"What do you make of this hole?" said Desidras. "I am not beholden to exploring the room, but its desecration is enticing."

He poked his head in the hole. Master Rak-Mahl was not usually the inquisitive sort, but the room's haphazardness was cause for intrigue.

If there are no immediate objections, he will go in and take a look around, see if there are any clues. (Perception roll.) the

OOC: Edit was epic. Subsequent post just as epic! Keep them coming folks!

Des went out the hole and into the room, looking around among the debris. All walls, as well as ceiling and floor, were hewn stone just like in the corridor. He took a peak outside the door, but not carrying a light source, he couldn't really see anything out there.

As the others joined him, light spread into the corridor beyond the door, and they could see that it went straight away from the door for as far as they could see. The ceiling continued to be just inside the edge of light where they were standing, but quickly vanished in the darkness beyond the further away from the light they looked.

Close to the edge of the light one statue on each side of the corridor were housed in alcoves. And though the heroes could only see the legs from where they were standing, it appeared that the statues would be tall enough to reach the ceiling.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:55, Wed 15 Oct 2014.

"Not sure what was in here, but whoever destroyed the formerly-secret door seems to have gone to great lengths to do so."

Des returned through the hole.

"Nothing terribly interesting in there, I'm afraid," he said. "Whatever it was seems to be gone. Shall we continue?"

Unless someone wants to take a closer look at the room, He will try the door on the opposite side.

In reply to Desidras Rak-Mahl (msg # 150):

Master Rak-Mahl I suspect a cursory glance of the room was not sufficient to assess the breath of its interior. Look here its entrance is flanked by two large statues. I surmise such would not be installed in a chamber that could be explored in less than a minute. Passing through the hole Grettanah looks about
This message was last edited by the player at 00:02, Wed 15 Oct 2014.

D'aden moves to the hole in the wall, and looks up and down the corridor. After looking over the rubble, he expresses his assessment, "Considering the location of the damage, it's a fair bet that whatever was inside has broken out."
As he steps through the hole, he smiles and adds, "Whether that would make it safer to be in the room or out in the corridor is anybody's guess."

Grettanah cast a spell.


The heroes continued out the corridor and stopped briefly at the statues. As they had approached, it had been revealed that there were four alcoves in total, two on each side of the corridor.

The robed statues were made of blood red marble and their heads nearly reached the ceiling just inside the globe of illumination radiating from D'aden's lantern. The hods obscured the statues' faces in darkness and shadow. The right arm of each statue was extended at the elbow and a dull red globe rested in each of the four upturned hands. And on the left shoulder of each statue perched the dark figure of a gargoyle, also made of the same blood red material.

The heroes continued on to the four way intersection they could see from the statues, hewn stone all around them. In the center of the junction was the faded outline of a red circle and on the ceiling were etchings of shadowy runes.

Straight ahead were statues in new alcoves and a corridor that led further than the light allowed them to see. To both the left and the right were additional four way junctions but they couldn't see what was beyond them.

D'aden turned left and the other heroes followed him and his light. They soon saw a door beyond the intersection. There were some leaves on the floor and a faded black circle in the middle of the intersection. The carved runes in the ceiling had continued in this corridor. The other two side corridors also led to doors.

The heroes recognized their surroundings now. They were back to the beginning, just via another route.

[OOC: You have already explored both rooms on the left side of the "main corridor" and you are pretty sure that there is a third room on that side too. You have explored the middle room on the right side (the room you just came from). But you have not been further down the main corridor than the middle intersection. Nor down the corridor leading to the middle room on the left, as you entered that one from the behind just like you did the last room you explored.

And yes, I let D'aden take the lead because he had figured out where you were.

And just let me know if there's something we passed that you want to look at more closely and we can do so as we pass.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:32, Fri 17 Oct 2014.

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 153):

As they moved Grettanah turned to face different directions moving slightly as she did
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:20, Wed 15 Oct 2014.

As the heroes continued to explore close to the exit, they discovered another set of statues, these in black marble, without the gargoyles, and with the globes in their left hands, while the right hands are pressed across their chests.

