Dragon of Icespire Peak ***CLOSED***

You don’t notice anything out of the ordinary in this room.

Connak shrugs at Brutus and says, "I'm going back to the main hall."

Once returned to the main chamber, he will return to the north side and take the time to seriously look at it hoping to find another secret door.

Perception: 22

(After this I'm done searching.  Will look for place to set up camp.)

Spending an hour thoroughly searching the main temple room, Connak finds not just one but three additional secret doors, all of which appear to be unlocked.

Additionally, he finds a small stone coffer at the bottom of the hollow column. It is a little bit larger than an average jewelry box and also appears to be unlocked.

(OOC: NICE ROLL CONNAK!!)

"Ahh, I see how they hid these doors!  And look, some kind of box."  Connak will point out the box but leave it alone.  "Maybe someone should check to make sure it is not trapped somehow."

Connak will crack the northern secret door as quietly as possible, just a bit, to peek through.

Stealth to open door quietly: 15

Tabesha'l, who'd been busy finishing her ritual as the rest of the group went looking down the southern tunnel, stood listening and observing the temple room with an unreadable expression. 

Upon first hearing Vaxis commenting on the dwarven death cult and then witnessing Connak's findings of the hidden doors and stone coffer, she discreetly points a finger at the wood elf, her calm voice ringing clearly - and somewhat disturbingly - inside his mind:

"If what our Dragon Paladin companion said is true, we would do well to stand a tight guard and remain outside this temple's walls for the night. Friend Barric seems shaken enough as it is, I see no need to expose him and the rest of us to unnecessary danger, at least until we're properly prepared. Also, Thuniviel, I would advise caution upon opening this coffer thou just did find... and hide its existence from the dwarves until we can do an exact tally of its contents, wouldn't you agree ?"

Connak seems to distinguish a discrete, slightly ironic smile curling the elven wizard's perfect lips.

Connak tries to do the telepathic thing, points a finger at Tabesha'l and replies, "Death cult, Barric or not, I wouldn't sleep in a place dripping ochre jellies from the ceiling.  As for the box, maybe you can check it out and make sure it doesn't explode in our faces?" 

Vaxis chuckles a bit.

"Nonsense, Sir Barric. Bahamut has need of all of his children and vassals. You are a capable warrior, and I am impressed by your skill. Before we are having sleep, I will be leading a prayer beseeching Lord Bahamut's good fortune. You may join me in prayer, together our souls can be cleansed and we may ask forgiveness for our sins."

He turns back to the altar.

"But first, there is something I must do."

He reaches the altar and removes his backpack. He takes out a block of incense, a censer, and a small decanter of holy water. He looks to his right and frowns.

"I will bless it anyway, cowardly drake. And there is nothing you could tell me to change that fact."

He closes his eyes a bit, and begins to pray.

"Bahamut, Lord of the North Wind, may your blessings purge this unholy place of the taint of darkness. May your righteousness cleanse this atrocity, so that others may walk in the shadows and fear no evil."

He lights the incense, places it in the censer, and begins going around the room, lightly swinging the censer to spread the smoke and lightly sprinkling areas with holy water.

"Son of Io, brother of Lendys, Tamara, Chronepsis, Astilabor, Aasterinian, Hlal, and Falazure, May your benevolent light be having brightness spread throughout this dark temple, and it be forever having blessings of your mercy."

Looking satisfied, he extinguishes the incense, making sure it is completely out, stoppers the holy water, and puts everything back in his bag. He then goes to retrieve his other party members (namely Brutus).

Seeing Vaxis Brutus informs him that “We found what looks to be a hallway but it’s caved in.  I think we can clear enough out, but I don’t think it’s what the group wants to do.  Might be nice for those dwarves though if we make it easier for them.  Anything new from out front?”

Vaxis looks pleased.

"Well, this place was devoted to a dark deity, so I cleansed it, hopefully. Do you require assistance, Sir Brutus? I have not heard much of what anyone wants, but I think we should take a rest, and come back to this spot later. I require Bahamut's aid in case we open a passageway to more orker jellies."

