Post by Master on Jul 6, 2015 21:26:36 GMT -8
The party continues on, following their map as best they can. Taking note of the lack of patrols, or response of any kind. The party arrives at a clearing in the increasingly dense woods. They happen upon a large building, or rather the ancient skeleton of one. A large building once loomed over this section of the woods, now only a few fallen columns and half of one wall remain. Stones broken by weeds and other vegetation appear in a roughly rectangular shape, presumably the remnants of the building's ground floor footprint. The stone floor appears to be littered with refuse. Old dead campfires, scraps of wood and cloth, a few broken and ruined tents. On the far end of the structure is an intact tent. It seems to shutter in the breeze. No weapons or signs of battle can be seen.
DC 15 Perception
As the party approaches, the silence and stillness start to seem oppressive, almost like the ruin itself is lying in wait, ready to swallow anyone who disturbs it. As the party leaves the cover of the foliage (GM assumption) and gets close to the ruin, images and reliefs can be seen on the remains of the pillars. Carved in relief, the pillars depict humanoids in massive groups bowing to massive reptiles, as if in supplication. The stones that make up the floor are decorated with strange runes. Inlaid into the stones is some strange lustrous substance that scatters and sparkles when the light catches it. A great many of the stones appear to have been recently pried from the ground, and show clear signs of attempts to remove the lustrous inlay.
Most striking of the ruin, is the single remaining wall. Based on the stone footprint, it was likely an interior wall. The wall seems to be crumbling along with the rest of the structure, but painted in faded colors is a beautiful mural. The mural depicts masses of ashen faced humanoids marching, as if at war, against many strange and terrible creatures. Opposing the pale white-faced masses appear to be misshapen or deformed animals. Bulls, snakes, goats, some frogs all morphed into vague human shaped forms. Joining the misshapen, flying above this artistic battlefield, a legion of humans with strange bird wings and bright shining armor.
Ravna and Surallel
DC 15 Knowledge (History)
DC 20 Knowledge (History)
DC 25 Knowledge (History)
Tessa, if she attempts to study the Mural
Surallel, if he attempts to study the Mural
Rothgar, Darvan, Ravna, and Surallel or Tessa if they do not want to study the mural
All Players please Respond. I will make a new tab on the battlemap to track everyone's progress. That does not necessarily mean that a battle is imminent.
DC 15 Perception
The tent clearly moves and sways, as if in a breeze. You notice, unsettlingly, that the tent does NOT flutter in the breeze, at least not at the same time as the gusts of the wind. What appears to be a door appears to have a scrap of paper pinned to it.
As the party approaches, the silence and stillness start to seem oppressive, almost like the ruin itself is lying in wait, ready to swallow anyone who disturbs it. As the party leaves the cover of the foliage (GM assumption) and gets close to the ruin, images and reliefs can be seen on the remains of the pillars. Carved in relief, the pillars depict humanoids in massive groups bowing to massive reptiles, as if in supplication. The stones that make up the floor are decorated with strange runes. Inlaid into the stones is some strange lustrous substance that scatters and sparkles when the light catches it. A great many of the stones appear to have been recently pried from the ground, and show clear signs of attempts to remove the lustrous inlay.
Most striking of the ruin, is the single remaining wall. Based on the stone footprint, it was likely an interior wall. The wall seems to be crumbling along with the rest of the structure, but painted in faded colors is a beautiful mural. The mural depicts masses of ashen faced humanoids marching, as if at war, against many strange and terrible creatures. Opposing the pale white-faced masses appear to be misshapen or deformed animals. Bulls, snakes, goats, some frogs all morphed into vague human shaped forms. Joining the misshapen, flying above this artistic battlefield, a legion of humans with strange bird wings and bright shining armor.
Ravna and Surallel
This mural, as well as the stones and columns, are clearing Draconian in origin. As part of your studies at the Academy, both of Ravna and Surallel visited Draconian ruins near Caer Uthis. Those ruins had been intensely studied and the artwork restored. The degraded nature of the ruins here would seem to indicate that they have been undiscovered by the Arcana Society. An integral part of study at the Academy is the study of the Draconian civilization, of which little is known. Their civilization predates any written history in the known world, and that civilization spanned the entire known world, as from the Badlands and the coast of the Frozen sea, to Cathay and beyond. The only information about them, comes from the ruins they left behind. They were powerful mages, indeed nearly all magical and alchemical knowledge in use today derives from study of the Draconians, and seemed to worship great lizards. Real study of the Draconians is difficult. They left behind great libraries and repositories of powerful magical artifacts, but no histories, no census information, none of the written information that modern society often depends on. They seemed to be advanced, technologically and magically, even more than modern societies, but there seems to be no physical trace of them. Many speculate that they transformed, by some magical means, into modern humanoids, but that does not explain the complete loss of their culture.
