Sir Floradine heaves the heavy door open, and your eyes open with the strange spectacle before you.  There are two rows of statues, six on your left and six on your right.  (See map below.)  The first statue on your right and left is that of a lion with right-handed claws outstretched and teeth showing, one on your left and one on your right.  The next two statues are of a dragon-like creature, likewise with fangs bared and two hands reaching out to claw those who would pass between them.  The third statues are of warriors, each holding swords pointed toward each other in menacing fashion.  The fourth statues show demon-like guardians with four arms reaching toward each other.  The fifth statues show a snake-like naga with sword in two hands and body like a snake.  The last two statues are of rearing unicorns with horns pointed toward each other.

The floor of this room is extremely smooth and shiny.  A faint glow makes you think it might be slightly wet or waxy.

But the strangest part of the room is the movement within.  Between the statues, as shown on the map, is a rounded gutter two feet deep and four feet wide.  In each gutter, a four foot diameter perfectly rounded stone ball rolls back and forth from one side of the room, up a slight ramp, and then it is pushed back into the gutter to roll to the other side and repeat.

The five foot section of floor on either side of the gutter moves in the direction shown by the arrows.  Five feet one way, then back to the original position.  Each movement (which obviously makes the statues move as well) is coordinated exactly with the round stones being pushed at the top of the ramps.  It takes about 6 seconds (one round) for each of the stones to roll from one side of the room to the other and up the ramp, about 12 seconds to make the complete revolution.

Obviously, it will be a bit of a challenge to cross as the statues move, especially without being pierced by the statues' many sharp points, and the couple of seconds when the statues are still are the seconds that the ball is passing between them.



[Let me know if you have any questions about the logistics of this.  It was originally done with miniatures and a moveable board I created to work in a similar fashion to the game Robo Rally.]

Doktor Illborn looks in the door at the moving room and statues and says, "I'm dizzy just looking in there.  Looks like the orcs already sprang the trap.  We just have to maneuver our way through it now."

Shae looks at Illborn with one perfectly arched eyebrow. "I hope you are feeling agile today my good physician....."

She suddenly smiles showing that her statement was said in good humour.

"Sir Floradine, do you think we might be able to use that staff again. I don't like the idea of anyone dodging their way through that unhappy and deadly maze." She looks to the knight and pointedly glances at Shanjalae, "Some of us might find it a little easier."

[Please note as a matter of logistics that the staff opens a portal exactly 50 feet in front of it, and the room is 75 feet across.  Each square represents 5 feet.  Therefore, if you use it, you will open the portal between the 4th and 5th statues.]

Sir Floradine tries the teleportation staff to see if it will work.

Floradine uses the staff, and the vial drains of liquid.  You guess that it probably only has one more good use before the liquid is drained entirely.

The portal opens, and you see the far portal opens fifty feet in front of it...  It is directly between the fourth pair of statues (the demon-like guardians).  This is probably about the best position.  If you walk through, then you will step through to a moving floor, but you will be just past the danger of the statues and just before the rolling stone ball.

"No time like the present," Kallad says and steps through the portal.

Shae doesn't wait either and begins to follow but assures that Shanjalae goes through the portal straight after her father, and then she quickly follows.

Joseph takes up the rear of the group as they walk through the portal.  He is not sure what to make of the statues and floor but will do anything not to have to find out what they are all about.

Illborn follows Shae, ready to steady his feet when he comes out the other side and careful not to bump anyone at the far end.

Kallad, then Shanjalae, then Shae, and the Illborn step through the portal.  Kallad steps through, gains his balance and helps Shanjalae as she steps through.  Shae teeters for a moment but gets her balance and helps Illborn as he nearly falls forward into the rolling ball.

It is at that moment that movement draws your attention to the left. With a vicious warcry, one of the mutant orcs dives forward from its hiding place behind the demon statue, a sword falling toward Kallad.  The attack is so sudden that Kallad takes the brunt of the sword in the shoulder.  (9 hp dmg).

From around you come the cries as more of the orcs pop up from their hiding places to attack.  The one orc engages with Kallad, and another runs at Shae and Illborn from the nearby statue.  A third orc steps out from behind the fifth statue, an arrow nocked in his bow.

