Caine had ventured alone into the foothills of the Moon Peaks, drawn there by persistent rumors of ancient secrets and treasures hidden within the winding caverns that dotted the craggy landscape, remnants left by the long forgotten settlers of the mountains. Thus he was surprised upon awakening at his isolated camp to find a wax sealed parchment resting alongside his now cold campfire.

The letter, sent by a mage known as Mazzahs, requested the explorer’s help in seeking out the secrets of the ancient catacombs that rested beneath the Barrowmoor south of the village of Helix. Caine had heard many tales of the tombs since arriving in the Duchy, that much of their origins were shrouded in legend, the histories of those interred there lost to antiquity. The missive, clearly having reached him by way of magic, promised ample rewards for Caine’s assistance in unraveling the mysteries of the barrows, indicating that such efforts could prove key to protecting the Duchy’s settlements from threats posed by the undead.

So it was that Caine was present at Mazzahs’ tower on the morning that the company made ready to venture back into the Barrowmoor. Mazzahs introduced the cloaked, mysterious explorer to his new companions, the wizard explaining that he had sought Caine’s assistance as he was reputed to be as capable an adventurer as those he would be joining.

Mazzahs indicated that he and Brother Othar had succeeded in banishing the fell spirit that had possessed the soldier that the company had captured, and that he and the priest had gained some hints of the undead creature’s greater purpose. The wizard stated that he had it on good authority that, among the items that Perri Ticklebottom had managed to escape her doomed gambling den with was the map that the spirit had apparently sought. Mazzahs indicated that he was to meet with the tavern owner later that afternoon.

Mazzahs informed the company that Sir Dryvyk and his followers had departed Helix for Ironguard Motte at the behest of Brother Othar, to fulfill an errand of some urgency on behalf of the Church of St. Ygg.

Tamson, the company’s guide, along with Searlait, Kraomar, and Lampert met the adventurers at the wizard’s spire, ready to venture back to the tombs. As they made their way into the swamps, the air was hazy with humidity, the morning sky streaked with gray clouds that kept the waking daylight shrouded in shadow. Despite the season, the temperature was cool, just cold enough to force the travelers to draw their cloaks about them for comfort.

---

The catacombs have always hosted a certain amount of ambient sound. The shifting and settling of ancient beams and stone. The just discernible noises of the dank water and earth that surround the tunnels moving at their infinitesimally slow pace. Even the occasional footfall of one of the maze’s fell denizens, walking to fulfill some dark errand.

As Searlait lowers each of the explorers down the rope into the tall entrance chamber below, the adventurers are aware of these sounds, which have become almost familiar to those that have ventured into the tombs previously. But as the last of the company reaches the room below, all of the noises halt, subsumed by a silence so absolute it seems to possess a physical weight, an oppressiveness that momentarily pushes down on those that have entered. As the company makes its way to its first destination within the catacombs, the sounds of their own steps and breathing seem uncomfortably loud in the pervasive stillness.

As they follow the moisture stained corridors east, then north, a route familiar to some of the adventurers, they encounter nothing and hear no sounds within the shadowy hallways besides their own. Turning eastward again, the party reaches a passageway lined with several doors on its northern and southern walls, its eastern end halting abruptly at an archway sealed off by stone and plaster, the bricked up entrance to an unidentified tomb.

The adventurers halt in front of a doorway on the southern wall, the entrance of which is blocked by a series of rusted iron bars. The linkboy, Lampert, holds his torch aloft so that all can easily see. Kneeling beside the portal, Ishmael investigates the out of place stone that he had previously noticed during the party’s prior explorations, which sits just left of the base of the doorway. He finds it easy to lift away and in doing so reveals an iron handle attached to a mechanism which operates the movement of a chain within the wall.

OOC: For reference, the party is currently in front of the doorway marked as location 22 on the Main Game Map.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:56, Tue 04 Oct 2022.

As Searlit lowered the all down in to the dank caverns below, Caine's mind went over the events that had led him here, with these strangers descending into the unknown depths of this dark tomb.

He had been making his living as a mercenary, having just finished a stint as a bodyguard before seeking for new employment. Work had been scarce even for one with his talents, times of peace in the world were not good news for everyone.

The magical missive from Mazzahs was as good an opportunity one could have hoped for, but as the darkness closed in around him from above, he began to have creeping doubts over what he had gotten himself in to.It was too late to back out now in any case, not to mention his own ego would not allow him to back down now.

He noted the sounds around him as he descended, but perhaps more noticeable was their absence. He had learnt of the walking dead of this place from the others as they ventured from the wizard's spire and through the swamps and thus was constantly on edge as they made their way through the stained corridors and finally ended up in front of the door blocked by the iron bars.

"Any idea what to expect in there?" he asked the others pointedly, since unlike Caine it was not their first trip here.

"The walking dead. Lots of them. From skeletons to zombies to huecuvas. And, I doubt we have seen any more than a small portion of the catacombs.

Keep your blade at the ready, we will need it soon enough, of that I am sure."

His work done, the dwarf moves back to give the sellswords room to work and takes his position as rearguard. "Safe ta say anything we find wants to kill ya." he warns the newcomer.

As they reached the floor of the first chamber Malivoire was suddenly aware of the absence of ambient noise.  The eerie quiet was disturbing, like something crawling up your back, out of reach of either hand.  As they began making their way through the corridors he ventured a whisper that still seemed too loud.  "Why is it so deathly quiet this time?"

Despite the unusual quiet nothing seemed to threaten, and soon Malivoire was gathered with the others at the barred doorway.  He kept his eyes and ears open for approaching threats while those best suited worked to open the entrance.

"It is a silent greeting," Barnabus answers.

"It would have us think it's omniscient," he adds ominously, "and practiced in the standard courtesies of a Barrowmaze of its station."

The priests makes little, light stamps with his feet as he waits for Dax to turn the handle, his mind often turning to the leaden, octagonal box for securing wayward souls. How many had Mazzahs said could be safely secured within? Three? Four? Five? Or maybe eight for each side of the box? He looks forward to finding out.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:36, Thu 06 Oct 2022.

Dax draws his sword, looks through the bars to see anything that might object to the group entering.

He looks to Caine, "Would you like to do the honours?" he asks gesturing to the mechanism that Ishmael located. "Ynes and I will enter first, and usually, be attacked immediately!" he added with a wink to his fellow warrior.

Ynes shakes her head, taking a firm grip on her axe. ”Remind me again why I agreed to help this wizard?” she asks with a smirk.

Caine draws the lever back. With a groan of age and accumulated rust, the chain begins to move, slowly raising the iron bars from the doorway, a brief shroud of dust and flakes of aged metal falling from the top of the portal’s archway.

Moving inside, Dax and Ynes find the chamber, a twenty by twenty foot square, entirely vacant. Strangely, it is absent of any sarcophagi and no burial spaces are present in any of the walls. The smooth, gray stone is also without any carvings or inscriptions which would suggest that the room serves as an antechamber to an adjacent tomb.

In the southwestern corner of the room a single, small object can be seen resting on the floor. A message, hastily scrawled in chalk is just visible on the southern wall, perhaps a foot above it.

The stillness of the catacombs remains in the wake of the raising of the iron bars.

Cool as a cucumber, Barnabus slinks along the western wall until he's close enough to both examine the object and read the message.

 Charley takes his place in Dilemma's bag during this delve.  "Well, while I haven't yet mastered magics against the dead..." The magess removes a flask of oil...  "A swell time was had by me many years ago with a pack of ghouls."  She taps the vessel with a white-gloved hand.  "Ac-cor-ding-ly..." She steps closer to Lampert.  "I've gotten into the habit of carrying oils with myself, and making nice with anyone holding a means of ignition."

"Careful!" Dax calls out, too late to stop Barnabus from moving through the room.

"It looks like there might be some tracks, let me take a look before we stir the dust too much."

The ranger moves gingerly to where he saw the tracks, and drops to a knee, to examine them more closely.

---

My character sheet only has percentages for following tracks, nothing for identifying them. Please feel free to roll for me if percentile are not the right dice.
Dax Moonblade rolled 79 using 1d100.

The dwarf, no longer surprised by the cleric brashness, waits at the doorway, both in case the something comes, and in case the door fails.

Dax is familiar with all manner of creatures, including most that present a danger to travelers within the Duchy of Aerik. But the tracks he sees are genuinely unknown to him. He is certain that the prints were not made by any of the familiar humanoids, such as goblins, kobolds, or gnolls. Nor were they created by any manner of undead that the ranger knows of. Whatever left them stood upright, had three clawed toes along with a talon at the heel, and was quite large; possibly around ten feet in height.

Kneeling at the southwestern corner, Barnabus finds that the abandoned object appears to be a broken brass compass, its cracked face smudged by a bloody thumbprint.

The message, written in jittery block letters, reads, ”SOMETHING IS FOLLOWING US”.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:58, Fri 07 Oct 2022.

Lampert grins and nods. ”That seems plenty wise to me, ma’am. Especially with some of the things we’ve seen down here,” the young man tells Dilemma, ”I’ll be ready. Let me know whenever you’re in need of my lantern.”

Ignoring Dax as he snuffles about in the dust, Barnabus squints at the broken compass to see which direction it had been pointing.

"Whichever way it points, we search," he asserts. "This isn't an antechamber to no chamber."

As for the missing body, well, they might have already discovered it had it belonged to one of the tomb robbers. But it would have said SOME THINGS ARE FOLLOWING US.

He giggles to himself. No, no thing would have written that. It would have been THINGS or WE ARE BEING FOLLOWED.

"It's true. We are the things that follow."

Filling in the game map might narrow down the search as well, LL, in this case, if you could.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:21, Sat 08 Oct 2022.

 "Good!" Dilemma bobs her head to Lampert.  "I like this one."

 As the others discuss followings, she notices something... "Hey..." She says, pointing a finger at the eastern wall.  "Not to change the subject, but that wall over there -- it's got a sort of... unevenness.  Anyone else notice that?"

"Almost like a hawk's claw. But much larger!" Dax remarks as he finished examining the tracks.

