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Fri 29th Dec 2023 10:39

...Into the Fire

by Krod

[... The party solve the Puzzles and escape]
 
I cant help but be impressed at the ingenuity of these puzzles the gnomes left in this chamber. Despite the puzzles simplistic nature its deceptive in how it makes one overthink and waste time to find the solution. Lord Robert the other soul left to die down here has given some interesting insight in solving these puzzles, despite his frailness his mind is still sharp. I'm impressed with Killian's problem solving and fortitude, the amount of literal blood he put into solving these mysteries is commendable.
-Note possible solutions to put to gnomish puzzles in the future.
Statues-if incomplete, requires completion structurally and a gesture to its purpose for example a sacrifice of ones own blood.
Writings-read carefully, not to the true nature of whats being said but how it written for example a sequence of colors and the advice of the souls who failed previously.
Architectural-there is a reason for everything made and how its made for example the indents in columns for climbing and a stone slab that requires weight to reveal a secondary chamber.
Clock-despite its obvious nature counting down to our doom in this scenario additional mechanisms are set into place for example moving the hands in a sequence that matches the solution.
Shrine-what looks to be sacred in nature, a final form of repentance before the end may provide alternative solutions for example physically touching what you think in the outside world shouldn't be touched.
Abnormalities-underneath what appears to dangerous or damaged in nature may hide solutions for example a small pit of acid once drained and a crack in a tile once opened revel solutions.
Death Trap-the very placement of what might kill you may hold another purpose for example the vent expelling the poison gas became the way out after solving the puzzles.
 
Daylight. We've escaped ! A quick glance at the surrounding area puts us near the Chapel of Rehabilitation, this cant be coincidental as the chamber we just escaped was used for 'rehabilitation'. interesting that we've ended up this far away ? Unarmed, weak and on the run. We all decide to head up to the chapel and get out of the open. Perhaps there is something in the chapel that might shed some light as to what is going on around here ?
Note-The distance traveled from the guard house to the exit of the chamber definitely transported us via magical means, maybe not as potent as a teleportation but a certainly a temporal shunt. The utility of temporal shunting is a boon that I need to unlock.
 
Damn it all ! Killian said we've been spotted. We haven't got long !
 
The Chapel appears to hold no clues. Simple depictions of healing the sick body and mind. Even after Dolen decided scale the exterior to gauge any abnormalities on the top of the structure, frustrating.
 
We need our equipment ! Dolen, Killian and I decide to head towards the guard house via the outskirts of the village along the tree line. We have no idea as to how far this corruption runs within the community. I have to give the oaf credit, he managed to diffuse a situation that he created. That's what happens when you decide to try and sneak in heavy armor, you fall over and have to bride a child not to tell anyone.
Note-If I am to be travelling with these two for the foreseeable, I'm going to have to craft them some better gear that counter acts there weaknesses. Look into Mithril alloy for Killian as his armor is not very quiet and imbue an item of strength for Dolen as his natural strength is lacking.
 
The river is more vicious than we initially thought, we're all exhausted and we haven't even made it to the guard house yet.
Ugh ! I can tell I'm at the end of my tether with this place. I'm not going to deny that I am inpatient and stubborn to a point but now I'm feeling angry and want retribution. My knowledge should never be used to maliciously harm another but with everything going on, I'm struggling not to give in...
 
Something within the village seems to have drawn the guards away. Excellent ! I make my way inside alone and find our equipment, everything seems to be there.
 
Spotted ! A lone guard on his way back to the guard house. Despite my frustrations and wanting to exact some form of retribution we still don't know whats going on around here, this lad could very well be innocent.
Note-Spell utility observation.
Invisibility is amazing for non-detection when needing to extract something and infiltration when needing to enter a guarded or restricted area undetected.
Web can be utilized to restrain someone or something from escaping or even falling also to lock an area down, this can be used as an escape tool too to block the way for those that chase you.
 
We managed to drag the lone guard out of sight into the guard house. I want to have a look round too, if there is any clues to be uncovered they must be found...
 
...Another 8 sided bone dice. That's 3 of them now ?... A 1 is the outcome of this role and suddenly the environment changes, a storm brews in moments, wind, rain and thunder. We maybe out of time !...