''Why'd you even want to go back after they banished you?'' Jhank asked, apparently she had listened to his previous introduction, though no one could have seen that by looking at her.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:16, Wed 17 Nov 2021.

In reply to Jhank (msg # 68):

"Its...my home." Travic said after a bit of thought. "The Faywild may be ruled by cruel Elven overlords, but if you are Eldarin its a nice place to live. Unless you...displease the Fay Royalty that is. To go home was my whole wish, and even the mighty Doa could not grant it."

He shrugged. "Living among the non elven in poverty certainly made me appreciate what I took for granted."

The DM knows the feels and offers his condolences to Travic, though you'll have to immediately forget that you read this because it has no affect on the story whatsoever.

Jhank smiled sharply and laughed at whatever thought just occurred to her about Travic's response. ''You remind me of someone,'' was all she offered as an explanation, seeming to shut back down again immediately.

"This poor fellow was slain by multiple instances of severe electrocution.  How terrible!  Something tells me his death was not accidental..."  Andromeda had another look at the scene and tried to glean anything about what had occurred here.  Was the halfling slain by the same event that destroyed the room, or were they unrelated?  Was the trestle table simply knocked over, or used as cover toward a door or perhaps even the arch-gate?  Did the halfling seek cover against the arch-gate, or something else?

Investigation to do CSI on this room to answer the questions posed in the inner monologue above (OOF):

• 13:53, Today: Andromeda rolled 6 using d20+1+d4.  Investigation + Guidance.

"This is a teleportation gate!  Yes, once activated we will see the destination as if looking through any doorway.  It will have a specific destination defined by its creator, which... could be the Feywild?  It seems unlikely, although the arch does have tree motifs, so you never know!"  Andromeda was touched by Travic's answer to Jhank's question about why he'd wish to return to the place that had banished him.  She approached and extended arms to offer the elf a comforting hug, if he wanted one.  "I hope you may again find welcome in the Feywild, friend, but you needn't be without a home until then.  After all, home can be anywhere you feel at home."  She let go of the hug and smiled warmly at Travic, patting him on the shoulder.

Returning to the arch-gate, Andromeda ran a hand along the engraved trees along the sides, then regarded the dead-looking tree engraved in the keystone.  She remarked, "A specific key will be required to activate the gate... it could be a physical key or something more abstract, or magical.  I wonder..."  Andromeda made for the stairs and began to ascend up to the elevated walkways they'd seen outside.  Once she made it up to the top she'd have a look around the surrounding area, both to get a lay of the land and to look for any notable trees like the one engraved in the keystone.

---

Perception to get a look around from the walkway and look for trees maybe connected to the gate, assuming that's a clue:

• 13:54, Today: Andromeda rolled 18 using d20+7+d4.  Perception + Guidance.

you see no dead trees.

you remember the paths that wound their way through the trees seemed curiously devoid of dead underbrush, as if the gardener had distaste for death, even including dead branches fallen from their trees.

Devan nods his head at Andromeda's assessment of the halfling's death,"I'm one to agree with you, Miss Andromeda, I believed we've stumbled on a murder. Maybe it was a beast made out of electricity, but I doubt it. No, it can only be a wizard of powerful stature." he says, forming his hands into a square shape and pointing it toward the body accompanied with a click, he then checks around the with a reporters eye for a story.

06:54, Today: Devan Crier rolled 19 using 1d20+1.  Investigation.

What can I gleam from this room that Andromeda miss from her previous investigation

Onyxclaw was less focused on the portal and more the halfling. Muttering a small phrase, his eyes gleamed for a second, a new skill to him since the potion and looked around at the magical emanations in the room.

<OOC: casts detect magic (eldrich sight)>

"Oh who would that...be?" Travic tried to say, only to have the lizard warrior go silent. He gestures for her to continue, but then something else happens.



He was struck into silence, but he did smile. Upon reaching this world when he was still young, he had not quite grasped the idea of money, and just assumed food was for the hungry like it was in the Faywild. He was quickly educated on how money worked, via punches, kicks, and thrown objects. Needless to say, no one had touched him since then, because he would not allow people to get that close.

When she hugged him, he reflexively froze-his body expecting a blow. When it did not occur, he reddened a bit and manged to relax. He nodded at her.

"Ah...yes...thank you, my lady. I shall heed your wise council." He grinned at her, offering another bow.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:40, Thu 18 Nov 2021.

If Andromeda noticed Travic’s blush she had the tact not to acknowledge it, and carried on with the investigation.  Returning down the stairs after surveying the woods from above, the druidess noted, “The forest is meticulously well-kept, did you notice?  Someone has been clearing every trace of dead wood, even down to fallen branches… It is as if they could not bear the presence of death…”

Andromeda peered curiously again at the arch for several moments, then turned to the heap of debris in the center of the room.  She looked for any fragment of broken wood and brought it to the arch, then touched it experimentally to the wall behind the arch, to the frame, then to the keystone if it was within reach.  If this test produced no result she would produce a gnarled yew wand, then would attempt the same experiment. (OOC: yew wand was my starter spell focus!)