Behind you, two orcs, apparently surprised by the party's use of the portal, step out.  They look at the entrance where Joseph and Sir Floradine still wait by the portal.  So far, they do not attack, apparently waiting to see if the two will go into the portal or not.

Fearing the portal exit may be too crowded, Floradine sidesteps the portal and tries to cross the rock gutter to attack the nearest orc on the left.

Joseph is startled but not completely surprised by the attacking Orcs.  Stepping away from the portal he draws his bow and notches an arrow.  Drawing back he begins to fire at the most opportune foe.

Shae grabs Shanjalae by the shoulder and roughly pushes the girl behind her and towards Illborn, using herself as a shield against the approaching orc.

"Doktor, look after my sister," she yells as she sends one dagger spinning towards the charging orc, and readying the Dragon Maw in her other hand to used in melee.

Kallad backs up and grabs Shanjalae with his right arm.  Then he carefully watches the moving ball and runs through the gutter to the far side with Shanjalae in tow as he protects her from any orc onslaught.  He is focused on fending off the orcs' blows instead of fighting them directly.  Then he does the same thing with the next gutter, hoping to take Shanjalae all the way to the far double doors and to safety.

Illborn uses his dagger to fend off whatever orc is attacking him.  If he is not being attacked, he casts armor on himself.

[Please refer to this map to tell me where your characters move and which orc they attack.  Orcs are numbered O1 through O5.  This map is the result at the end of this round. The black spot is the portal opening.]

[Please keep in mind that the floors are shifting each round.  They move as follows:  (A,B,C=down) (D,E,F=up) (G,H,I=down) (J,K,L=up) (M,N,O=down).  Each round lasts 6 seconds.  The round ball moves at the rate of 5 feet per second and each round ball is at the first arrow in each gutter for the beginning of this round and will end up at the last arrow by the final part of this round.  The top row of squares and the bottom row of squares are angled up (the ramp for the balls to travel before being pushed back the other direction).  A stone block at the top of each ramp pushes the stone balls back in the opposite direction.]

[Confused?  Good...I did my job.  This is chaos, so be prepared.  Also, because the floor under your feet is moving in the direction of the balls' movement, be prepared for modifiers during battle, as it is very hard to maintain balance, fight, and move around.]

ROUND 1
Sir Floradine moves past the stone...avoiding being hit, but he must wait for it to pass, so he does not have an opportunity to attack this round as he carefully steps onto square D3, where the floor is moving in the opposite direction.

Joseph fires off an arrow at O2, hitting it.  (6 hp dmg) (Joseph has not yet stepped onto the moving floor.)

Kallad jumps forward with Shanjalae behind him...  They avoid the stone ball but are blocked by orc O5 who steps to M3 to block him.

Shae throws a dagger at O3, hitting it.  (3 hp dmg)

Illborn swings at O4, missing.

O1 swings his sword at Floradine, but the unsteady floor causes his swing to go wide.  O2 swings at Floradine from behind with his axe, hitting him.  (8 hp dmg)

O3 swings a serrated saber at Shae... (critical miss) but he hits the statue instead and drops the weapon.  He reaches for his dagger...

O4 swings at Illborn with a short axe, hitting the doctor.  (5 hp dmg).

O5 gets an arrow off at Shae (before moving to block her father's escape).  The arrow hits Shae in the arm.  (4 hp dmg).

Shae winces in pain as the arrow strikes home.  Pushing the pain aside she suddenly snarls and launches herself at the orc, swinging the Dragon Maw dagger in a deadly arc.

"In the name of Lynx!" she screams in a battle cry.

Joseph Continues to fire off arrows from his vantage point on the non moving section of the room.

Floradine swings his two handed sword in a wide arc at Orc O1.

Illborn continues going after O4 with the dagger.

Shae swings the Dragon Maw dagger, scoring a hit on the orc.  (5 hp dmg).

Joseph fires off two more arrows.  The first hits O2.  (4 hp dmg).  The second flies through the spot where the orc was just before the floor shifted again.  The arrow flies off across the room, ricochets off one of the rolling boulders, and comes inches from imbedding itself in Shae's face.

Kallad waits defensively for the orc.

Illborn swings but misses.

