The adventurers encounter only the sounds of their own footfalls within the tombs’ oppressive silence as they make their way back to the crypt of the necromancer. Lampert’s lantern, held high, throws wavering amber light on the moisture stained walls as the company presses forward.

The crypt appears undisturbed. The grotesque statue remains in its place, a faint crimson glow emanating from the demonic figure. The tarnished silver lid to the sarcophagus on the far wall has not been moved.

Mazzahs had provided Dilemma with a palm sized disc, carved from lapis lazuli, and etched with a trio of runic symbols. ”Place this atop the sarcophagus’ lid,” the wizard had instructed her, ”It will undo the magics which guard it.”

As they survey the crypt once again, from somewhere far to the south, a single, desperate cry is heard, which is quickly stifled by the forbidding quiet.

Barnabus is nearly so excited by the eventual prospect of presenting that grotesque majesty to their benefactor that he momentarily forgets his eagerness to discover the sarcophagus's contents. Just for a moment. No one likes a bossy boss, he reminds himself, and thus remains silent for just this once.

As the group moves through the now familiar halls of the catacombs, Dax feels a shiver run down his spine.

The ranger has to pry his eyes from the demonic statue, to look at Dilemma, "Now what?"

Not much interested in sprit banishing rituals, Ishmael waits at the edge of the doorway, watching for something to come.

 Dilemma turns her nose up at the cry.

 "Now..." Dilemma says, disc in hand, "I place this on the lid."  Her tone is very matter-of-fact.

 With that, and with very little pomp about it, the conjurer places the disc upon the lid.  She waits...

For a moment, nothing occurs. The stone disc sits atop the sarcophagus lid as though it is merely a memento left by a respectful visitor.

Within moments, the adventurers notice that the room has grown warm. Then, veins of orange light, the color of a blazing fire, appear all across the silver lid, each one leading to the blue stone disc. Slowly, the brightness of each vein begins to dim as the trio of runes written upon the stone glow brightly. The sarcophagus appears to tremble for an instant, then the firelight vanishes completely, a black swirl of smoke arising from Mazzahs’ charm.

Any remaining hint of reflectivity from the silver lid has vanished, the entire piece of metal now appearing dim with tarnish and neglect. When the stone disc is retrieved and the lid removed, both are cool to the touch.

Within the sarcophagus lies a skeleton, clad in a black robe which bears embroidered violet and silver symbols along its hem. Clutched in the skeleton’s hands is a worn, leather bound book.

Malivoire had come close to the sarcophagus as Dilemma laid the amulet atop it, his curiosity at the magics involved overcoming his natural inclination to stay as far away from the strange statue and coffin as possible.  When the fiery light began to flow across the surface of the lid, only to be absorbed by the amulet, the elven mage's face was alight with wonder.

"That was...amazing!" he breathed when it was all over.  Looking to Dilemma he said, "We must ask Mazzahs more about that when we return to Helix."

Then realizing the more physically gifted members of the group wanted to lift the lid off the sarcophagus, Malivoire backed away and relegated himself to peering over shoulders to see what lay inside.

As the curate had been trained to do, he enfolds the black robe-wearing and grimoire-clutching skeleton within one of his spare cloaks and tucks the funereal package carefully into his pack. Such things were not be scrutinized within the Barrowmaze no matter how great the urge.

Does B. recognize symbols along the hem?
Next order of business would be a quick jaunt over to #28 to sanctify that crypt with the three vials of holy water.

Standing stoically near the others, Caine covered his eyes to protect them at the sudden show of light, albeit trying to make out the fiery runes at the same time.

Lowering his hand as the light faded, he gazed at the contents of the sarcophagus, his eyes immediately going towards the book.

"I would very much like to see the contents of that tome...but only after someone has inspected the interior of the sarcophagus for any traps," he remarked, recalling the recent death of the town locksmith from the needle.

 Dilemma made sure to step back while the sarcophagus worked.  Charley peers out of her bag and makes a very impressed trilling noise.

 "As would I... as would I." Dilemma says.

Nothing unexpected transpires as Barnabus transfers the remains of the necromancer into his pack, though the priest notes that the tome the dead man is clutching is a weighty one. Barnabus can see that the embroidered silver symbols on the dead mage’s robe appear to be sigils of Orcus, but the meaning of the violet runes is unknown to him.

Even as the company exits the necromancer’s crypt, they observe that the demonic statue continues to exude a faint crimson glow, which lends an eerie illumination to the vacant chamber.

Returning to the crypt where the phantom was seen, the explorers can still sense the presence of something tormented and restless lingering within the gloomy space. The apparition does not reappear, however, and only a short time is required to pour holy water along the borders of the chamber. Once done, the adventurers can feel that an unseen weight has been lifted, the oppressiveness that held sway over the crypt having dissipated.

