The key fits perfectly into the keyhole, and upon turning it, the latch emits a sharp though low toned clank. The door releases slightly, though doesn't open. However, enough empty space between the double doors now exists to the point where if there was light on the other side, there would be evidence of it.
There is no light and no sound coming from beyond the now unlocked door to the Wutai Palace throne room.
Anearis hears nothing beyond the door. And while still a good distance away, the footsteps of guard patrols in the hallways seem to be getting louder. Their speed is not quick and shows no sign of urgency to make the party think their presence is known to them.
"There was something shuffling in here," Ura whispers to the others, "but there's definitely more guards out there. Let's get in here and find out what's going on."
With that, she slips into the room, silent as the grave, and scans it for the source of the sound she heard outside.
Opening the doors and slipping in, the party finds a bit of an entryway before entering the larger room itself. Straight inside the double doors was an entry 'room' almost; ten feet wide by ten feet deep. And opposite the double doors was a familiar design: a single double wide stone door, with a pedestal in the center. The pedestal was cracked and the door completely open to the room beyond.
Beyond the stone door and pedestal was an easily identified throne room, approximately 100 feet wide and long, and 20 feet high. The door allowed entrance to the room from the north end, behind and offset from a throne centered a few feet away. The room contained a total of six entrances; two of both the north and south walls, and one each on the east and west. The door ways were all set beneath a second floor balcony that over ran around the entire room.
Two banquet style large tables with bench seating flanked the throne just inside the north wall doors. These tables were covered with what appeared to be personal affects from possibly the Cathaanian 'guests' or other nobles. Articles of clothing, jewelry, some weaponry, writing gear, maps, tools, bottles, etc. Just a wide range of personal belongings, though particularly ornate.
Other smaller tables with chairs sat in both north corners and south of the banquet tables near the east and west walls. At the south end of the room were rows of pew-like seating in a U shape that seemed to potentially be for some sort of audience, perhaps public seating, or large meetings.
More towards the center of the room were eight fire pits, providing the source of light in the room. They looked as if they hadn't been tended to since earlier that night, as a couple had lost their flames, and only provided the glow of embers at this point.
Finally, the piece of most concern within the room. Centered, south of the throne was a pool. In the same manner that the party had seen beneath the Castle of Aaaaargh, and few had seen beneath the Berossus Estate in Cathaan. The difference was that this throne room floor was a mosaic; one that had been smashed to reveal the shallow pool. Unlike the other locations where current and more recent civilizations had built new structures atop these ancient ruins, it appeared that Wutai simply renovated them, using the same bare bones of the structure.
No one, aside from the party appears to be within the room.
The pool itself, being recessed into the floor, was lower than the rest of that in the room; so there was no obvious way for the red-black blood like liquid within the pool to be drained out.
Since the party had just come from a level beneath this one, they new that there was potential to drain downward, though whether there was empty space beneath the pool, or it was solid rock, was unknown to Uthal, at this time.
Ura creeps towards the pool and pulls out a vial. Summoning her mage hand, she uses it to collect some of the strangely-colored liquid from the pool, corking it and tucking it away afterwards to be delivered to Adrian for further study. Afterwards, she waves her hand and prestidigitates a few of the fire pits to provide adequate lighting in the room for the party, provided that the doors to the hallway were closed. Still keeping her silence, she moves to the table of personal possessions, unable to let go of her habit of petty thievery when seeing things of potential value.
Investigation of table valuables and personal effects: 16 (17 if perception instead?)
The firepits roar to life at Ura's command, lighting the room, but casting long shadows on the ceiling and second floor balcony, from the balcony railing.
A voice, soft but delibrate, calls out to Ura, and the party. Standing on the balcony, directly behind the throne is a silver haired elf, with a 'larger than average' sized heads, more round comparatively to what's expected of an elf, especially considering the age of the elf. A black crown with white encrusted gems. He wears a black robe atop very fine black flowing clothing with silver trim.
"Welcome, friends. I've been expecting you."
The table nearest the party, that they would have walked by when entering the room has two leather purses, a dagger, two rolled up parchments, a goblet, three books, a staff, a fancy looking narrowbrimmed hat, a set of purple silk robes, two sets of noble clothing, a short sword, and a few rings.
Uthal looks up at the elf and decides to take his usual charismatic approach. "We have no quarrel with you, we've come for the heretic. Give him to me and we will leave this castle."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisysin Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
The highelf responded, holding his arms out wide as if performing the preset actions of a welcoming embrace. "Nor I you, my friend. I'm sure we could absolutely come to an arrangement that works for us both. Tell me what heretic you speak of."
A twisted smile spread across his face, but whether or not it was one of a devious nature was uncertain, because it appeared to simply fit his face, and perhaps just be his natural facial expression.
