In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 3):

I don't think they will, your guide says with a shrug.  Honestly, if he wanted to kill us, he's had a lot of opportunities.  He is Krojun after all.

The camp is made next to an outcropping of rock.  It not only provides some shelter from the wind, it also limits the number of possible approaches.  Your guides begin regaling you with stories about your pursuer.

Krojun is obviously somewhat of a hero to them.  The tales of him include him taking on ten opponents at once, tricking a greedy oheke merchant out of his gold, and sleeping with five women in one night.

Not to change the subject to one that's less nauseating, but about that ruin below... says Chandanar at one point.

Ah.  I know it is one of the Moon Clan's pilgrimage sights.  They call it 'The Sleeper's Palace'.  One of their parties brought one of their dead to us once when I was a boy.  My father stayed up late drinking with them, exchanging tales.  The Moon Clan spoke a little of this place.  They called it the 'Place to Appreciate Silence'.  I also recall that most pilgrims make their way to the lower level.  But what that means, I can not really tell you.  That is all I know.  I hope it proves to be of some benefit.

"Maybe, but it certainly doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared for something to happen tonight. But this place is...nice," he said, pausing to think of a word. He wished he knew more about the being swallowed ritual or the legends of these people so he could better prepare for what they had to do, but despite the closeness to Korvosa, the people of the wastelands seemed entirely different. "So, who's ready to be swallowed alive within the week."

Zuni took a seat and pulled off her boots.  She smirked up at Selvin as she started to make herself comfortable.  "I can think of better things to do than get myself swallowed but it should make for a bit of excitement.  I wonder which of us will taste the best?  Do you think that it will like the taste of kitty cat?"

Zuni stretched lazilyand glanced back towards Krojuns camp.  "....I am so tempted to sneak over there and cause a little mischief..."

Selvin had to stop himself from rolling his eyes at the stories told about their pursuer, Korjun the Mighty Jerk. Finally, talk turned to the pilgrimage's end - well for the Moon Clan, at least. Their own pilgrimage was going to go much further before it ended, and included being swallowed by a giant worm!!

He stuck his tongue out at Zuni. "Oh, I've been told I taste pretty good." He let out a chuckle, but then the smile faded slowly. "Man. This has been SOME weird trip, yah? Lots o'twists an' turns, an' more crazy things then I EVER thought I'd see!"

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 7):

Well.  At least we'll have an interesting tale to tell our grandkids. Chandanar looks up at the sliver of moon in the sky as he speaks.  At least those of us who survive to have grandkids.  But do you think Korvosa will ever be the same?  I mean...it wasn't in great shakes when we left.

<Orange>Just want to make sure Zuni didn't want to follow up on her wish of making mischief.  If not, we'll advance to the morning.  If so, well.  I'll wait to see what kind of mischief you want to make.  Thanks</Aqua>

Zuni thought about what she could do Krojuns camp.  She thought of herself as fairly stealthy, so maybe she could swipe something from the big lunk, or maybe leave something special behind.

Her companions discussion brought her attention back to the immediate surroundings.  "I think that Korvosa will go on, with or without us." she said, turning to lie back and stare up at the sky.  "I'd like to think that things will get better.  I'd also like to think that we'll be around to see that happen. That's a worthy goal in life, right?"

"Did anyone get a count of how many were with Krojun?"

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 9):

The guide studies Krojun's camp fire. He has five riders with him.

Zuni, I will answer you here. Up to ya'll. I'm not one to mind going off script. Let me know by Monday evening though please. Thanks

The Guides wake you a couple of hours before sunrise.  They feed you a light breakfast of dried meat and cakes made of potato and beans.  We scouted the approach to the site.  There are no traps or snares.  So you may approach with no concern.  But we did not venture inside.  So once you pass through the archway, be wary.  We are going to go out into the Cinderlands to hunt.  Our plan is to be back at this spot this time tomorrow.  We will wait one additional day for you to return.  May your ancestors watch your steps.

