The door opened up quite easily and reveals a big hall behind it. It is lined with ten great pillars, carved into the forms of giants and dragons, that support the vaulted ceiling high above. Guttering orange torches set in sconces along the walls illuminate the room, and a mighty throne sits on a dais at the opposite end. The walls were once covered with tile mosaics, but they have been smashed and defiled by graffiti. Tiny fragments of tile litter the floor. You can see five other exits. A small fire smoulders on the floor before the dais, where six sleeping pallets lie empty, surrounded by packs and supplies. The sound of hammers ringing on iron comes from beyond the doors to the south.
Suddenly a harsh voice calls from the shadows of the pillars, “Go back the way you came! This is the only warning you’ll get!”
Ramious shouts back, "Oh, sorry, we didn't know this room was taken. Take it easy pal, we're leavin!"
Ramious shuts the door and turns to the group.Whispering he says "Anyone get the sense what sort of race that guy was? Orc or human? And, anyone got opinion on leavin and goin a different way, or fightin our way through here?"
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What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
The words were in Common, but with the accent and stiffness of someone, who is not using it that often. It's not orcs, there is no lizards hissing either. Might be something dwarvish, but not exactly dwarvish either.
At Ramious’ question, Alyssa would take a moment to really think on it. “Perhaps something dwarvish... but not quite...” Her own brows would furrow at the thought. They were definitely in a dwarves stronghold, so it would be expected to be dwarven. But why did it seem off? What happened? What’s different?
”I agree with Leon’s points...” The elf would pat her nose in thought, staring at the door, as if trying to stare through it to imagine what she had seen while their tiefling had it open. “We definitely won’t find out anything from here, huh?” Alyssa would look to him. She was willing to follow them through. At least they were aware that there’s something to look out for. “Just need to remain wary and to continue communication should we sense or see anything change.” She’d nod.
Should they open the door again, Alyssa would shadow the others for a sweep of the room. As she’d assume Leon could/would sense for magic, Ramious and Bugs looking out for threats and traps, she would look for hints of what transpired there. Was this camp a final stronghold for those already living here? Were they adventurers much like themselves who may have never made it out? Are there any indications of what this place was for or what could have befallen it, if that’s what the warning could be about?
Ramious looks to the others. In a quiet whisper, "Well. We could always head back into the tunnels and look for another way in. I'm sure this ain't the only way in. But, if we're of a mind to get in there, which, I guess we are, I don't feel so good about runnin in and slaughter random folk just cause they're in the cave we want through. They probably got good cause to warn off folk bustin in to their camp area. So...imma go try to talk to them first. Alright?"
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What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
"I would be against just killing regardless." Leon says with a nod. "Talking is always good. If they will talk then we are good, if they try to kill us, then I will defend myself."
Ramious nods, "Ok, if they attack me without cause, they get what they deserve, agreed."
Ramious pushes the door open a crack, and shouts through the crack "Hey, so...any chance you'd let us just pass through your room without any trouble? We ain't lookin for a fight....but...if you start one we'll make sure we finish it."
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What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
The room met Ramious with dangerous silence, but he could swear he felt as if someone was looking from the darkness. The same rough voice answered to his loaded offer: "This keep belogs to us! You are not here to fight - then what are you hear for?" (from the different corner echo brought a few mumbled words some recognized by Alyssa and Bernard as dwarvish, some by Leon - as Undercommon, but all were cursing potential thieves)
While Ramious was "negotiating" Alyssa could pick again an size the place up. First of all, it is obviously dwarvish, yet, it is quite big - its ceiling is 30 feet high, and the sconces are 10 feet above the floor. The decorations of the room are thoroughly ruined (the graffiti consists of crude epithets in the Orc language insulting dwarves and their ancestry), but the throne alone hints on the purpose of it - a throne room, banquet hall, a center of authority. If there was a Durgeddin’s keep in that cave system, you definitely found it.
