The woman's expression does not change in the slightest. She stares back at Abraxas for a long, uncomfortable, silent moment before answering.
"Few possess the strength or bravery to make it this far. None have ever annoyed me so quickly."
She moves directly in front of the door, putting a hand up to stop the mage. "You have been invited in. Do not mistake that for passage," she states, now looking past Abraxas to the others. She speaks in a calm, almost bored voice, "Tell me...why are you all here? I do not recognize your faces. You are no heroes that I know, not that there are many still around."
For Abraxas:
There aren't any qualities about the statues that stand out to you. There are slight variations between them - they are not identical - but nothing particularly appealing.
Harmony followed everyone down the stairway to another door, very surprised that when they opened it, the statues in the center of the room actually moved. She could see the woman in front of the door at the end before hearing the deep voices invite them in. So she entered the room with everyone else, hearing Abraxas as she nodded back before hearing him speak to the woman and try to go past her. But then Harmony listened to her, realizing quickly that she wasn't too happy with what he did before hearing her question why they are here. "I'm Harmony! It's very nice to meet you. Pardon him, we're not from around here, me and him." she had said happily, referring to herself and Abraxas as she curtsied. "We're not quite heroes yet at least. We came here because of all the rumors and tales surrounding this place, wanting to investigate it. But we are also in a rush as well." Harmony would have said to the woman, smiling and hoping that the woman would be nice and maybe help or let them pass without any trouble.
"Just call me...Xas," she answers Garu. Her brow raises when Harmony introduces herself. "A bard," she says, intrigued. "You, then, Harmony, can claim the way forward. This place is stuffy. I long for a good bard's tale; a song, poem, story, I do not care which form it comes in."
Mro Jus Bir looks up from his quill for a moment to say, "I am also a bard. Perhaps you--"
"Entertain me,"Xas interrupts, never taking her eyes off of Harmony.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Harmony was very surprised as Xas could tell she was a bard and said that she can claim the way forward, longing for a good bard's tale whether it is a song, poem, story, any form really. The woman wanted to be entertained as now she felt the pressure not to fail and nodded back, quickly thinking of what to sing. "Alright! I won't disappoint!" she said back happily, backing up and preparing herself. Harmony then started to sing a very cheery and happy song about friendship and love while doing a little dance, spinning and twirling with a big grin on her face. She could only hope that she is able to convey the feeling of joy and happiness to Xas through her performance right now.
After Harmony's outstanding performance, Abraxas will say, "I apologize for my rudeness earlier. My haste has made me less than wise. I am Abraxas. I study magic," he says.
Xas stares at Harmony throughout the performance, an uncomfortable glare that gradually gives way. Eventually, her eyes close and a peaceful, serene look replaces the steely gaze. At the conclusion of the tiefling's beautiful song, Xas's stare returns. Her eyes move to Abraxas, then back to Harmony. "Thank you," she says, stepping aside.
"Now you have been invited through, Abraxas," she slings. "Let us see how far you can go."
Harmony had heard Xas, seeing her step aside and so happy. "You're welcome. I'm glad that you liked it." she said back to her, smiling and bowing before motioning to the others that they can go through now as she would lead the way.
Harmony leads you past Xas - who gives a roll of the eyes to Simeon - and into another hallway with an ascending staircase. A typical wooden door is closed at the end of this hall, but the walls to its side contain a pair of bookshelves. Though the hall is coated with dust, the bookshelves seem tidy and clean, each with well-organized shelves of books and journals.
"How odd," mutters Simeon softly as he scans the shelves filled with books. Relying on a bit of guidance, the wood elf investigates the books (with his eyes only) to determine if they have any connection to the door or what's beyond the door...
Like Simeon, Abraxas tries to perceive everything he can about the books: 23. He is sorely tempted to examine each title, but knows that would slow them all excessively. "Is this collection focused on a single topic?" he says. "How are they organized? Do any look particularly useful? New? Or old?" His walk is slowing, but he has not stopped walking yet. "Perhaps we could take a moment and look at them most carefully?" he says.
From a glance, the books seem to mostly be related to the topic of constructs. There are also shelves that contain loose parchment, folded neatly, and a pouch filled with something.
The books' age and quality vary wildly. Some look old enough to fall apart at a touch, while others appear much newer.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Harmony saw all the books, thinking that someone must have been taking care of them. She hears Abraxas, nodding back in agreement even though she wasn't sure how she could help though. She would help the two look through the books as well.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Stepping back enough to see each shelf clearly, Abraxas will try to investigate which book is the newest and which is the oldest that will not far apart in his hands. He also looks at the pouch and the surrounding walls. "How likely is it that these things have just been left here? Not very," he says. He also wants to see if the books are abandoned or magical: 20.
"I don't usually increase the disorder in Abeir-Toril or the multiverse generally by moving things that are not mine. These books, however, are tempting." He reaches for them, but does not yet touch them.
Not much else can be determined by simply looking; the books do not appear to be magical, but some do seem to relate to magical topics - Construct Arcanum is one of the oldest and Marvin Chaossong's Unholy Manuscript of Construct Creation one of the newest - while the pouch holds a bundle of something within that bulges its lining.
Abraxas Perception: 5
The woman's expression does not change in the slightest. She stares back at Abraxas for a long, uncomfortable, silent moment before answering.
"Few possess the strength or bravery to make it this far. None have ever annoyed me so quickly."
She moves directly in front of the door, putting a hand up to stop the mage. "You have been invited in. Do not mistake that for passage," she states, now looking past Abraxas to the others. She speaks in a calm, almost bored voice, "Tell me...why are you all here? I do not recognize your faces. You are no heroes that I know, not that there are many still around."