"Well spotted! Ishmael, can you try to find a hidden passage?"

"Aye.  I'll kin look."  The dwarf replies.  He lights a torch from Lampert's lantern and moves towards the eastern wall.  "Make room." he says, grumpily waving people away from the wall.

Caine had remained by the doorway, not wanting to disturb the tracks while the Ranger Dax and the others did their work. The nature of the tracks, as well as the writing on the wall, disturbed him, and Caine was not one who was easily disturbed.

It was the feel of this place, closeted, dark and damp...the mercenary in him screamed Death Trap!. Taking a deep breath he flexed and unflexed his main sword hand, and waited for Ishmael to examine the far wall.

---

The needle of the damaged compass points eastward.

Ishmael moves to the eastern wall, studying it closely. Now that the sharp eyed Dilemma has pointed out the area of unevenness, it takes little time for the dwarf to discern that there is a carefully concealed door in the wall’s center, which is opened by depressing a stone immediately to the right of the portal. Ishmael does not notice anything that suggests that the hidden door has been trapped.

"Ready, on your call, Ishmael." Dax glances at Ynes on his right and Caine just behind and gives them a nod.

Barnabus blesses the party in the name of Impuratus as Dax moves to step on the stone to the right of door and grant access to a very special tomb indeed.

Casts Bless on the party. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus and +1 on attack and damage rolls for 6 turns.

 Well, that was certainly surprising!

 Dilemma steps in line with the others, minding her place... near Lampert... "Thank you." She half-whispers to Barnabus.

Ishmael depresses the stone. The door swings open with an elongated scrape and a rush of stale air, both of which seem unbearably loud within the suffocating stillness.

Beyond the hidden doorway lies a chamber that is roughly the same dimensions as that which the adventurers occupy: twenty by twenty feet. The stone walls of the adjoining room, darkened with decay, are lined with octagonal burial alcoves, the highest only a few feet from the ceiling. Dust swirls in the air, evidence that the ancient burial place has been undisturbed for countless years.

In the northeast corner of the chamber huddle six figures, which turn as the door swings open, They are the undead, shambling corpses that groan in apparent hostility as their milky eyes perceive the presence of the adventurers. Their bodies riddled with decay, they begin to approach with a halting gait, raising hands that end in filthy, jagged claws. On each undead creature’s gray flesh can be seen the sharp, black shapes of runes, tattooed on each of them with considerable care. The symbols cover their arms, chests, and foreheads.

Their groans become growls as they draw nearer.

OOC: Zombies always strike last in a combat round, so the adventurers may act first.

Each of the zombies have an armor class of 7.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:41, Tue 11 Oct 2022.

"At them!" Dax calls out as he lifts his shield high and strikes at the closest zombie with his new blade.

---

Dax Moonblade rolled 23, hitting AC-6 for 13 Damage.

[Edit: forgot to include +1 to attack and damage from Bless.]
This message was last edited by the player at 22:55, Tue 11 Oct 2022.

Ishmael brings his axe up, chopping at one of the zombies.

06:12, Today: Ishmael rolled 13,9 using 1d20+1,1d8+1.  Hits AC 6 for 9

It was truly a necromantic feat for the tattoos to retain their definition upon the decaying, putrescent flesh of the zombies. Mazzahs would want to know about this! Barnabus hurls himself forward, the better to examine these fell imprints.

B. hits for 6 dmg (if one of the zombies already struck still shambles, he targets one of those first).
17:42, Today: Barnabus rolled 18,6 using d20+4,d6+4.  Barnabus attack.

As Barnabus cast his spell Caine instinctively drew his large sword from his back in a slow yet smooth gesture, torchlight gleaming off the heavy blade. He cautiously moved into the new room with the others and immediately spotted the undead.

His eyes narrowed as the foe advanced, and he stepped to fill in a gap in the party's ranks on the frontline, so the creatures would not be able to flank them or get to the members at the back.

As one of the undead shuffled into range Arkan chopped at it with a powerful stroke from top to the side then reversed the blade and thrust in a blisteringly swift move at the same creature!

---

Attack: 23; Damage: 09

(edited to add +1 from Bless spell)


This message was last edited by the player at 15:03, Wed 12 Oct 2022.

 Dilemma ponders -- briefly.  Her oil could wait.  Her magic was best used against the living.  For now?  The zombies would get some more iron in their diets.

 Chucking her dagger through the fray and at one of the tattooed terrors in the middle of the cluster, Dilemma wastes no time in drawing her next...

Like Dilemma, Malivoire held back on his magics for the moment, instead hurling one of his red-fletched darts at the nearest zombie.  Unlike Dilemma, his aim was slightly off and the missile flew harmlessly past the target.

OOC:
14:33, Today: Malivoire rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Attack. Even with +1 for short range (not reflected here) this falls short of DC12 to hit.
(Also note for Barnabus - the Bless was included in the initial +3).

In virtual lockstep with Dax, Ynes charges into the alcove lined room, attacking the first zombie she can close with.

16:51, Today: Ynes rolled 17 using 1d20+3.  Attack - Battle Axe.

16:53, Today: Ynes rolled 5 using 1d8+3.  Damage.

Malivoire and Dilemma hurl missiles at the gathering of undead while the remainder of the company rushes the walking corpses. Several blows are landed on the chamber’s cadaverous guardians and Dilemma’s dagger finds its target.

The undead that are struck all react to their injuries in the same fashion: they burst into sudden, intense flames.

All but one of the undead are engulfed in what are undoubtedly supernatural fire, their remaining flesh consumed within moments of each conflagration blossoming. The blazes do not consume them, however. They merely reduce the zombies to skeletons who remain dangerously animate and wreathed in fire.

OOC: Anyone who closed with the zombies in melee is subject to 1d6 damage from the fire.

18:15, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 5 using 1d6.  Barnabus - Fire Damage.

18:16, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 3 using 1d6.  Dax - Fire Damage.

18:16, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 3 using 1d6.  Caine - Fire Damage.

18:16, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 4 using 1d6.  Ishmael - Fire Damage.

18:17, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 5 using 1d6.  Ynes - Fire Damage.

Barnabus’ strike on one of the blazing corpses, which was hit an instant before by Ishmael’s axe, manages to fell the undead creature. As its bones clatter onto the stone floor, the fire that envelops them begins to slowly die out.

The remaining animate corpses, though injured, claw at the nearby members of the company.

18:26, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 5 using 1d20.  Attack - Funeral Pyre Zombie.

18:26, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 8 using 1d20.  Attack - Funeral Pyre Zombie.

Dax and Caine are both able to evade attacks from the undead they are facing.

18:27, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 20 using 1d20.  Attack - Funeral Pyre Zombie.

18:28, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 3 using 1d8.  Damage.

Ynes is slashed by the skeletal guardian she is struggling with, its claws raking her shoulder.

18:30, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 12 using 1d20.  Attack - Funeral Pyre Zombie.

Ishmael manages to just duck under a swipe from the burning skeleton that was stuck by Dilemma’s dagger.

18:31, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 11 using 1d20.  Attack - Funeral Pyre Zombie.

Barnabus handily blocks an incoming blow from the only undead guardian that is not veiled in flame.

OOC: Five zombies remain. All but one are burning. Each has an armor class of 7.

The room with the burial alcoves is now well illuminated.

It is the party’s turn to act.

"Silvanus take them!" Dax curses as the zombies burst into flame. The ranger swings again at the closest foe.

---

Dax Moonblade rolled 25, (natural 20) for 7 Damage (manually added Bless).

Being subject to the flames of perdition can be clarifying, even for a headstrong cleric. Barnabus recalculates, backs away. Perhaps, after all, his deity might have some part to play in this encounter -- before he is reduced to cinders and ashes.

B. turns 6 HD worth of the inferno zombies.
10:16, Today: Barnabus rolled 9,6 using 2d6,2d6.  Turn attempt #1.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:54, Thu 13 Oct 2022.

Caine cursed in elvish, cursing his own stupidity than their circumstances. He should have paid more attention to the runes on the zombies before engaging with them. It was too late now; the only way out was to crush them all before they were all overwhelmed.

He heavy, yet elegantly crafted blade was a blur as he chopped and thrust in the cramped, burning conditions, smiling grimly through the heat as he he felt his blade crush blazing bone...

---

ooc: Attack: 19; Damage: 08.

Action: Attacking the Zombie he attacked last round, which I take it is now a burning skellie

Malivoire flinched back, raising an arm to shield himself as the zombies burst into flames.  That was unexpected!

Recovering his wits, he quickly hurled another dart at one of the burning skeletons in the hopes he could help the front line.  This time he hit, albeit barely.  The wound looked rather superficial.

OOC:
08:34, Today: Malivoire rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Attack. Hit, just!
08:35, Today: Malivoire rolled 2 using 1d4+1.  Damage.

The strikes from Caine and Dax both fell the undead foes they are facing, each skeleton collapsing to the floor in a jumbled pile of burning bones.

At the same time, Barnabus entreats his deity for aid, a call that is immediately answered. Although the features of the undead are incapable of expression, their actions are clear expressions of fear, as they abandon the battle and rush toward the adjacent room, eager to flee. As they turn to escape, Malivoire’s dart strikes one of the blazing skeletons in the forehead. Its skull falls free from the rest of its body, the remainder of its bones separating and plunging to the floor a moment later.

The remaining undead, one surrounded by flames, one not, shamble through the vacant room to the west and then out the northern door, their unsteady footfalls quickly fading from hearing.

OOC: Combat over.

Ynes lowers her axe, the left side of her armor dark with soot. ”These tombs are full of unpleasant surprises,” she mutters.

Eyes aglow and skin singed, Barnabus exults in the extinguishment of the zombie sextet before offering a minor balm for Ynes's scorched flesh and another for his own. Being nearer to his god than she, he enjoys twice the benefit, and his skin recovers its steely gray surety.

Without further delay, he begins to search the alcoves, having already forgotten having discovered a black ooze within another his first time in the barrow.

18:15, Today: Barnabus rolled 6 using 1d6+1.  CLW for B.
18:14, Today: Barnabus rolled 3 using 1d6+1.  Ynes CLW.

