You go back to room 8 and begin a long rest.  An hour or two later, you begin to hear wailing and screaming from somewhere a level above.  Chrisman says this must be Esylia torturing Androlus to try to get the codes.

He says, "She must be anxious now because you are here.  Her patience is gone.  Androlus began carving codes into the tables and desks around the temple before he put his own eyes out.  This was after he set fire to the library to destroy the codex full of programmed times and places.  (You remember the burnt library at Room 17.)  He couldn't imagine what it would be like to allow a monster like that to be free to roam the two worlds at the time of her choosing.  Most of the rest of the temple staff escaped through the Ark to Allevia.  He and a chosen few stayed behind to care for the temple and the Ark.  That is, until Esylia showed up through the Time Ark, bent on killing them all and using its power for her own ends."

Chrisman also shows you to the rooms marked 3, 4, and 5, and he shows you the secret door he found connecting room 3 and 2, in case you need a fast escape.

Room 3: This is a corridor with a bronze, patina-covered statue of an ancient warrior standing in an alcove.

Room 4:  This room is an old armory.  Like the other rooms, it is broken down.  Broken wooden racks, devoid of weapons, sag toward the flor.  The racks must once have held magnificent weapons but now are empty.

Room 5: This was an old guard room.  Bones and faded scraps of black cloth lay scattered across the floor, along with some broken pieces of stone statuary.  The cloth appears to be robes of clerics who were in the temple.  Chrisman says he believes this was the last holdout of Androlus' comrades who stayed behind.  Some sort of final battle took place here, and Esylia apparently won.

The echoing screams of Androlus fade at some point, and the rest of the night is uneventful.  At one point, Borimer thinks he hears the northern door to room 7 open, but it could be his imagination.  No one appears to try to enter room 8.

(Rest successful.)

Here is the map as you have explored it:

We should probably designate a marching order.  Given that your enemy has a gaze attack, it could become relevant as you wander the halls.  Esylia is essentially treated like a wandering monster, with a certain percentage chance to be in her "lair."

Current members of the group are:

NPCS:
Chrisman (walks slowly with a limp)
Edmure (blind)

PCs (this is the order I will use unless you tell me otherwise, with Chrisman and Edmure in between Flint and Naj):
Borimer
Harak
Grizz
Kahan
Flint
Naj



If you want to move to a particular room, indicate the path you will take, such as:
"We go to room 20a -- 8, 7, 9 13, 14, 20a."  (I say this because now 8 more hours have passed, and certain things may have shifted or may be moving at the same time you are moving, and I want to keep track of them.)
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:32, Tue 10 July 2012.

Before sleeping, Kahan bandages his and Harak's wounds from the lightning bolt, settling in after yet another physically exhausting 'day', even if they were actually 1000 years before that day had ever occurred. After his prayers were finished, he takes his shield and hands it to Edmure. "I think it would be best if you were to lead the way. If you should hear, or perhaps feel, Esylia's presence, the rest of us can be warned before anyone can be turned to stone by her gaze. This shield may not be much, but it should offer at least a little bit of protection from anything she may try to do to you." he says, before turning to Flint and asking, "Do you still have Draaz's spellbook? Perhaps Chrisman could make some use of it if you are not in need of it. Having a mage without a spellbook is like having Borimer without arms." The priest chuckles a little at the image of the huge fighter running into combat without arms, headbutting and kicking foes instead of stabbing them like normal.


14:50, Today: Kahan Singh rolled 17,6 using 1d20-2,1d20-2. Healing checks (please no 20's)
14:51, Today: Kahan Singh rolled 2,4 using 1d4,1d4. Healing (Harak, Kahan).

That leaves me with 50/63 HP, plus whatever we healed from resting (can I heal again after resting? I remember you said something before about healing someone while they rested. Would that apply here?) Harak, are you still in need of healing? If so just speak up.

Borimer wonders at the arm-less image of himself headbutting a medusa.

"Someone with a quicker eye than me should maybe take a closer look at that statue before sleeping."

Later that 'night' Borimer rises to his feet and draws his blade when something rattles the door. But nothing materializes from the surrounding darkness and he sheathes Chianta before settling back down on his haunches to resume guard duty.

*i agree with edmure leading the way, in fact he doesn't even have to know he's in front :)
This message was last edited by the player at 20:08, Tue 10 July 2012.

Nothing special is found in the statue, and Chrisman says he didn't find anything special about it either.

This message was deleted by the player at 21:06, Tue 10 July 2012.

17 is a dead end, but you could go to 16.  (The other black areas on the map, you determine, might be accessible only from the second floor.)

"I say we take the stairs and hunt down that stone-gazer.  Maybe find some more codes after that."

we could go 6,3,2,15,16 and take the stairs up

Based on the above, marching order will be, unless someone says otherwise:

Edmure
Borimer
Harak
Grizz
Kahan
Flint
Chrisman
Naj


Edmure will also agree to hold one of the blue vials to turn someone back to flesh, since he is immune to that.