There were no hidden traps however, Uthal and the rest of the party became fully aware of a number of individuals entering the room, without any regard to concealment.
As the Emperor laughed in response to Uthal's demand, all six entrances were filled as Wutai guards marched in in twos. Stopping just beyond the doorways, swords drawn, columns of twos stood with the distinct purpose of purely blocking the way.
Simultaneously the guards with aimed crossbows filled the edge of the balcony running around the room. While a number of them were not with the party's line of sight, it was a safe bet that their numbers may have been upward of a hundred.
Settling his laughter, the Emperor continued, "I cannot simply give over Trevor. My friendship with him has benefitted me too much, and I have complete doubt that you could offer enough for me to betray that. It was even he who warned me that I should expect a band like yourselves to be coming after him and break into my palace."
As he spoke, to other figures stepped up to the balcony railing, near the Emperor: Shorty and Baldy. "However, his entourage; I have no loyalty towards them. And I may in fact even have information about where to find them. Information that I'd be willing to divulge, if you all were open to an agreement of sorts..." He trailed off, looking at the party, waiting for a reply.
As the room began to fill with guards, Anearis looked for an exit even if it was clear that there were none. The presence on the balcony of their two guides only made things worse.
"Why show us this kind of mercy? You could easily kill us now. What is it you hope to gain from us?"
"You are so right." He said almost gleefully. "But there's oh so much more you can do for me alive."
As he spoke, the party can see Shorty and Baldy's attention being drawn to something behind them. Some unidentified person(s) handed each a small, yet substantial sized, coin purse.
"In lieu of killing you all, something I would take great pleasure in and even do so publicly as foreign threats to the crown, I will let you live. But not only that. I will let you leave the city, unharmed, with directions of where to go. And in return I ask for two things: the first is that you never return to Wutai, and the second is that you kill the very Cathaanian royals that you are already tracking. It's still a win-win."
The key fits perfectly into the keyhole, and upon turning it, the latch emits a sharp though low toned clank. The door releases slightly, though doesn't open. However, enough empty space between the double doors now exists to the point where if there was light on the other side, there would be evidence of it.
There is no light and no sound coming from beyond the now unlocked door to the Wutai Palace throne room.
"I don't like this..." Austin grumbles as she stands back from the unlocked door. "Feels like a trap to me." She whispers to the others.
Anearis will try to listen at the door for any voices, hoping his acute senses will pick up words.
Perception:
25
Anearis hears nothing beyond the door. And while still a good distance away, the footsteps of guard patrols in the hallways seem to be getting louder. Their speed is not quick and shows no sign of urgency to make the party think their presence is known to them.
Uthal nods to the door. "That's where we need to go. Might as well be going. Trevor needs to get on with repenting for his sins."
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
"There was something shuffling in here," Ura whispers to the others, "but there's definitely more guards out there. Let's get in here and find out what's going on."
With that, she slips into the room, silent as the grave, and scans it for the source of the sound she heard outside.
Opening the doors and slipping in, the party finds a bit of an entryway before entering the larger room itself. Straight inside the double doors was an entry 'room' almost; ten feet wide by ten feet deep. And opposite the double doors was a familiar design: a single double wide stone door, with a pedestal in the center. The pedestal was cracked and the door completely open to the room beyond.
Beyond the stone door and pedestal was an easily identified throne room, approximately 100 feet wide and long, and 20 feet high. The door allowed entrance to the room from the north end, behind and offset from a throne centered a few feet away. The room contained a total of six entrances; two of both the north and south walls, and one each on the east and west. The door ways were all set beneath a second floor balcony that over ran around the entire room.
Two banquet style large tables with bench seating flanked the throne just inside the north wall doors. These tables were covered with what appeared to be personal affects from possibly the Cathaanian 'guests' or other nobles. Articles of clothing, jewelry, some weaponry, writing gear, maps, tools, bottles, etc. Just a wide range of personal belongings, though particularly ornate.
Other smaller tables with chairs sat in both north corners and south of the banquet tables near the east and west walls. At the south end of the room were rows of pew-like seating in a U shape that seemed to potentially be for some sort of audience, perhaps public seating, or large meetings.
More towards the center of the room were eight fire pits, providing the source of light in the room. They looked as if they hadn't been tended to since earlier that night, as a couple had lost their flames, and only provided the glow of embers at this point.
Finally, the piece of most concern within the room. Centered, south of the throne was a pool. In the same manner that the party had seen beneath the Castle of Aaaaargh, and few had seen beneath the Berossus Estate in Cathaan. The difference was that this throne room floor was a mosaic; one that had been smashed to reveal the shallow pool. Unlike the other locations where current and more recent civilizations had built new structures atop these ancient ruins, it appeared that Wutai simply renovated them, using the same bare bones of the structure.
