The sounds are similar to muffled voices but too indistinct to recognize what they are, or what language they are in.

Kahan approaches the door and, after signaling everyone to be quiet, he carefully opens the door, slow enough so that it hopefully doesn't make any noise.

It opens a crack, and you peek in to see what appears to be some kind of throne room.  It is quite dark, but there are some flickering torches.

You see the backs of three warriors, who appear to be talking to someone on the throne.  What's strange is their conversation is in the Common Tongue, and it appears they are arguing about numbers.

"856?  No, 874."
"No, 655."
"I don't know.  We can't get them wrong.  I still think it's 988."

And it goes on like this.

Looking at the others, the young priest shrugs and pushes the door open, slowly entering. "Hail gentleman. My name is Kahan, and I seek you no harm. Might I ask what you are doing here?" he asks, still holding his shield out in front of him in case they decide to be less friendly than he.

Borimer moves in after Kahan and prepares to strike down anyone that attacks instead of talks.

The three soldiers instantly turn and draw swords by instinct, forming a protective circle and blocking your view from whoever sits on the throne.

From behind them, an elderly cleric steps.  The soldiers let him walk around while still protecting whoever sits on the throne.

The cleric speaks.  "It is who we are -- or were -- that is most important, I think."  He looks you all over.  "You appear human.  Do you serve the human king, King Krusark?"

OOC:  You are all aware that the human king was slaughtered during the war with the orcs going on 20 years ago now.  He died in battle and his body was carried off by his trusted counselor and viceroy, Lumen, before it could be beheaded and put on a stake by the orcs.  Lumen, as you recall, was also a cleric.  Though some have rumored that the king still lives, the testimony of forthright and honest witnesses undeniably stated that he died on the field, pierced by an orc spear.  The king has not been seen since that day nearly twenty years past.

"I serve no king, but I carry something for him."

Borimer doesn't lower his sword but makes no threatening move either.

"I am unaware if you know this or not, but the human king was purportedly struck down in combat with the orcs around the time I was born. Unless you are of the mindset that it was all a ruse, then I needn't explain further. We do not serve anyone directly, but we are members of a guild working to better the world in the king's absence, so you could say we do his bidding even beyond the grave." Kahan explains, ushering Borimer to lower his blade at least a little. "What do you mean, who you were? Are you spirits?" the priest inquires, his curiosity piqued.

Harak disappeared before the door was opened.

The cleric raises a suspicious eyebrow at the answer but then waves to the three warriors.  "Show them.  We have little choice and we need help."

The three warriors part, allowing you to see through their human wall.  On the other side of them, you see a figure in the throne.  The head is bowed slightly, and has a throne on its head.  What is clear right away is that this figure, once a man, has been dead for some time.  It is dressed in the rich clothes of nobility, its hands mostly skeletal and held together by wrinkled skin and tendonous muscles.

Around the figure's hands and legs are glowing rings, holding the figure there like a prisoner.

And then its head snaps up and looks at you.  In those empty socket eyes, you see red flaming lights.  It struggles against its bonds for a moment and it looks like it is trying to speak, but no words are coming out.  One thing is certain:  this undead monstrosity is glaring at you with malice and hatred.



The priest says, "My name is Lumen.  I was once counselor and viceroy to the king.  When he was slain in battle, I had him removed, and tried ancient arcane spells to bring him back.  Unfortunately, what we got back was this evil thing in the king's body.  I have been trying for almost two decades to restore the king.  He is now what some may call a lich, or some may call it something else.  But I must restore him.  The king had no heirs, and was loved by all.  We have packed around this creature, hiding and running in secret, holding and silencing it, for all these years.  I fear to know what power it has if released.  If I die, my power holding it back will be gone and it will be free to kill, so I must restore the king first."

He pauses, looking at you to see if you are too repulsed to look at the king or are otherwise hesitant.  Then he continues.  "We arrived here nigh on twenty days ago, I think.  We are trying to work the Crossroads Ark to take the king to safety.  Our companion, Chrisman, had retrieved a sequence of numbers to operate the Ark.  He went on ahead with ten warriors, and we have not seen them since.  We dare not operate the Ark until he returns, but days have passed with no sign of them."

He points to the eastern door.  "The Ark is through there.  Chrisman's last coordinates are still programmed into it.  If you will stay here and guard the king, I will go with these warriors and investigate, and then return with whatever wisdom I collect."

He says to Borimer, "You mentioned you have something for the King?  I can take it, if you will." He holds out his hand.

"This is interesting... very interesting indeed." Kahan muttered aloud, scratching his chin as he scrutinized the lich king. "Tell me, do you have any knowledge of the scepter Shi-iki? It is said to be a powerful force in raising the dead, perhaps it would be able to help remove whatever foul thing has taken over the king's body." the priest mused, wondering if they could do anything for the king at this point. "There is supposed to be a woman living in this cave, a being capable of turning you to stone. Perhaps your companion found this woman the hard way. I would hate for you to find the same fate and release the king from his bonds. We will go and look for Chrisman. If he is dead, do you know of any other way we could find the numbers to operate the Ark?" he asks.

