Private Hey You're Awake

[Jett Zaldaren]

As you venture deeper into the twisting maze, the air becomes thick with an oppressive, ancient energy. The stench of damp earth and decaying foliage clings to you like a shroud, making it hard to breathe. Each step you take echoes ominously against the moss-covered stone walls, a stark reminder of the isolation and danger that surround you.

The pathway narrows, forcing you to move carefully between jagged rocks and treacherous roots that seem to reach out to trip you. A faint glow emanates from the bioluminescent moss growing along the walls, casting eerie, shifting shadows that dance just out of the corner of your eye.

As you approach a fork in the path, the sounds of distant whispers reach your ears. At first, they are barely audible, like the rustling of leaves in the wind, but soon they grow louder, forming a cacophony of voices. It's as if the very stones of the maze are alive, murmuring warnings and taunts in a language you can't quite comprehend.

You pause, listening intently, trying to decipher the source of the whispers. A chill runs down your spine as you realize that the voices are not in your head but are being projected by some unseen force. Could it be a trap, a test, or something far more sinister?

Choosing a path, you move forward cautiously, your senses heightened and your hand resting on the hilt of your weapon. The path curves sharply, and you come face to face with a series of ancient stone tablets, each engraved with cryptic symbols and runes. The markings pulse with a faint blue light, suggesting that they are somehow linked to the maze itself.

Suddenly, a low growl emanates from behind the tablets. Emerging from the shadows is a massive, stone-skinned guardian, its eyes glowing with the same blue light as the runes. It looms over you, its powerful limbs ready to strike. To progress, you'll need to decipher the meaning of the runes or find a way to bypass the guardian without triggering its wrath.

This is not merely a test of strength, but of intellect and resolve. The exit is near, but the maze still holds secrets and challenges that will test every ounce of your courage and skill.

Ygra​

 

[Ygra]

The appearance of such greenery in what should be a hollow, deathly place brings a little comfort to Ygra. It reminds her off Felucia, with it's wild growths that defy whatever mechanical remnants from the many wars waged on its surface have left behind. In the end, all things return to the world's vegetation that came first and would triumph over time, stone and steel.

Now entering the room of runes, Ygra has a moment to inspect them before seeing the guardian. She draws her weapon towards the guardian but notices the glowing marks upon its body similar to those on the tablets. Clearly, this is a puzzle for the mind as well as a means of testing her survival. Not as forward as a harpy or deadly slime, but a challenge was a challenge.

While trying to avoid the guardian's weapon, Ygra takes note of the symbols on its body along with those on the tablets to find any connection. She also looks for any other symbols about that match those on the tablets, if conveying any means of figuring a way forward.

Jett Zaldaren

 

[Jett Zaldaren]

As you step cautiously into the dimly lit chamber, the sight of verdant greenery amidst the desolation provides a curious comfort. The room's wild foliage stands in stark contrast to the cold, mechanical remnants scattered about, hinting at nature's resilience.

The ancient runes etched into the walls and floor glow softly in the low light, mirroring the symbols on the stone golem that guards this chamber. This guardian is more than a mere obstacle; it is part of a puzzle that demands both intellect and agility.

The golem, its body adorned with glowing runic symbols, moves deliberately but not without purpose. It seems to follow a pattern, and its weapon swings in rhythmic arcs, forcing you to remain on constant alert.

As the guardian engages you, you notices that the symbols on its body correspond to those on the surrounding tablets. There may be a connection between these symbols that is key to solving the puzzle. Additionally, other symbols scattered around the room might also hold significance.

You may...

• Analyze the Symbols: Examine the runes on the golem and the tablets more closely. Identify any patterns or sequences that might suggest how the symbols are related. Look for recurring symbols or specific arrangements that could reveal a solution.
• Search the Room: Investigate the room further for additional symbols or clues that might provide insight into the puzzle. Pay attention to any hidden markings or unusual features that might offer more information.
• Observe the Golem's Behavior: Watch the golem's movements and attacks. There might be a pattern or sequence to its actions that could help in deciphering the puzzle or finding a moment to act.
• Combine Observations: Attempt to piece together the information from the symbols and the golem's behavior. Determine if there's a specific order or method required to activate or align the symbols to progress.

However you wish to proceed is up to you.

Ygra​

 

[Ygra]

The matter of staying alive and observant was not an unfamiliar challenge for Ygra. Both her aunt of the witches and her old sith master had taught her as much. If the symbols were connected to the golem then the answers obviously lied there. Her first instinct was to push the guardian back with a strong attack from the Force. After that, she backed up, trying to get a sense of the whole room and all the symbols around it. She could see those that matched with those on the golem and those that did not. Not all were accounted for however.

The nearest she saw was one that matched with a symbol on the golem's arm. In a hasting choice, she ran over, lifted her sword high in the air, and brought it down to try and shatter to the rune. A good choice or bad one? Ygra would find out.

Jett Zaldaren

 

[Jett Zaldaren]

As the heavy stone door of the chamber slams shut behind you, the room plunges into a dim, eerie silence. The massive stone golem in the center stands motionless, yet you can feel the thrum of ancient magic radiating from the glowing runes etched across its form. The runes pulse with a faint light, each symbol different from the next. Your eyes catch on a particular rune on its arm—dull and cracked—suggesting it may be vulnerable. You instinctively know that this is your chance.

You grip your weapon tighter, determination settling in your chest. But as you raise your arm to strike, something clicks in your mind—a pattern. You recall the scattered carvings on the walls that hinted at a specific sequence, an order in which the runes must be shattered to weaken the golem and unlock the door.

A faint breeze stirs the air, carrying a whisper of hope. The key to your escape lies in breaking the runes in the right order, but one wrong move could trigger the golem's wrath.

