Observations

Josh said: hiskel- truespeak-19 spellcraft-24 Hiskel recognizes the metallic bird as a magical construct, of a class of items called Figurines of Wondrous Power. These tiny statuettes are shaped like various animals, and can be animated to full size on command. Their serve whomever spoke their password until slain or in need of recharging, whereupon they shrink back to their normal state.  She also recognizes the name Jorvasskar, but isn't sure from where... Josh said: Limar- nobility-24,17 all +3 if catacombs related. geography-19 When Hamanap shares the news with sending , Limar recalls Kaladesh telling him of a secret mission planned for himself and Selisa... perhaps this is what he and Selisa were reconnoitering for? Limar also knows a bit about this Hesilith: he's a priest of Merrshaulk, and half-fiend yuan-ti abomination of great power, with many of his own kind serving beneath him. His territory is deep in the central Catacombs, nestled between the rivers and beneath an important surface route called the Chokon Trail , right around where Fort Greenwall  sits astride its major fork. Hesilith is the most famous of the Coiled Lady's few children, since despite her age and infamously ravenous sexual appetites she rarely bothers with procreation. He used to serve her underlord Shurreon, but turned his cloak to join a rival Great Power, Iktharylep; with this second reversal, he's surely gained even more enemies, but from the rumors of his immense strength you suspect he can handle the danger.

Your entourage consists of 9 guards, 4 servants, 2 horses, a mule, 3 dogs, and 3 sheep. Here are the specifics: Guards:     Helra (Limar's follower)                   Ahmed, Franz, Liftrasa (mercs)                   Pvt Lindsey, Pvt Aleslosh (assistant cook/trapsmith), Pvt Dan, Pvt Michael (Ering's soldiers)                   Sir Sevyir (hedge knight) Servants:   Jarkel (trapsmith), Rebeka (cook), Hannah (kennelmaster/forager), Alty (teamster) Animals:    Harren (Sir Sevyir's old quarterhorse stallion, light warhorse ridden by Sir Sevyir)                   Boots (old heavy paint plowhorse clydesdale, heavy horse pulling the wagon with Jess)                   Jess (blue roan hinny mule pulling the wagon with Boots)                   Cade (yellow lab, guard dog)                   Margo (catahoula, hunting dog)                   James (siberian husky, fighting dog)                   3 sheep Supplies:   Rations, tents, cooking gear, sleeping rolls, arrows, trapmaking supplies, misc camping gear The wagon and tents are ringed with a staked trench. Jarkel and Aleslosh have laid some simple traps in the surrounding forest, and Hiskel has placed 5 alarms around the camp. Does she set her alarm  spells to be silent or audible? And does she give everyone the password?

Audible , she'll tell who ever is on guard she'll use her draconic word Ssearth  to extend them to 4 hours a  level (36 hours)

While exploring Zorall's caves thus far, you've noticed that the terrain is a mixture natural and artificial... some rooms and halls still show water-smoothed cavern walls, floors, and/or ceilings hung with stalactites with the rest filled in by masonry brick walls and flagstone floors; others are entirely natural, or entirely built from mortared stones. In some places, the walls of natural rock have been hewn away to make more room, or stalagmites cut away to stumps. It looks like a large, natural cave network that was gradually improved, reshaped, and added onto over time, perhaps the work of several generations. There are tiny, dark crevices here and there in these natural parts, which wind into unknown depths, too narrow for you to fit through or to high in the ceiling above. Knowledge (architecture & engineering) and (dungeoneering) apply. You've also spotted various graffiti scrawled on walls or in corners, most of it in chalk, charcoal, or dirt, some carved into the stone with a dagger, written in Common, Dwarven, Elven, Draconic, or languages you don't understand, and most of little consequence... "kurmak was here", "poluma is a dirty whore", "gamma is a mighty warrior", "one sire, one brood", "I want a magic spear", "wesley rules sucks YOU SUCK", "find genvissa for a good time", "the catalans slew 7 foes here", X's or arrows, crude drawings of penises, breasts, or monsters, etc. Knowledge (local) applies. A few do catch your eye as you go along, though: Scratched into the stone in the flowing Undercommon script: "S'arl'keen, take the staircase down and recon the West -Por'teek'nelsith" Knowledge (local) or (dungeoneering) applies. Craft (calligraphy) applies, trained only. Written in brown chalk: "breastplate rusts under plating, check often" Profession (soldier) applies, trained only. Written in white chalk in Celestial: "push the bodak into the sunlight" Knowledge (religion) applies. Written in blue ink in Infernal: "it is too late for me. find the Kings of Leon, uncover his past. he must be stopped!" Knowledge (history) applies. Craft (limner) applies, trained only. Written in charcoal in Draconic: "take the chains, you'll need them" Written in white chalk in Draconic: "mimic somewhere around here" Knowledge (dungeoneering) applies. Carved lightly into the stone in Hànyǔ: "look beyond what your eyes see, and help will find you" Knowledge (arcana) applies. And one written in black ink using Common letters, but in what looks like some sort of code. Decipher Script applies. If you roll a check which applies to more than one thing, please indicate which thing it's for.

Knowledge (religion) of 23

1. local 9 religion 19 history 23 dungeoneering 23 mimic arcana 20 Deciper script 27

Knowledge (Local) check: 14 Knowledge (Dungeoneering) check: 5 Knowledge (Religion) check: 5 Knowledge (History) check: 11, Craft (limner) check: 15 Knowledge (Dungeoneering) check: 21 Knowledge (Arcana) check: 10

Nate S. said: Knowledge (religion) of 23 The tutor your adoptive father assigned to you once taught you about bodaks. Powerful undead remnants of humanoids who have been destroyed by the touch of absolute evil, simply meeting their gaze is enough to kill most creatures.  Ritt K.  said: Knowledge (Local) check: 14 Craft (limner) check: 15 Knowledge (Dungeoneering) check: 21 Xankoris has heard of the Catalans, a minor adventuring group led by a half-bronze dragon gray elf named Quarion Dragonblooded.  He also notices that the writing in blue ink is very well-done. For the stone to take ink like that, it must have been thickened with oil, making it more akin to paint. Once Hiskel translates the Undercommon for him, he recognizes the names used in that message as distinctly drowish.  Josh said: history 23 arcana 20 Deciper script 27 Hiskel has heard of the Kings of Leon before, an adventuring party who achieved great renown some decades ago. She recalls they were led by a brilliant bard, and also boasted a mighty elder druid and master thief amongst their number. They are best known for slaying the great black dragoness Azikerax, then a mighty vassal in service to one of the three Great Powers, Iktharlyep. Oddly, they broke up not long after that crowning glory, and vanished from the public eye. When Xankoris translates the Hànyǔ graffiti, she realizes it might be a riddle. 'beyond what your eyes see' sounds poetic, but it may be literal, meaning to use some kind of divination magic. She's also able to break the simple code on the other message, a basic substitution cipher for Common. Decoded, it reads as two lines of verse: " band of six that unbound archos, band of six that made him one across the barren wastes they trod, to end the evil that was born "

any knowledge on archos?