DC 15 Knowledge (History)
These are Draconian Ruins. A pre-historic civilization that was incredibly advanced in magic and technology. They are named for the supposition that they worshiped great lizards. Thier artwork often depicts them kneeling or bowing. Ruins linked to the Draconians have been found everywhere in the known world, from the coast on the Frozen Sea in the north, to Cathay, and points beyond. The heart of the civilization seems to have been Alainta, or perhaps the Elven Realm, as the greatest finds have been made there. The most intact libraries and repositories of powerful artifacts. It is believed that sites in Cathay and beyond are likely satellite cultures, peoples who trade with and were influenced by the Draconians.
DC 20 Knowledge (History)
These ruins have not been discovered by the Arcana Society. The Society has special division that explores ruins such as these. Often the ruins are filled with traps or guardians left to protect their secrets. Those that do not have traps set by Draconians often become lairs to beasts or other powerful creatures drawn in by the powerful magic that sometimes reside within. Occasionally, creatures (both the intelligent and the less so) will tunnel up from beneath the earth, making homes the ancient tomes and reliquaries.
DC 25 Knowledge (History)
The mural depicts ashen faced humanoids. Such depictions are not unknown in Draconian art, but they are rare. Most often the depiction of such creatures is associated with the undead. Often necromantic tomes and relics have been recovered from such places. The sporadic and rare artwork (and associated relics) are believed to indicate that necromancy was not wildly accepted by the Draconians. Either the use or control of undead was too difficult, or more of Draconians society regarded the practice with disdain. The latter is the more prevalent theory, perhaps because it supports the official Society stance on the use of Necromancy.
Tessa, if she attempts to study the Mural
Looking at the mural, you feel mesmerized by it. While the images are not familiar, you do feel a strange attraction to them. It may be the depiction of a great battle, perhaps stirring some romatic sentiments within you. You are not sure. You stare at the mural, with greater and greater intensity, as if you are trying to will it to react in some way. It is a moment, frozen in time, and you feel like you would give just about anything to be able to unfreeze it. It feels like hours, days, maybe even weeks before you break from your reverie. Absently, you began humming a tune. You don't know when you started, or even why that particular tune popped into your head. It is a northern tune. You have heard it a number of times since you arrived, in several different compositions. You always liked, but you are not sure why. It was written by an elf, nearly a century ago, but it remains popular. It is called Pride Triumphant, by Feallan Starsinger. It is a lament, for all the misery caused by pride and its victories over various virtues. Why that particular song comes to you now, you have no idea. It is a good song. If Tessa continues to study the mural, she is feels no further extraordinary compulsions or fascinations
Surallel, if he attempts to study the Mural
As you study the mural, you find yourself mesmerized by it. As near as you can tell, it is a depiction of a battle, likely fought millenia ago over gods know what. It seems to have no connection to your task, but all the same, you find it difficult to look away. The figures seem to be frozen, in time, and you can almost feel their pain and frustration, as if their pain is so great, it demands that you take action to free them. Finally, you force yourself to look away, and it seems like no time has passed but a few seconds. None of your companions seem to be as fascinated as you were. After you pull your attention away from the mural, you realize that one of your father's old songs has been stuck in your head. For how long, you can't say. Was it there during the Owlbear attack? You can't say for sure. Was it there yesterday? Probably not? The song in question is Pride Triumphant. One of your father's more moralizing tunes. It describes the victories of the vice Pride over various virtues, and the miseries created. It has always been a very popular tunes, but you cannot fathom why it should be stuck in your head now.
Rothgar, Darvan, Ravna, and Surallel or Tessa if they do not want to study the mural
The party inspects the remains of the camp. A large number of people were living here, until recently. There are no signs of battle, or forcible removal. No blood, no weapons, no marks on the ground or stones beyond the crude attempts to pry the runes apart. Use of detect magic reveals no active or even lingering magic. Rothgar and Darvan surmise that it has been days since any of the campfires were lit, or the tents used. Anything of value seems to have been removed. Ravna points out that the lustrous inlay of the stones is a strange type of reflective glass, that shatters when removed from the stone. The stones would be worthless, except to Arcana Society Archeologists, who obviously prefer the stones to be left where they are. As the party pokes around the camp, the oppressive silence of the area is broken. Tessa and Surallel take a moment to inspect the large mural. As they look it over, both of them, in unison begin to hum a tune. The same tune in fact. After a moment, they both stop and look around, slightly surprised and confused.
All Players please Respond. I will make a new tab on the battlemap to track everyone's progress. That does not necessarily mean that a battle is imminent.
