DM/

Sweet William?suggests returning to the jungle cat room.

Opening the door from the burial chamber back to the corridor, you notice the pungent odor of burnt hair. Crossing the hall to the short door, the Half-Orc opens it and the burning smell gets stronger. No smoke or flames can be seen.

Flynn?looks back hoping to see anything else of interest, but finds no more.

(OOC-?The various clay pots of incense and oils and spices are being left behind, correct? Their value doesn’t compensate for their weight??

/OOC)

The tunnel back to the secret door from the Wildcat room is only 3 feet high so everyone but?North?has to crawl.

Sweet William?takes the lead, followed by?North,?Flynn,?Tabby,?Brother Ashley, and finally?Cerina?as rear guard.

Sweet William?bursts through the secret door back into the jungle room, axe at the ready to chop up any attacking stuffed feline in sight, but all you find are scattered piles of straw, smoldering bits of fur, and a message scrawled in ash saying, “you’re welcome, headed ->” with the arrow pointing to the door from whence you originally entered.

“He’s going deeper after the rod,”?Brother Ashley?comments. “Did anyone tell them about the bad air?”

Looking around the room, there is a double door to your far left, a single door to the near left, a single door to the near right, and a double door to the far right.

This oddly shaped room is decorated in a cat motif. The center of the southeastern wall is carved to resemble the face of a snarling tiger with hollow eyes.??In the center of the room stands a stone statue of a tiger-headed man holding a spear.

Hung on the walls are several skins of lions and leopards, tiger heads, and a cat-of-nine-tails. Along the northwest edge of the chamber a large calendar stone is mounted on the wall above a stone table or altar.

Scorch marks and scrapes are scattered about in seemingly random places. Fenn’s group obviously cleared the room of animated constructs.

/DM

OOC- you crawl to the Secret door in the lower left corner of the image.

And what do you do?

/DM

On Thursday, May 9, 2024, 10:37 PM, North/John DeMaio <mrjdemaio@...> wrote:

North is going to inspect the north east wall for any hidden doorways. If he doesn't find anything, he will mess with the cat-headed statue in the center of the room.

On Thu, May 9, 2024, 9:21?PM Dungeon Master/Infinitum3D via <infinitum3d=[email protected]> wrote:

DM/

Sweet William?suggests returning to the jungle cat room.

Opening the door from the burial chamber back to the corridor, you notice the pungent odor of burnt hair. Crossing the hall to the short door, the Half-Orc opens it and the burning smell gets stronger. No smoke or flames can be seen.

Flynn?looks back hoping to see anything else of interest, but finds no more.

(OOC-?The various clay pots of incense and oils and spices are being left behind, correct? Their value doesn’t compensate for their weight??

/OOC)

The tunnel back to the secret door from the Wildcat room is only 3 feet high so everyone but?North?has to crawl.

Sweet William?takes the lead, followed by?North,?Flynn,?Tabby,?Brother Ashley, and finally?Cerina?as rear guard.

Sweet William?bursts through the secret door back into the jungle room, axe at the ready to chop up any attacking stuffed feline in sight, but all you find are scattered piles of straw, smoldering bits of fur, and a message scrawled in ash saying, “you’re welcome, headed ->” with the arrow pointing to the door from whence you originally entered.

“He’s going deeper after the rod,”?Brother Ashley?comments. “Did anyone tell them about the bad air?”

Looking around the room, there is a double door to your far left, a single door to the near left, a single door to the near right, and a double door to the far right.

This oddly shaped room is decorated in a cat motif. The center of the southeastern wall is carved to resemble the face of a snarling tiger with hollow eyes.??In the center of the room stands a stone statue of a tiger-headed man holding a spear.

Hung on the walls are several skins of lions and leopards, tiger heads, and a cat-of-nine-tails. Along the northwest edge of the chamber a large calendar stone is mounted on the wall above a stone table or altar.

Scorch marks and scrapes are scattered about in seemingly random places. Fenn’s group obviously cleared the room of animated constructs.

/DM

OOC- you crawl to the Secret door in the lower left corner of the image.

And what do you do?

/DM

On Friday, May 10, 2024, 3:07 PM, Dungeon Master/Infinitum3D <infinitum3d@...> wrote:

DM/

North?heads across the room to examine the far wall. It’s broad and flat with no discernible door, but intimate examination reveals a mark made with ashes. Two fingers have drawn a triangle with vertical lines from the apex.?The Gnome?recognizes this symbol as a Thieves’ Guild shadow mark.?