Should that produce no results, the druidess would turn to the others to ask, “Have any of you magic from the school of necromancy, specifically of a sort that produces necrotic energy?  No judgement, I only ask because it’s possible it may be key to opening the gate.  I believe the dead tree on the keystone must be a clue, but I struggle to interpret it…”

The kobold, having removed the armor and weapons of the halfling and placed it in a pile, looked at her. "My magic...some take life. wound life." Onyxclaw nods that he has access to necrotic magic

Jhank pretended not to have heard the Elf, instead, watching the others go about trying to solve the problem. ''Could it have been struck by lightning?'' Jhank nodded towards the tree carving, having decided to ask, but not sure if that would help or not

Investigation results: Devan tries to piece it all together. He starts by rummaging through the halfling's possessions until he finds ID. Haddon Fleetfoot, as well as the tattoo of the Zhentarim snake on the back of the halfling's left calf. When he was alive he could make it look like the snake was slithering by flexing his calves. Scuffs on the floor show the halfling moved all the furniture to cover the door, barricading himself in this guardhouse. All of the furniture is now in the middle of the room. An examination of his corpse reveals that he died from several lightning shocks. Finally, his face, horrified. Whatever it was that killed him, he saw it coming.

Detect magic results: strong transmutation from the arch gate. minor abjuration from the halfling's armor.

---

Touching a broken chair leg to the gatekey brings it shimmering to life. Through it you see a dark and unlit hallway, the light from your torches,etc. creates 5' of dim light into the room, enough to see crumbling stone tables and shelves upon which rest sturdy dwarven anvils, whetstones, tongs, hammers, chisels, and other tools.

In reply to DM (msg # 80):

ooc-Zhentarim are the bad guys, right?

"Oh!" Andromeda squeaked in surprise as the arcane gate suddenly shimmered to life, letting the broken chair leg clatter to the flagstones.  She peered through into the darkness beyond, then conjured the light within the celestial jewel (Light cantrip: 20 ft bright + 20 ft dim) in an attempt to see further before passing through.  "I daresay that's not the Feywild... those tools look to be of dwarven make.  Quite the contrast to what we've seen thus far."

After peering at the portal in complete fascination for a time, the druidess turned to the others and asked, "This magnificent portal is tempting, but should we pass through it now?  We have no notion of where it leads and have scarcely explored this area yet."

In reply to Andromeda (msg # 82):

"Just as dangerous as anywhere else around here. Might as well take a look. Ah, we can retreat back through if it is bad, right?" Travic pointed out.

''Who says the same thing will work?''

Andromeda looked curiously at the portal and then said, "We've no way of knowing if return through this gate is possible... there may be no return portal on the other side, or if there is it may require an entirely different key."

She glanced to the others and asked, "Does that change anyone's desire to pass through?"

---

Shall we put it to a vote on whether or not to take the portal?  I vote Nay because the completionist explorer in me wants to see what else is around this area first!  If the majority of us are in favor of going through then no problem though :)
This message was last edited by the player at 01:08, Fri 19 Nov 2021.

ooc¬I vote yea because Jhank may be a slight adrenaline and instability junkie.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:57, Thu 18 Nov 2021.

In reply to Andromeda (msg # 85):

"If he came through the portal, and then set off a trap or was ambushed, it might have been because he was a Zhent. They have a very bad reputation as more than mere smugglers. They are in service to the dark gods, and steal people & lives as well as objects."

Ooc-vote for portal.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:44, Thu 18 Nov 2021.

Devan nods, satisfied with his investigation so far,"Hmm, a Zhentarim, could we have stumbled upon some sort of faction war in the middle of this dungeon. Oh, I think the Harper's have something to do with this, anyone should be careful of spies." he says to the group, but then thinks about it some more,"Or maybe theirs a secret organization targeting key members of all factions across the Swordcoast. Yeah, that'll catch everyone's attention." he says, then notices everyone gathering on a portal,"What ho, a portal, well I guess as adventurers we must venture into the unknown. Well, uh, shall we then."

OCC I'm up for Yay

"Very well!  I've always wanted to go through a portal.  Have you ever wondered whether teleportation magic actually transports you, or if your body is annihilated and replaced by an exact clone of you at the destination that carries all of your memories?"  Andromeda tapped her chin as she pondered this disturbing notion, then smiled brightly, "I suppose we'll never know either way!  Anyway, let's be off, shall we?"

The druidess switched off the light within the celestial jewel to allow the twilight shroud to conceal them, tightened the straps on her adventuring pack, then marched through the portal with confidence!

---

OOC:  Still concentrating on Pass Without Trace.

Don't think anybody narrated it, but we're totally taking that armor and the silvered shortsword!  Up to y'all whether you want the dungeoneer's pack.

Jhank scrambled back to the body before going thru the portal to grab the questionable smelling food, then striding comfortably thru the portal. She was about to shove the alarmingly hairy rations in her maw but paused, looking at Travic. ''Oh sorry, want some?'' Jhank asked, her yellow eyes glowing dimly in a not all creepy manner. Since when did the lizard have manners?

Onyxclaw, pausing long enough for the armor, looked at the others. "I take armor. You take sword." The kobold shrugs into the new armor eagrely and stands with his staff as they argue the path. "Portal different. May go same place, maybe other. May trapped." Onyxclaw shrugged.

---

<OOC: Onyxclaw will take the armor.

He is all for going through the portal - his aim is to gain power and magic>

In reply to Jhank (msg # 90):

Travic looked at the...food offered. "Um...no thank you? I'm good. Peachy. Not hungry at all." He managed to say without throwing up a bit. He will head through the portal as soon as it is ready.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:13, Fri 19 Nov 2021.