Borimer nods at Kahan's words.

"You're better off here guarding the...king. We'll find this Crisman, or his fate."

Borimer finds himself wondering what would happen if the death knight found the lich-king when mention of the scroll brings his mind back to Lumen.  Borimer decides to overlook caution and hands him the still-sealed scroll without comment.

Lumen nods reluctantly at Borimer's suggestion.  "As you wish.  Let us show you how to work the device."  He gestures to the eastern door.

To Kahan, he states, "I have heard of the sceptre, but I know nothing of how to use it.  I have heard tell that its secrets were lost ages ago on Allevia.  I have not seen any sign of the woman you speak."

Syrissa speaks up.  "It is my sister.  She is very dangerous.  You have seen no statues, no signs of her passage?"

He shakes his head.  "Perhaps she is at another set of ruins."

Syrissa says, "This is not what I expected."  She takes a moment to look at the lich king.  "I knew King Krusark long ago," she says, stepping closer to his throne.  He was gentle and kind, noble and just -- a warrior and a statesman.  This fate is too cruel for him."

She lifts up her veil so that only the lich king can see her eyes.  His face locks in place, turning to stone, followed instant later by the rest of his body.  Syrissa lowers the veil and removes the vial of bluish liquid from the chain around her neck.  She hands it to Lumen.  "When you have found the cure, this will bring him back."

Lumen's mouth is agape, his body stiff as he stares at the statue that was his king.  Finally, he turns to her and says, "A huge burden has been lifted from my shoulders, Lady Syrissa."

She smiles.  "You do remember me after all these years?  I bet you never knew I could do that."

He can only shake his head in surprise.

Borimer hands the note to Lumen, who breaks the seal and begins reading.

OOC: I decided to break here to allow comments/actions before continuing.

Here's the current map.  You are in room 15:

Harak does not continue to pay the toll of his invisibility, as it seems unnecessary.  Instead, he reappears a few feet behind Borimer and Kahan, looking as nonthreatening as possible.

Kahan nods at Syrissa, silently thanking her for the help. "I guess that frees us up to continue forward. Lumen, would you ask one of your men to stay behind just in case Syrissa's sister decides to show up? I would hate to leave the king alone and have her free him from his stony form." The young priest looks at the others to see if they agree, noticing Harak standing behind them. Was he there just a moment ago? Yeah, he probably was. The lich king likely distracted him a bit.

Lumen only looks at the note from Borimer for a brief moment before handing it back.  "I hope this is not some kind of joke," he says.

Borimer looks down at the one page note.  It states the following:

King Krusark,

243-579-144

-Ashe

To Kahan, he says, "I will leave two guards here, just in case."

Then he says, "Follow me, and you may see how useless this note from Ashe really is."  He moves toward the eastern door.

"Ashe would not give us something useless. It may seem so right now, but it may come in handy at some point. Hopefully the secret isn't dead with the king for the time being." Kahan states, looking to Borimer to see if he could get a glance at the note before following the older man.

Lumen says, "It may not be useless, but what I mean is that it is a number we already have.  Come and see."  He opens the eastern door and steps through, followed by one of the king's guard.

Borimer hands the note to Kahan and then follows Lumen towards the eastern door.

"I had no idea what's on the note until now."

Before they reach the door Borimer asks about the artifact he carries at his belt.

"Have you heard of the ancient blade Chianta?"

He says, "That too has a history and legend, but I have forgotten it.  It was once called the 'Godslayer,' though I can't recall as to why.  Like the sceptre, its secrets are said to be on Allevia."

"Godslayer, that's comforting..."

Borimer prepares to follow Lumen through the doorway when the others are ready as well.

"Do either of you know of the other incarnations of the five pillars? We know of the scepter and dagger of life and death, the sword Chianta, the Eyes of Tarsek and of the World, and the Berilian Brooch, all save one the dagger of death which are in our possession, although we know not what any of them do, specifically." Kahan inquires, looking at both Lumen and Syrissa, wondering what their past dealings were about, and just how long ago they happened.

Lumen says, "The Five Pillars?  That sounds like an old Dwarven legend I heard once.  Can't say I know much about those things."

Syrissa says, "I know only of the value and beauty of the items.  If confirmed as legitimate, such items would be nearly priceless.  Those are the types of questions Ashe would know much more about.  Remember that magic has been almost vacant from this world for nearly a thousand years, when the magic was nearly extinguished and syphoned to Allevia."

"Or so they say," Lumen says.

"Or so they say," Syrissa agrees.  "Until about 20 years ago, just a year or two before the orc rule.  That is when Ashe opened the door between worlds and let in a red dragon.  And with it, the magic flowed back into the world.  My point is that few people on this world know much about magic, but Allevia has been alive with it for millenia.  It is reported to be the source of all magic.  Allevia is revered as giving birth to life on Tienna, and is the source of any of these artifacts you discuss."

Flint listened to all that was said trying to make sense of things.  All this legend and lore stuff made his head hurt.  He followed to the others to the eastern doors