The "camp" around the throne looks more tidy and clean than sleeping places of orcs (that much you can tell). Meanwhile, hammers to the south did not stop their work - the sound of fully operational smithy is unmistakable.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Alyssa blinked a couple times when Ramious would mention not feeling good about running in and slaughtering people. She didn't insinuate that did she? Her face would look horrified for the moment because that was definitely not it. She completely agreed with desiring to talk first, nodding along with Leon.
When Ramious would open the door again to begin the conversation, Alyssa would strain her ears to listen for the response as she'd hover to make her visual assessments. "It's a throne room and banquet hall..." She'd whisper softly. It may have been obvious. "Durgeddin's Keep." As the words would leave her mouth, the elf would duck around their tieflings wings and under his arm holding the door open, so she could slip inside.
Alyssa will hold up her hands to present that she was entering in peace. "My name is Alyssa Amastacia. I'm a scholar who specializes in archaeology. My compatriots and I were tasked with mapping out the castle plans above when we came across these ruins and decided to explore them further." Her voice would be calm and she'd speak slowly to ensure she was articulating her words correctly. "There is forgotten history here that picks my curiosity. I'm here to learn." There was genuine honesty in her voice. She'd be willing to present them with proof of her cartography, but looking her over, they'd be able to tell that the wizard held no significant weapons.
(What does she know about Durgeddin's keep? Would she know anything? History roll? 20 lol)
Alyssa can recall the facts that Sergeant Grendar Kuln (that half-orc that sent the group on the journey) told you (or, to be precise, showed you the paper from the scholars, that studied the subject)
"Durgeddin was a master smith who forged blades of surpassing quality and power. Centuries ago, his home was sacked by orcs. Durgeddin led the remnants of his clan to the mountains and established a small, secret stronghold somewhere in the trackless wilderness. From his hidden redoubt, he waged a decades-long vendetta against all orc-kind, until his enemies discovered his fortress and attacked it after a long siege. Durgeddin and his followers perished, and much wealth was carried away by the conquering hordes. But it’s said that the deepest and best-hidden vaults and armories escaped the looting, and that some of Durgeddin’s extraordinary blades still wait in the darkness for a hand bold enough to claim one".
"We were not told good dwarfs were working the forge here still." Leon calls out. "If you be honest folk, then we would speak with you and learn more of what is happening here so we can report it back to the town, who, doubtlessly, would like to know that you have opened the forge here once more." He pauses only a moment. "I am sure honest traders would very much enjoy having the option of opening trade with a town so close to your forge..."
Neither Alyssa, nor Leon were short or attacked by any other way. Instead, the same rough voice with a bit less degree of hostility spoke again: "Came from the town, are you? How did you came? There are orcs above we did not kill yet. Other things too." There was a moment of silence and then the voice said several words, understandable only to Leon.
It was Undercommon and voice demanded:
"You, yellow one. Come by the fire - alone. If you speak for the town we might listen. Forge is ours, Durgeddin's secrets are ours. We might want to trade. Might use some help too."
"He wants me to come forward alone." Leon informs the others of his group, not bothering to keep the fact he is translating the words from carrying to the speaker. "He says the secrets of this place are theirs alone, but they may trade with the town, and might need some help from us as well."
Alyssa wouldn't move outside of her eyes looking to where the voice came from that addressed her. "We took care of them." She'd respond simply and assuredly to the comment about the orcs. The elf would trust Leon to approach further than her and to carry on the conversation from that point.
Ramious, feeling the immediate danger is past, but knowing he's not the best talker in the group, crouches down onto his haunches just outside the door, at the top of the steps, staying warying, but getting comfortable.
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What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer? Class.
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Ramious shrugs and tries the door.
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
"It is only a light spell, go ahead." Leon says, nodding to the door. he prepares to back Ramious up as the door is opened.
