THE HEROES OF DYVERS CHAPTER 7: CLARE'S ERRAND

[Tellerian Hawke]

The runes which cover the door make no sense; they look like no runes anyone has ever seen. However, when Dewydd grabs the handles, and the runes light up, Respen notices that only some of the lines light up, and those that do, form recognizable runes.

GM: Respen's minimum result with Decipher Script is 26. He cannot fail most tasks associated with this skill.

The runes are Draconic in origin, the language of wizards. Respen relays their meaning to the party:

SPEAK THE 4-LETTER NAME OF THE TASK THAT MEASURES ONE'S WORTHINESS TO PROCEED TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT.

GM: Trapfinding: 25

Spoiler: Tam's Findings

Tam, there are no traps on the door, and there is no access point that you can see to a mechanical lock; you've heard of this before. The lock is indeed mechanical, but there is no keyhole; the entire mechanism is inside the door. The only way to turn the tumble lever and cause the door to open, is with a specially-designed spell that is keyed to the door itself. The spell for this particular door seems to be keyed to the runes. Thus, the only way past this door is to answer the riddle that Respen just described.

END OF THIRD ROUND. Declared actions past this point will occur in Round 4.

EVERYONE: What do you do?

 

[Diarmadhim]

Dewydd

"Test," I state without thinking. Concern suddenly flits across my face as I ready myself for potential pain. When nothing happens I chuckle and ask, "Anyone mind saying 'Test' in Draconic?"

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

Respen says (in Draconic): "TEST!"

As the Elf intones the arcane command, the runes glow bright blue, and the doors fling themselves outward and open!

The chamber beyond is 80 ft. square with a 40-ft. high ceiling. The door you have just opened is positioned in the west corner of the chamber. Situated in the middle of each of the four walls is a 10-foot wide stone door covered with inscriptions. The remaining walls are covered with detailed murals.

In front of each door is a stone pedestal, 10 feet wide, 20 feet long, and five feet high. Crouching on each pedestal are full-sized granite statues of sphinxes. Each pedestal holds a different sphinx, and all face their respective doors in silent vigilance. To the right facing southwest is a falcon-headed hieracosphinx, and to the left facing northwest is a goat-headed criosphinx. On the other side of the chamber, a male androsphinx faces northeast, while a female gynosphinx faces southeast.

In the center of the chamber is a squat pyramid, perhaps five feet high. Composed of smooth, tan stone, each of the four surfaces is engraved with a small triangle with an eye set into the center.

Spoiler: Maps

Spoiler: Player Handout B

EVERYONE: What do you do?

 

[Damionte]

:: Duncan & Company ::

Ebony: "Well that's something. If I wasn't so worried about traps I'd comment on the sheer beauty of it."

Duncan: "Yes it is quite beautiful. I expect it to be even deadlier. Alright company let's give them a base. To the fore." Duncan presses forward taking point with his team lined behind him. Moving into the room with a determined if cautious stride. "A game of leap frog gents what say you." This last addressed to the rest of the party, as his group moves forward and hunkers in place.

Spoiler: map

 

[Diarmadhim]

Dewydd

Using my flight to avoid any pressure plate traps, I move to the first door to my left - the one with the goat-headed criosphinx. I examine the sphinx and the door, muttering, "It couldn't be as easy as turning that tiny pyramid so that each facing points to a sphinx... could it? What about all these pictures on the walls? Hieroglyphics?" Speaking up, I ask, "Can anyone make heads or tales from these things? What do they represent? Tam, can you find a clue on how to open these doors based on them?"

Spoiler

Decipher Script 15 total. Something tells me I won't be able to make heads or tails from the pretty pictures.

 

[Waynan]

Tam tries his best to decipher the script, but it's beyond his ken.
(Rolz: 8, 9)

 

[Tellerian Hawke]

GM: Respen's Decipher Script minimum roll: 26

Things that are obvious to everyone:

The murals relate a story, beginning with the mural on the northwest wall, and proceeding clockwise around the chamber.

NW: This mural depicts the Sphinx Queen slaying the majestic Gold Wyrm and framing the Naga Council. Ironically, the golden Dragon who is depicted bears a striking resemblance to Lady Abigail's true form. Perhaps one of her ancestors?

NE: This mural depicts the radiant Gynopshinx with gold scales, fleeing, leaving her Sphinx army in disarray.

SE: This mural depicts a bloody Sphinx civil war, one side led by Khubsheth, the other by the Sphinx Queen.

SW: This mural depicts Khubsheth convincing the golden-scaled Sphinx to return and although they lead their armies to victory, the Sphinx Empire is forever ruined.

GM: It took one round per panel (4 rounds total; 24 seconds) to analyze the meaning of each.

Dewydd, when you examine the top of the pyramid, you see that each facing has an indentation in it, as if to accept a geometrically-shaped key of some sort.

Dewydd, your examination of the Sphinx unnerves you; this huge thing is NOT a statue. It is a stone guardian of some sort. It is alive, if not with an actual life force, then at least with the mystic energies of artificial, magical animation. You get the feeling that failure of this test in some fashion will result in this thing springing to life. Your surmise that it might be hard to defeat, perhaps even as dangerous as a Golem.

Dewydd, you notice that there are inscriptions on each door, and since you are examining the Criosphinx first, Respen joins you, and translates the runes with the ease of a practised wizard.

Respen intones, "THE RIDDLE OF THE CRIOSPHINX: Between darkness and light, the foot on the tightrope, the wings in the air, without me you fall! What am I?"

As Respen recites the riddle, Tam gets a 'gut feeling,' and then says:

"The tightrope line seems important to me, for some reason."

Val says, to Respen: "Careful lad, now that you've spoken the riddle out loud, I'd lay gold pieces to cheese wheels that it must be YOU who answers, and probably pretty quick, lest these beasties come a'calling."

GM: One more round has passed. (5 total rounds, so far.)

EVERYONE: What do you do?

 

[Diarmadhim]

Dewydd

"Four doors, four indents, so probably four keys at the end of deadly stuff. Hmm... It might be best to take our time with this then. If we still have the majority of our magical defenses, we keep going? Failure will likely result in each stone guardian activating and attacking us."

After hearing the recital of the riddle, Tam's input on tightrope, and Val's warning, I ready my weapon and place myself between the one who must answer and the stone guardian.

"If the tightrope bit is the most important and without it you'll fall, I'd guess balance. Looking at the other parts of the riddle, harmony would be a possible answer if light and darkness are referring poetically to good and evil. As a warrior, I believe strongly in going with one's gut. Answer it how you will - I'll allow no harm to come to you while I still stand."

Spoiler

26 on Knowledge Arcana for info on the stone guardian.

 

[Waynan]

Tam whispers, though with a fierce hissing quality that all can hear: "That's it! You have the answer. Say it. Say it with confidence, though. Say it with the authority of command even; for I fear, with these things, any ounce of perceived trepidation will stand against us just as much as the wrong answer will."

 

[Sylvar B.]

Sylvar positions himself so he can see into the door way, but stands ready to support any retreat should there be the need. His Mystic Bow is read.