I think it would be best if I did not lead the way. Strong, swift, wise, and brave are all well and good, but if there are any magical traps or enchantments barring our way, I would simply end up leading all of you directly into them. 

As I recall, we have a supply of those mushrooms.  Would it be worth it to use one of them?

Zuriel considers the dilemma before them. "The book would certainly help, though we'd have to wait here until dawn for its answer. The mushrooms might indeed be useful. Lyriel, are you still under the effects of the one you took earlier? I suppose it all comes down to whether or not we want to wait until tomorrow to catch our breath, or press onwards."

He frowns, as if something occurs to him. "Boreas, what language is that, by the way? And how is it you're familiar with it? I've never seen it before."

I'm... not entirely sure.  I imagine it's the language of the fey, considering where we are.  Somehow it just... makes sense to me.

Zuriel looks at Boreas oddly. "Actually, I think I know exactly what you mean. You know it, but you don't know how you know it?"

יש לנו משהו במשותף

[Private to DM: We have something in common.]

Boreas nods.

In any case, I believe we can overcome these trials.  We have...

He looks at Maeve, ...the Strong...

nods, indicating himself, ...the Swift...

looks to Keef, ...the Brave...

to Lyriel, ... and the Wise.

After a brief pause, Boreas chuckles and turns to Zuriel,

And the long-winded, for good measure.

Zuriel laughs good-naturedly at Boreas' jab. "Well, somebody needs to carry on that part of Giles' legacy, after all."

Lyriel laughs along with Boreas and Zuriel. Now be nice Boreas, words did ultimately bring the fighting to an end.

She looks around, vision still tinged by the mushroom's effects. And yes, my sight does seem to still be influenced by the mushrooms. Shaw, do you know what exactly they are?
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:25, Mon 09 Dec 2013.

Careful, Boreas.  That was dangerously close to us having a P.A.R.T.Y handshake or mantra.  Though it is reassuring to know that if we run into danger, Zuriel can talk it to death, buying us time to escape.

Well, clearly trials await.  Is this door one of them?  Or do we just go in?

In reply to Maeve (msg # 10):

"We have not personally made it beyond this door," Shaw admits.  "It is difficult to even open.  Voices enter your mind and threaten to drive you mad."

He glances at Boreas.

"Since you can read these runes, perhaps you will be able to understand their words.  It's all just so much sing-songy gobbledygook to us."

Perhaps, indeed.  When we are all ready to commence, I will try and open the door.

Boreas passes his magical detection gaze over the door in hopes of determining its nature.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 12):

There is little else to learn about the door itself; even the uninitiated among you might easily guess that it is magical, though the exact auras are an indiscernible jumble.

Quinn and Charles are having a difficult time suppressing their eager smiles, and Shaw glares at each in turn.

"You'll have to forgive them; we're all rather curious."

In reply to DM (msg # 13):

Having retrieved Chubbs at last (an effort requiring no little amount of coaxing, bribing, begging and words of deference), Keef takes out his lockpicks once more, unlocks the chains holding the Everstaff and runs down the hallway after the P.A.R.T.Y. with it.

He reaches the group just as the word 'brave' is used to refer to him.  He smiles for the first time since entering the cave.

Chubbs, now securely on Keef's pack, rolls his eyes.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:21, Mon 09 Dec 2013.

As Keef approaches the staff, lockpicks in hand, Boreas places a hand on his shoulder.

Keef, can we leave the staff here for now?  I think the vault might react poorly to it, being a tool of the Master and all.

Zuriel regards Keef, but doesn't say anything, holding his breath.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 16):

Keef looks confused.

Until the curse is lifted it's.... bound to me.  I could leave it behind but then it can't help us... and I'll be cursed anyway.

Zuriel nods, though he looks pained.

I suppose there's nothing to be done about it now. Lifting the curse...according to the book, we have two options. A standard curse lifting spell, or finding the ironwood band...
This message was last edited by the player at 05:35, Tue 10 Dec 2013.

Boreas steps back.

Well enough, then.  Once we've finished with the vault, we can figure out what to do with it.

He seems to be sincere.  I hate to see the toll it's taking on him, though.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 19):

Keef nods.

I still think it wants to help... and its voice... well it just speaks so...plain and consistent...

Keef looks around at his companions, at their newest 'companion' and at the mark on his leggings.

There's been so much confusion about what to do... but one thing I know, I don't want to be cursed.

Well, that's good to hear.  As it happens, I don't want you to be cursed, either. Boreas adds, So, to the vault then.

***

At the entrance to the vault, Boreas steels himself.

I suppose we can't just delay forever.  Let's do this.

He steps to the door and reaches to open it.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:53, Tue 10 Dec 2013.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 21):

The door does not open, nor does Boreas turn the knob, but simply remains frozen in place.  Though his emerald eye flicks back and forth, no other sign of conscious thought can be detected.

[Private to Boreas Highwind:Words enter your mind the moment you touch the doorknob, speaking in the strange new tongue you somehow understand:

 Walk ye quickly, never stop / 'til the passage ends in rock
Move the boulder, saunter on / thrice repeat the jester's song
Face your fears, beat each in turn / to advance, make water burn
A final spectre then shall loom / an ancient spirit, and your doom]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:12, Tue 10 Dec 2013.

As Boreas focuses his attention on the door to the vault, Maeve finds a way to position herself next to Zuriel.

It's getting stronger she says, her eyes meaningfully turning in the direction of Keef.  It's starting to make its presence known.

She briefly explains how she heard the staff prior to the fight with the werewolves. When Boreas does not appear to be making any progress on the door, or, indeed, moving at all, she turns her attention back this interesting development.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:22, Tue 10 Dec 2013.

"I think," he replies quietly, "that we should make resolving this...issue a priority as soon as we are through the vault. If we break the curse though, I want Keef to come to that decision on his own. I don't want to force it on him, though I'm worried that the staff has begun to influence him unduly. The book says there are two ways to go about it: using a break curse spell, which the staff said could cause harm, or finding the Ironwood Band. Which, incidentally, is at the bottom of the ocean."

Zuriel notes Maeve's skeptical face. "I asked. I think the best thing we can do for now is just be there for Keef when he needs us. He's strong of heart. I think the staff may find bending him to its will more difficult than it anticipates."

In reply to Maeve (msg # 23):

Keef cocks his head slowly does a half-circle around Boreas.

[Private to GM: Spellcraft 11]

Chubbs croaks loudly from the top of Keef's head.

Yes, I KNOW you've already solved it, but if you don't tell me what good is it?

Boreas shakes his head for a moment, then turns to the others, hand still holding the doorknob.  He intones softly, translating as he goes:

Walk ye quickly, never stop / 'til the passage ends in rock
Move the boulder, saunter on / thrice repeat the jester's song
Face your fears, beat each in turn / to advance, make water burn
A final spectre then shall loom / an ancient spirit, and your doom

Seems to be a hint to solve the puzzles.  Let's go, shall we?

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 26):

Let's.  If your riddle is to be believed, we should go with haste.