Chapter 21: The Razor's Edge

[Dave W.]

"As I understand it he's not required to tell us absolute truths. If we were, for example, to ask how many were in his party or what vulnerabilities his former friends suffer, he could respond with 'eggplant', correct?"

"If we could trust him, I would be interested in knowing how much he knows about our quest... something like 'what is the most important piece of information you know about the location of the Eye?' Something like that."

"But I'm not certain asking questions of the dead who were ill-disposed to us in life will get us very far."

[Jeff]

Histra turns and gives an amused smile to Adamant he's unaccustomed to seeing. "You cannot have it both ways, Adamant. Providing sound advice for querying the dead, and yet discouraging its practice." But she turns back to Belarin. "But it does help to assume nothing. If you ask it about us, be clear on who 'we' are or you will receive an unhelpful answer. Do not fear divulging information; the animating spirit has no one to share it with."

[Brian]

Melethos considers a question puzzle. "We need to understand the threat we face. But we also need to get a straight answer from it." He looks at Histra. "Does a threat exist that would scare the dead into telling the truth?"

[Jeff]

"'Scare' the dead?" Histra says. "I do not understand what you mean. It is useless trying to intimidate the animus of a corpse. It has nothing to fear. It has . . . nothing at all. What we are appealing to with this spell is granting it the ability to speak, the ability to do . . . something beyond mere ephemeral existence. Despite what you might assume, the dead desire life, or the semblance of life. Though 'desire' is too strong a word. Necromancy provides that semblance."

Histra touches Belarin on the arm. "Do not refrain from naming our objective, or the Eye itself. It may bring focus to any answer, if it is known the corpse."

[Dave W.]

"I was really just cautioning against expecting too much, not against the trying." He says lightly to Histra.

"As I understand it, the dead can not speak beyond what they experienced in life, so I wouldn't suggest asking about anything beyond this room unless it is about the end goal everyone is seeking... the Eye."

"If you want to know more about this room, that might be useful. Something like: Tell me what you know about what the reliefs in this room tell?"

"Otherwise, focus on the Eye. That is my advice."

[Darren]

"Yes," Kal adds, "if the Riedrans were lying in wait for the Twelve, they may know more about this room."

[Brian]

Oct 13, 2021 10:57:36 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"'Scare' the dead?" Histra says. "I do not understand what you mean. It is useless trying to intimidate the animus of a corpse. It has nothing to fear. It has . . . nothing at all. What we are appealing to with this spell is granting it the ability speak, the ability to do . . . something beyond mere ephemeral existence. Despite what you might assume, the dead desire life, or the semblance of life. Though 'desire' is too strong a word. Necromancy provides that semblance."

Melethos looks uncomfortable at Histra's explanation. Finally, he shrugs. "I've never been one of the dead, so I know little of what effects them."

To Belarin, he says, "I have nothing."

[Dave B.]

Shorak looks thoughtful for a moment. "I doubt it will work, but how about, 'Which path did your killers take so that we may avenge your death?', or something like that." He looks down at the body and suppresses a shiver. "That's the only thing I can think of."

[Ken]

Belarin asks the corpse, "What did you learn here that would aid your search for the Eye of Azalar?"

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Question #4.

[Jeff]

"That we shadow several individuals who might reasonably succeed in finding the Eye. She will watch them and wait."

[Brian]

Melethos glances at Kal. "Our efforts to find the Eye aren't necessarily a secret. If we're being shadowed, I'd like to know."

[Darren]

"They seem to be shadowing us and the Twelve, and likely the tieflings, too. That tells me we're on the right track, anyway. Maybe we can find out the size of their force? Or if they have an ambush set up ahead? Or where they expect to catch us? That may tell us which way to go..."

[Jeff]

Sem and Starg continue their inspection of the reliefs, careful to avoid stepping up onto any of the daises. Then Sem points out, pointing, after looking at the northeastern relief that depicts the hooded wizardly god. "So here's something. Is that a scorch mark?"

"No," Starg says. "It looks more like dark ink. A blot. It even appears damp. It may be recent."

Histra looks at Belarin. "Anything we can learn about this chamber, now, from the corpse, would be best."

[Ken]

Oct 14, 2021 9:08:38 GMT -4 Darren said:

"They seem to be shadowing us and the Twelve, and likely the tieflings, too. That tells me we're on the right track, anyway. Maybe we can find out the size of their force? Or if they have an ambush set up ahead? Or where they expect to catch us? That may tell us which way to go..."

"I tried to get a rough idea of their size before," says Belarin, "and he wouldn't know about any ambushes that are set up further along. Even if he did, he would avoid any specifics."

After Histra's suggestion, he nods and focuses one more on the corpse. "This chamber... besides the fellow seekers of the Eye, what dangers did you and your brethren encounter here?"

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Final question.

[Jeff]

"This place," the corpses says with its final 'breath,' "required only obeisance to their imagined gods. We triggered no defenses, though the Lady did discover one."

When the jaw stops moving, Histra crouches down and immediately sets to work with the corpse. Preparing it for animation. "Well done, Belarin," she says.

[Ken]

Belarin lets out a deep breath. The warlock had done his best to make the necromantic conversation seems effortless, but that continued concentration was taxing. "Thank you, Histra," he says.

Still sitting, he says to Adamant and Streko, "You heard him! If we're too proceed safely, we need to honor the representations of the gods. I'll leave that to the two of you!"