The short hallway outside of the once haunted crypt remains quiet. The company members do not hear any sounds of movement or activity nearby.

OOC: The party is currently gathered inside room 28 and just outside of it within the adjoining corridor.

Perhaps, its location so near to the surface egress makes it an irresistible target for agents of Mazzahs. Perhaps, this game is to be won by those who seize the initiative. Perhaps, the curate has certain cartographical goals in mind...

Preferred Order of Events
Silence 15' Radius on a convenient bone.
Demolition work until the mortared wall is all but breached.
Bone is tossed down the hall, out of range of the party.
Bless is cast.
The wall is breached.

Dax steps hack after helping to remove the sarcophagus lid. While Barnabus is gathering the remains from within, the ranger peers closely at the statue of Orcus.

The red glow is both intriguing and disconcerting. Moving closer to it, he gives the statue a push to determine if it fastened down.

---

Sorry for the "ret-con", a bit busy the last couple of days.

With a brief push, Dax is confident that the horrific statue is not anchored to the floor, though the ranger is made aware of its considerable weight, and notices that the figure is warm to the touch, the low heat emanating from it made more apparent by the cold that pervades the catacombs.

---

With divine silence infused within a forgotten bone, the work to take down the bricked entrance to the sealed crypt proceeds without sound. Lampert readily joins in the labor, seemingly pleased to have another way to contribute to the party’s efforts. Once the upper stones that comprise the barrier are pulled free, the remainder of it comes down quickly.

Beyond the cleared archway lies a dark, sixty by sixty foot chamber. Four sarcophagi are evenly spaced from each other in the room’s center, the lids of each bearing the sculpture of a dead soldier lying at rest. The party’s light sources illuminate a detailed mural that fills the eastern wall, which depicts the armies of law being laid to ruin by the victorious forces of chaos. At the image’s center, a small of group of exultant warriors raise their weapons in triumph, their mouths open in an unheard battle cry.

The bone bearing the silence spell is thrown westward down the adjoining hall. Even without it, an almost physical stillness holds sway over the newly opened crypt. Within that quiet, Barnabus speaks a series of hushed words to his patron deity, asking for his blessing upon the gathered adventurers.

OOC: Barnabus’ bless spell will remain in effect for 6 turns. All adventurers will receive a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls throughout its duration.

Barnabus sweeps his gaze both over the newly opened crypt and over the faces of his compadres, noting their looks of readiness with satisfaction, for it was time to test their mettle again.

Lambert remains at the entrance.
Given the size of the room, B. lights his lantern as Lambert's light won't reach beyond 30'.
Mal positions himself to catch the 3 furthest boxes within a web as previously decided (niggardly mages!).
Ishmael will check the closest box for traps (along with looking out for pressure plates and the like on the way there).
Then, Dax and Ynes remove the box lid; Ishmael has positioned himself to deliver a secret strike.

Repeat 3x. Become the apple of Mazzah's eyes.
Subject to retroactive revision as many times as necessary to ensure maximal success.

Dax glances at Ynes, smirks, and gives his head a shake, as Barnabus directs everyone where to stand and what actions to take.

"Are you ready, m'lord?" he asks the priest, and then without waiting for an answer, he says to Ynes, "On three, one...two...three!"

The two warrior grunt as they lift and push the sarcophagus lid, letting it crash to the ground once clear of the box.

While all that was going on, Malivoire stood ready to cast his spell should the remaining three sarcophagi begin opening on their own.  He hoped it wouldn't be necessary, but the murals on the wall left him worried about how effective hope alone would be.

The lid of the sarcophagus drops to the stone floor with with a heavy crash, the noise momentarily shattering the catacombs’ silence and eliciting a muttered curse from Ynes, who picks up her battle axe, her hands clenching the weapon’s handle as she looks to the newly opened burial place.

Within the sarcophagus is a mummified human man, clad in dark colored leather armor, a steel dagger with an onyx handle held in one hand. The adventurers watch the corpse tensely, but it remains perfectly still.

From somewhere nearby, a single, hissing whisper is heard. The susurration is too low for the company members to make out what is said. Frowning, Ynes looks to Dax. ”Did you say something?” she asks.

”The shadows!” Lampert exclaims before the ranger can answer. The linkboy’s eyes are wide with terror. The adventurers quickly see what the young man has perceived: the shadows on the walls of the crypt, created in part by the party’s flickering light sources, are rapidly coalescing into vaguely human forms, figures with an unmistakably menacing quality.

A mere second after Lampert calls out, the shadowy apparitions separate from the walls, their claw like hands extended as they rush to attack those who have entered the crypt, their ethereal forms absorbing some of the wavering illumination as they move silently through the cold air.

