Six From Gate Pass - A War of the Burning Sky Campaign (3.5)

[The Bashar]

"Did anyone else notice that crow that was following us? Arnir, Shealis, do you know anyone that has a crow as a familiar and may be keen to watch either of us?"

Upon seeing the case Hrimr decides to try and Bluff his way through this.

"Let us make sure the magic lock hasn't been tampered with or potentially dangerous"

With that Hrimr casts Detect Magic and focuses the cone on the case.

OOC: OOC: Scanning the case for two rounds to determine if there magic is still there and how many auras there are on the case.

"I am not powerful enough to cast Dispel Magic on the case, but if you have the spell Shealis I can invoke the passcode while you cast it, it is in Dwarven"

 

[Gregor]

"Crow?" says Shealis, "They are pretty common in the city, but I don't know of one that is bonded to a mage ... outside of a random student at Gabal's anyway. Nobody knows we're here, so its probably just a coincidence."

Up close you can see that the case is, as previously mentioned, made from a black metal and covered in swirling etching patterns. It is about a foot long and wide, and half a foot deep. Its hard to discern any openings due to its construction, but there is a lock mechanism built in at one end.

Shealis places the case on one of the half-finished stacks of carved wooden doors and lets Hrimr take the first shot at solving the problem through the casting of detect magic.

[sblock="results of detect magic"]There is one faint magical aura emanating from the case. With no ranks in spell craft, its impossible for you to determine the school of magic.[/sblock]

"I wasn't aware of the need for a passcode. Were you Larion?" Shealis asks.

"Hold on a moment Dwarf!" says Larion, "Rivereye told me the case was trapped and that it required a passcode, but its a Ragesian case with Ragesian information. There is no way in the Abyss that the passcode would be in Dwarven. We've spied on the Empire long enough to know that they never use that language. The official tongues are common, orc and likely the dialect of some denizens of the lower planes for important messages. Just what kind of game are you playing? Is the case even trapped?!"

 

[The Bashar]

"I am just going with what information we in the resistance have. You did just see me check the case and it is magically imbued. Unfortunately, my arcane knowledge is lacking and I can't detect what type of spell it is. It could be we've all be had, I don't know. Maybe you should check it?"

Hrimr motions with his hand to Larion and back toward the case.

OOC: Trying to calm the situation and deflect the accusation by focusing on the problem at hand

 

[Gregor]

Larion continues: "Honestly, my cave dwelling friend, I find your story hard to believe and it feels like you are back pedaling. I cannot fathom why your resistance would be so ill-informed on the basic linguistic customs of your enemies, yet have the capacity to orchestrate a theft of military intelligence from the Ragesian capitol. You aren't acting on any information, you're maintaining some lie. I can feel it in my bones!"

Shealis looks pensive, but speaks some arcane words and focuses her attention on the case. After a few moments she looks up and says: "Well, its true, there is magic emanating from the case. I believe its from the school of Abjuration, though Larion and I do not hold any expertise in this area. Is anyone in your group capable of discussing this issue with me? I think its important if we narrow down what spell is in effect here."

To Hrimr she says: "I agree with my associate in that I think you're playing an unnecessary game of secrecy here. We've agreed to be cooperative and to work as a team with your people. I suggest coming clean if you have any accurate information with respect to the case or any spells placed upon it."

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr sighs having been caught
"The case is magically sealed, but there should be no trap or password. I am not familiar with arcane magic but would a common magic seal spell be in the school of abjuration?"

 

[Adjuntive]

Alric's left eyebrow raises to the point where you think it will pierce his helm as he listens to Hrimr's blathering. Where all this came from and why a dwarf who lives in a cave knows anything about Ragesian arcane devices is apparently beyond him. Regardless, he sees the opportunity to have an alliance with, so far reasonable, Shealis slipping away as Hrimr keeps talking, and that could both be depressingly dissatisfying and possibly... bloody.

So, Alric steps in and says with a slight bow of the head as to indicate deference of authority to Shealis... and quietly ignores Larion.

"Forgive my stout, hide-clad friend here my Lady, he frequently has trouble dealing with excitement such as what we have experienced today. I hope you would be gracious enough to forgive some addle-brained babbling. To my understanding so far, we do not have the knowledge to open the case and would require a magician with certain skills to open it."

"Arnir has proven to me, though I am no expert by any means, as quite capable with magecraft. Might I be so bold as to suggest that we allow him a look at the case and attempt to discern a means of opening it. If it proves to be beyond Arnir's skill, perhaps Diogenes would be helpful to our cause? Of course, as per our original agreement, you will have access to all the information inside regardless of the means that the case is opened."

 

[Bannock]

Bannock can't help himself any longer.

"By the gods, it's just a wee case! How hard can this possibly be?"

He does a circuit around the room, assembling a small collection of tools - vices, chisels, wedges, a hammer, and a mallet - and sets them on a work bench. Then he grabs the case, sets it on the bench and secures it. He finds a suitable purchase for a wide chisel in his left hand, taps it into place, grabs the mallet with his right hand, and winds up for a mighty strike to attempt to pop the case open.

Before releasing the blow, he pauses and looks up.

"Hey, someone hold the wedge steady and I can put more power into this!"

 

[Adjuntive]

Alric allows a slight grimace to cross his face as he briefly thinks about what kind of pain he might endure if Bannock misses the chisel and brings that hammer down on his hands.

			Ah well, what's the worst that can happen? A chisel fragment in the cerebellum! Stay close for healing Torrent...

Alric grasps the wedge with his left hand, allowing it to quiver a bit as he can't stop quivering. Then braces himself for Bannock's blow by closing his eyes tight and gritting his teeth.

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio runs up to Bannok and and places a hand on his arm "Perhaps I can have a quick look before hand yes? I do not promise success, but have an affinity for this type of intrigue..., and we can always try your way afterwards, it will not take long."

			After I hide behind a door maybe...

Kirio looks over the case carefully, looking for any clues as to its nature. After a moment he holds his hand over it, begins to hum quietly and his eyes flash briefly as he casts his own detect magic, and attempts to determine the nature of the enchantments...


OOC: Knowledge Arcana; Identify the properties of a magic item using detect magic and spellcraft.

 

[Bannock]

Bannock nods and grins,


"Thanks, friend. Don't worry, I only miss half the time!"

He shrugs off Kirio.

"Oy, get out of the way!"


He swings the mallot with two hands in a windmill motion with his arms at full length, moving all the way around in a slow circle a couple of times before building momentum and bringing the hammer head down on the wedge in, striking along its axis.