[002] A Temple and a Tomb

[Marullus]

Naugrim examines to see how they can access the trap door. If he can open it, he peers in.

[axis57]

Orram replies to Black Wolf. Yes. Something in this bag.

Orram pushes the tapestry aside at a distance using his club. Once he us satisfied nothing is lurking behind it he begins to inspect the alcove for any traps or hidden entrance. Searching the seams of the stones, sconces, and any unusual scrape marks or wear on the floor.

After that he will pick up the bag and inspect it's contents, allowing Black Wolf to see as well if he wishes.

Detect Traps: 1d20 = 1 (+3 dexterity???) = 4

OOC: Oh, btw, yes Orram failed that roll, but nothing happened because there wasn't a trap on the bag. If there had been bad things would have happened when he picked it up.

[Eris]

Orram replies to Black Wolf. Yes. Something in this bag.

Orram pushes the tapestry aside at a distance using his club. Once he us satisfied nothing is lurking behind it he begins to inspect the alcove for any traps or hidden entrance. Searching the seams of the stones, sconces, and any unusual scrape marks or wear on the floor.

After that he will pick up the bag and inspect it's contents, allowing Black Wolf to see as well if he wishes.

Detect Traps: 1d20 = 1 (+3 dexterity???) = 4

Orram doesn't detect any sort of traps attached to the bag, so he picks it up.

Holding the bag he feels what appear to be coins inside and hears the clink of the metal disks hitting against each other. Opening the bag he sees what look like coins, but it is too dim in the alcove to tell exactly what he has. He'll have to light another torch, or maybe better to save them, and move to the dais where the others are doing something at the Altar there...and where the currently lighted torch is located.

Black Wolf suggests, "Let's take that up to where the light is better and have a good look."

[Eris]

Naugrim examines to see how they can access the trap door. If he can open it, he peers in.

There is a recessed metal loop on the top of the trap door. It appears he could grasp it, pull the trap door open and look inside. Naugrim...

OOC: I don't do this often, and less and less as the game progressed, but...are you sure you really want to do that?

...reaches his hand down toward the metal loop...

[Marullus]

Naugrim approaches the altar carefully, trying to discern the distance at which the magical aura feels strongest and finds it is strongest right at the Altar itself. No, it is strongest behind the Altar, down that crack in the floor leading down to who knows where.

It's a bit harder, but Naugrim can read the Runes that were originally there, too. Yes, this is an Altar to Ord. From the Runes, it is clear that something was meant to be sacrificed here on the Altar, from the discoloration in the concave top and the words of the Runes it looks like whatever was sacrificed was burned.

There's more to it, though, there must have been a trap built into the Altar so when the Shunites came calling it bit them. Yes, there it is in the original Runes! The concave surface was the trap the Shunites must have missed it. When they tried to use it in their Ritual it backfired on them.

Naugrim moves to the crack in the floor. It doesn't look like something came up, it looks like it was just cracked when the Altar was shifted. Wait! That's why there's a crack here, it's a trap door! Getting down low and looking closely he sees the catch to release it. Glancing up at the Altar from below he sees a pair of hinges. The lid of this Altar must lift up...

There is a faint source of magic behind and below the Altar, under that trap door.

As best he can tell the spell is still active, too.

The second box appearance is mundane. When opened you find a small bag containing two vials containing potions, a censer with a small bag of incense next to it, and a key on a silver chain.

...are you sure you really want to do that?
...reaches his hand down toward the metal loop...

Thanks, GM. Reading more carefully...

Naugrim pauses, looking upward from the floor to the Altar a second time. He pulls his hand back and turns to consult with Wendel.

"Wait... the trap is still active, you said. Like the doors outside needing profession to Ord before we continue, could this be the same? Perhaps we need to burn the incense in the concave portion of altar. It is difficult, not knowingtheor secret rituals... perhaps we can discern more of a clue from the runes on the altar, the old ones below the defacement of Shune. Look with me..."

Wise Acolyte Studies Runes... [1d20+2]=9+2=11[1d20+2]=15+2=17

[shaidar]

Apologies, I meant to post yesterday, and thought I had.

Wendel

"Yes, the spell is still active, let us see if we can devise a method to safely open the trap door."

Still holding on to the detection spell, he joins Naugrim in examining the runes on the altar, the concave area as well as the runic box for hints of how to reset the trap, or at least safely bypass it. He also casts his mind back to any Ordic ceremonies using incense that he has seen performed over the years.

I'm going make a roll with advantage here, of course feel free to ignore the second roll
[1d20]=20;[1d20]=9

[Eris]

OOC: I was doing taxes, and other things, Monday so, frankly, I didn't have the energy or inclination to deal with the games. Sorry about that. Oh, and while I'm at it, I have a 'procedure' scheduled for next Monday, so odds are I'll be MIA that day as well.

Apologies, I meant to post yesterday, and thought I had.

Wendel

"Yes, the spell is still active, let us see if we can devise a method to safely open the trap door."