Cerina?can explain its meaning- ‘traps ahead’. The mark is very recently drawn. Interesting??that there doesn’t appear to be a recently opened door here though, so how did the Rogue discover traps ahead??

Flynn?does notice a slight variance in the texture of an area of wall just left of center. It’s subtle and blends with the surroundings, but his highly experienced eyes have been trained to cognize the indiscernible. Mindful of traps, he first passes his open palm over the wall, not touching it directly but hovering ever-so-close to feel any passage of air as to betray a hidden seam.?

Finding no evidence of triplines or pressure plates, the?Bard?slips a short stiff-bristled brush from the folds of his tunic and gently sweeps away the dust and ash where he believes a secret door lies. Wetting his thumb with his tongue, he wipes clean a nigh inconsequential split in the stone and follows it around. In doing so, he also discovers a Payit motif covered in soot and years of dust- a pair of concentric squares, slightly offset with a horizontal line just above. The magic of his ring and his knowledge of pictography allows him to deduce the meaning-?traps ahead. That explains how the Rogue before him could parlay the warning. He finds a similar glyph a half meter away.

Moments later, with the secret door perimeter now clearly defined, the only task left is to somehow open it.

Meanwhile,?Sweet William?examines the statue of a Weretiger and his Danger Sense picks up. Something about the pose of this statue just isn’t right. Before he reaches for the spear, he pauses instinctively. It looks almost as if the creature was carved to appear to be dying rather than attacking or defending.

And what do you do?

/DM

?

DM/

?

North?heads across the room to examine the far wall. It’s broad and flat with no discernible door, but intimate examination reveals a mark made with ashes. Two fingers have drawn a triangle with vertical lines from the apex.?The Gnome?recognizes this symbol as a Thieves’ Guild shadow mark.?

?

Cerina?can explain its meaning- ‘traps ahead’. The mark is very recently drawn. Interesting??that there doesn’t appear to be a recently opened door here though, so how did the Rogue discover traps ahead??

?

Flynn?does notice a slight variance in the texture of an area of wall just left of center. It’s subtle and blends with the surroundings, but his highly experienced eyes have been trained to cognize the indiscernible. Mindful of traps, he first passes his open palm over the wall, not touching it directly but hovering ever-so-close to feel any passage of air as to betray a hidden seam.?

?

Finding no evidence of triplines or pressure plates, the?Bard?slips a short stiff-bristled brush from the folds of his tunic and gently sweeps away the dust and ash where he believes a secret door lies. Wetting his thumb with his tongue, he wipes clean a nigh inconsequential split in the stone and follows it around. In doing so, he also discovers a Payit motif covered in soot and years of dust- a pair of concentric squares, slightly offset with a horizontal line just above. The magic of his ring and his knowledge of pictography allows him to deduce the meaning-?traps ahead. That explains how the Rogue before him could parlay the warning. He finds a similar glyph a half meter away.

?

Moments later, with the secret door perimeter now clearly defined, the only task left is to somehow open it.

?

Meanwhile,?Sweet William?examines the statue of a Weretiger and his Danger Sense picks up. Something about the pose of this statue just isn’t right. Before he reaches for the spear, he pauses instinctively. It looks almost as if the creature was carved to appear to be dying rather than attacking or defending.

?

?

And what do you do?

?

/DM

On Friday, May 10, 2024, 3:07 PM, Dungeon Master/Infinitum3D <infinitum3d@...> wrote:

DM/

North?heads across the room to examine the far wall. It’s broad and flat with no discernible door, but intimate examination reveals a mark made with ashes. Two fingers have drawn a triangle with vertical lines from the apex.?The Gnome?recognizes this symbol as a Thieves’ Guild shadow mark.?

Cerina?can explain its meaning- ‘traps ahead’. The mark is very recently drawn. Interesting??that there doesn’t appear to be a recently opened door here though, so how did the Rogue discover traps ahead??

Flynn?does notice a slight variance in the texture of an area of wall just left of center. It’s subtle and blends with the surroundings, but his highly experienced eyes have been trained to cognize the indiscernible. Mindful of traps, he first passes his open palm over the wall, not touching it directly but hovering ever-so-close to feel any passage of air as to betray a hidden seam.?