10:44, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 2 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

10:45, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 4 using 1d6.  Initiative - Shadows.

The shadows win initiative.

The first of the shadows rakes Dax with its claws, its fingertips momentarily passing through his chest, the strike filling him with a nigh unbearable chill that reaches his bones.

10:50, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 20 using 1d20.  Attack - Shadow.

10:51, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 3 using 1d4.  Damage.

Caine reflexively steps backwards as one of the shadows closes with him, narrowly avoiding the undead creature’s touch.

10:53, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 5 using 1d20.  Attack - Shadow.

Ynes attempts to raise her axe in an instinctive effort to parry one of the shadow’s blows, but the apparition’s claws find her forearm.

10:54, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 15 using 1d20.  Attack - Shadow.

10:54, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 1 using 1d4.  Damage.

Another of the shadows slashes Barnabus’ shoulder, the terrible cold of the attack somehow deeper than that brought on by the skeleton’s sapphire.

11:01, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 16 using 1d20.  Attack - Shadow.

11:02, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 4 using 1d4.  Damage.

OOC: Anyone hit by one of the shadows immediately loses one point of Strength. The loss of strength persists for one turn. Should this impact your ”to hit” or damage rolls, be sure to factor the change in.

The crypt is dedicated to chaos. As such, the shadows cannot be turned while they are within it. Were they to engage the adventurers outside of the tomb, they could be turned normally.

Each of the shadows possess an armor class of 7.

It is the party’s turn to act.

"Why, they're mere shadows of themselves," grins the curate. Shrugging off the preternatural chill, he clobbers one of the eidolons of yore and then calls out, "Ynes, your weapon won't do! Try the onyx blade!"

B. hits a shadow for 8 dmg.
19:53, Today: Barnabus rolled 17,8 using d20+3,d6+3.  Attack a shadow.

"Noooooo!" Dax cries out as the shadow's claws penetrate his very body, and fill him with an unearthly chill. His shield and sword seem heavier in his hands as he tries to steel his nerve and attack. It's no use as his blade does not come close to the shadow.

---

Dax Moonblade rolled 6, missing horribly!
This message was last edited by the player at 22:30, Thu 15 Dec 2022.

Seeing his long-time friend take a horrifying blow from one of the animate shadows, Malivoire pulled forth his wand and with a flick of his wrist and intonation of the elven rune etched along its length, sent a glowing bolt of energy at Dax's opponent.

OOC:
Use 1 charge from the Wand of Magic Missiles.  Shadow takes 5 damage.
10:33, Today: Malivoire rolled 5 using 1d6+1.  Damage.

Not wanting to get too close, the dwarf throws his magic dagger, the blade goes wide, and he is glad to not need to go fetch it.

10:54, Today: Ishmael rolled 5,4 using 1d20+3,1d4+1.

 Dilemma hisses a curse.  Charley just hisses.  "Shadows!  Let's get the Hells out of here!  I'll summon reinforcements!"

 The Conjuress begins to cast her spells, this time, and with luck, calling several white and golden spiders that appear so very, very real.  These actual arthropods will rear up and hiss menacingly.

Casting phantasmal force to summon as many, ehh, dog-sized... I'm thinking Basset Hound...-sized spiders as possible, to distract these dudes.

At Barnabus’ prompting, Ynes pulls the dagger from the corpse’s grasp. Turning to the closest of the shadows, she slashes at the creature, the blade cutting across what would be the ethereal creature’s head. Despite her aim being true, the attack appears to cause the shadow no harm.

10:40, Today: Ynes rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  Attack - Dagger.

[Posted by Labyrinth Lord.]

Having sidestepped one of the shadow’s attacks, Caine strikes the undead with a forceful swing of his blade. The strike, which would be deadly for most recipients, passes harmlessly through the ghostly figure.

10:42, Today: Labyrinth Lord, on behalf of Caine, rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  Attack - Bastard Sword.

One of the shadows’ attention is immediately drawn to the illusory spiders. Giving out a hissing shriek, the undead creature begins to flail at the incoming swarm with its claws, releasing another blood curdling cry when it is unable to drive them back.

The remaining three shadows continue to hover around the newly opened sarcophagus, lashing out at Dax, Barnabus, and Ynes in an  apparent effort to drive the adventurers away. None of the apparitions’ strikes connect, each of the company members managing to avoid the ethereal blows.

11:17, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 3 using 1d20.  Attack - Shadow.

11:18, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 7 using 1d20.  Attack - Shadow.

11:18, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 6 using 1d20.  Attack - Shadow.

The crypt grows colder. The adventurers in close proximity to the sarcophagi can see their breaths steam.

OOC: It is the party’s turn to act.

Each of the shadows have an armor class of 7.

Barnabus’ bless spell remains in effect.

