Rath looks miserable. "Ben," he says, hesitantly, "you need more than a few torches and a flask of oil to ... to put a body to rest respectfully. That would just ... cook her." Rath fights off a wince at his own words.

Ignoring the comments of Rath, Ben addresses Eagle.

"Really? none? I'm not the most worldly of lads, but Lolth springs to mind. Asmodeus knows followers in the bottoms of the Haven. Vecna is far from the only necromancer known to legend, and rumor has that he is worshipped, what would an undead god not do? Certainly this would be the act of the least of his followers.
"And what about Zehir, the god whose followers apparently did this young girl in? It seems a short step indeed from the a god of assassins, to human sacrifice. The yuan-ti revere him above all other gods, I doubt they measure the death of a human female as we do, not if it would further some deeper, darker game."

Quite incensed, the young lad has become, but if he is going into the thrice damned zigga-hoozit, he isn't going to be blinded into thinking this all of this is only the handiwork of a few lizard men, even if they are involved. And he's hoping the people who travel with him aren't foolish enough to make such an assumption themselves.

"Now, are we leaving her here, or moving her someplace dry?"

Eagle is taken aback by Ben's response. As an Initiate of Melora, Eagle was more attuned to the natural ways of the world, and not the unholy rites of the various cults which operated out of Stormhaven's dark and secretive alleys, catacombs, and dungeons. Such matters were better understood by the clergy.

Earthly things. These he understood.

Eagle stands in silence for a few moments, looking up at the dark skies, and then comments in a tone of certainty, "The rain should let up soon."

The look in Eagles face cause pause in Ben. Placing a hand on his friends shoulder, he apologizes... sort of.

"I'm sorry if I got m'self a little carried away, my big feathered friend, but I wants us to come out of this alive! And in my line'o'work, that means keeping yer eyes n ears open, and being prepared for as many things as you can imagine."

Chuckling, and glances at the sky. Seeing nothing of what made Eagle suspect the rain was letting up, the dirty little thief trusted in his companion in a way that the few scant weeks they had known each other would normally allow. The rain would stop.

"Trust me, Eagle, life will still find things to throw at you that are not expected!"

The twinkle in his eyes hinted at tales he could tell...

"I really sense more behind this then simply a tribe of lizard men, and my snout suggests Lord Myron knows more then he let on. Even if he isn't the man behind all of this."

By all of this, his gesture taking in the pitiful form of the sacrificed female, he clearly meant to encompass all of the attacks and troubles in the region that have brought them here.

"I am not suggesting we go back, just the importance of being aware; this..." again he points to the sacrificial virgin (so to speak) "...speaks more of a darker evil, then simple raids by simple folk of a lizardy sort, if ya catch my meanin'."

He stepped back, hoping that he had mended things with Eagle, and perhaps even managed to get the others to understand...

"Maybe if you'd just shut the hell up with your rambling, the whole damn jungle wouldn't know we are up here," Duvall growls, his face reddening with anger.

He then looks to Eagle and nods. "We'll leave her here then, and take her with us when we leave. Norion, got any other ideas about this structure?"

Now that he had climbed onto the strange structure, Norion took a long moment to study the stone up close, trying to see if he could discern anything about the material itself or how the ziggurat had been constructed.

Rath figures it best to keep his mouth shut. Scristos is right, of course, that what's happening here is far beyond a lizard-folk raid. That the victim wasn't eaten is proof enough of that for Rath. He waits for Norion to assess the structure and stand guard. When it's time to descend, Rath stays up top with his javelin poised to strike any threatening creature that might appear while the others descend, and he is the last to climb down.

Eagle nods to Ben, showing he has taken no offence. Although seemingly in his element, travelling through the natural world he loves, since leaving Stormhaven he has been in a strange mood; more worried and uncertain than his companions might expect, and also strangely subdued - the attack of the snake, and the body on top of the Ziggurat having visibly shaken him.

'Recently life has certainly been finding things to throw at me that are unexpected,' he responds to Ben, finally finding his voice. 'Like you Ben, I have spent my entire life confined to Stormhaven, but whereas you have kept your eyes and ears open and focused down each and every back alley, mine were always focused at the sky, and the world beyond our home. Now I finally find myself wandering the greater world's delights, and it is. . . unsettling.

'You may be right that there is more to this than lizard-men, I simply do not know.' Suddenly feeling like he has said to much he furrows his brow and focuses on Norion. 'It seems we must go inside, so let us find a way to open your entrance, or tackle the front door. I may be able to draw some power over the stone to affect it's shape - perhaps six or seven feet's worth - if we moulded the crack in the door wider do you you think we could prise it open?'

Mentally adding Duvall to the list of people not worth talking to, Ben ignores his tirade, and returns to searching the top of the structure, especially the statues.

As the group continued their discussion, Norion called out to Scristos. "Ben! Have a look at this!" He looked cautiously over the section of shifting wall, searching for the means to make it open. Suspecting that it could be trapped, he refrained from touching it, waiting for Scristos to examine it.

