Return To The Ruins (Warlords Palace)

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Easy Come Easy Go
No Idea On Time Or Day

After deciding that this room is likely a trap, even though none of them actually seem to get trapped, the party regroups in the larger chamber before heading back up the massive stone stairway. It takes a good deal of effort to ascend these stairs, but working together they can pull each other up the lengthy flight to return to the domed room above. A few members of the group wonder how such a task would go had they been pursued up the steps.

Once inside the massive domed room again, the fist sized blue gem on the pedestal they saw earlier continues to test the groups common sensibilities.

Blue Gem.jpg (54 KiB) Viewed 575 times

Up here, there is no sign of any activity since you left, and you are glad to spot the skiff and raft you arrived here on still tied off in the waterway just outside the massive black doors. Beyond your torchlight, there is nothing but black emptiness in every direction of this damp underground world.

Actions?

Underborea (1).jpeg (92.11 KiB) Viewed 575 times

Belloc (M2) FA:0(20) AC6 20/14 Enlarge/Darkness/Enlarge
Taibhse (Sh2) FA:0(20) AC5 11/11 CT Torch
Drest (Sc4) FA:3 AC7 16/22
Xenos (DS3) FA:3 AC5 17/17 CT
Akhilleus [/b] (F4) FA:4 AC4 19/35
Kainaxarthos (C3) FA:2 AC6 17/19
Magda (W2) FA:0 AC9 8/8 Sleep Hooded Lantern
Sik (Ba1) FA:1 AC5 9/12
Cyril (Pr3) FA:1 AC8 12/12 CLW, CLW, DM, HP Torch

[Ahlmzhad]

Taibhse

Agreed, lets head back as we decided.

[Rex]

Drest

Drest leads the way to the skiff and checks it over to make sure it is still in usable condition.

[subaltari]

At the Cyclopean staircase, Magda places Skavi on her shoulder and is able to climb the first few steps by hopping a bit to reach her hands up to the next step, then hauling herself up. Doing this shows unusual strength for a female of her size, but she tires after only a few stairs and accepts the mens' help from then on. Once they are in the main dome, she sits down for a needed rest while glancing around.

"If our mysterious friends came up here, it seems they disturbed nothing. Nonetheless, Drest, there is still a chance that boat could be booby-trapped."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"Good call." The warrior waits the Drest checks the boat out.

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril

"So none of us are takers on that blue gem? I for one will give it a wide berth although if we return I may bring some rope and maybe some thick gloves with which it may be handled."

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

"We checked it for magic before, I think. If I recall, it radiated strongly for what is supposed to be a normal gem." Kain isn't sure about what really happened, but he attempts to tell tales.

Glad to be going back, Kain seems in good spirits. "Oh, Magda. I and well, Ceana, have a joint property in town. You're welcome to stay there as the others are."

"So what do you think? Will there be a trap waiting for us in the palace?" Kain gets on the skiff when Drest deems it riverworthy.

[shaidar]

Xenos

Kainaxarthos

Glad to be going back, Kain seems in good spirits. "Oh, Magda. I and well, Ceana, have a joint property in town. You're welcome to stay there as the others are."

Xenos looks at Kain

"Maybe I will take you up on that offer, it's no doubt better than a dark basement..." he pauses for a moment before continuing "... maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I have my reasons for wishing my privacy, which I'll explain when we're safely back in Xambaala."

[subaltari]

OM: when we were here before, the gem radiated a bluish-violet light, is it still doing so?
viewtopic.php?p=698471&hilit=blue+gem

Kainaxarthos
"We checked it for magic before, I think. If I recall, it radiated strongly for what is supposed to be a normal gem." Kain isn't sure about what really happened, but he attempts to tell tales.

Magda purses her lips, glancing at the other sorcerers before replying, "If anyone cast such a spell of detection, he never told the others. I did try to read yon sigils" ‒ she points up to the inscriptions around the inside the dome ‒ "but got only a sharp headache for my trouble. I also commented that the glow could be from the likes of a continuous light spell, or simple illusion. Drest claims to have found no traps, and in fact was ready to swap the gem with a stone to foil any spring-plate. It seems Cyril was spoiling for a try too."

She smiles, "All I can guess is that have the same chance of risk or reward now as we did some hours ago. Also Cyril, I happen to have some rope with me, but alas no gloves that might fit you."

[shaidar]

Xenos

"I have a large sack, maybe that could be used to scoop up the gem."

[subaltari]

Kainaxarthos
Glad to be going back, Kain seems in good spirits. "Oh, Magda. I and well, Ceana, have a joint property in town. You're welcome to stay there as the others are."

