Zuni sheathed her blade with a flourish and looked at the portal.  "It looks wide enough for more than one person to go through..." she mused and then looked over at Selvin.  he was technically the largest of them, surrounded by his otherworldly friend.

Zuni, realizing that she was standing very close to Selvin couldn't help but subtly reach out and poke gently at the fascinating blue energy around Selvin.  The energy felt...well it felt like there was something there but still...

The symbiote's blue glowing tail, almost like it had a mind of it's own, swung around to playfully, and lightly, bat Zuni's leg (with the stinger curled away from her, of course). The tiger-like head turned to regard her with what could almost be a feline smile.

Selvin, of course, noticed none of this....or at least he didn't show it openly - there might be a small twitching of his lips, but that could be anything, right?

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 54):

THUMP

Chandanar eyes the door which just suddenly rocked in it's frame.  Uhhh...maybe we should leave whatever it is to it's exercise time

Sial nods.  Quite.  My guess is it's something from the Black.  It would be fascinating to study. Assuming we could survive it.

Yeah, that last part would put a crimp in the mirth  Chandanar waves his hand at the portal.  Who's first?

I need the order ya'll proceed into the shaft.  I'll just assume the order you post is the order you go.  The Chain Devil will be going with the first person, Sial with the second, Chandanar and Belgar with the third.  Izzy, Krojun is not here.  He fled back up the entrance, trying to distract the tentacles to chase after him and give ya'll a chance to escape

You step over the edge of the shaft and start to fall.  But then the air under your feet seems to push back against you and you are slowly descending.  It's an odd sensation no matter how you cut it.

The shaft descends about seventy feet before ending in the southern end of large north-south running stone hall.  The hall is large.  Circular at this end but opening up into an eighty or so foot rectangular roon to the north.  The walls bear the same types of designs in the entry chamber.  The glyphs are meaningless to you, but seem to hint at some knowledge that may best be left alone.

It appears there is an archway going to the east at the northern end of the hallway.

Selvin leaned back from the door as it banged, then he let out a little chuckle to relieve his tension. "Heh. Yeah, alright."

He cracked his neck one way and walked towards the pit. "I can fly so I'll go first, in case anything goes wrong." It wasn't a question.

He stepped off in to the pit's open mouth. It was what he expected, though he had half-expected it wouldn't work or something. He smirked slightly. "Almost like feather fall."

He stepped further in once he landed to give room for the rest coming down, but he waited for Zuni to check things over before going too far.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 02:46, Wed 28 June 2017.

Zuni watched Selvin descend, followed by the scantily clad woman.  She briefly thought for a moment how she might look, dressed like the chained devil, but such thoughts were not meant for this moment.

"I'll go next."  She said, stepping into the open space of the circle.  It was an odd feeling dropping through the tunnel at a slower rate than she had expected, and a kind of fun.  By the time that her feet were just touching the floor of the room below, Zuni had figured out how to put a slow spin on her descent.

Zuni grinned at Selvin.  "Well, you're still here so nothing bad must have happened, but let's just make sure."

OOC:
Perception -> 18

Izzick got on last, jumping in with Belgar and Chandanar to ride the air wave down. As they lowered down a floor, he looked to his companions, Sial and the devilish companion of the scholar. "Seems like we all made it at least. Where to now?" he asked as he began to look around where they'd ended up at the bottom of the tunnel.

Selvin gave a slow clap as Zuni descended in a slow spin. He grinned at her and gave a bow with one arm gestured to where she might begin looking for traps. "Nice. After you, m'lady."

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 60):

Zuni, you sweep the large chamber with a now much-too-much practiced eye.
Nothing screams murderkilldie. Wait. Halfway along the eastern wall there's an oddness to the shape of a thin crack on the wall. It's an almost perfect arc shape. Upon scanning it closer you realize there is a circular opening in the wall that's sealed with a large tight fitting stone plug. The hole is taller than Izzick or even Zac/Selvin . You don't think there is anything mechanical to it. It looks lkke somehow, someone just stuck a perfectly fitting stone plug into the hole in the wall. What that plug must weigh you can't imagine. It would depend on how far back the hole goes.

