Going Down?
Starday, 20th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Warm, Humid
Maag looks closer at the missing kobold body, seeing clear drag marks where it was pulled along towards the entrance chamber.
Hearing the elevator noise start up near the secret room, Andron pantomimes a minotaur charging and looks around the bend to find nothing in the passage outside the room. The body of their fallen comrade is no longer there either. Maag looks perplexed, but eventually tells the others they should all head back the way they came.
The confusion is enough to rile Alordan and Gramble, but they stay put where they are. Only Lerrick is brave enough to investigate the next room, moving around the bend to the opening in the wall. There she sees the heads of the minotaur statues, still positioned where they were left on the dais, sinking below the floor in the room. If there is anything else on the platform like last time, they must already be below the clerics line of sight, descending down the shaft.
Actions?
map:
80EB570F-EB38-42C1-BFD5-A2AB49FD605E.jpeg (97.53 KiB) Viewed 396 times
Lerrick 1/11 0/4 1st (Light stone 40'r) Light:29 (on the eyes of Brutus)
Gramble 3/16
Alordan 12/18 (Light stone 40'r)
Tlachtga 2/8 2/4 1st
Maag 9/12
Andronichishche 3/6 0/3 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/1 1st (Light stone 40'r)
Deceased
Sir Crestbrook 0/11 LoH(Petrified and Broken in Melania’s bedroom)
Cu AC:3 0/13
Carucenus -5.5/10 message on tiny decorative box Mina's note Notes and other Bookkeeping:
Melania
You have been warned several times now about your unwillingness to remain in your designated location. Since you cannot control your desire to destroy my hard earned collection by turning them into useless statuary, you leave me little other choice but to relocate you somewhere safer.
Melaina
I have decided on a far more suitable spot for you to reside. There is a cave complex on the other side of the island that will suit your needs perfectly. It is an old experiment of mine, that never panned out the way that I had hoped. But there is a fresh water source inside and a magical summoning device of my own creation that should provide you with an endless supply of food. You will be relocated there as soon as I get it ready. I am still working on filling your request for companionship. As I told you before, they are extremely rare and nearly impossible to locate.
Melania
I understand you are not happy with your new accommodations, but it is simply the best I can do for now. I think you will be much more at ease living here once I am able to fill your request for a mate. The reoccurring minotaur should provide you plenty of food and enough sport to keep you preoccupied while I search. Please remember that your captor was also once your savior, and that you wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for me. I know this isn’t an easy adjustment for you, but it must be preferable to the horrible death you would have endured without my aid.
Melania
At long last, after several years of searching and burning through countless resources, I have finally found what you seek the most. An unmatched Maedar, one of the rarest of all creatures known to man. And he is all for you. I sincerely hope this will suffice to keep you happy for the rest of your years here. You must stop meddling in my experiments. You of all people should know they can be very dangerous, especially when they are unfinished. Once I have checked him over for myself, I will release him to you. Once that is done, I must insist that you stay put in your area and stop breaking your containment. By the way, his name is Marquees, and he is magnificent.
Melania
Once again you need to learn the hard way that you are no match for my powers. It saddens me greatly that after everything I’ve done to make you happy, you continue to defy me, routinely breaking your pact without remorse. I thought you to be one of the more intelligent of your kind, but you have proven to me that I was mistaken. Since I have invested so much, I will give you one last chance to comply. However, you will now be marked. Breaking the rules of your containment again will result in your termination.
Bookkeeping:
01-05= The “Key”
06-10= Intact Copper Bowl of Wax Fruit (25gp)
11-15= Solid Copper Decorative Serving Tray (40gp)
16-20= Broken Cartouche
21-25= List of 7 Unknown Items
26-30= Note About the Contacts
31-35= Moldy Sack of 254 Copper Coins
36-40= Melania's Note About Escaping
41-45= Small Locked Chest
46-50= Grey Stone Sphere
51-55= Fancy String of 21 Pearls (yet to be evaluated)
56=60=
61=65= Large Copper Cube?