True to the guide's word, the approach is uneventful.  The small gully slopes down to an opening in the rock face of the mound.  The opening was probably a cave entrance, but someone has carved it into an actual arch.  Emblems were inscribed on the walls, but time seems to have worn them down.  You can't tell what was once carved here.  Beyond, a wide set of fairly worn but serviceable stairs are carved into the earth.  They descend in a steep angle.

You follow the stairs down and down some more.  There is a strange scent to the air.  Not unpleasant but not comforting either.  It's not one you recognize, but it smells vaguely of the ocean.  After a couple of minutes, the stairs let out into a large chamber.

The air in this massive cathedral-like space seems strangely cool. The ceiling vaults into the shadows above to a height of nearly sixty feet, while the walls are carved with vertical ridges that rise to support the arch above. A five-foot-wide
balcony rings the room, the floor of which drops fifteen feet into a pool of dark water. A bridge crosses the pool down the room’s center, and two large stone doors stand in the walls to the south and east. Smaller doors sit in the walls to the
northwest and northeast—all four doors bear depictions of seven-pointed-stars.

Izzick wandered a few steps in, keeping his eyes open while looking around. He didn't dare touch anything, but he tried to find where the ages hadn't worn down the stone too much searching out anything that stood out from any books he'd read back in his days at the Acadamae. "We need the lower levels right?" he asked, eyes moving from runes to stars to whatever else he could find.

Perception: 00:47, Today: Izzick rolled 17 using 1d20-1.

Knowledge Arcana: 00:47, Today: Izzick rolled 14 using 1d20+8.

Knowledge History: 00:47, Today: Izzick rolled 12 using 1d20+4.

Selvin woke with a large yawn and proceeded to do a full body stretch, much like a cat. He slowly came to full awareness and then began the process of summoning his cat-like otherworldly ally. "Zak" showed up and enveloped the half-elf Selvin, the two becoming one once more.

He nodded to their guides. "Thanks. See you then hopefully."

He stepped forward and downward, keeping his eyes and ears peeled. He looked at Izzick and nodded. "Sounds right." He looked at the various doors. "But which was is it?" He glanced at Zuni with a raised eyebrow to see if she had any idea. "I'd say across an' through the big doors personally."

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 13):

Map should now be available on Group 1 game map.  Thanks.

The room was carved with magic Izzick.  That much you can tell for sure.  The odd engravings are similar to those associated with the Rune Lords.  But other than that, you can't make much sense of them.

An odd feeling grips all of you.  An uneasy sensation.  Like it's too quiet.  Or the air is too dusty.  The water in the pool is too murky.  Or the balconies seem too vacant.  It's hard not to find something that doesn't seem innocent yet somehow off base here.

But you hear no noise other than your own breathing.

You are basically standing around the point where A1 meets A2 on the map.  Let me know if you'd like to do anything here.  Thanks.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:37, Fri 26 May 2017.

"...there's doors...." Zuni said, pointing out the doors along the balcony.  "Guess I'll be keeping my pick locks handy.  I say that we go right and start checking out these doors.  I don't fancy leaving unopened doors behind us."

She looked between Izzick and Selvin.  "Are you guys...feeling anything magical?"

"Whole room really," Izzick said aloud, as he looked around, "And something else. But not sure what...just doesn't feel right." As he looked at Zuni head towards the right he began to follow along with her, "Your eyes are probably better for this kind of stuff, so be on the lookout for anything." He'd seen Zuni notice minutia he'd never see and pick locks he wouldn't have a clue about - whatever was wrong he was sure she'd see it coming before he did.

Selvin, as quietly as he could, cast a spell on himself, muttering arcane words. A flash of blue light erupted around his eyes and he blinked a few times. "right. i'll check it out."

Then he took to the air and flew forward, keeping his eyes and ears open for anything unusual...well, any movement or sound at all WOULD be unusual really.

OOC: Cast See Invisibility on myself and fly forward 40ft, staying in the air.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 17):

Selvin ascends towards the ceiling, scanning the room from above.

It becomes quickly apparent someone has been here before.  There are tracks in the dust of the north balcony showing someone walked to the northwest door.