No one, aside from the party appears to be within the room.
Austin puts her back to a wall, ready to cover the others as they move further into the chamber.
Uthal begins to look for a way to smash the pool in some way that let's the water drain away.
Perception: 8
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
The pool itself, being recessed into the floor, was lower than the rest of that in the room; so there was no obvious way for the red-black blood like liquid within the pool to be drained out.
Since the party had just come from a level beneath this one, they new that there was potential to drain downward, though whether there was empty space beneath the pool, or it was solid rock, was unknown to Uthal, at this time.
Ura creeps towards the pool and pulls out a vial. Summoning her mage hand, she uses it to collect some of the strangely-colored liquid from the pool, corking it and tucking it away afterwards to be delivered to Adrian for further study. Afterwards, she waves her hand and prestidigitates a few of the fire pits to provide adequate lighting in the room for the party, provided that the doors to the hallway were closed. Still keeping her silence, she moves to the table of personal possessions, unable to let go of her habit of petty thievery when seeing things of potential value.
Investigation of table valuables and personal effects: 16 (17 if perception instead?)
((Ura acquires vial of black pool 'water'))
The firepits roar to life at Ura's command, lighting the room, but casting long shadows on the ceiling and second floor balcony, from the balcony railing.
A voice, soft but delibrate, calls out to Ura, and the party. Standing on the balcony, directly behind the throne is a silver haired elf, with a 'larger than average' sized heads, more round comparatively to what's expected of an elf, especially considering the age of the elf. A black crown with white encrusted gems. He wears a black robe atop very fine black flowing clothing with silver trim.
"Welcome, friends. I've been expecting you."
The table nearest the party, that they would have walked by when entering the room has two leather purses, a dagger, two rolled up parchments, a goblet, three books, a staff, a fancy looking narrowbrimmed hat, a set of purple silk robes, two sets of noble clothing, a short sword, and a few rings.
Uthal looks up at the elf and decides to take his usual charismatic approach. "We have no quarrel with you, we've come for the heretic. Give him to me and we will leave this castle."
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
The highelf responded, holding his arms out wide as if performing the preset actions of a welcoming embrace. "Nor I you, my friend. I'm sure we could absolutely come to an arrangement that works for us both. Tell me what heretic you speak of."
A twisted smile spread across his face, but whether or not it was one of a devious nature was uncertain, because it appeared to simply fit his face, and perhaps just be his natural facial expression.
"Give me Trevor." Uthal says as he starts to just slowly scan the room, looking for any hidden people or traps.
Perception: 13
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
There were no hidden traps however, Uthal and the rest of the party became fully aware of a number of individuals entering the room, without any regard to concealment.
As the Emperor laughed in response to Uthal's demand, all six entrances were filled as Wutai guards marched in in twos. Stopping just beyond the doorways, swords drawn, columns of twos stood with the distinct purpose of purely blocking the way.
Simultaneously the guards with aimed crossbows filled the edge of the balcony running around the room. While a number of them were not with the party's line of sight, it was a safe bet that their numbers may have been upward of a hundred.
Settling his laughter, the Emperor continued, "I cannot simply give over Trevor. My friendship with him has benefitted me too much, and I have complete doubt that you could offer enough for me to betray that. It was even he who warned me that I should expect a band like yourselves to be coming after him and break into my palace."
As he spoke, to other figures stepped up to the balcony railing, near the Emperor: Shorty and Baldy. "However, his entourage; I have no loyalty towards them. And I may in fact even have information about where to find them. Information that I'd be willing to divulge, if you all were open to an agreement of sorts..." He trailed off, looking at the party, waiting for a reply.
As the room began to fill with guards, Anearis looked for an exit even if it was clear that there were none. The presence on the balcony of their two guides only made things worse.
"Why show us this kind of mercy? You could easily kill us now. What is it you hope to gain from us?"
As he's talking, Ura sends her invisible mage hand towards the table, trying to snab a ring or two off of it without catching anyone's notice.
Sleight of Hand: 9
"You are so right." He said almost gleefully. "But there's oh so much more you can do for me alive."
As he spoke, the party can see Shorty and Baldy's attention being drawn to something behind them. Some unidentified person(s) handed each a small, yet substantial sized, coin purse.
"In lieu of killing you all, something I would take great pleasure in and even do so publicly as foreign threats to the crown, I will let you live. But not only that. I will let you leave the city, unharmed, with directions of where to go. And in return I ask for two things: the first is that you never return to Wutai, and the second is that you kill the very Cathaanian royals that you are already tracking. It's still a win-win."
"Eh, please don't take my things." The Emperor said as the mage hand lifted the rings from the table.