Aethen attempts to gather himself in an effort to ascertain what is wrong with this place, but opening himself up to whatever energies are in this place react violently with his biology.  His last meal is now on the floor, leaving him dry heaving.

   Grondor sniffs, scrunching his nose and then wiping it on his arm.  "Bit o' the ol' garbage heap if ya ask me."  He sniffs and then wistfully says, "Reminds me o' home."

   Grondor does not like the viscous ooze getting on his boots, but is in no other way affected by his surroundings.  He looks at the others in his party who seem to be studying? the room.

Looks around nervously

"I don't like the feel of this place."

She looks over towards the dias and the manacles

"And I don't want to know what that thing is for"

After saying that she fidgets and begins looking around for anything that might pop out of the water or shadows.

"I have all I need here.  There is nothing more to learn.  I am not sure what this is, but my superiors will know.  Once again, I appreciate the help."  Thit has pulled out a scroll and sketched a rough picture of the room along with a few notes.  Finishing that, he rolls it up and tucks it away.  "It might be best if we return the way we came and pick up your friends.  Who know what might be waiting through that exit," he points to the secondary tunnel.



[Private to Adryn Longmane; Aethen Ironroot: "Help...me..." a strange voice calls.]

Given Thit's previous outburst, Adryn is a little surprised at how quickly he dismisses the mysterious presence in this room.
As he begins to ponder what the little kobold is up to, his thoughts stop dead in their tracks and Adryn becomes visibly distracted.

"Wait... did you all hear that?". Adryn pauses as if to discern the location of some faint sound. "Someone is calling out for help!"

[Private to GM: Any sort of skill check I should make to obtain any sort of info here?]

[Private to GM:
22:19, Today: Secret Roll: Adryn Longmane rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Concentration check.
22:19, Today: Secret Roll: Adryn Longmane rolled 30 using 1d20+10. Listen check. ]
This message was last edited by the player at 04:22, Mon 31 Jan 2011.

Vertium was presented with a moral dilemma. This structure could be the source of immeasurable knowledge. On the other hand its very nature indicated that it was far more likely to destroy far more knowledge than it could give. Making up his mind, the wizard slowly regained his composure.

Sitting down and pressing his hands firmly on the ground Vertium started speaking to the group. "I do not hear any voices. However, I firmly suggest that we destroy that monument, especially the staff contained in its centre. Failing that, we should collapse the cave. I know what it is and it is far too dangerous for us to leave it undisturbed."

The wizard didn't want to say what it was in front of Thit and hopefully the rest of the group would understand the mage's reluctance to sharing this information.

Before Vertium could finish his sentence Adryn blurts out, "NO!!". He begins to slowly walk towards the staff.

"Not the staff!", Adryns says, trying to compose himself. "The voice is coming from the staff... somehow, and its begging for help." He stops and turns to Vertium.

"How... ", As if looking to the wizard for some sort of explanation, "Is is possible for a person to get trapped... like that?"

   Relieved that Adryn speaks up about hearing the voice, Aethen mulls over what he heard.

   "Did you hear the language?  It is speaking Anthros."  At once the implications of what this structure might be doing, what might have happened to Severbough had they not intervened, became clear.

   Aethen was not sure it could hear in return, but it had either been aware of their presence or was continually begging the nether for aid.  He hoped for the former.  "We have heard you.  Tell us how we can help you!"  Aethen sincerely hoped the poor soul could.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:20, Mon 31 Jan 2011.

Genovia looks at the ones hearing voices as if they were crazy.

"What are you guys talking about?  I havn't heard a thing."

For a short while he wondered why the druids had been affected while the other party members seemed immune. He then realised that they had remained in the structure longer which may explain their vulnerability.

Vertium shouted out to get everyone's attention. He was clearly panicked as the druids were trying to release the "prisoner", fear clearly written across the wizard's face. "IT'S A TRAP!"

"Stay away from the dais. The being is not trapped in the staff itself; it is a portal to demonic realm! I sense strong evil emanating from the structure. What you are hearing are most likely the murmures of some powerful demon." Vertium paused for a moment and looked at the warriors in the group hoping that they would help detain the affected members of the party. "We can't afford for anyone to get too close to the structure. It's effects will most likely grow with proximity"


_{OoC: Edited the character's warning. I decided that since Red isn't used for any language, I would use it for the character's shout.} [Private to GM: Vertium will take 10 (for a total of 22) on another spellcraft check to determine whether his theory was adequate or whether it was more likely that it was the structure itself that was evil and not the being "contained" within.]
This message was last edited by the player at 18:24, Mon 31 Jan 2011.

Torn between his desire to help a call for need and Vertiums suspicions, Adryn falls to his knees and quietly closes his eyes.

[Private to GM: Attempting to 'commune' with Addir to seek direction, let me know if I need some sort of roll]

   Aethen quickly turns to Vertium as he speaks.  Listening, he nods at what the wizard says.  Aethen turns so that his eyes are on the structure, but he begins to back away, crossing paths with the kneeling Adryn.  Placing a hand on the druid's shoulder, he applies gentle pressure to indicate that he wants Adryn to back away as well.