The door opened up quite easily and reveals a big hall behind it. It is lined with ten great pillars, carved into the forms of giants and dragons, that support the vaulted ceiling high above. Guttering orange torches set in sconces along the walls illuminate the room, and a mighty throne sits on a dais at the opposite end. The walls were once covered with tile mosaics, but they have been smashed and defiled by graffiti. Tiny fragments of tile litter the floor. You can see five other exits. A small fire smoulders on the floor before the dais, where six sleeping pallets lie empty, surrounded by packs and supplies. The sound of hammers ringing on iron comes from beyond the doors to the south.
Suddenly a harsh voice calls from the shadows of the pillars, “Go back the way you came! This is the only warning you’ll get!”
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Ramious shouts back, "Oh, sorry, we didn't know this room was taken. Take it easy pal, we're leavin!"
Ramious shuts the door and turns to the group.Whispering he says "Anyone get the sense what sort of race that guy was? Orc or human? And, anyone got opinion on leavin and goin a different way, or fightin our way through here?"
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
The words were in Common, but with the accent and stiffness of someone, who is not using it that often. It's not orcs, there is no lizards hissing either. Might be something dwarvish, but not exactly dwarvish either.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"Seems to me what we need is through that door." Leon says with a shrug. "I'd rather meet whomever is in there and see why they want us to stay away."
At Ramious’ question, Alyssa would take a moment to really think on it. “Perhaps something dwarvish... but not quite...” Her own brows would furrow at the thought. They were definitely in a dwarves stronghold, so it would be expected to be dwarven. But why did it seem off? What happened? What’s different?
”I agree with Leon’s points...” The elf would pat her nose in thought, staring at the door, as if trying to stare through it to imagine what she had seen while their tiefling had it open. “We definitely won’t find out anything from here, huh?” Alyssa would look to him. She was willing to follow them through. At least they were aware that there’s something to look out for. “Just need to remain wary and to continue communication should we sense or see anything change.” She’d nod.
Should they open the door again, Alyssa would shadow the others for a sweep of the room. As she’d assume Leon could/would sense for magic, Ramious and Bugs looking out for threats and traps, she would look for hints of what transpired there. Was this camp a final stronghold for those already living here? Were they adventurers much like themselves who may have never made it out? Are there any indications of what this place was for or what could have befallen it, if that’s what the warning could be about?
just an unstable unicorn.
Ramious looks to the others. In a quiet whisper, "Well. We could always head back into the tunnels and look for another way in. I'm sure this ain't the only way in. But, if we're of a mind to get in there, which, I guess we are, I don't feel so good about runnin in and slaughter random folk just cause they're in the cave we want through. They probably got good cause to warn off folk bustin in to their camp area. So...imma go try to talk to them first. Alright?"
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
"I would be against just killing regardless." Leon says with a nod. "Talking is always good. If they will talk then we are good, if they try to kill us, then I will defend myself."
Ramious nods, "Ok, if they attack me without cause, they get what they deserve, agreed."
Ramious pushes the door open a crack, and shouts through the crack "Hey, so...any chance you'd let us just pass through your room without any trouble? We ain't lookin for a fight....but...if you start one we'll make sure we finish it."
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
The room met Ramious with dangerous silence, but he could swear he felt as if someone was looking from the darkness. The same rough voice answered to his loaded offer: "This keep belogs to us! You are not here to fight - then what are you hear for?" (from the different corner echo brought a few mumbled words some recognized by Alyssa and Bernard as dwarvish, some by Leon - as Undercommon, but all were cursing potential thieves)
While Ramious was "negotiating" Alyssa could pick again an size the place up. First of all, it is obviously dwarvish, yet, it is quite big - its ceiling is 30 feet high, and the sconces are 10 feet above the floor. The decorations of the room are thoroughly ruined (the graffiti consists of crude epithets in the Orc language insulting dwarves and their ancestry), but the throne alone hints on the purpose of it - a throne room, banquet hall, a center of authority. If there was a Durgeddin’s keep in that cave system, you definitely found it.
