Lothor, as usual, was both impressed and a bit nervous about the power of magic. The ice in front of the door essentially disintegrated. In fact, that was exactly what it did according to the title Ulthok had given the spell. It was a bit unnerving to think that something like that could be done to . . . well, anything, really. But especially the thought that it could be done to something living. No visible threat, just there and then . . . not there. Ouch. Or maybe not ouch, just nothingness. . .

He shook his head to clear it of such contemplations. He was glad that Ulthok and the other spellcasters were on his side. And that included Sirene and her spell of protection from the temperature. He didn't like it down here. The line between life and frozen death was a fine one and completely dependent on someone else's magical power. He have prederred a pile of furs for warmth, but doubted even polar bear furs would be enough here. He needed the magic.

And he'd continue to need it for awhile. There didn't seem to be much he could do about the situation. He'd need to stand back and watch the spell casters try things. And so the big warrior held his great axe and stood guard. Were the statues moving? Was anything happening in the pool? Might the door open? He kept his eyes open. At least the cold meant the salamander was less likely to pop in on them here. Maybe. He probably couldn't count on that either.

And so he did what warriors do. He stood watch while the mages did their "magey things."

The pulse of magic surged through her as the ice fell from the northern doorway. Thick walls of ice had dampened the magic beyond them, but with them gone she could feel it all clearly. It was the pool that called to her the most. Somehow, Siréne knew that magic and yet it was foreign to her. This was a magic she had never called upon herself, but still its song was familiar.

The fey witch narrowed her eyes to stare another moment into the pool before turning her gaze to the western doorway. They knew too little and were guessing a riddles in the dark. What message might lay hidden beneath the wall of ice? It was time they had answers to their questions.

Siréne guided the group as far from the doors as she could take them while still keeping the western door within her magical reach. Then the witch began her work.

A single, wordless note left Siréne's lips in a clear soprano. There was magic in this song. With fey magic she held the song in her hands and it continued without her voice. Taking a final breath, Siréne released the voiceless song to spin into the western door. As the note flew it grew higher and higher in pitch until it was beyond hearing, shattering the frozen crystals.

((OOC: Casts Shatter to target the Western Door))

The pool momentarily forgotten, the hole above the West door became the new focus. It was not overly big, about the size of a human head; however, it was odd enough to draw their attention. The came up with 2 main plans. One was to for Rayne to ride on the giant Aliya and use her flame blade. The other option was for Sirene to blast it with a spell of shatter. The latter won out.

Following everyone behind Sirene into the stair way. She made sure to stand a little way back, after casting and testing Iron Vigil to make sure she would not die from the cold, as to not be shoulder to shoulder with anyone else. Unfortunately, she probably would not be able to see what happened the instant it did, but it beat everyone being caught up if they had to swing their weapons. If it were to summon something large, the last thing they needed was to all be literally hit in one swing.

With the casting of Sirene's Shatter spell the ice around the West door and female pillars was blown away in seconds leaving the door and pillars even clearer of ice then that of the North door.

Though the party was a ways away writing could clearly be seen on the door appearing to be in the same language as on the North door. However to read the words the party or one of them would have to once more move closer.

(DM OOC: Ok a very short post as not much to work with. Ok people give me something to work with for next Sunday's post. As of now next post next Sunday the 26th)

Sirene's spell had the desired effect as the ice fell away from the door. As suspected the party could writing on this door too but they were too far away to make out the words.

Ulthok knew it was his job to scout things out so tested the cold of the room by sticking his hand past Sirene's comfort zone.

(assuming his endure spell is still intact and there was no additional cold treats.)

Finding it still relatively safe for him he cautiously moved to where he could read the message on the door. Scanning the door he read the words aloud to the party.

Rayne fliched at the sound of shattering ice. Sometimes, having highly sensitive hearing was more of a pain than a help. However, the next time they encountered something trying to sneak up, the brief moment of pain from noise would be unimportant.

Rayne aimed her bow towards the door, well, as much as possible from her point in the hallway. Despite her readiness, nothing showed itself. This was going too well...

Despite her weariness, she did recall the statues from previous, as well as the spirits. This place was clearly well defended. However, again she'd have to let the mages handle this situation, as her skills were ineffective in this situation.

With the ice barrier shattered another wall of text was revealed. Siréne guided the group closer to the doorways to minimize the distance Ulthok would have to be alone in the cold. The witch remained vigil, ever aware that survival for all in this place depended on her magic now. She moved with care, ensuring that all remained within the safety of the warmth. Her's was to support, let the others seek and search.

In this ice cave Lothor had felt like a spare part. He watched as the ice shattered and another message was revealed. As expected. He held his position by Sirene, keeping his eyes open waiting for something to finally come popping out at them. It would happen eventually.

"Can we check the hole at the same time Ulthok reads the message?" Both needed to be done, so lets get it done, he thought. But for him it was guard duty.

Aliya sees the hole revealed and wishes to get a closer look, all the while staying within a warmth spell.

