Immersive Ink

danhem wrote:
Ulric extracts some parchment, ink, and a quill from his satchel and begins to copy down some of the runes from the floor.

"Perhaps IF we get back to Ket we can research these runes," Ulric says to Highbough.

If there is time, Ulric will also consult The Abridged Tongues of the Underworld for anything similar.

tombowings wrote:
Pelenwin will keep watch for incoming aggressors.

waysoftheearth wrote:

mushgnome wrote:Can Highbough heal his missing hit point too if he rests with Desmond? Can he jot down the infernal runes while he rests? He likes the idea of summoning exploding fire-men to fight against the hobgoblin army!

Highbough can regain his lost hit point by resting, yes.

But resting is a full time occupation. You can either rest, or do something else.

waysoftheearth wrote:
The company members have moved themselves so that they are either sitting or standing only upon the undecorated tiles.

The two Halflings have moved Mads' body onto the dais, and this is where Highbough and Desmond now take their ease. Highbough leans his weary old back against the wall and takes a sip of wine from his flask. Desmond lies down on his back and mutters something about "a moment's shuteye".

Pelenwin takes up a watch at the far east end of the chamber, while the others loiter along the walls, keeping clear of the intimidating runes and markings on the floor.

Ulric goes about transcribing all those markings onto paper with his quill and ink. He immediately knows that this task will take him some time to complete... he hasn't yet (or in fact ever!) consulted the tome entitled The Abridged Tongues of the Underworld.

waysoftheearth wrote:
Time passes...

(1d6)

Pelenwin hears a few distant echoes from the darkness, but nothing overly alarming.

Ulric has scribed almost half of the floor runes onto his parchment.

Highbough and Desmond are recovered to the tune of: (1d6=2,3) Highbough returns to 4 of 4 hp. Desmond is up to 3 of 9 hp (healing rolls are not cumulative, they are "best of").

What now?

tonneau wrote:
"Shall we press on gentlemen?", suggests Gustave, slowly forcing himself to his feet.
"I myself must continue my quest to find a bath, before I become a victim of my own oppressive odour", he adds, sniffing an armpit with furrowed brow.
"I suggest...this way", he says, wafting an arm in the direction of the passageway to the right (south?), "...for lack of any clear benefits of one route over another. Any objections?"

He only then notices Ulric scribbling furiously on his parchment and adds, "Then again, I could have another quick nap..."

tombowings wrote:
"We're not all that's down here," mutters Pelenwin. "Finish up your scribbled quickly, Ulric, but get them down. How else would be know the value of a return trip?"

danhem wrote:
Ulric grunts something unintelligible and continues to copy the runes.

waysoftheearth wrote:
The company waits with itchy feet while Ulric complete his scribbling, and Desmond continues to lie flat on his back...

(1d6)

Pelenwin hear nothing coming from the east, nor Gustave from the south, and at last Ulric is satisfied. There is a hungry twinkle in is eye as his rolls up his parchment and stows it, as if this ink were silver or jewels.

The pattern of runes upon the floor, now that the ash has been mostly removed from it, is revealed to be as if two intertwined serpents, in a great L shaped loop that spans both arms of the chamber. Along its length seem to be four 2ft square stones that are especially decorated, each somewhat differently. It appears to be one of these four which Dieter inadvertently stepped upon to trigger the conjuring...

Meanwhile, Desmond (1d6=4) is feeling somewhat improved, and is now up to 4 of 9 hit points (after a total of 30 minutes resting).

What now?

tombowings wrote:
Pelenwin grabs his pole axe and backpack and says, "Let us go south, that way has remained silent." The Knight of the Seal begins to tread careful in that direct, making sure to avoid any sigil on the stone floor. After a few paces, he awaits the response of his companions.