Arlo, looking down at the book you see localized drops of dried blood on the age worn pages, probably where it dripped from the individuals mouth when they met their end. The words on the page are a mystery to you. It is not written in any modern language you have ever seen.
Happy, the chest was onced locked, but the lock has since been smashed. Opening it up with a loud creak you see two stacks of clothes, one looks like ceremonial attire, while the other is more casual. There is also a very ornately designed book with a similar symbol as on the banner in the main chamber. Someone at one point plunged their blade into the cover.
Sieghart, this mirror is a bit peculiar. The frame is made of iron and has a scrolling design. Opposed to everything else in this room, the glass is completely clean and dust free. When you stand before it, you are confronted with a ghostly reflection of yourself. Your face is sallow looking and your attire is old and worn. When you look your image up and down you notice there is a deep gash in your stomach.
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Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Opening the book causes the binding to make snapping and popping sounds along with the smell of old pages filling the chest. The size of the book is large enough that you could still read most of the page, you'd just have to make educated guesses as to what the center said. The words are lost to you however. They are written in an unfamiliar language.
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Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Catherine steps up to look at the book as well, wondering if it might be written in Sullian. Orbid seemed more likely a recent invader to her, a foreigner, but this place was ancient..... perhaps he co-opted it, stole its legacy for his own ends.
It is in fact Sullian. Although your family still spoke the language while you grew up, this is still an older form with slightly different spelling and word order here and there. Nonetheless you are able to discern that it is some sort of ceremonial book that you'd find a sermon giver reading from. It speaks of some old god referred to as Naphelsia. The text you scan through gives you the idea that they either have some control with the passege of a spirit to the afterlife, or they are the lord over the domain. None of it reads as blatantly evil, but more in line with the current deity of death, the Raven Queen.
Arlo, they appear to be more ceremonial staves than magical ones used by mages or the like.
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Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Sieghart is initially taken aback by the reflection in the mirror. Then, he pats the place where he saw the gash to stomach to make sure it isn’t real. Once he’s sure it’s not real, he walks up slowly to the glass and inspects it closer for any symbol or marks. He also touches the glass to see how it reacts.
Catherine takes several moments to study the pages--while she knows this language, she has not often had cause to use it, and the dialect is ancient. Still, she can discern generally its meaning.
"Hmm. It speaks of Naphelsia, an ancient god, and the rites of death. Necromancy, no doubt. Troubling."
She looks around the room, her wariness renewed, as if random objects might come to life and start attacking them at any moment. Still, she is encouraged to finally be finding some clues as to the meaning of all this. Catherine goes over to the desk next and pokes the corpse with her axe, seeking to push it aside so that she may read the book on the desk.
Arlo, make a general intelligence to ascertain the meaning of this place.
Happy, make an arcana check on the staves, if you'd like. The first staff is a gnarled walnut limb with a clustered top clutching a rough cut onyx gem (think Gandalf the Grey's staff, but a deeper, more rich brown wood and a onyx stone in place of his crystal), the other staff is one piece of iron that resembles the shape of a wide tipped, but blunt spear. A symbol, similar to the one on the banner in the main chamber, is etched into the flat of the tip. It is etched and polished to brilliantly shine.
Sieghart, the glass is absolutely frigid upon touching it and sends a cold shiver down your spine, along with an overwhelming sense of the visage being your final fate. Make an investigation check.
Catherine, your push sends the loosely held together bones clattering to the ground around the chair and desk. Everyone suddenly halts what they're doing in the wake of the commotion. You all give a vigilant pause, and eventually find that nothing stirs allowing you to return to your searching. Glancing at the book, you find that it is also penned in Sullian. It reads closer to what you're familiar with, so is easier to understand. It looks like a journal of sorts. (Would you like to read it aloud?)
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Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
You're not entirely certain what to make of all this. This definitively a temple to Naphelsia, whatever that means, this cave town has obviously been deserted for ages, and other than the foot prints leading to this building, there is no sign of Orbid.
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Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Sieghart, looking the frame over you notice a small circle of tiny engraved runes. You're not 100 percent sure what they do, but you can come to conclusion that it causes the mirror to show your fate, or the most probable outcome if you continue the path you live your life. Shifting your attention to the others in the mirror, they appear completely normal. No ghoulish visage like yours.
Catherine, briefly flipping through the previous pages you see that many of the pages are unreadable, whether it be from the old blood stain or the pages tearing and obfuscating the ink. You can, however, read aloud the following four entries:
Entry 1:
"With the discovery of the Ancient One's temple, our lord's will shall be brought forth. This truely is a time to be alive. A collection of our most devout has departed to the continent Astanthos, and shall make their way to a mountain range known as the Caldera. Rebellion be damned, they shall seek out Naphelsia's only other surviving sanctuary and commune with his essence. Tales of great boons rest with his entombed champions. I only wish I could have joined, alas I must tend to our cultivated community in an effort to guide them through these uncertain times."
