The gift of ash

[Nephrite]

Take 10 for 97.

[Anastasia]

Ahead the path continues, up and around, a loose spiral. Your keen eyes let you spy that a hidden passage is built into the wall as you pass, a little passage that leads deeper in.

[Nephrite]

"What do you make of this?" Moore asks, gesturing at the hidden passage. "I mean, up seems the right answer, but..."

He peeks his head in the passage to see if it looks like it also leads up, or just further on.

[Anastasia]

The passage looks to lead up.

"I think it's a misdirection," Cresiel says at last, "A side path that leads from the truth."

[Nephrite]

"Overthinking it?" Moore says with a chuckle as he continues on and up. "Like, looking for things on the side rather than focusing on your main goal?"

[Anastasia]

"Perhaps," Cresiel agrees as you go up. "Are you ready in case -"

Spellcraft.

[Nephrite]

Take 10 for 114.

[Anastasia]

The way ahead is about to vanish, along with this passage. You can see the magic flare, senses skilled enough to give you long enough to react.

[Nephrite]

Just to be clear, the way up as well as the hidden passage?

[Anastasia]

Just the hidden passage.

[Nephrite]

"Aha, so that's the trick." Moore says as he pulls back and motions for Cresiel to get away as well.

[Anastasia]

The party pulls away as the passage is gone a second later - just in time.

"Lies kill," Cresiel observes, "A wise lesson in this."

[Nephrite]

"Mm, I think it may be just be a crystalized version of what you said - to not be distracted when you're seeking the truth in front of you, and to be mindful of things at all times." Moore says as he proceeds up.

[Anastasia]

You walk on. This leads to a walkway above a great lake of boiling platinum. Heat rises up in great waves, the walkway solid stone but with no railings. 50ft ahead, blocking the way forward, is a sleek and slender creature made of shining blue metal. It has no sexual features and is about as tall as Cresiel, but not nearly as broad.

[Nephrite]

"Curiouser and curiouser." Moore says as they approach.

He bows his head respectfully to the creature and waits to be addressed.