"That's not a person it's a guardian we can answer or have to kill it. I'd rather not kill it. Anyway Selune the moon of our world fits. Anyone disagree and she asks the creature as a Lore Bard mighty and noble guardian may I have your name to honor you in my account? We might have an answer but before I give it everyone heard needs an input.

Do you have a name as a Bard I would like to put you in my tale your a beautiful creature?," Gwen said but wanted to get the tale well respecting the magical beast.

He nods and yawns, “Yeah it’s the moon.”

The shimmer of a wall of force spell dissipates between you and the ginosphinx. Even though you didn’t know the wall was there a moment ago, you suddenly feel closer to the powerful monster.

He ends his yawn with a laugh, “HA. A beautiful creature. Sure. You may call me Oe. You may pass, whichever direction you please. Keraptis sends you his regards.”

Although he is aware of his mangy fur and unfurled feathers, at Gwendolyn’s attention he starts grooming like a house cat, trying to flatten the thick flyaways of his mane.

Daephine furrowed her brow at the riddle. While she knew half a dozen languages, word play was usually beyond her. Luckily there were others more versed in it, and Daephine smiled at Gwen after she explained her reasoning. Of course it made sense...

Tyr's question earned him a playful scolding "Shouldn't you hear the claws on the floor and rustling of feathers and gather it is not a man?" but as she said it, the answer was accepted and the field of force disappeared. Oh. "Never mind." she apologized to her brother and looked at the intersection. "Which way?" she asks herself as much as the group as she tries to make sense of the situation. Walking closer, with half an eye kept on Oe, she studies the tunnels.

12:44, Today: Daephine rolled 8 using 1d20+6.  Survival - tracks in the tunnels.
Dice roller does not like me...

"Well done, Gwendolyn. Fantastic. Now, Mr. Oe, I would like to know what you know about Keraptis!"

Mordresh steps forward, hand on his hilt. "Which way leads to him????"

The ginosphinx licks the air for a moment, frowns, then bites Mordresh's face off. His brain falls out and spills all over the floor while his eyeballs open wide in horror as he watches himself die.

Oe yawns, "That's the way to Keraptis. These paths take you to the weapons, three paths, three weapons. When you're done-if you survive-then you will meet Keraptis. Not before."

He looks at you all, sadness in his eyes, not sure how you'll take the slaughter of one of your own party members. "You may pass. If you wish to fight me I am commanded to fight to the death."

"Is there a reason you killed him? I don't want kill you I killed someone once and it upset me and she was a foul villainess. Your a creature no known to kill without a reason.," Gwen said hands off her weapons belt.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:31, Sun 13 June 2021.

He yawns long and hard. "Yes. Keraptis commanded that I kill anyone who asks about him. Rather dull in my humble opinion. You see, if I were he, and I assure you I am not, I would want everyone to know my extensive history. But mysteries abound. I suppose the less you know the more intriguing it all is, wouldn't you agree?"

He pad's the lifeless body with a paw. "I can do something extraordinary though. I can raise him back from the dead, his face will be changed, as will everything about him, practically a new person. Hopefully someone who will STICK AROUND."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:40, Thu 10 June 2021.

Oe looks from one of you to the next, "I take it there are no objections then? Good."

And then Mordresh's face begins to grow back, but completely different, so too his armor and equipment have changed. How does it work? Shooooooot I don't know, Keraptis Gynosphinx Magic.

Daephine stopped her fruitless search as Oe ended their companion with a single bite. Her breath caught in her throat as she studied the scene. Her sense of duty drove her to punish the creature but its words made her reconsider.

As the resurrection was offered and started, she had put a question together. "I am not asking about anyone but you, noble Oe." she made it clear before continuing "You are being commanded. Is there something we can do to break that hold on you?

Waiting and listening patiently, Tyr nearly flinched at the sound of their party member's sudden death. On the bright side, Talon had been a hanger-on, and an annoying one at that, which meant that it only took Tyr a few moments to silently compose himself emotionally before he felt able to proceed.

He considered what he might have done if it had been one of his sisters, but let that thought trail off without an answer.

"If we can't muster up any clues, we should choose a direction and go with it." He said to the others as he heard the odd phenomena that was the just-as-sudden reincarnation of their once-ally. "Left."