66-70= Ornate Latched Scroll Case
71-75= Copper Armband w/ Circular Diagram (20gp)
76-80= Fairy Tale Storybook
81-85= Hand Written Notes
86-90= Notes on Minotaur Summoning Dais
91-95= Small Wooden Puzzle Box
96-100= Magical Golden Ring
This is a list of the items you will be "protecting" for me in here. Please remember the terms of our earlier agreement before you get any ridiculous ideas to use any of these against me.
Chime of Serpent’s Desire
Protecting Egg
Withering Venom
Shedding Strike
Band of Fools
Green Manalishi
Dansden
Marquees
I know you like this place, but I am not about to spend the rest of my days preforming for this pompous bastard. We are getting out of here, and I think I finally figured out how. The ring of glass obelisks have something to do with the mobility of this place, so through them, there must be a way out. I know the colored stone spheres are the keys, all I need to do is figure out how they function. There must be a way to use the spheres to activate the obelisks, since the ones I have investigated don’t seem to do anything yet. Once I can figure out their secrets, I am hoping we will be able to go anywhere we want. I know you want to concentrate on making more eggs and raising new babies, but you cant expect me to be happy about bringing more of our kind into existence while we are all being held here against our will. We must find a way out! We can discuss this further once I've returned.
scrollcase note:
I have used the magic scrolls to find three of them so far. They are a sight to behold, so tall and crystal clear. One is in the jungle near the black cliffs, a second deep in the swamp, and the third by the lake to the northwest. I promise you that I will figure out what they do and how they function. Once I do, we will be free again.
Andronichishche peers around the bend to discover the body of Carucenus missing. It was better than the alternative he was expecting, at least. A minotaur feasting on the corpse. Before he can turn back and report on the situation, Lerrick boldly strides forward to stand in the threshold of the elevator room. After a moment, Andron joins her when it's apparent she is in no immediate danger.
As he hasn't actually seen the elevator in operation, he's a bit surprised when the room appears empty. Just a hole in the floor where the platform was located. Ensuring his light stone is firmly affixed to the bamboo pole he's carrying, Andron tilts the pole so the light stone is just above the hole so as to illuminate the area below.
While fiddling with his lengthy pole, he addresses the confusion evident in the expressions of the others. "Six half casks were banked on the island. Assuming one kobold per boat, we've accounted for all six. Logically then, a minotaur likely moved that corpse in the tunnel."
He raises the bundle of notes in his hand to illustrate his next point. "The notes do indeed mention a daily minotaur summoning, and we technically have encountered one today. Brutus. However ... recall that on your first trip to this island, two minotaur were killed. One attacked while you were entering the cave and the other was found feasting on the remains when you were leaving."
Maag grunts in acknowledgement of Andron's logic. Inside he still hopes for another bunch of kobolds that landed somewhere else on the island. Partly because they would be much easier to deal with, and partly it would prove the smart-arse mage wrong.
Despite his irritation, he accompanies Andron to the edge of the pit. Holding his crossbow in one hand and his mirror in the other, he angles the latter to look down the shaft.
The cleric, relieved that she is still alive after foolishly entering the room by herself, moves away from the opening from the elevator shaft to the the way where she leans against the wall for support. Once there she waits with the others for the platform to rise or an unwanted guest to come in the room, which ever comes first. She holds her mace just in case.
Going Down?
Starday, 20th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Warm, Humid
Andron mentions the "boats" again, though nobody has ever actually seen the halved casks being used in such a fashion. His prediction about the minotaur summoning causes the ranger Alordan to wonder why they dont set up an alarm or traps of some kind around the summoning ring.
Hurrying into the room and looking down the shaft, two more kobolds are seen riding the platform jammed full of minotaur statues. They are both standing on the empty disk looking up as they descend. They appear startled to see people looking down at them, but they dont deviate from their spot. They are about 15 feet down already, nearing the spot where the shaft and wall began to close last time.