Dax bandages the small burn on his arm. He then pokes through the smouldering remains of the bones, looking for any sign of the tattooed sigil that was apparent when the creatures looked like mere zombies.

 "Ye gods!" Dilemma barks at the carrionflagration.  She readies another dagger, but then Barnabus repels the undead and she stops.

 At Ynes' declaration, Dilemma nods.  "You can say that again..."

 She goes to aid her allies in dressing their wounds... Charley, feeling a sudden shift in altitude, pokes his head out of Dilemma's bag, and then retreats inside once he sees that it's more of the usual.  Mice were his pond, and his geese.  The dead were that of the biped.

”Many thanks, Barnabus,” Ynes tells the priest with a grateful nod. Moving back to the entrance to the alcove filled chamber, she shifts her axe in her hands as she keeps watch for anything that might have been drawn to the din of battle.

Fortunately, no gelatinous gray guardians or other hostile creatures make themselves known during Barnabus’ search. The priest can easily discern that the remains within the alcoves are ancient, almost certainly having been interred here centuries before.

In one alcove, Barnabus discovers an ornate silver bracelet, once worn on a wrist that has since become dust. In another burial shelf, he finds a small silver coffer, its smooth sides tarnished black. The diminutive chest appears to be locked, but the priest does not discover a key within the space it came from, or elsewhere.

OOC: The bracelet is worth 20 g.p.

The dwarf moves to position himself near the northern door, his keen ears listening to the fading footfalls and lying in wait for any that might approach.

Malivoire moved about the secret chamber, looking to recover his two darts and Dilemma's dagger while he was at it.  He replaced his own armaments and handed the dagger back to his companion.

As Barnabus collected the treasure from the alcoves the elven mage looked closely at each item before nodding thoughtfully.  "I expect Ishmael might be able to help with this coffer.  He's clever with locks and such."

Entrusting the locked silver coffer to Ismael -- "If not now, later" -- Barnabus chooses the expedition's next destination in the space of a blink: the door opposite the just-raised portcullis.

Standard door routine for door just east of 21, enter if nothing untoward detected, etc.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:02, Sat 15 Oct 2022.

Caine exhaled as the remaining undead fled Barnabus's spiritual might; he hadn't even realized he was holding in his breath. As the others searched and examined the items in the room, Caine sheathed his sword back onto his back, and took up his crossbow from his side. Putting in a bolt he pulled back the winch, readying the weapon to fire when needed.

Holding the crossbow with both hands he peered about the room, in case the undead came back. He gazed at Barnabus's choice of their next destination, but made no move yet towards the door. Their resident trap expert would likely want to take a look at it first.

The dwarf slips the small coffer in amongst his things.  There were better times for such delicate tasks.

With torch in one hand, and axe in his frog, he approaches the center door.  The dwarf runs his hands along the frame, checks the sill, and after gesturing for everyone to be quiet, presses his ear against the stone.

A careful examination does not reveal any evidence of traps on the stone portal, and Ishmael is able to determine that the door is not locked. Briefly grateful for the overriding silence, the dwarf listens intently for any hint of noise in the chamber beyond.

Dax watches patiently while the dwarf examines the door.

When he advises all is good, the ranger will step to the door nodding to Ynes and Caine, and then will enter the chamber beyond.

Ishmael flips his hand over, and wiggles his fingers like something is running across the floor, then draws a dagger and moves back from the door.

Dax cautiously pushes the door open. Beyond it lies a quiet crypt, roughly twenty by twenty feet in dimensions. Each of the walls bear intricately designed bas relief sculptures. The eastern and western walls depict a procession of what the adventurers presume to be the dead, the twin lines converging at a wide gate on the northern wall which opens onto a rolling, sunlit plain dotted with trees.

In the center of the crypt is a lone sarcophagus, which is closed, its sides adorned with sculpted pastoral scenes similar to those on the walls. Lying against the crypt is a human skeleton, clad in rags, clutching a leather sack in its right hand.

Although Ishmael had warned of the noise of movement within the vault, the adventurers do not see anything stirring on the floor surrounding the sarcophagus.

Barnabus peers above at the ceiling, wondering if what Ishmael had heard has skittered above them. If not, he studies the bas relief to see if it conforms with any religious tenets known to him. The pastoral scenes are suggestive of Sylvanus but they had already found a secret shrine to him. Then again the matching lines of the dead on either side of the room lent the artwork a natural balance, favored by that god. Lastly, he sees if parts of the sculptures might be open to manipulation, a tug of an arm here, a twist of a head there.

The priest’s intended examination of the crypt’s contents is immediately cut short as he looks upward, his gaze fixing on a dark shape that he quickly discerns as the body of an enormous spider, much of its form cloaked by the dense shadows of the vault, save for the red mark on its abdomen which resembles an hourglass.

Seemingly sensing that it has been spotted, the arachnid drops to the floor mere feet from the doorway, its jaws open. Even before it descends, Barnabus’ shouted warning alerts the other explorers to the danger.

16:05, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

16:06, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative - Spider.

The party wins initiative.

The giant black widow has an armor class of 6.

At this juncture, only Dax, Ynes, Caine, and Barnabus may engage the creature in melee, should they choose to do so.

"Gods!" Dax curses, as the large creature drops to the floor.

The ranger raises his shield and moves to attack.

---

Dax Moonblade rolled 19, hitting AC -1 for 9 Damage.

Edit: did not realise Bless was still in effect.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Wed 19 Oct 2022.

 Dilemma retrieved her dagger with thanks, and tapped the dreck off of the blade.  It was a little worse for wear, but, still serviceable!

 Then comes a spider... and the dagger is asked to meet the spider, with another throw from the hip.  And once the dagger leaves her hand, it reaches for the other dagger.

Hurling dagger at spider.
16:50, Today: Dilemma rolled 19,1 using 1d20,1d4 ((19,1)). Needs the +1 from bless!
This message was last edited by the player at 23:08, Tue 18 Oct 2022.

With a swing of his cudgel, Barnabus pops the black widow one on it cephalothorax, nearly suppressing his own squeal of delight as it lands.

Barnabus hits for 5 dmg.
09:46, Today: Barnabus rolled 23,5 using d20+4,d6+4.  attack spider.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:22, Tue 18 Oct 2022.

The sudden appearance of the spider from above sent a jolt through Malovoire but he recovered quickly enough to dash off a spell, sending a glowing bolt of energy streaking into the midnight carapace of the arachnid.

OOC:
Cast Magic Missile at black widow.
16:35, Today: Malivoire rolled 5 using 1d6+1 ((4)).

Already on edge, Caine instinctively moved back a pace and to the side, bringing his crossbow up to bear on the creature. His nervousness made his shot fly off the mark and he pursed his lips in frustration, dropping his crossbow to the side and reaching for the blade on his back.

---

ooc: Attack Roll: 06

Dax and Barnabus both respond with quick blows, battering the huge spider’s body. Dilemma sinks her dagger into the arachnid’s abdomen, which causes it to shriek in pain, thrashing about to free the weapon from its side. Its spasms cause Caine to narrowly miss his shot, his bolt thudding into the northern wall in the center of the bas relief’s open gate, as though pointing the way to the afterlife.

The spider seems to regain its faculties and Ynes raises her axe to strike. Before she can, the green lance of eldritch force that Malivoire has called forth strikes the arachnid’s head, blasting it into ruin. The creature skitters drunkenly to the right, then topples onto its side, the last vestige of life leaving it with a brief tremor of its limbs.

OOC: Combat over.

Ynes lowers her axe. Smiling, she nods appreciatively. ”Nicely done, mage.”

"Indeed, well done, Malivoire!"

The rangers wipes his blade on the spider's carapace, removing as much ichor as he can. He then pokes at the skeleton next to sarcophagus to see if it would animate. If not, he knocks the pouch free from the bony hand and empties it onto the top of the stone coffin.

Equanimity restored, Barnabus resumes his course of studies in the now unguarded crypt.

Dax prods the brittle bones of the skeleton with his blade, relieved to see that they give no signs of becoming animate. Retrieving the leather sack, the ranger pours its contents onto the top of the sarcophagus. Gold coins spill out onto the pale stone, their jingling briefly filling the silence.

OOC: The sack holds 163 gold pieces.

Barnabus examines the bas relief closely, his suspicions confirmed when he notes the depiction of a benevolent face, comprised entirely of leaves, gazing down from the sky beyond the open gate, a clear depiction of the nature god Silvanus. The priest’s other investigations do not reveal anything movable or cleverly hidden, though Barnabus can see that the sculptures were assuredly the work of a talented artisan.

Confident that they had discovered the only "trap" within this crypt, Barnabus waits for Dax to gather up the coins before motioning for him to help lift the slab off of the sarcophagus.

Next up is #28.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:01, Wed 19 Oct 2022.

Malivoire nodded with some pride.  "Thank you, it worked rather well, didn't it?" he replied to Ynes and Dax.  Taking one last look at the dead thing, he shuddered a little.  "I don't like spiders."

The elven mage found the carvings to be most impressive, but he mostly observed them from a distance to provide room for the others.  When attention finally turned to the sarcophagus Malivoire grabbed a dart and made ready to support once the contents were revealed.

Caine slowly sheathed his sword before the blade was more than halfway out, as Malivore's conjured eldritch lance skewered the spider. Picking his crossbow back up he quickly reloaded it, keeping an eye towards the ceiling in case any more creatures were lurking about in the shadows.

The others' opening up the sarcophagus seemed like a bad idea to Caine, but he didn't say anything. They were experienced at this, and there was little he could for now but hope they knew what they were doing.

Shifting his gaze he glanced towards the northern wall to see if his bolt seemed retrievable, but did not make any move towards it yet.

 "I've got to learn that spell some time...!" Dilemma said, retrieving her dagger from the spider's corpse - and kicking her in the face as she did.  As she passed Malivoire, she said something in Elvish.

[Language unknown: "Men ame...!"]

 To the inquisitive meow she heard from her bag, the mage said, "This one's probably poisonous, Charley, you don't wanna put your mouth anywhere near her!"

