The blue-scaled kobold blinked expressionlessly, then inclined her head downward and to the left as she peered up at him. "Youmustbebrave, togointohumanwarrenwithoutapack. Havefriendsthere? Someonetowatchyourback, someonewhoknowswheretogo?"

She had been focusing on getting to the rounded stone plinth in the centre of the pool without considering why it was important to do so, although... "Stars," she crooned, looking at the room they were in with new eyes. "Couldbestargazingroom? Seestars, reflectstarsinpool? Nottodisturbthewaters?"

She fell silent and examined the room for about twenty seconds; every few seconds her head would turn as she took in a new angle and assembled a solution of sorts in her skull. "Areyoustrong, ThakkStonedancerKiligeneo? CanholdropewhileIwindaroundmiddlestone, holdtworopewhileIwalkalongit?"

OOC:

12:14, Today: Sothri Brightblade rolled 19 using 1d20+1.  Perception.

"I don't know anyone in town." Thakk replied. "I have never been in a town, really." For some reason the prospect hadn't really intimidated him that much until Sothri brought it up. "It could be something like that." Thakk nodded, when Sothri had several ideas about this challenge to prove their wisdom. He nodded again; he could surely hold a rope for Sothri, although he wasn't very strong for his kind.

Having studied the door and the surrounding area for a few moments, Thakk turned around. "Wait. There is more writing here." He pointed at a spot next to the door at a height of about 10 feet. "It seems like it goes all the way around the circumference of the chamber." It was covered by vines, ice and fungus, so they would clearly have to work hard to expose it. "Can you reach it with a tool?" He brought out his own sickle and started chipping away at the ice and cutting away the growths, employing Druidcraft to manipulate the lichen, and possibly Mold Earth for dirt.

Sothri hadn't noticed the writing carved into the walls, and when Thakk pointed it out she peered up at it in interest. Peered up eight feet above her head. She reached up with the rapier, but was still six and a half feet short on tip-claws. "NoIcannotreach," she commented unnecessarily. Or maybe necessarily, the tall druid's attention seemed to be elsewhere. And with only one arm...

There was another prolonged silence from Sothri as she worked out the mechanics of this, and then she walked up to where Thakk was working at the rim of the chamber, stood on his feet for a little extra height and tied the end of her length of rope around his waist in a comfortable but tight harness. Briefly she flashed back to other traps she'd set, other knots she'd tied... but this wasn't supposed to snare him.

Instead she was using her huge temporary pact-mate as an anchor.

Once the rope end was tied and knotted, she stepped back off his feet and began carefully feeding out the rope as she moved around the walkway; aiming to pass the rope bare centimetres around the stone pillar in the middle of the chamber and without disturbing the still reflective waters as she began the homeward arc of her journey.

"Don'tmindme. Whatdoesitsay?"

It was a struggle for Sothri to do what she was attempting but fortunately it took Thakk quite a while to chip away at the ice and use his magics to clear the natural coverings of the words etched into the wall of the dome. However when the large goliath was about half way done she had a length of rope looped around his waist and around the center column in the pool, she had even managed not to disturb the waters.

Thak, meanwhile, worked on the wall which took close to half an hour of work to chip away. Eventually with vines and ice and mud cleared a phrase was revealed, it was unfortunately incomplete due to the damage to the dome but enough letters could be determined so most of the phrase could be understood. As Sothri looked up to the words revealed they looked similar to what was on the door and like those words she could not understand them.

By the time she was done... well. The rope was all strung out and she tied it off around ThakkStonedancerKiligeneo's waist, then carefully placed her shield on the stone floor.

"Pleasedonotapproachthepool," she said politely, before reaching up with both clawed hands and drawing herself up onto the rope around his waist. Placing one foot on each length, she walked carefully out above the water. At one point a tremor went through the line and she lost her balance, her foot trailing through the still waters and sending ripples out in all directions. She nearly fell in entirely, but managed to haul herself back up onto the rope and complete her walk out onto the pillar in the pool's centre, where she stood carefully upon its rounded head.

Why? She looked around her, both above and below as the waters settled again. She couldn't read Thakk's revealed writing, but she hoped that from this vantagepoint she could discern clues in the patterns on the ceiling, the depths of the waters or the reflections in the round pool that surrounded her.

"Whatdoesitsay?" she asked, after a few moments of silence.

<OOC: Happy to roll perception or investigation as appropriate?>

Thakk didn't mind the rope at all. He admired Sothri's ingenious method of reaching the pillar. Once he had both ends of the rope tied around himself, he made sure to stand still. "There were some missing symbols in the writing, but I think I have it. It says The path to the stars revealed as the cup overfloweth."

"I presume the cup in this case is an analogy as a vessel for water. The pool?" Thakk watched the still water as he fittingly reflected on the matter. "If we want the pool to flow over, we're either going to have to displace the water or add more. I think I could possibly do both. I know a bit of magic to create water, or I could add some big stones to it. What do you think?"

