Olven slows as they reach the second black pool.  "OK, that one probably poisons or kills," he says.

He thinks back to the king's instructions and intelligence about the Lyceum.  "The King talked about this place," he says.  "He mentioned the strange hallways that were straight one moment and curved the next.  There's supposedly a treasure here protected by lightning."

He looks suspiciously at the skeleton with the sword.  "Roisin, do you have a spell to see what's in the water, beneath that skeleton?"  He drops his spear and pulls out his axe and walks closer, but he doesn't touch the pool.

"No...well, yes, well, maybe." Roisin frowned "well, sometimes alternative solutions might present themselves. Utrecht, could you please fetch what is in the pond, between the skeletons legs?" she asked the golem politely.

The stone statue obeyed and picked up a black orb, its surface tarnished by the filthy water.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:30, Mon 26 June 2017.

After the orb was removed from the pool, D'aden nodded. Taking his wineskin, he dribbles some of the water onto the floor to test his theory about the location affecting the water.

D'aden dribbled some of his water on the floor and creates a puddle of water. It still looks the same as when he filled it.

"Let's continue.  We need to find Grettanah," Olven says, and he continues walking west.

OOC:  Go left.

"And find the red orb." Roisin looked up to Utrecht "Ummm...why doesn't someone else take the orb? I mean...it's likely to have some negative consequences if I hold it."

"I'll take it.  I can carry it in my pack," Olven says.  He stops and holds out his hands for the orb.

Having made their arrangements, the heroes turned left again and kept going. Having past just a few more pillars, they discovered a door on their right. This set of golden doors were engraved with the image of wizards kneeling in meditation, facing each other.

"I hate this place," Olven Wolf says quietly.  "These confusing corridors are really doing a number on my head."

He looks over the doors, seeing if he can see any traps, and then tries to open one.

After checking the door and the lock, Olven tried to open the door. But it was locked.

"You know, this looks like another place where the mundane has been turned into a wizard test. Perhaps you open the door by thinking at it, real hard."
D'aden puts three fingers of his right hand on his right temple and squints at the door, ostensibly willing it to open.

"Yeah, probably another door that only wizards can open," Olven says.  "Roisin, what do you think?"  He examines the image of the wizards kneeling, and then tries to mimic their posture.  He kneels facing D'aden and tries his best to think wizardly thoughts.

Despite all of D'aden's and Olven's efforts, the door remained closed.

[OOC: You are getting close to the end of this adventure. You need one more orb, you need to get to the locks those unlock, and then there's the final room. Followed by some sort of denouement, including a report to the King and getting paid for any elemental water that might still be in your possession. Of course there's still the case of the missing teenager (Merilyn).


But then what? There's Jason's request to get the Icon of Truth he lent to the King back, so yes there's room for a sequel or three. If that's something you want. Send me a PM to let me know what you want in a future adventure. Any particular goals you would like to reach/fulfill. More puzzles? Less puzzles? Different kinds of puzzles?

I know these corridors didn't work for you, fortunately they are soon over. Just to give you an example on how twisted they are.

Olven shared a clue with you how to get to this door. 'From study.  Pass pillars three to the door.  Left and pass two.  Left and to the sanctum.' Or in other words, if you had walked straight ahead when you entered these corridors after the fight with the spirits, passing three pillars, turned left at the door, and passed two more pillars you would have reached this place with the golden door to your left. Instead you immediately turned left, passed six pillars, turned left again and passed four pillars. You still got to the same door, but it's now on your right.

And everything about these corridors were as it was on the original map, I haven't changed anything. Doing so would only have complicated things even further.

One more things, for the players. I'm running a solo adventure with Grettanah, that I had planned to throw in your way as you returned to the King. But that would probably have taken another seven years and I can feel the end beckoning. And it gives her a chance to stretch her legs. I'm not expecting her to rejoin you. Your characters, of course, knows nothing of this. Nor do they know that there is a NPC healer waiting just outside your grasp.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:50, Wed 28 June 2017.

Roisin looked at the lock expectantly "It's almost as if they expect a lock in a place of magical education to be locked by a normal key." Roisin spoke out loud to Ochre "Hmmm. I know, why not try magic to unlock it?"

OOC:Try out lockmaster to unlock the door.

Roisin spent a few seconds at the door, weaving her magic and then the lock clicked.


D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 9 (Only high level healing magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Roisin: FP 12/9

The heroes opened the door.

A corridor led between three sets of facing alcoves, each at least 25 feet tall. A statue of a robed wizard in each of them, almost as tall as the alcove itself. The first set of statues were carved out of red granite, the second out of black stone, and the third out of the purest white marble.

Each statue was otherwise identical, stooping slightly, with their hands cupped in front of them about ten feet above the floor. And beyond each set of alcoves, rippled continuous sheets of lightning. Each covering the height and breadth of the corridor.

"This is it," Olven Wolf says, looking around the area.  "Beyond that lighting is our goal, but we only have two of the three spheres.  We still need to find the last one."  He looks at the statues and their cupped hands.  "I guess we put the three orbs there, eh?"  He frowns in thought.  "But we still haven't found the girl.  I'm afraid we might be too late to save her."

OOC:  Search this room for anything else that Olven can find.

Olven looked around the intersection.

[OOC: This is just a normal twisted corridor, there’s no room, per se. The only difference is that there’s a door and a normal corridor beyond it. The map below shows what it looks like when the door is closed.


.X.X.
.....
.XDX.
..h..
.X.X.

X = pillar
D = Door
. = corridor
h = Heroes' location

Isn't it nice to have a clue?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:25, Wed 05 July 2017.

Olven Wolf rubs his chin.  "I get the feeling there's a clue here somewhere, but I'm not picking up on it," he says.  "Let's look for that final orb."

OOC:  Go left from the golden door and see what's down that way.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:59, Thu 06 July 2017.

The heroes continued down the corridor. Having past another two pillars, they discovered a door to their left. This one unlocked. Beyond it was a short corridor into a room that was about 25 feet deep and somewhat wider. Archways, to the far left and far right, exited the room in the opposite direction. Sounds of rushing winds could be heard from beyond the archways as well as the rising and falling cries of the dead.

On the far side of the room, a ten foot, or so, iron lever was held pointing to the left by a long dead, robed individual.

D'aden: HP 14/14. HT = 9 (Only high level healing magic will be able to restore your HT back to normal.)
Roisin: FP 12/9

Roisin walked forwards to investigate both the iron lever and the robed individual. They were clearly looking for a red globe now, but there were many more mysteries to be solved at this place. Especially if she wanted to reopen its doors as a place of magical learning.

Roisin moved forward and examined the lever and its holder.

In spite of himself, Olven Wolf shivers slightly.  "Seems we've come to a more deadly part of the Lyceum.  Think we should trust the dead guy?  What if it's a trap?"

Shrugging, Olven says, "Well, let's give it a try.  Stand back, everyone."  He walks up to the level and pulls it.