Aleric shrugged and, at Otavia’s invitation, examined the shelf, and helped himself to a few more books.  When she started towards the pedestal, Merrick caught up with her with a scampering step, walking alongside her and eyeing the pedestal as they approached, while Kent followed after them.  As they approached, the shapes of the statues started to become clearer.  The forms were distorted and stylized rather than realistic, typical of the works attributed to primitive cults that Otavia had seen in some museums in her travels.  The first seemed to be a standing male figure with an erect phallus utterly disproportionate to its body (about two thirds of the length of one of its legs).  The second appeared to be female by the swell about the bosom and the hips, bent onto all fours.  The way they were oriented to each other gave the impression that the female figure was offering herself to the male.<br/><br/>About six feet away from the pedestal, Otavia suddenly pulled up short with one foot in the air.  Something was wrong.  She had put her foot where the ground should be, but she felt nothing.  A glance down revealed that her foot had passed through the sand she could see as if it were mere air.  An instant later she heard a yelp and turned to see Merrick’s face disappearing through the sand, somehow not disturbing it at all.  It seemed to be some sort of illusion.<br/><br/>Kent called out Merrick’s name before quickly crawling along the ground, feeling out where the rogue had vanished with his hands.  After slipping his arm through the sand, again not disturbing it at all, he pressed his head through it.  He pulled his head up abruptly and quickly explained,<strong>“The ground’s not real.  There’s some kind of chute in the stone.  We should go after him.”</strong><br/><br/><strong>”We don’t know what’s down there,”</strong>Aleric countered, strolling up behind Otavia.<strong>”It might lead straight into an acid pit for all we know.  If we find we’re over our heads here, getting out will be a much more complicated proposition if we dive into the belly of the beast.”</strong><br/><br/><strong>“He’s our friend.  He might need our help,”</strong>Kent growled.<br/><br/><strong>“And he knew the risks when he came here!  We all did,”</strong>came Aleric’s retort.<br/><br/>The two turned to Otavia.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Decision time!  Merrick missed the illusory floor when he searched the room.  Will Otavia dive into the middle of a mystery she barely understands to try keeping the party together, or will she leave him to his fate?</div></div><br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Dice Rolls</div><div class="spoiler_body">At 2016-07-03 08:29:28, Otavia reflex (uid: 59153) rolls: 1d20a2 Result: 22 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=89929)<br/>At 2016-07-03 08:29:05, Otavia spot (uid: 59153) rolls: 1d20a-1 Result: 8 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=89928)<br/>At 2016-06-29 20:22:00, Kent reflex (uid: 59153) rolls: 1d20a1 Result: 19 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=89814)<br/>At 2016-06-29 20:21:37, Merrick reflex (uid: 59153) rolls: 1d20a6 Result: 12 (https://elliquiy.com/forums/dicebot.php?r=89813)</div></div>