{Modern Setting} Beneath the Yellow Lantern

[patransom]

Sahid contributes to the discussion about the orange goo. He suspects that it is edible, leading the group to conclude that it is some kind of nutrient paste.

New viewing angles reveal more of the side chambers. In the north chamber, a short red metal pedestal against the west wall displays what appears to be a jet-black stone egg the size of a small boulder. A gold glyph—an equilateral triangle with short hash marks through each leg—marks the face of the egg.

Eric's view of the south chamber shows nothing but a blank wall.

[Duniagdra]

Marcus will try and get a sample of the substance for testing. He'll also take some pictures and move into the room to 519.

[CGM3]

Eric sidles to 1218 and shines his flashlight through the southern opening, careful not to get in front of the stone filling the recess in the southern face of the "central pillar".

[cave_lion]

Tividius moves back to 1117--giving Eric some backup.

[tdsprouse]

Seeing Marcus walk on the hardened goo, Brad follows him into the north room.

[klakxor]

Sahid will move to 0720 and watch Marcus and Brad go in to the room

[patransom]

Marcus takes a sample of goo and some pictures, then moves into the north room, followed by Brad and Sahid. The full description of the room (some of which you already saw):

The ceiling of this large chamber glows with what looks like natural sunlight, illuminating a series of worktables, vises, spinning wheels, and blocks of unfinished marble that identify the room as a sculptor’s workshop. A huge unfinished statue of an imposing bare-chested warrior wielding a staff-like rod in its left hand dominates the east wall. The hairless figure looks similar to the bas-relief on the sarcophagus upstairs, but is clearly meant to be a different person. A short red metal pedestal against the west wall displays what appears to be a jet-black stone egg the size of a small boulder. A gold glyph—an equilateral triangle with short hash marks through each leg—marks the face of the egg.

Eric sidles toward the south room, followed by Tividius. He can now seem more than half of the room:

A large stone slab that suggests the shape of a bed rests against the south wall, under a huge bas-relief of a robust, long-nosed bald humanoid figure with outstretched hands. The figure wears a lovingly sculpted wind-tossed robe that gives him the appearance of a triumphant god. A glyph that looks like a stylized arrow marks an amulet worn around the figure’s neck. Wardrobes and dressers seemingly carved from the stone walls look to have been ransacked a long time ago.

Brad shines his light briefly behind him from his new position and notices a door in the west wall on the opposite side of the pillar from the entry hallway.

[CGM3]

Still leery of that stone "plug" in the central pillar, Eric steps to 1318 and shines his light towards the western wall of the "turnaround", to see if he can spy anything hidden in shadow (at the least, 1122 & 1123).

[Duniagdra]

Marcus goes to the pedestal to have a look at the stone. Knowledge: Arcane Lore vs Strange Stone (1d20+9=18)

[patransom]

Eric's new position shows nothing lurking around the corner.

Inspecting the gold symbol upon the ebon egg, Marcus recalls seeing it in one of Professor Stanley's papers. It is the personal device of Ogrémoch, a legendary (most would say fictitious) elemental prince of evil.

OUT OF CHARACTER

I will be out of town until next Friday. I will be checking in, but won't be able to update the map or do full validations. So, go ahead and continue exploring the area. If you end up moving to a new area or getting into a fight, there may be a brief delay until I return.

 

[Duniagdra]

“I think it might be best that for now we leave this alone.” Marcus will go ahead and examine the rest of this room. Search/Knowledge: Arcane Lore (1d20+6=23, 1d20+9=10)

[CGM3]

Taking a deep breath, Eric scoots to 1321, turning to shine his flashlight southeast through the doorway to the south.

[cave_lion]

Tividius moves to 1218. Assuming Eric doesn't freak out when he views what's behind curtain #2, he will spend the off moments inspecting the concrete block at 1119 trying to Spot (1d20+6=13) something.

[tdsprouse]

Brad will move into the room (0320) and inspect teh table, see if there is anything useful around.

[klakxor]

Sahid wil move up to 0722 cautiuosly and look around the corner

[patransom]

Marcus' search efforts bring his attention to "rod" in the hand of the unfinished statue. The rod is not part of the carving; rather, it is made of an unknown metal alloy and six grooves have been cut along its shaft, suggesting seven segments. If Marcus removes it from the statue's hand, he will find that the staff is extraordinarily light and well-balanced: a finely craft weapon.

OUT OF CHARACTER

The staff with seven segments is a quarterstaff of mastercraft quality. Furthermore, additional examination will reveal that some of the segments can be unscrewed, converting it from a mastercraft quarterstaff into a mastercraft three-section staff.

 

Brad finds that the stone carving tools on the table are rather archaic and probably not of much use or interest, except maybe as museum pieces.

