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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 8378491" data-attributes="member: 2012">[USER=6804768]@Aust Thale[/USER]:[Spoiler="For Aust_Thale Only"]Intelligence (linguistics) check: 35From a a casual observation (once he enters the room), Falen is pretty sure that the room's walls are convered not only in magical symbols and scripts but also many instances of the languages he speaks. From just beyond the open doorway, Falen can see that there are words and phrases written in Draconic, Dragori, Dwarven, Elven, Orc, and Ticin. There are other language scripts on the wall, but Falen doesn't recognize any of them.While he doesn't spot any script that would be the Old Tongue, the language wouldn't be out of place in the room. He knows from experience that phrases in the Old Tongue aren't usually placed out in the open. Ticin is used more often like that since it is used throughout the western lands of Kanpur, as well as the Center Lands (far to the east of Bluffside).There doesn't appear to be anything written in Cliffspeak either. That likely means the room predates the founding of Bluffside... or the people who built the room weren't from Bluffside (or were outcasts).While he is too far away from any of the phrases to be able to read them completely, he is certain that he sees the word "Ancient(s)" written in several different languages. He knows that the Ancients (a race of giantlike humanoids) existed in the region for several thousand years before Bluffside was founded. Of course, that is common knowledge to the people of Bluffside. However, few outside of scholarly circles know that the Ancients were referred to as the Barrokks. He doesn't see any indications of that word from casual viewing of the room.There is a lot more that Falen could learn from the room but not in the in the middle of a fight. If Neurotic's PC, Akos, can prevent bloodshed with his Diplomacy check, then there will be a chance to learn more about the Ancients. But that assumes the ex-guards won't insist the PCs leave right afterwards.NOTE: In game terms, the room is considered to be a small dedicated library for the purposes of studying the Ancients.Knowledge (arcana) check: 18With this check, Falen can glean only the most basic of things related to the room. It was obviously meant to be some sort of temple or maybe an wizard's laboratory (but that seems less likely). The walls of the room are covered in arcane symbols and strange magical writings that could take months (or maybe years) to decipher. The room could a treasure trove of ancient magical teachings or it could be full of glyphs and wards that could burn a man's face off.Standing in the room makes Falen very nervous but also a bit giddy.The portal is the main reason for the unseen seer's nervousness (beyond the obvious sight of the fire demon in full view on the other side of the portal). Falen thinks that it is most likely one-way from the other side; it's a gut feeling. If so, then there isn't a way to get through the portal (to try to shut it down). If there is a way to shut it down from the PCs' side, Falen has no idea how it would be accomplished. He would have to study the room in detail, but Falen doubts very much there is a simple 'off switch'.He, Akos, and Vinny could all try to work together to shut it down, but it wouldn't be a simple thing. And, it would take time. A lot longer than a single round during a combat. Plus, the ex-guards aren't like to sit by and let them do it.The magic circle and the portal are connected by a magical reddish glow that pulses between the two magical effects. That is obvious just from observation. Shutting down the portal might free its captive or it might kill her. Falen has no idea.Knowledge (local) check: 27If the room is a temple, it might have been dedicated to worshiping the Ancients as gods. Falen has never heard of any stories or legends related to a hidden temple dedicated to the Ancients under the Gate of Scales. Most of the stories from this area of Old City are related more to the draconic inhabitants of the two wards on either side of the gate. The Dragori Embassy is located next to the gate, so there might be a connection between the temple and the Dragori.(An old dragonborn tale refers to tall misty figures that were once seen on the streets late at night over a period of four years. That story is from nearly 200 years ago, but it is still a widely told tavern tale that often becomes bone chilling if told by the right 'dragon-blooded' bard. Human bards tend to mess it up and it becomes comical.)The knowledge of the room's existence is extremely valuable! Lord Max will want to know about the room, in great detail. The information could net both Falen and Max a tidy profit from the right buyer. Now, The Five and the Wizard Council will, of course, learn of the room from Custodio and Vinny, but if Falen can get to the head of the Archeologists Guild (an elf named Larrel Wynthyra) before anyone else, he could earn a lot of gold for him and Lord Max.However, Falen has to be very careful not to broker this information to any of Bluffside's enemies, and it could fall under the security of Bluffside, so Lord Commander Oakfirst might lock Falen away for trying to make too much of profit on the knowledge. so, he should tread lightly.Falen has heard legends that say that the Barrokks were highly civilized people with a great understanding of both arcane magic and psionics. These legends often depict them as powerful godlike figures with abilities that would make other mortals tremble in fear. There are cults in Bluffside that worship them like gods and many believe that when their civilization ended, the best and worst of them ascended to become gods.(Could the Barrokks have dabbled with the Far Realm? Falen doesn't know, but if they did, it would change the people's view of the Ancients... and not for the better.)Barrokk adults stood, on average, seven feet tall and weighed around 300 lbs. There are skeletal remains on display at the Museum of Sem La Vah but those remains are only given the name 'The Ancients'. Sem La Vah was the key city of the Ancients and Bluffside was built on the ruined city's bones, which are believed to be thousands and thousands of years old. (The main ruin sits at the center of Bluffside's six individual districts.)The Ancients built the Palace that is now the showcase of Old City and is controlled by The Five. It is the local government's main seat of power, although there are parts of it that remain sealed away from even The Five. It stands over 150 ft. tall and is topped with golden domes including a central dome that is 50 ft. across. Inside the Palace of Old City, the ceiling are all 20 ft. high and its darkwood doors are 10 ft. tall.The ceilings in the portal room are, at least, 20 ft. high, but the doors are sized for medium-sized characters. The ceiling is painted black and shows a field of stars that shift with the light given off from the two braziers and the magic circle. More than likely the room wasn't built by the Ancients themselves, but it could be based off their knowledge.Spellcraft check: 11Okay, while Falen can clearly see that the genie is trapped by a magic circle, he doesn't know the name of the specific spell or even if it is truly a spell. It could be something more complex. Also, there seems to be a secondary effect in place, but that effect has Falen completely baffled.Note that Falen doesn't recognize the genie as being a genie with his Knowledge (arcana) check. That would be a Knowledge (the planes) check, but Falen is not trained in that skill.[/Spoiler]</blockquote>

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