IC VIII

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

Drudsa nods in agreement.

[thirdkingdom]

Nothing happens when the top button is touched. Thordin notes that the floor of this room is held off the walls slightly, by approximately a thumbswidth on all sides. This gap runs even across the open doorway.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys examines the space around the floor carefully, wondering if it might be some sort of blade trap. "Mind the gap," he says in a toneless voice.

After waiting another moment, with nothing else happening, Rhys says, "Maybe we should check out the other passage north before we push that other button?"

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Looking at the gap around the perimeter of the room pointed out by Thordin, Lanny revises his assessment.

"We may be standing on a moveable platform, and pushing the other button may lower us down to the sub-basement level. We will probably need to at least look around down there at some point, but for now, I agree with Rhys, let us first check the two rooms to the east, starting with the room on the north side."

[thirdkingdom]

Okay, two votes for moving on, one specifically stating which rooms to investigate next. Anyone want to support this proposal or offer a different course of action?

[riftstone]

Thordin the dwarf

"This room seems to be separate from the rest of the complex. Perhaps it is a movable room. It may require a heart to function. Nay, not a real heart, but I have heard of stones and crystals which oscillate, providing a heartbeat of sorts."

Thordin is fine with checking out the two rooms to the east.

[zebediah]

Drudsa

Okay, two votes for moving on, one specifically stating which rooms to investigate next. Anyone want to support this proposal or offer a different course of action?

Drudsa is also in favour of Lanny and Rhys' proposal.

[Finglas]

Okay, two votes for moving on, one specifically stating which rooms to investigate next. Anyone want to support this proposal or offer a different course of action?

Bregalad is fine with checking out the rooms to the east.

[Bouv]

Let's check the eastern room!

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers exit the pedestal room and cross the hall to where the door is set into the eastern alcove. Rhys uncovers no traps; the door is unlocked and no noise can be heard from beyond.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Party Caller: I think since we have all indicated our intention to check out the room, let's go ahead and enter, following our usual SOP for unlocked doors (i.e., in standard marching order, Thordin first).

[riftstone]

Thordin the dwarf stands ready to enter the room, sword and shield in hand.

[thirdkingdom]

As the door swings open the party is greeted by a burst of brilliant white light. Once their seared retinas have adjusted, the adventurers are able to look into the room and observe that it is roughly fifty feet wide and fifty feet deep; the illumination comes from dozens of crystals embedded in both ceiling and walls.

In the center of the room is a shallow circular pit some thirty-five feet in diameter. Evenly spaced round the pit are seven statues. All seven statues appear to be facing towards the pit; from where the adventurers stand in the doorway it is apparent the statues are carved to resemble some of the more common humanoid races: goblin, kobold, orc, etc. There are two hulking statues. One is clearly an ogre, whilst another resembles a goblin only slightly smaller than an ogre, but with a pumpkin for a head! Most of the statues are carrying weapons of one sort or another.

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny squints to see into the bright room.

"An impressive little army of statues... What do you suppose is in the pit that they are guarding?"

Lanny looks away and blinks his eyes a few times to try to regain his vision.

"Perhaps it is the bright light, or perhaps it is the shifting stone, but I am starting to feel a bit disoriented down here. Did we get turned around at some point?"

Just curious, did we go east or west from the pedestal room?

[thirdkingdom]

Sorry, west. Across the hall from the pedestal room.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys peers warily into the room.

"Don't like the looks of this one at all. Let's head back east and check out that room to the north, like we planned on doing in the first place..."

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lol, yeah, I thing there was a mix-up, although I can see why, as there is a north and south door both to the east and to the west of the pedestal room. But I think our intention was to go to the rooms to the east of the pedestal room first (the rooms at the "cross" intersection). Although it is good to know what is in here, and where we can get more crystal if we need some!

Lanny studies the statues closely.

"I agree, Rhys... If the statues show no sign of detecting our presence, let us close the door unnoticed and return to the rooms in the eastern wing... after we regain our bearings."

While we are here, are there any obvious exits to this room that are visible from the doorway?

[thirdkingdom]

No exits are visible.

[Finglas]

Bregalad the elf

"I, too, must agree. The purpose of this room does not feel wholesome. The wizard may use it control or speak with the evil races. Leaving this room for now, and searching the eastern rooms sounds wise."

Was there anything visible in the center of the room? Another status perhaps? Or a dais?

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers retrace their steps east until they return to the four-way intersection. Before them, directly east, is the corridor that will return them to the room that -- once held one of the two staircases leading out of the dungeon as well as the mausoleum beyond. At this intersection a corridor leads north for twenty feet before stopping at a door; another corridor leads south for twenty feet before stopping at a door.

Rhys examines both doors yet finds no traps. Neither is locked. He presses his ear to each in turn but hears naught.