Sir Floradine swings, hitting the orc with such force that it falls against the claws of the lion statue, which further pierce its back.  (12 hp dmg).  The orc, hurting badly, rushes after Floradine in anger.  He pushes Floradine back into the gutter...but Floradine manages to jump and roll onto F3 before the boulder comes rolling through.

O2 jumps across the gutter...making it safely, but he trips on the moving floor at the far end and does not have time to attack this round as he pulls himself up off the ground.

O3 also tries the rush maneuver (apparently something they had planned).  His rush catches Shae by surprise, knocking the breath out of her.  The boulder is rolling close.  ...Luckily, her cat-like reflexes let her jump to safety.  The boulder actually hits her as it passes, but it does no harm.

Simultaneously, O4 rushes Illborn with the same tactic. ...Illborn is not so graceful.  He falls into the gutter and hits his head.  (2 hp dmg).  He tries to jump at the same time Shae does...but his medical skills have not prepared him for this.  He makes it halfway up before the boulder hits his legs, ripping them off just above the knee.  Illborn clutches his stumps and falls onto his back in shock.

Kallad is ready when O5 rushes him.  He manages to grab the orc's collar and propel him into the gutter.  The orc trips over Shae and the sprawling form of Illborn and into the gutter.  But the boulder has passed and will not return for another four seconds.


This message was last edited by the GM at 09:07, Fri 06 June 2003.

Unsure if Illborn is still alive after such horrendous wounds, Shae yells, "Father help the Doctor. Use Gan's potions if you can!"

Not waiting for a reply she jumps feet first on to the sprawled orc's back (O5), trusting on her weight and agility to help keep him down long enough for the ball to come rolling back.

She keeps a steady eye on the other orcs, fighting defensively if necessary.

As the ball approaches she will attempt to leap back to Kallad and Shanjalae.

Illborn gasps at the pain and holds his dagger up defenseively.  "The portable hole!" he shouts.  "My wish.  I need my wish!"  He drags himself away from the ball as shock begins to set in.

Joseph fires an arrow...hitting O1 in the back. (5 hp dmg) The orc is knocked off balance and falls into the pit.  You wonder for a moment why he doesn't try to get out of the pit as the ball rolls toward him before realizing that the arrow killed him.  The stone boulder bounces slightly as it rolls over O1.

O2 swings at Floradine, hitting the paladin.  (9 hp dmg).  Floradine swings his two handed sword, hitting the orc.  (13 hp dmg).  The orc manages to dodge the statue as it is thrown back by the impact.

O3 jumps into the portal, exiting just next to Joseph.  He hurls himself onto the Ranger, knocking Joseph toward the southern lion statue...but Joseph manages to duck low and avoid impact as the orc is still grappling him.

O4 attempts to cross to where Illborn is, but he has to wait for the round boulder to pass first.

Shae jumps down on top of the orc.  You hear his expulsion as air as his breath is knocked out of him.  Then Shae...jumps back to safety, just missing the rolling boulder.  The orc is not so luck.  With a popping and crunching sound, it rolls right over the orc.

Kallad waits for the best timing and then helps Shanjalae across to the double doors.

Illborn holds his dagger poised in one hand while he pulls off his belt to make a tourniquet.  Meanwhile, he gets weaker.  (-2 hp dmg)
END OF ROUND 3 MAP

This message was last edited by the GM at 04:10, Mon 09 June 2003.

The druid lets out another snarling howl as she swings her dagger at the brutish orc, hoping she will divert his attention away from the injured Illborn.

"Father! Some help would be useful over here." she yells again to Kallad.

Sir Floradine yells out, "I have the portable hole.  Someone bind his wounds until we get rid of these orcs."  Floradine swings again at O2.

Kallad tells Shanjalae to wait in place as he dodges across to attack O4 with his sword.

Illborn attempts to bind his own wounds and do a healing on himself, scooting away from any action.

Not able to fire arrows with the orc draped all over him, Joseph drops his bow and reaches for this sword in an attempt to strike his foe.

Shae swings her dagger at O4.  However, the orc rushes her at the same time.  She is thrown off balance with the orc on top of her.  He holds her dagger arm down, just over the edge of the gutter.  Shae struggles but is unable to move against the orc's pressure.  Meanwhile, the boulder rolls up the gutter toward you...

Illborn tries binding his wounds, attaching a tourniquet to his legs.  Meanwhile, he continues to lose blood profusely.  (-2 hp).