I will wait to see if others approve of Borimer's suggestion.

"We should find a way to block the other stairs and the teleportal room first, so that Esylia can't escape or move Androlus somewhere else." Kahan mentions, nodding at the idea of hunting the medusa down.

At discussion of giving Draaz's old spellbook away, Flint seems uncomfortable.  "Maybe I can make better use of that for the time being," he suggests.

"Do you perhaps have any scrolls Chrisman could use? Having a mage around that doesn't have a spellbook is rather useless, and at a time like this, we need as much help as we can get. I'm sure he'll give it back to you." Kahan states, looking to Chrisman for assurance of the man's trust before turning to Flint with a curious gaze. Did he not trust the other man? Perhaps he was still leery after the lightning bolt incident.

"I do have the wand of frost in my bag of holding." he says.

You move to room 16 on Borimer's designated path without anything significant happening.  You are now in the room with the Time Ark that has the two missing gems.  The stairs are to the east.

OOC: I'm not sure if the party is set on a course of action, as Kahan and Borimer have slightly different ideas right now.

"Good idea. Not sure though how we can block the stairs and the teleportal room. Definitely don't want the snake lady running away or stealin' Androlus."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:49, Fri 13 July 2012.

Kahan scratches his head and looks to the others for ideas. "I hadn't really thought of how we should do it, just that we should do it." the priest chuckles.

"I remember a table and some chairs in the room near the winding staircase, we could use those and some beds to block the opening. Not sure how to do the teleportal room..."

actually i dont remember which one was the teleportal room

The teleportal room is the one with the big hole in it two rooms north of where you are at.  For that one, you'd probably have to block off the doors.

"I can move some other stuff near the teleportal room, just have to look first."

Borimer moves to the next room north and checks for what can be moved against the door, and then continues to the chamber east of the teleportal hole and does the same.

moving from 16 to 19, then 20a, 14, then back to 16 (or wherever the group is)

RECAP:

Room 19:
 Shattered benches have fallen in rows in this dust-covered chapel. Shelves, now devoid of books, stand against north and south walls. A large, ornate altar stands near the eastern end.  Near the center of the room, there are four statues of warriors in gruesome poses, their heads stricken from their bodies.  They do not look familiar.
 

Any items in Room 19 can be moved, including the altar.

Borimer notices that the door to room 20a is closed now, but it was open the previous night before you left Syrissa there and she got herself killed by Esylia.

OOC: Is he checking room 20a or is he just looking to push stuff up against the door to 20a?  (I.e., the party has not yet searched the remains of Syrissa or been there since she was killed, so I will need to add to the description.)

borimer was just going to see what if anything could be moved against the doors. but he will stop in 19 to consult with the party

Borimer listens at the closed door that leads into the teleporter chamber.

He doesn't hear anything beyond the door.

It appears we have stalled over the weekend...  What are all of you doing?

I have everyone in the Time Ark room (Room #16), except for Borimer, who is in room #19, having just listened at the door there.


This message was last edited by the GM at 17:41, Tue 17 July 2012.

Flint gives the Wand of Frost to Chrisman and takes Draaz's old spellbook while the others are pondering how and if they can block exits and entrances to the upper levels.

Edmure says, "If Esylia is as Syrissa described her, she is so arrogant that she does not feel you are a threat.  She won't be afraid of you or of you getting this Androlus.  She'll just take us out one at a time.  I don't think she'll move him."

Chrisman agrees:  "It did seem like Androlus had been locked in that one spot for an awful long time when we found him."

Nodding thoughtfully, Kahan opens the door to 19 and calls Borimer back into room 16, as he tries to think of a way to get rid of the gorgon for good. "Edmure, did Syrissa mention anything she was not particularly fond of? We will need some sort of upper hand, other than just numbers, to defeat her sister." he asks.

Edmure says, "She was obsessed with the Crossroads Ark and finding its secrets and codes.  She also has a great fondness for reptiles, particularly snakes.  Syrissa said she did not resemble a human at all anymore, but had grown in power and size, her lower half becoming like a serpeant, and her hair full of snakes.  She was skillful at hunting with the bow and spear and had wanted to find a mate to spawn more of her vile creatures.  She was exceptionally brilliant, and she would stalk her prey and outsmart it, sometimes running deer into traps she had set up.  Syrissa said she was in league with some devil or something to turn her so vile and filled with hate, and to transform her body into this monster."

"If we still want to block off the doors to the teleportal room and the north stairs then let's do it now, otherwise we can head one room over and hole up for a bit.  I'll watch while everyone rests."

if we are resting than back to 17

I think you guys already rested for the 8 hours.  (Remember when Borimer heard something at the door?)  Did I miss something?

"Let's get started up those stairs then, see if we can find more codes."