Finding no evidence of triplines or pressure plates, the?Bard?slips a short stiff-bristled brush from the folds of his tunic and gently sweeps away the dust and ash where he believes a secret door lies. Wetting his thumb with his tongue, he wipes clean a nigh inconsequential split in the stone and follows it around. In doing so, he also discovers a Payit motif covered in soot and years of dust- a pair of concentric squares, slightly offset with a horizontal line just above. The magic of his ring and his knowledge of pictography allows him to deduce the meaning-?traps ahead. That explains how the Rogue before him could parlay the warning. He finds a similar glyph a half meter away.

Moments later, with the secret door perimeter now clearly defined, the only task left is to somehow open it.

Meanwhile,?Sweet William?examines the statue of a Weretiger and his Danger Sense picks up. Something about the pose of this statue just isn’t right. Before he reaches for the spear, he pauses instinctively. It looks almost as if the creature was carved to appear to be dying rather than attacking or defending.

And what do you do?

/DM

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 2:05 PM, Cerina/JediJon via groups.io <dwarfjsgm@...> wrote:

Pocketing the stone, Cerina turns to look at all that has happened. "Why do I get the feeling that this room is all a well designed trap. Listening to the gears protesting, I'd say its been some time since anyone triggered it though."

"I miss the old days." Cthulhu

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 10:46:13 AM PDT, Dungeon Master/Infinitum3D <infinitum3d@...> wrote:

DM/

Sweet William?studies the statue intently. It appears to be made of all one material, carved from a single piece of granite- creature and spear combined.

The expression on the creature’s face and posture of the body seem to belie a recoil of sorts, as if the creature was caught in mid-action getting ready to dodge.?

Meanwhile,?Flynn?knocks?on the secret door, and the sound reverberates throughout the chamber.?

K?n?O?c?K?

A latch clicks somewhere below and counterweights within the walls begin settling into recesses, turning rusty gears and grinding stiff pulleys. The floor slightly shudders and painted plaster cracks away from the seams in a dusty, chunky, noisy mess as a portion of the wall is pulled upward through the floor into the ceiling to reveal a secret passage; its walls glow magenta, bathing the corridor with a ghastly hue. After fifteen feet, the floor drops away to a pit that fills the hallway ahead. The pit is twenty-five feet deep. Eight large, spidery bushes with thorny stems, white leaves, and enormous yellow blossoms grow across its bottom.

Five feet beyond the nearest edge of the pit is a bronze bar, set level with the floor and embedded in the pit walls to either side. Farther out over the pit can be seen other similar bronze rungs, set at five-foot intervals. On the floor by the edge of the pit is a scattering of broken, rotting wooden planks.

Sweet William?sees a layer of fresh cinder slag on the weretiger statue. A hot fire was here recently.?North?recognizes it as fireball residue. Something was burnt to a crisp recently. Looking closer, the Barbarian notes a scar obscured somewhat by the ash, running down the center of the weretiger’s chest with ‘ice pick’ suture scarring along either side as if the chest was somehow opened and sewn back together again.

The cat-o-nine-tails that?Cerina?is examining resembles a Drow weapon consisting of a small whip with nine individual ends, each end having a knot tied on it. Drow typically knot their ends with glass or rusty iron caltrops, but this has no such accoutrements. Handled as a small melee whip, this device wouldn’t have much effect against mail or even leathers but against bare native skin it would be a painful experience.??It was likely used ceremonially to appease the gods, or mete out justice against slaves captured from rival tribes. It’s made of crudely tanned, braided leather. The craftsmanship is poor, but then she notices the haft encases a solid pommel. Prying into the knotted braids she discovers an uncut blue-white diamond the size of a field pea.?

Meanwhile,?Tabby?keeps an eye on everyone from her vantage point in the center of the room, far from statues and corpses and traps and triggers. She watches keenly, but doesn’t notice anything dangerous, threatening, or spooky at the moment.

And what do you do?

/DM

“Looks to me like this is less a statue and more somebody that somehow got turned to stone,” Sweet William says. “It’s got a chest scar that looks like something cut it’s heart out and then stitched it back up. Gotta feel bad for this poor bastard!”

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 2:05 PM, Cerina/JediJon via <dwarfjsgm=[email protected]> wrote:

Pocketing the stone, Cerina turns to look at all that has happened. "Why do I get the feeling that this room is all a well designed trap. Listening to the gears protesting, I'd say its been some time since anyone triggered it though."

