-/-/- Tomb of Annihilation -\-\-

Quote from filcat >>

The obelisk seems to give away an abjuration aura. Vines and vegetation cover the obelisk almost completely. On the southern face of the obelisk, there is perhaps a message, but it would require clearing it from the vegetation first to read it.

 Kurma cast sacred flame on the vegetation around the obelisk to be able to read the inscription

After taking the time to familiarize himself with with new shield and a long session of meditation and a belly full of ale from the alchemy jug, Irommek makes another pledge to Valkauna.

"We took care of the abomination Ras Nsi but lost a dear friend in Musharib.  Take care of Mushy and help him find his way in the afterlife.  I'm a fighter first and foremost.  I've been doing it far too long and it's in my blood.  However, I've got a sweet spot for you, my dear lady.  I will continue to help bring peace back to the dead for you and only ask that you give me the strength to keep my friends around so we can enjoy drinking beers, and maybe a good old fashioned tavern brawl, together when we get back to some form of civilization."

Falling forward, Irommek face-planted into a soft patch of mud and smiled as he felt the warmth of his goddess wash over him as he passed out for the evening.

Waking the next day he felt refreshed and ready to descend into the tomb.  Arriving at the obelisk Irommek smiled at Brunella as she accepted the gauntlets from Kurma.

Looking at Kurma and then at Oniss, Irommek motioned to the mysterious obelisk.

"I know it's not your thing Oniss, but if you or Kurma want to take a closer look at the magical hum from that obelisk, I'll try to help."

OOC: Offering to cast Guidance to anyone do a check on the obelisk. 

While the others look at the dark obelisk, Brunella looks around with her eagle eyes. She scans the area for anything of note, and looks especially for any animals or beasts in the vicinity. While doing so, she merges into her totem, becoming one with animals, learning their language and way of communication.

OOC: Cast Speak with animals

Brunella notices three stone gargoyles watching her from narrow ledges carved into the cliff side. Each has the face of a bearded devil, its mouth agape in a silent scream.

Also, there is a little lizard hanging on the wall east of obelisk, taking all the warmth of the sun.

Brunella speaks as a lizard: "Hello friend, sun be with you."

"Oh, hi. You know, you are big, you make shadow..."

"Yes, big shadow. You are small. Friend, will you be my eyes? Can you look inside the rock path for me?"

If the lizard consents, Brunella will cast Beast Sense on it.

"Fine. There, there or there?"

Before completing the ritual, the lizard asks Brunella which way he is supposed to go.

Brunella considers. She only sees two options, a door to the north, and a passageway to the east. But the lizard has said three things. 
She thinks carefully. Perhaps there is another way, that only the lizard knows? She considers again, how to communicate to the lizard.

"Not there", she says, pointing to the door. "Not there". She points to the passageway. "The other one".

"You got it."

The lizard sets itself off as soon as Brunella finishes the ritual. The world spins for a moment for Brunella, as she now sees the colourful world through the eyes of the tiny lizard (Darkvision 30 ft.).

The lizard to toward the bushes west of the obelisk and passes through them at all speed...and there it is, an archway in the cliff face, completely hidden by the vegetation. Stone skulls peer down from the lintel, and old bones litter the threshold. As light strikes the entrance, a swarm of bats screeches out from within. Brunella senses that the lizard is scared out by the bats and does not dare to further, but she gets a view of a stone door. A slab of worked stone blocks the overgrown tunnel some twenty feet from the entrance. Grinning skulls mark the edges of the slab, in the center of which are nine cube-shaped cavities arranged in three rows of three.

"Great almost done with this mission, Let me check ot for traps before we place the pieces in.." Felix will check the slab for traps.

Investigation: 21

Kurma sits down in front of the giant door showing 9 cube-shaped cavities.

« In which order do we place the cubes...? »

Kurma remembers the writing he found on the obelisk « the enemies oppose, one stand between them ». Going through his notes he remembers that, in some shrines, there were carvings depicting animals fighting others...

With a loud voice, Kurma says: « ahhh I knew I wrote it down. Here.... We saw in the shrines:

• a monstrous serpent constricting a furious monkey
• a small bear with sharp claws and a rabbit with a spiral horn on its forehead
• a frog-like humanoid beating a leopard that has snakes emerging from its shoulders. 
• a tall bird using its long, pointy beak to pin a monstrous frog-like creature with tentacles sprouting from its shoulders

I’m guessing the snail is the one that has no enemy ? »
After a bit of hesitation, Kurma adds: « Hummm.... I maybe know the pairs , but I still don’t know if it requires a particular position on the door. »

Is there any indication on the cubes that we missed ? Writing ? Marks ?

Quote from BeastyC >>

"Great almost done with this mission, Let me check ot for traps before we place the pieces in.." Felix will check the slab for traps.

Investigation: 15

 Felix notices no trap on the door.

Oniss feels much better after a night of sound sleep but if still feeling far from well rested. He wakes in the morning a enjoys some stale rations and begins his day is a dour mood.

He looks at the obelisk but is weary of is presence and message.  He looks at if for a long time until his attention gets pulled to the door the rest of the party is examining.  Oniss joins the rest of the party at the stone door. 

"Felix, do you want to investigate the other paths with me?", asks Brunella. If Felix agrees, she will accompany him to investigate the eastern path.

Standing on his tip toes, Irommek puts his hands on Felix's shoulder.

"May Valkauna's light guide you.  Um, can I borrow the alchemy jug while you explore with Brunella?"

OOC: Giving Guidance to Felix for the next minute

"Yeah, I'll check them out with you..." Felix will head out to investigate any traps and look for other hidden passages.

Investigation: 29

Perception: 20

Brunella takes a large swig of ale from the jug, nodding her head at Irommek's request. For the powerful dwarf, a large swig is about a quart, which she downs in one gulp. She belches unceremoniously, then thrusts the jug at Irommek's gut, knocking the warrior-cleric back a step. 

The barbarian then follows Felix, her sword at the ready to protect the human from any dangers.

Quote from BeastyC >>

"Yeah, I'll check them out with you..." Felix will head out to investigate any traps and look for other hidden passages.

Investigation: 25

Perception: 25

Alcoves run the length of a narrow tunnel, each one featuring a bestial statue standing or squatting above a basin of oil.

The statues depict eight of the nine trickster gods, with each facing pair of alcoves dedicated to two trickster gods who oppose each other. Moving down the hall from west to east, the opposing statues depict Moa (jaculi) and Wongo (su-monster), I’jin (almiraj) and Obo’laka (zorbo), Papazotl (eblis) and Kubazan (froghemoth), and Nangnang (grung) and Shagambi (kamadan).

There is a secret door at the end of the hallway, the handle is hidden, but Felix spotted it in no time.