Borimer prepares to lead the way up the stairs to the second floor.

actually you are correct we rested

"Let's have Edmure go first, unless you want to walk around with a blindfold on Borimer." Kahan offers, giving the fighter a slight smirk.

Harak readies himself to accompany Borimer in his explorations.

"Um yes, Edmure first. Definitely Emure first."

Borimer prepares to follow Edmure up the staircase to the second floor.

Edmure leads the way.  The stairs double back to the balcony that overlooks the Time Ark room (16).

OOC: You might not have read the description of room 16 carefully, which mentions the overhead balcony.  Just thought I'd point it out:  "A massive table sits in the center of this octagonal room. A staircase rises up through the eastern wall, doubling back to the railed balcony that circles the tall room overhead. A glowing green globe suspended from the ceiling dimly lights the room. There are also double doors leading north and south."

So here you are at the Observation Walk above room 16.  A rickety wooden railing encloses the balcony area but does not appear very stable.

There is a door to the north, a door to the west, and a hallway leading south.  The hallway leads to an east door, a west door, and then curves sharply to the west.

Borimer listens at the north door.

At the north door, he hears a strange humming sound behind the door like the reverberations of steel after it is struck against a rock.  It seems to continue nonstop.

Kahan looks around the hallway carefully, trying to make sure he doesn't look into the eyes of anything that may or may not be there (not even his comrades). "What do you think that is?" he asks the fighter, checking to see if there is a crack under the door that he could peek through.

Do you mean he is walking to the edge of the hall (where "23" is at), or simply looking down from the room to where the 23 is at?

Simply looking down. If he was moving, I would have stated so clearly. I honestly hadn't even realized there was a bend there until you mentioned it.

Borimer shakes his head while drawing Chianta.  He motions at the door as though pushing it, and then when his comrades are ready he opens it.

In reply to Kahan Singh (msg # 38):

That's what I thought.  Just making sure.

Borimer leads the way into the northern room (32d).

This room looks very familiar.  It is another Crystal Focus Room.  On the first floor, you saw an identical room (32a), except that the strange device was pointing up.  This time, the device is pointing from east to west across the room.

The east side of the wall has carved out of it an octagonal shaped indenture, from which a mechanism sticks out (parabolic dish).  The mechanism consists of a parabolic dish carved and smoothed out of the face of an octagonal block of granite, all mounted inside a framework with eight metal tracks. A large, screwlike device moves the granite block along these tracks. At the front of the tracks, eight rods hold a crystal in place in front of the granite dish. The crystal pulsates with light.

On the wall adjacent to the crystal focus device, you see another 12 digit display (transfinite repeater display).

There are exits to the north and west, as well as the one you came through to the south.

The humming sound you heard was the humming of the device.  It issues a constant, low pulsing hum almost inaudible.

You don't remember hearing the low hum before, which leads you to only one conclusion:  The device must have been recently used, and these reverberations are like the echows of a vibrating sword after it has struck the ground with some force.

Kahan walks over to the number display and attempts to figure out if there is a way to turn on the machine or activate it in any obvious way. "I hate to be so optimistic, but if Esylia just used this machine, it's quite possible she is no longer here. We should stay on our guard, however, as I have no idea how this machine works, or what it would even do."

Kahan notices the numbers in the transfinite repeater display are listed as follows:  486267825798

The one you had found in the room below had the following numbers:

"Damn ancient magic..."

Borimer mutters under his breath while sheathing Chianta. He keeps watch over the various exits from the room while keener minds consider the strange device.

While looking over the device, you hear strange sounds from the west, including sounds like moans, grunts, and even like someone is (unsuccessfully) trying to open the door.

Borimer immediately readies himself near the west door for any incoming danger.

Kahan holds his hand up to Borimer as he walks towards the door. "Androlus? Is that you?" he asks the entity behind the door, wondering if this was where Esylia was keeping him. Figuring Esylia would have likely barged through the door if she thought they were here, the priest tries to open the door, likely in vain.

Kahan hears only gurgled response from beyond.  He touches the door and feels a slight electric charge on his hand.  The door appears magically locked, like several of the others were.  Whoever is on the other side also appears unable to get through.

"Is there anyway you can bring down the magic? Or protect me if I open the door?"

Flint had been brooding all morning, uncertain how to deal with the situation and wanting desperately to get Draaz's spells copied into his spellbook.  He has been looking at the spellbook all morning and finally tucks it away into his robes.

He comes to attention at Borimer's request and says, "I can cast a knock spell that might open it, if everyone is ready."

"Please do. I have a feeling this is where Esylia is keeping Androlus. If we can get him out of here without alerting the serpentine menace, then we can set up a trap, or even get out of here without having to kill her." Kahan replies quietly, motioning for Flint (and anyone else who speaks up) to keep their voices down. The priest gets ready for the spellcaster to open the door, preparing to catch the old man when it opens in case he falls out, staring at the ground the whole time.

Borimer also prepares for whatever may come through the door after Flint's magic spell opens it.