"I miss the old days." Cthulhu

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 10:46:13 AM PDT, Dungeon Master/Infinitum3D <infinitum3d@...> wrote:

DM/

Sweet William?studies the statue intently. It appears to be made of all one material, carved from a single piece of granite- creature and spear combined.

The expression on the creature’s face and posture of the body seem to belie a recoil of sorts, as if the creature was caught in mid-action getting ready to dodge.?

Meanwhile,?Flynn?knocks?on the secret door, and the sound reverberates throughout the chamber.?

K?n?O?c?K?

A latch clicks somewhere below and counterweights within the walls begin settling into recesses, turning rusty gears and grinding stiff pulleys. The floor slightly shudders and painted plaster cracks away from the seams in a dusty, chunky, noisy mess as a portion of the wall is pulled upward through the floor into the ceiling to reveal a secret passage; its walls glow magenta, bathing the corridor with a ghastly hue. After fifteen feet, the floor drops away to a pit that fills the hallway ahead. The pit is twenty-five feet deep. Eight large, spidery bushes with thorny stems, white leaves, and enormous yellow blossoms grow across its bottom.

Five feet beyond the nearest edge of the pit is a bronze bar, set level with the floor and embedded in the pit walls to either side. Farther out over the pit can be seen other similar bronze rungs, set at five-foot intervals. On the floor by the edge of the pit is a scattering of broken, rotting wooden planks.

Sweet William?sees a layer of fresh cinder slag on the weretiger statue. A hot fire was here recently.?North?recognizes it as fireball residue. Something was burnt to a crisp recently. Looking closer, the Barbarian notes a scar obscured somewhat by the ash, running down the center of the weretiger’s chest with ‘ice pick’ suture scarring along either side as if the chest was somehow opened and sewn back together again.

The cat-o-nine-tails that?Cerina?is examining resembles a Drow weapon consisting of a small whip with nine individual ends, each end having a knot tied on it. Drow typically knot their ends with glass or rusty iron caltrops, but this has no such accoutrements. Handled as a small melee whip, this device wouldn’t have much effect against mail or even leathers but against bare native skin it would be a painful experience.??It was likely used ceremonially to appease the gods, or mete out justice against slaves captured from rival tribes. It’s made of crudely tanned, braided leather. The craftsmanship is poor, but then she notices the haft encases a solid pommel. Prying into the knotted braids she discovers an uncut blue-white diamond the size of a field pea.?

Meanwhile,?Tabby?keeps an eye on everyone from her vantage point in the center of the room, far from statues and corpses and traps and triggers. She watches keenly, but doesn’t notice anything dangerous, threatening, or spooky at the moment.

And what do you do?

/DM

“Looks to me like this is less a statue and more somebody that somehow got turned to stone,” Sweet William says. “It’s got a chest scar that looks like something cut it’s heart out and then stitched it back up. Gotta feel bad for this poor bastard!”

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 2:05 PM, Cerina/JediJon via <dwarfjsgm=[email protected]> wrote:

Pocketing the stone, Cerina turns to look at all that has happened. "Why do I get the feeling that this room is all a well designed trap. Listening to the gears protesting, I'd say its been some time since anyone triggered it though."

"I miss the old days." Cthulhu

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 10:46:13 AM PDT, Dungeon Master/Infinitum3D <infinitum3d@...> wrote:

DM/

Sweet William?studies the statue intently. It appears to be made of all one material, carved from a single piece of granite- creature and spear combined.

The expression on the creature’s face and posture of the body seem to belie a recoil of sorts, as if the creature was caught in mid-action getting ready to dodge.?

Meanwhile,?Flynn?knocks?on the secret door, and the sound reverberates throughout the chamber.?

K?n?O?c?K?

A latch clicks somewhere below and counterweights within the walls begin settling into recesses, turning rusty gears and grinding stiff pulleys. The floor slightly shudders and painted plaster cracks away from the seams in a dusty, chunky, noisy mess as a portion of the wall is pulled upward through the floor into the ceiling to reveal a secret passage; its walls glow magenta, bathing the corridor with a ghastly hue. After fifteen feet, the floor drops away to a pit that fills the hallway ahead. The pit is twenty-five feet deep. Eight large, spidery bushes with thorny stems, white leaves, and enormous yellow blossoms grow across its bottom.

Five feet beyond the nearest edge of the pit is a bronze bar, set level with the floor and embedded in the pit walls to either side. Farther out over the pit can be seen other similar bronze rungs, set at five-foot intervals. On the floor by the edge of the pit is a scattering of broken, rotting wooden planks.