(Sorry for all the rolls) For the crevices: Knowledge (architecture & engineering): 19 Knowledge (dungeoneering): 27 For the graffiti Knowledge (local): 26 For the Undercommon: Knowledge (dungeoneering): 23 Craft (calligraphy): 14 Profession (soldier): 3 For the Bodak Knowledge (religion): 17 For the Kings of Leon Knowledge (history): 28 For the mimic Knowledge (dungeoneering): 16 For the Hànyǔ: Knowledge (arcana): 29 (Did you take inspiration from the graffiti that they found in Pompei for those? They are pretty similar lol)

Josh said: any knowledge on archos? Knowledge (history) and (nobility & royalty) apply. Dawi said: For the crevices: Knowledge (architecture & engineering): 19 Knowledge (dungeoneering): 27 For the graffiti Knowledge (local): 26 For the Undercommon: Knowledge (dungeoneering): 23 Craft (calligraphy): 14 Ering recognizes the architectural styles of numerous different races and cultures in the piecemeal stonework, though none of it looks very ancient. Together, these factors lead him to conclude that the construction was likely done by Zorall's own followers over time, to make the caves more hospitable and extent them in places. The tiny and winding crevices are common in caves, and often inhabited by rats, spiders, and other tiny scavengers of the earth. In the areas that seem to be made almost entirely of masonry or where the natural rock is hewn away, there were likely small natural passages that were widened to make room for their humanoid denizens. Some holes are too small to be practically widened though, and have simply been left open, with the side-benefit of allowing for better air circulation. You've also heard of the Catalans, and know that they're a fairly minor group who've only recently started offering their services as mercenaries in the Catacombs area. You heard a tale about them from one of the guards at the Stone River Waypoint, who heard it from river merchants. In the story, they were hired to rescue someone that Zorall's raiders had kidnapped into slavery. It described their others members as including a dwarven priest of Moradin from the Loderr clan, a chain-wielding monk who practices tiger-style kung fu, and an oddly feminine-looking half-orcish man who's skilled with sword and shield. The name Genvissa also rings a bell... you think you remember a story about a evil human psion by that name, an infamous seductress who controls men, demons, and even dragons with the wiles of her flesh. You think she might work for Shurreon, as well. Not only do you recognize the names in Undercommon as drowish, but they're specifically womens' names. From what you know of Zorall, he's a vassal of the drow warlord Shurreon, who infamously rebels against the traditionally matriarchal drow culture, and employs mostly male drow. If the people who wrote this were drow women, they were quite possibly intruders, perhaps a team from the nearby drow city Elgaud (birthplace of many of Shurreon's sworn swords) sent to work against Shurreon and his followers. They also, you must admit, had superb handwriting and were likely from the aristocracy... which in drow culture means very  dangerous. Dawi said: For the Kings of Leon Knowledge (history): 28 For the mimic Knowledge (dungeoneering): 16 For the Hànyǔ: Knowledge (arcana): 29 You've heard the same things about the Kings of Leon that Hiskel has, and also recall the names of their 3 famous members: the human bard Skarvojas of the Storm Lands, the dwarven druid Rurik of clan Strakeln, and the human thief Jennifer. The last was common-born, with only the one name as is the custom for most human cultures, but it's rumored that she was granted (or some say, bought) a title of minor nobility and the name to go with it when she went into retirement after her group's falling out. You've heard of mimics in stories and plays, but only know that they're strange creatures that can take the shapes of objects. The translated Hànyǔ gives you the same idea as Hiskel. In particular, it makes you think of looking for something invisible nearby it. Dawi said: (Did you take inspiration from the graffiti that they found in Pompei for those? They are pretty similar lol) That and every bathroom in the United States. People never change. :P

history 14 nobility 20

Josh said: history 14 nobility 20 Like most peple, you've heard the legends of Archos the Bloodwing, one of the great villains of Terolus's past. A terrible red dragon and self-proclaimed ruler of the ' Archos Empire ' (little more than a roving, parasitic army of savage races), the Bloodwing conquered the old capital of Terolus 600 years ago. His famous duel with the Red King amidst the city's burning gates is still the subject of many songs and tales. He ruled the old capital, Destreth , for 45 years, until without warning the Cataclysm swept across the region, destroying and poisoning everything in its path, killing millions. Archos's fate was lost to history, but most scholars assume he died along with his subjects in the massive 'energy storm' said to have enveloped Destreth at the start of the Cataclysm, since it was ground zero for the supernatural disaster. Archos the Deathshadow, sometimes confused with his father the Bloodwing by the less-learned, is the current overlord of a sparsely populated 'nation' to the north, commonly called the Desolation of Archos . He claims to be the 'King of Red Dragons', a lineage he insists was passed down to him from the Bloodwing. While the historical legitimacy of the title is difficult to confirm at best, the Deathshadow has defended it from other red dragon challengers numerous times.

