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Maag

"Wot if it means 'Look' an' 'Hear'?" says Maag. "Like, two clues".

The half-orc has no idea what air-quotes are, but he'd use them if he did.

Sir Crestbrook the Mighty

The paladin continues to hold the pole and the sword, ready to move on if a secret door is found.


Lerrick

The cleric moves closer to the dead end containing the message so that others can inspect it more closely. She hesitates to move all the way to the dead end as she fears that the investigation may spring a trap.

Saracen moves to put his back to the side tunnel, at the edge of the tunnel with the clues but not looking inside it. He will await the outcome of the investigation, keeping his eyes on the approach tunnels in case Brutus appears, sword and shield ready

Alordan wrote:"Could be a trap."

Andronichishche pauses for several moments, scrutizing the scribblings written long ago in blood. "Maybe not a trap, but the same hand that wrote the invectives also seems to have written this. Why? Apparently the author was in a significantly calmer state of mind. Could this have been written by another possessed by the amulet? A clue for the unwary on opening the medusa's prison?"

Gramble wrote:ya think?

Andron barely suppresses an involuntary chuckle. It would seem Gramble is even more curmudgeonly than his normal self. Probably eager to set something on fire after the opportunity missed with the snakes.

Alordan wrote:"Why did they spell it that way? Shouldn't it be 'here'. Maybe it's a clue that we should do something with the statue that has it's ears covered back there?"

"An astute and insightful observation, Mr. Alordan. Although I would suggest that perhaps it's not the statue itself but a secret door behind it. As it may be dangerous though, I'd prefer to complete our survey of the tunnels for more clues before climbing deeper into this web."

Tlachtga wrote:"Perhaps something is triggered by sound. It looks to me that both dead ends should contain a door or some such. Also seeing all the statues maybe we have it backwards, these Minotaur have not been turned by the Medusa, but are the ones summoned to guard this place. just waiting for the call from the dais."

"Another set of keen observations. I agree about the dead ends. Every other tunnel termination has a minotaur statue, except these two and the one where we found the secret door to Cora's chamber. I'm fairly confident though all of the minotaur statues were petrified, but a select few exhibit unusual poses, like the three here pointing to something unknown. Recall there are two other statues like this in the southern tunnel leading to the secret door. So, unlike most of the statues, these seem to have been moved to serve a specific purpose."

Maag wrote:"Wot if it means 'Look' an' 'Hear'?" says Maag. "Like, two clues".

Andronichishche is visibly impressed now at the collective inferences and logical reasoning displayed by the group. "Indeed, Mr. Maag, and as there are three statues representing speech, hearing, and sight, there may yet be another clue that suggests a verbal component, per Miss Tlachtga's observation."

He steps up to the wall and pulls his dagger from its sheath, turning it about in his hand so the hilt is angled to the front. "As they say, curiosity kills the cat … but fortune favors the bold." At this, he starts examining the surface of the wall and tapping it with the hilt of his dagger searching for any hollow spots.

Updated map.

Back In The Cave
Moonday, 15th of Goodmonth
Mid Morning, Damp, Dim, Humid

Several more theories are brought up regarding this strange new find in the tunnels. Andron takes them all in, putting serious thought into each party members offering. He looks back at the others and shrugs before pulling out his dagger and tapping on the smooth but solid passage termination.

He finds nothing unusual or hidden in the wall, but his theory about the writing being done in the same way, and by the same hand, appears sound. Tlachtga has Cu sniff around the statues in these newly explored passages, but the hound doesn’t react to anything in this area.

The clean passages remain quiet as those not involved in the discovery continue to keep a stalwart watch on the tunnels behind them.

Actions?

map: Sir Crestbrook 10/11 LoH
Gramble 13/16
Tlachtga 8/8 0/4 1st (torch: 40'r/2.6T)
Cu AC:3 13/13
Lerrick 11/11 2/4 1st (torch: 40'r/1.8T)
Saracen 28/33 3/5 1st 2/2 2nd
Alordan 15/18
Andron 6/6 0/3 1st CL, DM, RM / 1/1 1st
Maag 12/12

Alordan whispers frustratingly under his breath, "What the hell is going on here?" before moving to examine the statue that is pointing to the writing. Looking for marks, tracks, or any way that it could move. He'll examine the walls around it as well. He'll try and listen carefully, too, if in fact there is some sort of sound that needs discovering.

Andronichishche furrows his brow in consternation, evidently sharing Alordan's misgivings. He reaches into his backpack and retrieves his map of the complex and lays it flat on the floor for the group to see. From his writing utensil box he procures a couple colored pencils and carefully annotates several statue icons on the map. "As I alluded to earlier, most of the statues we've encountered have expressions of horror, fear, disgust, hatred, among others ... those one would expect if the owner was accosted by a medusa. The statues in yellow are those minotaur with decidedly different expressions and could almost be considered poses. The arrows indicating the five which are pointing and the direction thereof."

