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Kahan looks at the monk curiously, wondering if he will be able to figure out the puzzle with his annoying companion yammering in his ear the entire time. "Would you like assistance with this trial you must pass before finding the dragon? I would be interested in assisting you if you feel it necessary. Of course, if it proves to be that difficult then we will eventually catch up with you and I can assist then." Kahan offers, looking over at Tahldar as he speaks with the gnomes.

Borimer never stops watching for danger at the door, nor does he ignore the openings for an attack on these new travelers as they speak the Gnomish gibberish.

Batruss says, "The problem with the so-called 'Test of the Faithful' is that no one really knows what it is.  This upper cave network was called something that translates from Ancient Allevian to 'The Bravost Basilica' or something like that.  Brovost was an ancient sect, long since defunct.  The Test of the Faithful was what they used to travel from the upper basilica here to the lower cave levels, several thousand feet below us.  These caves have probably remained undisturbed for centuries.  That is, until Ashe sent both us and you here, to arrive coincidentally -- or not so coincidentally -- at the same time.  The Bat and the Hatt--"

"Hatt and the Batt," Fingas corrects.

Batruss rolls his eyes, "--Hatt and the Batt have not worked with anyone else since the herpes misprint incident."

"Reputations do mean something, you know," Fingas adds.

"Yes," Batruss says, "and, well, to be honest, we were purloined and our reputations tarnished by those miscreants.  We vowed to only work alone since then."

"I don't care about the treasures so much," Fingas says, "but my reputation cannot tarnished."

"So those other 'heroes,'" and he says this last word with disgust, "now can only tarnish our reputations from beyond the grave.  They were thieves and liars.  We do not give trust easily now."

"And we don't share in glory anymore," Fingas adds.  "Sorry, but that's just the way it is.  You don't become immortalized in the annals of time when you are just part of a large party.  It's worth the extra risk."

To Kahan, Batruss says, "As to help with the Test of the Faithful, I do not know what it is, but I have a feeling we are about to find out.  We may not need any help at all."

Fingas offers, "Hey, give us a one hour headstart and I'll draw you a rough map of the area.  Since you're new here, you might want something like that."

Shae says, "That sounds good to me.  I will trade a headstart for a map any day of the week.

Borimer smiles but says nothing while eyeing the newcomers with skepticism.  Still, his mind never wanders from keeping vigil near the entrance to the chamber.

"Fine, but do not kill the dragon without us. I care not who lands the final blow, but I wish to witness one alive for myself." Kahan replies with a nod.

"But you don't have to share the glory, and you can still share the risk. Personally If I wasn't fated to die otherwise I wouldn't even be here. I don't think we need this glory of yours. One of my ancestors is remembered in legends for single-handedly slaying a full horde of orcs, but he had two cavalry units and fifty foot mercenaries when he did it. We can team up, and you can claim full credit for the deed, as long as we get to live and do what we need we have no reason to dispute your version. If you want to I can even compose a song in your name detailing your exploits."

OOC: Let me at least get us moving again.

"No promises about slaying the dragon," Fingas says.  He takes a piece of parchment from Batruss' scroll case, which causes Batruss to scowl and roll his eyes. Then he takes some charcoal pencils from a scroll case and begins scribbling.  [MAP WILL BE FORTHCOMING]

After a couple minutes, he hands you a scribbled map, obviously not the best artist (or speller), and then he and Batruss say to give them an hour headstart as they head south down the corridor.

Borimer chuckles, "You bet, friend."

Haven't had any movement here.  Fingas and Batruss have headed south into the tombs while you finish exploring where you're at to give them a headstart.

You still have the objects you discovered (like the golden box and the chest), which Tahldar was trying to get someone to look at, and Shae was going to investigate the fountain.

(The map Fingas made is not really relevant at the moment.  It'll be a generic map of the geographic areas of the kingdom and will be posted later.)

Borimer keeps watch near the door, knowing that someone with a keener mind for such things will examine the box.  He watches Tahldar's progress in removing a plank with his dagger.

Tahldar inspects the gold box.  It does not appear to have any lid or way of opening it.  However, considering its metallic composition, it is extremely light when held, weighing about the same as a wooden box of the same size (18 inches to a side).  Nothing shakes or stirs within, so you cannot tell if it is hollow or contains something.




Current Issues (besides box):

You are giving Fingas and Batruss a one hour lead to go find the dragon.  Fingas wants to be the one to slay it for the glory.  You can see them walking to the south with Batruss holding a gas lit lantern as they go in and out of some rooms.

Urn:  The urn was filled with strange coins.  When asked about them, the Gnomes told Tahldar:

"We have no skills in such things and do not recognize the language or engravings.  It is not Gnomish, and these are not Gnomish markings.  The brass box could be the work of an ancient tinkerer, but if so, he was working for someone who was not a gnome.  It is of very fine workmanship.  The old chest appears to be very plain and average, rotting and old.  As to the coins, they appear ancient as well and are not in current circulation that we are aware of, but we have not traveled far from our home in the mountain."