He then gets up and out of the way, to give Histra more room to work.

[Dave W.]

"Hmmm, not sure what rites are appropriate. I wonder if the previous group made any sacrifices?"

Adamant takes another look around the statues and reliefs...

---

is there any sign of a previous sacrifice? or an obvious place to leave a sacrifice?

[Darren]

Kal walks over to where Sem and Starg are, bringing the end of his staff close to the wall they are inspecting. The end lights up and he peers closer, calling over to Shorak to join him. "What do you make of this mark?"

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Kal will inspect the ink mark closer. Perception check is a 21. He will cast Light on his staff so that he can get a really good look at the wall. Ye olde flashlight.

[Ken]

Oct 14, 2021 14:34:04 GMT -4 Dave W. said:

"Hmmm, not sure what rites are appropriate. I wonder if the previous group made any sacrifices?"

Belarin stretches his arms and legs. "Well, nothing too intricate, I imagine. I mean, the Riedrans were able to do something satisfactory."

[Jeff]

Neither Shorak nor Streko observe anything different from before. When Kal comes closer, he finds the light of his staff unnecessary. The wall-mounted torches are large and blazing already, and the green-lowing orbs that cap the statues' scepters only add more light.

Sem and Starg converse briefly then both step up onto the dais itself. Is Kal doing the same?

"No, I don't think most of the giants performed sacrifices, at least not the way we understand it. I don't think we need to worry about anything so complicated or messy here." The gnome looks this way and then. "I think it will simply have something to do with these icons, and these daises." He stamps his foot on the one he's standing on. To Adamant and Streko he says, "What's your instinct tell you? How do you pay respect to a god when you don't have a lot of time? Imagine each of these is a shrine."

Within a minute's time, Histra's chanting is done. She concludes by tapping her staff on the ground twice. The dead Riedran curls upward and climbs to his feet. A mindless zombie. "We might experiment," she says. "Shall I send it somewhere?" she asks Belarin.

[Darren]

(Sure. Kal wants to get a good look at the ink spot.)

[Jeff]

Kal sees the ink is a large blot, and it looks like it's been hastily or clumsily splattered onto the relief, covering a portion of the hooded god's leg. It really does look like writing ink, a copious amount.

[Dave B.]

"So we go up to one of the reliefs and bow before it?" Shorak asks. He turns when Kal calls to him. He moves to stand next to Kal and also look at the stain. He will also examine the area around the spot. "The corpse said something about discovering one of the rooms defenses. Perhaps this was how they dealt with it." Shorak surmises.

[Jeff]

Shorak sees the ink as well. He, too, sees that it looks fresh. If it had been here for years, it would surely have faded somewhat, but it is dark. Both halfdrow and human also see that this relief is the one closest to the "missing" statue. Sem looks at Shorak thoughtfully. He opens his mouth to say something.

And then Melethos and Thul see something appear out of the corner of their eyes. They whirl east, facing the archway. For standing there some fifteen feet into the corridor, are a tiefling and a bugbear! The former has a longsword in one hand, a dagger in the other; the latter carries a heavy morningstair in two hands. Both look startled as well! Melethos has no doubt, these two are from Orvak's company!

"How . . . ?" the tiefling begins, but his words trail off as he takes in the huge chamber and its columns, and your party.

[Darren]

Kal looks between Sem and the new arrivals. "The teleportation, it seems." Taking several steps towards the tiefling, Kal says, "What was the last thing that happened before you found yourself here?"

[Brian]

Melethos opens his mouth, about to say something, but Kal takes charge of the newcomers.

He waits to see what his fellow tiefling has to say.

[Jeff]

Kal has to move a few paces to even see the tiefling from where he's standing, but nearly everyone else in the chamber can see them now, too. Adamant's and Streko's view are only partially blocked by the plinth that the missing statue would be standing on. But since that one is vacant, they just barely see over it from where they're standing.

The tiefling hardens his surprised expression, not taking his eyes off Kal as he says something quietly to the bugbear. Like a command. The bugbear goes from wary to standing tall and threatening; it looks behind them often. But they don't make any hostile moves.

"Apologies," the tielfing says, "But I do not take orders from you. Perhaps you can explain what you know of this place, and I will tell you what I know."

[Brian]

Melethos steps forward. He raises his hands in a gesture of peace. "You would be wise to tread carefully here," he says in Common. "You are outnumbered, but you are not threatened." Switching to Supernal, he says, "Orval would not like to see two of his people die needlessly." Then he switches back to Common. "You stepped into the teleportation chamber below, and now you find yourselves here. This chamber remains a mystery. You are free to join us and tell Orval or Khazamus what you learn."

He waits to hear their reply.

[Jeff]

When Melethos speaks his words in Supernal, he can see the other tiefling's expression darken. He has taken the words as a threat. He mutters something to the bugbear, and the two begin to move backward, further out in the hall, but keep facing you.

Histra and Belarin are closer than anyone. The zombie shambles to stand between them and the tiefling and bugbear.

[Brian]

"You are free to leave," Melethos says. "But we don't know what is down that corridor. If you run into trouble, you are on your own." He tries smiling. "I am known to Khazamus and Ajdalarr. I visited your camp before you started up the stairs. I promise you will come to no harm from us. If you wish to learn more and report back, stay with us."

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Melethos: D20 + 7 #Charisma ( Persuasion ) Check → 19(12 + 7)