Despite that, there seems to be nothing else besides the archway further to the north.

"Just what every girl wants from a man.  To go first towards deadly traps.  How you spoil me, Selvin."  Zuni chuckled as she moved to examine the strange plug in the wall.  "At least I'm better with traps and locks than I am in a kitchen.  This is an odd adornment.  It reminds me of a plug for a bath tub..."

Zuni straightened up and looked up at the ceiling.  "Do you suppose that if we pull this out, it would drain the water from the chamber above?  Perhaps that is how we get back up the tunnel?  We flood this chamber and swim."

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 62):

Chandanar shakes his head.  I think the pools would be to the west of us.  This plug is covering something to the east.  It may not open on to the pools.

Sial is inspecting the glowy shaft you all rode down.  I think there is magic on this platform that works in reverse from this side.  We should levitate back up if we step on it.  If not... He shrugs and turns back towards you all.  I am sure we are all suitably able to ascend on our own.  How could we manage to move the plug?  It seems fairly tight in it's placement.  Honestly, I would not have even noticed it had you not mentioned it.   He is correct in that it sits fairly flush with the wall.

In reply to The Dealer (msg # 63):

You guys want to keep investigating this plug? Or hrad to the archway in the northeast? Thanks

Selvin let out a chuckle. "Who needs t'cook when we go out t'eat at a nice restaurant? Good food, good drink, music, ambience." He joked but he kept his eyes and ears peeled for any hints of danger.

He shook his head at Chandanar. "Negatory on the pools, good buddy. Let's avoid those for the moment. Just in case tentacular can get t'them too, or am I bein' paranoid?"

He looked around and shrugged. "I say archway."

Zuni frowned at the plug.  Maybe it was nothing to be concerned with but she still wanted to make sure.

"Just give me a minute with this thing."  she said to the others, walking up to the plug to get a better look at it.

OOC:
Perception -> 28

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 66):

The plug is more massive than you thought. Your guess is it must go back quite a ways into the wall. It feels dry. If it leads to the pools, the blockage is further back. There's no mold or moisture around the plug line for example.

You do come across a hole near the top. By standing on your tiptoes, you can see that it looks like a long crack or imperfection in the alignment here. If you were an inch high, you might be able to slip down there.

Sial notices where you are looking Zuni. If you wish to investigate, I may have something that could assist. He reaches into a pouch at his waist and returrns with a small vial filled with a clear liquid. This will allow the user to enter a sort of...gaseous existence. I have enough for four draughts. Which means two of us could use it, see if it leads anywhere, and if so investigate, then return.

Zuni looked at the vial and her eyes widened in wonder for a brief moment.  She'd used healing potions, even stolen potions, but never had she used one that would alter her physical state.  The idea was addictively enticing and it made her agree a little too eagerly.

"Yes!  I mean, we should certainly investigate while we are here."  she said, calming herself.  "Assuming that it's safe of course."

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 68):

Chandanar looks around. Who else wants to go? If not I will

"Really? We're doin' that? We can't jus' move on an' keep goin'?" Selvin grimaced and let out a heavy sigh. He rolled his eyes and threw his head back. "UGH! Fine." He walked back over to Zuni, tilted his head with a "Are you serious?" look on his face, then he shook his head and chuckled. He held out his hand to Sial for the vial. "Right. Let's get this over with."

"Who else? Sial?" He didn't much like the idea of splitting up, but he supposed of all of them, Selvin could handle himself the best alone. He looked to the researchers who'd come into the tomb, wondering if either of them would be going with the summoner or if a second one would be going with Selvin.

