IC VIII

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys removes the clothing from the chest, then begins examining it for secret compartments, first comparing the inside dimensions of the chest to the outside ones to see if there are any discrepancies.

He also examines the floor, looking for any odd or loose pavers that might open other doors or hide a cache.

He also repeats the request to have someone check everything with a Rowan shield...

[thirdkingdom]

The words read Plenigu min per akvo, por vidi vian deziron, which Druids translates roughly as "With water I will show your desire." Rhys finds neither paperwork nor secret compartments; the silver platter registers as magic when the shield is passed nearby.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny walks over to the silver bowl as Drudsa translates the draconic inscription.

"Interesting... Well, the bowl appears to be magical, so either we can pack it and take it with us for future analysis by a trained expert, or we can take a chance and test it ourselves, right here and right now. I assume this is water in the ewer..."

Lanny will open the ewer and look inside to see if it is indeed water.

"What do you say, my friends, shall we try it? Tratiln, I seem to recall that you are fond of random opportunities for divination, what with volunteering to have your blood drawn by a fortune teller at the Gnome Caravan... Anyone else?"

[thirdkingdom]

The ewer does indeed contain water.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"A divining bowl might be just what we need to find a way back outside... And perhaps more. Let us test it."

Drudsa will pour some water and try to activate the artifact.

[Bouv]

Tratlin agrees, "Yes, let us try it out."

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys steps back from the others hovering around the silver bowl...

[Innana]

Innana the Fighter:

Innana listens to Lanny while he describes his thoughts along with what the discovered in the trap room. "Well, do the clothes look the same size as the hobgoblin? I just can't imagine that fat hobgoblin having or care having such a nice wardrobe." Innana shrugs, "The voice that came through from the statue room seemed to have a particular person in mind to talk to since it called out a name. I am wondering if this maze of a castle has a teleportation device or a passageway that will open up to this mysterious magic user. Do the clothes look like the wardrobe of a royal or a magic user, or a royal magic user?"

Innana waits in the room for everyone to join her.

[thirdkingdom]

Drudsa pours the water from the ewer into the bowl. Almost instantly it takes on the appearance of quicksilver, a time of frost forms on the rim of the bowl and a figure clad in black and red velvet can be seen on the surface of the liquid. The man's face is pinched and weasel-like; a goatee attempts to hide a weak chin. The man glances up, briefly: "Trandee! You are already a day late in reporting to me! Must I have you flayed alive at this most critical juncture!"

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny looks concerned when frost suddenly starts to form around the rim of the bowl, and when the face of a human clad in robes begins to materialize on the surface of the water, Lanny steps further back from the bowl, and then ducks immediately out of sight of the face when it finally begins to speak. He flaps his arms frantically to try to get the others to squat down as well below the level of the bowl. He holds a finger to his lips, then cups his hand at his ear and points upwards at the bowl, as if wishing to listen further to the voice...

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

Drudsa also steps back and remains silent.

[thirdkingdom]

Anybody else?

[Bouv]

Tratiln will make sure he is out of site, squatting down.

[Alethan]

Rhys stays true to his word, having backed away from the others before the water was even poured... He maintains a low stance and does not say anything.

[thirdkingdom]

Man in the Bowl

"Trandee! Trandee! Curse your misbegotten green hide! You have signed your death warrant, miserable worm!" The cursing continues for several minutes, and then all is silent.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

When the cursing stops, Lanny quietly crawls up to the bowl, grasps it with both hands at its base, and then promptly pours its contents onto the floor (if any water is still remaining) in an attempt to close the portal.

Does anything happen?

Are hobgoblins green?

[thirdkingdom]

The silver is colder than ice as Lanny grasps it, but the elf is able to dump the water without incident. It looses the strange, mirror-like quality as it pours onto the floor.

Yes, they are greenish.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny breathes a sigh of relief as the immediate threat passes. He stands up and speaks to his companions.

"Well, my friends, I think I have seen enough of this castle for today. All signs seem to point to the hobgoblin as the intermediary between the gnolls, the duergar, and now this mysterious human from the silver bowl, who might very well have ties to Bargle and his nefarious plot... I think we should take the silver bowl, along with the other treasures and clues we have gathered thus far, and make our way back to Threshold, for I think we should try to speak to this hobgoblin as soon as possible... We will, of course, still need to figure out how to get out of this place..."

Recalling Innana's words about the hobgoblin's clothes, Lanny picks out an outfit from the small chest of clothes to put in his backpack, and he even tries on the shirt for size.

"I suppose the hobgoblin might be more willing to talk to us if we brought him a fresh change of clothes while he sits in the jail. Innana, what do you think about this shirt? Does it make me look fat?"

If and when the party is ready to move on, Lanny will suggest trying the door to the north of the pedestal room, unless anyone has any other suggestions.

[Alethan]

Rhys indicates his desire to move on.

That sounds like a good direction to head.

[Innana]

Innana the Fighter:

Lanny the elf

Lanny breathes a sigh of relief as the immediate threat passes. He stands up and speaks to his companions.

"Well, my friends, I think I have seen enough of this castle for today. All signs seem to point to the hobgoblin as the intermediary between the gnolls, the duergar, and now this mysterious human from the silver bowl, who might very well have ties to Bargle and his nefarious plot... I think we should take the silver bowl, along with the other treasures and clues we have gathered thus far, and make our way back to Threshold, for I think we should try to speak to this hobgoblin as soon as possible... We will, of course, still need to figure out how to get out of this place..."

Recalling Innana's words about the hobgoblin's clothes, Lanny picks out an outfit from the small chest of clothes to put in his backpack, and he even tries on the shirt for size.

"I suppose the hobgoblin might be more willing to talk to us if we brought him a fresh change of clothes while he sits in the jail. Innana, what do you think about this shirt? Does it make me look fat?"

If and when the party is ready to move on, Lanny will suggest trying the door to the north of the pedestal room, unless anyone has any other suggestions.

Innana looks at Lanny with the shirt hanging down to his mid thigh and the sleeves draped over his hand. "Well, it may not make you look fat. but it makes you smell like that foul hobgoblin." Innana backs away slightly and covers her nose. "I can carry the scrying dish." Innana picks up the dish, and wraps it in one of her shirts and tucks it into her backpack. "I can't believe that hobgoblin has better shirts than I do. If they did not carry his stench, I might be tempted to take one for myself."

Shall we head back to Threshold then?"