Skin Deep

[kinem]

"There's a lot of magic on the statues and the rooms, but I lack the training to know what kind" Skendra says. "Sometime, maybe those of you who are learned in spellcraft can show me some of the tricks.

Leopold, when you're done, maybe you can tell more about the religious angle here. Maybe we have to speak the right words as we enter - or else get zapped.

Javi, if there's any detour we can take, long or no, that might be better."

 

[jkason]

Ciperel der Prad'm, human oracle

"The darkness is more than a simple cantrip," Ciperel notes, "Which means there's a more significant investment in concealing what's down those paths. Let me see if I can tell anything about those auras..." as he says the last, Ciperal rubs his eyes with his birthmarked hand. When he opens them, there's a faint glow upon them. He, too, studies the statues and what he can see of the hallway with his empowered vision.

((rolls to follow))

 

[Aldern Foxglove]

Ciperel studies the statues and notes an aura of faint divination upon the statues, its extends to the doorways to, and a stronger aura which he cannot quite place.

Peering into the gloom of the doorways he can make out three further auras, though only two appear to be within line of sight, one of these he distinguishes as illusion, the other he cannot make out.

Javi turns to Skendra frowning, "Only other way involves going back up and we are sure its being watched. We are in a bad position right now, and I won't risk my Brothers or the patients. You are here because you can handle yourselves, they are next to helpless." He finishes with an apologetic shrug.

 

[jackslate45]

Anaerion looks at Leopold, and seeing him almost done, turns to the rest of the group.

"At any rat..te we need to hurry. We don..t want to fight th..those things again."

 

[jkason]

Ciperel der Prad'm

"Given that the statues have some hint of divination on them, my best guess is that they gauge the stated attribute: those who are wise can pass one statues, those who are sufficiently strong can pass another.

"Frankly, I'm not sure I'm either, though I suppose I'm a bit stronger than I am prescient. Need to be dragging this leg along. Anyone up to testing the theory?"

 

[Aldern Foxglove]

[sblock=OOC]Rolling Knowledge checks for Leopold.[/sblock]

Leopold frowns at the statues, "I think I remember this man, Ravran Ziere, he unified Heth and drove the Snakemen from it. He was supposed to have been brona slave. The Ziere's were wiped out in the revolution I believe."

 

[kinem]

"Well, I guess someone just has to try entering a room. The one with him killing the snake is probably safer. We should probably say 'Wisdom" and 'Thanks be to Ziere' or some such nonsense as we enter, just in case there's a password that's easy to guess."

A troubled look comes over Skendra's face as another thought strikes him. The guy hated snakes. How would his wards feel about one who bears dragon blood, however dilute?

 

[jkason]

Ciperel der Prad'm

Ciperel takes a deep breath, rising a few inches off the ground again. "Nothing more to do then, I suppose." He heads toward the 'wisdom' passage...

 

[jackslate45]

Anaerion waits to see if anything happens to Ciperel as he heads down the Wisdom hall.

 

[Aldern Foxglove]

Ciperel walks forward and disappears into the darkness...

[sblock=Ciperel]
The darkness parts before you and you find yourself in a large white silken pavilion. Brown skinned Hethi sit around you, upon cushions, wearing nothing but gold jewelery and white linen kilts. In the center of the pavilion is a shallow tray of sand filled with colored figures, obviously a crude battle map. It shows forces to the north, east, and west of your own all of equal size and a circle to the south east with the name Gahreen written in it.

"The Serpents approach us on three sides my lord, we must flee." An aging, but still fit, man says firmly.

"My Lord if we abandon our position Gahreen will fall, ten thousand citizens my Lord, they will be slaughtered to a man. We must stand." A younger man interjects leaning forward towards you in earnest.

"They outnumber us two to one, how can we hope to win, better that ten thousand should die and the fight go on that they and their descendants live under the whims of those vile creatures." The first snaps back.

"What do we do my Lord?"

Then a smokey ethereal figure rises from the center of the battle map, the man from the statues.

"So you would seek my blessing to lead our family young Ziere? Choosing wisdom might proclaim a keen mind, or a faint heart. You face my dilemma how will you choose, and how will you abide the consequences. Show your worth and earn the prize you seek or my censure." The ghostly figure of Ravran Ziere intones solemnly.[/sblock]