Xenos
"Maybe I will take you up on that offer, it's no doubt better than a dark basement..." he pauses for a moment before continuing "... maybe we got off on the wrong foot. I have my reasons for wishing my privacy, which I'll explain when we're safely back in Xambaala."

Magda takes a moment to consider Xenos' words, but then answers for herself: "A most kind offer, Kain, considering you're inviting not one but two of us." She nods to the black rat inside her cowl, then gives the cleric a playful smile. "So do you have a house? You just might get back to find Ceana's half of it demolished and carted away..."

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Easy Come Easy Go
No Idea On Time Or Day

The gem looks exactly as it did when you saw it the first time through this room.

Drest finds the raft and skiff to be untampered with. In the darkness, a path back to the unseen shoreline must be determined before they depart however.

Kain invites the stunning looking witch Magda to stay with him at his newly acquired home in the Inner City of Xambaala, now that Ceana doesnt appear to be accompanying them back to town. He extends the offer to anyone else looking for a place to stay as well, despite the fact that they are still a long way from civilization.

Just as the group is about to board the rafts and leave this place, a few members of the group look back upon the impressive glowing blue gem, wondering what if........

Blue Gem.jpg (54 KiB) Viewed 491 times

Actions?

Belloc (M2) FA:0(20) AC6 20/14 Enlarge/Darkness/Enlarge
Taibhse (Sh2) FA:0(20) AC5 11/11 CT Torch
Drest (Sc4) FA:3 AC7 16/22
Xenos (DS3) FA:3 AC5 17/17 CT
Akhilleus [/b] (F4) FA:4 AC4 19/35
Kainaxarthos (C3) FA:2 AC6 17/19
Magda (W2) FA:0 AC9 8/8 Sleep Hooded Lantern
Sik (Ba1) FA:1 AC5 9/12
Cyril (Pr3) FA:1 AC8 12/12 CLW, CLW, DM, HP Torch

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus will wait to those who want to snatch the gem. "We have to cross in two turns anyway, but I suggest we wait to see if something happens when someone gets the gem, before we start crossing."

[Rex]

Drest

"If we are going to try and take the gem It should probably be me. Let me see the sack and rope."

Drest will inspect the floor, walls, and ceiling around the pedestal for any traps

Manipulate Traps, 4:12

[Monsieur Rose]

Kainaxarthos

Kain shakes his head at the gem lust. "That is a trap. The entire floor may drop out from below us, or we may all be paralyzed and ripe pickings for the snake people, who knows?"

"Either way, nothing good will come of a piece of glass. I'll be over at the water with anyone else not wishing to be harmed." He backs away to the edge of the water.

[silifi]

Sik stands ready for whatever comes next, torch in hand.

[subaltari]

Magda agrees with Akhilleus' words, and stands inside the main doors to the east side while Drest does his business. She checks the amount of fuel left in her lantern, which adds its warmer light to the bluish glow of the mystery gem.

She turns to Belloc. "We may have a hard time finding our way across the water in the darkness. Would Crestos be willing to scout for us again?"

[Ahlmzhad]

Taibhse

Heads for the boat with his torch.

[OGRE MAGE]

Under The Zakath Desert
Willy Or Won't He?
No Idea On Time Or Day

Drest checks around the stand of the blue gem for a second time. He still finds nothing he deems to be a threat anywhere near the gem. Despite the warnings from Kain, a few others gather around with their light sources to watch the Scout swipe this likely valuable item, none of them actually certain what will happen if he does.

Kain and Taibhse head for the rafts, wondering if they could cross together now that Ceana is no longer with them. Belloc hears the question form Magda, but the mage seems so infatuated with scribbling the shapes of the ruins inscribed around the dome of this room into his book that he doesn't even answer the recently released Witch. Crestos must at least understand the thought, as he lifts up into the air and starts to fly around the massive domed ceiling.

Actions?

Belloc (M2) FA:0(20) AC6 20/14 Enlarge/Darkness/Enlarge
Taibhse (Sh2) FA:0(20) AC5 11/11 CT Torch
Drest (Sc4) FA:3 AC7 16/22
Xenos (DS3) FA:3 AC5 17/17 CT
Akhilleus [/b] (F4) FA:4 AC4 19/35
Kainaxarthos (C3) FA:2 AC6 17/19
Magda (W2) FA:0 AC9 8/8 Sleep Hooded Lantern
Sik (Ba1) FA:1 AC5 9/12
Cyril (Pr3) FA:1 AC8 12/12 CLW, CLW, DM, HP Torch

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus waits, walking towards the boat while he does.