Ten minutes after the battle has ended, the main raid team (sans Kraggan, who's guarding the freedfolk by the entrance) have gathered in the small armory/training room you found to regroup and decide your next course of action. Ering's haste  spell and Avariel's protection from evil  have worn off. The bodies of the slain were dragged into the corridor to make room, and stripped of their weapons, shields, and ammunition, most of which are nothing special. You did, however, find a steel (map note ZR-6) and iron key (map note ZR-4) on Raleigh, as well as the beautiful golden beetle-shaped brooch that fastened his cloak (map note ZR-7). Appraise applies. The other half-dragon guard, a half-elf by the looks of her, was wearing a finely wrought 5' length of steel chain as a belt, and also carried a different steel key (map note ZR-5). Appraise applies. Hamanap has disarmed and bound the dwarven archer that surrendered after failing to execute Meloncholy. "I checked the fallen for other survivors, but found none..." she says with a heavy sigh. "So much death. We should give our foes more chances to yield... but for now, I want to consecrate  this Shrine of Tiamat , to break its link with the evil dragon goddess, and then destroy it." Spellcraft and Knowledge (religion) apply. "I checked the room that the cloud drifted into, after it dispersed," the Egyptian priestess adds. "It looks like a smithy and workshop. The forge is still glowing, so I think perhaps whomever we heard coughing earlier might have been working in there earlier, and fled through the archway at the south end of it." Looking around the armory, you can see that the training dummies have been torn and repatched many times, and that the barrels contain a weak ale (one a quarter full, the other 2/3 full). Craft (alchemy) applies, trained only. The weapon racks held an assortment of basic weaponry, such as spears, battleaxes, warhammers, maces, morningstars, clubs, and some shields, none of particularly good quality. Craft (weaponsmithing) applies, trained only. The walls and furniture are littered with graffiti, as is more common in places of rest and congregation, including:     Written in white chalk: "red iron ring wards from cold" Spellcraft applies.     Scratched into a low brick is a short phrase in either code or an unfamiliar language that uses the Common alphabet. Decipher Script applies, trained only.     Written in dried blood: "check giants bags" Knowledge (nature) applies.     A black chalk drawing of a strange creature that looks sort of like a floating cloak. Knowledge (religion) and Craft (limner), trained only, apply.     Carved into the base of a stalagmite close to and facing the wall is something written in an unfamiliar language and alphabet... though, it does look a little  familiar to Xankoris, who can try rolling Int to remember where he's seen it. Knowledge (nature) and Decipher Script, trained only, apply.     Written in black ink on the leg of the weapon rack: "68 girls, no lie" Sense Motive applies.     Scrawled in dried blood in Draconic near the Shrine : "Creator of Evil Dragonkind, put Jo's soul to rest" Knowledge (religion) applies.     Written in gray chalk (hard to read) behind an ale barrel: "on to glory" Knowledge (nobility & royalty) applies. As always, if you roll a check which applies to more than one thing, please indicate which thing it's for.

red iron ring spell craft: 14 common on brick decipher-14 giants bags nature-21 cloak religion-8 stalagmite nature-  decipher- 20 glory, nobility-10 if no one cares hiskel will dump out the lesser barrel an use it to hold the weapons on a floating disk.

Know religion (tiamat shrine): 18 Craft (Weaponsmithing): 29 Know religion (cloak): 14 Sense motive (68 girls): 35 Know religion (soul): 30 Know nobility (glory): 17

Appraise check: 12, 16 Spellcraft: 11(nat1), Knowledge (Religion): 8 Craft (alchemy): 23, Craft (weaponsmithing): 20 Spellcraft check: 17 Knowledge (nature): 12 Knowledge (religion): 22, Craft (limner): 22 Intelligence: 10, Knowledge (nature): 7 Sense motive: 13 Knowledge (religion): 14 Knowledge (nobility & royalty): 14

Ering leans against his staff, a few droplets of sweat beginning to run down his forehead. He catches his breath, clearly fatigued from the spells cast. "As long as the consecration doesn't take longer than a few minutes then you are absolutely welcome." He smiles at Hamanap. "Catching one of Zorall's raidleaders would have been better, I doubt some soldiers or mercenaries know could tell us much about his plans." "We have a few things to decide, I think we should start heading back to where we came from, we still have some fight left in us but it's better to be prepared for another fight while we leave, also, if our enemies have an once of wit they will be already regrouping and possibly heading to the entrance to cut us off, I wouldn't want to leave Kraggan alone against a second retaliation wave." He then points at the two prisoners. "I think we should lead them to our camp and then decide what to do with them, I'm sure we all have different opinions on that matter."   "Who has Kraggan's Rod? It would be good if we made one last check, we might be lucky." Rolls: (All spellcraft checks have +2 when dealing with Necromancy spells, -5 with Evocation and Enchantment) Appraise: 19, 17 Shrine of Tiamat: Spellcraft: 30 Knowledge (religion): 20 Red iron ring: Spellcraft: 26 Phrase in either code or an unfamiliar language : Decipher Script: 21 Giant's bag: Knowledge (nature): 28 Floating cloak: Knowledge (religion): 17 Stalagmite carving:  Knowledge (nature): 11 Decipher Script: 10 Scribble in blood: Knowledge (religion): 32 Gray chalk "on to glory" Knowledge (nobility & royalty): 25