Entry 2:
"The rebellion has come to our doorstep. Vil'malish has fallen. May Naphelsia guide their souls to sanctuary. I fear that it shall not be long before our monestary is found... but I must have faith, for it has been prophesied that Nerull's reign of tyranny over the dead shall be brought to an end. Our lord shall return to his rightful place among the divine. The All Seer has never led us astray.
I received a message through the stone that the temple entrance has been discovered. Entry has been unobtainable as of current, but their persuit shall not be quelled. Apparently resistance by the rebellion slowed the voyage more significantly than I anticipated. Half of our missionaries where either taken prisoner or now eternally sleep at the bottom of the ocean in a sea raid. Kirsk shall pay for their aggressions to the empire!"
Entry 3:
"We have been discovered by the rebellion and deemed an enemy to their cause. Our defenses at the falls were overrun, but the stairs keeps their forces at bay. I believe they have forgone the option to overrun us and simply mean to starve us out.
A defensive measure has been installed at the entrance of the inner sanctum, and we have begun building an escape tunnel. Once our people all flee within, we shall make our way to safety.
On a troubling side note, months ago I appeared as an elderly man in Evrun's Window, but now I am shown to succumb to two arrows. I pray I lead my people on the right path..."
Final entry:
"That scoundrel! I hope Nerull takes Xan'drin's soul and gives it to Orcus for his undead horde! HE SOLD US OUT! He was suppose to divert the falls onto the stairs when the rebellion attempted to climb, and he instead let them in. The escape tunnel is not complete and the masses have clogged the entrance to the inner sanctum. I have ordered my assistant to close it off, hoping to save those that have made it in. We have barricaded the entrance and we arm ourselves with what we can find, which sadly is nothing to fear over.
They broke through. I have but a fleeting moment before they break the lock on my door. If they leave this book in tact, know that the followers of Naphelsia meant no harm, but to change the fate of the fallen, and help them reach the bliss of sanctuary. May the Ancient One shepherd yo"
The final word in the entry trails off as writer met his end.
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Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Sieghart goes over to inspect the mirror.
Arlo, looking down at the book you see localized drops of dried blood on the age worn pages, probably where it dripped from the individuals mouth when they met their end. The words on the page are a mystery to you. It is not written in any modern language you have ever seen.
Happy, the chest was onced locked, but the lock has since been smashed. Opening it up with a loud creak you see two stacks of clothes, one looks like ceremonial attire, while the other is more casual. There is also a very ornately designed book with a similar symbol as on the banner in the main chamber. Someone at one point plunged their blade into the cover.
Sieghart, this mirror is a bit peculiar. The frame is made of iron and has a scrolling design. Opposed to everything else in this room, the glass is completely clean and dust free. When you stand before it, you are confronted with a ghostly reflection of yourself. Your face is sallow looking and your attire is old and worn. When you look your image up and down you notice there is a deep gash in your stomach.
Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Happy takes the book, opens it to see if some of it is still readable.
Opening the book causes the binding to make snapping and popping sounds along with the smell of old pages filling the chest. The size of the book is large enough that you could still read most of the page, you'd just have to make educated guesses as to what the center said. The words are lost to you however. They are written in an unfamiliar language.
Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Catherine steps up to look at the book as well, wondering if it might be written in Sullian. Orbid seemed more likely a recent invader to her, a foreigner, but this place was ancient..... perhaps he co-opted it, stole its legacy for his own ends.
(Just for clarification, which book are you looking in? The one at the desk that Arlo is looking at, or the one from the chest that Happy pulled out?)
Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Arlo will gesture to Catherine at his book. “It’s all gibberish to me.” He moves on to the staves in the tubes. Can he tell what they’re for?
arcana 15
Paladin - warforged - orange
Catherine is looking at the book Happy pulled out of the chest.
Catherine:
It is in fact Sullian. Although your family still spoke the language while you grew up, this is still an older form with slightly different spelling and word order here and there. Nonetheless you are able to discern that it is some sort of ceremonial book that you'd find a sermon giver reading from. It speaks of some old god referred to as Naphelsia. The text you scan through gives you the idea that they either have some control with the passege of a spirit to the afterlife, or they are the lord over the domain. None of it reads as blatantly evil, but more in line with the current deity of death, the Raven Queen.
Arlo, they appear to be more ceremonial staves than magical ones used by mages or the like.
Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Can I make some sort of investigation check to understand generally what’s going on here?
Right now it looks like a ritual, involving some self injury, but I’m not sure why.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Sieghart is initially taken aback by the reflection in the mirror. Then, he pats the place where he saw the gash to stomach to make sure it isn’t real. Once he’s sure it’s not real, he walks up slowly to the glass and inspects it closer for any symbol or marks. He also touches the glass to see how it reacts.
Catherine takes several moments to study the pages--while she knows this language, she has not often had cause to use it, and the dialect is ancient. Still, she can discern generally its meaning.
"Hmm. It speaks of Naphelsia, an ancient god, and the rites of death. Necromancy, no doubt. Troubling."