Actions?
map:
7A8E203E-8B53-4C67-B38D-C37A804195BD.jpeg (105.84 KiB) Viewed 355 times
Lerrick 1/11 0/4 1st (Light stone 40'r) Light:28 (on the eyes of Brutus)
Gramble 3/16
Alordan 12/18 (Light stone 40'r)
Tlachtga 2/8 2/4 1st
Maag 9/12
Andronichishche 3/6 0/3 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/1 1st (Light stone 40'r)
Deceased
Sir Crestbrook 0/11 LoH(Petrified and Broken in Melania’s bedroom)
Cu AC:3 0/13
Carucenus -5.5/10 message on tiny decorative box Mina's note Notes and other Bookkeeping:
Melania
You have been warned several times now about your unwillingness to remain in your designated location. Since you cannot control your desire to destroy my hard earned collection by turning them into useless statuary, you leave me little other choice but to relocate you somewhere safer.
Melaina
I have decided on a far more suitable spot for you to reside. There is a cave complex on the other side of the island that will suit your needs perfectly. It is an old experiment of mine, that never panned out the way that I had hoped. But there is a fresh water source inside and a magical summoning device of my own creation that should provide you with an endless supply of food. You will be relocated there as soon as I get it ready. I am still working on filling your request for companionship. As I told you before, they are extremely rare and nearly impossible to locate.
Melania
I understand you are not happy with your new accommodations, but it is simply the best I can do for now. I think you will be much more at ease living here once I am able to fill your request for a mate. The reoccurring minotaur should provide you plenty of food and enough sport to keep you preoccupied while I search. Please remember that your captor was also once your savior, and that you wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for me. I know this isn’t an easy adjustment for you, but it must be preferable to the horrible death you would have endured without my aid.
Melania
At long last, after several years of searching and burning through countless resources, I have finally found what you seek the most. An unmatched Maedar, one of the rarest of all creatures known to man. And he is all for you. I sincerely hope this will suffice to keep you happy for the rest of your years here. You must stop meddling in my experiments. You of all people should know they can be very dangerous, especially when they are unfinished. Once I have checked him over for myself, I will release him to you. Once that is done, I must insist that you stay put in your area and stop breaking your containment. By the way, his name is Marquees, and he is magnificent.
Melania
Once again you need to learn the hard way that you are no match for my powers. It saddens me greatly that after everything I’ve done to make you happy, you continue to defy me, routinely breaking your pact without remorse. I thought you to be one of the more intelligent of your kind, but you have proven to me that I was mistaken. Since I have invested so much, I will give you one last chance to comply. However, you will now be marked. Breaking the rules of your containment again will result in your termination.
Bookkeeping:
01-05= The “Key”
06-10= Intact Copper Bowl of Wax Fruit (25gp)
11-15= Solid Copper Decorative Serving Tray (40gp)
16-20= Broken Cartouche
21-25= List of 7 Unknown Items
26-30= Note About the Contacts
31-35= Moldy Sack of 254 Copper Coins
36-40= Melania's Note About Escaping
41-45= Small Locked Chest
46-50= Grey Stone Sphere
51-55= Fancy String of 21 Pearls (yet to be evaluated)
56=60=
61=65= Large Copper Cube?
66-70= Ornate Latched Scroll Case
71-75= Copper Armband w/ Circular Diagram (20gp)
76-80= Fairy Tale Storybook
81-85= Hand Written Notes
86-90= Notes on Minotaur Summoning Dais
91-95= Small Wooden Puzzle Box
96-100= Magical Golden Ring
This is a list of the items you will be "protecting" for me in here. Please remember the terms of our earlier agreement before you get any ridiculous ideas to use any of these against me.