Josh said: red iron ring spell craft: 14 giants bags nature-21 stalagmite nature- decipher- 20 if no one cares hiskel will dump out the lesser barrel an use it to hold the weapons on a floating disk. You aren't familiar with the particular type of ring mentioned, but it sounds like it might be a magical one that grants frost resistance. You have  heard stories about giants' bags, though. Most giants carry big leather shoulder sacks to hold their personal possessions. It's a common myth that giants’ bags are stuffed with gold (always at least 1000 gold pieces, by some accounts). In truth, they usually hold a few battered and smelly personal items, a supply of throwing rocks, some less-than-fresh rations, and a few trinkets. However, giants sometimes carry magic treasures that are too small for them to use, and many adventurers find looting a giant’s bag to be worthwhile. With some difficulty, you're able to make out most of the message carved into the stalagmite. It seems to be a real language, not a code, and you think it says something about "treasure" in a "hidden cave network". "I don't mind if you use the barrel, Hiskel," Hamanap says, but adds with a bemused smile "Just dump it into the other one this time, not on the floor, alright?" Nate S. said: Know religion (tiamat shrine): 18 Craft (Weaponsmithing): 29 Know religion (cloak): 14 You recall from your lessons that shrines must be magically linked to the deity or force they represent using either a consecrate  or desecrate  spell in order to function. Without that link, they're simply decorations--with it, they allow the deity to hear the prayers of supplicants, and grant blessings to those who make offerings, or curses to those who steal them. However, enemy clerics can break the link using the same spells (which must be the opposing one if the deity is good or evil), and rarely forsake the chance to do so. Building or destroying shrines is one of the main ways that clerics help their deities to wage the endless cold war for followers and souls in the Material Plane. With your experienced eye, you notice that many of the metal weapons and shields on the rack show subtle signs of being forged by a master smith of rare skill who was intentionally  holding back from doing his best work... whoever made them could have spent longer and produced true masterwork items, but instead chose to produce decent-quality work at a much faster rate, probably to provide sufficient gear for a large force. You're not sure what creature the drawing specifically represents, if anything, but it looks like some form of incorporeal undead. Nate S. said: Sense motive (68 girls): 35 Know religion (soul): 30 Know nobility (glory): 17 Definitely a lie. The Creator of Evil Dragonkind is one of Tiamat's other names. She is also sometimes called The Chromatic Dragon, or the Mother of Dragons. Most deities have such titles, which are often used by their followers as a show of respect by further distancing oneself from the deity's personal name, in the same way one uses a style to address nobility, like "your grace" for a king or "sire" for a lord (though such styles vary wildly by region and era). You recognize "on to glory" as the motto of the Red King, and battlecry of his soldiers. Ritt K. said: Appraise check: 12, 16 Craft (alchemy): 23 Craft (weaponsmithing): 20 The ornate and well-crafted brooch looks quite valuable, worth perhaps several dozen gold pieces. As you're examining it, Hamanap looks over your shoulder and comments "Oh, it looks like a scarab beetle. I've never seen one of those in Terolus." Knowledge (nature) and Knowledge (religion) apply. You realize that the barrels of spiked water were probably not intended to make the soldiers drunk (which would be a terrible idea anyway). The amount of ale added was just enough to keep the water from spoiling, and maybe only give a very slight buzz to help keep rowdy guards happy. You notice that the style of a lot of weapons and shields on the rack is traditional to orcish smiths. Ritt K.   said: Knowledge (religion): 22 Craft (limner): 22 You've heard that Tiamat prefers blood sacrifices (especially living ones) at Her altars, so the variety of bloodstains on the Shrine  are likely from victims offered to slake Her thirst. The drawing of the cloak creature is well-done, but would have worked better in ink or paint than black chalk, you think. Ritt K. said: Knowledge (religion): 14 Knowledge (nobility & royalty): 14 You know that in the faiths of Oerik, many believe that the gods watch over the souls of the dead in the afterlife. It's a common part of last rites to pray that one's favored deity will see a departed soul safely to its final destination, though in truth such measures are rarely necessary--most souls find their way naturally to the plane where they belong, and only those who go astray must be shepherded, often by servants of their patron deity or those of death gods like Nerull and Wee Jas. You recall some of the Red King's soldiers shouting "on to glory!" in battle, both at Waterwend's Lang Bridge and when you helped break the occupation of Bowhery . Dawi said: Rolls: (All spellcraft checks have +2 when dealing with Necromancy spells, -5 with Evocation and Enchantment) Appraise: 19, 17 Shrine of Tiamat: Spellcraft: 30 Knowledge (religion): 20 Red iron ring: Spellcraft: 26 The beetle clasp looks very fine indeed, perhaps worth 50 gold pieces. You also know that such well-made chain is valuable, worth about 3 gold pieces per foot. A little odd to be wearing it as a belt, but you've certainly seen stranger fashion statements in Skyshroud... or perhaps it was symbolic of something here? You know that the spells consecrate  and desecrate  can be used to link and unlink shrines with their deities, and that this is a special way to use the spell that doesn't confer any of the other usual effects... although, shrines that are well-maintained may also have these spells cast upon them regularly for the normal effects as well, especially because the shrine can amplify the power of the spell. You've also heard that destroying a shrine without first breaking the link usually results in a severe curse from the deity it's connected to, so Hamanap's method is the safest for those with the ability to cast the proper spell. Of course, even those without it may still take the risk, out of zealous piety. You recall once seeing a Ring of Frost Resistance in Skyshroud, that at first looked like a rather plain ring of rusty red iron... Dawi said: Phrase in either code or an unfamiliar language : Decipher Script: 21 Floating cloak: Knowledge (religion): 17 Gray chalk "on to glory" Knowledge (nobility & royalty): 25 You think the phrase written with the Common Alphabet might read "the road goes on and on". You recognize the drawing as a wraith: a form of incorporeal undead born of evil and darkness, these awful creatures drain the health from those they touch, and are said to enslave the souls of anyone they kill this way. You also recognize the Red King's motto, and recall that it has appeared in history books as well. The same phrase was oft said by his predecessors, or past reincarnations, or whatever they are depending on whom you ask. The repetition of it is sometimes given as support for the theory that the Red King is a true immortal, or perhaps a soul reborn again and again into the Material Plane instead of fading into the afterlife like souls should.

After the battle, Avariel and Kraggan were able to easily chase down the last few wounded, fleeing soldiers from the guardroom at the end of the corridor, and lead back a few collared slaves found cowering there. Hamanap stabilized and healed the wounded (including Avariel and Ering back to full health), while Xankoris helped to bind the captives' wrists together in a line with her rope and Hiskel looted the armory. Your captives consist of 3 lizardmen, 3 lizardwomen, the human mercenary, and Zurello (in Limar's manacles), all stable and conscious now but looking grim and beaten. "Tell them nothing ," is all Zurello says, in Draconic to his soldiers. The three human slaves are Cassie, Hikaru, and Aurora, all very grateful for your help and eager to be freed. The lizardfolk soldiers carried plenty of weaponry, though all of poor quality made with simple natural materials like bone, shell, and wood. The Rack s in the armory had more basic gear, such as spears, maces, battleaxes, morningstars, javelins, and wooden shields, and a number of barrels holding various quantities of water, ale, wine, apples, and salt pork. The human mercenary wielded a very nice steel flail (ZR-8) though, which looks valuable, as well as a decent suit of splint mail. Zurello's banded mail was rent open by Beacon, but his gray-trimmed black woolen cloak (ZR-9) is very fine, and he carried a brass key (ZR-10) as well as four different iron keys (ZR-11 through ZR-14). While searching the room, you notice some graffiti on the walls as well:     Scratched into a brick: "thunderstone for grimlox" Knowledge (nature) applies.     Written in gray chalk is a sentence in either code or an unfamiliar language that uses the Common alphabet. Decipher Script applies, trained only.     Written in dried blood: "please let us get out of here alive"     Scrawled in blue ink: "don't touch the render's pet" Knowledge (arcana) applies.     Written in white chalk: "if you find capitol chronciles book 2 bring to horrowin in strongtown " Knowledge (local), (geography), and (history) apply.

arcana 28 decipher script 19 taking so man prisonners is going to slow us down.

