Way of the Wicked: Knot of Thorns [IC]

[Hypersmith]

With Seva at his back, Ilnesh shrugs and pulls open the western door.

[Kish]

On the other side of the door, a corridor leads around to the south. Written directly opposite the door are the words, "You have found the true path."

Spoiler: OOC

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Map is updated.

[Cavir]

Vosnak

"Two down, seven to go." From his voice it seems he is actually enjoying the challenges.

[Buufreak]

Fantastic. Carry on.

[Hypersmith]

Ilnesh continues into the hallway, moving slowly once more, looking about for anything odd on the walls. "Think hallways count as a room?"

[Silver Night]

Seva

Seva stays in position to back Ilnesh up.

[Cavir]

Vosnak

"Nine chambers was specified, but only time will tell." He keeps 10 feet behind Ilnesh to keep him supplied with light.

[Ixe]

Ixe: "Our success is encouraging, yet I am unsettled by the ease with which we have come this far. And, yes, I do think that hallways count as chambers."

(( Moving to E13. Ixe will continue to move with the group. ))

[Hypersmith]

Ilnesh looks about at the surrounding group.
"Give me a hand - search the walls while I search the ground ahead for traps.
We have time, so I plan to search the eastern half thoroughly.
With that, he commences his slow, thorough search process.

Spoiler: OOC

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taking 20 (23) on C14 - C21.

[Silver Night]

Seva

Seva does as asked, carefully searching the walls as they go.

Spoiler

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Taking 20, so 24

[Kish]

You make slow progress down the corridor; Ilnesh and Seva find nothing nonobvious.

Spoiler

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Hurricane Irma has passed over and I have electricity again. Also, the map is updated.

[Ixe]

Ixe looks on awkwardly as Ilnesh expertly inspects every square inch of the floor they are about to pass over. He looks side-to-side as Vosnak and Seva likewise cautiously search each stone of the surrounding walls, alert to any sign of danger. Hoping to be helpful, he begins to poke and prod at the stone ceiling of the corridor with the metal tip of his staff. Then, realizing that this is making far too much noise (as well as the fact that, if he does find something, it is likely to fall on him), he stops, sighing uselessly.

[Hypersmith]

Ilnesh is totally engrossed in his work. As he reaches the end of the hallway and stares down at the bend, he stands up and stretches, a frown furrowing his brow. He takes a tentative step to the east, then another, pausing to listen for any odd sounds. If none occur, he strides down to the bend, peering down it.

Spoiler: OOC

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perception when listening. (1d20+3)[16]
then moving to J20 if all is well.

[Kish]

Spoiler: Ilnesh

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You hear nothing over the movements of your companions. Around the corner, you see another wooden door. Predictably, it appears to have something written on it, though you can't read it from here.

[Hypersmith]

"Looks like hallways are just that." Ilnesh mumbles to himself, signaling to the others to come forward with an open hand. Without waiting, he moves up to the door, inspecting the text.

[Cavir]

Vosnak is very patient while Ilnesh searches along the wall. Ixe's tapping of the ceiling then stopping on his own accord attracted Vosnak's attention while his psicrystal kept on the look out for him. "Dark Arts you say? Yes, that would get you swift passage to Brandescar. Didn't hide your secret well enough hmm? My crime was the opposite, exposing what the church wanted to keep secret. They've made enemies now." Vosnak is happy to continue the conversation.

Once Ilnesh decides to skip ahead to the next door Vosnak keeps up, ensuring to tread where the trapfinder did, lighting the way for those ahead of him.

[Kish]

The inscription on the door reads, “Know your enemy. Shatter all that blinds you and then burn your adversary to ashes.”

[Jopustopin]

Jeyne

She had been following closely behind those searching with her crossbow at the ready. Ignoring those talking she maintained a focus on her surroundings never lowering her heavy crossbow that looked so large in her small hands. Just from carrying her gear she looked like she was beginning to break a sweat.

As the light hit the inscriptions she quickly smiled and whispered, "Remember the prison guards I burned alive? I've got more of that when we need it."

[Ixe]

Vosnak: "Dark Arts you say? ... Didn't hide your secret well enough hmm?"

Ixe: "Indeed. It was not easy to find someone capable of instructing me, and more difficult still to prostr- that is, persuade - him into taking me on as a student. I was admonished several times to conceal my forbidden knowledge, but, did I listen? No.

It was Love that drove me to recklessness. Rebecca - how I do miss her company. Though her husband held her heart for many years, he eventually left her, after she died bearing his child. I rescued her from a horrible fate - rotting away, in a cold grave, like that - and we had hoped to spend many happy years together, had not Sir Balin intervened." He sighs wistfully.

Vosnak: "My crime was the opposite, exposing what the church wanted to keep secret. They've made enemies now."