She looks around the room, her wariness renewed, as if random objects might come to life and start attacking them at any moment. Still, she is encouraged to finally be finding some clues as to the meaning of all this. Catherine goes over to the desk next and pokes the corpse with her axe, seeking to push it aside so that she may read the book on the desk.
Happy hands Catherine the book and says
”It’s just gibberish to me, but it sounds like Orbid could have used some of these rituals.”
He then goes over to Arlo to also have a look on that staves.
Arlo, make a general intelligence to ascertain the meaning of this place.
Happy, make an arcana check on the staves, if you'd like. The first staff is a gnarled walnut limb with a clustered top clutching a rough cut onyx gem (think Gandalf the Grey's staff, but a deeper, more rich brown wood and a onyx stone in place of his crystal), the other staff is one piece of iron that resembles the shape of a wide tipped, but blunt spear. A symbol, similar to the one on the banner in the main chamber, is etched into the flat of the tip. It is etched and polished to brilliantly shine.
Sieghart, the glass is absolutely frigid upon touching it and sends a cold shiver down your spine, along with an overwhelming sense of the visage being your final fate. Make an investigation check.
Catherine, your push sends the loosely held together bones clattering to the ground around the chair and desk. Everyone suddenly halts what they're doing in the wake of the commotion. You all give a vigilant pause, and eventually find that nothing stirs allowing you to return to your searching. Glancing at the book, you find that it is also penned in Sullian. It reads closer to what you're familiar with, so is easier to understand. It looks like a journal of sorts. (Would you like to read it aloud?)
Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Arlo Int check 4
Paladin - warforged - orange
You're not entirely certain what to make of all this. This definitively a temple to Naphelsia, whatever that means, this cave town has obviously been deserted for ages, and other than the foot prints leading to this building, there is no sign of Orbid.
Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Investigation check: 20
Catherine will read the journal aloud.
Sieghart, looking the frame over you notice a small circle of tiny engraved runes. You're not 100 percent sure what they do, but you can come to conclusion that it causes the mirror to show your fate, or the most probable outcome if you continue the path you live your life. Shifting your attention to the others in the mirror, they appear completely normal. No ghoulish visage like yours.
Catherine, briefly flipping through the previous pages you see that many of the pages are unreadable, whether it be from the old blood stain or the pages tearing and obfuscating the ink. You can, however, read aloud the following four entries:
Entry 1:
"With the discovery of the Ancient One's temple, our lord's will shall be brought forth. This truely is a time to be alive. A collection of our most devout has departed to the continent Astanthos, and shall make their way to a mountain range known as the Caldera. Rebellion be damned, they shall seek out Naphelsia's only other surviving sanctuary and commune with his essence. Tales of great boons rest with his entombed champions. I only wish I could have joined, alas I must tend to our cultivated community in an effort to guide them through these uncertain times."
Entry 2:
"The rebellion has come to our doorstep. Vil'malish has fallen. May Naphelsia guide their souls to sanctuary. I fear that it shall not be long before our monestary is found... but I must have faith, for it has been prophesied that Nerull's reign of tyranny over the dead shall be brought to an end. Our lord shall return to his rightful place among the divine. The All Seer has never led us astray.
I received a message through the stone that the temple entrance has been discovered. Entry has been unobtainable as of current, but their persuit shall not be quelled. Apparently resistance by the rebellion slowed the voyage more significantly than I anticipated. Half of our missionaries where either taken prisoner or now eternally sleep at the bottom of the ocean in a sea raid. Kirsk shall pay for their aggressions to the empire!"
Entry 3:
"We have been discovered by the rebellion and deemed an enemy to their cause. Our defenses at the falls were overrun, but the stairs keeps their forces at bay. I believe they have forgone the option to overrun us and simply mean to starve us out.
A defensive measure has been installed at the entrance of the inner sanctum, and we have begun building an escape tunnel. Once our people all flee within, we shall make our way to safety.
On a troubling side note, months ago I appeared as an elderly man in Evrun's Window, but now I am shown to succumb to two arrows. I pray I lead my people on the right path..."
Final entry:
"That scoundrel! I hope Nerull takes Xan'drin's soul and gives it to Orcus for his undead horde! HE SOLD US OUT! He was suppose to divert the falls onto the stairs when the rebellion attempted to climb, and he instead let them in. The escape tunnel is not complete and the masses have clogged the entrance to the inner sanctum. I have ordered my assistant to close it off, hoping to save those that have made it in. We have barricaded the entrance and we arm ourselves with what we can find, which sadly is nothing to fear over.
They broke through. I have but a fleeting moment before they break the lock on my door. If they leave this book in tact, know that the followers of Naphelsia meant no harm, but to change the fate of the fallen, and help them reach the bliss of sanctuary. May the Ancient One shepherd yo"
The final word in the entry trails off as writer met his end.
Dungeon Master - Lost Land of Ror'nav
Ulfgar Rumnaheim | Dwarven Fighter - Heroes of Wildemount
Happy arcana check: 1