He then indicates with a brushed wave of his hand the northern section of the complex, the rooms and tunnels segregated by access via the entry chamber and Cora's room. "We've completed our survey of the formerly cleaned areas, that which remains are the unexplored tunnels in the dirtier southern section. When our search here is concluded, I suggest we circle back to Cora's chamber and begin with the southeast most tunnel. Avoid a possible encounter with a summoned minotaur for now. If I could request assistance I'd like to examine the tunnel end just to the west."

Andronichishche proceeds to the middle tunnel and examines the south terminal wall, also tapping with the hilt of his dagger to check for hollow spots again.

Updated map with annotations.

Saracen will follow the Sacred Sorcerer and help out where he can.

Gramble goes as well

Maag

Maag listens to the discussions and thumps and taps about finding a secret door. With not much else to do, he carries on wondering why a wizard, who definitely knows how to spell, would write the word 'hear' right after they passed a statue covering it's ears?

Bloody wizards an' weird spellin' he thinks. As bad as dat other one in der spider....maze....

"Oi! Saracen! he calls out. "Remember dat message in der spider maze? 'Dis way to find treasure' . An' when we got der, it was a little bloody lizard called 'Treasure'!"

"Wot if dis wizard is doin' der same fing? 'Look 'ear for a secret' means der secret door is behind der statue wiv der covered ears? Exactly like it says."

"I reckon it's worth goin' back for a butcher's".

Andronichishche pauses his examination for a moment when he hears Maag's outburst, turning about to listen better, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. "Indeed?", he calls out. "The word usage does sound similar, but why do you think a wizard wrote that message? What species of lizard was it?"

He steps back into the tunnel intersection briefly so he can speak with a softer voice. "I highly doubt it was a wizard who wrote this, as wasn't another message, 'The wizard must pay!', also written in the same fashion? Just like the repeated oath in the entry chamber? I wouldn't object to searching those statues, and the wall, but I must agree with Alordan on the danger, as I don't believe who wrote that is a friend of any wizard."

Saracen sends the thumbs up to Maag. Good thinking. he says.

After Andron finishes he snorts and says The really annoying kind. You know. Like talking swords and that kinda shit. If the writing is the same throughout the tunnels the same person wrote it all. Are the letters the in the same script as was in the spider cave too? He thinks back to that terrible time studiously.

Alordan asks, "What spider cave? What was that - is that related to this place?"

Sir Crestbrook the Mighty:

To the west we go. The paladin, when the party is ready, moves towards the passage to the west.


Lerrick

I heard that several died in the spider infested place, including a young fighter that was bit by a hideous half humanoid, half spider creature. Whatever it was sank its fangs into the fighter's neck I'm told. He died in seconds... Poor lad. . The cleric takes her place in the marching order.

Andronichishche speaks over one shoulder while he continues his examination. "There was no spider cave discovered on this island that I'm aware of, but I heard rumors of one that was cleared on the main island? If these writings were by the same hand, perhaps that cave and this complex are somehow interconnected?"

He pauses while considering another thought. "If it was a wizard in the spider cave, the lizard you found may be a rare pseudodragon. Highly intelligent creatures which have been known to associate with wizards as their familiars or companions ... and yes, they are notable for strong, independent personalities, much like the ego of an intelligent, enchanted sword. If true, this pseudodragon may have some knowledge of this wizard or wizards."

Tlachtga

Tlachtga follows along, keeping Cu close by. "I am starting to get annoyed."

Maag

"It's always a mad wizard innit?" Maag points out. "When was der last time yer 'eard a story about a warrior or an 'oly man dat builds an underground dungeon an' fills it full o' monsters an' treasure?"

"All dat magic must sumfin' to der brains. An' don't even get me started on why dey go around buildin' big giant towers..." He rolls his eyes.

Maag then turns more businesslike. "We're gonna 'ave to be careful when we start followin' dese signs. We're goin' where 'e wants us to be, an' dat means 'e's got a reason for wantin' us to be dere. An' it's not gonna be nice." He calls over to the paladin.

"Cresty, mate! Poke der ceilin' as well as der floor, alright?"

Jernau35 wrote:Maag
"Cresty, mate! Poke der ceilin' as well as der floor, alright?"

We'll do Maag. Don't want to end up like the fighter Lerrick was talking about. Although...I...didt try to kill myself earlier. Thank you Saracen for reviving me. I feel much better now. It was a...terrible lapse of judgement. I owe everyone here my life. if it comes to it, I would trade me life for each and everyone one of you if it meant that I could save yours. He taps away with the pole on the floor, the ceiling and the side walls in front of him.