Eric shines his light into the eastern half of the north room and finds nothing new there.

Tividius doesn't spot anything new about the stone block.

Around the corner, Sahid finds that the western face of the pillar includes a basin, obviously set up to be a bath of some sort, although it is now empty of water.

[Duniagdra]

Marius will remove the staff and unscrew it to fold and stow in his backpack. Marius will then move to 1618 and have a good look at the contents of that room. Marcus Search/Knowledge: Arcane Lore at 1618 (1d20+6=19, 1d20+9=12)

[cave_lion]

Tividius will take a look at the egg artifact (without disturbing it) and statues trying to make sense of it all...

OUT OF CHARACTER

Knowledge: theology and philosophy (1d20+7=17)

 

[tdsprouse]

Brad relaxes a bit and walks with Sahid to the basin, give a look.

Search Basin (1d20+2=13)

[CGM3]

Eric moves to 1016 and looks back down the corridor by which we came to see if anything's following us.

[patransom]

Marcus can identify the glyph on the large bas relief statue in the south room as the personal symbol of one of the Vaati (aka Wind Dukes), because it is similar to the glyphs photographed earlier and identified for you by Professor Stanley. [See here; the Professor identified glyphs belonging to Icosiol and Zosiel] This glyph (pictured below) obviously represents yet another Wind Duke, but Marcus can't translate the name. It is likely that Professor Stanley will be able to tell you more.


Further searching the chamber, Marcus notes one thing of interest: the bed-shaped stone slab emanates a thin layer of whirling air from its top surface. The force of the air would be strong enough allow a normal sized human to lie atop it and be suspended just above the slab's surface.

The statues are meaningless to Tividius, but he recognizes the gold symbol on the ebon egg as the personal device of Ogrémoch, a mythical elemental prince of evil. [Marcus already shared this information, but Dr. Alexander's separate knowledge check confirms its accuracy]

Brad's check of the stone basin discovers several small holes. From stains and a small amount of mold on the stone around the holes, it appears that water once flowed into the basin from the holes. This would seem to confirm that the basin was a sort of bathtub.

Eric doesn't notice anything following you down the corridor. The green gas cloud has entirely dissipated.

[CGM3]

Eric goes to 1320 and informs his colleagues that the cloud of vapor seems to have dissipated. He watches Marcus investigating the southern room.

OUT OF CHARACTER

A bathtub in a hallway? Think about it...

 

[tdsprouse]

Brad walks to the door and gives it a cursory search before the others get there. Search Door (1d20+2=13)

“Sahid, have you gotten pictures of all this so far?”

[cave_lion]

Tividius continues to walk around the area looking at the items of interest. “So Marcus--ya gonna take a nap there on that slab? See how it rides?” He'll then look at the blocked off column area again “I wonder what would possess someone to seal this off like this?” He'll look around the column area for any possible sources/switches for activating the water and food sources.

[Duniagdra]

“There seems to be a cushion of air over this slab. It could be for therapeutic purposes, but until I'm certain, I'd not risk it unless one of us are seriously injured or dying.” Marcus takes additional pictures documenting all that he finds. Between him and Sahid, Marcus figures they'll leave little to nothing undocumented.

[patransom]

Tividius continues to walk around the area looking at the items of interest. “So Marcus--ya gonna take a nap there on that slap? See how it rides?” He'll then look at the blocked off column area again “I wonder what would possess someone to seal this off like this?” He'll look around the column area for any possible sources/switches for activating the water and food sources.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Want to give me a search check?

 

[cave_lion]

Tividius continues to walk around the area looking at the items of interest. “So Marcus--ya gonna take a nap there on that slap? See how it rides?” He'll then look at the blocked off column area again “I wonder what would possess someone to seal this off like this?” He'll look around the column area for any possible sources/switches for activating the water and food sources.

OUT OF CHARACTER

Want to give me a search check?

 

OUT OF CHARACTER

hehe-based on my latest rolls not really....but here you go...searchin' and hopein' (1d20+6=20)...hey that might be enough to actually find something!

 

[klakxor]

“Seems Marcus has been doing a pretty good job of documenting with pictures and such.” Sahid laughs a little.

“So, where do we go from here guys. We haven't found the missing lanterns yet.”

[patransom]

Brad's search of the door turns up nothing interesting. Marcus documents the unusual bed while Eric watches and Sahid comments. In the meantime, Tividius gives the central column a thorough search. In a few moments, he discovers a hidden button to the east of the blocked off section.

[CGM3]

“So we have a choice,” Eric declares. “We can try to open that door to the west and see where it leads, or push this button to find out what happens. I vote for the button, and think we should gather around before doing so.”