The blue-scaled reptile's eyes flickered uncertainly as she examined the chamber. Examined the water and its reflections. Examined the depths of the pool she was standing over. Listened to his words. "Youcouldberight", she said, bemused as she took in the scene. "Couldmeantheywantlesswaterinthebowl, couldmeantheywantmorewateroutofthebowl."

"Over-flow-eth," she pronounced carefully with a hissing accent. "Suggestsmorewater. Onthefloorwhereyouare. Carvingsinthedustunderclaw? Doesyourmagicletyoucontrolwhereitpours? Orfloodtheroom?"

There was... something else.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Wed 23 June 2021.

Thakk considered Sothri's suggestions. There didn't seem to be enough information to conclude for certain what would be the correct approach. The creation of large quantities of water did seem reasonable, as such a feat would be more difficult for any hostile intruders. Anyone could pour a little water, but tens of gallons would be more challenging. "Let's try a little rain."

He opened his waterskin to get a single drop on his finger. It was a little cumbersome with one hand, but his big teeth came to good use. Next, Thakk waited in case Sothri wanted to find shelter, or even duck out of the chamber. When everything was set, the goliath cast his spell; the somatic component almost looking like a dance. Then the drop of water dissipated, and a brief torrent was released across the room, washing the edges and filling the pool.

Casting Create Water.

The summoned rainstorm showered heavily but briefly, the water flowing into the pool in the center of the room. As the water level rose small gems in the stone sides of the pool began to glow as the water covered them, they seemed as stars in the darkness of the water. Judging by the volume of water that rose it would take another cast of Thakk's magic to completely fill the pool.

Sothri chattered with excitement as she watched the waters rise around her. She'd quickly realised that the rounded stone dome she stood on was at least a short distance above the lip of the pool. The water might be rising, but the Goliath's feet would get wet before hers would.

From her viewpoint she saw the lights begin to shine inside the sloping stone sides of the pool. She looked at the ones that glowed, she looked back at the pattern on the door, trying to match one to another.

Were there any patterns that matched? Maybe they had to press the pattern in the door or something.

"Addbitmorewater. Seesomestars, moreIthink."

Thakk nodded. He was glad to see that something happened. It would have been frustrating if there had been no visible effect. He was already soaking wet, but that didn't matter. They'd dry up eventually, although preferably before they went out in the cold. Although goliaths were resilient to frigid climates, having your clothes freeze solid while wearing them was quite uncomfortable.

"More water, coming up." There was already several drops of water on his hand, when he lifted it to cast the same spell again; using the same movement and incantations.

Water filled the room once more as Thakk drew on his Druidic power. More gems lit up in the wall of the pool, looking like more stars as the water rose higher. As more water flowed into the pool Sothri realised her assumption about the columns height was incorrect as the water reached her feet before it was going to overflow from the pool. However just as the water reached about an inch over the column a loud gurgling sound started and a small whirlpool appeared, rapidly draining the water from the pool.

The water was draining fast, if it drained to the bottom of the pool Sothri was about to be stranded on a two foot wide stone column over a 20ft pit. It was 9ft from the column back to the edge of the walkway surrounding the room where Thakk stood.

Water will drain in three rounds and acts on initiative 20.
Roll for Initiative.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 23):


12:06, Today: Sothri Brightblade rolled 11 using 1d20+3.  Initiative.

Thakk moved to the edge of the pool. He looked down at the beautiful, glowing gemstones, quickly memorizing the patterns should they happen to fade out again. Surely, they were a clue to opening the passage.

With about a third of the water having already run out, he called to Sothri. "Don't worry, we'll get you back over on this side. Jump and I'll catch you, or we can use the rope again."

Initiative 14.

Sothri had been fine walking along the thin rope paths over the water; it had reminded her of the ropeways connecting her warren when she was younger, and if she'd wobbled that was normal enough. She hadn't fallen, and at worst she would get cold and need to start a fire.

This was horrible.

The water surging down on all sides, spiralling down into a vortex around the stone column. Snarling and gurgling as the water ran quickly over her feet, trying to pull her down into its throat. It was trying to kill her! She dropped low and hung on hard to the top of the column until the water sank low enough that it wasn't actively trying to kill her. "Isfine," she gasped, struggling with her fear. "Holdropetightandwillclimbback."

The stars in the floor of the pit all seemed lit up, and she took the chance to look around the ceiling, the door, the walls as she searched for a match between the constellation beneath her with other areas of the chamber.

These druids were tricky.

Acting on 11

00:19, Today: Sothri Brightblade rolled 9 using 1d20+1.  Perception (What am I missing?).

The water drained quickly and it was a third gone, just over 6ft of water had been drained before either of the pair had time to act.

Thakk memorised the placement of the gems as the water covered them, they were many and had no discernable pattern as far as he could see.