Ixe: <intrigued> "Long have I resented the Pelorite's iron grip on what the citizens of Talingarde may or may not 'know'. What, exactly, did you expose?"

The inscription on the door reads, “Know your enemy. Shatter all that blinds you and then burn your adversary to ashes.”

Ixe pauses. He looks sideways at Jeyne, hefting her loaded weapon, ready for anything. He then takes a noticeable step towards the rear.

Ixe: "kakhard zrah" ((Casting Mage Armor upon himself))

[Hypersmith]

Ilnesh taps his foot as he considers the text on the door. As Vosnak and Ixe speak he slowly nods, turning back to face them and the approaching Jeyne. "As much as I support the stealthy approach, this text calls for action, but try not to jump in setting everything ablaze. We must first identify the enemy.".
He clicks his heels together, and a blade springs out of the sole of his right boot. He looks it over with satisfaction for a moment before pushing it back into place on the stone floor. In its stead he pulls a plain dagger out of the back of his boot.
"Ready for number three?"

[Silver Night]

Seva

"Might this one be literal, and if so should at least some of us shield our eyes in case there is something that will indeed blind us inside? perhaps in particular someone with a ranged combat ability if there is something to 'break'."

Seva will follow her own suggestion, at least for the initial entry.

[Cavir]

Vosnak looks at Ixe with some shock as he tells his bizarre tale. "Love? Sounds more like twisted obsession. You realize she is totally gone now right? Soul and body. Time to put all that behind you. If you want revenge you'll need to put her in the past. Focus on learning to keep hidden and on our tasks. I learned that when the Pelorites began forcing their hand upon all, the followers of other gods, good and evil, hid their knowledge so not all would be lost forever. I found one such stash hidden under in a cathedral to Pelor. Ends up it used to be a cathedral to another god but most of those records had been expunged. I found the truth and to cover it up they made me disappear."

He joins the others to read the new words of wisdom. "Wise idea Seva. We can all close our eyes to avoid a blinding experience. My crystal can not be blinded and will let me know what there is to see as long as it isn't invisible. I am ready for the door, but remember this is only number 3 so let's preserve our powers if possible."

Vosnak will stand back from the door but where the crystal will be able to see into the room. He closes his eyes until Sarin informs him what is going on.

[Jopustopin]

Jeyne

As the group focuses on the door Jeyne falls back with Ixe and speaks quietly to him, "Love makes us all fools. I think it's sweet. What did Rebecca look like?"

She pauses a second then blushes and says, "Nevermind we have more important things to focus on - and I should stay alert. I don't have any armor or protection."

Spoiler

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Spellcraft to identify Ixe's spell: (1d20+11)[21] vs DC 16

[Hypersmith]

As the group discuss the door and their entry to the next room, Ilnesh inspects the door for any traps.
"It won't do for us to be in disarray when we step through the door, since most of us will be effectively blind one way or another. All it takes is a few seconds of that to cause significant damage, even with verbal warning from Vosnak. I can delay my entrance a moment "
He steps to the side of the door, nodding to Sictona and Seva. "After you."
Ilnesh doesn't close his eyes, but he stands to the side of the door, planning to go in after the door is opened.

Spoiler: OOC

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taking 20 (23) on door search

[Kish]

You find no traps on the door.

[Cavir]

While the party waits on Ilnesh's study of the door, Vosnak silently chats with his psicrystal. At one point he nods his head and a brief shimmer is seen around his body then goes away.

Spoiler: OOC

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Manifesting Inertial Armor. +4 AC to me and the psicrystal for 2 hours. 1PP spent, 13 left.

[Silver Night]

Seva

Seva will open the door, if the others seem to be ready. Since she is going through first she will abandon the not-looking idea, though she will initially try to avert her eyes from the main part of the room.

[Kish]

On the other side of the door is pitch darkness. The light from Ixe's sunrod and Vosnak's crystal stops at the threshold in a way that becomes more unambiguously unnatural as they move closer to the door.

[Cavir]

"Sarin, what do you see?" The green crystal around Vosnak's neck animates with many legs and climbs on top of his head.

Spoiler: OOC

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Psicystal isn't affected by magical darkness and can "see" 40ft (darkness and silence ignored). Invisible and ethereal still effective. It doesn't have to climb up, just done for storytelling.

Perception rolls (non sight for Vosnak)
Vosna [roll0]
Sarin: [roll1]
EDIT from OOC:
Vosna (1d20+3)[10]
Sarin: (1d20+4)[11]

[Kish]

Spoiler: Sarin

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The crystal reports a room the same size as the previous two, with doors in the north and east. In the middle, instead of the ceiling lamp that was in the previous two, is a pedestal with some kind of globe on it.