Chpt. 1: To the Palace

[greyarea]

Shen, monk

Nothing, I say.

[Eulalios]

Idwillen smiles. "nothing."

[NJWilliam]

Ianin, magic-user

Ianin puts on his torc and concentrates on Choronzon's thoughts, bracing himself mentally for what he expects to be their horrific nature.

[Zhym]

Good heavens. That torc is going to be used up by lunch at this rate. Why use it now? Two people have already given the answer.

Andover says nothing.

[Grognardsw]

Shen the monk and Idwellin the druid give answer to the riddle - "nothing."

Ianin activates the Torc of ESP and his mind is overwhelmed with alien thoughts, uncomprehensible mutterings that bounce and echo about his brain. He begins to get a headache then a bit dizzy. The wall of chiaroscuro confusion is suddenly pierced with a voice you do recognize - your deceased mother, saying "these are deep waters."  Then demonic laughter. This all happens within a few seconds.

The others see the Choronzon look troubled, then it smiles. With his massive maw it is not a pretty sight.

"The last adventurers were not so smart," it says. "Or perhaps the riddle is too easy?"

The creature of Chaos picks its teeth with a small rib bone, seemingly in contemplation.

"Nothingness it is," the demon says. "Chaos is nothing if unpredictable. I will let you pass. But I doubt I shall do so again."

It motions you to the exits, two corridors in the north and south walls each.

- Ianin has now learned that the Torc of ESP wearer needs to know language of target to read mind. (Like the Medallion version.)
- 1-50% it lies and attacks:
http://www.unseenservant.com/default.as ... e&id=18036

[jdluna]

Bjorn - Cleric

I say we travel through the southwest passage. I have a positive feeling about that path

[Eulalios]

Idwillen ponders. "North would be back to the entrance hall? Southwest seems fine."

[NJWilliam]

Ianin, magic-user

Ianin tries to broadcast his thoughts to his companions using the torc, Aye, southwest seems to have the most promise.
He then looks about to see if anyone thought he spoke.

[Zhym]

Okay. I just hope we don't have to come back this way, Andover thinks to himself and anyone else who might be listening in to his thoughts.

[Grognardsw]

The 10’ wide hallway continues another 60’ before ending at an open portal through which you see a large oval chamber. The party pauses at the portal. It is a vast chamber 60’ across and 40’ wide in the center. A portal and hallway are in the east and south walls. The floor is covered with ceramic tiles arranged in mosaic fashion. The majority of the thousands of tiles are golden brown in color, but patterns of white and black tiles appear in various places to enhance the effect of the very striking designs thus formed. The designs (various flowing lines, etc.) are decorative, and carry no mysterious message or meaning that you can see.

Arrayed throughout the room are thirteen different pools, each about six feet in diameter, with sides edging up about six inches from the floor. Each pool appears to hold a different liquid. One pool in the middle is afire, its light casting an eerie glow about the chamber while also allowing you to see.



On the far side (pool “H”) you see a prone female in robes. Around that pool you see a good amount of algae, though it’s hard to judge exactly from your distance at the entry portal.

[greyarea]

Shen, monk

Shen will carefully make his way to the prone woman (avoiding the pools, if he can) and examine her as best he can without touching her. Is she alive? Asleep? Does she appear to breathe?

[tkrexx]

Flint, Illusionist

At the sight of the Woman, Flint visibly tenses, then relaxes. It's as if he has calculated vast odds in a second or two, and comforted himself with the outcome.

[tkrexx]

Honnilee, Thief

The Halfling lets a soft, satisfied gasp at the size of the room. She enters stealth mode and begins a reconnoiter of the outer boundaries, looking for just anything that would arouse her curiosity.

[jdluna]

Bjorn - Cleric

Bjorn has his mace at the ready and and keeps an eye on the member moving towards the woman.

[NJWilliam]

Ianin, magic-user

If his esp is still in effect, Ianin will try to read the thoughts of the prone woman.

[Grognardsw]

Ianin's ESP has passed, though you can reengage it. From the past uses you know it lasts about 10 minutes.

Will do full post this evening. Those characters not stating action will be assumed to be remaining at the entrance. Thanks.

[NJWilliam]

Ianin, Magic-User

Ianin's brow furrows as he looks at the motionless woman across the room.
"Ah, well, I would need to re-engage this circlet for it to be of use. It doesn't seem to be a situation warranting another use, especially as I do not know how many more times it may be used."

He then walks to the nearest pool and takes a closer look at it.

[NJWilliam]

Poltux, Fighter

Poltux strides forward to the prone body of the woman, his new magical mace in hand and ready to smash things.

[Grognardsw]

Room of Pools

The group pauses at the entry portal, taking in the faded grandeur of the chamber of pools and deciding next actions.

Shen the monk and Poltux the half-orc warrior move to the prone woman. They follow along the south wall while passing a pool with fish (K), a pool of clear water with submerged gold and jewels (M), and a pool of strange, small whitish rocks giving off eerie vapors (L), to eventually reach the woman next to a pool of steaming and bubbling clear liquid (H). She is raven haired and in robes that reflect one of arcane profession. Shen examines her closely without touching her. She is breathing but unconscious.

Poltux peers suspiciously about while Shen looks at the woman. He spies the dark green and black moss that is all about one side of the pool (H). Not a moss he’s seen before, but the half-orc is no druid.

Honnilee the hobbit strikes out along the north wall, passing by a pool of murky gray thick liquid (C), a pool of clear, fizzing liquid with a pleasant odor (B), and a pool of pink liquid (A).

Ianin the mage examines nearest pool, filled with a yellowish liquid (G). It gives off no scent and is calm.

Whispering Flint, Andover the ranger, Idwellin the druid and Bjorn the cleric stay at the entry portal. Suddenly Flint, Ianin, Idwellin and Bjorn feel a tugging in their brains. They glance about, suspecting mental attack, but see nothing different than what has been described. Flint, Ianin, Idwellin and Bjorn please make a saving throw roll vs. spells.

[NJWilliam]

Ianin, magic-user

Ianin save vs. spells (12+): [1d20] = 14