Academy of Drell, Part IV

[novyet]

"I'm with you, so let's do it. Ready Victor? Who'll be watching Sh'ar, while we scout ahead?"

Ellie turns to Sildarin "That was amazing, Sildarin, I didn't know you had it in you!" She smiles his way before continuing, "Just be careful, none of us wants to see you hurt."

Looking over at Charlotte, "Don't worry, I once saw a guard in my home town freeze while fighting a goblin. The innkeeper's wife ended up saving him, by beating the thing with a frying pan. Um....What I'm saying is, it happens, so don't worry."

Ellie turns back to Rallyn, "All right, let's get moving. Is that mace working out for you? I can summon lots of different things if it isn't."

 

[Zhure]

Just a side note... I'm assuming Rallyn is using a halfspear and not a shortspear, and the mace is a light mace, (else he's using it two-handed). Either way, check your size class on the weapon(s)

I suggest leaving Maerath and Arana behind to watch over Sh'ar, that way the group can continue forward, or backward, or whatever. Circumnavigating the pool while carrying Sh'ar's unconscious form would be quite a challenge for such low-level adventurers, but not impossible.

I'm going to proceed assuming the two who've been least vocal will be "watching Sh'ar." If they speak up indicating otherwise, we'll adjust the storyline appropriately.

Looking around, Sildarin notices that while there's a nice splash of the reddish oil that was part of the artifices interior disturbing the dust, there aren't any obvious footprints, other than Sh'ar's and those probably made by the device. It's as if the thing sprang into being from thin air.

Ellie notices a barely perceptible stone ring on the floor, as if the stones which make up the floor have a different hue to them in a very specific pattern. This circular area spans the entire hallway at its widest point.

Charlotte seems to have recovered from whatever distracted her during the combat, as has Victor.

- What does the group want to do? -

[edited to remove mention of the STR loss]

 

[Dalamar]

Quite moved by the fact that he isn't treated as a nuisance and instead being praised, Sildarin blushes once again and then tries to smile shyly.
"I... it's nothing.... I just... didn't want.... you... to... to get... hurt... I... I didn't... re- really... do anything... it was... Rallyn who... destroyed it..."

He then notices that he's still gripping Serbanas' blade in his hand and seathes it.

 

[Jeremy]

"Didn't do anything? Hah. Like drawing the fire of that massive arbalest bolt was nothing. Or getting in the way of those scythe pincers.. Or staying in the way of them.. Or holding it down and calling for us to leave you.. You're made of tougher stuff than you give yourself credit for Sildarin. C'mon. Watch my back."

Rallyn heads deeper into the caves leaving Maerath, Arana, Kith, and Keith with Sh'ar unless they decide otherwise. With Charlotte, Ellie, Victor, and Sildarin he figures they've got enough brave souls to get to the bottom of this mess.

 

[Dalamar]

"Really... I... I prop... propably... I wou... I wouldn't... have done... tha... that... had I know.... that... it... it.. had pincers... I just... just don't.... want... anybody.... to get hurt...."

Sildarin starts heading after Rallyn, hoping the incident will soon be forgotten so he doesn't have to stay 'on stage' very long. His shoulders slumb as he thinks how it happened to him again. Why did he have to do it all the time? First healing Yodwin, now wrestling that construct. What's gotten into me?

You're finally finding your balls.
Wha..? Oh, it's you.
What do you mean: 'oh, it's you'?
I was afraid I had talked out loud.
Ah... But I think you should ask either of those two hotties if they would like to kiss thank you for you.

A look of shock crosses Sildarin's face and he turns even more crimson, if possible.

Don't say things like that! I might just spit it out!
Stop foaming... Sheesh! Like it's something really bad. Y'know, people use to give and receive kisses. How many do you have? Nada, zip, zero! And I can't be kissed if you aren't! Can't you even think of me for a chance!
What got into you? You're just a rock. A psicrystal, yes, but still just a rock.
Now that's hitting under the belt... I'm hurt, I didn't think you would resort to something as low as this.
You do it all the time yourself!
The psicrystal answers with a wavery mental voice.
But that doesn't mean I don't have feelings.
Okay................ sorry.
What? I can't hear you!
I'm sorry.
I don't think that people on the back seats heard you.
I'M SORRY!!!
Oh, how sweet. You make me cry from joy! You do care about me! Gimme a hug!
They can't hear you...
Still? Then why did I do that?
How the heck should I know?!
I am your psicrystal after all.
Don't remind me.

 

[Lichtenhart]

Victor gives Arana his waterskin. "Keep him cool and wet his lips every hour. I hope we won't stay away that long, but who can say. Good luck!" he wishes to the friends that stay with Sh'ar, then he follows Sildarin and Rallyn.

Once they get in the tunnel, Vic approaches Sildarin, puts a hand over his shoulder and whispers to him in elven: "I think we can do something about your little problem. Before you speak, take a deep breath, especially with your diaphragm, your voice will sound better. Write what you want to say in your mind, read it carefully, then wipe it out, and let flow only the idea in way that comes natural to you. That should fix your stammering. Now what to say... Let's make it the next lesson. I can help you if you want... and if we leave this cave alive, of course."
With a friendly smile, Victor regains his position.

 

[GnomeWorks]

"Thanks, Ellie, Rallyn," Charlotte says, a slight smile coming across her face. "I'm just... surprised, is all. I thought I was ready for this, for adventuring... guess I'm not quite as ready as I thought I was."

Charlotte stands straight, then starts walking behind Rallyn, drawing out her rapier as she goes.

"I don't know how much use I'll be," She says. "I did just freeze up back there... it might happen again..."

Not if I can help it, though. We need to stick together down here... or we'll all end up being skewered like Sh'ar. I have to pay attention. Stay alert. Stay focused!

She then looks to Sildarin, raising an eyebrow slowly at him.

"You did surprisingly well." She says. "When you ran for that thing, I thought for sure you were going to get hit. I'm..." She pauses, looking for the right word. "...impressed, that you didn't."

Be careful, Charlotte, you don't want to give him the wrong impression. Give him a little praise, but don't overdo it...

 

[Zhure]

Charlotte, Victor, Rallyn, Ellie and Sildarin make their way further east along the tunnel, disturbing the dust which has apparently built up unmolested for a long time, perhaps centuries. Each step of t heir feet down the path raises a small puff of dust in time to their walking.

The tunnel hews as straight east as the earlier tunnel had headed northward, but this one isn't sloping downwards. As far as the group can tell, it's dead-level.

After about a hundred yards, a rusted iron grating bars the hallway, like a portcullis. There's no apparent lever or activation switch, at least none visible from this side.

A plaque above the doorway in dwarven runes reads: Kingslayer.

edit- added Ellie

 

[Jeremy]

Rallyn scratches his head, "What's that say?"

 

[Lichtenhart]

"It says Kingslayer. But I'm not sure I know who it refers to."

Bardic lore 18!!!!+6 =24

While he thinks about it, Victor search for a switch or something, and tries to lift the grating.

Search 15+2=17, Strenght check 6+0=6