12 oil paintings of Zagor in healthier times in a number of dashing poses and outrageous costuming.
10 oil paintings of women and men in various states of undress and lasciviousness while most of those depicted are human, elven and dwarven there are three singular pictures depicting, in turn, a richly appointed room in which sits a scantily clad woman with a giant serpents head, a severe looking pale skinned woman dressed in a white fur wrap and little else she appears to have prominent fangs and is lying against a frozen waterfall.......a raven haired young woman wielding a crescent headed staff and dressed in almost translucent sheer black robes, she reclines on a stone platform covered in silk pillows.
4 watercolour paintings of the landscape around Firetop Mountain
1 large painting of almost photorealistic quality in a brass frame depicting an enormous pile of gold and treasure in a volcanic cavern.
Door 2-
This door once contained the treasures previously removed by the companions, its only contents now are a large winch handle.
Door 3-
A dusty but fairly luxurious bedchamber with silk and velvet bedclothes, a mahogany dresser and an armour stand.
Tzedaka does not touch anything but looks for anything that could be a resemblance to the night demon Shakor.(the scantily clad pics?)
”Banzo, could you see vhat is magic chere?”
”dis painting of Dee treasure. Dis is most unusual, as it is different from Dee otters. We know Zagor was making gold coins a bit chave not found dem yet.”
“Cherman, please, Dee true sight can reveal any discrepancies. I do not like dis rooms. Seduction,… greed.”
Garet unsure of what Tzedaka is asking him about the red robes, perhaps he was still suffering the affects of the wasting sickness, perhaps using Zagors own power against him was an error, he brought his thoughts to the presents, the lack of response from the dwarves worried him likely they were under attack.
Garet brought his thoughts to the here and now bringing his senses to bare on the pictures before him, he smelt trap here.
Banzo takes the 10 minutes to perform the magical ritual that will allow him to Detect Magic once the rooms are opened and moves from room 1 to room 3 looking for any items that glow.
"I wonder if any of these paintings could be works of art? I've heard of some fetching quite a lot of gold."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
The painting in the brass frame almost blinds Banzo and Herman with the intensity of its glow....
Garet ( or anyone who feels they may have an inkling) may make a History ( or perhaps Sleight-of-Hand) check to determine possible values of the paintings.
Garet steeples his fingers together using his thieves senses to inwardly calculate the value of the paintings
OOC Sleight of Hand 27 (NAT 20)
Garets experienced eyes run over the paintings.......those of Zagor could perhaps fetch money for collectors of memorabilia, particularly with Zagor being deceased now. He estimates 50-200 gold apiece to the right buyer.
The more risque pieces are a mixed batch- with three being worth perhaps 20 gp, two about 50 gp and two others 100-300 gp. The three 'portraits' are definitely worth more, he recognised all three subjects-
The Serpent Queen of Port Blacksand- this painting is exquisite and likely worth 500-800 gp......probably twice that to Lord Varek Azzur.
Shareela, The Snow Witch- probably one of a kind considering the predatory nature of its subject this painting is likely worth 800-1200 gp.
Leesha, High Priestess of the Lost City of Vatos- a painting that should not even exist considering the dwelling place of the subject who he only recognised due to the distinctive staff triggering a memory of an old retired explorer out of The Desert of Skulls he had met once. Easily worth 1500gp.....though owning it may make one a target...
The water colours appear worthless at first but noting a small Z-like signature gives him pause......if these are Zagors work.....perhaps 250 gp apiece.
The brass framed painting strikes him as truly exceptional......perhaps in the tens of thousands of gp.
Tzedaka looks but does not touch any of the belongings. Over the past week, she has worked with Enwynn to conceal her appearance. She wears a lightly colored dress. A wrap covers her platinum hair, and a grey cloak conceals her wings. She has on some makeup to give her translucent face a bit more color. They also found some eyelid extensions which she wears, somewhat subduing her increatibly beautiful eyes.
"I am going to get some fresh air. Anyvone care to join me? We are near dee entrance." She says, pondering their new finds.
"Yes! I want to see the sky again and breathe some fresh air."
Banzo will join Tzedaka outside even if it's just for a while (not sure if we're going back inside or not?) and stretch his legs by either pacing or walking in a circle widdershins.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Enwynn listens to Garet's assessment of the artworks attentively, and offers "Thank you for your expertise. I am more used to working with words when it comes to history." in thanks.
She says of the landscape paintings "I did not realize the former occupant of this place was an artist of some talent. It is a great pity that artistic fame did not satisfy their ambitions in life." as she fights off the sudden urge to send the entire collection up in flames. (OOC: Arcane check to know if the landscapes would be any use as teleportation/scrying aids to a sorcerer, total of 16)
Tzedaka: "...I do not like dis rooms. Seduction… greed."