Josh said: arcana 28 decipher script 19 taking so man prisonners is going to slow us down. The blue writing is probably referring to a magical beast called a gray render. These large, powerful, and brutish gray creatures have hunched, vaguely humanoid forms with six sharp eyes and immense claws that can rend the flesh of even large beasts after catching them in their jaws. Although they reproduce asexually, they have a strange habit of 'adopting' other creatures or small groups of creatures, from a deer to a giant to a village of elves. Even if their charges are aggressive to it, the render will not harm them, and does its best to protect them while leaving an offering of meat for them each day. You think the writing is a code of some kind, and says something about a "thing" being "beneath the king's/ruler's [seat of power]" Hamanap gives you one of her signature disapproving looks. "Lives are worth more than the trouble it takes us to spare them , Hiskel. Too many died needlessly in our last battle... Besides, we may gain much information from these lizardfolk, and perhaps even swell our ranks with their service when the war is ended."

I never said "lets kill them", we're either going to have to split the party ( which is always dangerous) keep them with us or take them back. - its cause im a kobold isnt it?

Josh said: I never said "lets kill them", we're either going to have to split the party ( which is always dangerous) keep them with us or take them back. - its cause im a kobold isnt it? Hamanap lowers her long silver lashes dubiously. "It's because you're so often in favor of the quick and bloody solutions. To be honest, I do suspect your upbringing to be an influence, but that is no excuse--we must all strive to rise above our circumstances. Look at your master, Limar: he has done much to overcome the evil impulses of his blood and the teachings of his brutal mother Kalemne." She straightens her elegant purple robes, lamenting the bloodstains on their embroidered cloth-of-silver stars and dragons, then suggests "We seem to be quite overwhelming for most threats we've met here so far... Perhaps we could spare one or two of us to guard the prisoners while the rest of us explore close by? As long as we don't stray out of shouting distance, we can always call for aid or withdraw if we must."

Scratched into a brick: "thunderstone for grimlox" Knowledge (nature): 14 (Ering has some thunderstones as items if it helps) Written in gray chalk is a sentence in either code or an unfamiliar language that uses the Common alphabet. Decipher Script: 8 Scrawled in blue ink: "don't touch the render's pet" Knowledge (arcana) applies: 24 Written in white chalk: "if you find capitol chronciles book 2 bring to horrowin in  strongtown " Knowledge (local): 26 (geography): 9 and (history): 25 Ering paces back and forth in the room, massaging the now healed wound, still thanking the Gods and wondering if the halberd had enough force to spill his guts on the floor if it weren't for the weapon rack that got in the way.  "Splitting is an option... We just need to make sure one of the two doors is safely blocked, there are enough barrels and weapons in this room for that."

OOC: TFW the GM suggests splitting the party... IC Avariel sighs, still scraping the remaining residue from the tanglefoot bag off his wings. (He seems a bit miffed that these bastards dirtied them.) “I agree with Hamanap on this one...though we must be cautious not to spread ourselves too thin.”

Dawi said: Scratched into a brick: "thunderstone for grimlox" Knowledge (nature): 14 (Ering has some thunderstones as items if it helps) Scrawled in blue ink: "don't touch the render's pet" Knowledge (arcana) applies: 24 Written in white chalk: "if you find capitol chronciles book 2 bring to horrowin in strongtown " Knowledge (local): 26 and (history): 25 You've heard of grimlocks, a race of eyeless gray monstrous humanoids that dwell in the underdark . Legend says they were bred as a slave-race by mindflayers, and most encountered in the wild are bound in service to such creatures. Because they rely on hearing and smell, deafening them with something like a thunderstone can significantly impede their ability to fight. You've also read most of the same things Hiskel has about gray renders, and can confirm her recollection. You recall someone at the Stone River Waypoint mentioning a bookshop in Strongtown called The Cozy Bookmark , whose gray elf owner Harrowin Peerless is always looking to purchase rare books. You're familiar with the Capitol Chronicles series as well, an old and well-known history of Skyshroud's royal and noble families that encompasses 5 volumes thus far. The descendants of the original author have kept up his work, releasing new volumes on more recent history every 30 years or so.

In total from the mimic's vault, you gathered 302 gold pieces, 5481 silver pieces, 15 mysterious tin coins (map note ZR-15), and 302 wooden coins (map note ZR-16). The tin coins bear a strange rune on one side and a bird on the other. The elven coins have an elven profile burned into one side and a branch heavy with berries on the other. Decipher Script, Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (history), and Knowledge (geography) apply. Knowledge (nature) applies to both strange coins.  There was also a large, smooth pink pearl (map note ZR-17), and the strange runed copper amulet on a leather thong that Ering found (and I believe is still carrying, map note ZR-18). While exploring the shrine room, you also noticed a few barrels. One seems to just hold water, another is empty but smells of fruit, and the last is half full of charred bones. The floor beneath them is puddled, fed by an extremely slow drip from a fine crevice in the cave-like ceiling above it. You noticed some graffiti in here, too, and had a chance to examine it before Xankoris opened the door: Scrawled in red ink: "RIP Rontokk Gellsh, you died a true dragonslayer" Knowledge (local) applies. Written in white chalk: "the catalans were here" Written in black ink in a fine, careful hand: " beer dulls a memory, brand sets it burning, but wine is best of all for a sore heart's yearning " Scratchs into a brick: "bad blood between oraria and elgaud, one makes new ways while other keeps the old" Knowledge (local) and (history) apply. Numerous prayers scrawled in a wide variety of media over and around the Shrine of Garyx , such as "heal my friend Killua", "where are the secret caves?", "make Bargu love me", "help me find riches", "get me out of this hell", "the all-destroyer is manifest", "illuminate my path in your unholy flame", and so on. When Xankoris pulls open the door, the first thing he sees in the next room are two lizardfolk soldiers, armed and armored in a similar manner to the others you fought, and bearing Zorall's sigilry. One is holding a burning torch and an a heavy turtle-shell shield, the other a shell-bladed glaive and a horn made of some sort of freshwater snail's shell. Both seem to have already been looking at the door, perhaps having just overheard your conversation through it. They're tense, as ready for danger as you are. He also sees a scattering of straw-stuffed training dummies and a rack of various weapons, suggesting a training room of some sort for the guards. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #454545} span.s1 {color: #000000} span.s2 {color: #e4af0a}

