Allansia Wildlands Campaign.

Hearing Enwynns question, Tzedaka keeps looking at the water. She throws a few stones, interested in all the life in the water, from the smallest spider to the tiny fish near the side wall.

Then she turns and speaks to her quietly in Elvin, perhaps so that others will not hear and much longer than is her usual way.

Zeno is deeply distracted by rats, spiders and all manner of shadows but does find an exit from the expansive cavern, some 50' beyond the buildings is an opening into another large cavern, this one is filled with giant crystals, all sparkling and glinting in the light of phosphorescent mineral veins. Zeno stands facing two tunnels. Through his eyes Banzo reads the word 'PITS'  is chiseled into the stone above the lefthand tunnel and the word 'PUZZLES' is chiseled above the right-hand one. 

"Zeno has found another way out beyond the buildings about 50' away."

Banzo turns to face in that direction staring off sightlessly into the darkness as if he could see what is actually there.

"Two tunnels, one labeled PITS leading off to the left and another labeled PUZZLES that goes to the right." 

(The aid spell is off)

Tzedaka smiles and seems very happy.  
she says good morning to each of them in turn, giving each an affectionate hug. 
“Do de cheroes go to de pits or de puzzles?  Vhat is puzzle?” (She apparently does not know the word)

Coming out of his trance, Leigh overhears Tzedaka.

"Puzzles are questions or tasks that are purposely obscure where the solution must be discovered. While the pit sounds more ominous, it at least may be more obvious in its threats" 

"That's true Leigh if we can trust the labels, they may be mislabeled or switched around."

Banzo gets ready to head out and returns his senses to himself.

"Either of those tunnels could end up leading to a monster instead. Or in addition to what they promise. Who knows what Zagor has in store for intruders?"

Tzedaka looks at Leigh in understanding,

"Like ven de gods ask us to do tings and we do not see de purpose."

She then looks at Banzo and nods,
"Zagor vill capture, torture, and enslave intruders. He seeks to dominate all of Allansia and beyond. But....he too is just a puppet in de game."

"Do we flip a coin and leave it to lady luck?" Ian asks

"Heads we go Pits, Tails we go Puzzle?"

2

(1 = Head; 2 = Tails)

"Puzzles it is then. Let's get cracking, somewhere it's daylight and we shouldn't be wasting it."

Banzo begins his now familiar ambling tortle walk, heading further into the cavern beyond the lizardfolk buildings and toward the tunnels labeled Puzzles.

You step warily into the torchlit tunnel. In the distance you can see that the tunnel opens out into another cavern, lined with bookshelves that are crammed with hundreds of books. Standing in the middle of the cavern is a black-robed person whose folded arms are concealed in baggy sleeves which almost touch the floor. A large black hood completely covers the figure's head. " Enter, strangers,'  a deep voice calls. " You have chosen the path of the Puzzles. I am the Inquisitor. It is your task to prove to me that you are worthy to pass through my domain, and only by the power of your mind shall you do so. Fail, and you shall die. Step forward and listen carefully, soon your test begins.'

Seeing the figure, Tzedaka stays back a bit, then utters something in celestial (guidance).

She studies the robed being, both to see if she notices anything unusual and to see if she has heard of the inquisitor. (Perception with guidance: 18+2.

She then utters the word again, and touches Garot (Guidance).

Leigh watches Tzedaka and steps forward carefully, also casting the same spell on himself as he looks around and then on Ian.

(Perception with Guidance: 9+3 Nat 1

Casting Guidance on Ian) 

 (The above spoiler is in reply to Tzedaka at the river's edge.)

Enwynn is quiet as she gathers up her pack, seemingly lost in thought, and often glances in Tzedaka's direction as if seeking an answer to questions she does not yet know how to put into words. 

When the question of which path to take arises, Enwynn looks from one to the other and shrugs, as either option seems fraught with peril until seen, and by then the choice has been made. Her gaze lingers on PUZZLES longer than it does on PITS, and she smiles when Leigh's cointoss decides the matter.

Enwynn moves faster at the sight of so many books, then freezes as the one who proclaims themselves Inquisitor speaks. While she listens, the sight of so many books she cannot lay eyes on the pages rapidly becomes a torture greater than any dungeon's implements to her, yet with one hand she reaches out and pats Herman's arm, then Banzo's arm in reassurance, hooting softly.

OOC: Enwynn casts Guidance on Herman, then Banzo, and if she has time to do so, herself. 

Once Enwynn casts Guidance on Banzo he steps forward to hear what the Inquisitor has to say.

(At the rivers edge) Tzedaka smiles and hugs Enwynn as they quitely conclude their talk.

(loud enough for those nearby to hear)

"Your words are wise Eenwynn of de forest. De gods are watching us, like dese little fish. De actions of each chero gathered chere must tip de scales of justice. We must have purpose, and belief in each other."

Then she turns and skips back to the group, a huge smile on her face, excited for their next steps.

Garet smiling wryly at fates decision for he would have chosen puzzles anyway, hoping that a lifetime of living on his wits would prepare him.

Garet seems reticent to step forward until emboldened by Tzedakas touch, he strides forward purposefully, and nods in thanks to Libras chosen.

Quote from shimshon123 >>

 

She studies the robed being, both to see if she notices anything unusual and to see if she has heard of the inquisitor. (Perception with guidance: 17+3.

Quote from SalazarSacvage >>

Leigh watches Tzedaka and steps forward carefully, also casting the same spell on himself as he looks around and then on Ian.

(Perception with Guidance: 9+3 Nat 1) 

Leigh notes nothing more than the robed figure and the book shelves.

The robed figure chuckles deeply to itself.

" Mortals come with blades and seeking coin.....perhaps a simple task for simple minds first."

" There are two puzzles that you have to solve, this is the first."  He holds out his long cloaked arms in front of him and suddenly an onyx sword appears in his right hand and a bone dagger appears in his left hand.

" Now children.....", its gaze seems to linger on Tzedaka for a moment though its face was still shrouded.

' The sword and dagger that you see are together worth 300 Copper Pieces, The sword is worth 200 Copper Pieces more than the dagger. How much is the dagger worth?'

"The dagger is worth 50 copper pieces." Banzo squints at the weapons after giving his answer thinking maybe the onyx sword and bone dagger might be worth less or more depending on what they are made of.