Still holding on to the detection spell, he joins Naugrim in examining the runes on the altar, the concave area as well as the runic box for hints of how to reset the trap, or at least safely bypass it. He also casts his mind back to any Ordic ceremonies using incense that he has seen performed over the years.

I'm going make a roll with advantage here, of course feel free to ignore the second roll
[1d20]=20;[1d20]=9

OOC: I think Wendel deserves an Advantage on this roll...and with a natural 20 he gets a lot!

Wendel can say, with certainly, a magical trap is laid on this trapdoor and it is also tied to the box inside the Altar. He's not sure, but he thinks Naugrim might be correct about using the incense, but he thinks it is more likely the censer that needs to be used rather than burning it on the Altar. He has never seen or heard tell of Priests of Ord burning anything on an Altar. It just doesn't fit with what he knows of their rituals. It is much more likely that a book is laid on the Altar, not destroyed, simply presented to Ord while the censer burns sweet smelling incense and is waved over the Altar and its offering. He's seen that done.

Beyond that, Wendel suspects this trapdoor is also mundanely trapped. Where has that thief rescued from the Goblins gotten off to?

[shaidar]

Wendel

Does he know what type of book? Is it a specific holy tome, or is it simply a book of knowledge or magic as these would match Ord's sphere's of influence?

[Eris]

Wendel

Does he know what type of book? Is it a specific holy tome, or is it simply a book of knowledge or magic as these would match Ord's sphere's of influence?

Any sort of book of knowledge or magic would do. It didn't hurt the books, from what Wendel remembers, it was just used as a focus during the ritual. However, once, Wendel saw a Book of Ord (a holy book of the order) used in a ritual, and the Priest didn't even have to say anything, just open the book on the Altar and swing the censer over it a few times seemed to be all that was required. He doesn't remember exactly what that was for, but he remembers seeing it once. Of course, where would you find a Book of Ord in a Temple of Ord?

[Rex]

Ulfgar

Ulfgar watches, wondering what they are going to do next.

[shaidar]

Wendel

"The trap is still active, we need to try and find the holy book of Ord. With any luck there is one around here somewhere, in a hidden place, maybe."

He starts to look around for a hidden or concealed place nearby that might hold the book.

Fergus joins Wendel in the search.

[Rex]

Ulfgar

Ulfgar also joins in the search.

[axis57]

Orram moves closer to the light of the party and determines the contents of the bag. After that he will inspect the trapdoor for any traps on Wendel's suggestion.

Disable trap (with advantage due to class feature): 1d20 rolled twice. 7 first, 19 second. So the result is 19.

[Eris]

Orram moves closer to the light of the party and determines the contents of the bag. After that he will inspect the trapdoor for any traps on Wendel's suggestion.

Disable trap (with advantage due to class feature): 1d20 rolled twice. 7 first, 19 second. So the result is 19.

The bag contains, 8 gold and 12 silver coins. Don't forget to add it to your gear.

Orram looks at the trap door and quickly sees that it can be disarmed and does so! There is still magic on it, but at least the mundane trap is disabled.

OOC: This is significant, too, as I'll mention in another post.

[Eris]

Wendel

"The trap is still active, we need to try and find the holy book of Ord. With any luck there is one around here somewhere, in a hidden place, maybe."

He starts to look around for a hidden or concealed place nearby that might hold the book.

Fergus joins Wendel in the search.

Ulfgar also joins in the search.

None of the searchers have any luck finding a book of any kind here on the dais.

OOC: There is a second box inside the Altar next to the one with the magical runes on it, has anyone opened that one?

Black Wolf comes up to the dais and looks around he walks to the eastern side and then turns and says, "Hey! Have you tried this door over here?"

[Eris]

OOC: Level Up Time! You have just hit Level 3 and need to update your PC's.

Game is paused until you all finish doing your updates.

BTW, the box in the Altar, that isn't the one with Runes, has several pieces of paper (not a book, though) in it. There are spells, both Arcane and Divine inscribed on these sheets...they just happen to be the ones you have chosen for your PC's as you leveled them up to Level 3.

[shaidar]

Wendel

"Why don't we see what's through the door. If we can't find a holy book we'll try with my spellbook."

[Rex]

Ulfgar

"Sorry, I don't have any book."

[Eris]

Wendel

"Why don't we see what's through the door. If we can't find a holy book we'll try with my spellbook."

Black Wolf squints and looks where Wendel is pointing, "That one? Okay!" he strolls over and tries to pull the door open...there's a squeak as it opens, but nothing else happens.

He steps aside to let the others enter saying, "Looked like some sort of office to me."

It appears he was correct because as you enter you see a room with a cluttered desk. There is a chair behind the desk and two before it, bookshelves filled with books are along one wall and a wardrobe is over in one corner. Other than the entrance you made through the door on its eastern side there are closed doors leading out of the room to the north and to the south.

[Rex]

Ulfgar

Ulfgar will check the closet.