“That’s fair, my feet could use a rest.  The ground is so hard here..”. With that Brutus will walk back and join the group.  Plopping down and resting.

Conscientious that Vaxis took a big hit, Connak offers, "Will an hour be enough, or do you need to rest a full night's sleep?"

Vaxis thinks for a minute.

“It may be wise to wait out the storm until the morning. I should be having good health by then, and we can either clear Brutus cave in, or leave the dwarves to their bickering...after getting our share, of course. I am having appreciation of your concern, Connak.”

With the jellies gone and the secret doors found, the two dwarves can hardly contain their excitement and immediately begin exploring further through the complex. They find a few more narrow corridors and what appears to have been some sort of bed chamber with three stone bed frames in it, their feather-filled mattresses have rotted away decades ago.

The last of the sunlight disappeared over an hour ago and the canyon and temple ruins are bathed in complete darkness. (OOC - a campfire can only be started outside the temple, but torches can be kept lit inside.) The party decides it is best to make camp for the night to allow Vaxis to fully heal and replenish his divine powers.

(OOC: Each party member consumes 1 ration. Water is provided by the dwarves, who have a barrel of water that is still half full. Passive perception is sufficient enough to convince the party that the stone coffer is not trapped in any way and Tabesha’l’s detect magic ritual did not register any magic emanating from it. The dwarves are unaware of the stone coffer, but satisfied that they party has upheld their agreement to rid the temple of further threats, gives over their sending stones to Connak and Tabesha’l. Night passes uneventfully and the party awakens at dawn the next morning refreshed.)

END OF DAY 2

After waking and breaking fast the next morning, Connak will go open the stone coffer to see what is inside.

(Deducted 1 ration.  Manage arrows as we go.  16 left.)

 As the group rouses itself Tabesha´l watches Connak go and turns towards Vaxis, Brutus and Barric.

" Methinks our scout may need someone to watch over him in his eager exploring. Should we follow ? I would find it unwise to leave anyone amongst us exposed to more of these creatures on their own."

As she finishes her sentence, she rises to her feet, fastens her cloak around her shoulders and utters the incantation necessary to invoke her arcane protections. Soon, the air around the hooded figure once again takes on a familiar shimmer. She turns towards the rest of her companions with an expectant look.:

" Shall we ?" she asks with a little curtsy towards Vaxis. " Let us hope thy faith has tamed the corruption of this place somewhat. I fear we may not have finished with its foul denizens, however... I think thou shouldst have this, also." The dragonborn sees that Tabesha'l is holding one of the sending stones in her open palm, offering it for him to hold. " Fair Connak hath the other one, in case one might want to check on his progress."

Vaxis smiles wide, his head vane quivering a bit. He bows deep before Tabesha'l.

"I accept, honored elf friend. And Brutus, if you would be so kind as to keep Connak safe...You never know what could still be lurking around the corner. Have him contact us on these stones at the first hint of danger."

He turns back to Tabesha'l and Barric.

"Lead the way, friends. I shall keep you safe."

He stows the Stone in a pocket close by him, just in case it's needed.

“You got it boss!”  Brutus brushes the dust off of his pants after standing up.  Giving a brig stretch and an exaggeration yawn.  He follows in Connak’s footsteps.  His axe in hand as the blade all but nearly skimming the stones and dirt of the cavern floor.

After a night of troubled dreams, Barric remains quiet in the morning as he gets his equipment together. He lights a torch and carries his short sword in the other hand, the flames a bit of comfort to him in the darkened tomb, nodding wordlessly and following after Brutus.

Vaxis see's the other party members go off towards Connak and frowns.

"Very well....Tabesha'l...shall we make sure the entrance is clear?"

Connak carefully lifts the lid of the small stone coffer. Immediately, the flickering of Barric’s torch light glints off the contents therein which reflects an array of multi-colored sparkles on the face of the wood elf as he opens the lid fully.

Inside, he finds 15 gems of various types:
3 Turquoise
1 Moss agate
1 Obsidian
8 Tiger eye
2 Hematite