Chess ala'riina spoke the magic word that opened the portal to the location identified as 'The Rock' and then stepped into the tunnel. After walking to the other end, she was able to see just what Jarvis had said it was: a very large greenish-gray rock.

It appears to be about 270 feet in diameter and around 80 feet high.

As near as Chess ala'riina can see, it's sitting in the middle of field, though there are other rocks maybe 200 feet away to the left.

Chess ala'riina was pleased to use the portal and she also allowed her eyes to scan over it before entering into it and as it took her to her destination. She was hoping to one day learn how to create them as well for her own sanctuary.

Once she exit the portal she looked back to see if Vashon was also traveling with her to get the ring since he spoke up about company.

Taking a moment she allowed her eyes to scan over the area to determine if she is able to spot any Magical Auras.  Once that was done she had to make sure there was no wards protecting the Rock from unwanted entrances.

While he felt that any of the Green Stars could have gone after one of the Wonders on his or her own and not had any problems, he was still reluctant to let anyone go off on their own. There were just too many unknowns and too much time had passed.

Esmeralda might have been totally accurate in her visions, but they had no way of really knowing that. All the stories he'd heard about Oracles said that their visions always came to pass, but not always in the way they thought they would. They were open to interpretation, and therefore subject to misinterpretation.

So, he stepped into the tunnel just after Chess ala'riina did.

Stepping out of the other end behind Chess, he stood there, too, and surveyed the scene.

"Well, that's certainly a rock," he commented.

"Based on what the others reported, the tunnel should have deposited us near to the location, though not necessarily right on top of it. So, while the writing said find it at The Rock, we don't actually know that this is THE Rock mentioned. You would think so, though, wouldn't you?"

"On the other hand, it could just be a misdirection, and it's really one of those other rocks that is meant."

She smiled to Vashon and waited to see if her Detect Magic was able to see anything first.

"It could be the large Rock but also it is best to think on others around the area.  I do wonder if there are any buried within this area. she said wondering if a Elemental could search the land for it as well.

Chess ala'riina can't spot any magical auras in the area, particularly none on  this rock. Then again, the others reported that the other items were protected from Detect Magic by lead sheathing.

Finding the items clearly wasn't meant to be easy for anyone who wasn't a Green Star.

With a slight look of disappointment she then moves closer to the large rock and begins to levitate upward so that she might get a better look at the landscape and the positioning of the lesser rocks around the large. Looking to see if there is a STAR shape pattern.

After that she comes down to explain her reasoning and findings.

Placing her hand upon the large Rock

“I Chess’ala riina of the Green Star has come. she hoped that speaking would activate any hidden wards

Flying up to get a bird's-eye view of the area doesn't reveal any pattern to the rocks scattered around the area to Chess ala'riina. They appear to be just scattered about as by the normal Hand of Nature.

After she speaks her words when she's back on the ground, she waits for a few minutes to see if anything happens. Nothing does.

After discovering nothing is out of the ordinary she then moves closer to the rock and runs her finders along it seeing if there is any hidden patterns that are not see to the naked eye.

As she is doing this she speaks to Vashon "Any suggestion here on how to retrieve the Ring from the Rock"

"Not at the moment," he replies. "The hard way, of course, would be to smash the Rock to pieces and sort through the debris."

"I suppose we have to find where it is first. If your search for hidden runes turns up nothing, we could try hitting it with magic and see if that does anything."

"And I think saying 'green star' only works for the guardian, of which we haven't seen any sign of yet. Perhaps an earth elemental?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:11, Sun 15 Aug 2021.

Chess ala'riina has been examining the rock and, for the most part, doesn't see anything out of the ordinary--a rock is a rock is a rock... until she happens to glance at the rock at just the right angle to spot a discoloration in one of the indentations in the rock. She quickly realizes that it's going to take light to fully discern the nature of the discoloration... or possibly pouring water over it will reveal it... if one part or the other absorbs the water better.

After she pours some water on it, it does show up better. It's part of a spell. Pouring water over other adjacent parts of the rock reveals the entire spell: Stone Shape.

Chess ala'riina was able to summon enough water to reveal the hidden spell and after taking great care in studying it she would do her best to try to preform the spell off the stone.

She turns to Vashon "Wish me well on this, I never cast this spell before and not sure if its something beyond my understanding.


OOC: Should I roll for anything?

No roll is necessary as there is no immediate threat or danger to interrupt her. Even if she doesn't get it right the first time, she can keep trying until she does.