"Seduction can be a subtle weapon, or so I have been told. If that weapon is used to bring about the downfall of evil..."Enwynn offers in a whisper, but says no more in deference to Tzedaka's discomfort with rooms being investigated.
"Some of these paintings would be...dangerous to openly possess. If accurate, they may have also served Zagor as some form of scrying aid." the elf suggests, with a glance towards the portraits of the snake-headed queen, the ice-witch, and she of the crescent staff. She hastens to add "The wealth they would likely bring if sold, however, could be used to undo some of the harm their former owner did in life." Her voice is quieter as she muses "Three sorcerers, all apprentices of one master, who was killed by two of his apprentices, the other left in apparent disgust at such disloyalty even amid evil. That's Zagor's past, the apprentice who turned away from the other two. But who tutored these three "star pupils", and what do they signify in Zagor's gaze? Rivals? Potential mates? Powers behind the throne of Firetop?"
The brass-framed picture draws her attention even before Banzo and Herman confirm its magical nature. (OOC: Arcana check on a magical portal being one-way or return possible, total of 15.)
She joins the priestess and the warmage in seeking space under open sky to think on what to do next.
(Edited for clarity, sometimes I need more words to explain things better than I did the first time around. Thank you for your patience.)
Outside the mountain,, Tzedaka speaks out loud but does not directly speak to Banzo or Enwynn.
”His master was Volgera Darkstorm. Zagor killed him. The other two pupils ver Balthus Dire and Zharradan Marr. “I believe Zagor was aided by the night demon Shakor (she spits to the left). Dee tattoos you vere on your arms are from cher. You angered cher greatly ven you charmed cher pet in Dee crystal cave.”
Shareella is Dee snow witch. Very powerful.
Lord Varek Azzur. Runs Porte Blacksand. Not a nice man.
dee picture of treasure, a room vee chave not found in Dee mountain but it exists. Zagor was making coins. Ver is dis room?
dee value of Dee gold vill trigger greed in men, and.. even some women. Even dose formerly of good heart. A wise man once said, Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed (Einstein)
( Re/ Landscapes......possibly, but as the depiction is of sparse woodlands and parts of the Pagan Plains if used as such they would be of little real use.
Not being overly familiar with interdinensional spaces or non-tree based teleports.......perhaps......her hunch is it is certainly a portal of some kind and likely one that operates in both directions given the nature of the depiction....if there is a key or some sort of pass needed is hard to say.... )
Ennwyn, Banzo and Tzedaka take in the afternoon sun and listen to birdsong.
Within Firetop Tannin, Garet and Herman muse over the proposed value of Firetop and its treasures.
...........................
Deeper within Firetop and sinuous scarlet form stirred and wound about its cavern....part of its mind wondered where its tribute was.....it wasn't like Zagor to be late........
"Ah, it is nice to be back in dee sunlight. You both realize that fighting Zagor was only dee beginning, dee prelude. He was backed by powerful allies, who vill be displeased with his fate and may seek revenge." Tzedaka has taken a great deal of time to try to look non-angelic over the past week.
"Dee mountain holds all of dee peoples stolen belongings, many of vidch have been turned into dee Zagor coins. Somehow, ve have not found this hoard yet. As vee have sent word, the forces of greed and corruption will muster a new group to try to take dee mountain. It has occurred to me that we may vant to cave in dee entrances to at least slow dem down."
"I chad mentioned dat I recall Stoneshaper Caldwyn telling you Zagor might need to bind a dragon. I suspect that he may have summoned one or even raised one as a pet. Dee longer we wait, the greater the chances are data dee elements of evil will regroup. You must develop a plan and summon allies."
"This mountain has many more secrets and holds a place in many other's plans. A possibly undiscovered treasure room and a hidden dragon's lair, either is reason enough to continue exploring."
Banzo walks on the grass.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Plans are discussed as the day grows slowly darker.......the former prisoners are all well enough now to travel, forces are potentially converging on Firetop, the drake is still quiet for now, order has been mostly restored to the mountain....
( I'm going to need a guide on actions taken etc. even if its just dot points in order to move ahead.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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( Correct)
(We will break them down.)
Sent dm a private message
”Der may be items of value not only do Dee cheroes but also to many people of Allansia.”
Doors-
Door One -
12 oil paintings of Zagor in healthier times in a number of dashing poses and outrageous costuming.
