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Post by 3personal5me on May 18, 2019 17:57:23 GMT
Stephen passed through the barrier without incident. After seeing the other two pass unharmed, it seemed reasonable that he not have to worry about the magic wall. He, of course, knew his placement in the group. He imagined he would be near the middle, able to keep an eye out for danger without having to lead the party or watch their back.
He stopped at the mural, examining it. Gruesome, at least. "Silver and gold? Well, I don't know too much about magic and all that, but if I had to guess, I would say we should go with silver".
(making a perception check. Also, note to the DM, Stephen has passive investigation, Perception, and insight of 16)
Perception: 0IDXgrlN1d20+6 1d20+6
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Post by vorpal on May 18, 2019 18:17:09 GMT
"And I suppose as we're finishing with introductions... Crispin is my name, and I could use a little amusement right now. This place seems like it'll do quite well." No, there was no serving justice or gods or some greater cause for him. He was quite literally in this for the hell of it.
Speaking of such... Ah. Binding legal contracts. Lovely. A slightly bitter thought ran through Crispin's head as he realized what everyone had been doing with that odd book. Not that it seemed they were literally signing their lives away or anything, but even so, that part made him overly cautious. He didn't want to end up bound to something or other, when all was said and done. He took a moment to weigh the possibilities of gaining fortune and also interesting song or story material, against any problems he might have if he signed... well, all right, fortune and story material did make it worthwhile, overall. Even so, when he signed, he wrote his name in an elaborate script in Sylvan characters, not his true signature, figuring that would give him a certain layer of security. He even briefly considered one of his aliases, but, well, he did want to ensure that he could proceed without incident. You just never knew how picky magic would be.
He was able to move along just fine, though, taking a moment to look over that grotesque mural. He frowned and gave an elaborate sigh, as if terribly offended by the image in which he was being beheaded by a large axe. "The blood splatter isn't bad, but they got my hair all wrong. Anyway, I have no strong preference as both are quite valuable. So... silver it is?" Crispin started looking around carefully, taking in everything. Yes, traps definitely were a concern...
Perception: Ry0FT0Es1d20+11d20+1
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Post by 3personal5me on May 18, 2019 18:35:37 GMT
Stephen took a step back to take in the mural at large. He too had noticed the grisly depictions of the people he was standing with now. He found himself, off to one side, and raised an eyebrow. Better not to dwell on it. "I wonder if these other people came here before us. Or maybe they'll come after". He trailed his finger along the mural as he looked closer.[/div]
Investigation: lt5JBsYi1d20+6 1d20+6One face seemed to jump out at him. A vague recollection of a family grieving a missing person. This must be where he ended up. He hoped, for his sake, that he didn't die in the way depicted.
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Post by Sister Valerie on May 18, 2019 20:42:46 GMT
Staying back isn’t going to be a problem for Sister Valerie. Her armour had a tendency to weigh her down; but the protection it offered was too great to allow that to be a serious concern. If she started to lag behind too much, she had ways of bringing herself up to speed, it was just best to wait until that became a serious concern.
The sight of the mural had her quirking an eyebrow, and she chuckled as she peered at it.
“Rather a poor jest, don’t you think? I feel as though they might as well have just writ ‘bad things ahead’ on it.”
She shook her head, eyeing the silver and gold.
“There’s a few things to ponder.” She said, cheerfully. “Classically, gold is worth more than silver. Thus, we have to ask ourselves, what is the intent in this? Does whoever placed this here want us to show humility, and go for the silver, or do they want us to declare that we are great and move for the gold? Or are there other elements we’re missing? Silver is associated with the moon, and gold with the sun! Perhaps we’re meant to go down the silver path because it is night time?”
She flashed her smile again, bright and dazzling.
“I haven’t the foggiest clue myself. I’d be inclined to flip a coin and let Tymora figure it out for us!”
Perception: 51uE3acE1d20+41d20+4
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Post by sojourn on May 18, 2019 20:48:05 GMT
((Prerolling for my reply.))
