"<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">Excellent.</span>" The dwarf scholar stated, pulling a cigar from his coat pocket. He put it to his mouth, and provided a flame using the forefinger of his prosthetic hand, sucking in briefly and releasing a cloud of sparkling smoke that oddly smelled of fruit rather than cigar smoke. He strode to the coffee table and pointed at one of the markers on the map located southwest of Ark-Monarch. "<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">That is our goal, a ruin discovered not six weeks ago whose purpose we only just a few hours ago deciphered.</span>" He said, a grin spreading across his bearded face.<br/><br/>"<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">It is an old Elder temple to a minor god called Giddrith-Ur, a god of mathematics, science, and knowledge.</span>" He said, opening up the tome at his side and producing a series of sketches and charcoal rubbings from the ruins. Most of the pictures sketched or rubbed onto the papers were of a single symbol from different areas of the temple: an owl in front of an open book, with mathematical symbols and equations covering both the book and the area around the owl. However, each rubbing had different groups on them, the only consistency being the owl and the book.<br/><br/>"<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">We have excavated the exterior of the ruin, exposing what we could only to discover most of it was under the ice. With some fire and ice magic we were able to open a hole in the ice to make excursions under the water with some protective gear. So far, we have found two entrances to the ruins: one above ground leading to what we believe is a tunnel into the temple, and one through an underwater passage. However, both have complex puzzles keeping the doors locked, with traps that open up to hinder those who fail.</span>" He continued, revealing more sketches and notes about each puzzle and the traps involved.<br/><br/><span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">"We are scholars. Archaeologists, geologists, historians, philosophers, and specialists in certain Elder aspects. These puzzles are either incredibly easy and we're just overthinking them, or convoluted enough to puzzle even those who have visited similar places. What we need from you is to enter these ruins and find what is so important to keep behind eons-old locked doors and hidden traps.</span>" He said, the notes showing both of the related puzzles: a door covered in dials engraved with what appeared to be the phases of the moon and seasonal positions of the sun, star charts, and era-specific riddles. Each portion was covered in notes and arguments from a multitude of minds; and a door framed by small square openings, cubes arrayed before the door that floated above small holes in the ground. More notes about riddles and such were scrawled all over the page.<br/><br/>"<span class="fixed-color" style="color:rgb(251, 160, 38)">We figure the tunnel door is probably broken, as we've had expert astronomers and historians come to inspect it. Even with as many attempts as we've made, the door won't budge despite it appearing that it tried. We have demolitions coming to open it, but we'd rather try a non-invasive route into the building. Thus, we have adventurers such as yourselves attempt the traps that lay within. You'll be paid handsomely, and we'll provide you everything you need to get into that temple and set up a space for our scholars to go to work. Questions?</span>" Cragborn finished, leaning the thick book against the table and looking quizzically at everyone before him.<br/><br/><a class="username" data-user-id="8632" data-username="EldridSmith" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/8632/">EldridSmith</a><a class="username" data-user-id="3869" data-username="Seraph" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/3869/">Seraph</a><a class="username" data-user-id="8531" data-username="Equusheart" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/8531/">Equusheart</a><a class="username" data-user-id="2342" data-username="Naith" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/2342/">Naith</a><a class="username" data-user-id="2171" data-username="Far_Beyond_Boundaries" data-xf-init="member-tooltip" href="https://blackdahliaroleplaying.com/members/2171/">Far_Beyond_Boundaries</a>