Sweet William?sees a layer of fresh cinder slag on the weretiger statue. A hot fire was here recently.?North?recognizes it as fireball residue. Something was burnt to a crisp recently. Looking closer, the Barbarian notes a scar obscured somewhat by the ash, running down the center of the weretiger’s chest with ‘ice pick’ suture scarring along either side as if the chest was somehow opened and sewn back together again.

The cat-o-nine-tails that?Cerina?is examining resembles a Drow weapon consisting of a small whip with nine individual ends, each end having a knot tied on it. Drow typically knot their ends with glass or rusty iron caltrops, but this has no such accoutrements. Handled as a small melee whip, this device wouldn’t have much effect against mail or even leathers but against bare native skin it would be a painful experience.??It was likely used ceremonially to appease the gods, or mete out justice against slaves captured from rival tribes. It’s made of crudely tanned, braided leather. The craftsmanship is poor, but then she notices the haft encases a solid pommel. Prying into the knotted braids she discovers an uncut blue-white diamond the size of a field pea.?

Meanwhile,?Tabby?keeps an eye on everyone from her vantage point in the center of the room, far from statues and corpses and traps and triggers. She watches keenly, but doesn’t notice anything dangerous, threatening, or spooky at the moment.

And what do you do?

/DM

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 10:28 PM, Cerina/JediJon via groups.io <dwarfjsgm@...> wrote:

Cerina cringes at the description William has shared. She'll turn to both North and Brother ashley, "Do either of you two know of a spell or ritual that requires removing someones heart and then turning them to stone?"

"I miss the old days." Cthulhu

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 04:38:17 PM PDT, Tabby <tacobobman@...> wrote:

"Oh dear.", Tabby did not like all the sounds the room made. And this whole room could be a TRAP? There was also the residue. Was that the trap? Another trap?? Did it cause one big fire?

And now there was a horrible pit! The Tabaxi will stay at her spot for the moment. She will have to hear what the others have to say.

On Tue, May 14, 2024 at 2:41?PM Sweet William/Arthur Picard via <artamy1=[email protected]> wrote:

“Looks to me like this is less a statue and more somebody that somehow got turned to stone,” Sweet William says. “It’s got a chest scar that looks like something cut it’s heart out and then stitched it back up. Gotta feel bad for this poor bastard!”

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 2:05 PM, Cerina/JediJon via <dwarfjsgm=[email protected]> wrote:

Pocketing the stone, Cerina turns to look at all that has happened. "Why do I get the feeling that this room is all a well designed trap. Listening to the gears protesting, I'd say its been some time since anyone triggered it though."

"I miss the old days." Cthulhu

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 10:46:13 AM PDT, Dungeon Master/Infinitum3D <infinitum3d@...> wrote:

DM/

Sweet William?studies the statue intently. It appears to be made of all one material, carved from a single piece of granite- creature and spear combined.

The expression on the creature’s face and posture of the body seem to belie a recoil of sorts, as if the creature was caught in mid-action getting ready to dodge.?

Meanwhile,?Flynn?knocks?on the secret door, and the sound reverberates throughout the chamber.?

K?n?O?c?K?

A latch clicks somewhere below and counterweights within the walls begin settling into recesses, turning rusty gears and grinding stiff pulleys. The floor slightly shudders and painted plaster cracks away from the seams in a dusty, chunky, noisy mess as a portion of the wall is pulled upward through the floor into the ceiling to reveal a secret passage; its walls glow magenta, bathing the corridor with a ghastly hue. After fifteen feet, the floor drops away to a pit that fills the hallway ahead. The pit is twenty-five feet deep. Eight large, spidery bushes with thorny stems, white leaves, and enormous yellow blossoms grow across its bottom.

Five feet beyond the nearest edge of the pit is a bronze bar, set level with the floor and embedded in the pit walls to either side. Farther out over the pit can be seen other similar bronze rungs, set at five-foot intervals. On the floor by the edge of the pit is a scattering of broken, rotting wooden planks.

Sweet William?sees a layer of fresh cinder slag on the weretiger statue. A hot fire was here recently.?North?recognizes it as fireball residue. Something was burnt to a crisp recently. Looking closer, the Barbarian notes a scar obscured somewhat by the ash, running down the center of the weretiger’s chest with ‘ice pick’ suture scarring along either side as if the chest was somehow opened and sewn back together again.