Selvin peered around a bit. Then he called back to his allies. "I can see tracks in the dust, from someone else bein' here before. Looks like they head t'the northwest door. So maybe that door?" He looked back at his companions for their reactions.

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 19):

Chandanar looks at Zuni, Belgar, and Izzick and shrugs.  Don't suppose one of you guys with the pointy sticks would like to go first, would you?

Zuni steps forward.  "Ladies with pointy sticks first."  She  replied to Chandanar and made her way tot he first door to the South.  She stopped at the door to give it a looking over for anything malicious.

OOC:
Perception -> 23

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 21):

As you get closer to the door, you can see the signs Selvin indicated Zuni.  There are some tracks in the dust that look like footprints.  And these are recent.  The problem is they just appear a few steps from the door.  There's no sign of them at the entrance, nor on the stairs leading up to the door.

The door is decorated with the faded symbols adorning the walls.  None of them seem particularly dangerous or actively magical.  From the other side of the wood you hear a clinking sound.  Like thin metal rubbing against itself.

A deep voice speaks up from the other side.  A man's rich baritone loaded with a Chelaxian accent.  Well.  Blast me.  It seems we have been discovered.  We mean you no harm.  Would you like to step in or should we step out?

Selvin was so startled that he almost fell out of the air, hovering above and to the side of Zuni. He recovered quickly, however, and tossed Zuni a look. He mouthed the word 'out' to her and he went up a bit higher and tried to get to a place he wouldn't immediately be noticed.

OOC: Not sure if a stealth check is necessary or desired.

"Uhm...yeah...discovered."  Zuni said once the surprise of the moment had passed.  She was frozen in mid step but she relaxed and gave a nod in reply to Selvins suggestion, even though she couldn't see him.  She glanced back at her other companions, to make sure that they were ready.  "We're just that good.  Why don't you come out and we can talk."

Izzick kept his hands up, ready to bring about arcane magic if needed as he seconded Zuni's words, "Make sure no weapons drawn. We're not going to be welcoming to more trouble - we've got plenty enough as is." He'd managed to intimidate an assassin, he hoped it was good enough for whoever was behind the doorway.

The door swings open slowly.  Whatever you were expecting...well.

There are two people coming out.  The first is a large, thick, slightly fat human man.  Older, with a couple of chins and eyebrows thick enough to serve as pillows.  He is dressed in a red and black leather robe that somehow manages to be both serviceable and garish looking at the same time.  His hands are covered with odd tattoos.  From what you can gather they seem to be cavorting skeletons dancing across his knuckles.  He has both hands raised, palms facing out, an amused smile tracing across his lips.  Good day.  I am Count Sial.  This is my assistant.  Asyra.  I can assure you that she, like myself, bear you no current malice.

It's readily apparent why he is offering assurances about Asyra first.  There is little doubt she is Abyssal.  Her bluish skin is amply explosed despite the profusion of chains which seem to be hanging all over her body.  The chains are draped in a way that covers her naughtiest bits, but only barely.  She glances at you all with greyish eyes before turning back to the Count and pressing her body against his hip.

Sial continues in a thick Chelaxian accent.  It seems we have both arrived at this edifice.  May I inquire as to your purpose here?

Zuni couldn't help but stare at the woman.  She'd seen plenty of fat men in her years but never a woman such as this.  And what in the hells was she wearing?  It looked more appropriate for a den of ill repute then traipsing around ruined temples.

She took a moment to compose herself.  She hadn't missed the part about 'current' malice.  Hopefully that wouldn't change.  Zuni gives her most friendly smile.  "I am Lady Zunithia and these are my companions.  We are traveling this desert when we saw these ruins.  I'm afraid that curiosity got the better of me and I asked my companions if we could explore it.  It also gets us out of the sun for a while.  How about you?  What brings you to this place?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:17, Mon 05 June 2017.

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 27):

Much the same, he intones, smiling pleasantly while pressing the fingertips of each hand together to form a steeple.  I have an interest in such places.  And I was told what I seek might be found here.  May I offer an accord?  Since exploring ruins is often an eventful business, maybe we could pool our efforts?  Or at least agree to not resort to hostilities?