Norion discovers a loose stone near the base of the wall. The stone is about six inches wide and appears to be capable of sliding to the right: a possible triggering mechanism to access what lies beyond the sliding wall!

The stone does not appear to have been used in quite some time, if the thick growth of algae and grime are any indication.

Excited at the dwarf's discovery, Ben scurries over and searches for traps.

21:17, Today: Ben Scristos rolled 13 using 1d100. search for traps.
Find/Remove Trap:   35
Success!

Ben finds and removes a trap!

This clever piece of work was was designed to drop an overhanging statue onto the head of anyone carelessly attempting to activate the shifting wall without disengaging a well-hidden metal latch.

Thankfully, that won't happen now.

OOC: Nice job. And I was really looking forward to death by stone amphisbaena...

Suitably proud at his discovery, Ben slowly opens the door revealing...

The ground faintly trembles as the stone door grates slowly open. A rush of musty, dry air races out to greet the adventurers: a sign that this chamber has been sealed for some many, many years.

A narrow, low threshold no higher than five feet tall, opens to an unlit chamber within. The ambient light of the darkened skies does shed some light on the immediate entrance area however.

The short and cramped corridor is flanked on either side by heavy stone blocks with small recessed alcoves at irregular intervals. Dried wax bleeds down the walls from the alcoves, and indeed, the ancient remains of candles that have long since burnt out are evident in the openings.

The corridor continues for about five feet before opening into a larger chamber, the contents of which are scarcely visible to those without darkvision. Norion can make out what appears to be a long wooden banquet table in the middle of the room, surrounded by several chairs. Several bowls, plates, and mugs are located atop the table. Beyond the table, positioned against a far wall, Norion sees a line of ceramic amphoras, the contents of which are unknown.

The chamber appears to be far larger than what can be seen from the secret entrance, though any additional details are not observable from Norion's present vantage point.

"Well, there goes my theory that this was the door used for the ritual above," Ben mutters more to himself then anyone else.

Stepping just far enough in to get out of the rain, Ben opens his pouch, and gets out his flint, tinderbox, and a torch, which he promptly sets about lighting, barring something coming out of the darkness and stopping him.

"Perhaps it was once," Saliq suggests answering Ben's question. "That shrine was probably used for sacrifices long ago." The Illusionist glances back unhappily at the woman, obviously not thrilled at leaving her like this but he reluctantly prepares to enter the tunnel (after Ben and the team heavies of course.)

Rath grunts approval at the work of Norion and Ben gaining access to the sealed area. As Ben lights the torch, Rath shifts his sword back into his hand and carefully ducks through the threshold.

'Do not worry about the maiden Saliq,' Eagle says soothingly, seeing the conjurer's discomfort. 'If Melora wills it she will be left undisturbed, and we will deal with her body when we finish in here. Though if not, her flesh will be returned to the great circle of life that we are all bound to spin through. In any case, her spirit and her essence has long-since departed to a better place.'

With that he ducks his head and follows his companions into the Ziggurat, his shield and spear at the ready.

Duvall lights his lantern and brings up the rear > lantern in one hand, hammer in the other.

Torch and lantern at the ready, the party escapes the monsoon-like weather for the dryness of the ancient ziggurat. The short corridor opens into a large, rectangular chamber dominated by a banquet table in the room's center. A dozen or so chairs surround the table, which is set with various tableware. While much of the pottery and dishes are clay, the light reflects off of several metal bowls, utensils and plates as well: silver and gold!

A line of amphoras is placed against the far wall, between each of which are seven stone doors, all closed. Ancient runes are carved into each door.[Private to Saliq Musfara: Saliq recognizes these to be of a script related to that of the common tongue of his people.]

Flanking either side of the table, are stone statues of a muscular naked man kneeling in supplication, brow and hands placed firmly on the the floor. A stone bowl is located directly in front of each statue's head.

Finally, the upper reaches of the stone chamber are carved with depictions of lines of servants offering all manner of goods to a ruler seated in a large throne.

Something about the room dimmed Ben's normal ardor. Even the sight of the plates of silver and gold did not elicit a sound; something about the place caused the small hairs on the back of his neck to rise.

Stepping over the where the enthroned figure is carved onto the wall, Ben examines the image.

Rath spares a quick glance through the chamber to check for any obvious dangers. He motions to Norion to accompany Ben deeper in, while Rath himself takes a position just inside the entrance, to one side, to guard against an unexpected intrusion from behind.

The carved figure is a robed man wearing a large crown and wielding a large scepter in his right hand. A sacrificial altar rests at the man's feet, atop which are many goods: grains, wine, fruits, jewelry, and bolts of cloth.

The artwork is distinct, but nothing too remarkable. The figures consist mostly of line figure carvings with minimal detail.

"Don't look like a lizard-king, guessing this place was build by people."

Uninterested in earning the scorn of the others, Ben holds his urge to destroy the statues in, but he still examines them, as they seem at first glance to be of a much higher artistic quality compared to the carvings.