Captain's Log Stardate 73284.6
One by one they walked through the portal. Rufus, Peloquin, Siegfried, Loradan, and Gilius. Before they did, I managed to get the painting from Peloquin. Now all I need is the one from Roy but he continues to experiment with it. I see he attempts to send a rock through the painting but nothing happens. He then tried to put his hand through it but was somehow repelled back. Curious, these paintings are. I'll have to experiment with my own to find out how they work.

Tanea, the halfing Shaman, has been waiting patiently to see what Roy will do with the painting. I await to see how she proceeds. In the short time I've known her, Tanea has shown incredible courage, ingenuity, and kindness. Her pacifist ideals may seem remarkably naive but she has shown a way to accomplish great feats without hurting a soul. The way she was able to tame 8 giant rats that would surely have eaten us alive and then ride them into battle to distract the Nightmare creatures left me nothing short of awe-stricken. Her problem solving abilities are the kind of qualities highly sought after in a Starfleet Officer. If me manage to make it out of here alive, I would recommend her for a position at Starfleet if she'd accept. Doing so would violate the Prime Directive but I believe the Federation Admirals would make an exception in this case.

I examine the painting in my hands for any clues how it may work. I attempt to try the same rock experiment that Roy did with his painting with my "Mountain Pass" painting to see if it goes through. I restrain myself from putting my own hand through it until I can find out more information about these "painting portals". I wait to see if Tanea receives her painting from Roy. If she gets it, I follow her lead what to do next. If not, I stand by her and protect her from any threats.

Current Actions Summary:

Gone Through Portal:
57 - ConsulCaesar - Siegfried - Human Paladin
45 - phaolo - Loradan - Elven Mage
68 - matterbandit - Peloquin - Dwarven Thief
67 - Testor0 - Rufus - Human Cleric
40 - Pouyou-pouyou - Gilius - Dwarven Druid

63 - Genocide2099 - Fish - Half Orc Berserker
There's no use waiting. I'll go through the portal as well. I'll have my battle axe ready to hack down anything that poses a threat. I suggest that the others follow. I beckon my fellow orc Roy to go through the portal as well. Take the painting with your and do not let anyone else have it.

58 - FlockeSchnee - Tanea - Halfling Shaman
1. Tanea inspects the necklace.
2. Then, if she can't find anything harmful about it, she will put it on and wait a few minutes. If everything still seems "normal", she will keep wearing it (at least for the time being).
3. Tanea tries to look further up the tunnel. (How far is it? Can she see the door? How big is it? Anything else of note?)
4. Chat sent.
5. Tanea waits to see what Roy will do with/about the "Trees and Grass" painting and she will cast "Protection From Elements" on anyone still here who will leave through the portal.

25 - BenKii - BenKii - Human Warrior
I examine the painting in my hands for any clues how it may work. I attempt to try the same rock experiment that Roy did with his painting with my "Mountain Pass" painting to see if it goes through. I restrain myself from putting my own hand through it until I can find out more information about these "painting portals". I wait to see if Tanea receives her painting from Roy. If she gets it, I follow her lead what to do next. If not, I stand by her and protect her from any threats.

Haven't taken turn yet:

76 - Lemon_Curry - Shins A'Hoy - Halfling Thief
4 - sasuke12 - Strigon - Drow Necromancer
38 - ZyloxDragon - Roy Jenks - Half-Orc Battemage
74 - runnerex - Yeenwi - Drow Necromancer

(Edited my post (538) a little to include the figurine in Tanea's inspection in case that wasn't clear.)

(Thank you! Looked that up and it's not what I had in mind, but it's a very interesting story. Can barely wait to see what Doc's story is.)

(Wow. That's probably as much high praise as Captain BenKii can give anyone. Better not mention that to Tanea though. She is aware of her (many) limitations (acting against that is just something she does, if she feels it's the right thing to do in a given situation; regret/self scolding usually follows that), doesn't view herself as a leader/authority of any kind and would look at anyone doing so as if they just sprouted another head). Not to mention that she loves and needs animals around. To her they are like breathing air. Oh, yes: And that "cold, dead space" thing probably wouldn't be all that appealing to her either. ;-) )

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

...Rufus is travelling through the blue portal...

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

(Will we have one turn to assess the situation once we cross over to the other side? I have one Turn Undead spell available in case we happen to meet some nasty undead creatures. I am assuming Silence would prevent me from casting Turn Undead, right?)

~~~~~~~
Siegfried the Human Paladin

Who are you talking to Roy? No one said anything to you.

*I say to myself under my breath*
Could someone like a Betazoid be talking to him telepathically?

*I speak to Roy*
Roy! Don't push further on that painting! It could be dangerous!

(edit: fixed some grammar.)

I feel my heart hammering in my chest as I ask Roy in a rushed and slightly breathless voice: "Did you hear a voice in your head too?" My eyes must be gigantic, I'm sure, as surprised as I am. "Is it female?"
And almost as an afterthought: "If you don't belong there, maybe the "Bridge Painting" would be different?"
And as I notice him trying to push harder I say rather desperate: "Please don't destroy the "Trees and Grass" painting. The rats and I still need it."

"BenKii! Maybe he should try the "Bridge Painting"?" I'm excited. Maybe there is a way through one of those.

** TURN 11 ** Amendment.

63 - Fish - Half Orc Berserker enters the blue portal.

74 - Yeenwi - Drow Necromancer

The blue portal in the right room feels somehow wrong to Yeenwi, so he ignores it.

Yeenwi suggests to the others who didn't enter the portal to forget about the giant rats for now, take the paintings with us wherever we decide to go next, because just as the giant rats came from one, it could be possible that something else that is dangerous could've come from the other. It would be prudent to take them and use them as a sort of shield against such a potential foe or a way to send them back without having to fight them.

Then, he says to Tanea: "Since you will put the necklace on, will you try going through one or both of the paintings? It could act as a key allowing the wearer to pass freely, even if they don't originate from there. If it's indeed that, then it could also allow you to bring someone else with you, if they are touching you while you try to enter a painting. My theory is such, because the necklace was well hidden in the same room as the paintings, so it could very well be connected to them."

I was hoping to know more about these paintings before risking anyone's life. But if Roy wants to try, I won't stop him.

Roy, if that painting isn't allowing you pass through, you can try to see if you can go through this "Bridge" painting. I'd recommend finding out more about these paintings first but you can try if you still want to.

(Just letting you know, your second reply is borked. It points to me too, not ZyloxDragon.)

"Well, trying it with this painting hasn't killed him ... yet. Do you really think the "Bridge" one might be that different?" I ask a little worried.

(Fixed it. Thanks.)

I don't know. I assumed all 3 of the paintings would work the same way. I only wished their was a way to find out more about these mysterious paintings. Like some writing that explains them more. Perhaps that necklace you received has clues about them. Also, we haven't explored the last door at the far end of the tunnel. Perhaps more clues may be in there.

(Hmm ... Let's see what information Tanea can get from necklace and figurine. I don't know what her perception skill -or whatever skill might be responsible for that- is though. She might not get any insight from either. But there is the "wearing it check" too. I hope she would notice if that would affect her negatively in any way.)

(By the way, I also believe the portal leads somewhere else, also due to the fact that our tunnel is one turn behind, so if it indeed for some reason led to where we are or nearby, everyone who went through would have to wait one turn before being able to join us, unless Doc decided to handwave it and have you at Turn 11 again in the south tunnel. :D)

((the main reason being that the hag truly seemed stuck behind the door, as she was so much hungry, and they are powerful spellcasters, so she should've been able to dispel the trap herself, if she had noticed it))