   "Mage, considering what was spoken of by our teacher, is it not beyond the realm of possibility that the druids are being twisted to power this structure?"  Aethen says over his shoulder.  Thinking for a moment, he continued.  "The staff planted there looks like a simple staff that any of our order would carry.  Think of the symbolic nature of it, life being tainted by death."

   Were more time to pass, Aethen would have no reason to doubt the mage's words and condemn this place to a destructive burial.  No response from the illusive voice to either confirm or deny his words would cast even more doubt on his position.  It was just something in the voice....

"I think we should just go..."

[Private to Adryn Longmane; Aethen Ironroot: "They have destroyed my body.  I am trapped.  Please take me from the dais.  The profane energy will dissipate."  The voice has taken on a distinctly feminine tone upon hearing it further.]

[Private to Adryn Longmane: Augury would be the closest thing to what you are trying to do.  You are not powerful enough and it is a clerical spell.  Druidism, even the religion of Addiyr, is about finding peace and good in nature, and through natural means.  Your focus on beast-form makes divination even less likely.  Sorry :(]

[Private to Kahmaul Quddus: As they speak of the staff, your mind shifts to it and the sense of evil is lessened.  Removed from its environs, the staff may not be tainted at all.]

[Private to Vertium Thrusius: Your hypothesis is feasible, but so is theirs.  It could be a trap but it could also be that the voice belongs to one already trapped.  Severbough did seemed somewhat drained and out of focus mentally.  The only way to know for sure is to combine your abilities.

However, you are getting sicker by the minute.]

[Private to GM: Yes, I suppose that makes more sense. Given Adryn's infancy to the druid order, it couldnt hurt to try and see what happened.]

Adryn slowly opens his eye and rises to his feet. "I agree with Aethen. It may be likely that this evil presence we are feeling might be the very thing that is trapping this poor soul within the staff. If the dias were truly evil, then wouldn't it stand to reason that it would take truly good magic to keep it at bay? I know you are far more talented in the arcane arts that I am, but I feel that this evil chill in the air is trapping a truly good entity here. There must be some way to free her."

Vertium's dark blue skin seemed to be loosing its colour. "I have been considering that possibility, there is a way to know... We must combine our powers... examine the nature of this artefact together... "

Vertium looked at the druids and spoke again. "If you agree, we should start now."

   Grondor sighs loudly and turns to Kahmaul.  "This means that we git to sit here an' protect 'em while they look at tha ground or mumble magic words 'er somthin."  He shakes his head as he moves down the passage, pulling out his sword and leaning against the stone wall.

Adryn nods in agreement to Vertium. "Where shall we begin?"

Genovia gets antsy and knocks and arrow while moving towards the doorway also.

"I'll just stand back here and help keep watch."

   Aethen moves toward the other two, careful to not speak.  He would regret allowing his insides to betray his emotions again.  When asked if he is ready, a quick nod is given.

Dathnaea readies an arrow just in case.

Kahmual's fur shivers, "The staff's aura doesn't immediately seem evil... Though I find myself unnerved that you sense a voice, and more so at the talk of demon portals."

He walks around the dias, studying it further. He waits and speaks, "I will continue to monitor its aura, while you can ascertain if the staff is a part of the evil or merely here by chance... Though I think the others can check for any way we could try and collapse this cave if things turn sour..."

"So Kahmaul, Adryn, Veritum and Aethen will work in here? I think the rest of us can find better things to do than to screw around with magic. I"ll be with the others outside. Scream if you need us, it will give us enough of a head start to outrace the demon you manage to unleash."

"As druids, you should have a connection with nature. Try searching for any disturbances and their source. Also attempt to learn more about the trapped being. It is possible that since you can hear it and not me that it is an animal or even a force of nature. However, be careful." The wizard paused to take a breath, the speech had taken a lot out of him, especially with his lapsing concentration. "In the meantime, I will Examine the exact sources from which the magic is originating."

With that, Vertium closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they were shining a dark blue. He was slowly looking around the room taking every detail into account.

[Private to GM: Vertium is using his Invar ability to examine the room using Detect Magic. He is trying to determine where the magic is originating from. If it is from the staff he will try to determine whether the magic is coming from the interior or exterior of the object.
]

Kahmual reaches down and undoes his belt, clasped around his waist, and hands it to Adryn and speaks, "While you commune with the being, use this, and you will see the truth in the soul of that which speaks to you. It will help you detect any falsity in the being you sense. When we are past this I will ask that back, for it is not mine to give freely, but I feel your need right now is connected to why it was given to me."

"Thats a very generous offer, Kahmaul, I am honored.", Adryn bows his head graciously as he receives the belt. Adryn begins to clasp the belt around his waist, and to his surprise it magically sizes itself to fit around his waist. After a moment, he looks over to Kahmaul with a slightly puzzled look and says, "How exactly do I make this work? Just... concentrate?"

[Private to Kahmaul Quddus: Im assuming this item doesnt require any special activation, right?]