Perception: uksr3_Oa1d20+41d20+4
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Post by sojourn on May 18, 2019 21:32:59 GMT
E veryone gave their introductions and Kieran did his best to follow along, taking in everyone’s faces and noting their equipment, listening to they way they talked and watching how they signed their names. He hung back a little, aloof like some alleyway feline, not incapable of taking charge so much as unwilling to step in when there was clearly plenty of authority. Had there been surprise on his face when Ruby—Warden now—told the jubilant and noisy Val that she was a paladin? Yes, a little. Maybe a smirk, but nothing judgmental. He’d perhaps never aimed so high, but Selûne was definitely an admirable choice. Had Miri been just as much of a surprise? Yes, but not an unwelcome one, but her fingers brushed his when he offered her the quill and he did his level best to play it off as cool as possible. He may have even checked to make sure all of his things were in their places, but only under the guise of readying himself. Everyone else seemed capable enough, the half-drow lost in his own curiosities while waiting until the familiar tiefling’s voice called them to order, “No.” Kieran objected in a quiet but firm voice, “Er. No, thank you—all y’ noisy lot with armor an’ voices that could wake th’ dead should stick behind quiet folks like m’self. Let us scout ahead an’ see what t’ be ready for. Give y’ done warnin’. Yeah? Good. It’s settled.” Had Miri not said his name, he would have missed the mural entirely, still trying to process the number of bodies he felt obliged to look after even if they were most likely far better at looking after themselves. He smirked, violet eyes widening as he glanced over the curiously gruesome depictions of injury and death, including his own. Chuckling at Val, he grinned and added, “But a picture says it … prettier. Or somethin’. If it’s a challenge, I’ll take it, b’cause I’m sure not goin’ out that way.” Fuck that. He scoffed to himself, clearing his throat and moving to step ahead, glancing over his shoulder at the young woman he knew was just as swift and secretive as himself when she wasn’t being boisterous and comfortably dangerous, tilting his chin in a way that asked: you coming? “Gold’s th’ standard of measurement, t’ be fair. I wonder ‘f it’s less about value an’ more about difficulty, though. Like a race, y’ know? If so, well, I’m all for th’ full experience. Go for th’ gold ‘r not at all.” ((Note: Urban is his favored environment. We won’t be slowed in difficult terrain, we can only become lost by magical means, and when Kieran is alone, he basically gets Stealth successfully for free. If we’re letting him and Miri or whoever other sneaky folk scout ahead, I’ll roll Stealth now:)) ZSy5Zh8u1d20+5 1d20+5
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Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on May 18, 2019 22:03:54 GMT
As Miri pointed out the party and Warden in particular on the mural, the tiefling turned back to have a better look and rolled her eyes after a moment. "How lovely. I don't know about you, but that's not enough to send me back out before we've even had a decent look around. This alley has quiet the reputation, but still. Most of those names weren't crossed out, so I'd say we still stand a good chance."
Glancing over to Kieran at his insistence on going ahead instead of hanging back, she shrugged. Warden wasn't used to leading or following, and she wasn't actively trying to do either right now beyond just general encouragement to continue inspecting the alley. If someone had an idea, she wouldn't protest as long as it made sense. "Some brief scouting ahead could be helpful...but I wouldn't take too long. This place is probably not kind to groups that split up and I don't know how long the rest might want to wait, anyway. We all seem to be an enthusiastic bunch."
Gold or silver, gold or silver. She bit her lip, thoughtful. "Val and Kieran have a point. Gold has more worth, so it could be a greater risk, greater reward thing? If so, that sounds to me more like the route that would contain this statue we're after. That's what drew us all here." And as fun as exploration was for exploration's sake, she would also prefer the route that ended in payment and gratitude from an important Waterdhavian figure.
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Post by moralhazard on May 18, 2019 22:37:19 GMT
Well then. Miri glanced at the new arrivals. Sister Valerie, High Priestess of the Grim Abbey – Val, definitely, that was a mouthful and sister had an oddly religious feel to it that Miri definitely did not prefer. Stephen, a retired city detective. Crispin; Miri hadn’t placed him yet, and she resolved to keep an eye on him, and she laughed aloud at his comment about his hair. At least he had the right sort of attitude. So did Val, Miri thought cheerfully. Good; perhaps this would be a bit of fun. Miri hummed softly to herself, studying the mural. So: no one else had noticed anything else of interest. Very interesting, she thought. Very, very interesting. She had expected better of Kieran. Miri caught the half-drow’s eye, raising an eyebrow; as far as she could tell, he didn’t seem to have noticed anything at all, and seemed to be rather anxious to get moving. Well. They were all in this together, weren’t they? Share and share alike? “Looks like there’s a little message for us,” Miri said, casually, stepping closer to Kieran and bumping him with one shoulder. “Surely you didn’t mean to scoot off before we’d all seen it?” She grinned at him, hands sliding into her pockets. “There’s a message hidden there,” Miri continued, pitching her voice a little louder for the entire party to hear. “Tells us to look for a barred window. Something important near there, I’d imagine.” “And I agree,” Miri grinned, broadly. “Let’s go with gold. No point in shooting for second best.” Miri was more than happy to scout ahead; she tilted her head back at Kieran, following after the half-drow. Her hands rested in her pockets, and she did her best to give off a posture of complete relaxation – although, in truth, she was ready to go for her shortswords at the slightest provocation, and the quick darting of her eyes from side to side would betray her feigned nonchalance to any observer.