 Once everyone was at the coffin, Dilemma once again removed an oil flask from her belongings and stood near Lampert, very casually unlatching the opening.  "Gods only know what's in there..."

Dax sweeps the coins back into the sack, and places it in his pack.

He looks at Barnabus, standing at one end of the sarcophagus, and says, "This didn't go well the last time!" But he still moves to the other end and helps to slide the lid off.

"At best some old bones that don't come to life, along with some treasure. At worst, well...you can imagine!"

Barnabus and Dax slide the lid from the sarcophagus, lowering it to the floor. The adventurers can see that the body within is that of a woman. Her remains are skeletal, but the green gown in which she was buried has survived the years quite well, the garb leading the explorers to infer that the deceased was likely a priestess. In her hands is a silver holy symbol, that of a flowering branch with a leafy vine entwining it, which several recognize as being associated with Silvanus.

The remains do not stir, the spirit of the priestess having peacefully departed long ago.

---

Moving to the door east of the priestess’ crypt, the adventurers can see that, like the others in the row, it is fashioned from stone. It is unmarked and stands slightly ajar. Cold air can be felt escaping through the narrow opening.

Barnabus surveys the contents of the sarcophagus with satisfaction.

"Mazzahs will want to see all of this. He has spoken at great length of his scholarly interest in the funereal rites of Sylvanus."

He then ensures every last item has been added to the party stash.

"It is strange that a sarcophagus would be the final home for a priestess of the Green Man -- and not a bed of leaves within a forest eternal."

At the next door, the priest waits patiently for the party to grant him access to the next chamber.

Caine gazed at the remains of the priestess, relieved they had not arisen in unholy wroth. He did not feel comfortable suggesting they take anything from the remains, and so kept his silence.

As the others moved towards the eastern door, Caine moved to retrieve the bolt his had missed against the spider earlier, hoping it was still usable. He then joined Barnabus, standing behind the priest and waiting for someone to check the door for traps.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:58, Thu 20 Oct 2022.

Looking into the sarcophagus, Dax sighs in relief, seeing one of the Green Man's servants interred, and not a malignant spirit.

The elf whispers a quiet prayer over the open tomb, [Language unknown: Hi in ofntng oer na haminc, Si u Reetsaad.]

Dax notices the look on Caine's face, and gives a small shrug as Barnabus begins to strip all of the valuables from the sarcophagus.

He moves to the side of the next door, waiting patiently for Ishmael to examine it for traps.

 Dilemma folds her arms across her chest as Barnabus plucks the priestess' preciouses, but says nothing.  Then, she falls in line with the others.  Work, work!

Ishmael approaches the stone door with due caution, examining it carefully.

"The wind from under the door seems unnatural." The dwarf collects as he takes a place in the back again.

"I would say Ishmael, that everything about this place seems unnatural. Nonetheless..."

Dax moves to the door, and once he sees Caine and Ynes are in place, he gives a slight nod, and then pulls the door open.

---

What's the worst it could be? A white dragon snoring, causing a cold breeze? :-D

"It is colder than it should be." The dwarf clarifies.

 Dilemma once again steps close to Lampert, minding the latch, minding her oil and double-soaked dagger, and ready to play catch.

Caine stepped behind Dax and Ynes with his crossbow pointed at the door, so that he had a clear shot when it was opened.

"The cold is unnatural, the chill of the grave," he intoned a warning softly.

Malivoire bowed his head respectfully when the remains of the priestess were uncovered.  The sign of the Green Man was clear, and honour was due.

Afterward, as they gathered about the door to the next room, the elven mage tasted the cold draft with apprehension.  He was inclined to agree with Caine, although he amended in his mind that it was unnatural even for the Barrowmaze.

Dart in hand, he made ready to support as he was able once the door was opened.


OOC:  Now a white dragon, that would be interesting!  I don't like spiders, but I am interested in dragons.  :)

The door scrapes open, the noise of the resistant stone momentarily loud. A rush of cold envelops the adventurers as the portal opens, the sudden drop in temperature enough to send a shiver through the collected group. For an instant, the flame in Lampert’s lantern wavers, sending shadows dancing over the corridor’s walls.

The crypt beyond is twenty by twenty feet, the walls decorated with the now faint remnants of frescoes which have suffered from vandalism. A marble slab is situated in the center of the room, a skeleton which has been apparently disturbed resting upon it. The corpse lies on its left side, its right arm dangling off of the table, seemingly reaching for a stone tablet which has fallen to the floor just below it.

The unnatural chill persists. In the front rank, Dax, Caine, and Ynes can see their breaths coalesce into steam.

The once nearly frozen right arm of Barnabus had thrummed with anticipation the moment it had felt the preternatural chill emanating from this crypt. If its owner had had any inclination to leave it for later (he hadn't), the arm had already forcibly entered the room before its owner could have exercised that inclination (the one he didn't have).

Once within the chamber, he studies the admittedly vandalized frescos, trusting that others will examine the tablet.

"A ring of fire would be just the thing here," the priest concludes, refusing to listen to any of his right arm's protestations to the contrary.

I'm thinking we tie a rope to the slab and pull it off after we have ignited a ring of burning oil around the slab.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:52, Tue 25 Oct 2022.

Dax shivers involuntarily as the wave of cold passes over him. He rubs his foot on the floor, to see if it was icy, before stepping into the room.

"Did you drop this?" he asks the skeleton. Staying standing, the ranger keeps an eye on the skeleton, while he uses his foot to move the tablet away from the table.

Once it is out of reach of the skeleton, he sheathes his sword and picks up the tablet. He will give it a cursory look, before passing it to Malivoire for a more educated inspection.

Assuming nothing untoward happens as Dax picks up the tablet, Malivoire replaced his dart in its holder and accepted the stone tablet from his old friend.  Angling it to better catch the light from Lampert's lantern, the elven mage studied whatever script might be visible on the stone's surface.

The detail of the frescoes, damaged as they are, requires some examination to discern, but as best as Barnabus can tell, the artwork appears to chronicle the efforts of a group of crusaders, knights, mages, and clerics, in banishing the presence of some great evil, though precisely what it is that they are opposing is not clear.

Accepting the tablet from Dax, Malivoire can see that it is primarily written in an ancient variation of the common speech, sprinkled here and there with elven words and phrases. The mage feels confident that, with some time devoted to its study, he can comprehend the text’s full meaning, but a cursory examination informs him that it speaks of the history of the death gods, Orcus and Set, the sons of the dead god Nergal.

The cold within the crypt grows deeper and suddenly, an apparition materializes within the dark chamber, as if it had stepped out of the western wall. It exudes a faint blue glow which lends an eerie illumination to the room. The figure is that of a human man clad in robes embroidered with arcane symbols, which suggest that he was a worker of magic. Abruptly, he screams, a harrowing shriek that sends a fresh jolt of terror through each of the adventurers. As the spirit’s cry continues, his spectral flesh turns to ash, sloughing off of him to leave only blackened bones remaining.

OOC: Everyone please give me a Saving Throw vs. Spells. Normally, the throw is made at a -2 penalty, but the effects of the recent Bless spell will reduce it to -1. Anyone who fails the save will flee the area. If you happen to fail your save, please also make a percentile (d100) roll.

After the culmination of the macabre display with the blackened bones before him and the shriek behind him, Barnabus thinks he has this. He's not going anywhere. Cool as can be, he's going to stoop down and collect those scorched bones. If that's the case, why can he no longer see the bones? Did they go somewhere else? Yes! They're back at the entrance to the barrow. He's better get back there before Searlit makes a mess of them.

B. fails to save vs. spells.
19:07, Today: Barnabus rolled 66 using 1d100.
19:04, Today: Barnabus rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  Save vs. Spells.

Caine watched the blue apparition with fascination, holding his breath as if not wanting to miss anything it might have to say.

When it suddenly screamed, it was as if a sword of pure ice cleaved through Caine, and then stabbed him in the heart. Staggering back, heart pounding so hard he thought it might burst from his chest, Caine moved out of the chamber. His body was shivering and he had trouble remaining upright, needing to put a hand to the walls to keep his balance.

His training as a mage struggled to inform him the fear he felt was magical, and in his mind, but his body did not yet obey.

---

01:27, Today: Caine rolled 85 using 1d100.  Failed Save % roll.

01:27, Today: Caine rolled 4 using 1d20-1.  Save vs Spells.

Dax's head whipped around when a blue glow enveloped the room. His eyes focussed on the apparition, as he raised his shield and drew his sword ready to battle the spirit.

And then it screamed.

Dax was immediately overcome with fear. He turned and ran from the room.

---

Dax Moonblade rolled 15 using 1d20-1+1 for Save vs Spells (16).
Dax Moonblade rolled 46 using 1d100 due to Failed save.

I included +1 from WIS in the save as it says it applies to effects of magical origin.

In later days over a glass of wine beside a comfortable fire, Malivoire would often be heard to say, "After all, who was I to disagree with the rest?"

In the moment of the apparition's screaming immolation, consideration for what the rest were doing was the furthest thing from his mind.  Though he managed to withstand the spectral terror for a few moments, his will lasted no longer than that.  With his insides turned to jelly Malivoire spun and raced from the room, easily outpacing his more heavily armoured companions, all the while the stone tablet from the crypt clutched in his hands.

OOC:
13:23, Today: Malivoire rolled 13 using 1d20-1.  Save vs Spells (TN14).  Missed by 1!
13:24, Today: Malivoire rolled 52 using 1d100.  Failed save.

06:57, Today: Ishmael rolled 14 using 1d20-1.  save vs spells vs 10.

"Fah!" The dwarf exclaimed in distress as the terror began to overtake the group.  Perhaps it was because he wasn't so foolish as to rush into the room, or perhaps just the stalwart nature of dwarves.

It was different than the fleeing from the crypt lord.  And expecting it futile, he made no move to stop them,  The dwarf paused, collecting himself waiting for all to either flee or stay as the others fled into the darkness.   His torchlight fluttered in his hand, making the party's shadows dance along ahead of them.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:17, Wed 26 Oct 2022.