Kallad runs across the shifting platforms to help Shae, swinging his sword...but he loses his balance as the floor shifts position and sprawls onto the ground next to Illborn, barely managing to avoid stabbing himself in the fall.  (Critical miss.)

Shae continues to struggle against the orc, but he is much too strong.  She tries harder as the boulder approaches with her hand hanging over the edge of the gutter.  She jerks up, tries to butt the orc with her head.  She tries to kick and punch free, but he has her pinned, his eyes glued to the dagger in her hand.  The boulder rolls closer...

Sir Floradine swings his two handed sword, cutting a wide mark across the orc's belly.  (9 hp dmg).  The orc falls back dead.

Joseph reaches for his sword, but the orc grapples with him, and the two roll out onto the shifting floor.  Joseph is unable to grab his sword.  The orc is trying to roll him out and push him into the nearest gutter.  Joseph is able to resist for the time being but he the orc is holding him tightly in a lock that prevents Joseph from retrieving his weapon.

Shae can only cry out in horror as the boulder rolls down the gutter, reaches her, and she makes one last effort to pull free...but she cannot move, and it takes off her right hand just below the wrist.

The portal closes.


This message was last edited by the GM at 01:58, Tue 10 June 2003.

Shanjalae says calmly across the chaos, "The Oracle always demands a price equal to that requested."

Seeing the tragedy played out across the room, Sir Floradine runs across the shifting floors, carefully dodging the rolling boulders, and helps by attacking O4, pushing him off Shae and hitting with his two handed sword.

The shriek that escapes Shae's lips at the loss of her hand in enough to shatter glass.  Her eyes widen in shock as blood spills from her stump. Weaponless and in a vast amount of pain, she does what any cornered animal would do, she attacks the orc's face (or any part she can get a hold of), with her teeth.

Illborn slinks away from the battle as he continues trying to heal himself.

Shanjalae attempts to step across to Illborn and heal him

Kallad picks himself up and pushes the orc into the gutter.

Joseph is engaged in wrestling with the orc.  The two begin rolling around, each hitting the other and trying to gain the advantage.

Shae lunges biting at the orc, her teeth sinking into its chin.  (1 hp dmg)

Kallad jumps to his feet and shield rushes the orc.  He knocks the creature into the gutter, but the shifting floor also knocks Kallad off balance and into the gutter.

The boulder rolls forward towards the orc and elf.  Kallad tries to jump out, but the orc grasps his leg, dragging him back in as the orc rises to its feet.  The boulder moves closer to them.

Sir Floradine runs across the lanes...nearly tripping once but then gaining his feet.

Illborn slumps back against the statue and starts applying a balm to his wounds and using his healing ability.  (+1 hp)

Shanjalae waits for a moment for the boulder to pass her, then steps into and then out of the gutter.  She places one hand on each of Illborn's legs and looks him deeply and silently in the eyes for a moment.  Illborn's sweating face relaxes, the pain abates, and his wounds close.  Although his legs do not return, he is fully healed.  (Back to original health.)

Shanjalae's eyes roll into her head from the effort and she nearly collapses on the floor from exhaustion.

Kallad jumps up to the side of the gutter and onto the floor, but the orc will not let go.  The boulder comes closer, and the orc, realizing his peril, tries to climb out and save himself.

At that moment, Floradine arrives, his two handed sword chopping down.  The orc looks in surprise as the sword separates his arm from his body.  He forgets, to his mortal peril, about the boulder just behind him.  You hear the breath knocked out of the orc as the boulder rolls forward and hits the orc straight on with a thump.

Kallad, who was pulling hard to release himself from the orc's grip, falls backward, landing against the pointed ends of the statue behind him.  (5 hp dmg).

Joseph manages to extricate himself from the orc without any damage, and the orc jumps back.  Each grab their weapons, unaware of what just happened behind them.

There is now just one of the aberrant orcs remaining.  As the boulder next to Shae continues to roll in the gutter, she sees her Dragon Maw Dagger completely intact and unscathed by the rolling stone.

Sir Floradine next goes after the orc attacking Joseph, getting just a little dizzy from the running back and forth, the moving floors, and the rolling balls.