10 oil paintings of women and men in various states of undress and lasciviousness while most of those depicted are human, elven and dwarven there are three singular pictures depicting, in turn, a richly appointed room in which sits a scantily clad woman with a giant serpents head, a severe looking pale skinned woman dressed in a white fur wrap and little else she appears to have prominent fangs and is lying against a frozen waterfall.......a raven haired young woman wielding a crescent headed staff and dressed in almost translucent sheer black robes, she reclines on a stone platform covered in silk pillows.
4 watercolour paintings of the landscape around Firetop Mountain
1 large painting of almost photorealistic quality in a brass frame depicting an enormous pile of gold and treasure in a volcanic cavern.
Door 2-
This door once contained the treasures previously removed by the companions, its only contents now are a large winch handle.
Door 3-
A dusty but fairly luxurious bedchamber with silk and velvet bedclothes, a mahogany dresser and an armour stand.
Tzedaka does not touch anything but looks for anything that could be a resemblance to the night demon Shakor.(the scantily clad pics?)
”Banzo, could you see vhat is magic chere?”
”dis painting of Dee treasure. Dis is most unusual, as it is different from Dee otters. We know Zagor was making gold coins a bit chave not found dem yet.”
“Cherman, please, Dee true sight can reveal any discrepancies. I do not like dis rooms. Seduction,… greed.”
Garet unsure of what Tzedaka is asking him about the red robes, perhaps he was still suffering the affects of the wasting sickness, perhaps using Zagors own power against him was an error, he brought his thoughts to the presents, the lack of response from the dwarves worried him likely they were under attack.
Garet brought his thoughts to the here and now bringing his senses to bare on the pictures before him, he smelt trap here.
Herman indeed activates his true sight item
Banzo takes the 10 minutes to perform the magical ritual that will allow him to Detect Magic once the rooms are opened and moves from room 1 to room 3 looking for any items that glow.
"I wonder if any of these paintings could be works of art? I've heard of some fetching quite a lot of gold."
The painting in the brass frame almost blinds Banzo and Herman with the intensity of its glow....
Garet ( or anyone who feels they may have an inkling) may make a History ( or perhaps Sleight-of-Hand) check to determine possible values of the paintings.
Garet steeples his fingers together using his thieves senses to inwardly calculate the value of the paintings
OOC Sleight of Hand 27 (NAT 20)
Garets experienced eyes run over the paintings.......those of Zagor could perhaps fetch money for collectors of memorabilia, particularly with Zagor being deceased now. He estimates 50-200 gold apiece to the right buyer.
The more risque pieces are a mixed batch- with three being worth perhaps 20 gp, two about 50 gp and two others 100-300 gp. The three 'portraits' are definitely worth more, he recognised all three subjects-
The Serpent Queen of Port Blacksand- this painting is exquisite and likely worth 500-800 gp......probably twice that to Lord Varek Azzur.
Shareela, The Snow Witch- probably one of a kind considering the predatory nature of its subject this painting is likely worth 800-1200 gp.
Leesha, High Priestess of the Lost City of Vatos- a painting that should not even exist considering the dwelling place of the subject who he only recognised due to the distinctive staff triggering a memory of an old retired explorer out of The Desert of Skulls he had met once. Easily worth 1500gp.....though owning it may make one a target...
The water colours appear worthless at first but noting a small Z-like signature gives him pause......if these are Zagors work.....perhaps 250 gp apiece.
The brass framed painting strikes him as truly exceptional......perhaps in the tens of thousands of gp.
Tzedaka looks but does not touch any of the belongings. Over the past week, she has worked with Enwynn to conceal her appearance. She wears a lightly colored dress. A wrap covers her platinum hair, and a grey cloak conceals her wings. She has on some makeup to give her translucent face a bit more color. They also found some eyelid extensions which she wears, somewhat subduing her increatibly beautiful eyes.
"I am going to get some fresh air. Anyvone care to join me? We are near dee entrance." She says, pondering their new finds.
"Yes! I want to see the sky again and breathe some fresh air."
Banzo will join Tzedaka outside even if it's just for a while (not sure if we're going back inside or not?) and stretch his legs by either pacing or walking in a circle widdershins.
Enwynn listens to Garet's assessment of the artworks attentively, and offers "Thank you for your expertise. I am more used to working with words when it comes to history." in thanks.
She says of the landscape paintings "I did not realize the former occupant of this place was an artist of some talent. It is a great pity that artistic fame did not satisfy their ambitions in life." as she fights off the sudden urge to send the entire collection up in flames. (OOC: Arcane check to know if the landscapes would be any use as teleportation/scrying aids to a sorcerer, total of 16)
Tzedaka: "...I do not like dis rooms. Seduction… greed."