To the rest of the party, it wouldn't be clear which of them tripped first; they would see a blur of motion, and hear a loud crash, as Kieran and Miri both seemed to simultaneously trip over each other, landing hard on the ground in a tangle of limbs and various weapons, twisted up in one another. Miri, half-trapped beneath Kieran and pressed very firmly against the ground, began to laugh, gently pulling Kieran's hand away from her front.
Stealth: qHthcXKN1d20+71d20+7
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Post by 3personal5me on May 19, 2019 0:27:36 GMT
A hidden message. He wondered why he didn't catch it. He would have to ask her later how it was hidden. "Well, if everybody else says gold, far be it from me to argue. Gold it is". He hadn't even begin to move when the supposedly stealthy members of the group collided and went down in a pile of limbs. "Yes, let's get all the bad luck out of the way now". He stepped over the pair, and made his way into the alley. Somebody had to be sneaky.
(Stealth check to go scout, hopefully won't biff it)
Stealth: vR45p9Tm1d20+51d20+5
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Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on May 19, 2019 2:11:03 GMT
Stephen was sadly the only one of the three who manages move along without making a noise. The others, especially Miri, didn't quite manage enough grace for that. Perhaps they stumbled over loose rubble in the alley; there wasn't necessarily a lot, but someone careless could be caught off-balance.
About twenty feet in down the 'gold' path, the alley made a right turn. Those sneaking down it could see that to the right, there was a door made of ivory-coated iron and carved with the figures of carnivorous animals (such as lions, tigers, and wolves) eating their prey.
Straight ahead, there was another door up a few steps and then the alley turned to the left, continuing onward. So far, all was quiet.
Warden sighed quietly, not very interested in waiting for long. Patience was never her strong point, and if they tested it overlong, she would follow anyway. This wasn't a place where she planned to hang back and let others do all the work. A few minutes, and she would follow along anyway. Kieran of anyone was likely to know that from days past, so hopefully he would still remember.
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Post by Sister Valerie on May 19, 2019 15:18:44 GMT
Valerie was a lot of things, but subtle was not one of them. Thankfully, self-aware was, so she was more than happy to let the rest of the group move off ahead, whilst she waited with Warden for several moments, whistling a jaunty little tune to herself.
“I have to say.” She said to the Tiefling, “I was expecting more, sudden monsters out of the dark and swingeing axes from the ceiling. Not that I’m complaining, mind you, but so far it doesn’t really live up to the hype, does it? Mean pictures and coded messages. Pah!”
She stuck her tongue out to indicate just what she thought of that, and then, when Warden started to move, she did the same thing, instantly transforming from merely ‘talking quite loudly’ to ‘the sound of a cupboard filled with pots and pans in an earthquake’.
CLANG-clatterclatterclatter-CLANGCLANG-clatterBANGCLUNK.
“Do you think that they’re dead already?” She asked, conversationally. “That’s what I always start thinking of when people go off ahead to do scouting and suchlike. If we turn a corner and run into a bunch of corpses, I’ll probably have to start taking this whole thing a lot more seriously!”
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Post by vorpal on May 19, 2019 18:23:55 GMT
It made no major difference to Crispin which path they chose, so gold it was, then. He nodded quietly at the mention of a hidden message, knowing that this was something important that they'd have to keep in mind for later. Something to keep their eyes out for. At least it seemed the others didn't draw any attention to themselves, even when the sneaking didn't go so well. Time to explore, regardless! Crispin moved along to join those scouting, not about to wait around when the moment called for getting stealthy...
eDvQ9mgK1d20+5
All right, so far so good, hearing the others stumble made him take a lot more caution than he already would anyway, watching the ground closely for rubble and such that he might inadvertently trip on. Now, his eyes were caught by that elaborate door, and he moved toward it to take a closer look. What fancy artists they had down here...1d20+5
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Jarovbees
Approved
Playing: Solstice (Paladin 6)/Umbrae (Sorcerer 1/Warlock 4)/Avren Wands (Rogue 2/Sorcerer 1)
Posts: 706
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Post by Jarovbees on May 19, 2019 19:36:45 GMT
The details of the door remain the same, though if tested Crispin will find the door locked.
