Last Stand of the Dorinthians (Chapter 4- The Second Invasion)

[Blarkon Dragonslayer]

Nikolos looks up from the crystal he's been buried in, a faintly incredulous look on his face. The idea of leaving this ancient library with any scrap of information left undiscovered is very nearly sacriligious to the scholar-priest.

"Why don't you all just go along, I'll stay here and work on this."

 

[GlassEye]

"Nikolos, I don't think that is such a good idea. Store the crystal away and you'll be able to study it in more depth at your leisure once we have finished our mission. I, too, would like to study this place but..." He shrugs apologetically. "...Barok is right; we should continue on."

Silas gives the room a cursory examination then begins moving towards the nearest hall out of this chamber.

 

[Fenris]

"Nikolos, I don't think that is such a good idea. Store the crystal away and you'll be able to study it in more depth at your leisure once we have finished our mission. I, too, would like to study this place but..." He shrugs apologetically. "...Barok is right; we should continue on."

Silas gives the room a cursory examination then begins moving towards the nearest hall out of this chamber.

"Silas is quite correct, we will have ample time to examine these stores of knowledge later. Our task is not done and we need to complete it. We will all proceed." says Dartis nocking an arrow and heading towards the tunnel.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Dartis is adamant that Nikolos comes along, and the priest reluctantly complies. This next stretch of tunnel seems to go on for a quarter of a mile and Conn notices a slight incline to their walk. Eventually the tunnel stops before a large circular room. In the middle of the circle is a 50 foot by 50 foot area of stone, square tiles, of which corners are in contact with the rooms walls. The tiles seem to have some strange inscriptions on them, looking like old Sylvan words. In the center of the tiles is a square hollowed out space, little bigger than a fist, and a groove runs from the cube-like hollow to a black, metal sphere opposite the entrance. Meanwhile, about 100 feet above you is a small opening that allows a bit of sunlight to enter into the room. It looks to be about midday from the strong glare.

 

[Nephtys]

Barok searches for traps, disliking the mood of the chamber.

 

[Blarkon Dragonslayer]

Nikolos enters the room, still rather non-plussed by leaving the remains of the library behind, and even less happy about the release of the Locusi. Still, he looks around, and moves unhurriedly to where the inscriptions are, running his fingers over some of them, and trying to use his comprehend languages to read them, to try and learn what this area's function and purpose is. He suspects that the black metal sphere contains one of the key-cubes, and that under the right circumstances, a door can be opened to whatever is below, but he brushes aside his idle speculations, and goes back to examining the writing.

 

[Fenris]

The winged eleves knew that only only a great sacrifice would open the gate here. And what greater sacrifice than blood. Dartis thinks.

"Everyone prepare yourselves whether to fight or flee, we don't know what maybe behind that orb" says Dartis to the group.

As he watches the others move into the room, the young noble walks up to the hollowed out square, rolls up his sleeve and plunges his bare arm into the void.

 

[Bloodweaver1]

Caramip Ashhearth

Still a bit jumpy from the last room, Caramip patiently waits for the room to be cleared before entering it.

 

[Deuce Traveler]

Barok notices that something just doesn't seem right about the tiles, and before Nikolos' hand can reach out and touch one, the rogue's own right hand snaps forwards and grabs the priest's forearm. Almost in the next instant, Barok throws his left arm forward barring Dartis from walking past him and onto the tiles. The rogue simply senses something is wrong, although when he places his blade to the tiles nothing happens. And yet, he still feels that if a living being stepped on these that the results would be different.

 

[GlassEye]

Silas steps just inside the door and waits. He's tired and cold and his new beard itches something fierce and after the ordeal with the Locusi he just wants to finish the job and go home to spend some time with his wife and child. And now there is this new puzzle to be dealt with which normally would pique his interest but, at the moment, he's willing to let Nikolos and Dartis deal with it. He sighs as Barok stops Nikolos and Dartis from coming into contact with the tiles. "What is it? What's wrong?" He steps forward to make his own visual examination of the tiles.