"Seduction can be a subtle weapon, or so I have been told. If that weapon is used to bring about the downfall of evil..." Enwynn offers in a whisper, but says no more in deference to Tzedaka's discomfort with rooms being investigated.
"Some of these paintings would be...dangerous to openly possess. If accurate, they may have also served Zagor as some form of scrying aid." the elf suggests, with a glance towards the portraits of the snake-headed queen, the ice-witch, and she of the crescent staff. She hastens to add "The wealth they would likely bring if sold, however, could be used to undo some of the harm their former owner did in life." Her voice is quieter as she muses "Three sorcerers, all apprentices of one master, who was killed by two of his apprentices, the other left in apparent disgust at such disloyalty even amid evil. That's Zagor's past, the apprentice who turned away from the other two. But who tutored these three "star pupils", and what do they signify in Zagor's gaze? Rivals? Potential mates? Powers behind the throne of Firetop?"
The brass-framed picture draws her attention even before Banzo and Herman confirm its magical nature. (OOC: Arcana check on a magical portal being one-way or return possible, total of 15.)
She joins the priestess and the warmage in seeking space under open sky to think on what to do next.
(Edited for clarity, sometimes I need more words to explain things better than I did the first time around. Thank you for your patience.)
Outside the mountain,, Tzedaka speaks out loud but does not directly speak to Banzo or Enwynn.
”His master was Volgera Darkstorm. Zagor killed him. The other two pupils ver Balthus Dire and Zharradan Marr.
“I believe Zagor was aided by the night demon Shakor (she spits to the left). Dee tattoos you vere on your arms are from cher. You angered cher greatly ven you charmed cher pet in Dee crystal cave.”
Shareella is Dee snow witch. Very powerful.
Lord Varek Azzur. Runs Porte Blacksand. Not a nice man.
dee picture of treasure, a room vee chave not found in Dee mountain but it exists. Zagor was making coins. Ver is dis room?
dee value of Dee gold vill trigger greed in men, and.. even some women. Even dose formerly of good heart. A wise man once said, Three great forces rule the world: stupidity, fear and greed (Einstein)
( Re/ Landscapes......possibly, but as the depiction is of sparse woodlands and parts of the Pagan Plains if used as such they would be of little real use.
Not being overly familiar with interdinensional spaces or non-tree based teleports.......perhaps......her hunch is it is certainly a portal of some kind and likely one that operates in both directions given the nature of the depiction....if there is a key or some sort of pass needed is hard to say.... )
Ennwyn, Banzo and Tzedaka take in the afternoon sun and listen to birdsong.
Within Firetop Tannin, Garet and Herman muse over the proposed value of Firetop and its treasures.
...........................
Deeper within Firetop and sinuous scarlet form stirred and wound about its cavern....part of its mind wondered where its tribute was.....it wasn't like Zagor to be late........
"Ah, it is nice to be back in dee sunlight. You both realize that fighting Zagor was only dee beginning, dee prelude. He was backed by powerful allies, who vill be displeased with his fate and may seek revenge." Tzedaka has taken a great deal of time to try to look non-angelic over the past week.
"Dee mountain holds all of dee peoples stolen belongings, many of vidch have been turned into dee Zagor coins. Somehow, ve have not found this hoard yet. As vee have sent word, the forces of greed and corruption will muster a new group to try to take dee mountain. It has occurred to me that we may vant to cave in dee entrances to at least slow dem down."
"I chad mentioned dat I recall Stoneshaper Caldwyn telling you Zagor might need to bind a dragon. I suspect that he may have summoned one or even raised one as a pet. Dee longer we wait, the greater the chances are data dee elements of evil will regroup. You must develop a plan and summon allies."
"This mountain has many more secrets and holds a place in many other's plans. A possibly undiscovered treasure room and a hidden dragon's lair, either is reason enough to continue exploring."
Banzo walks on the grass.
"Honestly I'm not worried about the treasures here, just the reoccurrences, of Zagor." Tannin, also follows Ennwyn, Banzo and Tzedaka
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reminder for myself. Work together or fail apart. Talk with each other when necessary. Describe how, where, if, your character moved.
The sign on the trail ahead reads "DONT FEED THE DRAGON!" "Working Together" Follow this link please
Plans are discussed as the day grows slowly darker.......the former prisoners are all well enough now to travel, forces are potentially converging on Firetop, the drake is still quiet for now, order has been mostly restored to the mountain....
( I'm going to need a guide on actions taken etc. even if its just dot points in order to move ahead.)