[3.5] Answering the Call

[Mark Chance]

Only somewhat worse for wear, the adventurers continue on. After another couple of hours, the forest gives way to a large clearing. Ahead about 200 yards, the ground rises in an even slope. At least the center of the slope is obviously artificial, for the party can see what appears to be a large, closed stone portal of great antiquity.

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[sblock=OOC]Menno: 1 lethal. N.B. If Menno fails his DC 10 Fort save, he suffers 2 points of Strength damage. 1d2=2
[/sblock]

 

[Rhun]

Orinar boldly steps forward from the forest cover, striding straight toward the apparently ancient portal. The half-giant keeps his eyes peeled for danger as he moves.

 

[OnlytheStrong]

Kyl approaches the door, scanning the area quickly for obvious traps. He steps up to the door and looks back at the others, "Shall we venture inside?" Search check to find traps. (1d20+6=14)

 

[Arkhandus]

Lars follows Orinar, but when Kyl asks about opening the door, he responds "We should be careful. Only one should open the door, and the others stay well back until it is open and the entryway is checked. Any volunteers? I'm brave enough, but if any of you feels confident enough to try opening it first......I won't object." he says with a smirk.

 

[Rhun]

Orinar looks over the heavy stone portal. "Once Kyl gives it a once over and makes sure it is safe, I'll open it. It looks like it will take someone mighty indeed to break the seal." The half-giant heroically (and quite comically) flexes his mighty thews for the enjoyment of his companions.

 

[Mark Chance]

As Kyl approaches to search the sealed portal for traps, his intentions are interrupted by the sudden appearance of three mouths, each nearly two feet wide, all of them floating in the air about a yard in front of the entrance. Each mouth speaks in turn, and then all three vanish.

"Keep away or face a horrible fate!"

"Entrance to the barrow is not possible!"

"You shall surely perish if you persist!"

 

[OnlytheStrong]

"Well, that was unexpected......" Kyl mutters, hopefully low enough that no one heard.

 

[Arkhandus]

Lars is briefly startled by the three mouths, but when they finish speaking, he mutters "Well that was strange." Louder, he asks the others "Do you think we need to go into this barrow? It's possible that nothing ranges out from there to cause trouble, so if we leave it be and continue towards the Caves of Chaos, it might be alright. But it might also be an entrance into the caves, or something.... If we are going in, then after that warning, which suggests there might be other magical surprises inside, I think we ought to make a long battering ram instead of Orinar just busting down the door himself. Less chance we might stumble onto a trap, and we can throw the ram in first."

 

[Mark Chance]

A cold wind blows across the clearing while the party deliberates what to do next. The sealed portal crouches ahead, but, as Lars has noted, the Caves of Chaos remain deeper into the wood.

 

[OnlytheStrong]

"I would prefer to open it from afar, or leave it alone all together." the rogue says somewhat matter of factly.