For Abraxas:
There aren't any qualities about the statues that stand out to you. There are slight variations between them - they are not identical - but nothing particularly appealing.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
“I am Garu: I come to spread the light of Tylyn. With whom do I have the pleasure?”
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
Harmony followed everyone down the stairway to another door, very surprised that when they opened it, the statues in the center of the room actually moved. She could see the woman in front of the door at the end before hearing the deep voices invite them in. So she entered the room with everyone else, hearing Abraxas as she nodded back before hearing him speak to the woman and try to go past her. But then Harmony listened to her, realizing quickly that she wasn't too happy with what he did before hearing her question why they are here. "I'm Harmony! It's very nice to meet you. Pardon him, we're not from around here, me and him." she had said happily, referring to herself and Abraxas as she curtsied. "We're not quite heroes yet at least. We came here because of all the rumors and tales surrounding this place, wanting to investigate it. But we are also in a rush as well." Harmony would have said to the woman, smiling and hoping that the woman would be nice and maybe help or let them pass without any trouble.
"Just call me...Xas," she answers Garu. Her brow raises when Harmony introduces herself. "A bard," she says, intrigued. "You, then, Harmony, can claim the way forward. This place is stuffy. I long for a good bard's tale; a song, poem, story, I do not care which form it comes in."
Mro Jus Bir looks up from his quill for a moment to say, "I am also a bard. Perhaps you--"
"Entertain me," Xas interrupts, never taking her eyes off of Harmony.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Harmony was very surprised as Xas could tell she was a bard and said that she can claim the way forward, longing for a good bard's tale whether it is a song, poem, story, any form really. The woman wanted to be entertained as now she felt the pressure not to fail and nodded back, quickly thinking of what to sing. "Alright! I won't disappoint!" she said back happily, backing up and preparing herself. Harmony then started to sing a very cheery and happy song about friendship and love while doing a little dance, spinning and twirling with a big grin on her face. She could only hope that she is able to convey the feeling of joy and happiness to Xas through her performance right now.
Performance: 29
After Harmony's outstanding performance, Abraxas will say, "I apologize for my rudeness earlier. My haste has made me less than wise. I am Abraxas. I study magic," he says.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Xas stares at Harmony throughout the performance, an uncomfortable glare that gradually gives way. Eventually, her eyes close and a peaceful, serene look replaces the steely gaze. At the conclusion of the tiefling's beautiful song, Xas's stare returns. Her eyes move to Abraxas, then back to Harmony. "Thank you," she says, stepping aside.
"Now you have been invited through, Abraxas," she slings. "Let us see how far you can go."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Harmony had heard Xas, seeing her step aside and so happy. "You're welcome. I'm glad that you liked it." she said back to her, smiling and bowing before motioning to the others that they can go through now as she would lead the way.
Glancing at the rest of party, Abraxas takes a hesitant step forward, following Harmony. He has Ray of Frost readied in cast of hostilities.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Simeon silently nods to Xas as he walks past her and quips, "We shall go far because we go together."
The words to Guiding Bolt rest on the tip of his tongue as he moves forward with the rest of the group.
Harmony leads you past Xas - who gives a roll of the eyes to Simeon - and into another hallway with an ascending staircase. A typical wooden door is closed at the end of this hall, but the walls to its side contain a pair of bookshelves. Though the hall is coated with dust, the bookshelves seem tidy and clean, each with well-organized shelves of books and journals.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Garu walks quietly, hands at her side, in stride with the rest of the group.
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
"How odd," mutters Simeon softly as he scans the shelves filled with books. Relying on a bit of guidance, the wood elf investigates the books (with his eyes only) to determine if they have any connection to the door or what's beyond the door...
Investigation: 7 + 3
Like Simeon, Abraxas tries to perceive everything he can about the books: 23. He is sorely tempted to examine each title, but knows that would slow them all excessively. "Is this collection focused on a single topic?" he says. "How are they organized? Do any look particularly useful? New? Or old?" His walk is slowing, but he has not stopped walking yet. "Perhaps we could take a moment and look at them most carefully?" he says.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
From a glance, the books seem to mostly be related to the topic of constructs. There are also shelves that contain loose parchment, folded neatly, and a pouch filled with something.
The books' age and quality vary wildly. Some look old enough to fall apart at a touch, while others appear much newer.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Harmony saw all the books, thinking that someone must have been taking care of them. She hears Abraxas, nodding back in agreement even though she wasn't sure how she could help though. She would help the two look through the books as well.
Investigation: 8
Stepping back enough to see each shelf clearly, Abraxas will try to investigate which book is the newest and which is the oldest that will not far apart in his hands. He also looks at the pouch and the surrounding walls. "How likely is it that these things have just been left here? Not very," he says. He also wants to see if the books are abandoned or magical: 20.
"I don't usually increase the disorder in Abeir-Toril or the multiverse generally by moving things that are not mine. These books, however, are tempting." He reaches for them, but does not yet touch them.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Not much else can be determined by simply looking; the books do not appear to be magical, but some do seem to relate to magical topics - Construct Arcanum is one of the oldest and Marvin Chaossong's Unholy Manuscript of Construct Creation one of the newest - while the pouch holds a bundle of something within that bulges its lining.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
"This pouch..." says Simeon softly.
He takes hold of the pouch and look at its contents.
"Hmm," Abraxas says. "I thought all of Choassong's work was burned." He will take the Unholy Manuscript of Construct Creation off the shelf.
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard