Last Redoubt

[Sallera]

All these passages... should probably carry sound better than they appear to be. Niev places a hand on Mari's shoulder. "I don't know about you," she murmurs, "but I haven't heard anything other than us in here. Maybe they're just hiding, or this mine doesn't carry sound as well as I think it should, but this might be a good time to start preparing for the worst."

The incongruous sound of bells a few minutes later is almost a relief, but it makes even less sense than the previous silence.

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Will: (1d20+5)[11]

[FirebirdFlying]

Mari nods, trying to walk even more quietly, and places a careful hand on her sword. "Do you think - " she begins, before being interrupted by the bells.

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(1d20+3)[6]

[acid_ninja]

Dead silent. But no sounds of fighting either.

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(1d20+7)[20]

[appending_doom]

Mari and Niev

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After a moment, you realize how soothing the chiming is, a balm to the broken soul, and a calming influence.

It seems like a good idea to try to find the source; the fact that the other presumably did the same thing, and have vanished, seems unimportant.

You are fascinated, and must make another Will save.

Laskin

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You brush off the seductive lure of the bells, only to notice something...odd about them. Not that they are perfectly clear, but that they aren't echoing. In fact, the more you think on it, the more you think the chimes are all in your head.

[Sallera]

If we follow this, we ought to find something useful. Now if we could just find out where it's coming from... Halting, Niev turns in a slow circle, concentrating on the sound of the bells.

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Will: (1d20+5)[14]

[FirebirdFlying]

Had Niev not stopped, she would likely have tripped over Mari, who halted abruptly enough to almost trip herself. "That must be…" she breathed, listening closely.

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(1d20+3)[15]

[acid_ninja]

Don't! Do not follow the bells. Listen, they do not echo. Whatever they are, they are in your mind. You must try to focus. Whatever befell the miners, I think its connected to the bells.

[appending_doom]

While Mari and Niev can still feel the suggestion to draw closer to the source, it is no more than a niggling thought, a possible decision. Laskin's warning, if anything, weakens the hold of the unnatural draw held by the sound.

Still, the source of the bells seem the most likely way to determine what, if anything, has gone wrong.

And you do vaguely remember there being a larger gallery, an open area where the miners shared some of their more unique finds, as well as gathered for meals. If the source is mobile, it seems likely it would be brought there. If not, there's a chance the more resilient miners may have found their way there.

[FirebirdFlying]

"Right, which is why we should find the bells!

…Do you remember how to get to that meeting place they had?"

[Sallera]

"Yes... as long as we approach cautiously, I don't see why we shouldn't follow them. If we don't know where the gathering place is, then... all we need to do is give in to the suggestion." Niev takes Mari's hand and squeezes past Laskin, letting the hand with the torch fall down to her side.

"May as well look the part," she explains. "Whatever it is, it'll probably be expecting us, but as long as at least one of us is paying enough attention to know when we're getting close, we can stop before we reach it and scout properly." Niev starts walking slowly along, taking a route determined partly by the arrows and partly by the pull of the bells. "Let me know if I take any paths that don't feel right," she murmurs to Mari. "You can feel it too, right?"

[appending_doom]

It's strange; the sense is something like the old kalashtar game of "forward-back" -- you can tell when you get closer, and when you get further from the source.

But there seems to be a twist to the strange compulsion. Turning back towards the tunnels outside the mine elicits a feeling of wrongness, of pain and death. Either the source is more manipulative than you thought, or it has a sense of when its thralls are in danger and wants to prevent that.

If the latter, it's promising.

[acid_ninja]

I will not be tempted by the bells. You lead on and I will be there to aid you if needed.

Laskin follows the pair, weapon at the ready.

[Sallera]

Following the compulsion is almost pleasant, after a while, a soothing sense of direction that makes the task of navigating the narrow passages less arduous. Still, the jarring sense of danger Niev feels whenever she considers a turn that leads back to the exit keeps her from falling further into a daze. It's an odd contrast, so different from the subtle emotions the bells use to tell her when she's getting closer. "That noise we heard back at the entrance... do you think something's still behind us? I can't tell where the feeling's coming from, but if it's not just the bells..." Her voice still doesn't rise above a soft murmur; something about the place discourages normal speech.

[appending_doom]

Slowly, the narrow tunnels give way to a wider gallery, and new noises join the chiming -- harmonies that twist and make a simple melody, and this close, the psychic song becomes something more.

Warm yellow light spilling over an impossibly large expanse of greenery, colorful specks of plant life scattered across the open space.

A woman handing a green stem topped with a colorful spray of leaves to a young man; he smiles at her, and your heart warms.

An impossibly dark space filled with bubbling steam nourishes a tiny, insignificant plant that twists slowly in the strange, liquid wind.

A flame, colored silver-white, bursts into life in the cupped hands of a human child.

Emotions flood over those gathered in the gallery, and this close, it is almost impossible to focus on the fascinated, unmoving groups of miners, for the sake of the singer. But they are arrayed around a crystalline object the size of a fist -- almost translucent, its surface is marked with streaks of midnight blue, and deep within, you can see blood-red swirls. The entire thing is illuminated with almost golden light that shines from within.

Laskin

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The ring of sound in your hand begins to make an ominous cracking sound.

Everyone

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Knowledge (arcana) or (the planes), if you wish.

[FirebirdFlying]

"There could be two things, then. That don't necessarily like each other much. Maybe the bells are trying…" Mari's eyes have been closed, trusting Niev to keep her away from walls and focusing on the strange compulsion, but as they draw closer and the images grow clearer she opens them. "…It's beautiful," she whispers, before coming to focus on the crystal. What is that…? I swear I've…

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Planes: (1d20+11)[13]
Arcana: (1d20+6)[23]

[acid_ninja]

Laskin hurriedly takes the ring off of his finger and drops it on the ground. He tries to focus and rid his mind of the images. I don't like this and its definitely no time to be distracted.
I have no idea what that thing is but I don't trust it. Perhaps we should try to get one of the miners' attention and find out more.

Laskin looks for Chorad in the group of miners.

[Sallera]

Niev nods, staring at the crystal. "Beautiful, yes, and such... promise. Surely this is something more than a simple trap..." She halts in the doorway, still holding Mari's hand, and not quite willing to approach any closer lest the wave of emotions take her in completely.

[appending_doom]

The ring of sound continues to crackle warningly as it strikes the ground. None of the miners seem to notice.

Chorad seems to be standing near the center of the mass, very close to the strange crystal. He is frowning, thoughtfully, but appears to be as enthralled as the rest.

Mari

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At first glance, it looks like a dragonshard, but by your recollection, no single dragonshard has this appearance. The outer layer itself looks like a Khyber shard -- used to make items that bind spirits. The inner seems to be an Eberron shard -- used to power magical items. And the glow around the shard is that of Siberys shards -- those used to augment the power of those who wield them.

If a construction, this item is meant to have significant power. If a natural formation, it is nothing you have ever heard of before.

A flickering mental touch sweeps through the three new arrivals. There seems to be no actual probe or hostile thrust, but it is disconcerting.

Niev

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A voice speaks into your mind. finally!

The word seems to be in Common, but the touch and the word fades as soon as you hear it.

The song twists into a natural climax and dies, slowly, leaving only the echoing chords in one's mind.

[Sallera]

Niev's eyes narrow as she stares at the crystal. A conscious entity? She turns to Mari, not quite ready to address whatever it might be directly. "Did you hear that voice as well? I could try establishing a mindlink with... whatever it is, but it would be nice to have a better idea of what it might be, first."

[FirebirdFlying]

"I didn't hear a voice - Niev, that's a dragonshard. Sort of. A very weird one. Nothing I've ever heard of. …And they're not sentient. I have to see this closer…" Mari steps forward towards the shard, angling to pick it up.

[Sallera]

Niev follows along, glancing around the room. "I heard a voice say 'finally,' just before the song ended. If it's not from the shard itself, could there be something bound in it? I'm not sure touching it would be a good idea, if so."

[acid_ninja]

Listen to Mari, Niev.

Laking focuses his awareness on the crystal.

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Manifesting detect hostile intent.

[appending_doom]

The crystal appears unresponsive as the people approach. With the end of the song, the miners seem to be slowly drifting out of their dazes.

Laskin

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When Laskin focuses on the crystal, however, he senses an empty void in space. It seems an impossible result, as the power picks up on every sparking of anger, hatred, and violence in a thinking creature's mind, enough to register the moment a creature's idle thoughts turn to violence.

As per the power's description, you can attempt to Sense Motive against the apparently inanimate crystal as a free action.

[Sallera]

Niev shoots Laskin an annoyed glance. "I am listening. Why do you think I'm asking questions?" She stops awkwardly as she realizes her voice had come out at normal volume, and was clearly audible in the now-quiet cavern.

Her gaze is drawn swiftly back to the shard as they reach it, barely noticing the miners. "It must have stopped for a reason," she murmurs. "The timing was too close to be coincidence."

[FirebirdFlying]

"Maybe it wanted everyone in here… anyone got a piece of cloth, or something?" Mari bends down to it, not quite touching, peering deeper into it.

[appending_doom]

As close as Mari is, the colors are more distinct, the clear lines of midnight blue and blood red sharply distinct.

Mari

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Make a Spot check.

Chorad approaches Laskin. His contemplative look is gone, and he looks annoyed, the sort of expression that can mean he is impatient, annoyed, worried, or confused.

"I don't suppose you lot have an explanation for this," he grumbles. "Some idiot dug up the rock and stuck it in here to show everyone. I guess this was a good place to echo, because soon everyone heard it, and dragged me down here to listen."

[Sallera]

Niev unclasps her cloak and drapes it around Mari's shoulders. "Here. If you want to get a better look at it, at least this has a little protection in the fabric." She watches the shard uneasily, unable to remove her gaze from it for long. "Do you think it's possible that there is something trapped in there? I'm tempted to try linking to it, but if it was some sort of demon, that could be as risky as touching it physically."

[FirebirdFlying]

"Thanks. I don't know - there's no documented instances of such that I remember. I wish I had a library…better not to link to it, though. Might try to hypnotize you again." With the cloak covering her hand, Mari picks up the rock. "I don't see anything else - you?" She holds it up to Niev.

[Sallera]

Niev gazes deeper into the stone, then after a minute shakes her head. "A beautiful crystal, but I don't see anything new. I wonder where those visions it showed us came from... someone's recorded impressions, or just constructs?"

[appending_doom]

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Wisdom check.

The crystal appears to have been unreactive through this entire exchange. However, shortly after the stone is removed from its base, a faint, real sound carries through the cavern.

The noise is faint, but just loud enough to be heard, as it was designed to be.

You see, it is the alarm for the city of Rasht'dajath.

There are three patterns for the warning bells: one to recall the city's inhabitants to its center, one to warn them of a need to return -- albeit cautiously -- to defend, and one to tell them to flee the city in expectation of its fall.

This is the second pattern, a sign of an assault, albeit one you could have some hope of repelling.

So probably not an illithid invasion.