The room beyond looks much like the previous one, except that all the furniture are still in working order. And they did discover another secret passage on the far side of the room, but not how to open it.

Back in the main corridor, the heroes went further inside, beyond the intersection where they had recently returned to it, and soon they saw a trio of spectral individuals, seemingly in deep discussion and without any light of their own. Like the previous intersections, there were another circle in this one, white this time. But unlike the others, the dust was undisturbed on this one.

As they came closer, they heard that they were discussing the three orders of magic and that they couldn't agree on the interpretation of their findings.

The three corridors they hadn't used all ended in doors. To the left and the right went past alcoves with statues in before reaching the doors. And the double doors straight ahead seemed to be melted shut like all the double doors they had encountered so far.

[OOC: What do you do?]

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 155):

Hoping not to disturb the trio of spectral individuals Grettananh paused and  if possible listened to their conversation.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:04, Mon 20 Oct 2014.

Jeram had remained quiet, for the most part, taking in the sights of the room and paying more attention than he might have normally. The rooms led to places and were grand and told tale of magic - something entirely outside of his particular area of expertise.

As the group approached the end of the corridor they came across another set of rock that had been melted. "I wonder what melted that door closed. I wonder more what might be beyond it "

Despite the fact that the heroes now both should have been seen and heard by the spectral figures, they seemed to be too engrossed by their discussion to pay any attention to them.

As he spoke Jeram realised his folly and hushed quickly to catch glimpses of the converstion.

Relieved that their presence didn't disturb the trio Grettanah continued to listen to their discourse

“The Order of Black robes is the best,” one of them said. “They focus on themselves and nothing comes in their way as they pursue increased power.”

“But power for power’s sake is nothing,” another added. “It is the compassionate and unselfish use of power to help those in need that will give you true power. It is the Order of White robes that is the best.”

“On the contrary,” the third interjected. “As White and Black are entrenched in their diametrical opposition, and always will be so, their tug of war distracting them from the truth, that one swift stroke of the blade of balance will cut the rope that are holding them up and both will fall in the muck. No it is the Order of the Red robes that is the best.”

The three continued their argument, endlessly trying to get the other to agree to their own point of view. Always failing. Never giving up.

Intriguing One wonders about the result of this discourse if each were to place themselves in the position of another. but that would only work if there were an even number both black and white switching with red whilst the reds switched places with the red and black she comments

"An interesting thought," the spectral figure arguing for the white robes said.

"Wizards conjuring a while in another's robe," the spectral figure arguing for the red robes said.

"But ultimately it would fail as no mage would like to try such an experiment," the spectral figure arguing for the black robes said.

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 163):

Especially those who lacked a desire for knowledge; how would it be if the first Evokers felt that way. Choosing not to explore the unknown and remained content in their blissful ignorance. Would all that you know of the arts be available to you. Is it not true that the Arcana employed by the Robes has been afforded unto them by the Divine. She prompted introducing a separate issue deserving of much deliberation.

"All know that the gods of magic granted mortals high sorcery to temper the destructive powers of wild sorcery," the advocate of black said.

"It is so," the proponent of white agreed.

"Wild sorcery was too dangerous," the defender of red said. "And the gods rightly took step to control the powers laid in mortal hands."

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 165):

Grettanah smiled Then you are in accord, upon that which should allow a common reference for further discourse and deliberation upon similar grounds.

As they watch the spectral discussion, D'aden calmly puts away his weapon and takes out his mandolin. Quietly plunking a tune, he sings under his breath in counterpoint to the discussion, "Hey, did you ever think
That there might be another way
To just feel better, better about today

You know if you never want to leave
Why go away if you might feel better,
You might feel better if you stay

I bet you haven't heard a word I've said
If you've had enough of all your trying
Just give up the state of mind you're in

If you want to be somebody else and you're
Tired of fighting battles with yourself
If you want to be somebody else change your mind"

OOC: when you're to having a chat with 3/4 of the pac man's enemies, I figure a little impromptu music would help

"There has been no dispute on the fact that the gods brought us magic," Black said. "But my colleagues and I were talking about how infinitely more powerful the order of the black robes are compared to their puny brethren."

