It was clear from the avarice in the dwarf's beady little eyes, that Dredd wanted this. "It canna be. Could Acererack be this overconfident? Can it be real? Like the Efreet?" he asked in bewilderment as he took a hesitant step forward.
All appear to be longswords. One has a hilt wrapped in black leather and a silver knob-shaped pommel. The second has a fancy etched blade and gold hilt with gems all along the guard. The third has an guard in the shape of two snakes—or a single snake with two heads; it's hard to tell without a closer look—and a pommel that appears to be a lion's head.
Dredd's mouth moved like it tasted something it liked.
"P'raps they're real. As real as the Efreet. P'raps he's mocking us in his mad folly. P'raps it will be his downfall," the dwarf tried hard to convince himself as he took another step forward. "Xale, Malibran, can ye cast a dweomer to see if this treasure is a trap?"
Dredd said the word "treasure" with the same reverence that others reserved for their mother, their liege or their god.
Xale surveys the room and immediately feels that the group is about to reach an ending of one kind or another....hopefully for the weal and not the woe...
Answering his/her fellow Dwarf; Xale says; "Aye, I have a spell to Detect traps and one to Detect Magical auras; such as that given by items and the like....I suspect much, if not all of yon treasure is likely to be enchanted; but its worth a spell I reckon." Looking over at the group, the Dwarven warrior-priest says; "We also may want to utlize any healing we have remaining while we are all here and breathing."
OOC: Question: can two different Detection spells work at the same time? I.e. if I cast Find Traps; do I need to wait for it to expire before I can cast a Detect Magic spell?
Upon the appearance of the fire being, Zoster's eyes grow wide. He whispers conspiratorially to Xale "I've never done this before."
He clears his throat and announces to the group "If you want any of the papery stuff, grab it now. Ol' Flamey here will reduce it to ashes! I don't have any use for it...those damned scrolls never have druid stuff on 'em anyway."
The Dwarven warrior-priest pats Zoster's arm and says; "Stay strong in mind and will and you'll be fine my friend". Then he/she will cast Detect Magic and Find Traps; and then visually scan every inch of the small room with these enchantments along with concentrating on the various items of treasure....
OOC: I'm at work and don't have access to my books; does Detect Magic show any difference for 'strength' of magical items? I.e. would a +1 Dagger and a Vorpal Sword register the same? Just curious, thanks!
Xale invokes dweomers to detect both traps and magic. She senses no traps in the room.
The swords, spear, rod, staff, cube, amulet, bone case, and of course the potions and scroll cases all radiate magic. The ring, rod, staff, and bone case radiate especially strong magic, though nothing in the pile radiates weakly. The spell does not reveal relative strength among the weapons, however.
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Status: Elsa (F10): 58/58; Malibran (C10): 37/68; Zoster (F9/D12): 30/76; Xale (F8/C8): 54/54; Dredd (F7/T11): 28/57
Spells in effect: Protection from Lightning (Zoster): 141 hp left; Conjure Fire Elemental (Zoster): 11 turns; Find Traps (Xale): 2 turns
Upon hearing Xale's findings, Dredd can control himself no longer. "Thank ye, sister," he says and advances. The dwarf picks up the emerald and admires its many gleaming facets, appraising the craftwork of the cutter.
If he was still alive after that, he picks up the sword with the golden hilt, unsheathes it and examines its blade with a squinting glare and a frown fraught with deep concentration.
Dredd steps forward and picks the emerald off of the pile. As soon as he touches it, dust on the stone at the end of the vault swirls into the air and forms a man-like shape that rushes to attack!
Actions!
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Status: Elsa (F10): 58/58; Malibran (C10): 37/68; Zoster (F9/D12): 30/76; Xale (F8/C8): 54/54; Dredd (F7/T11): 28/57
Spells in effect: Protection from Lightning (Zoster): 141 hp left; Conjure Fire Elemental (Zoster): 11 turns; Find Traps (Xale): 2 turns
"BACK!" calls Zoster to Dredd. As soon as the dwarf retreats, he turns to the flaming elemental next to him. "Destroy this dust creature, friend of fire!" cries the druid, pointing to the swirling dust figure.
Xale curses and looking around, he/she says a quick prayer to Dalt while stuffing the hilt of his/her hammer into a belt and then rushing to scoop up the Rod and Staff in each hand while hoping the whole time neither is some cursed artifact which will do inflict awful pain or worse; and if able, rush out of the room and around the Fire Elemental….
IF that worked; Xale will say to the other spell-casters; "Let's see if we can figure out what these enchanted items are/can do as quickly as possible!"
"BACK!" shouts Zoster, and Dredd complies surprisingly quickly. But whatever switched Xale's gender around must have messed with her sense of direction: she dashes forward to snatch up the rod and staff before they meet with Zoster's living pillar of flame.
But the thing of dust is fast. It rushes Xale as she digs into the pile, but somehow misses her. She backs out of the room, rod and staff in hand.
The room clear, Zoster sends the fire elemental in to do battle. A tongue of flame licks at the dust monster, but the dust avoids the fire.
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Status: Elsa (F10): 58/58; Malibran (C10): 37/68; Zoster (F9/D12): 30/76; Xale (F8/C8): 54/54; Dredd (F7/T11): 28/57
Spells in effect: Protection from Lightning (Zoster): 141 hp left; Conjure Fire Elemental (Zoster): 10.9 turns; Find Traps (Xale): 1.9 turns
