NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Old One" data-source="post: 229367" data-attributes="member: 83">Session 16 (Part Four)Ask and you shall recieve<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />!An Ancient MysteryThe hooting horde was less than 20 paces distant when a loud thrumming sound washed over the companions like a wave, sweeping outward from the building.  The noise stopped the charge in its tracks as the creatures clapped their paws over their ears and howled.  The large one stumbled forward, features drawn back in a rictus of pain, like a man fighting against a powerful tide.  The thrum issued forth again and half the attackers collapsed on the sand, writhing and whimpering.  The third peal sent the silvery troop fleeing back into the rocks.The largest one halted for a moment, grimacing from lingering pain, cast a baleful eye at the party.  Quintus shuddered from the unspoken implication and quickly followed his friends as the entry door finally yielded to the combined efforts of Rowan and Rosë.  Strains of mournful hooting floated after them.They passed through the gatehouse and onto a broad bridge as the last, faint echoes of the thrumming noise faded.  The structure, which had looked fairly small from a distance, was much more imposing close up.  Quintus noted that the smooth gray stone was perfectly fitted and it felt old...even ancient.  Several wide, shallow steps supported an enormous pair of charcoal-colored doors.  A reflective band of stone around the doors bore numerous deeply etched runes.Lew and Sextus studied the runes for several turns of the minute glass, trying to decipher their meaning or at least glean a clue as to their origin.  Neither had any specific expertise, but they agreed on a hunch by simple process of elimination.  The massive doors responded to firm hand pressure and swung inward, revealing a large, D-shaped chamber.  They stepped onto the smooth, highly polished floor and paused in wonder.The party stood at the curved midpoint of the “D”.  The unblemished flagstones swirled with varying shades of gray and white.  Six delicate flying columns of turned and fluted stone soared to the apex of the high, domed ceiling 20 paces above.  Soft purple glowstones adorned the columns at regular intervals, bathing the room in a subdued, violet light.  The inward curving walls were draped with intricate tapestries woven in complex geomorphic patterns.Directly across the chamber, atop three broad steps, stood another set of metal doors.  The area around the portal was inlaid with more runes and accented by intricate stone scrollwork.  High-arched passageways exited to the left and right along the vertical axis of the “D”.  Quintus marveled at the quality of the craftsmanship.  “Makes Glynden’s walls look like they were erected by three drunken gnolls,” he said under his breath.They decided to take the right-hand hallway and found way lit by glowstones and that it curved left after a short distance.  They found a stunning statue atop a low pedestal guarding the turn.  The features were so life-like; it looked like the construct could almost draw breath.  Lew, Rowan, Quintus and Sextus stared in amazement at the squat, broad-shouldered figure, while Rosë scratched his head.“Dwarves!” Whispered Sextus and Lew in unison, their earlier guess confirmed.A heavy cloak concealed much of the statue’s clothing, but lorica segmentata and a huge two-handed hammer were visible.  The craggy face and braided beard reflected remarkable detail.  They examined it closely, but did not touch it, fearing unknown magic.They pressed on, passing through a heavy curtain of embroidered purple velvet and entering a chamber measuring eight paces across by ten deep.  Another curtain hung opposite the one the companions entered through and the convex ceiling curled seven or eight paces above their heads.  Two more statues, four plush divans and numerous tapestries occupied the room.The carved figures were as detailed as the first, although the features clearly represented different subjects.  Both wore robes and carried great tomes.  Battle scenes and pastoral landscapes leapt from the needlework and the images seemed to move as the party walked through the room.(DM’s Note: If you ever visit the National Gallery in Washington, DC, - there is a painting in the Dutch/Flemish Masters area of a little boy.  The painting's eyes follow you around the gallery so it always seems to be staring right at you…quite unnerving!)The party pushed on, taking care not to disturb anything.  They found a mirror passageway on the far side of the second purple drape, one that curved to the left and contained another silent sentinel.  They exited the hall into the lower right hand corner of another large chamber.  While not as imposing as the entry hall, it was nearly as big.  Flying stone columns supported a domed ceiling 15 paces up and most of Nan’s Tavern would fit easily in the room.Two small, ornate doors flanked a huge, floor-to-ceiling tapestry along the right wall.  A twin to the passage the stood in pierced the far wall and magnificent double doors were centered on the left wall.  These details were noted in passing, as the shimmering oversized statue of a dwarf bearing a huge ax and pointing towards the tapestry dominated the middle of the room.Sextus thought the features resembled those of the first statue they encountered and Rosë’s gazed hungrily at the axe.  “I am going to see if any of this is magical,” Quintus announced.He completed the minor cantrip and turned toward the statue just in time to see it ripple and bleed away, leaving a two pace high, broad shouldered replica in its place.  The figure’s eyes blazed as it thrust a fist towards the party and shouted arcane words of power in a strange tongue.  Quintus barely had enough time to think, ‘Uh-oh’, before being engulfed…To Be Continued…Next: Assassins?~ Old One</blockquote>

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