The cat-o-nine-tails that?Cerina?is examining resembles a Drow weapon consisting of a small whip with nine individual ends, each end having a knot tied on it. Drow typically knot their ends with glass or rusty iron caltrops, but this has no such accoutrements. Handled as a small melee whip, this device wouldn’t have much effect against mail or even leathers but against bare native skin it would be a painful experience.??It was likely used ceremonially to appease the gods, or mete out justice against slaves captured from rival tribes. It’s made of crudely tanned, braided leather. The craftsmanship is poor, but then she notices the haft encases a solid pommel. Prying into the knotted braids she discovers an uncut blue-white diamond the size of a field pea.?

Meanwhile,?Tabby?keeps an eye on everyone from her vantage point in the center of the room, far from statues and corpses and traps and triggers. She watches keenly, but doesn’t notice anything dangerous, threatening, or spooky at the moment.

And what do you do?

/DM

On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 7:57 AM, North/John DeMaio <mrjdemaio@...> wrote:

"This seems like a ritual sacrifice type situation." North comments.

"Taking the heart out may be more of a cultural part of it."

"It's recent though... That's concerning." He scrunches his nose at the burnt hair smell in the room.

"Cerina, is there any evidence of foot traffic in this room that leads to one of these doors? They must of scorched this guy and then left the room through one of these doors."

Responding to SW, "I can mend, absolutely! But? I don't think that's the right direction." He peers down the newly opened shaft.

"It says "traps" - plural, ahead and this sounds like this hasn't been opened in a while."

He starts to look around at the other doors.

On Wed, May 15, 2024, 7:43?AM Sweet William/Arthur Picard via <artamy1=[email protected]> wrote:

OOC:?Does Sweet William remember seeing any wooden doors in this complex or anything?

that can bridge the gap between the rungs?

If not IC: “North, can you use you mending magic to restore those rotten planks?next to the pit?”

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 10:28 PM, Cerina/JediJon via <dwarfjsgm=[email protected]> wrote:

Cerina cringes at the description William has shared. She'll turn to both North and Brother ashley, "Do either of you two know of a spell or ritual that requires removing someones heart and then turning them to stone?"

"I miss the old days." Cthulhu

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 04:38:17 PM PDT, Tabby <tacobobman@...> wrote:

"Oh dear.", Tabby did not like all the sounds the room made. And this whole room could be a TRAP? There was also the residue. Was that the trap? Another trap?? Did it cause one big fire?

And now there was a horrible pit! The Tabaxi will stay at her spot for the moment. She will have to hear what the others have to say.

On Tue, May 14, 2024 at 2:41?PM Sweet William/Arthur Picard via <artamy1=[email protected]> wrote:

“Looks to me like this is less a statue and more somebody that somehow got turned to stone,” Sweet William says. “It’s got a chest scar that looks like something cut it’s heart out and then stitched it back up. Gotta feel bad for this poor bastard!”

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 2:05 PM, Cerina/JediJon via <dwarfjsgm=[email protected]> wrote:

Pocketing the stone, Cerina turns to look at all that has happened. "Why do I get the feeling that this room is all a well designed trap. Listening to the gears protesting, I'd say its been some time since anyone triggered it though."

"I miss the old days." Cthulhu

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 10:46:13 AM PDT, Dungeon Master/Infinitum3D <infinitum3d@...> wrote:

DM/

Sweet William?studies the statue intently. It appears to be made of all one material, carved from a single piece of granite- creature and spear combined.

The expression on the creature’s face and posture of the body seem to belie a recoil of sorts, as if the creature was caught in mid-action getting ready to dodge.?

Meanwhile,?Flynn?knocks?on the secret door, and the sound reverberates throughout the chamber.?

K?n?O?c?K?

A latch clicks somewhere below and counterweights within the walls begin settling into recesses, turning rusty gears and grinding stiff pulleys. The floor slightly shudders and painted plaster cracks away from the seams in a dusty, chunky, noisy mess as a portion of the wall is pulled upward through the floor into the ceiling to reveal a secret passage; its walls glow magenta, bathing the corridor with a ghastly hue. After fifteen feet, the floor drops away to a pit that fills the hallway ahead. The pit is twenty-five feet deep. Eight large, spidery bushes with thorny stems, white leaves, and enormous yellow blossoms grow across its bottom.