While the others dispatch the last orc, Kallad tends to Shae and Shanjalae, making sure they are okay and helping them across the moving floors and rolling boulders to the solid floor of the double doors.

Shanjalae gathers her strength, walks over to Shae, and heals her in the same manner.

Joseph grabs up his sword and strikes out at the orc.

Sir Floradine begins running across the floor.  However, because it is shifting underneath him, he has to move slowly and wait for the rolling stones to pass.

Shanjalae goes to Shae and puts her hands on Shae's bleeding stump on her right arm.  The wounds--all of Shae's wounds--almost immediately close, and the skin closes up over the stump.  [Full Hit Points Restore]

Kallad stares astonished at his daughter's feats before helping her and Shae across to the double doors...they make it safely across.  Kallad then turns back to get Illborn.

Joseph swings at the orc.  Unfortunately, the shifting floor makes his sword land high.  The orc swings back, but he too is thrown off balance and hits the statue just behind Joseph.  Then, seeing the approach of Floradine with his two handed sword and the death of his companions, the orc flees out the double doors and down the hall where you came.

Remember the Dragon Maw dagger the druid quickly goes to retrieve it careful to avoid the rolling balls before returning to her sisters side.

Shae looks at the healed stump where her hand use to be, and then to Shanjalae, her eyes filled with surprised awe.

"How did you do that?" she asked hesitantly, "To which god are you so devoted that you have been given such an ability?"

Shanjalae looks up at her sister devoid of emotion.  "I worship no deity, sister.  I have been to the other side and revere them all.  But it is the spirits from beyond the world who give me strength thus.  My kin, my ancient kin, give me strength from beyond the grave.  Thrice daily may I heal."  Her words falter as she seems about to faint.  "But the exertion takes a powerful toll on my strength.  I must rest for a time."  She sits next to the doors, her head reeling.

At Shanjalae's words the druid's expression becomes unreadable, those watching unsure if she is upset with the younger elf's words, or is more in awe.

Despite her own emotions, Shae moves to sit beside her sister, taking the younger elf in her arms so that Shanjalae can rest her head upon the druid's shoulder so that she is at least a little more comfortable.

"Rest little sister," her words a mere whisper, "Floradine and the others will soon be with us, and we will need Illborn to make his wish."

Her own eyes close for a moment before their golden depths focus again on her stump.

Sir Floradine watches the orc flee.  He sheaths his sword and says, "Let him go.  I never chase down and kill anyone running from me in fear, even an enemy."  Then he turns and carefully makes his way back to Shae and the others.

He is very weak and still suffering badly from the wounds of the previous orc battle.  "I do not have much left in me," he says.  "My wounds will take me down soon.  One more hit from an orc like that and you may be picking my remains off the floor."

Shanalae leans over and wearily places a hand on Floradine's shoulder.  "Be healed, good paladin," she says before drifting off to sleep in her sister's arms.

Shanjalae heals Floradine like she did the others.  [Full restore.]  The party regroups just outside the double doors.  Joseph is able to help drag Illborn across and avoid the rolling boulder.  You realize that it might be dangerous to try to open the portable hole in this room of constantly shifting floors.

The double doors in front of you are eight feet high and four feet wide each.  They are cut out of stone and look like they are meant to be pushed open.

Sir Floradine pats the young elf girl on the back and thanks her.  Then he turns to Shae.  "I feel somewhat responsible for your...uh..." he indicates her stump..."your lost hand.  It was the curse of the Oracle.  We should have been more careful, I guess."

But then he looks at Illborn.  "If you use the Oracle to restore your legs, what do you suppose will happen to you as the price it demands?  Lost arms?  Or worse?  I'm a little worried."

Shae's golden gaze moves to stare at the Paladin as he stands above the two elven women.

"It was my choice to wish as I did Ellid," her tone is calm, though her eyes betray her anguish at losing her hand, "I have no qualms about the cost, and neither should you. There is balance in all things."

She gives an encouraging smile as she says the last, before her eyes move to Illborn, "I don't think our good Doktor has much choice in the matter of his wish. He either takes his chance and has his legs restored, or he continues to live without them."

The druid pauses look about her, "And considering where we are, I think having legs would be an advantage of getting out of this place."

Illborn crawls forward.  "I will have to take my chances.  Why don't we go through the door so I can get this over with?"