Stiehle

I'd think only if you tried to speak Druidic and they answered, or if they cast a druidic-only spell. If you're speaking of the shape-changing thing, I don't think Wild Shape would look any different from another ability that allows one to do the same basic thing - unless it were a spell with verbal, somatic or material components. Nobody witnessing the shape change saw any such thing.

Still in an amused tone. "Well... you're smarter than the Zargonites at any rate..." And then, in the next moment, the pair seem to... change... their bodies shifting and shrinking into dogs... no, foxes! Then they're both moving, darting off into the shadows... OOC: Actions? You've got about a round to do something, they're moving fast. Adventure Details Party Health & Adventure Notes Selina (18/19 HP) Darkvision (300') Paaras (16/23 HP) Darkvision Raaz (22/22 HP) Ongotho (27/27 HP) Garrick (17/21) Darkvision; carrying an Everburning lantern Rodnel (20/20 HP) Mage Armor is active for a bit less than 8 hours; Darkvision Player Mentions @Draidden @herastor @RedDingo @Magiker @Der_kulge @Ensou

Though he can't see the eyes of the red-haired man with the fox mask, he senses from his body language that he's a little too eager to see Garrick reach for the helm. The timbre of his voice also indicates he's not telling the entire truth. OOC: Actions? Even if you're just watching? I'd like to know who we have with us still. Adventure Details Party Health & Adventure Notes Selina (18/19 HP) Darkvision (300') Paaras (16/23 HP) Darkvision Raaz (22/22 HP) Ongotho (27/27 HP) Garrick (17/21) Darkvision; carrying an Everburning lantern Rodnel (20/20 HP) Mage Armor is active for a bit less than 8 hours; Darkvision Player Mentions @Draidden @herastor @RedDingo @Magiker @Der_kulge @Ensou

The fellow seems honest enough to Garrick, and the helm certainly looks quite fancy with runes engraved into the metal. It could be magical, he figures. OOC: By the way, if anyone else is still around, figure you can see all this going on from where you're standing at the doorway - even if you haven't come in and introduced yourselves. Unless you're hiding and trying not to be seen. Adventure Details Party Health & Adventure Notes Selina (18/19 HP) Darkvision (300') Paaras (16/23 HP) Darkvision Raaz (22/22 HP) Ongotho (27/27 HP) Garrick (17/21) Darkvision; carrying an Everburning lantern Rodnel (20/20 HP) Mage Armor is active for a bit less than 8 hours; Darkvision Player Mentions @Draidden @herastor @RedDingo @Magiker @Der_kulge @Ensou

Though Danielth's expression is unreadable beneath his mask, Garrick detects a hint of amusement in the man's voice as he answers the monk and then the rogue. "Oh yes, the world above is not for the faint of heart. I doubt most of the drug-addled Zargonites would last longer than a minute up there. A crazy bunch they are, best to leave them be. As to where we're from? Well, let's just say we're from here and there and everywhere. My sister and I never stay too long in one place. Perhaps we'll find a market for our find in Kanak. Unless you're interested? It's quite a fine piece." Danielth moves slowly, so as not to alarm either the half-orc or the elf and retrieves an item from within the folds of his colorful robe and pulls forth a gleaming helm of silver, wrapped in blue cloth. "Wearing this will allow you to read any kind of language at all - useful I think, if you plan to explore this place further. Two thousand gold is a great deal, and we'll take trade if you don't have the coin. We could probably get more in Kanak, but that would be an awfully long journey through the harsh desert. We both sunburn quite easily, you know." Based on his own knowledge of the area, including the fact that their own caravan had been headed toward Kanak, the stranger's story in itself doesn't seem to be false. OOC: Go ahead and give me an Insight check. Both of you. Adventure Details Party Health & Adventure Notes Selina (18/19 HP) Darkvision (300') Paaras (16/23 HP) Darkvision Raaz (22/22 HP) Ongotho (27/27 HP) Garrick (17/21) Darkvision; carrying an Everburning lantern Rodnel (20/20 HP) Mage Armor is active for a bit less than 8 hours; Darkvision Player Mentions @Draidden @herastor @RedDingo @Magiker @Der_kulge @Ensou

Hi Magiker! Glad you're still with us, my friend!

The pair nod in greeting as first Garrick and then Paaras introduce themselves. "As a matter of fact, my sister and I were discussing much the same thing. We came upon this place ourselves a few months back and have had some luck finding a few interesting magical items - but most of the population here seem too drug-addled to properly barter with us. We've managed to sell most of our finds, with one exception, and were just talking about moving on from this long-forgotten city and get back to proper civilization. I don't suppose you could point us out to the most direct route out of here?" Adventure Details Party Health & Adventure Notes Selina (18/19 HP) Darkvision (300') Paaras (16/23 HP) Darkvision Raaz (22/22 HP) Ongotho (27/27 HP) Garrick (17/21) Darkvision; carrying an Everburning lantern Rodnel (20/20 HP) Mage Armor is active for a bit less than 8 hours; Darkvision Player Mentions @Draidden @herastor @RedDingo @Magiker @Der_kulge @Ensou

I appreciate that! :)

Actually not sure about that, myself. I know the board frowns on some forms of links (mainly those that violate copyright) and I've already had a warning for that!

Is that right? I'm gonna have to check that out! I'm betting the writers of the module had it in mind!!