The "camp" around the throne looks more tidy and clean than sleeping places of orcs (that much you can tell). Meanwhile, hammers to the south did not stop their work - the sound of fully operational smithy is unmistakable.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Alyssa blinked a couple times when Ramious would mention not feeling good about running in and slaughtering people. She didn't insinuate that did she? Her face would look horrified for the moment because that was definitely not it. She completely agreed with desiring to talk first, nodding along with Leon.
When Ramious would open the door again to begin the conversation, Alyssa would strain her ears to listen for the response as she'd hover to make her visual assessments. "It's a throne room and banquet hall..." She'd whisper softly. It may have been obvious. "Durgeddin's Keep." As the words would leave her mouth, the elf would duck around their tieflings wings and under his arm holding the door open, so she could slip inside.
Alyssa will hold up her hands to present that she was entering in peace. "My name is Alyssa Amastacia. I'm a scholar who specializes in archaeology. My compatriots and I were tasked with mapping out the castle plans above when we came across these ruins and decided to explore them further." Her voice would be calm and she'd speak slowly to ensure she was articulating her words correctly. "There is forgotten history here that picks my curiosity. I'm here to learn." There was genuine honesty in her voice. She'd be willing to present them with proof of her cartography, but looking her over, they'd be able to tell that the wizard held no significant weapons.
(What does she know about Durgeddin's keep? Would she know anything? History roll? 20 lol)
just an unstable unicorn.
Alyssa can recall the facts that Sergeant Grendar Kuln (that half-orc that sent the group on the journey) told you (or, to be precise, showed you the paper from the scholars, that studied the subject)
"Durgeddin was a master smith who forged blades of surpassing quality and power. Centuries ago, his home was sacked by orcs. Durgeddin led the remnants of his clan to the mountains and established a small, secret stronghold somewhere in the trackless wilderness. From his hidden redoubt, he waged a decades-long vendetta against all orc-kind, until his enemies discovered his fortress and attacked it after a long siege. Durgeddin and his followers perished, and much wealth was carried away by the conquering hordes. But it’s said that the deepest and best-hidden vaults and armories escaped the looting, and that some of Durgeddin’s extraordinary blades still wait in the darkness for a hand bold enough to claim one".
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"We were not told good dwarfs were working the forge here still." Leon calls out. "If you be honest folk, then we would speak with you and learn more of what is happening here so we can report it back to the town, who, doubtlessly, would like to know that you have opened the forge here once more." He pauses only a moment. "I am sure honest traders would very much enjoy having the option of opening trade with a town so close to your forge..."
Ramious mutters a curse to himself as Alyssa nimbly slips past him. He clenches his teeth, ready to leap to her aid in case anything goes awry.
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.
Neither Alyssa, nor Leon were short or attacked by any other way. Instead, the same rough voice with a bit less degree of hostility spoke again: "Came from the town, are you? How did you came? There are orcs above we did not kill yet. Other things too." There was a moment of silence and then the voice said several words, understandable only to Leon.
It was Undercommon and voice demanded:
"You, yellow one. Come by the fire - alone. If you speak for the town we might listen. Forge is ours, Durgeddin's secrets are ours. We might want to trade. Might use some help too."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
"He wants me to come forward alone." Leon informs the others of his group, not bothering to keep the fact he is translating the words from carrying to the speaker. "He says the secrets of this place are theirs alone, but they may trade with the town, and might need some help from us as well."
Leon then steps past Ramious and into the chamber. He walks forward a bit, braced for an attack or some other sort of trap.
Alyssa wouldn't move outside of her eyes looking to where the voice came from that addressed her. "We took care of them." She'd respond simply and assuredly to the comment about the orcs. The elf would trust Leon to approach further than her and to carry on the conversation from that point.
just an unstable unicorn.
Ramious, feeling the immediate danger is past, but knowing he's not the best talker in the group, crouches down onto his haunches just outside the door, at the top of the steps, staying warying, but getting comfortable.
What's the difference between a Wizard and a Sorcerer?
Class.