Five feet beyond the nearest edge of the pit is a bronze bar, set level with the floor and embedded in the pit walls to either side. Farther out over the pit can be seen other similar bronze rungs, set at five-foot intervals. On the floor by the edge of the pit is a scattering of broken, rotting wooden planks.

Sweet William?sees a layer of fresh cinder slag on the weretiger statue. A hot fire was here recently.?North?recognizes it as fireball residue. Something was burnt to a crisp recently. Looking closer, the Barbarian notes a scar obscured somewhat by the ash, running down the center of the weretiger’s chest with ‘ice pick’ suture scarring along either side as if the chest was somehow opened and sewn back together again.

The cat-o-nine-tails that?Cerina?is examining resembles a Drow weapon consisting of a small whip with nine individual ends, each end having a knot tied on it. Drow typically knot their ends with glass or rusty iron caltrops, but this has no such accoutrements. Handled as a small melee whip, this device wouldn’t have much effect against mail or even leathers but against bare native skin it would be a painful experience.??It was likely used ceremonially to appease the gods, or mete out justice against slaves captured from rival tribes. It’s made of crudely tanned, braided leather. The craftsmanship is poor, but then she notices the haft encases a solid pommel. Prying into the knotted braids she discovers an uncut blue-white diamond the size of a field pea.?

Meanwhile,?Tabby?keeps an eye on everyone from her vantage point in the center of the room, far from statues and corpses and traps and triggers. She watches keenly, but doesn’t notice anything dangerous, threatening, or spooky at the moment.

And what do you do?

/DM

On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 8:57 AM, Flynn/Derek Walters <thegamerzedge@...> wrote:

"It's magic, my large friend and an omnipotent being that controls everything in our world other than our individual actions." ?interjected Flynn to SW.? "Anyone feel like auditioning for the circus..."?he asks as he motions to the suspended rod.

---

From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Sweet William/Arthur Picard <artamy1@...>
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 7:45 AM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [DaleOfShadows] DaleOfShadows: Maztica, 14 Eleasis

?

Sweet William will go join North in checking the other doors.

“Seems to me, if the went to such lengths to protect something - hidden doors and deadly plants - it must be pretty valuable. Even if it’s not the item we’re seeking.” (spear? Sorry, my memory is poo). “Obviously, Fenn snd his friends didn’t find it after they fireballed the hell out of this place. Makes me wonder how plants could stay alive without sun or water.”

On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 7:57 AM, North/John DeMaio <mrjdemaio@...> wrote:

"This seems like a ritual sacrifice type situation." North comments.

"Taking the heart out may be more of a cultural part of it."

"It's recent though... That's concerning." He scrunches his nose at the burnt hair smell in the room.

"Cerina, is there any evidence of foot traffic in this room that leads to one of these doors? They must of scorched this guy and then left the room through one of these doors."

Responding to SW, "I can mend, absolutely! But? I don't think that's the right direction." He peers down the newly opened shaft.

"It says "traps" - plural, ahead and this sounds like this hasn't been opened in a while."

He starts to look around at the other doors.

On Wed, May 15, 2024, 7:43?AM Sweet William/Arthur Picard via <artamy1=[email protected]> wrote:

OOC:?Does Sweet William remember seeing any wooden doors in this complex or anything?

that can bridge the gap between the rungs?

If not IC: “North, can you use you mending magic to restore those rotten planks?next to the pit?”

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 10:28 PM, Cerina/JediJon via <dwarfjsgm=[email protected]> wrote:

Cerina cringes at the description William has shared. She'll turn to both North and Brother ashley, "Do either of you two know of a spell or ritual that requires removing someones heart and then turning them to stone?"

"I miss the old days." Cthulhu

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 04:38:17 PM PDT, Tabby <tacobobman@...> wrote:

"Oh dear.", Tabby did not like all the sounds the room made. And this whole room could be a TRAP? There was also the residue. Was that the trap? Another trap?? Did it cause one big fire?

And now there was a horrible pit! The Tabaxi will stay at her spot for the moment. She will have to hear what the others have to say.

On Tue, May 14, 2024 at 2:41?PM Sweet William/Arthur Picard via <artamy1=[email protected]> wrote:

“Looks to me like this is less a statue and more somebody that somehow got turned to stone,” Sweet William says. “It’s got a chest scar that looks like something cut it’s heart out and then stitched it back up. Gotta feel bad for this poor bastard!”