Zarbak blinked his eyes a few times and shook his head to clear confusion. He looked down at his hands, noticing the shining silver gauntlets, then down at the gleaming plate armor, then up at the other people around him. His eyes grew large for a moment then he swallowed and prepared to speak, "That..." He cleared his throat, "Whew, sorry. That was...the weirdest thing I've ever experienced."

It took him a moment to get a good handle on controlling his body again as he struggled to stand, but he overcame it eventually, "Heh, uh...greetings everyone, I'm Orderly Zarbak Gnash. I'm afraid I have no idea where I am or what I'm doing here, so if I'm intruding, I apologize."

“Greetings Zarbak Gnash, Orderly. You are in the belly of White Plume Mountain. Recently renamed Mount Hotenow by Lords of Neverwinter. Recently being a millena or so ago. Master Keraptis has taken legendary weapons from their secure vaults in Waterdeep in order to test you. Congratulations.” He yawns, epically bored.

Then he turned to Daephine and scrunched up his eyes. “Commanded? No one commands the mighty Oe. I willingly serve my liege. Keraptis is worthy. Are you?”

"Legendary weapons? Sounds intriguing." He looked over at the half-orc who'd just spoken, "Left, you say? One way is as good as another. Shall we?"

I guess I'll take the previous rogue's position in the marching order, wherever that was.

Daephine's throat tightened at Oe's rebuttal of her offer. She was still glad the sphynx was content with letting them pass, but it would have been safer if it wasn't working with their foe voluntarily. And he did make up for the murder. Somewhat. She wasn't sure what to make of the strange change. She looked over the newly arisen Zarbak and acknowledged with a nod of her head before gracing Oe with a small bow at her waist. Not trusting her voice for the moment, she just walked towards the left tunnel. Ashe passed Tyr, she rested her hand lightly on his arm and indicated where she was going. Then her eyes and ears focused on the path ahead. What stood between them and the weapon?

08:35, Today: Daephine rolled 17 using 1d20+4.  Left tunnel perception.

"Well we should do okay my only issue are what's protecting each weapon.  It should be a fine tale though if we survive this.," Gwen said once in her place.

Left.
Northwest.
This tunnel seems to climb steadily down as you go. After 30 feet you find yourself walking through 1 foot of water again. The floor evens out, no longer descending.
After another 20' Daephine discovers a 10-foot-long open pit under the water, no telling how deep it goes.

-----
If there's enough room to get a running start, any character with a strength of 10 or above can automatically make the 10' jump. Any character with a strength score below 10 should make an athletics check DC15 to see if they succeed.
But surely there's more to this puzzle than just "Jump across"
or is there?

"Seems simple enough." Tyr said, pushing to the front and leaping with practiced athleticism across the gap. Water sprayed up under the force of his jump, and Tyr gripped his weapon firmly so as not to drop it on the way over.

"What would a pit trap matter in a room full of water? You're not going to fall in, you can just swim out...I don't trust this at all."

Not much I can do about traps and things from my location, but if there's something I can detect -

19:31, Today: Zarbak Gnash rolled 8,22 using d20+2,d20+2.  Perception, Investigation.

Gwen gets out her lute playing but if Tyr lands on a trap has plans to cast a spell.

After sharing what she found with the group, Tyr most of all, Daephine started to ponder the same question Zarbak raised. And that's when her brother decided to leap over the pointless pit. Into who knows what. "Wait..." she called out pointlessly and trailed off, watching with horrified fascination at what will transpire.

This message was deleted by the player at 23:25, Wed 14 July 2021.

Tyr splashes harmlessly into 1 foot of water on the other side of the pit. All is well.

Zarbak hops over the pit with ease when his time arrives.

Gwen says ,"Gentleman some help I'll go last I need to be ready to heal if there's an accident. And a hand out to catch mine would be prudent."

"Do you need help?" Daephine offered her hand to Jillian "We can jump together, or I can help you over and Tyr will wait for you." she emphasized the last part, knowing he could handle such a task, as scary as a blind man catching you might sound. "And I am sure he will do the same for you Gwen, despite the previous comments."