Last Redoubt

[Fishy]

Dreamcatcher takes a moment to center himself, then returns closer to the wall to examine it more closely, running his metallic fingers across a pair of cracks either side of the stone. "It's almost like a doorway, but I don't see any sort of moving parts. Perhaps it responds to a mental signature? Or perhaps we could break it down."

[Sallera]

"That could be problematic. If there was a hinge or something, I could blast it, but this just looks like solid rock to me..." On a whim, Niev knocks on the stone a few times, - trying to judge the thickness, at least, since she didn't really expect anyone to answer. "Should we just try to shove it open?"

[appending_doom]

"It will certainly attract attention. Are we trying to be stealthy?"

[Fishy]

"I don't see how there's any point to sneaking up on a telepath in its own home. If you have something that will knock it down, now is as good a time as any..."

[appending_doom]

Reason shrugs and glances at Dreamcatcher. "I just assumed you could knock it down, given enough time. Draw attention from the telepath, too, probably. I suppose I could give a shot at blasting the door open. Of course..." She knocks on the wall half-heartedly. "I'm still curious how the door is supposed to open. After all, a telepath's got to have a way to open it."

[Sallera]

"I'm sure that's true, but I'm not much of a telepath. And if it responds to some sort of mental signature as the Seer suggested, I wouldn't even know how to start duplicating something like that. I suppose it could have some sort of mechanism on the inside." Prodding at the resonance stone, Niev opens herself to it, lowering her barriers against the strange emotion for a moment and giving it a mental tug.

[appending_doom]

@Sallera

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Make an Intelligence or Charisma check (whichever)

[Sallera]

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Charisma: (1d20+4)[9]
-.- That's three in a row, now...

[appending_doom]

@Niev

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You reach out and attempt to touch the stone, but the address falls short. You think if you knew anything about using psionic items, you might have a better shot at this. But barring that...knocking might just be the best way through.

[Sallera]

Niev withdraws her hand from the stone, shaking her head in an attempt to be rid of its influence. "It feels like there might be something in the resonance stone, but I can't quite find it. You might have better luck than I, Seer."

[appending_doom]

@Dream

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I think you don't have Psicraft or UPD ranks, so if you want, roll Int or Cha

And remember action points

[Fishy]

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I've got Spellcraft, if you'll let me use that instead.

(1d20+4)[18]

[appending_doom]

As Dreamcatcher focuses on the stone, he momentarily brushes against something lurking beneath the self-satisfied contentment - a watchful malevolence that shocks his consciousness from the stone. But the damage has been done; the wall around the stone, and the stone itself, fades from view, opening into a narrow corridor, lit by a greenish fungus covering the walls.

[Fishy]

"Well, that went well," Dreamcatcher remarks, dryly, and starts down the hallway.

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Is Produce Flame still on?

[Sallera]

"Nice to be rid of that stone, anyway." Niev follows Dreamcatcher down the hall, the flickering light from the torch mingling with the greenish glow in a slightly nauseating fashion. "I suppose this is where the Doctor's run off to. The colour matches, at least."

[appending_doom]

The hallway continues straight for about twenty feet before curving right and sloping downward. After about another thirty feet, the lights on the wall become sparser, and ahead, the group can see a wider open area.

All

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Spot, Listen

Dreamcatcher

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The duration's a couple minutes, so I think no.

[Sallera]

Ah, now this might be something interesting. Muffling the light of the torch with one hand so as not to announce their presence, Niev tries to see ahead by the light of the glowing fungi.

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Spot: (1d20+2)[13]
Listen: (1d20+2)[6]

[Fishy]

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spot - (1d20+10)[16]
listen - (1d20+4)[16]

Particularly over PBP, 'roll to see if something happens' really slows down a game. I think the Eberron Campaign Setting explicitly calls it out as something to avoid.

[appending_doom]

@Niev

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You can see only a flash of movement in the distant portion of the open area.

@Dreamcatcher

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You catch sight of a lime-green tentacle in the darkness, and hear voices speaking in a strange, nerve-wracking tongue.

It seems there is likely something just up ahead; Reason draws back to the wall and glances at her companions uncertainly.

[Sallera]

Saw something moving. Not sure what. Quiet approach? Holding the torch behind her back, Niev carefully withdraws a dull red stone from a cloak pocket and glances at Dreamcatcher for approval before advancing.

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If Dreamcatcher has no objections...
Hide: (1d20+1)[15]
Move Silently: (1d20+1)[6]

[Fishy]

Looked like Kollos. If you wish, I am behind you

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Dreamcatcher, who is not terribly stealthy, hangs back and readies an action to Produce Flame if the tentacle-monsters appear.

[appending_doom]

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List (1d20+3)[22]
Spot (1d20+3)[20]

[appending_doom]

Kollos, or the thing that looks like it, appears at the closest end of the open cavern area. He smiles at Niev. "Is that really you, child? And you brought friends! I hope you didn't have any trouble with L'kthk'ill's friends..." His smile fades slowly. "How did you convince them to let your friends through? I'm certain they had specific instructions."

His expression is puzzled, but there is a threatening air to his demeanor. And behind him, there are lurking shadows.

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(1d20+14)[23]
(1d20+14)[15]

[Sallera]

Looks like those Mockery cultists did us an unintentional favour. Apparently the trap wasn't supposed to involve you two... either way, I'd guess we've probably got about ten seconds till Kollos attacks.

Taking two steps forward, Niev bows her head slightly, trying to get a good look at Kollos' attendants. "They were most unpersuasive, as it turned out. Practically dead on their feet by the time we got there, wanted nothing more than to lie down. You really ought to hire watchers with greater stamina."

"But enough about that. You know why we're here, but I still don't know why you want me here. Don't tell me this is still about that prophecy?"

[Fishy]

Dreamcatcher, true to his word, hangs back and does not move.

[appending_doom]

Kollos laughs. "Of course it is. You're the first kalashtar we've seen in close to a century, madam. You're the key to saving the world. Of course...well, the people with their hands on the sword choose against which target it is aimed. But-" He glances to his left and shrugs. "I think that's enough talking."

Abruptly, he fades from view.

[Sallera]

Damn. I don't suppose you have anything that could reveal him?

"The people with their hands on the sword ought to be aware of its nearer edge," Niev replies, addressing the empty air. "How does one shard of a Quori spirit make me so essential, anyway?" Mist dances around her fingers, but she has no one aside from the shadows to release it at, and she still can't tell what they are.

[appending_doom]

The gnome reappears next to Reason abruptly, a blade sticking from her side. She whimpers and slumps to the ground. Almost simultaneously, a wave of...thought strikes into the still-conscious people, stripping away the highest levels of consciousness with its force.

@All

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Make will saves, and probably initiative.

[Sallera]

"Reason!" Niev spins around swiftly, hesitating for a moment as she tries to decide between helping Reason and attacking the Doctor. Agh! Can you pin those other... things? Or heal Reason?

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Will: (1d20+5)[10]
Init: (1d20+2)[20]

[Fishy]

Dreamcatcher shudders with the mental impact. I will try, he signals, extending a hand towards the darkness in a commanding gesture.

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Will - (1d20+5)[15]
Init - (1d20+1)[21]

Attacking The Darkness with entangle.