"No," White disagreed. "You were trying, in your insufferably foolishness, to assert that. But all know that it is the compassion of the white robes that grant them true power."

"You are both fettered in your preconceptions," Red said. "In your struggle for supremacy. It blinds you for what is clear to everyone else. That balance and freedom from restriction is what makes you truly powerful. And the red robes, because of it, is the most powerful order of high sorcery."

The spectral figures heard D'aden's music, but due to their discussion with each other and with Grettanah, as well as the fact that he was singing under his breath, they didn't hear his words. But the music was not enough to lure the trio into discussing something other than magic.

"It matters not who is more powerful if you do not live to use the power," said Des. "We are in search of children who may not live to find their way into any color of robes. If you can direct us as to how we may find them, we may find use to this discussion at that time."

"Children," Red said. "Rare they have been in these halls for many years now."

"But we have seen some of them lately," Black added.

"Downstairs," White concluded. "But not alone. No, not alone."

"We must go immediately," he said. "To the children!"

Des headed downstairs to find the children, hoping to Majere they were not too late.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Thu 23 Oct 2014.

The heroes left the spectral figures to their philosophical discussion on the merits of color the way they had come. Turned to their right into the other middle corridor, past wizards of blood red marble, just like on the opposite side, with gargoyles on their shoulders and globes in their hands.

The door was decorated with two panels, the upper one depicted great oak trees battling a thunderstorm and the lower one showed a single wizard encircled by a whirlpool, her hands outstretched as if she was fighting it as the trees above was fighting the storm.

Nothing had changed in this room since they were there yesterday, all furniture still destroyed and everything a mess. They spoke the password someone had scratched into the other side of the secret door located in the back of the room, causing it to open. THey followed the corridor to the right.

They soon exited in the large hall where they had met Estigon for the first time, the ceiling beyond what their light could illuminate, but it did show the intricately detailed and vibrantly colored fresco that covered the walls.

They then turned to the great blue marble statue next to them and opened another secret passage way. Downstairs, theirs was no longer the only light illuminating the room.

The floor was made of highly polished indigo marble that reflected the light, divided into square slabs that were wide enough for two warriors to fight next to each other. The slabs were separated by half a foot of what seemed to be a more durable form of mother of pearl. And the room was four slabs wide and ten slabs long.

The walls were covered by carvings that turned and twisted, weaving in upon themselves almost as if a living thing. Or as of snakes writhing below the surface. The ceiling was vaulted, supported by gilded plain pillars in the walls every two slabs turning into carved covered arches when they became part of the ceiling. The ceiling itself was of the same indigo marble, but not so polished as the floor. And maybe twice as far away as their torch would illuminate.

And compared to other places they had seen in the Lyceum, this place smelled clean.

In the middle of the room and evenly spaced out across its length, three gilded pedestals of curious workmanship had been purposefully placed. Above each floated an unsupported sphere of light around an object. Closest to the heroes a finely polished black rock was surrounded by a violet ball of light. Over the center pedestal, that was in the very center of the room, floated what looked like an exquisitely cut ruby surrounded by a crimson light. And furthest away was what appeared to be a diamond of purest quality surrounded by a white light. Each of the rocks were about the size of a human fist.

There were three doors in the left wall, each of them in a straight line from one of the pedestals. And one door in the right wall, in a straight line from the middle pedestal. The imagery on the doors now something the heroes were quite familiar with, robed wizards whose faces could not be seen because of the hood or the direction they were facing and their closed fist formed the doorknob. Behind the wizards were constellations of the night’s sky, each door with a different constellation than the next.

[OOC: For those players who have been here before, I messed up. Last time I failed to include the door in the right hand wall, even though it has always been there. That was my bad and hopefully that won't happen again.

What do you do?]
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:57, Thu 23 Oct 2014.