Ch. 5: Plunging Deeper Into the Tomb

[max_vale]

Xale studies the mist and then says; "Whey don't we tie something to a rope....an unlit torch perhaps....toss it into the mist and then pull it back to see if it shows any ill effects?"

[AleBelly]

Zoster shrugs. "If there's magic in there, I think I eliminated it. I'll go in to be sure." He ties the rope around his waist and wades into the mist. Just before entering, he turns back to the party. "Pull me back in if I give two sharp tugs."

He wraps his cloak around his mouth and nose, inhales deeply, and strides in.

[Zhym]

Zoster disappears into the mist...

What happens there will be handled in PMs. Please stand by.

[AleBelly]

"Everything seems to be fine" calls Zoster to the others. "I'm going to explore ahead."

[Zhym]

A few moments after Zoster tells you the mists seem safe, you hear his voice ringing out from further inside the cavern. The echoes make it impossible for you to tell what he's saying.

[Inferno]

Dredd Doomsmith, dwarf trap-hacker:

"Everything here is a trap. We'd best pull the rope. Just to be safe," the dwarf said as he grabbed the rope, drew up the slack, and sharply tugged it twice. Then he started to slowly reel in Zoster from the mists.

[Zhym]

Dredd tugs on the rope. In short order, you see Zoster backing his way out of the mists with a small sack in his hand.

[Inferno]

Dredd Doomsmith, dwarven trap-hacker:

Dredd said, "We canna hear ye, due to the echoing. What did ye say?"
The dwarf's beady eyes, set into his big fat head like two black buttons sewn onto a large sack of flour, observed Zoster beneath hoary eyebrows.

[AleBelly]

Zoster looks at Dredd absent-mindedly. "I only remarked that I was fine."

"That was strange. There was a beautiful woman within those mists, about 30' in. She wouldn't answer any questions about Acererak or whether she was our friend or foe. She had two sacks next to her, but wouldn't tell me what was in them or if she was guarding them. I prodded one with my staff and next thing I know, both she and the other sack disappeared. Anyone want to check this for traps before I look inside?"

[Inferno]

Dredd Doomsmith, dwarven trap-hacker:

"Aye," grunted Dredd, nodding his flour sack of a head. "Let's hope ye chose wisely."
Dredd examined the sack without touching it, with and without the steampunk goggles.

[Zhym]

Dredd finds no traps.

BTW, most trap checks require touching whatever you're checking to be effective. "Just looking" is going to incur a hefty penalty to the chance to find traps (usually cutting that chance in half). Of course, touching whatever you're checking carries the risk of triggering the trap if your check fails very badly. It's up to the thief how thorough he wants to be.

[AleBelly]

Zoster nods. "I appreciate it, my bespectacled dwarf. I didn't know I was choosing..." chuckles the Druid as he opens the sack and looks inside.

[Zhym]

The sack is filled with feathers. Nestled amongst the feathers is a silver ring:

ring.png (73.98 KiB) Viewed 491 times

[Cwreando]

"Good Job Zoster", says Abrex. "She just disappeared? Did the mist do anything to ya? I wonder what the ring does?"

[ChubbyPixie]

Eduardo peers into the mist and back to the bag. He has a bad feeling about this. Still, maybe the ring is a valuable treasure and not a cursed artifact, as unlikely as that seems in this place...

[AleBelly]

"Yes. Just disappeared" replies Zoster, still trying to make sense of things himself. "She seemed nice, and good looking too. I don't think the mist did anything to me..."

[Inferno]

Dredd Doomsmith, dwarven trap-hacker:

Zoster nods. "I appreciate it, my bespectacled dwarf. I didn't know I was choosing..."

Dredd bellowed, "Och! Be not ashamed of ye choice, lad! 'Twas a fine choice! ...all things considered."

[AleBelly]

"Does anyone want to try this ring on?" asks Zoster. "I have an idea of what it is - perhaps it's a ring of flying or levitation given the feather design. Who could make the most use of something like that? If I try it on I'd expect to keep it, given this is an evil lich's tomb and rings aren't always what they seem."

[Inferno]

Dredd Doomsmith:

"But did ye see the other side? Was there an exit?"

[Grognardsw]

"That is a pretty ring," says Elsa.