Coins: Decipher Script 24 Knowledge (arcana) 25 Knowledge (history) 28 Knowledge (geography) 27 Knowledge (nature) 11 and 29 Graffiti: Knowledge (local):  23 (Dragonslayer) Knowledge (local): 15 and (history): 27 (oraria and elgaud)

Dawi said: Coins: Decipher Script 24 Knowledge (arcana) 25 Knowledge (history) 28 Knowledge (geography) 27 Knowledge (nature) 29 The rune on the tin coins looks vaguely familiar... after turning it in your hand for a minute, you realize it resembles one of the symbols used in arcane notation, and has roots in the ancient Oeridian languages of the Flaness far to the north. You've never heard of any country using tin for coinage though, as the metal isn't rare enough to be considered even semiprecious. The wooden coins you recognize as the currency of the high elven capital, Glemmeria , in the Great Marsh of southern-central Terolus. You've seen such before in Skyshroud ; while they aren't generally accepted there, merchants in the elven quarter will sometimes take them, as the human capital has a long history of friendship with the elves of Terolus. The ice-domed city of Reluin was built by elven and half-elven refugees during the Cataclysm, and took in the human survivors of the disaster at Karn (then the last surviving other city in Terolus) when the Lich-King destroyed it. Centuries later, after Glemmeria was refounded, the human king Leopold III reforged the bond by wedding the elven princess Valanthess. These elven oak coins depict an elven monarch or hero on one side, and a holly branch on the other. These are oak coins, precisely shaped using elven magic. Each one is worth 9 silver pieces at the standard conversion rates used for trade, so the lot is worth 271 gold pieces and 8 silver pieces. Dawi said: Graffiti: Knowledge (local): 23 (Dragonslayer) Knowledge (local): 15 and (history): 27 (oraria and elgaud) You recall hearing a story about a half-orc warrior named Rontokk of the Gellsh clan who was a member of the Deathwalkers guild until he died helping defend a caravan from a red dragon. You know that the Gellsh orc clan is located about 200 miles southeast of the Catacombs area. Elgaud and Oraria are both major and very old drow cities in the underdark. Elgaud is just south of the Catacombs (and the birthplace of many drow in the area, including Triss and most of Shurreon's followers), while Oraria is under the eastern end of Terolus. While Elgaud is a very traditional drow city (a theocratic matriarchy built around the priestesshood of the demonic spider goddess Lolth), Oraria underwent a massive revolution about 200 years ago, in which the Masculist faction took control of the government and instituted a brutal patriarchy that rules to this day. As a result, most other drow cities have refused trade with Oraria ever since, considering them an enemy and an ideological threat to their traditional values.

After a few minutes, the situation in the prison has been mostly sorted out... Daidoji Hirohito, the Mist Shadow, picked the lock on the other cell to release its mute human inhabitant, and cut the ropes binding him with an exotic-looking  kunai  dagger. "You are free and safe now, good man," he tells the stranger, sharing from his own flask of water. "Did your captors cut out your tongue?" Truespeak and Heal (trained only) apply. The human mercenary who calls himself Jargon reclaims his adamantine bastard sword, Headcutter, and gathers a few torches from the slain guards in one of their satchels. He tosses the 2 iron keys from the bag to Ering, gesturing to the heavy iron padlocks on the cell doors. "Takes these if you want 'em. As I was sayin'," he tells Avariel, "I'm a sellsword. Got caught by these damn lizards while I was scouting here looking for treasure... I heard rumors of vaults down here loaded with gold. You all here for the same thing?" You notice a circle-cross shaped tattoo on his left shoulder, Knowledge (religion) applies. The half-elven woman introduces herself as Contra, and explains that she's a member of the Companions warriors guild that governs Bowhery , and was taken as a prisoner-of-war during the early skirmishes with Zorall's forces outside the town. "You're the Wayfinders..." she says, once she's done stomping on the beheaded body of the warden. "My guild was reaching out to you for help, when I was taken. These scalies spoke mostly the dragon tongue, but from the talk I've overheard, it sounds like you've been fighting on the side of Bowhery since then. You have my deepest gratitude for helping liberate my people from the occupation of these foul creatures." She bows deeply. "Any aid I can render you in return would be my honor to give, though I must soon report back to the guildhall." Knowledge (geography), (nobility & royalty), and (local), and Profession (soldier) (trained only), apply. Finally, the graying and middle-aged halfling, tall for his race, bows to you as well. "I have the honor to be Lyle Highhill, a merchant of Waterwend ," he says in a shaky voice, clearly not of a constitution suited for long-imprisonment. "I was taken by Zurello's raiders while on a journey, as part of my work. I think they have been trying to ransom me, with little success... no doubt my scheming niece would rather I disappear so she can take over the business," he adds with a scowl. "I have no coin here to thank you with, but if you can see me safely to Waterwend, I shall ensure you are handsomely rewarded." Knowledge (nobility & royalty) and (local) apply. The two lizardwomen guards surrendered as well, throwing down their glaives when it became clear which way the battle was going. Experienced enough in battle to know caution is the better part of valor, they now wait, quiet and thoroughly disarmed, to be carried off as POWs.  His misty black Deathmantle form floating around Xankoris like a cloak, Siwan murmurs ephemerally "That cell, with the runes... that is what I sensed, Xankoris. An emptiness in the world..."  Spellcraft applies. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #454545}

Avariel nods. "We're here to deal as big a blow as we can to Zorall's forces, and looting their treasure is certainly part of that." (Know religion check of 19)

Jargon: Knowledge (religion): 30 Contra: Knowledge (geography): 23, (nobility & royalty): 19, and (local): 19, and Profession (soldier) (trained only): 13 Lyle Highhill Knowledge (nobility & royalty): 21 and (local): 30 Spellcraft: 37 Ering grabs the heavy padlocks and puts them in the central part of his Haversack with the intention of adding them to the total haul from the raid. "Something tells me that you have heard more than just rumors, after all, who would venture here just on hearsay?" Ering smiles to Contra and Lyle, pulling some rations tied in a fine handkerchief and a leather waterskin from the now full backpack. "We'll do what we can to bring you both home as soon as possible."

heal 7 true speak 18 spell craft 10

Heal check: 22 (Mute person) Knowledge (Religion) check: 22 (Tattoo) Spellcraft check: 23 (Rune cell) Xankoris casts read magic and tries to figure out the rune."So it's not void magic, that's good." He sighs in relief.