Garrick starts to move closer to overhear their words, but the rogue fails to see a loose stone in the darkness and it skitters away from his boot as he kicks it accidentally. He winces as the masked heads of the two figures turn in his direction as one. The smaller figure reaches for a shortsword on their belt, but doesn't draw it. The taller figure crosses its arms against their chest and cocks their head to one side as it speaks in a voice that sounds distinctively masculine - and more amused than alarmed. "Well, well... what do we have here? A stranger, and a newcomer as well, if my guess is correct? You don't look Cynidicean, your skin has too much color. And an elf? From the surface world?" He glances at the other, who moves their hand away from the sword hilt they'd reached for. "I imagine you're not here by yourself? I'm Danielth, this is my sister, Danara." OOC Thank you for your patience everyone, I hope we've still got all our players. If not, I've only myself to blame. A tough tax season (I always forget how draining these months are between January and April) and I got sick on top of that - though had no choice but to work through it. But I'm feeling better now and tax season is done, so let's get this show on the road! Adventure Details Party Health & Adventure Notes Selina (18/19 HP) Darkvision (300') Paaras (16/23 HP) Darkvision Raaz (22/22 HP) Ongotho (27/27 HP) Garrick (17/21) Darkvision; carrying an Everburning lantern Rodnel (20/20 HP) Mage Armor is active for a bit less than 8 hours; Darkvision Player Mentions @Draidden @herastor @RedDingo @Magiker @Der_kulge @Ensou

I'm here folks, just bogged down with work and lacking energy when I get home. My posting rate will be slow between now and April 15, but I promise to get a few in between now and then. Be patient with me, and we'll get the adventure rolling again soon. Thanks!!

Garrick looks over the door carefully, with Paaras right behind him. The half-orc doesn't note anything dangerous either, and with a nod the rogue opens the door quietly. This immense room is obviously a place of worship. On either side of a broad center aisle are rows of high-backed wooden benches that extend all the way to the far end of the room, where a wide hallway exits the temple - though only Selina can see that far through the darkness. The door through which the party has entered opens onto an illuminated dais that fills this entire end of the room, extending out about fifteen feet before descending into the main worship area. Narrow aisles along the walls run past ornate mosaics to a pair of small fountains set into the walls on either side of the dais, just in front of the first stone bench. On the dais itself, near a stone altar, lay three large toppled statues that look similar to the ones on the top of the pyramid outside - a strong bearded man holding a balance in one hand and a lighting bolt in the other; a slim woman cradling a sheaf of wheat in one arm and holding a longsword in the other hand; and a winged child with two snakes twined around its body, holding a wand in one hand and a handful of coins in the other. Two figures about forty feet away stand near the toppled statues, one of them leaning against the broken stonework in a nonchalant manner while the other's stance is more rigid, their arms crossed in front of their chest. Both are clad in colorful clothes and their hair is a dark shade of red, but masks conceal most of their faces - both of them crafted to appear as foxes. A lantern is set upon one of the larger stone chunks that made up the pedestal of the middle-most statue, shedding plentiful light upon most of the dais, as well as the statues and the front thirty feet or so of the worship area. Beyond that is darkness, though the ambient light gives those without darkvision at least some idea of the surroundings. The moment draws out, as Garrick decides whether to hail the strangers, attack, or perhaps sneak up on them to eavesdrop. In that instant though, he can't be sure if they've noticed him yet, as they are engrossed in their personal conversation... OOC Depending on how you want to go about this, you may speak to them to alert them to your presence or give me a Stealth check - Garrick at least and anyone else who wants to move in. In the latter case, it will be an opposed roll against their Passive Perception as they aren't actively looking around. If anyone is NOT moving into the room, let me know what you're doing. Adventure Details Party Health & Adventure Notes Selina (18/19 HP) Darkvision (300') Paaras (16/23 HP) Darkvision Raaz (22/22 HP) Ongotho (27/27 HP) Garrick (17/21) Darkvision; carrying an Everburning lantern Rodnel (20/20 HP) Mage Armor is active for a bit less than 8 hours; Darkvision Player Mentions @Draidden @herastor @RedDingo @Magiker @Der_kulge @Ensou

One by one, the group tests their weight on the trap door and are relieved when it fails to give way beneath them. No telling what's down there, but it's probably not very fun. Selina, whose darkvision is vastly superior to anyone else's, including the illumination cast by Garrick's lantern, reports that the hallway to the north ends in a door - which is actually just barely visible to anyone that cross over the pit in that direction - while the corridor east extends some hundred feet or a bit more and ends in a T intersection. Everyone on the west side of the pit can also see the hallway heading that direction takes an elbow bend to the north about fifty feet away. OOC Which way, then? Adventure Details Party Health & Adventure Notes Selina (18/19 HP) Darkvision (300') Paaras (16/23 HP) Darkvision Raaz (22/22 HP) Ongotho (27/27 HP) Garrick (17/21) Darkvision; carrying an Everburning lantern Rodnel (20/20 HP) Mage Armor is active for a bit less than 8 hours; Darkvision Player Mentions @Draidden @herastor @RedDingo @Magiker @Der_kulge @Ensou

I'll save you the sweating and let you know that you succeeded - if just barely! The Investigation check was a chance to lower the DC to... well, to 10! If you'd failed the first check, the DC would have been 18 - with failure meaning that you THINK it's safe, but it actually wasn't!