Captain's Log Stardate 73272.8
Throwing a bone at the red wall did nothing but explode itself into several splinters. At least now we know it isn't safe to touch. I was about to suggest dispelling the wall until Gilius's Stone Elemental charged at the wall exploding both into rumble and revealing some kind of wormhole in its place. Could it lead to Roosevelt and the Hag's lair or was it a trap laid by the Witch and would we even be able to come back through the portal? Many questions remained, none had good answers.

During our discussion for how to tackle the portal, Tanea had a strange feeling about the meadow painting currently in Roy's possession and its connection to the rats we had sent into the Central Chamber just moments ago. She believed that the rats had originally came from the painting and wanted to try and return them to their rightful home. Knowing full well it would be a bad idea to attempt this alone, I offered my aid to assist her in her quest. Roosevelt was the priority but I couldn't let Tanea go alone and have her potentially die. In the end, I knew that Siegfried was more than capable of leading the charge into the portal and Roosevelt still stood a good chance at rescue.

In case Tanea isn't able to retrieve one or either painting, I will ask Roy and Peloquin for the paintings. If neither act or respond to me then I will gently take the paintings from their hands and say "Hey guys. I need to borrow these for a sec.". In the case of Roy, I will leave a piece of human flesh that I took from the Hag's room in his hands and tell him "Now don't eat it all in one go. Save some for later." I then press the two paintings together (front side up against front side) and proceed to follow Tanea back to the Central Chamber while avoiding the Acid Trap laid earlier. I keep a keen eye out for where the rats are.

Rufus to Benkii:
"Really,?! You are leaving us, after putting our comrade into trouble? What kind of chivalry is this?! Beware, you might end being called 'Benkii the coward'."

Relax Rufus. I'm not abandoning anyone. I'm only taking a detour to make sure Tanea gets back safely. Besides, everyone is waiting for a scout to go through the portal.

(Given how everything happens slowly in the western tunnel, I presume everyone will still be stuck at these 2 doors when we get back. :P )

( Now for sure.
Also, some of our players seem MIA.
I frankly hoped we could speed up our pace and join the other groups fighting the witches, but nope -_-' )

I Strigon see a small figure glide at a distance in one of the paintings. But I decide to stay in the left room with the rest of the group.


So correct me if I am wrong.

Benkii and Tanea want to go back to the chambers

Siegfried and the groups contemplates what to do with the portal situation in the right room.

Drows, Orcs and the rest of the group are standing around in the left room.

Am I right?

(No one is going to convince Tanea that the rats had left the painting of their own free will, and that they are going where they want now?)

67 - Rufus - Human Cleric - used spells 5/12 until now

The Holy Guardian fades, leaving a burning torch in front of the wooden door.
"That door may hide our last test. We will have more chances if we get back our friend."

In a row, Rufus casts Globe of Protection, Fire weapon on his Returning Silver Light-Hammer and Divine Retaliation".
He concentrates to cast new spells if required later.

As a prayer to the Gods:, Rufus yells "Enlight our way... TO THE INFINITE" and he goes through the portal.

Finally, Shield and Light-Hammer in hands he observes where he has arrived. If there is a threat on that plane/place, Rufus casts Ring of Swords, and Silence to block magic power from any creature.

Equipment =
- Steel Shield, with a Returning Silver Light-Hammer
- Fashionable Holey Armor
- Holy Amulet
- Net
- Torch
- 1 x healing potion

(The wording I had for my actions was to allow Tanea to ask first for the paintings but if she wasn't able to get them then I would ask next. Only in the event if no one acted or responded to me or Tanea did I decide to (nicely) take the paintings. The reasoning for this was so we weren't stuck on a Turn where all we did was ask and still didn't get the paintings. There are lots of people who haven't been online and may not even act for this Turn. Apologies if it seemed mean.)

Current Actions Summary:

63 - Genocide2099 - Fish - Half Orc Berserker
I'll go with the group that'll go through the blue portal. I also agree to have it scouted first.

4 - sasuke12 - Strigon - Drow Necromancer
I Strigon, drow necromancer, vote for throwing a bone or something at the red brick after all of us are away at least a
safe distance. Maybe the brick will explode and reveal a portal that can allow the friendly dragon into the tunnel or reveal a room full of treasure.
I Strigon see a small figure glide at a distance in one of the paintings. But I decide to stay in the left room with the rest of the group.

58 - FlockeSchnee - Tanea - Halfling Shaman
Tanea asks Peloquin (holding the "Bridge painting") and Roy (holding the "Trees and Grass" painting) for the paintings so she can try to correct her mistake.
In any case (if she gets the desired "Trees and Grass" painting or not), she will wait outside the left room, in hopes of finding out about that mysterious single red brick where the burned picture hang.
She will also have the only spell, that might be useful to those venturing through the portal, ready to cast, when departure accures (NOT this dice roll phase, seeing how we might take a phase more for that).