    Muted man looks at Hirohito and takes the slightest sip before giving it back. The man puts his chain shirt on and coils the magic rope loosely around his left arm.     He looks at everyone, and then, the voice emerges from your mind.     "First, thank you. Second, reply with your throat, not your mind." The voice sounds crisp and clear. "I'm Rezinov, the messenger. My lord had sent me to help his people, but I was overwhelmed until you - Wayfinders, is it? Never heard of you people before - came. Anyway, may I tag along to finish my mission once and for all?"     Rezinov turns to Avariel. Now only he can hear this Muted man's voice.     "By the way, the wings, the build, but most importantly, the sword; May I know your...deity?"     

Ering looks at Rezinov curiously, surprised by the effortless telepathy. "I'm Ering Walfire, pleasure to meet you. I understand that questioning someone after freeing them from a cell may seem rude, but we have little time for pleasantries. What is your mission? And who are your people?" 

    "My mission is simple, get the lord's follower out of this suffering, back to the surface. They are those poor people who suffer because of this evil, my lord hates his men suffer." The voice

Ering nods. "I was thinking about his people in a more specific sense, but I guess I understand now. Who is your lord? A God?"

    "God is a strong word for him, the one on the rack , or  the rack-breaker  would define him better. But some people in the cold north call him Ayuruc or Itishikopac."

"yes we're here to steal from zorall, to free his slaves an his gold, How much do you sell your sword for Jargon?"

Avariel turns to the telepath. "My Liege is Heironeous."

Nate S. said: Avariel nods. "We're here to deal as big a blow as we can to Zorall's forces, and looting their treasure is certainly part of that." (Know religion check of 19) Ritt K. said: Knowledge (Religion) check: 22 (Tattoo) Dawi said: Jargon: Knowledge (religion): 30 Contra: Knowledge (geography): 23, (nobility & royalty): 19, and (local): 19, and Profession (soldier) (trained only): 13 You three recognize Jargon's tattoo as the holy symbol of Saint Cuthbert, a lawful neutral intermediate god of law and retribution. He teaches that order is the highest virtue, so crimes must be punished with harsh and unflinching justice. His faith is popular among commoners, especially in towns and cities. Ering also recalls that Bowhery is about 60 miles southeast of here, and that the Companions guild governs the town, though they've been trying to gather more of their missing members to help reinforce their defenses. Contra seems much weaker than the rest of you, no more than a common soldier in terms of overall strength, but he senses a great deal of esprit de corps in her. Dawi said: Lyle Highhill Knowledge (nobility & royalty): 21 and (local): 30 Spellcraft: 37 Ritt K. said: Spellcraft check: 23 (Rune cell) Xankoris casts read magic and tries to figure out the rune."So it's not void magic, that's good." He sighs in relief. Ering knows that Waterwend' s economy is driven by the trade of its merchants, especially along the rivers, and that competition among them can be just as fierce as the intrigues of the court back in Skyshroud . Delivering this man home, in addition to the reward, would likely be good for the city as well, which has been struggling to regain business lost during its Siege by Gurak and Grizzled One at the start of the Stone River War. Examining the glowing runes carved into the cell floor, both of you reach the same conclusion: their purpose is to anchor an antimagic field permanently in place, suppressing all magic within the boundaries of the cell. They look very old, perhaps even predating Zorall, and are sightly weakened in places where the stone has cracked or worn over time. Xankoris can tell that while the effect isn't strictly Void magic from a Rokugani perspective, it does approach the one of the same possible results. Josh said: true speak 18 Ritt K. said: Heal check: 22 (Mute person) Hiskel notices that the sounds the bound man was making aren't the sort you'd expect from someone who's gone mute, but rather from someone who never learned to speak, like an animal Polymorph ed into human shape... Xankoris can tell that the man is pretty much unharmed as well... in fact, there are barely any marks on him from the ropes, which is very odd unless he was just recently bound. Dawi said: "Something tells me that you have heard more than just rumors, after all, who would venture here just on hearsay?" Jargon laughs roughly, shrugging. "What else is there for ratcatchers like us, but rumor and hearsay? Besides, I don't trust everythin' I hear on the streets. I like to find out firsthand, see for myself what's to be gained. And now I know for sure that these soldiers of Zorall are right bastards, due for a good blow or two, aye." Josh said: "yes we're here to steal from zorall, to free his slaves an his gold, How much do you sell your sword for Jargon?" "If you'll spare me a portion of whatever loot we find down here... say, a hundred gold or so, then I'll fight beside you in bringin' 'em to justice," Jargon offers with a rough grin. Dawi said: Ering smiles to Contra and Lyle, pulling some rations tied in a fine handkerchief and a leather waterskin from the now full backpack. "We'll do what we can to bring you both home as soon as possible." The underfed prisoners eat gratefully, Contra bowing again in respect. "You are a good man, sir," Lyle says shakily, after swallowing a mouthful of dried apple slices and washing them down with several deep gulps of cold water. "I shall see you repaid tenfold for this kindness!" Ritt K. said: Muted man looks at Hirohito and takes the slightest sip before giving it back. The man puts his chain shirt on and coils the magic rope loosely around his left arm. He looks at everyone, and then, the voice emerges from your mind. "First, thank you. Second, reply with your throat, not your mind." The voice sounds crisp and clear. "I'm Rezinov, the messenger. My lord had sent me to help his people, but I was overwhelmed until you - Wayfinders, is it? Never heard of you people before - came. Anyway, may I tag along to finish my mission once and for all?" The Mist Shadow looks surprised for a moment, as the man strips the shirt of gleaming silversteel off the dead lizardman to don it. But the reason for his shock becomes clear when the voice is heard in all your minds. "A chuánxīnshùzhě ... powerful technique..." the master harrier murmurs to himself, as the gray clouds in his left eye swirl. Ritt K. said: "God is a strong word for him, the one on The Rack , or the rack-breaker would define him better. But some people in the cold north call him Ayuruc or Itishikopac." Knowledge (religion) applies.