Ynes takes in a sharp breath as the apparition becomes visible and undergoes its hideous transformation. She grips her axe firmly, braced for any attack from the restless spirit.

Her attention riveted on the translucent figure, she does not initially realize that several of her companions have fled.

14:17, Today: Ynes rolled 17 using 1d20-1.  Save vs Spells.

Lampert’s eyes widen and his teeth audibly chatter when the deathly figure appears within the gloomy crypt. Perhaps recalling the last time he was faced with an undead terror and fled in fear, the lantern bearer remains in his place, his knuckles white as he holds the light source aloft.

As several of the adventurers flee, Lampert turns to watch them vanish into the shadows. He blinks in surprise, gripped by uncertainty about what course he should choose.

14:17, Today: Lampert rolled 19 using 1d20-1.  Save vs Spells.

21:35, Today: Dilemma rolled 18 using 1d20-1 ((19)).
Saving Throw versus Spells (14), remembering bless...!

 In the face of the off-putting sights and sounds, Dilemma stands strong!  Seeing Lampert standing and not fleeing, she ignites the flask of oil in her hand and readies a throw.  "CATCH, MOTHER[REDACTED]!"

 She attempts to throw the flask at the corpse-creature...

21:44, Today: Dilemma rolled 1 using 1d20 ((1)).
 Igniting oil flask, and hurling it at the corpse-thing!

Dilemma launches her vial at the ghostly figure. The container sails past its right side, smashing against the crypt’s western wall and bathing the stone in flame.

The spectral skeleton takes a pair of halting steps forward, them vanishes from sight, its eerie scream still lingering in the ears of the adventurers. Those that remained in the gloomy chamber wait for a few moments, but the unsettling presence does not return.

Moving over near the slab the skeleton rests upon, Ynes crouches down and retrieves Dax’s sword.

The adventurers who fled quickly reach the entrance chamber, Barnabus having been roughly led through the darkness by one of his companions. Moments after the rope and pulley come into view, the terror that gripped each of the explorers releases its hold on them, leaving them shaken and out of breath.

Searlait, a lantern in one hand, peers down into the room from above. She frowns. ”Ready to come up? Where…where are the others?”

"No, no," puffs Barnabus. "Smoke break. No smoking permitted beyond here. Carry on."

After the party's composure has been recovered (for those believed to have lost it) with totally convincing explanations having been offered for its temporary misplacement (again for those mistakenly believed to have misplaced it), the priest produces an explanation for the just witnessed spectral phenomenon.

"Sometimes horrible things die horribly at the hands of the righteous. Sometimes it's the righteous who are are horrible and do horrible things to the truly righteous. Such events leave a seemingly indelible imprint. We shall know more after Mal studies the tablet. For now, we should remove the skeleton and the tablet from that tomb. I do not think the remains belong there."

After that is done in one fashion or another, let's proceed down the main eastern artery, past room #4, stopping at the first door, etc. etc. While there are some other holes in our map, I want to push further east before filling them.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:57, Fri 28 Oct 2022.

The voice from above seems to shake the fear from Dax's mind. Looking up, he says, "No. Thanks Searlait. We have to return to the others...some sort of spirit appeared...terrifying."

The ranger gasps in air, as he calms himself.

"We need to go back," he says to the others. Reaching for his sword, he realises his scabbard is empty. "Damn it all to the hells!" Instead he draws a dagger and prepares to leads the runners back to the rest of the party.

Then he realises that they have no light source. "By the gods! Lampert steeled himself to stay put! And I ran like a scared deer! Searlait drop me a torch!"

Dax hands the torch to Barnabus, and starts back to the haunted tomb.

Slowly, yet surely Caine's mage training finally came to the fore and helped him reclaim his will, subsuming the unnatural fear that had consumed him.

Shaking his head he gathered along with the others, not trusting himself to speak just yet. He saw them move in the darkness, their shapes clearly visible to Caine with his infravision.

Caine had dropped his crossbow somewhere back there, likely in the chamber, and wanted to reclaim it before it was lost. "I shall join you, come let us reclaim our weapons together," he said to Dax as the ranger waited for a torch.

Searlait drops a lit torch down for Dax, the wavering flames casting long, unsteady shadows on the high walls.

The group of adventurers encounter no danger as they return to the crypt where the hellish vision was seen. As they walk, from somewhere southward the silence is broken by a pair of harsh vocalizations from a dry, hollow voice that does not sound as though it belongs to one of the living. The words sound similar to the ancient tongue spoken by the possessed man at The Foul Pheasant, their meaning unknown to the explorers, though the tone in which they are spoken suggests sternness, or anger. Quiet overtakes the dark corridors once again as the last echoes of the speech fade from hearing.

Unnatural cold retains its grip on the tomb, but those who remained near the chamber report that the apparition has not returned. The crypt appears to have received some fresh vandalism, the western wall having been blackened with soot. Ynes returns Dax’s blade to him with an understanding smile and Lampert, having located Caine’s crossbow, offers it to the adventurer respectfully.

---

Returning to the eastward traveling corridor, the adventurers pass the doorways where they faced the huecuva and the swarm of enormous rats. The passageway ahead is especially dark, seeming to greedily swallow much of the light from Lampert’s lantern as the party presses forward.

They travel only another fifty feet before the end of the hallway comes into view. Thirty feet ahead, the corridor halts at a stone door marked with runes. Immediately to the left of the door, on the northern wall, is another stone portal, this one etched with the image of a stronghold surrounded by dense forest. Both doors are closed.

A few feet ahead, broken pieces of stone and the fine powder of old mortar litter the floor. Ten feet away, on the left, the party can see a portion of the northern wall that has been destroyed, a shadowed chamber just visible beyond the opening. The scattered debris leaves the unshakable impression that something broke out of a crypt that had once been sealed.

Twenty feet ahead, on the southern wall, lies the entrance to another crypt which has been walled off with brick and mortar. The barrier of this tomb appears undisturbed.

Surveying all that is before him, ten feet ahead of him, ten feet further, and a final ten feet beyond that, the expedition's would-be cicerone motions for the stoutest among them to have a look in the newly opened tomb up on the left.

Responding to an unvoiced objection, he states, "No, no, we're not going haring after whatever escaped from its entombment. We'll get to know each other later." Off to see that Lord of the Night? Doesn't know that we released him days ago?

(1) Check out the exposed chamber. (2) Draw a conclusion about how long it would take to expose the next brick & mortared one. (3) Advance to look at the runes.

Lampert approaches the fallen section of wall alongside Dax, Caine, and Ynes. The illumination shows a twenty by twenty chamber that was once undoubtedly a crypt, but could now be best described as a broken ruin. Scattered about the floor are jagged fragments of what was once presumably a sarcophagus, now shattered like glass. The walls all show signs of impact, powerful blows that have powdered most of the frescoes that once adorned them. What little the adventurers can discern from the remaining sculptures seem to depict armored soldiers at war. Nothing of value can be found within.

Studying the bricked up entrance to the south, Barnabus estimates that if three of the party’s strongest members joined the effort, breaking down the barrier would require approximately ten minutes.

The inscription on the stone door at the end of the corridor is deeply chiseled and clear, the characters plainly those of the dwarven language. [Language unknown: ”Ul io ietic hondwhmo admimoec e bekor Ulelhies Se e eener Set Elll-prro, omres ithun virountra santhushe thetheseture tilo ticredcom oulredwer ul fioer omloosca iowe-pong.”]

Dax looks at the runes carved into the stone door, and shakes his head.

"No idea what this says. Anyone else able to read this?"

Caine shook his head, being unable to read the dwarven tongue. "It is dwarfish, as is the construction, but I am unable to read it," he replied quickly, somewhat on edge due to the recent events as well as the broken crypt; he gazed furtively this way and that as well as up, as if he half expected whatever had broken out of the crypt to jump down upon them.

"Breaking this down will make a lot of noise, likely attracting anything in the area. Perhaps we should investigate there first, then come back here and break this down," he said softly, inclining his head towards the shadowy chamber visible beyond the shattered northern wall.

"Dwarfish? Ishmael can you decipher this?"

"Caine has it right. There's many more doors in this place to open before we have to break down brick walls."

 As the others deliberate, Dilemma peers from where she stands, doing her best to penetrate the darkness with her cat-enhanced vision alone.

"I also do not speak the dwarven tongue," Malivoire noted aloud, making room for Ishamel to come forward if he would.  In the meantime, he joined Caine in watching as many directions as he could for whatever escaped the ruined tomb.  Knowing they had the kind of strength and power to demolish a wall like that was not encouraging in the least!

Mystically, Barnabus the Priest avers, "I can steal the silence of the tomb and make it my own."

He stands before the sealed aperture, ten feet away from the ruptured one, considering it and then reasoning aloud, "The necromancy of the barrow is such that what's in there might soon burst forth full of malign intent. Best to meet its occupant fully occupied in its dormancy."

"But first..."

Door to left of runed door first, the one with the stronghold/forest.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:05, Wed 02 Nov 2022.

Ishmael brings himself and his light to the fore.  "It says..." He runs his hands along the carved words, his fingers following the stone surface. Then his voice hardens a bit.  "It says you'll be more reverent with this tomb, and what's found will still belong ta dwarves."  He turns back around, facing the others, "It contains heroes of Breldiln Clan of the Iron Mountains." He adds, as if that explained everything.

He then turns his attentions to the door carved in stronghold and woods.

The carved stone door bears no evidence of traps and Ishmael quickly determines that it is not locked.

Pushing it open, the adventurers can see that beyond the doorway lies an austere crypt, the floor of which has been carved with the same image that adorned the door. A pair of tall iron candelabras holding dusty, half burned candles flank the northern wall, which holds a dozen triangular shaped burial alcoves, arranged in three rows.

The crypt is otherwise empty. Only swirls of dust disturb the stale air.

Barnabus pauses in midstride towards the burial archives, his mind caught by an arresting voice.

Though he knows that he could communicate telepathically with the speaker, he chooses not to do so. Like any priest, he is no stranger to debates of theology, liturgy, and conduct. When he debates, he prefers to declaim ... aloud.