Warden, wincing a little as the racket Val created was no less than her own. Splint mail wasn't quiet, not an issue usually but she hoped those looking ahead wouldn't suffer for it. Valerie's question has the tiefling shaking her head, after giving herself a moment to listen. "Hm. I hear no death-screams, thuds or crunching sounds. So they're probably alright, at least for now. But just remember all those names crossed out in that book; I doubt they were crossed out because the people signing them are fine and happy and nothing bad happened to them. Let's not underestimate this place...or wait more than a minute or two."
Respect for scouting was one thing, but Warden wanted action of her own. She could only be denied that for so long.
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Post by sojourn on May 20, 2019 0:59:53 GMT
H e had to open his mouth and damn himself with words of prowess. Humility was far too often like over-steeped tea: bitter. Kieran tasted it, turning to head down the alley in the hopes of returning to some form of focus in the middle of such a crowd of more strangers than familiar faces, only to nearly smack his entire self into Miri in the process—perhaps she flustered him the most or perhaps she flustered him the least, but he had no time to weigh the truth. Instead, stepping to avoid ending up too much into her personal space, she did the same in opposite but their directions were clearly the same because before he could say anything or move again, they hit the cobblestones in a tangle of limbs and bodies. The half-drow was far more embarrassed than at all uncomfortable, smirking with a huff of self-directed shame for his own haste, "Don't mind me. Being too forward, I s'pose. Lettin' m'self get distracted—again, is it?" He teased while the young woman pointedly moved his hand and he shifted carefully to stand, turning the palm she'd removed from over the obvious curve of her armor over to grip her wrist and offer her assistance back to her feet in the kind of fluid motion he appeared to be much more used to moving with—save the one time he chose to point it out, of course. Had she been one of the strangers, perhaps he'd have been far less graceful, far less humorous, but in this moment, it was easier to make light of his mistakes with someone he at least knew from some of the others. "Neither th' time nor place. Here, at least."This time, well, this time he made a show of checking his person while straightening his darts and his short sword and his rucksack, but it was obviously a very private show. Just to take one from Miri's books, he winked before turning his attention back to the path they chose, feeling so damn quiet when in the vicinity of two rattling collection of pots and pans shaped like armored, Sister Valerie clearly not at all living her life in a way that required subtlety or shadows. The way down their chosen branch led Stephen and Crispin, followed by Kieran and Miri and the others not to a barred window as had been pointed out, but to more choices. An ivory-coated iron door carved with beasts consuming prey animals. Ahead of them, there was another door. And even further ahead? Their path turned to the left. Kieran arched a white eyebrow, "Speakin' of expectin'—" His violet gaze slid to Valerie and then back toward Crispin and Stephen, "—since th' art in this place tends t' think highly 'f itself an' be a warnin', I'm gonna venture that whatever's behind this door probably isn't safe." He hooked a thumb in the direction of the ivory door, "That mural had all sorts 'f traps an' such. I'm thinkin' there might be things with sharp teeth in there."He shrugged at Ruby's Warden's comment about crossed out names, but it was more in agreement than taking issue. Perhaps those that survived were the ones whose names remained untouched in the book. "If we're gonna check this one out, let's just be ready. Here, I can help." He was reaching for the tools tucked away in his bag, tools he'd learned to use over the years of growing up on Waterdeep's streets, hanging with what many would probably have wanted to point out was the wrong crowd. He turned out alright in his opinion. Offering his assistance to Crispin, the half-drow kept a careful ear toward whatever might be hidden behind the feral decorations, "I'm in agreement t' this sentiment: m' suggestion 'd be all 'f us stand ready. Just 'cause we can't hear anythin' sure 's the Underdark's dark doesn't mean there's nothin' in there." The half-drow grinned, aware of what hid in the shadows far more often than he'd been able to prove, if only because, most of the time, he was included in that statement. With his more typical, comfortable bravado, Kieran added: "Let's see how well this art theme holds up, shall we?"
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Post by moralhazard on May 20, 2019 5:02:02 GMT
Miri laughed a little more at Kieran’s verbal fumbling, her body shaking softly against his. There was a distinct undertone to the laugh, and her hand clasped his firmly and without hesitation, Miri springing to her feet with much more grace than she had fallen with.
“Better to keep our minds on the job,” Miri agreed, her fingertips trailing along the inside of Kieran’s palm as she pulled her hand away. She smirked at his ostentatious checking of pockets and weapons, stretching her arms up overhead.
Two doors. Miri left Kieran and Crispin to the first, wandering towards the second and examining it closely, leaning forward (although not close enough to touch).
Perception: paPKhRZM1d20+21d20+2
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