Coins: Counting them out, the urn contained 650 coins.  They are made of bronze or brass, and with a simple engraving of a symbol on each side, a symbol you are not familiar with.

Chest:  There is a large wooden chest of ancient design.  Its wood has begun to rot, and its metal bandings are covered with rust, but it is still intact and closed, with an unfamiliar locking mechanism on the front.  You have not yet opened the chest.

Room 1: Room #1 is the entryway.  The rocks have crumbled and it does not look to have been used for quite some time.

Room 2:  In Room #2, you found piles of bones carpeting the floor and forming small mounds.  They were humanoid and have been there for a long time, layered in dust and cobwebs.

Room 3: In Room #3, you found another room with skeletons that appeared gnome and human.  The northwestern side has a fountain with moss and stagnant water.  Shae pushed aside the moss with a pole and found that there were some gems and coins in the bottom of the fountain.  (At that time, Figas and Batruss arrived, so the coins and gems were not retrieved.) Two of the skeletal remains have their arms extended and are pointing toward the north wall, which is both in the direction of the stagnant fountain and the secret room.

Room 4: Room #4 was a secret room.  In it, you discovered the strange golden box, the urn, and the old chest.

EXITS:  From here, there are two exits from Room #1.  One exit is a hallway that branches immediately to the right (west).  The other is a long hallway extending directly south.  It is the longer hallway that Figas and Batruss went down.



Current situation, Fingas and Batruss are down to the south and have had about a 15 minute lead so far.  You can see the bobbing of their lantern light source and the occasional boisterous statement by Fingas that carries through the halls.

"We should finish with these items and then get to following after the dragon slayers. Don't want them taking our future glory away from us now, do we?  Personally, I could use some dragon treasure right about now..."

"I don't care too much about glory. As long as we get our berries we can always have another day for that"

"Dragons hoard magical items, and gods know we could use some refreshment in that category." the priest states, looking over the box to see if it would be possible to pry the hinges off.

Tahldar looks at Kahan and says "I think this gold box is a puzzle.  Let me examine it for a bit to see if I can figure out how to open it.  But even if I can't I say we don't go prying at it.  It has exquisite craftsmanship and it would be a shame to damage it."

Thinking for a moment he adds "I could use a knock spell on it, but I am loathe to use any spells with the dragon looming ahead of us."

Addressing Borimer he adds "And speaking of dragons those two fools ahead of us don't stand a chance against it.  We'll be finding their corpses soon enough."

OOC:  Tahldar will try to figure out if there's a way to open the gold box, like a rubic's cube, without prying it open.  If he can't then I say toss it in the portable hole.  After that Tahldar will use his dagger to carefully pry the chest's wood off it's hinges to open it.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:54, Tue 12 Aug 2014.

Shae says, "I'm not much for devices.  More of a nature girl myself.  But there may be something special to this box."  Shae will cast detect magic.

The box does not appear to have hinges or any way of opening, almost like a solid cube with a beautiful golden design on its sides.

A detect magic spell indicates that the cube has magical properties.  Because the spell has a radius effect, it also shows you that the chest, or something in it, is magical, and that something inside the fountain is magical.

Tahldar cannot see a way to open the box.  The only thing really interesting besides its intricate designs is the peculiar way it reflects light.  Different lights seem to bring out different aspects of its design.

Tahldar then begins to pry the wood off the chest.  The chest is double layered, obviously protecting something important within.  The outer layer splinters and breaks, but it would take a bit of strength to break out the inner layer.  Of course, it also has an old latch and lock.

Borimer watches the strange box catch the light and change with it, and he wonders at its magic.  When Tahldar exposes the inner box of the old chest Borimer sizes it up and nods.  "I can try to break it, but I can't say I won't break whatever's inside."

"I was hoping I could get inside without too much trouble.  I'll use a knock spell to open it."

OOC:  Tahldar will cast a knock to open the chest.

Tahldar casts knock, and you hear an internal burring sound, followed by the lock popping open, and then the chest lid flopping to one side.

OOC: The burring sound is the disabling of a trap, had you tried to open it normally.

Looking down into the chest, all you see is a pile of those strange golden coins, which create a pile up to about half the height of the chest.

Shae will go back to the fountain and retrieve the gems and coins that were underneath all the muck.  She will inspect to see if the coins match the other ones found in the area.

Kahan reaches into the gold pile to see if anything is buried within it.

OOC: When I said box I meant chest. Oh well.

"Well, I'm glad we didn't try to force it open and trip that trap.  But I'm sure I'll be wishing I had that spell back before this day is done." Tahldar says as he looks in the chest.

With a down turned face he says "Pity, I was hoping for something a little less mundane.  But I supposed gold will come in handy at some point and the mint is strange.  Though being not from here I'm sure everything will be new and strange to me."

OOC:  Once Kahan has had a chance to search the chest, Tahldar will take a look as well.