"It would be both easy and true to defend my conduct with an appeal to ethics and logic. When there are two goods, the greater one must be served. It is good to leave the dead undisturbed. Even more so, it is a greater good to ensure that they don't rise again. To ensure this, I must become more than I am now. Ergo, I need what they can no longer bring to bear."

To reinforce his argument, he raises his cudgel as if presenting it to an unseen viewer.

"But it also true that I do so with a gusto that if not restrained could be ... sacrilegious. And this might all be a cover for my own lust for power. But you know it is not."

Having said his peace, the priest has a look in the alcoves, albeit with less alacrity than is usual for him.

The alcoves each contain what appear to be human remains, each body covered in a dark red shroud, embroidered with the symbol of a mountain circled by a crown, indicative of funeral rites associated with the deity of strength and battle, Crom.

Next to a body in one of the topmost alcoves is a coffer, crafted from ebony and banded with iron.


Quite suddenly, a tremor shakes the catacombs, the rumble within the earth shattering the silence of the underground. For an instant, the stones of the tombs groan with strain, dust raining down from the cracks between them, and the adventurers are forced to struggle for balance.

As abruptly as it started, it ends, quiet shrouding the Barrowmaze once more.

The Priest of Equivocation nods his assent.

After the party has taken the coffer into its possession, Barnabus admits that he must have removed "that green robe" in error and that they must return it to the spider's tomb "immediately."

"It would appear," he offers, "that the dedicated of Sylvanus prefer not to frolic about in the altogether."

Back to 27 for some cosplay with the skeleton than return here for the door routine with the runed door.

Malivoire was staring at Barnabus, wondering if the priest had finally lost his mind, when the catacombs began to shake violently.  The elven mage stumbled slightly and reached out to brace himself against the wall, and let out a breath once the tremor subsided.  But then Barnabus spoke again to the unseen, this time in compliance.

"Was..was that earth tremor a warning from the heavens?" he asked incredulously.  For all their divine powers, Malivoire still considered priests to be peripheral to a god's consciousness at best, and many times not even that recognized.  Perhaps he had been mistaken, or at least in the case of Barnabus.

The ebony coffer feels quite heavy when eased out of the alcove where it had been placed.

As the company members step out of the crypt back into the dusty corridor, they are confronted with an odd sight to the west.

Roughly sixty feet down the passageway, it appears that bones and fragments of stone, along with a pair of swords and a few pieces of armor are somehow floating, most of the objects five or six feet off of the ground. The air around them seems somewhat opaque, blurring any details of the corridor further west.

Seemingly of their own volition, the collection of items moves closer, and the adventurers can see that the items are not floating at all, but rather suspended within a large, gelatinous mass, the substance that makes it up being primarily clear, with the merest tint of green in its composition.

As best any can tell, the mass is square in shape and fills the passage completely, touching both floor and ceiling and the walls on either side. Although none of the adventurers see anything resembling eyes, or any other sensory organs on the gelatinous creature, it appears to perceive the company’s presence, the pace of its movement suddenly increasing.

OOC: If anyone plans on attacking the oncoming mass, I will need to make an initiative roll for both sides. Otherwise, the party can pursue whatever immediate course of action they deem wise.

 Oh, no...  Barnabus has lost it!  Dilemma watches the priest, hiding her unease.  While she was a flamboyantly dressed sort who enjoyed chatting with an enchanted house cat who hangs out in her backpack and came to her following a few hours over a braizer full of sheep's fat and herbs, at least Charley talked to her!

 The critter pokes his head out of her bag at the tremor.  Seeing that there is nothing too noteworthy going on, he returns to his resting place.  On top of Dilemma's rations.

 Seeing a giant... wad heading the group's way, Dilemma utters an curse unbecoming of a lawful person before retrieving her remaining flask.

With the route back to the tomb with the naked skeleton blocked (#27), Barnabus ducks back inside the just-exited tomb (#30), ready to strike the gelatinous janitor should it reach that threshold.

Yes, we will need that init roll.
If we win, I suppose we'll lead with sleep. If that works, we'll dispatch it.
If not, we'll light up the floor in front of the door, and attack the cube when it arrives.

If we lose, the same, I guess.

As for the mechanics, I suppose Ishmael could empty the flask of oil and Lampert could light it and then jump back.

Assuming, bless is on its last legs but still on them.

14:27, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 4 using 1d6+1.  Initiative - Party.

14:27, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 5 using 1d6.  Initiative - Gelatinous Cube.

The cube wins initiative.

The strange, transparent mass continues to surge forward, pressing toward the gathered adventurers.

OOC: The cube can only move this turn, so it is now within forty feet of the adventurers’ position.

It is the party’s turn to act.


The Bless spell remains in effect, but is unfortunately counteracted by the effects of a Curse that the adventurers currently find themselves under. The two workings effectively cancel one another out.

Dax quickly works to remove his shield and slides it into the last room explored. He then sends some arrows toward the cube.

"Get your oil onto the floor quickly! Or throw it at the...whatever that is!"

---

Dax Moonblade rolled 14, hitting AC 4, for 5 Damage.
Dax Moonblade rolled 17, hitting AC 1, for 8 Damage.

I think it is only one arrow per round in LL, but I rolled for two rounds, in case there is time.

Yawning significantly at Dilemma, Barnabus charges the comatose cube and lands a crushing blow with his cudgel.

Timed to occur after Dilemma casts sleep.
B. hits for 9 dmg.
08:45, Today: Barnabus rolled 8 using 1d6+4.  Cudgel damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:27, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

Caine started as Barnabus appeared to be speaking to an invisible listener, then as he left Caine realized what had happened. Shaking his head, he considered them lucky the spirit of the priestess, or whatever entity Barnabus spoke to, had not materialized from the ether like the apparition earlier and attacked them for the theft of the priestesses robes.

He raised a hand to a wall to steady himself as a tremor shook the catacombs, and Caine gazed at the others in alarm. "What was that?" he asked out loud, wondering if it was a curse from the priestess, intent on burying them alive. Thankfully it ended quickly, but as they exited the chamber they were faced by another problem...

"Fall back lest it suck you inside!" Caine called out to the others as the gelatinous mass advanced. Taking his own advice he moved back a few paces, aiming to take a shot with his crossbow as he did so. The sound of chanting caused him to pause, and he noted Dilemma calling upon her magic, and suddenly the gelatinous appeared to slow, stop and then become quiet.

"Good work," he murmured to the mage with a half smile, squeezing the trigger and sending a bolt into the middle of the mass.

---

ooc: 04 on Attack w. crossbow. 09 on Damage (auto hit due to sleep on jelly) Caine will also move a few feet back from the advancing cube, behind Dax but remaining in front of Dilemma and Malivoire
This message was last edited by the player at 16:24, Mon 07 Nov 2022.

Cursing the party's bad fortune, Ishmael tosses his only flask of oil, aiming to smash it low on the southern wall a few paces ahead of the creature.  He then turns his attention to opening the door leading to the Breldiln crypt.  If he is to die, he'd prefer it near his kin.

Malivoire checked his pack twice and was frustrated to discover he had no oil left, not even a pint hiding in the bottom corner under his frayed apprentice robes.  He briefly considered tossing a dart at the thing, but worried he'd be throwing the weapon away for good.  So all he ended up doing was standing ready, in case something in their plan went horribly awry and he had the means to help at that point.

 "Pray to your gods that this works."  Dilemma, handing her oil to Lampert or whomever wants it, begins instead to cast a spell...

 "May I have the powers I desire..." She begins the finger-waggling and gesticulations common to spell-users casting spells...

Casting sleep on the gelatinous cube.
13:12, Today: Dilemma rolled 5 using 2d8 ((3,2)).
Hit Dice affected.  I was one in excess!

 "...to bring upon them their slumber."  With a strong gesture at the gelatinous cube, Dilemma finishes her spellcraft.

Rushing forward alongside Barnabus, Ynes raises her axe above her head, bringing it down on the body of the transparent mass with tremendous force.

18:52, Today: Ynes rolled 10 using 1d8+2.  Damage - Battle Axe.

Lampert obediently takes hold of Dilemma’s remaining flask of oil as she begins to work her spell. As she weaves unseen symbols in the air, a faint blue haze briefly manifests within the shadowed corridor.

Although the gelatinous mass has no features to show that it has fallen prey to the mystical slumber, its forward motion slows, then halts. The top portion of the cube sags, pulling away from the ceiling of the passageway. Moments pass, but the odd creature moves no further, convincing the members of the company that it has indeed succumbed to sleep.

As a flurry of attacks against the creature ensue, Ishmael pushes open the door to the dwarven crypt at the eastern end of the hallway. The chamber beyond the doors is roughly thirty by thirty feet in size, the walls adorned with murals depicting a group of dwarven warriors’ heroic stand against an onslaught of lizard men. Four sarcophagi, each built from dark stone, are evenly spaced from one another in the room. None appear to have been disturbed. On the northern wall, there is a single stone door, which is closed.

As Ishmael takes in the sights of the crypt, even above the noise of battle behind him, he hears the distinct sound of a hammer striking metal. It repeats twice, ringing though the gloomy chamber, then is subsumed by silence.

Outside, the adventurers’ blows and missiles strike unerringly. For an instant, the cube seems to find consciousness once more, pulling up to its full height again as the last of the weapons strike it. Absorbing the blows, the translucent mass begins to shake violently, its sides visibly swelling as they become increasingly convex. Then…

…it pops.

A stream of green tinted goo sprays in both directions down the corridor, coating all of the adventurers save for Ishmael, who is sheltered by his kinsmen’s crypt. Apparently, any corrosive properties the gel possessed dissipated with the weird creature’s death, though a sharp, acrid scent overtakes the passageway, becoming briefly overpowering.

OOC: Combat over.

 To no one in particular, Dilemma says, "I didn't think that'd work."  A paw can be seen smacking her in the back of the head before retreating inside of her backpack.

"Do gelatinous cubes dream of electric corridors?" muses Barnabas as the custodian succumbs to Dilemma's sorcery.

Winsomely, the priest avers to Dilemma that "you don't know your own strength; none of us do. We must act as if it there, in great reservoirs, waiting to be discovered."

