, is two-fold. Master Dwarf, and Allesandra seem to both be troubled by a dark past, and I was granted a vision, I believe by you... that she needs pray, though your answer was vague, I take this as a trial I must pass.. or she must pass... Regardless, I will do my best to aid her in this, once she is willing. And please grant aid and succor to Master Evrik, his heart and soul are almost as kind as the halls of your court, but they are beset by demons of the mind -I assume- Aid him in this, so he may better survive the trials ahead.

And with that, he snuffed the candle, waving his hand religiously, in familiar motions to some of the party. Then replacing the candle in his bag, once the wax was sufficiently dried. Making his way to Lythril, he would pull her into a firm friendly hug. And thank you for being true to yourself, in some small way it helps keep me steady.

Evrik continues walking down the hallway admiring the stonework as he follows the others into the dragon hall. As he makes his way down, his mind wanders, The life I sought? he asks himself. And the priest? So familiar. But as the thoughts touch him, they just as quickly flutter away. As he walks into the hall with the others, the sight of the dragon bones overwhelm him. He looks around at the others, Azrael collecting and everyone enthralled. "Incredible!", he says aloud to no one in particular. But yet... it was somehow unsettling.

Walking over to where Azrael and Lythril stood, he says, "Tell me, have either of you ever seen five dragons, especially their skeletons, in such a formation? And the fine stonework, clearly the work of master dwarves, and yet here abandoned and in ruin. This is not a place that would have fallen easily. Something unnerves me here." Evrik joins Dani as she investigates the place. (Perception: 12)

As he searched, the emptiness of the place haunted him. A flash of the dream. What were we fighting? The fallen. Evrik's posture changed as the loss and darkness of it all found a tiny crack in his armor.

"Alright, let's see if we can find something out of sorts..."

investigation 18

"Nope, everything's just fine. I think maybe they went on a holiday"

Azrael pipes up a bit as everyone seems to be looking around for things Remember, you can ask my orb for anything, it's quite knowledgeable.

Azrael: The Weave works in mysterious ways. All you can do is continue to be faithful, wether in the face of My Glory, or being tempted by Her Deceptions. Know this, Evrik will require your strength, your support, your friendship. The Weave caresses his mind in a malicious way, and his visions will continue to worsen the longer he remains. You must be a source of vigilance. Alessandra had a dark secret, a dark past, and a darkness that surrounds her. When she is ready she may share more with you, but you must listen to Me, and to your heart and help her to be in the light so that you can be the strength she needs when she is weak.

Wedge scouted out the statue room, but did any of you head there? Dani?

Yup, Dani went there and investigated the elf statue.

Grianne stands watch, waiting for any ambush