"If one of you will cast a warming spell on me, I will go to investigate the hole, and will gladly lift anyone who wishes to also have a look", she says, glancing about at the others, waiting for a response.

With the ice gone from the door once more Ulthok, still protected by the spell of Endure Cold, made his way to read the words upon it's frame.

"Burrow Burrow down and deep"
"Burrow Burrow gnash and weep"
"Deep beneath this granite heap"
"Deep beneath the ground It sleeps"

Though the air in this room was beyond freezing still the Halfling Thief/Mage felt a chill as to the nature of these words. As far as Ulthok could tell as he scanned the hole set above the door it seemed to be sized large enough to fit him. With Sirene having moved the group closer to this door Aliya, still giant sized and now also protected by one of Cor's Endure spells, was able to easily lift him to see within.

Looking inside he could see only so far thanks to his eyes, yet even that was limited as darkness seemed to eclipse the light. However from what he could see he determined that the hole was not designed as part of the wall but more seemingly ‘dug' out as if by some type of stone borrowing creature. This 'hole' would easily fit him, Valene, or the parties familiars, were he or they to go exploring. However even then they would need to leave a good portion of their carried gear behind. As to the rest of the party they were to big and heavily encumbered to fit without the aid of magic.

For now the party was still at a crossroads the only question now North or West.

(Ok glad to see 4 out of 6 players posted I was starting to think interest in Trilogy had died for all of you.
Next post, next Sunday the 2nd of April.)

Another door, another poem. He wondered if there would be writing at the bottom of the pool. And now they had something burrowing and something about to tap them on the shoulder and take them into nothingness. Nice. It sounded like a nice place to take a vacation. Except, maybe the deadly cold. That was a bit of a downer. Well, there was the hot tub.

"The burrowing is interesting, but we might be better off not meeting whatever that refers to. We aren't here to investigate the tower, just to find a portal." He'd like to have added more to the conversation, but for now all he could do was warrior stuff - like standing guard. And so he stood guard as alertly as he could.

Siréne lifted up a hand before her and spoke an eldritch word of power. The magic of Faerie coursing through her veins came alive and flowed out before her to form a twinkling ball of azure light. The sphere of faerie light danced before the witch for a heartbeat before winking out from sight. Invisible though it might be, Siréne could sense her sentry from the unseen world and directed it to seek out what lay hidden.

Silent and invisible, the fey eye soared through the room searching every burrow and crevice. It flew through the holes in the great doors to search beyond and even dove the fathoms of the uncanny pool. They would know what lay hidden.

((OOC: Casts Wizard Eye - Will search all she can with the eye. Sending the eye through the holes in the doors and into the pool. Will search until the spell is exhausted.))

Ulthok considered the sayings written on the doors. One seemed to lure them to a fate of being lost to time and another to the den of some burrowing creature. They needed more information.

Turning to the group, "We could use more information before picking a way." As he looked up he saw the features of Sirene and knew she was casting. Perhaps they would have more clues soon.

Aliya heard the whispers of an incantation behind her, and turned to see the witch concentrating, casting a spell she mused, but not knowing which.
When she saw the globe of light manifest before the woman, then disappear, Aliya was sure it had turned invisible and was flying about, investigating all they had been discussing. She hoped Sirène's spell afforded some answers, as they needed to make a decision on where to turn soon. The half-elf turned her concentration then on staying vigilant, readying her sword and watching for anything that could harm her companions.

With the numbing cold of this level of the tower and in this room all around them, the party waited for someone to act. Once again at the urging of Uthlok, who had become in the recent months more of a leader then a thief, Sirene stepped forward. Gazing within her mind she spoke the words of a spell long known and brought forth her Wizard's Eye.

Silent and invisible, the fey eye soared through the room searching every burrow and crevice. It flew through the holes in the great doors to search beyond and even dove the fathoms of the uncanny pool.

The doors clearly were protected by magic and guarded but what had once been powerful and deadly, was now weak and almost frail it seemed to the Elvin Enchantress. Though weak the magic was enough to stop the wizard eye from passing beyond, however the hole above the west door was not so protected. Sirene sending her mind's eye through it was able to use it to by pass the door, to find it was nothing more then a borrowed tunnel as if carved through the stone. Through it Sirene was able to see that nothing lay beyond this Western door, but another long ice covered hallway.

However to the North her eye was stopped, as with the West door the magic yet strong enough to keep her out. The pool was next and as sent the eye into its depths found that the pool was actually a naturally heated stream of water flowing from a small river outside the tower and running through a series of hot springs leading to this room. Thus the reason for it's warmth and lack of freezing. The tunnel big enough only for a small child or halfling, though clearly leading to outside of the tower walls.


(DM OOC: OK first post in a longer then normal time frame. So there you have a bit more information as to what lies in the pool and beyond one door. Choose wisely. Ok next post Sunday the 30th as we are presently in a two week post cycle. If everyone gets their posts in early, then so will I.)