Sothri did notice that the gems had once again dulled as the water drained and were no longer alight. The water seemed to be draining directly beside the column on the side nearest the entrance to the cave.

The water continued to drain.

"Don'tthinkthere'smoretoseefromhere," Sothri said. Outwardly calm, her heart was hammering in her chest as she saw the water drain away, the pit opening beneath her. "UnlessyouthinkIneedtocrawldownthere?" She pointed to where the water was draining away, gave a little shudder. She couldn't seehow big it was, but she could squeeze through tiny spaces when she had to.

Which didn't mean she wanted to.

"Otherwisestepback, leanback, holdtheropeandIcross."

OOC: Intend to cross if Thakk is up for it, will act or roll (and posT) on init.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:11, Sun 27 June 2021.

Thakk continued to hold the rope taut, so that Sothri could use it to climb back. He was a little confused by his inability to make sense of the glowing gems. Maybe there wasn't a pattern? Now, the question was if they were meant to do something before the water ran out? Or if something would reveal itself on the bottom of the pool once all the water was gone?

In any case, Thakk moved over to the door to see if the water had affected it in any way (while holding the rope for Sothri to climb over). Maybe the short time they had while the water drained, was the time the door would be open? He tried to push or pull it, to see if it would budge.

With the water draining away and the waver in the rope on her first crossing, Sothri took this one a bit more cautiously. With feet resting across one rope and her hands holding the other as she crab-walked along the underside of the ropes back to where Thakk stood.

Or tried to at least.

04:10, Today: Sothri Brightblade rolled 14 using 1d20+3.  Acrobatics and tightrope walking.

Crab-walking, crawling and hanging from the rope slung around the column and Thakk Sothri made it back to the outer walkway ring as the water continued draining.

She had just made it back across when the water had drained another six feet. There was no clear difference in the room except for the gargle of the water as it drained from the pool.

But then a noise. A knocking sound started from above the pool, reverberating through the six holes in the ceiling above the pool. It started soft, a repeating knock which was slowly quickening in speed.

The water continued to drain.

Hm. Hmm-hm-hm-hm-hm-hm-hm. Yes. Cold reptilian thoughts raced, in speed almost akin to the True Dragons she had aspired to, and Sothri thrust one clawed finger at the door on the opposite wall with the writing above it. "Whatsaysthat?" she asked, untying the rope harness that bound Thakk to the stone column and quickly coiling the rope back up at her back.

"Pathtostarsrevealedascupover-flow-eth," she chattered quickly but reasonably clearly. "Ifglowgemsnotpattern, notclue, thenonlypathrevealedis..." she thrust one clawed thumb down at where the water was draining away, with an apprehensive glance up at the knocking sounds overhead. It felt like water. It felt like the waterfall would open again as soon as the air reached the tunnel beneath. If they absolutely had to go through the path the water showed them, the time would be now.

Or soon.

Or now.

Rope coiled, she walked over to the edge of the stone bowl and peered down uncertainly.

Thakk briefly considered this. If the path was not through the door, which he had already tried to open, then it might be through the water. But what was the knocking sound? A mechanism opening or closing? He tried the door again, but if it didn't budge, he would jump into the water to see if it brought him anywhere. Sothri would have to choose for herself if she wanted to jump down too.

The water continued to drain as the kobold and goliath warily leaned over, looking down into the pool. The knocking sound from above quickened and as the last of the water drained it turned into a grinding sound of stone against stone. The water drained into a hole at the base of the pillar about one foot wide, the bottom of the now empty pool was revealed to be filled with a small assortment of stone debris from the ceiling but nothing else of note.

Then, suddenly the slow grind accelerated and everything seemed to happen at once. Water began to gargle from the ceiling and in a loud splashing sound of running water all six holes in the ceiling began to drain water, rapidly filling the pool again. As the water drained from the ceiling and filled the pool the grind from within the ceiling reached a crecendo, rattling across the length of the ceiling and then the massive stone door shifted.

The door slowly raised and a cloud of dust puffed out from behind as it lifted from the floor. It was slow but was raising at about the same speed the water in the pool was filling. A filling 20ft deep pool matching the rise of the 20ft tall door.

The blue-scaled kobold simply stared for a few moments as the great stone slab lifted. Then, "Weshouldgoquickly. Whenthepoolfillsdon'twanttobebeneathit. Don'twanttobeflat." Scooping up her shield, Sothri led the way around the side of the pool and ducked under the rising stone slab to enter the doorway that hid behind it. She wasn't scared!

Or she was too scared to stay behind.

They would find the ones she had to speak to! She would convince them to help, or to point her on the right scent.

With no clear path down and through the water, Thakk stood upright and looked towards the rising door. He gave Sothri a nod. "No, it wouldn't be wise to tarry." Quickly gathering their things, including Sothri's rope, Thakk moved through the door, excited to see what lay on the other side. He would wait to move on, however, to make sure the door closed again, so that no other creatures could pass through without being allowed.