Requilary Investigation: 5

Milo 5

Henreid Investigation:21

Lycosa Investigation: 9

Valar finally notices the Elvish carvings on the monolith then looking he realizes there are several  but spread apart about every forty feet a straight line ahead of the party. Almost like mile markers. On the carving of the crumbling monolith in front of him and the party it says in ancient Elvish essentially "this way to Molaesmyr".... The swampy forest is still very quiet as the party stands near the carved monolith.

The party can hear a very loud slapping down as Valar holds his face in his hand before pointing out the elvish text on the monolith and the other ones, "I doubt this will lead us to the children so let's move on,"

 Lycosa takes Valar's cue and settles down, Henreid petting her to help calm her. He climbs onto her cephalothorax and hooks his feet under her first pair of legs, then speaks aloud to the party, "I'm sure this sounds funny coming from a ranger, but I'm lost. Are we following the grease trail, these ancient carvings, or forging a path through the forest?"

OOC: grease trails and monoliths are the same direction

 "I say we keep following the grease trail." Requilary says.

"Well if the thing thats doing this resides in Molaesmyr,,,,,,:

He starts walking that way after lighting a torch with the campfire only to stop to make sure the rest are following then once certain cautiously moves on 

ooc He has darkvison but a torch can be used as a weapon

"Let us depart so we may return sooner," Valar states, "At least we have markers to follow home,"

Malbor continues to give the monolith a careful look as he makes his way to follow the rest of the group. It seems as if he is trying to decide whether or not to attempt his earlier idea of smashing it. With a shake of his head he turns his attention ahead.

"Lead on then."  Saralyssa says with a nod to the others. She sends Striker on ahead to scout as they move through the trees.

Striker perception:  15

(How much copper and silver did she end up finding back in the camp?)

OOC: Dragon give me rolls a d6 for silver and a d8 for copper's.

The party traveling deeper into the the swampy forest follow the monoliths which still whisper to those who heard them faintly before the others it's still an uneasy silence. Ahead Striker notices a broken monolith that stops abruptly. There's a scattering of bones at the top of a large vine covered staircase. It leads down into an imperceptible darkness at the base of a massive dead tree.

(OOC: silver: 6, copper: 8)

"There are some stairs ahead." Saralyssa informs the others as she is told about them by her familiar.  She leads the others to them and points them out.

"So, I guess these are not the stairway to heaven."

Talos quibs as he looks for danger

15 Perception 

As he alertly checks for traps and other hidden dangers

Talos is excited he found what generations have been looking for, the entrance to the city and hopefully some signs of his Grandfathers fate

A thought of sending Milo further to scout but then thinks its not worth the risk

"Most likely a highway to a hell," Valar states looking over everyone's shoulders at the stairway with his lute in hand. 

(Is the bardic inspiration on Malbor  still active? only lasts for 10 mins)

Malbor readies himself as he lets the other check for traps and the like, mostly focusing his attention on being ready for a fight. For that purpose he does his best to listen for enemies.

Perception: 21

Requilary checks behind the group for anything following them.

Perception: 9

OOC: guys y'all don't see the stairway the owl who's ahead sees the stairway and communicated it to Saralyssa. She then said 'stairway ahead'... My bad for not using spoiler tags but are we reading all posts? Also I assume you're moving quietly and carefully, so half speed?

The party searches the swampy forest around them for traps but finds nothing another than nefarious looking plants. The monolith are still ahead and the stairway is at least 100 yards ahead of the party still hidden by thick foliage where Striker is flying ahead ONLY Saralyssa can get flashes in her mind of the owl's impression of what it's seeing.

OOC: Now is a skill challenge. Each party member will contribute a skill to reach the stairwell. Please discuss this in tbe PM and we'll start the challenge on the thread.