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The Swordlands - updated 28th May; The Hanged Man
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<blockquote data-quote="Mathew_Freeman" data-source="post: 4789580" data-attributes="member: 1846"><p><strong>The Three Way Choice</strong></p><p></p><p>The group rested, recovering their strength after the difficult and draining battle against the Drow. It had become clear that they should consider this entire city to be a trap for them, a hostile place that would kill them or enslave them without a second thought. The area they were in was shrouded in darkness, but now they had time to explore Aengus discovered an ancient wall at the edge of his vision. Following it, he found three tunnels leading further into the city.</p><p></p><p>The three tunnels themselves looked superficially identical, but had different symbols on the floor in front of them. Each was egg-shaped, one filled in entirely with black stone, one with white and the middle symbol split half-and-half, vertically. Sending their magelights briefly down each tunnel showed Sigurd and Karl that the tunnels were about twenty feet wide and extended away into the darkness, with only the faintest glimmer of light to be seen, far in the distance.</p><p></p><p>Sigurd suddenly stiffened and stared down at the middle symbol, saying “There is powerful warding magic here. Please, no one attempt to cross and enter the tunnel. I’m not quite sure what would happen, but it wouldn’t be pleasant.” At her words, and as she strained her magical senses to learn more, tiny runes began to appear all around the edges of the tunnel. Studying them in concert, Aengus and Sigurd agree that they indicate that a surge of necrotic energy is likely to be the consequence of crossing the ward – something to be avoided.</p><p></p><p>Thunder turned to Aldis and Iben, both of whom were staying well back whilst the arcanists did their work. “It’s times like these,” he said in dry, metallic tones, “That I wished I had spent more time studying magic. Still, I have my own skills in battling those that use necrotic energy.” Twirling his sword in one hand, the Warforged concentrated for a moment, sending tiny trails of radiant energy tracing up and down it’s length.</p><p></p><p>Karl was beginning to grow bored. “So, which tunnel?” he asked impatiently. “That Drow we were fighting went down the solid black tunnel, but I’m not sure I particularly want to run into him again. I reckon if the Drow have put such an impressive set of wards on this tunnel it should be the one we pick – nothing like a challenge, eh Thunder?”</p><p></p><p>Noding, the Cleric concurred. “Kord teaches us that our destiny lies in our own hands only when we challenge ourselves and push hard against obstacles placed in our way. If the Drow have placed such a ward, then either they are protecting something, or they are afraid of something. If they are protecting it, then we can damage them by attacking it. If they are afraid, then we should seek to find out what they are afraid of to see if we can exploit it!”</p><p></p><p>Sigurd wasn’t so sure. “This ward is powerful and will be difficult to dispel. Any attempt runs the risk of hurting us and limiting our resources, and in this place we need all of our resources just to survive. I am not sure the possible reward justifies the risk. And Melora teaches me differently than Kord does you, Thunder.”</p><p></p><p>Aengus stepped in and settled the matter. “I believe that between us we can and will disarm this ward. Surely it is worth a try – after all, if it appears to be beyond us we can change our minds and stop? Are we agreed?” Looking around him, the Eladrin saw that he had swung the argument in his favour. “Excellent. Let us begin.”</p><p></p><p>The group set to work. Karl, pulling ever more complicated tools from his belt, began to try and interfere with the runes directly, scattering coloured sands over them, conjuring small lights and chipping away delicately at the edges of some of the stones. Simultaneously, Sigurd and Aengus began to push with their own arcane powers, seeing the twisted strands of the web of magic that enveloped the tunnel entrance and trying to burn or prize them away.</p><p></p><p>Thunder took a simpler attitude. Channeling the power of Kord, he stepped onto the ward itself and took the blow, enduring the pain and battling it with radiant power from within himself. Occupying the attention and focus of the trap, he sought to make sure the others were spared the backlash. Gritting his teeth against the necrotic energies surging through him, he managed to speak. “Quick as you like, please, quick as you like…”</p><p></p><p>Karl pulled a small magnet from his pocket, muttering quietly to himself. “Let’s try this, just here, with a spread of green ink… ahah!”</p><p></p><p>As if a tap had been closed, the ward shut down. Thunder staggered a step as the necrotic energy abruptly shut off, giving him nothing to fight against.</p><p></p><p>Bounding to his feet, the Gnome headed off down the square tunnel. “No time like the present, eh? Let’s get going before it resets itself!”</p><p></p><p><span style="color: orange">Note: This was an interesting little Skill Challenge, and we used a wide variety of skills to deal with it.</span></p><p><span style="color: orange"></span></p><p><span style="color: orange">I'm hoping to include more dialogue and conversation between the characters in the next few updates, all comments welcome as to whether they're interesting or not!