What she can now do is pretty much inherent in the casting of the spell since it has to target a rock or stone object.

Chess ala'riina focus on the rock upper part first to see if she is able to smooth it out and see if the ring was set there, if not then she would slowly move the spell down the rock to find what they were sent to find.

"I have water, too, if you need it," Vashon offers as Chess ala'riina works on the rock.

When she casts the spell, he offers his comments.

"I was expecting there to be a secret compartment in the rock, even if it was on the underside and we had to turn it over."

"That it was placed inside the rock is amazing! And that the spell need was somehow inserted into the rockface is even more amazing!"

"It sounds like Esmeralda couldn't quite foresee who would look for the items, so she couldn't be sure that whoever did would have the necessary spell. Which meant they'd have to do it the hard way--with hammer and chisel."

"So, all you have to do now is push the stone away to the left and right until you've reached the center... right? That's how the spell works... other than you could shape the stone into a horse or whatever."

Chess ala'riina turned to Vashon "I don't wish to disrupt the rock too much, but wish to move it around till we are able to spot what we are searching for. she replied.

"I believe I can reshape it back to its original shape afterward. If not, then with your help to make it look as much as it used to giving him a smile.

"Do you really think it looked like this before Esmeralda placed the Wonder in it?" he asks.

"Or does it really matter what shape it's in when we're done? Can't we leave it better than we found it?"

She looked at him is shock "Why would you wish to disrupt the landscape of this area? she couldn't believe his words and was wondering why would he even wish to change it.

"Many people have come here over the time its been here and this is also a sacred spot to some cultures.

Chess ala’riina cast Stone Shape upon the upper part of the rock first to make it slowly move down its own sides as if it was melting. If the ring wasn’t there she would continue to cast the spell upon the Rock making it melt like lava flowing over itself.

If the Ring is here we will find it.  Let’s hope it won’t take all day

"Apologies, Chess ala'riina," Vashon replies. "It never occurred to me that it could be significant unto itself."

"On the other hand, time would eventually change it anyway."

He watches as she casts a spell on the rock and it seems to melt.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:43, Sun 31 Oct 2021.

It takes two castings of the Stone Shape spell to get it to melt down far enough to reveal a small box in the middle of the rock.

If you had known where it was to begin with, you could have just used the spell to move the stone aside and reach in and grab the box.

It takes a bit of effort to get the box, as it's still a bit higher than you can reach.

Other than being surrounded by stone (which it no longer is), there doesn't seem to be anything holding it in place. It lifts up easily enough at that point.


If Chess ala'rrina can cast Stone Shape again, she can reform the rock back into its original shape. She has no real way of knowing how close she gets it, but she's pretty sure she got it close.


The portal has remained open the whole time... at least, the two of you can see it. Stepping back into the tunnel, you walk back to the monastery.

Chess ala'rrina takes the box then opens to see if the Ring was inside, once that was confirmed she then cast Stone Shape to reform the Rock to its original look as best as she could.  This place was sacred to many and she didn't with to have Fate come knocking at her door for not being respectful to Nature.

"It looks like this wasn't too hard to achieve.  Shall we return back to the others and see if they returned as well. she said to Vashon.

Walking to the portal she gazed down at the Ring to see what properties she might be able to see with Detect Magic and Spellcraft.

14:13, Today: Chess ala'riina Nasadra rolled 34 using 1d20+16.  Fortune .
14:13, Today: Chess ala'riina Nasadra rolled 17 using 1d20+16.  Spellcraft.

Chess ala'riina readily identifies a strong aura of transmutation with minor conjuration and illusion auras. She then determines that the illusion aura is the shadow subschool.

With a bit of concentration, focus, intelligence and inspiration, she realizes that it has the properties of several 'standard' rings all combined into one. It's a ring of improved climbing, improved jumping, and improved swimming. It's also a ring of sustenance. The shadow part of it doesn't seem to be 'standard' but it's a standard spell--Shadow Step.

After Chess ala'riina looked at the Ring she was ready to return back to the other and inform them of their finding.  Walking to the portal she enters and hopes that Vashon follows suit.

To Green Star Temple===>

Of course, he follows suit! He steps into the tunnel right after Chess ala'rrina with a last look around outside to make sure no one is nearby that could follow them through.

It was unclear if anyone else could see the tunnel in the first place, but he saw two people suddenly vanish, that would be a good indication!

At the other end of the tunnel, he steps out into the monastery again.