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024, 2:05 PM, Cerina/JediJon via <dwarfjsgm=[email protected]> wrote:

Pocketing the stone, Cerina turns to look at all that has happened. "Why do I get the feeling that this room is all a well designed trap. Listening to the gears protesting, I'd say its been some time since anyone triggered it though."

"I miss the old days." Cthulhu

On Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 10:46:13 AM PDT, Dungeon Master/Infinitum3D <infinitum3d@...> wrote:

DM/

Sweet William?studies the statue intently. It appears to be made of all one material, carved from a single piece of granite- creature and spear combined.

The expression on the creature’s face and posture of the body seem to belie a recoil of sorts, as if the creature was caught in mid-action getting ready to dodge.?

Meanwhile,?Flynn?knocks?on the secret door, and the sound reverberates throughout the chamber.?

K?n?O?c?K?

A latch clicks somewhere below and counterweights within the walls begin settling into recesses, turning rusty gears and grinding stiff pulleys. The floor slightly shudders and painted plaster cracks away from the seams in a dusty, chunky, noisy mess as a portion of the wall is pulled upward through the floor into the ceiling to reveal a secret passage; its walls glow magenta, bathing the corridor with a ghastly hue. After fifteen feet, the floor drops away to a pit that fills the hallway ahead. The pit is twenty-five feet deep. Eight large, spidery bushes with thorny stems, white leaves, and enormous yellow blossoms grow across its bottom.

Five feet beyond the nearest edge of the pit is a bronze bar, set level with the floor and embedded in the pit walls to either side. Farther out over the pit can be seen other similar bronze rungs, set at five-foot intervals. On the floor by the edge of the pit is a scattering of broken, rotting wooden planks.

Sweet William?sees a layer of fresh cinder slag on the weretiger statue. A hot fire was here recently.?North?recognizes it as fireball residue. Something was burnt to a crisp recently. Looking closer, the Barbarian notes a scar obscured somewhat by the ash, running down the center of the weretiger’s chest with ‘ice pick’ suture scarring along either side as if the chest was somehow opened and sewn back together again.

The cat-o-nine-tails that?Cerina?is examining resembles a Drow weapon consisting of a small whip with nine individual ends, each end having a knot tied on it. Drow typically knot their ends with glass or rusty iron caltrops, but this has no such accoutrements. Handled as a small melee whip, this device wouldn’t have much effect against mail or even leathers but against bare native skin it would be a painful experience.??It was likely used ceremonially to appease the gods, or mete out justice against slaves captured from rival tribes. It’s made of crudely tanned, braided leather. The craftsmanship is poor, but then she notices the haft encases a solid pommel. Prying into the knotted braids she discovers an uncut blue-white diamond the size of a field pea.?

Meanwhile,?Tabby?keeps an eye on everyone from her vantage point in the center of the room, far from statues and corpses and traps and triggers. She watches keenly, but doesn’t notice anything dangerous, threatening, or spooky at the moment.

And what do you do?

/DM

On Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 9:11 AM, Dungeon Master/Infinitum3D <infinitum3d@...> wrote:

DM/

In response to North’s question, Cerina?easily notes the message scrawled in ash which reads, “you’re welcome, headed ->” with the arrow pointing to the door from whence you originally entered. (bottom of the picture)

North?and?Sweet William?check out the remaining doors, starting with the arrow and going counterclockwise.

The arrow door is singular, brass, and leads back to the lower levels with bad air. That’s apparently the way Fenn’s group has gone.

Next to it is a set of closed double doors, brass with plaster sealing the seam, embossed with ancient Payit symbols that?Flynn?discerns represent a message. He translates it as ‘the dust of ages’.

Continuing around the room counterclockwise you get to the now-open secret door with ‘traps ahead’.

And a little farther around the room is another set of brass double doors sealed with plaster, these ones carved with the phrase ‘bed of xilonen’ embossed in ancient Payit.

“Could it be another burial chamber?”?Brother Ashley?asks. “Like the copper boat room?”

And a little further around is yet another single brass door, bearing the warning ‘guardians bar the way’.

Finally, you’re back at the secret door leading to the copper boat/burial chamber where you defeated the Doppleganger.

Meanwhile,?Tabby?keeps an eye on everyone from her vantage point in the center of the room, far from statues and corpses and traps and triggers. She watches keenly, but doesn’t notice anything dangerous, threatening, or spooky at the moment.

“None of these sound very ‘spear-like’ to me,” the Priest mutters to no one on particular.

And what do you do?

/DM