25 - BenKii - BenKii - Human Warrior
In case Tanea isn't able to retrieve one or either painting, I will ask Roy and Peloquin for the paintings. If neither act or respond to me then I will gently take the paintings from their hands and say "Hey guys. I need to borrow these for a sec.". In the case of Roy, I will leave a piece of human flesh that I took from the Hag's room in his hands and tell him
"Now don't eat it all in one go. Save some for later." I then press the two paintings together (front side up against front side) and proceed to follow Tanea back to the Central Chamber while avoiding the Acid Trap laid earlier. I keep a keen eyeout for where the rats are.

67 - Testor0 - Rufus - Human Cleric
In a row, Rufus casts Globe of Protection, Fire weapon on his Returning Silver Light-Hammer and Divine Retaliation".
He concentrates to cast new spells if required later.
As a prayer to the Gods:, Rufus yells "Enlight our way... TO THE INFINITE" and he goes through the portal.
Finally, Shield and Light-Hammer in hands he observes where he has arrived. If there is a threat on that plane/place, Rufus casts Ring of Swords, and Silence to block magic power from any creature.

68 - matterbandit - Peloquin - Dwarven Thief
As I stood there, just outside of the left room, with the desolate mountain pass painting in my hands, thinking where to go from here... Human Warrior, BenKii, steals the painting from my grasp! Steals from a dwarven thief!! And he robbed me with such kind gentleness, as if it were me generously gifting him with my possession! ...Now, most who have stolen from me have had their throats carved open with my Lucky Dagger. But I allow this human warrior do his thing. Through no fault of his, I am wiser than this short-lived human and easily seven times his age. My grandfather once told me, "You take the time to get to trust a human, and by then the human’s already on his deathbed." I do admire his human dedication of getting into trouble.
I am distracted by Rufus the Human Cleric, who walks past me without a single word and decide to follow him beyond the right door. Before I could ask him where he was heading, I noticed several eyes in the room, all glued to what looked like a Blue Portal on the wall. My guess is that no one dared enter it yet. But, my previous encounter with Benkii had me all pumped for battle and adventure! I prepare my Light Hammer and rely on my Ring Of Free Movement to protect me from any traps that may await us beyond the portal. As Rufus has allowed me within his Globe Of Protection in the past, I took it upon myself to follow him closely and help disarm any trap that may manifest before us. Into the portal I go!

Haven't taken turn yet:

57 - ConsulCaesar - Siegfried - Human Paladin
45 - phaolo - Loradan - Elven Mage
76 - Lemon_Curry - Shins A'Hoy - Halfling Thief
38 - ZyloxDragon - Roy Jenks - Half-Orc Battemage
40 - Pouyou-pouyou - Gilius - Dwarven Druid
74 - runnerex - Yeenwi - Drow Necromancer

Fish the Half-Orc Berserker

The human and the little one are more concerned about rats. I may not be smart but I have seen enough battles in my time to know that splitting up results in death. Roy! Destroy that painting!

If nobody has explored the portal before it's my turn to act, I throw a bone at it just not see it doesn't explode. I cross the portal with my silver sword in my hand, ready to fight any threats hiding on the other side.

(And hopefully find Roosevelt).

~~~~~~~~
Siegfried the Human Paladin

After seeing the others carelessly entering the portal one after another, Loradan sighed and voiced his frustration:
"This party is terrible! Why don't they ever listen to a wise mage?"
"Is it because of my elven race or because I don't look as old as their wizards?"
"They ignored all the plan and rushed in like stupid.. uh.. trolls!"

He recast his 2 protection spells, then he run to the left room and reported to the other group what had just happened.
"I'll have to help those fools, what are you going to do instead?"

Also, if they managed to remove the red brick, he asked about what they found.
If not, he cast Dispel Ward, removed it himself and took\interact with what was behind it.

Finally, he returned to the right room and prepared to enter the portal.

(Personally, I'm worried the rats may have fled that figure in the painting and that this figure might be what escaped from the "Top Hat Chest" in the main chamber, when Thras opened it and had his hair turn white. But Tanea doesn't know about that "chest creature" and didn't see the movement in the tree.)

(No worries, BenKii. I was speaking "in character", as Peloquin, a Dwarven Thief with trust issues. LOL! It takes him a while to warm up to others, Human Warriors included. I did not take what you said as being mean, so no need to apologize.)

(Now, on a personal note, as matterbandit, I just want to say that I would LOVE to sit at my keyboard 24/7 playing this game, or any other game, but work & family obligations are devouring my time too. Wish I had a spell to cast in real life to help me level up to Free Time Infinity. LOL! It sucks that I can't. I envy those of you who are exponentially more active in this forum than I am and it's really great that you are, because it gives me something to look forward to reading when I finally get back to my keyboard. That being said, I always post my action within Doc's initial 2-day turn rule, though I realize he has since adapted the pacing to the natural flow of the players, which makes sense to me.)