Then, ever the opportunist, he scrapes up enough green gel to fill one of his specimen jars for presentation to their patron. Surely, his eyes would light up at such an offering.

Though sorely tempted to investigate the four sarcophagi, he knows they must first run the robe back to the immodestly exposed skeleton.

Assuming the cube left nothing behind.
To 27 to return the robe and then to Ishmael's tomb.

Once there, the priest considers their next move.

"I think we should check out the chamber beyond this one before we take a peek into those sarcophagi."

How large are they? What is the metal?

Returning to the priestess’ tomb, the adventurers encounter no danger along the way, though they do leave a discernible trail of translucent goo within the corridors they travel. The crypt itself is quiet and the gown is returned to its owner without incident, though several of the adventurers notice the presence of a sizable webbed cocoon on the chamber’s ceiling as they move to depart.

Making their way back to the crypt where the dwarves of the Breldiln Clan rest, the adventurers observe that each of the sarcophagi appear to have been artfully crafted from solid obsidian. Standing roughly three feet high, the sarcophagi are unsurprisingly smaller in length than those in which humans or elves are interred, the lid of each one carved with a likeness of the warrior who rests within it, three males and one female. The same runic inscription is chiseled onto each lid. [Language unknown: ”Acli oun ho moeiil oulbutratovelat, di wilainear nowiwi t ho Peng'ceni Ere, astwer-eauers n en Medin Ereratiouest. E thist direol ncehisure tio.”] As best any of the company members can tell, each sarcophagus is sealed.

The crypt remains quiet. The adventurers hear no noises in the vicinity. Lampert, his stomach apparently upset over the explosion of gelatinous matter, holds the lantern with an unsteady hand, his face unusually pale.

 "Hey, are you alright?" Dilemma turns to the sicklier Lampert.

Barnabus turns companionably to Ishmael, "What do those inscriptions say?"

He then mentally reviews his knowledge of the burial customs of dwarven clans, specifically with respect to any curses for those who might take it upon themselves to do some redecorating.

Door routine for the northern exit. Let's get some space to breathe should we look beyond the obsidian.

”I’m…I’m well, ma’am. Nothing to concern yourself with,” Lampert stammers, managing a smile that appears more strained than sincere.

A moment later, the lantern bearer bolts out of the crypt into the hallway the party entered from, where he can be heard vomiting violently.

Lampert’s abrupt departure deprives Barnabus and Ynes of the light they need to see, but it presents no obstacle to Ishmael inspecting the door at the north end of the crypt. It only requires a few moments for the dwarf to determine that the portal is not trapped in any fashion, and that it is unlocked.

Pushing the door open, the adventurers can see that it leads into a corridor which travels fifty feet northward before turning to the east. No doors are visible anywhere within the passageway.

Halfway down the hallway, within an iron sconce mounted on the western wall, a lone torch burns brightly.

 Dilemma sighs.  "Well, if anybody's got some oil, I've got a lantern."  She taps the lantern that has been hanging from a leather strap on her bag, and smacking her every once in a while against her hip.  "But, umm... would you like me to check on him...?"

While Barnabus restored the decorum of the Green Man's devotee, Malivoire kept a watchful eye on the webbed cocoon.  That surely had not been there before, and all the mage could think of was another eight-legged monstrosity crawling out to attack the party again.  He hustled nervously back out into the corridor as soon as it was practical, glad to be away from the crypt.

The dwarven sarcophagi were another matter entirely, and Malivoire studied the carvings closely while Ishmael proceeded through his typically careful routine at the door.  It was a shame that for all the languages he knew, the dwarven tongue was not among them, meaning the inscriptions were nothing more than a jumble of carved lines to his eyes.  Hopefully Ishamel would have time to read and translate them, for understanding if nothing else.

The Lampert and the light fled, and Dilemma made her offer of another lantern.  "I think we're about out of oil," Malivoire replied, reminded again how he hadn't thought to bring any, "but you are right to worry about our linkboy.  Why don't we both go retrieve him?"  He gestured toward the hallway, intending to walk alongside Dilemma and go see if Lampert was simply overcome by the horrors of the catacombs or whether the goop from the translucent cube was having some ill effect.

 "Charley, do me a favor and watch our backs." Her special dagger a-draw, Dilemma makes her way with Malivoire to look for Lampert.  Charley's head pops out of a flap in Dilemma's backpack, where he keeps watch for anything coming from behind.

 Dilemma begins speaking in Elvish to her companion.

 [Language unknown: "Omlala est i beivai ital ncolho i al aiun."] Dilemma lets out a "harrumph".  [Language unknown: "Res isicac aili ilceek... hiss areivehas osnce manond hasro werta."]

 Well, her pronunciation is good... but her dictation is poor.  Dialect is unplaceable!

As Barnabus does his best to replace the robe on the skeletal remains of the priestess Dax looks at the webbed cocoon with Malivoire.

When the wizard advised that it likely held a spider egg, the ranger was fine to leave it be, as long as the door was closed behind them!

Returning to the dwarven tomb, the ranger watches patiently while Ishmael examines the door facing north. "What the...!" Dax exclaims as the light in the room abruptly disappears. Whirling about, he sees Lampert dash from room and Dilemma and Malivoire follow.

"Not a good idea to get separated down here!" Dax mutters as he moves the corridor and tries to keep an eye on those that left.

ooc: sorry for the delay, kids came over for dinner tonight

ooc: Ishmael has a torch as well.

"It says ta leave them alone."  The dwarf says, his voice a bit reverent.  "That be, Gremmar Breldiln, Ragkam Breldiln, Hurdan Breldiln, and Brulmora Breldiln" he adds pointing to each in turn.  He then returns to his place in the rear.

Troubled by Lambert's distress, Barnabus joins the others as they move towards him (but not too close to him).

Assuming his distress is temporary, the next move will be to break into the tomb opposite #29 after Barnabus has cast a precautionary Silence 15' Radius. He focuses the silence on a stray bone that he has picked up.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:55, Thu 10 Nov 2022.

Dilemma and Malivoire find Lampert about ten feet away from the Breldiln crypt’s western entrance, standing in the ooze coated corridor, bent over and holding his knees as he breathes raggedly. When the adventurers draw near, he straightens up, retrieving his lantern from the floor. He turns to face the two wielders of magic, his expression ashamed and sheepish.

”I’m very sorry,” he says, ”Getting coated in the…stuff from that…thing. And the smell. I just…I’m sorry. I’ll do better. I promise. I know if Sir Dryvyk were here, he’d be very disappointed.”

d mortar. Barnabus calls upon the deathlike silence of his patron, which stifles all noise within that section of the hallway. As the strongest members set about the work of dismantling the barrier, the fact that their labor is entirely soundless is inescapably eerie.

It takes perhaps ten minutes for the greater amount of the bricks to be cleared. In that time, those keeping watch see nothing approach from either direction of the corridor. For the moment, the catacombs are still.

The barrier torn down, the adventurers can see that the crypt beyond is a twenty by twenty foot square room. Centered against the southern wall, opposite the door, is a single sarcophagus, the gray stone rectangle topped with a lid of tarnished metal.

In the middle of the room is a detailed statue of a hideous, demonic figure, a glowering expression on its twisted features, its arms raised in what appears to be a gesture of triumph. At the base of the statue rest two leather bags, each held closed with knotted black cords.

A simple chair, carved from stone, is positioned against the western wall. Seated in the chair is a skeleton clad in tattered black robes, slumped forward, its vacant eye sockets seemingly gazing at the floor, which is covered in an even coating of undisturbed dust.

 Dilemma looks around.  "Well, I don't see him... so I think you're going to be alright.  Come." She pats him on the shoulder.  "The others are waiting."

 As she rises, Dilemma adds something with a smile... "I believe you have something of mine..."

”Thank you,” the linkboy says, some of his embarassment receding.

He nods at the reminder. ”Yes, ma’am,” he replies, managing a smile. He returns the vial of oil to Dilemma.

Though the goo from the exploding mass had been discomfiting at worst, Caine still understood Lampert's distress. He himself had tried to wipe as much off himself as he could using his cloak, but it did appear their clothes could use a good wash if they got out of here in one piece.

When Barnabus conjured silence down upon them Caine felt uncomfortable, as he felt naked without being able to call upon his own sorcery, trifling though it may be. Still, he put down his crossbow and helped the others take down the wall.

The revealed demonic statue in the uncovered room though, that caused the hair on Caine's neck to stand and sent a chill down his spine. The slumped skeleton on the throne made him just as uneasy.

Picking his crossbow back up he checked to see if it was loaded, his eyes never moving away from the skeleton.

"Careful..." he muttered uneasily.

"When in doubt, consult your superiors," he had been admonished repeatedly.

It had never been a lesson that Barnabus had taken to heart. Better late than grave dust...

Removing his cloak, he enfolds the seated skeleton within it -- if not tenderly than at least with a modicum of care. Next, he asks Ishmael to see about the safe removal of the two bags. He reasons that in as much as Orcus could be (mostly) still be considered to be a dead god, any offerings to him should be removed.

As for the sarcophagus, he leaves it be after checking it for inscriptions. Brother Othar and the clergy at St. Ygg should be able to provide proper instructions for its cleansing.

Assume bone of silence moved away as needed should we need to converse.
You know, looking at the game map, I think we might be missing a door. The northern part doesn't seem to have a connection to the southern one. No matter, I think we should head back as the sanctification of this crypt of a high priest of Orcus should not wait.

As Barnabus crosses the threshold of the crypt with his cloak in hand, the skeleton seated in the chair looks up at the cleric with its vacant eyes, as if it had just been awakened from a long slumber.

16:25, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

16:25, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative - Crypt Thing.

Would everyone kindly provide me with a Saving Throw vs. Spells?

 "Don't be ashamed, just stay with us." Dilemma adds, on the way back... "On my first call to adventure, I also ran at one point.   But, I came back to it, because people needed me.  My group needed me.  We need you.  Especially the humans..."

 Once in the chamber...