Chime of Serpent’s Desire
Protecting Egg
Withering Venom
Shedding Strike
Band of Fools
Green Manalishi
Dansden
Marquees
I know you like this place, but I am not about to spend the rest of my days preforming for this pompous bastard. We are getting out of here, and I think I finally figured out how. The ring of glass obelisks have something to do with the mobility of this place, so through them, there must be a way out. I know the colored stone spheres are the keys, all I need to do is figure out how they function. There must be a way to use the spheres to activate the obelisks, since the ones I have investigated don’t seem to do anything yet. Once I can figure out their secrets, I am hoping we will be able to go anywhere we want. I know you want to concentrate on making more eggs and raising new babies, but you cant expect me to be happy about bringing more of our kind into existence while we are all being held here against our will. We must find a way out! We can discuss this further once I've returned.
scrollcase note:
I have used the magic scrolls to find three of them so far. They are a sight to behold, so tall and crystal clear. One is in the jungle near the black cliffs, a second deep in the swamp, and the third by the lake to the northwest. I promise you that I will figure out what they do and how they function. Once I do, we will be free again.
More kobolds? Such an irritating pest. She moves to the opening and lifts her hammer with the intent to throw it, but changes her mind at the last second.
Andronichishche is mildly surprised to see a pair of kobold on the descending dais. Before he can ascertain any further details, however, he is all but shoved into the hole as the others jostle in haste to take aim at the hapless creatures. He squeezes himself out of the crowded threshold and back into the tunnel proper.
While the kobold endure a hail of projectiles, Andron focuses his light down the eastern tunnel where they left Carucenus's body. He scans for evidence that the corpse was dragged, not carried. He also checks if the impaled head of Marquees is still where he discarded it earlier.
Going Down?
Starday, 20th of Goodmonth
Late Morning, Warm, Humid
When the others rush to attack, Andron is quickly squeezed out of his position at the hole. Back out in the tunnel, he finds bloody drag marks on the stone near where Caracenus was lying that indicate he too was moved in the direction of the entrance chamber. The severed head of Marquees is no longer where he tossed it either.
Gramble chucks a dagger into the hole but Lerrick decides against lofting her hammer, moving aside so Alordan can open fire with his bow. Maag lets a bolt fly straight down the shaft while Tlachtga summons druidical powers to ring the pests with a glowing halo of soft light. She sees at least one of the creatures fall once there is some illumination in the shaft, but by the time the ranger gets his second shot off, the floor has already started to close again when a thick stone cover slides out of the shaft wall to cover the opening in the floor.
At the same time, the wall of the secret room that you slid the flat copper ring into also starts to close up again, just like last time, about to cut Andron off from the others still in the crowded room.
Actions?
map:
A262A2C0-4929-41A9-BFD0-444F7845FA41.jpeg (116.7 KiB) Viewed 319 times
Lerrick 1/11 0/4 1st (Light stone 40'r) Light:27 (on the eyes of Brutus)
Gramble 3/16
Alordan 12/18 (Light stone 40'r)
Tlachtga 2/8 1/4 1st FF:4
Maag 9/12
Andronichishche 3/6 0/3 1st / CL, DM, RM 0/1 1st (Light stone 40'r)
Deceased
Sir Crestbrook 0/11 LoH(Petrified and Broken in Melania’s bedroom)
Cu AC:3 0/13
Carucenus -5.5/10 message on tiny decorative box Mina's note Notes and other Bookkeeping:
Melania
You have been warned several times now about your unwillingness to remain in your designated location. Since you cannot control your desire to destroy my hard earned collection by turning them into useless statuary, you leave me little other choice but to relocate you somewhere safer.
Melaina
I have decided on a far more suitable spot for you to reside. There is a cave complex on the other side of the island that will suit your needs perfectly. It is an old experiment of mine, that never panned out the way that I had hoped. But there is a fresh water source inside and a magical summoning device of my own creation that should provide you with an endless supply of food. You will be relocated there as soon as I get it ready. I am still working on filling your request for companionship. As I told you before, they are extremely rare and nearly impossible to locate.