Ering smiles towards Jargon. "There is much to be gained indeed, just need to know where to look. 100 gold seems like a reasonable deal to me." He turns to the other Wayfinders, trying to see if there is anyone that disagrees.  He then moves closer to the runes, inspecting them very carefully. "It seems that Zorall found an old and permanent Antimagic Field and decided to build his prison here. I wonder who inhabited this place before him..." Religion: 32

Max said: The Mist Shadow looks surprised for a moment, as the man strips the shirt of gleaming silversteel off the dead lizardman to don it. But the reason for his shock becomes clear when the voice is heard in all your minds. "A chuánxīnshùzhě ... powerful technique..." the master harrier murmurs to himself, as the gray clouds in his left eye swirl. (Listen check: 13) If Xankoris overheard this, he'll ask: "What's that, my ancestor?" Max said: Knowledge (religion) applies. Knowledge (Religion) check: 10

Ritt K. said: Max said: The Mist Shadow looks surprised for a moment, as the man strips the shirt of gleaming silversteel off the dead lizardman to don it. But the reason for his shock becomes clear when the voice is heard in all your minds. "A chuánxīnshùzhě ... powerful technique..." the master harrier murmurs to himself, as the gray clouds in his left eye swirl. (Listen check: 13) If Xankoris overheard this, he'll ask: "What's that, my ancestor?" "A mind-speaker; a telepath," Hirohito explains in crisp, accented Common. "We harriers have developed such a technique for utterly silent communication, but it is very difficult jutsu , and few have mastered it. It was created by the second of my triad, a Master Harrier: Daidoji Daisuke of the 1000 Techniques." Knowledge (history) applies. Dawi said: Ering smiles towards Jargon. "There is much to be gained indeed, just need to know where to look. 100 gold seems like a reasonable deal to me." He turns to the other Wayfinders, trying to see if there is anyone that disagrees. He then moves closer to the runes, inspecting them very carefully. "It seems that Zorall found an old and permanent Antimagic Field and decided to build his prison here. I wonder who inhabited this place before him..." Religion: 32 "I remember when they brought that man... Rezinov, I suppose? ...when they brought him in bound tightly, he was shouting for help in my mind, until they shoved him into that cell. After that he could only make guttural noises, like a child born dumb," Contra says. "Is his mind-speaking a kind of magic, then?"  Ering knows that such abilities are usually supernatural, and would indeed be suppressed within an antimagic field . He also recognizes Rezinov's reference to 'The One on the Rack' as being a title of the lesser human deity Ilmater. Also called the Crying God, the Broken God, the Lord on the Rack, and the One Who Endures, Ilmater is a lawful good deity of endurance to suffering, martyrdom, and perserverance who helps, protects, and encourages the downtrodden and suffering. He is often prayed to by prisoners and slaves, and sometimes bequests his priests, paladins, or angels to liberate them. His holy symbol is a pair of white hands bound with red cord, or sometimes a blood-stained torture rack.

Max said: "I remember when they brought that man... Rezinov, I suppose? ...when they brought him in bound tightly, he was shouting for help in my mind, until they shoved him into that cell. After that he could only make guttural noises, like a child born dumb," Contra says. "Is his mind-speaking a kind of magic, then?" "Yes... It is definitely a magical ability, but whether innate or learned I couldn't tell." Ering looks at Contra and then at Rezinov. "I would guess the latter, but would you satisfy our curiosity? If it's not too personal of course." Ritt K. said:     "First, thank you. Second, reply with your throat, not your mind." The voice sounds crisp and clear. "I'm Rezinov, the messenger. My lord had sent me to help his people, but I was overwhelmed until you - Wayfinders, is it? Never heard of you people before - came. Anyway, may I tag along to finish my mission once and for all?" "It seems that your missions aligns with our goal. Do you know how many people are left? How close you are to the end of your mission?"

Nate S. said: Avariel turns to the telepath. "My Liege is Heironeous." "I see, the chivalrous one, we shall complete our order like usual then." The sound emerged exclusively inside Avariel's mind. Dawi said: "Yes... It is definitely a magical ability, but whether innate or learned I couldn't tell." Ering looks at Contra and then at Rezinov. "I would guess the latter, but would you satisfy our curiosity? If it's not too personal of course." "I have been using this since the first day of my life, so it's innate for me." Dawi said: "It seems that your missions aligns with our goal. Do you know how many people are left? How close you are to the end of your mission?" "What I only know is they're in the 3rd level. It's pretty much no progress to the end at all for me." Xankoris; Knowledge (History) check: 17 (+4 if related to his ancestors)

Ritt K. said: "I have been using this since the first day of my life, so it's innate for me." "What I only know is they're in the 3rd level. It's pretty much no progress to the end at all for me." Ering looks surprised and full of questions, but tries to hide it (badly, since he's a pretty terrible liar) with an awkward smile.  "That's..." Ering looks at him with compassion. "That's pretty deep. And these cave hide a danger after almost every corner." He gestures at himself and his companions, not wounded but clearly tired from the fighting. "I'm certain that bar a direct divine intervention we won't be able to reach the third level today, but if you are willing to retreat with us I would welcome you in our talks."

Ritt K. said: Nate S. said: Avariel turns to the telepath. "My Liege is Heironeous." "I see, the chivalrous one, we shall complete our order like usual then." The sound emerged exclusively inside Avariel's mind. Avariel knows from his lessons as a young man that Heironeous counts all deities who stand against evil as His allies, so He would doubtless approve of an alliance with a follower of Ilmater. Ritt K. said: Xankoris; Knowledge (History) check: 17 (+4 if related to his ancestors) Xankoris has also heard of Daidoji Daisuke, the second of the legendary triad who founded the Daidoji family's harriers. He is said to have mastered more martial and secret arts ( jutsu ) than any Clansman in history, from transformation to telepathy to breathing bursts of fire. He could even mimic the abilities of others by observing them with his 'Kaleidoscope Eye'.