</span></p><p><span style="color: orange"></span></p><p><span style="color: orange">Next time: An interrupted rest!</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Mathew_Freeman, post: 4789580, member: 1846"] [b]The Three Way Choice[/b] The group rested, recovering their strength after the difficult and draining battle against the Drow. It had become clear that they should consider this entire city to be a trap for them, a hostile place that would kill them or enslave them without a second thought. The area they were in was shrouded in darkness, but now they had time to explore Aengus discovered an ancient wall at the edge of his vision. Following it, he found three tunnels leading further into the city. The three tunnels themselves looked superficially identical, but had different symbols on the floor in front of them. Each was egg-shaped, one filled in entirely with black stone, one with white and the middle symbol split half-and-half, vertically. Sending their magelights briefly down each tunnel showed Sigurd and Karl that the tunnels were about twenty feet wide and extended away into the darkness, with only the faintest glimmer of light to be seen, far in the distance. Sigurd suddenly stiffened and stared down at the middle symbol, saying “There is powerful warding magic here. Please, no one attempt to cross and enter the tunnel. I’m not quite sure what would happen, but it wouldn’t be pleasant.” At her words, and as she strained her magical senses to learn more, tiny runes began to appear all around the edges of the tunnel. Studying them in concert, Aengus and Sigurd agree that they indicate that a surge of necrotic energy is likely to be the consequence of crossing the ward – something to be avoided. Thunder turned to Aldis and Iben, both of whom were staying well back whilst the arcanists did their work. “It’s times like these,” he said in dry, metallic tones, “That I wished I had spent more time studying magic. Still, I have my own skills in battling those that use necrotic energy.” Twirling his sword in one hand, the Warforged concentrated for a moment, sending tiny trails of radiant energy tracing up and down it’s length. Karl was beginning to grow bored. “So, which tunnel?” he asked impatiently. “That Drow we were fighting went down the solid black tunnel, but I’m not sure I particularly want to run into him again. I reckon if the Drow have put such an impressive set of wards on this tunnel it should be the one we pick – nothing like a challenge, eh Thunder?” Noding, the Cleric concurred. “Kord teaches us that our destiny lies in our own hands only when we challenge ourselves and push hard against obstacles placed in our way. If the Drow have placed such a ward, then either they are protecting something, or they are afraid of something. If they are protecting it, then we can damage them by attacking it. If they are afraid, then we should seek to find out what they are afraid of to see if we can exploit it!” Sigurd wasn’t so sure. “This ward is powerful and will be difficult to dispel. Any attempt runs the risk of hurting us and limiting our resources, and in this place we need all of our resources just to survive. I am not sure the possible reward justifies the risk. And Melora teaches me differently than Kord does you, Thunder.” Aengus stepped in and settled the matter. “I believe that between us we can and will disarm this ward. Surely it is worth a try – after all, if it appears to be beyond us we can change our minds and stop? Are we agreed?” Looking around him, the Eladrin saw that he had swung the argument in his favour. “Excellent. Let us begin.” The group set to work. Karl, pulling ever more complicated tools from his belt, began to try and interfere with the runes directly, scattering coloured sands over them, conjuring small lights and chipping away delicately at the edges of some of the stones. Simultaneously, Sigurd and Aengus began to push with their own arcane powers, seeing the twisted strands of the web of magic that enveloped the tunnel entrance and trying to burn or prize them away. Thunder took a simpler attitude. Channeling the power of Kord, he stepped onto the ward itself and took the blow, enduring the pain and battling it with radiant power from within himself. Occupying the attention and focus of the trap, he sought to make sure the others were spared the backlash. Gritting his teeth against the necrotic energies surging through him, he managed to speak. “Quick as you like, please, quick as you like…” Karl pulled a small magnet from his pocket, muttering quietly to himself. “Let’s try this, just here, with a spread of green ink… ahah!” As if a tap had been closed, the ward shut down. Thunder staggered a step as the necrotic energy abruptly shut off, giving him nothing to fight against. Bounding to his feet, the Gnome headed off down the square tunnel. “No time like the present, eh? Let’s get going before it resets itself!” [color=orange]Note: This was an interesting little Skill Challenge, and we used a wide variety of skills to deal with it. I'm hoping to include more dialogue and conversation between the characters in the next few updates, all comments welcome as to whether they're interesting or not! Next time: An interrupted rest![/color] [/QUOTE]
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