 Dilemma marvels... and envies at... the silent stoneworking.  Upon sighting the skeletal figure, she sighs and hatches up an illusion to throw.  Why did that godsforsaken trickster have to steal her old spell book?!  After this was all said and done, there would be Consequences for them.  Dire, dire consequences.

15:45, Today: Dilemma rolled 2 using 1d20 ((2)).
Saving Throw versus Spells
This message was last edited by the player at 09:04, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

"Lad, half of us just high-tailed it to the entrance a short while ago with no thought but to escape the wailing phantom, but you held firm.  We all will have our ups and downs in this doom-filled place.  It does not make you a lesser person to show strength and weakness.  It makes you an honest person." 

With Lampert recovered from his nausea and embarrassment, Malivoire moved down the hall with the rest toward their next objective.

~~~~~~~~~~

It was odd to watch the more physical members of the group tear down the wall of brick with nary a sound escaping.  Tools hammered, dust and mortar flew, bricks crumbled to the floor, all in eerie silence.  For his part, Malivoire did his best to remain alert to any approaching threats.  Just in case.

Then the tomb was opened and the mage spotted the large demonic statue over the shoulders of those ahead of him.  It looked fiercely imposing and Malivoire was very pleased it was only stone.  Until he suddenly became aware of a second figure in the room, a robed skeleton that appeared attracted by their intrusion into the tomb!

OOC:
Assuming the Silence spell Barnabus cast does not prevent the skeleton from casting its spell?

21:27, Today: Malivoire rolled 11 using 1d20.  Save vs Spells (TN14). Fail.

Standing in the hall, just outside the newly unsealed crypt, Dax can't help but smile as he watched Dilemma and Malivoire comfort Lampert.

He doesn't pay attention to Barnabus stepping past him to enter the crypt.

---

Question in OOC thread about Silence.

Dax Moonblade rolled 18 using 1d20+1 for Save vs spell (16).
This message was last edited by the player at 08:17, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

Caine hissed out a Stop! To Barnabus, wanting Ishmael to look things over first, but the conjured silence worked against them now and no sound issued forth from his mouth, and he was unable to issue a verbal warning to anyone.

Things seemed to move in slow motion for the warrior-mage, as he started bringing his crossbow up to bear to aim at the rising undead, his movement eerily occurring in complete silence.

---

ooc: Save vs Spells: 20 (my first nat 20 in this game! :D)
This message was last edited by the player at 07:15, Sat 12 Nov 2022.

Once again, Barnabus finds himself unable to resist whatever malefic fate had just been presented to him.

08:47, Today: Barnabus rolled 9 using 1d20+3.  save vs. spells.

The dwarf assisted with the removal of the barrier. Though he struggled with being unable to hear the effects of the tools on the living stone, he was able to point at time to identify weak spots, and where to strike next.

Once breached, he stepped back and waited.  The statue made it seem a good reason to be bricked in, but said nothing.


05:56, Today: Ishmael rolled 3 using 1d20.  save vs spells vs 10.

For a moment, an eerie greenish glow fills the crypt and the corridor immediately outside of it. As the robed skeleton rises from its seat, the illumination grows bright for an instant, then fades entirely.

As dimness returns to the crypt, Caine and Dax find themselves alone, their companions having vanished from sight.

As Caine and Dax stand over the remains of the crypt’s guardian they hear a rush of footsteps approaching from the west, the glow of a lantern and torch becoming visible in the passageway outside of the tomb. Within moments, the rest of the adventuring company appears at the crypt’s entrance, somewhat breathless from their effort to quickly rejoin their companions.

Nearly panting by the time he returns to the devil worshipper's tomb, Barnabus surveys the scene.

"So" -- cough, cough -- "much" -- wheeze, wheeze -- "to do."

He starts by closing a few of the new guy's wounds (Kane, was it? No, it was Cain).

12:39, Today: Barnabus rolled 4 using 1d6+1.  CLW for Caine.

And then proceeds to gather up the bones and bone remnants of the crypt guardian, storing them in its tattered robe, before securing them in a small bag (haha).

Ishmael, he asks to claim the two leather bags which had first attracted his covetous attention. The statue, he also suggests, should be examined and then perhaps transported out of the tomb -- for their patron, naturally.

Finally, he entreats Dax to help him lift the lid of the sarcophagus so that he can remove its contents, whatever they might be, from the barrow before they leave of their own accord. Any remains he will enfold within his cloak.he resolves to consult with his superiors as to the most prudent approach to take with the sarcophagus.

Should all of this be accomplished without calamity, we return to Helix.
As a sort of default, if anything runs contrary to his training, please hit the pause button.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:56, Sun 20 Nov 2022.

 "Glad to see you two again..." Dilemma sighs to the others with a smile, coming up near the back of the gathering with her fellow displaced companions, Charley sticking his torso out of her bag and nodding.

 "We were teleported by that thing.  Not long after, we came across some cultists, and skeletons presumably assisting them.  One guess as to who came out on top."

 She then either assists in whatever is needed, or proceeds to keep watch while things are being seen to by the others in the group.

Staring at the remains of the undead crypt creature, Caine felt the effects of his wounds catching up to him. He was about to ask Dax whether they should inspect the bags for any valuables when he felt a sudden weakness in his legs as well as a stabbing pain in his chest where the creature had hit him.

Using his blade for support he sank to one knee, taking a few labored breaths, trying to will the pain away. The sudden sound of hurried steps caused him to steel himself for another fight, and he was about to rise to his feet when the familiar faces of his companions came into view.

"Well met," he murmured with a smile at Dilemma and her familiar. Barnabus's healing magic was quite welcome, and Caine felt his pain vanish as soon as the priest finished his casting. His breathing came much easier and vigor spread through his body again, allowing him to rise to his feet smoothly.

Sheathing his blade he gave his thanks to the priest before adding , "I am not sure if moving the statue is a good idea, at least not before Ishmael inspects it well. Even then, there could be a curse upon it, similar to the one you were almost inflicted by earlier."

Picking up his crossbow from the ground he quickly loaded it with a bolt, listening to Dilemma's account with interest. "Hmm, cultists sounds like bad news. Not only does this mean there is an active cult here, but their fellows will be missing them when they don't return. And when they find their bodies, they will start hunting for their killers."

As the skeleton crumbles, Dax calls out to Caine, "Well done!" The elf takes a moment to catch his breath, when he hears the sound of footsteps in the corridor.

Whirling about he raises his shield and blade to deal with the new arrivals, but is elated to see that it is the rest of the group returning. "Glad to see you made it back, I wasn't looking forward to tracking you down in this place."

As Barnabus gathers up the blackened bones, Dax gives him a weary look, "Be sure not to cause more trouble to spawn upon us. Before we do anything with that statue let's at least determine if it has an unholy aura to it, or if it is magicked. Besides, carrying it will be difficult.

Now tell us about these cultists."

---

Any of the casters have Detect Magic and/or Detect Evil? I was going to berate Barnabus for his greed, but I will save that for the next time!! :-D
This message was last edited by the player at 03:13, Sun 20 Nov 2022.

The dwarf gathers the leather bags, giving each a cursory inspection at first, then looks over the statue and sarcophagus.  Though he was glad they had all survived, he didn't express as much.

Unquestionably, it has an unholy aura. We can leave the question of its removal for another time. It seems unlikely that the Orcus cultists will be sending a moving crew any time soon (1) they don't seem to come up here (2) three were just killed.

"They already know about us, Caine," Malivoire replied.  "At least in a general sense.  We overheard them talking before they came into view and they were wondering what game we were playing, by releasing Varghoulis from his slumber.  So they know we're moving around through the catacombs."

"Their shields bore the symbol of Orcus," the mage went on, gesturing at the statue for emphasis.  "Fortunately, they fell to my magic quickly, and then expired along with their skeleton guards.  They'll not spread any more information about us than was already known."

Malivoire had seemed proud of that little tale, as it featured his participation rather prominently.  But his face grew troubled when he broached one more topic with the group.

"On our way back we heard a fell creature roaming the hallways, approaching our position at the time.  We quickly came through the room back there," he thumbed back over his shoulder, "and it passed by without noticing us.  But I lingered at the end of our little group to get a better look, and I saw the thing."

"It was an undead knight, skeletal of face, with two burning blue flames for eyes.  And there was intelligence in them, I could tell.  It wasn't Varghoulis, but I am certain it is one of his lieutenants."  The elf shuddered slightly at the fresh memory of those eyes.  "I would not like to think what would have happened if we'd not been able to escape its notice."

After the group had finished looting the room and were queuing up to head back to the entrance Malivoire gently tapped Dax on the shoulder.  "Glad you and Caine fared as well as you did.  Sorry we abandoned you there."

"It seems like a very good time to return to Helix and rest for a day or two."


[Language unknown: Iotiev ai verwhiany p et watr, o profad. A e atiwertho a oneve dica enha ul ouecst evpr thcanaun.] "But I have to know, how did you Sleeping spell kill those cultists?"

Ishmael collects the two leather sacks that flank the statue, hearing the sound of jingling coins as he lifts each of them.

OOC: The bags contain 300 silver pieces and 400 gold pieces respectively.

The statue does not appear to be anchored to the floor in any way. It is crafted from solid stone and the adventurers estimate that if they were to attempt to move it, doing so would require three of their strongest members.

The lid of the sarcophagus appears to have been cast from silver, the long piece of gleaming metal now tarnished by time and corruption. Two vertical rows of runes are inscribed on its surface. None of the party members who are schooled in the arcane can discern their precise meaning, but all are convinced that they are protective in nature and would bring about calamity were the sarcophagus to be opened.

OOC: I am going to presume that one of the magic users will copy the runes onto a piece of parchment for examination by their patron.

The unearthly quiet has taken hold of the catacombs as the adventurers emerge from the crypt. The silence persists as they make their way back to the entrance chamber, undisturbed by any shadowy denizens that might be lurking in the vicinity. From above, Kraomar hails the company and lowers the pulley’s rope, so that the explorers may ascend to the surface.

It is the deep of night as the adventurers emerge from the tombs, a crescent moon spreading a faint silver light across the mist shrouded moor.