“You guys are seeing this as well, right?” Lyssa slowly walks to the three wooden chests, covered with leather and metal parts and locked with a very obvious padlock.
“Yes, we’re seeing it, Lyssa. Strange phenomenon, but hopefully useful.” The half- elf stands beside her, reading the same message she is reading.
“Life. Death. Power.” The three words echo in their mind.
“Power”, Alexander says as he walks towards the chest, even though he doesn't fully comprehend the situation. “Always choose power.”
Bruq stops his movement with this spare hand. “We are deciding this together. No point in rushing this decision.” The satyr looks at the rest of the group. ‘Well… What do you all think?”
“Although I think we should consider each one, opening something with “death” written on it may be not the best of ideas.” They all seem to agree with Oslando’s way of thinking. “The key says to use it only in time of need”, he continues. “What if you were suffering so badly, the chest would make it all go away by giving you a sweet and painless way out, meaning death?”
(Investigation 5)
Bruq kicks carefully against each chest while saying this, but they don’t move. They don’t feel heavy or seem to have something in it.
“Power can mean it has a magical weapon”, Alexander reasons. “If we’re about to fight the cultists, isn’t it useful to have something like that?”
They remain silent, thinking and overthinking the situation. “That may be true”, Mero says, “but life could be something that can aid us if one of us falls in battle.”
“No use for a weapon if we’re too beaten up to wield it.” Mero and Oslando agree with Bruq, nodding their heads in response.
“But there's no need for healing if the weapon could defeat all of our enemies with ease.” Alexander's facial expression is stern, as if he is trying to lecture a couple of stubborn students. “Lyssa, you’re holding the key. What do you think?”
(Intelligence 3)
She remains silent for a couple of seconds. “I really have no fucking clue.”
Her blank, almost idiotic, staring, combined with her mouth half open, makes Bruq burst into laughter. “Then, in the name of my hairy backside, let someone else make the decision.” She, baffled by her inconclusiveness, stretches her arm, letting the key dance in front of her, waiting for someone to take it.
(Dexterity 17 versus dexterity 8)
Before Alexander even has the chance to move, Oslando’s fingers enclose the brass key. “Democracy”, he tells the priest and points her finger on Merodius. “What do you choose?”
“Life”, his reaction sounds without thinking too long.
“Power”, the priests says loudly, even before the half-elf gets the chance to fully point in his direction, “and I suggest the rest chooses this as well.”
“Life”, Bruq says, ignoring the advice of the grumbled cleric.
(Charisma 10 versus charisma 9)
Lyssa, confused and persuaded by the emotionless command of her dodgy companion, says “power”.
Her vision stays fixed on the chests, her line of sight partially blocked by the moving half-elf.
(Constitution 13)
“Guess it’s up to you, Oslando.” He doesn’t seem to respond to the monster hunter. His mouth moves, but he doesn’t speak. He repeats the rhyme in his head, trying to keep his mind clear, while the possible outcomes echo in his head.
“Oslando?”
He starts to mumble, louder with every word that rolls from his tongue. “Three chests hiding in front of my eyes, but only from one you may claim your prize.” He falls to his knees, hands trembling as he uses both to keep the key steady. “Unlock one to fulfill your desires and greed.” At this point, he is nearly shouting the lyrics, trying to remove one of the padlocks. “Word of advice: only to use when in need!”
(Arcana 20)
Lyssa kneels down beside him, whispering into his ear. He seems to calm down, as her bardic magic counters the mind clouding words of the magical key.
“Just put it in a lock and it will go away.” His head shakes less uncontrollably as he nods in agreement. She looks at him as he closes his eyes and unlocks a chest.
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