In reply to Morteft (msg # 20):

Yes, that is basically it W and N.

As soon as Morteft says that name another earth tremor rolls thru.

--DM2
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:04, Wed 16 Nov 2022.

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 21):

Morteft casts knock on the secret door. He then blows the horn of goodness.

In reply to Morteft (msg # 22):

If Morteft’s spell does not open the door, Shorty will pull the maul and hit the door with all of his strength.  If it does open, Shorty will squeeze the ball and hurry through.

In reply to Morteft (msg # 22):

Trysk casts Minor Globe of Invulnerability.

He has his Wand of Illumination and Rod of Alertness in hand.

In reply to Trysk (msg # 24):

Warwick holds the horn of vahalla in his hand, ready to blow it.

In reply to Trysk (msg # 24):

OOC: The globes of invulnerability are stationary, they do not move with the caster.

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 26):

OOC - Oops! Trysk holds off casting it then.

Ez’ard starts the summoning process for the crown’s fire elemental while the door is being opened. He will hold off on the final steps until inside and he can engage the enemy.

In reply to Ez'ard (msg # 28):

OOC: With the risk of foreshadowing, the next post I expect will be long so I am waiting till later today so I can devote some time to it.

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 29):

OOC:  Thanks for the heads up.

In reply to Ez'ard (msg # 28):

The team prepares for what is next, although what that could be is unknown. Shorty moves to the front with Warwick close behind.  Ez'ard readies his action and Trysk waits for his moment.  Morteft see everyone is in position and after another wave goes by, he cast Knock.

The secret door burst open (away from you) as if hit with a tremendous force.  You then get pulled or rather sucked into the room like a tornado force wind had moved you.  You roll/tumble maybe 30' it is difficult to judge and come to rest in a heap and you hear the door close again with a resounding thud with finality. You get up slowly, trying to get your wits about you.  You can tell this is a large cavern too and it is lit like the fading light of day but enough to see in all directions.  The cavern is around 40-50' wide and quite long.  Two bone devils stand by the secret door like guards.

There is a low hum that can be felt as much as it can be heard and you can feel the pulses of energy in the air about every 2 seconds.  You quick look around to get your bearings and you all catch the scene and turn slowly toward it, a sight of dread of a dark ritual.

Far ahead, maybe 80' is a huge statue, maybe 20' tall, of a horned and bug eyed head along with a torso, arms folded before its chest.  In front of that is a black altar with 3 items on it, one of the items looks like a large gem, then a large flask and the third looks to be a sword laying on the altar with its hilt toward you.

Before the altar stand 2 figures, on the left a mage wears a fine black red robe, a gold crown and in its skeletal hand holds a gnarled black staff.  He is making gestures and you hear arcane words.

Next to him, dressed in what looks like high quality scale armor, wearing a cloak along with a sword belt, scabbard and sword is a skeleton, at least its head is skeletal.  You can also make out the hilt of the sword, it has a black opal in it, very unusual.

About 30' behind them, 30' before you, is a trio.  From left to right are the following a semi-transparent (head) dwarf size figure wearing a robe and carrying a staff with a snakes head on it.  Another human sized figure wearing splint armor, a helm and has a sword and shield, it holds the sword in front resting point in the ground.  The third figure looks to be a human female in an elegant black velvet dress with silver highlights.  She has long black silky looking hair that falls to her waist.

You then hear armored skeleton at the altar say, "Erig, Marevak and sweet Melissa, our guests have arrived, please tend to them and take extra care with the human mage."

The nearby trio turn and you see the dwarf's semi-transparent face and dead black eyes, like a spectre.  The middle human is a skeletal warrior now with sword and shield at the ready.  The women is very beautiful with a very pale complexion and ruby red lips, she also holds a rod.  All three wear a ruby pendant.  They say in unison: "Welcome."

Actions? .. if any

--DM2
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:22, Thu 17 Nov 2022.

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 31):

Warwick blows the horn of Vahalla.

In reply to Warwick (msg # 32):

With the superball squeezed, Shorty steps forward and motions to the Skeletal Knight to fight him.

Ez’ard gets his bearings and quickly moves out of the soon to be conflict zone. He finishes his summons of the fire elemental and has it act as defense for the moment. He will risk injury and casts a Transmute Rock to Mud spell targeting the black alter and the surrounding ground. He will then cast minor globe of invulnerability on himself. And then assess the situation as it progresses. He keeps an eye on the bone devils to see if they plan engaging.

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 31):

OOC - Just confirming distances from the party:

Giant statue 80'
Lich and skeletal warrior 60'
Trio 30'
2 bone devils 20' (behind)

In reply to Trysk (msg # 35):

Bone devils are more like 30' to the right.  All else good.

--DM2
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:54, Thu 17 Nov 2022.

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 36):

Morteft blows the horn of goodness

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 36):

Does Trysk's helm glow?

Are any of the undead affected?

In reply to Morteft (msg # 37):

Trysk plants the Rod of Alertness in the ground.

He then warns his companions, *Sunburst!* and fires a Sunburst at the trio.

Trysk then draws his short sword and turns it into a flaming sword using his helm.

In reply to Trysk (msg # 39):

OOC: Some of this will probably need to wait till I have all of my material handy, for now this

The team prepares various items of power:
Warwick pulls his Horn of Valhalla, takes a mighty breath and blows into the horn .. it sounds as if he is trying to spit out something annoying from his mouth .. nothing comes.

Morteft with his horn takes a deep breath and blows into his horn; which makes a pitiful screech and the horn cracks.

Trysk helm has a faint blue glow, rather than its brilliant blue glow as normal.

Ez'ard tries to summon an elemental .. nothing.

OOC: I will have to check on the rod later - it most likely will not work to full effect

Trysk pulls out his wand - "Sunburst!" - the results is more like a Sunsparkle, it does seem to have some affect on the trio.

OOC: there are some private messages
This might be as far as I can go till this afternoon; maybe a little further but not much.

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 40):

OOC:L  BOHICA once again.  Is New Horizons affected by whatever has stripped us of out magic?

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 40):

You do not seem to feel any benefits from the rod of Alertness.

Still other things to sort out.

--DM2

Ez’ard puts on his glasses of true sight and looks around…did everything really work but there is a massive illusion occurring?

In reply to Ez'ard (msg # 44):

Ez'ards specs reveal that indeed nothing has worked.  He can see shapes all around floating this way and that, sort of like ghosts but not paying any attention to what is going on.

--DM2

In reply to Ron, The DM (msg # 45):

Shorty braodcasts to everyone and speaks in case the amulets are disabled as well.  *"No bees place us belong.  Sword calls it nudder plane.  Not knowed what plane bees."*