Melania
I understand you are not happy with your new accommodations, but it is simply the best I can do for now. I think you will be much more at ease living here once I am able to fill your request for a mate. The reoccurring minotaur should provide you plenty of food and enough sport to keep you preoccupied while I search. Please remember that your captor was also once your savior, and that you wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for me. I know this isn’t an easy adjustment for you, but it must be preferable to the horrible death you would have endured without my aid.
Melania
At long last, after several years of searching and burning through countless resources, I have finally found what you seek the most. An unmatched Maedar, one of the rarest of all creatures known to man. And he is all for you. I sincerely hope this will suffice to keep you happy for the rest of your years here. You must stop meddling in my experiments. You of all people should know they can be very dangerous, especially when they are unfinished. Once I have checked him over for myself, I will release him to you. Once that is done, I must insist that you stay put in your area and stop breaking your containment. By the way, his name is Marquees, and he is magnificent.
Melania
Once again you need to learn the hard way that you are no match for my powers. It saddens me greatly that after everything I’ve done to make you happy, you continue to defy me, routinely breaking your pact without remorse. I thought you to be one of the more intelligent of your kind, but you have proven to me that I was mistaken. Since I have invested so much, I will give you one last chance to comply. However, you will now be marked. Breaking the rules of your containment again will result in your termination.
Bookkeeping:
01-05= The “Key”
06-10= Intact Copper Bowl of Wax Fruit (25gp)
11-15= Solid Copper Decorative Serving Tray (40gp)
16-20= Broken Cartouche
21-25= List of 7 Unknown Items
26-30= Note About the Contacts
31-35= Moldy Sack of 254 Copper Coins
36-40= Melania's Note About Escaping
41-45= Small Locked Chest
46-50= Grey Stone Sphere
51-55= Fancy String of 21 Pearls (yet to be evaluated)
56=60=
61=65= Large Copper Cube?
66-70= Ornate Latched Scroll Case
71-75= Copper Armband w/ Circular Diagram (20gp)
76-80= Fairy Tale Storybook
81-85= Hand Written Notes
86-90= Notes on Minotaur Summoning Dais
91-95= Small Wooden Puzzle Box
96-100= Magical Golden Ring
This is a list of the items you will be "protecting" for me in here. Please remember the terms of our earlier agreement before you get any ridiculous ideas to use any of these against me.
Chime of Serpent’s Desire
Protecting Egg
Withering Venom
Shedding Strike
Band of Fools
Green Manalishi
Dansden
Marquees
I know you like this place, but I am not about to spend the rest of my days preforming for this pompous bastard. We are getting out of here, and I think I finally figured out how. The ring of glass obelisks have something to do with the mobility of this place, so through them, there must be a way out. I know the colored stone spheres are the keys, all I need to do is figure out how they function. There must be a way to use the spheres to activate the obelisks, since the ones I have investigated don’t seem to do anything yet. Once I can figure out their secrets, I am hoping we will be able to go anywhere we want. I know you want to concentrate on making more eggs and raising new babies, but you cant expect me to be happy about bringing more of our kind into existence while we are all being held here against our will. We must find a way out! We can discuss this further once I've returned.
scrollcase note:
I have used the magic scrolls to find three of them so far. They are a sight to behold, so tall and crystal clear. One is in the jungle near the black cliffs, a second deep in the swamp, and the third by the lake to the northwest. I promise you that I will figure out what they do and how they function. Once I do, we will be free again.
Andronichishche turns to look back at the elevator room and is a bit more than slightly alarmed when the wall begins sliding across the threshold to seal off the room again. Given recent events, he opts to avoid spending any time considering his options. He Assumes the others have seen this before and quickly squeezes himself back into the room.
"So ... what happens next?" He asks warily, eyeing the thick stone cover that is also sealing off the opening in the floor.