Sial shrugs and hands over the vial.  Selvin and Zuni drink.  The mixture has an odd, cool, minty sensation.  Like you have just bitten into a peppermint candy of some kind.  Then your bodies come apart and reform into spirals of steam.  You float towards the crack.  The small, narrow passage formed by the crack goes back about twenty feet or so.  Then it opens into a large chamber.  The room is about thirty by thirty.  Glowing orbs hang from the ceiling, casting a dim light over the room.  To one side is a table with a bowl filled with water and a set of five plates.

There are the remains of four bodies on the floor.  The bodies must have been here for centuries.  Whatever killed them must have been massive.  Their bones are crushed almost to a powder in some places.  They each wear what were once probably very fine, very expensive robes.

Izzick, you watch your comrades drift towards the crack and then disappear inside.  Chandanar leans over to you and whispers Nice couple.  I was hopin' those two would get together.  He glances back at Sial and his chainy companion.  Should we just wait? he says aloud, Or go ahead and take a peek into that archway over yonder?

Zuni floated over towards the bodies, hardly believing that she had actually turned into a cloud of steam.  It felt strange but wonderful at the same time.

She floated closer to bodies to see if there was any clue as to what might have caused this, or if there was anything that they might want to acquire.

OOC:
Perception -> 11

Izzick thought a moment. If there was anything as fierce as the creature in the pools, they might be out of luck with just himself, Chandanar and the researchers, but he supposed he didn't know their capabilities either. "Perhaps if we're cautious. Who goes first?" He asked, before shrugging himself and moving towards the archeway, making his way through slowly to try and peer inside.

12:31, Today: Izzick rolled 18 using 1d20-1.  Perception.

The bodies appear to have been crushed in places Zuni. The wounds are not static enough to be from fallen debris or being crushed between walls. It looks like something beat them to death.

There are sparkles and glimmers, yes. The men seemed to have been wearing various pieces of jewelry. Also the bowl of water seems remarkably fresh and the plates remarkably clean.

---

Belgar shrugs and trods over to the archway, you following him close behind Izzick. There is a dim glow coming from beyond it, the closer you get.

Beyond the arch is a large room in the middle of wh8ch is a stone sphere. The sphere is the source of the dim, yellow glow. It's surface is decorated with odd blotches of paint that seem more than just random smatterings across the sphere's surface. You realize it is the moon. Whoever crafted this sphere painted it to resemble the moon in the night sky.

Out of habit, Zuni reached for the jewelry but seeing as her hands currently made out of steam, she failed to acquire any of it.

"I don't think that this was done by any trap." she pointed to several of the injuries the skeletons appeared to have suffered.  "We may find roaming beasties besides the giant tentacle thing on the main floor."

OOC:
Are there any other ways out of this room?

Izzick looked around before he made the realization. "The moon? We're inside the moon?" He might have even sounded crazy until he explained to anyone who didn't see the resemblance. But he still had to think a bit...WHY was this room painted like the moon and glowing? "You might be more knowledgeable than me about this ruin, Sial, do you have any idea the use of this room?"

In case Izzick does have any ideas:
01:58, Today: Izzick rolled 9 using 1d20+8.  Knowledge Arcana.
01:57, Today: Izzick rolled 19 using 1d20+4.  Knowledge History.
01:57, Today: Izzick rolled 16 using 1d20-1.  Perception.

Selvin felt an unfamiliar sensation come over him, though the taste itself was nice. He had teleported before and an otherworldly being normally surrounded him so he was used to strange, but this was different. He felt...not solid, like he was no longer anchored and would float away at any moment. Instead he was able to sort of 'push' himself to follow Zuni into the small breach.

Selvin went and looked at the table, and then the bodies. He shook his...well his gaseous approximation of a head. "Yeah, that looks like somethin' beat them all t'death. I wonder if they were drugged or somethin' so they couldn't run away? Cause why would you sit there while somethin' beat the others t'death right? An' PAST death from the looks of it. I mean, somethin' wanted them REALLY dead an' pasted."

He began to look around the room itself more, checking the walls and ceiling, seeing if there were any exits or lurking monsters.

OOC: And of course, when I read this, York Peppermint Patty commercials raced through my brain, lol.