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Optional Action: Ygra, you must strike the runes in the correct sequence. Roll an Arcana check (or Intelligence check, if Arcana is not proficient) to recall the order from the carvings on the wall. Then, describe how you aim your next attack at the rune on the golem's arm.

If your check succeeds, you successfully shatter the first rune. You'll need to continue striking the runes in sequence to deactivate the golem and escape the room. [Roll must be 10 or better]

Ygra ​

 

[Ygra]

In the dark, Ygra felt a twinge of fear. It wasn't the dark that frightened her. It was the pitch black, where nothing could be seen and everything could be felt. She breathed in deep, ready to make the strike. Just then it struck her. Like a bolt from the blue. There was more to the runes. Not just matching with the golem. They had...a pattern to them.

Like pieces to a puzzle. But one that had order to it. Order, as all things in the galaxy needed. Ygra halted and stood up, looking around. She could see it. Distinctions starting from the first symbol that she determined to the others. The patterns "grew" in a sense. Some had small details added on from the last, further and further added to make the symbols bigger, oblong, etc.

Working her way back, while keeping an eye on the golem, she could see where the first one had to be now. Taking her blade again, she went and struck the first. After that, she turned her attention to the golem, noting the cracks in the arm. A hard strike with a concentrated Force Push would hopefully splinter it.

Jett Zaldaren

 

[Jett Zaldaren]

As you stand in the darkened room, you feel your awareness sharpen, the patterns in the runes finally clicking into place. The golem looms nearby, its presence a constant threat, but you've discovered the secret to escaping this place: the runes must be activated in a specific order.

Your Environment:

The Room: The walls of the chamber are lined with ancient stone etched with runes that faintly glow in the dark. They are barely visible, but as you focus, you can sense that some runes carry a different energy than others, like a trail of breadcrumbs leading her to the right sequence.

The Golem: The hulking stone construct moves with mechanical precision, guarding the room's exit. The golem's arm shows signs of damage—cracks running along its surface—but it is still very much a threat.

You can now see that each rune is part of a larger sequence. These runes grow in complexity from one to the next, like a language that builds upon itself. Striking the runes in the correct order will weaken the magical barrier in the room, and perhaps even the golem itself.

Ygra ​

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The Runes:

The First Rune: This rune is simple, almost crude in its design. It represents the foundation, the beginning of the pattern. Activating it will cause a faint glow to pulse through the others, indicating the next rune in the sequence.

The Second Rune: More intricate than the first, this rune builds upon the previous design. You must carefully strike it to avoid triggering any traps or defenses.

The Third Rune: Now glowing brighter, this rune requires precision. It is the keystone of the pattern, and activating it will cause the golem to momentarily falter, exposing its weakness.

The Final Rune: The most elaborate of them all, this rune is the key to breaking the magic that binds the room. Striking this rune will cause the golem to stagger, opening up an opportunity for you to strike the weakened arm with a concentrated Force Push.

Caution:

Golem's Reaction: The golem is not idle. After the second rune is activated, it begins to move more aggressively, protecting the final rune. You must balance striking the runes and avoiding the golem's attacks.[/spoiler]

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Your escape is at hand; how you achieve it, is up to you.

 

[Ygra]

Now having a full sense of the pattern, Ygra takes her time to figure her next round of actions. She avoids the golem and, on occasion, uses a Force push or bolt of lightning to push it back or stagger its limbs to give her more time. She goes from the first to the second and third of the runes in an almost dance-like succession of movements. The final stands close but the golem is before her.

That's when Ygra has a better idea.

She drops her weapon and kneels. For a moment she looks as though she is going to surrender to the golem, unable to fight past it for the final rune. She waits until it is close before enacting her surprise. With the Force, she uses her invisible skills to pull the weight out from under the golem's legs. She aims it to fall back and thus land on the final rune, shattering it and any further advances from the golem.

Jett Zaldaren

 

[Jett Zaldaren]

As you stand before the final rune, the golem looms closer, its presence an overwhelming shadow that fills the chamber. Every move you make is calculated, the rhythm of your steps in sync with the pulse of energy flowing through the runes. The dance you've performed from the first to the second and third rune was not just one of survival, but of mastery. You've come too far to let the golem thwart your path now.

Its stone feet grind against the floor, each step sending vibrations through the ground beneath you. The final rune is just within reach, but the golem stands between you and victory. You weigh your options quickly. Attacking it head-on isn't the answer. This beast of stone has endured everything you've thrown at it so far.

And then, an idea sparks in your mind. A bold move, but one that could end this once and for all.

You drop your weapon, letting it clatter to the ground with a deliberate finality. You kneel, making it appear as though you've given up, surrendering to the golem's imposing might. The stone sentinel halts for a moment, as if considering your actions, before advancing once more. Its hulking form leans over you, preparing to deliver the final blow.

But you've planned for this. In that stillness, you reach out with the Force, your mind focusing on the golem's legs, the weight that anchors it to the earth. With a surge of energy, you pull the ground out from under it, wrenching the stone beneath its feet. The golem stumbles, losing its balance as you guide its fall.

With a resounding crash, the golem collapses backward, and as its massive form slams into the ground, it lands directly on the final rune. The stone beneath it shatters, splintering into fragments as the energy binding the golem dissipates. The once-animated sentinel now lies still, its purpose fulfilled, and the way forward clear.

The room falls silent, the air still heavy with the lingering energy of the runes. You rise to your feet, the weight of the encounter lifting from your shoulders. The exit to the maze glows faintly ahead, a beacon guiding you out of this labyrinth of trials.

You step forward, leaving the shattered remains of the golem behind, and move toward the light. Victory is yours, and with it, your escape from the maze.

Ygra ​