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Message: <blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 7280993" data-attributes="member: 9255">THE HIDDEN: BEYOND NEW WATER08  EXPLORE THE HIDDENSEGMENT 152“MAP 46  8-14”11/14/17BARRAKAS   4, 1000Zig reaches a landing.  Feldrix grumbles (as well as an undead can) and follows quickly.  “I should always …. go first….. more resilient…. To damage.”  He lands hard and steps away drawing his sword.Zig mocks him working his hands like a mouth and smiles as the others begin to descend the rope.  Tyson is next, then Kyr (with his raven on his shoulder flapping its wings) and finally Ayru whom is not impressed with this idea.   The last time they went into one of these entrances there was a vampire.  Undead.   Emerald Claw spells evil and undead combined.From the landing is a stairway leading down.“Has anyone ever considered the purpose of these entrances?” asks Tyson while calling up a light spell on a ball that he can hold out or close his hand around if required.“They go down.” Answers the changeling thourghly enjoying himself as he activates a sunrod.Being more curious and sincere, Ayru asks what the inquisitive meant.“These entrances are welcoming.   Easy to access.  No guards, no defenses, no structures….   Why do they exist?”“Hey hey hey they must have a reason to be.   Explore-  explore and maybe we can find out.”This what Tyson fears……The spiral stairs end and a hallway begins with corners in it.   Perfect for ambushes.  They move more slowly and carefully down the hallway.This leads to a door.  Feldrix is ready to kick it in when it is noted the handle and lock has been melted away.  Melted by something green.   “Is that green…. Slime  dangerous time after time?” asks the summoner.“I doubt it but let me check it out.” Offers the changeling alchemist.“Why do you doubt it?” asks Ayru.“Metal is melted away.” Answers Tyson and Zigland as one.  Each look at the other and smile at the shared knowledge.“Ayup…. Acid…. Short acting.   Already non-lethal …. More of an irritant.”   Tyson watches him through his experiments.   Noting the chemicals and items used to test the green stuff.   The inquisitive is always eager to learn.The door slowly opens when barely touched.   “Someone did this recently.”“How recently?” asks Ayru.The changeling shrugs his shoulders.  “A few hours ago….. maybe less.”“Is it the Claw?” asks the Honor Knight.In part, the answer is revealed on the other side of the door.   A body wearing a dark green cape and black boots.  Before the inquisitive can stop him, the knight kicks the body over to have a look at his face.“Hurrrmmmmm”  he says in annoyance and at what is revealed.“Where is his face?” asks Zig.“Its more than his face…..” adds Ayru as she adjusts her grip on her shield instantly. Before them is a male Emerald Claw soldier whom is dead.  He has no skin.  Only his muscles and the “meat” remain under his clothes and armor.“Was he…. Like that before being killed?” asks Zig.   “Was he an undead that lost his skin?”The inquisitive motions for everyone to step back.  Kyr is reluctant but does so…. While leaning over Tyson’s shoulder.  Tyson pulls out a head piece with various lenses and gem cuttings.  He has a special pair of gloves he puts on and uses other things to hold or touch the body or clothes.“No weapons or items.    Based on the appearance of his belt, the coin purse was taken he fell to the floor.  Suggests he was alive, not undead, at this point.”“Why oh why would you say that?” asks the summoner greatly annoying the inquisitive.  “Undead, unless free will, generally do not keep coin.   Now back up.”“oh.” Says the summoner whom them motions for everyone to back up while he stays where he stands…. Leaning over the inquisitive.“No signs of a knife being used unless he has Jorasco training.  No lose pieces of skin remaining……”  He turns the body slightly and tears open the shirt.  “Even under the clothes and armor….. the skin is gone.”“Magic.” States Kyr.“Necromantic magic.” States Ayru.“Or a flesh reaver……beaver beaver.” Stampers the unbalanced Summoner.“A…. what?” asks Feldrix.“Indeed.   What and where did you hear of it?” asks Ayru.“Artificers manipulate magic.    Some ….. play with flesh.”“Personal knowledge?” asks Tyson while still looking at the body on the floor for more clues.“No silly….. ah….. Rumors!   Rumor I heard.”“convenient” thinks most of the group.Bored with clue collecting, Feldrix of the 387 looks at the door next to him.  It has been forced open.  Most likely kicked open.  It remains a few inches ajar.   He pushes it open using his shield and protecting himself with his sword.  His darkvision allows him to see a set of short stairs before Zig steps up with his Sunrod that wipes out his darkvision.Everyone but Tyson follows as he continues to try to puzzle out what has happened to this man.  Zig and Feldrix find a small room with an alter and a lightly glowing series of runes and designs within a circle.  The closer they come to the circle the brighter it glows.Kyr hurries to a corner to look at it.  He mocks it by moving close then away over and over again.  “What kind of circle of magic is it?” asks Ayru.“Summoning….. I think a dink.”The protector rolls her eyes.    “What kind?   Specific area?  A planar one?”“Don’t know.”“Any way to find out?” asks Feldrix.Tyson hears this and immediately leaves the body.  “Zig don’t……”It is Kyr that acts first.  He summons a cute little pug puppy with a green tongue.   “Oh- a puppy.”“At least it is not a Puppy Monkey Baby.” Comments Ayru.   ( Mountain Dew Energy anyone? )“What are you doing…..” begins Tyson as he tries to get around everyone at the doorway.  The puppy is dropped onto the circle.   Nothing.   Then it barks a strange bark and begins to sink into the circle.  “Bye bye lil’ guy.” Kyr responds with.   It disappears.“What have you done?!?” demands Tyson.“Tested portal.”“What if it returns as a colossal anti-magic terror beast and destroys all of Eberron?!?”“Tarrasque?”“They have a name for such a creature?  Such a creature exists!” questions Zig to Ayru.“You are a loose canon Kyr.   A dangerous loose canon.” Declares Tyson.“At least I am not a tightass.” Says the summoner with hurt feelings.  He wonders if daddy was misunderstood also while growing up.“Let’s get back to searching for the Claw.”“Beyond the money…. how do we know they exist here?”“The body makes it obvious and these coins given to the alter.” Declares Tyson.  “They are Karnnathi and Brelish.  Fits if they were here.   Recent print also.”As they leave, Ayru looks at the coins then takes them.They turn around and go for the next door.</blockquote>

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