Alarmed by the decrease in temperature, Barnabus panics momentarily and swings wildly. Then, just as quickly as it was lost, he regains his composure.

"Alright, Ynes, Caine, throw open another box! There might be something to help us in another one!"

To no one in particular, he asserts, "The shaman's wand. Magical fire. Roll the dice!"

16:08, Today: Barnabus rolled 4,7 using d20+3,d6+3.  R#2 attack shadow.

Dax feels the cold around him, adding to the cold within. Still, he tries again to injure the shadow. This time his blade strikes near perfectly.

---

Dax Moonblade rolled 22, hitting better than AC -6, for 6 Damage.

With a skilled flick of his wrist, the dwarf pitches the dagger towards the spider harassed shadow.

06:48, Today: Ishmael rolled 16,5 using 1d20+3,1d4+1

+1/+1 Bless Hits for 6

Malivoire sent another bolt of magical energy into the shadows, this time calling on his own arcane powers to do so.  As always, the bolt was unerringly accurate but this time seemed to carry less impact.

OOC:
Cast Magic Missile, for 3 damage.  Aimed at the shadow on Dax (if he didn't put it down with his swing already), otherwise at the next closest shadow.
10:33, Today: Malivoire rolled 3 using 1d6+1.  Damage.

[Posted by Labyrinth Lord]

Caine draws one of the throwing knives from his belt. Tracing a symbol above it in the air, he utters the words of a magical incantation. Suddenly, white light spills from the blade in every direction, filling the burial chamber with bright illumination. He raises the weapon over his head, seeking to dispel as much darkness as possible.

OOC: Cast Light.

Ynes takes a few hurried steps eastward, gripping the lip of the next sarcophagus and pushing with all of her might. The stone slab slides free, landing on the floor with a heavy crash. Within rests a mummified figure in blackened chainmail, much of its face concealed behind a helmet. Ynes sees no weapons within the sarcophagus, but resting atop the warrior’s corpse is a black shield, unadorned with any manner of heraldic ornamentation. Frowning, she takes hold of the shield with both hands.

11:32, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 9 using 1d20.  Attack - Phantasmal Force.

The illusionary spiders swarm about the shadow that has engaged them, the undead creature continuing swipe at them uselessly with its claws. If the illusory arachnids are causing the shadow harm, it is not apparent to any of the adventurers, though the shade remains driven in its attempts to drive the small invaders away.

The light summoned by Caine elicits hisses of rage from the shadows, the blazing illumination making their dark forms easy to see within the confines of the crypt.

One of the shadows, its shifting  form already wavering from Dax’s strike and Malivoire’s previous bolt of eldritch energy, lets out a blood curdling howl when a second lance of arcane power finds it. It slowly vanishes, dissipating like wisps of smoke.

Another of the shadows, still contending with Barnabus, manages to strike the priest’s arms with its cold touch.

11:54, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 16 using 1d20-1.  Attack - Shadow.

11:56, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 2 using 1d4-1.  Damage.

The last of the shades rushes toward Caine, raking his back with its claws.

11:56, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 14 using 1d20-1.  Attack - Shadow.

11:57, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 3 using 1d4-1.  Damage.

OOC: Those struck by the shadows lose a point of Strength. The loss persists for one turn.

As long as Caine’s Light spell remains in effect, the shadows will suffer a -1 penalty to attack and damage rolls. Their armor class also effectively drops by one point, making them AC 8.

It is the party’s turn to act.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:42, Tue 20 Dec 2022.

Even though his strength has been further drained, it seems to have no noticeable effect on the curate. His wiry form still bristles with its customary energy and his eyes still burn with their customary intensity.

As he strikes the shadow before him a second blow, he calls out to Caine and Ynes, "The other boxes! They may yet have the means to silence these shadows' infernal hissing!"

By means of a flurry of gestures, he encourages Mal and Dax to rid him of his personal shadow.

Barnabus hits S#3 for 4 dmg.
17:38, Today: Barnabus rolled 21,4 using d20+3,d6+3.  R#3 Attack.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:36, Tue 20 Dec 2022.

Ishmael again throws the magic dagger at the spider harried shadow.

07:42, Today: Ishmael rolled 20,5 using 1d20+3,1d4+1 ((17,4))

Hits for 6 Damage (inc +1 Bless)

Pleased by their success against the one shadow, Malivoire shifted his focus to the next target, this one besetting Barnabus.  He returned to the wand this time, again uttering the runic phrase and firing off another bolt of energy at the umbral undead.

OOC:
Second use of the wand.  Damage includes the Bless +1.
12:05, Today: Malivoire rolled 7 using 1d6+2.  Damage.

"Burn in hell!" Dax shouts as the creature before him melted away.

The ranger steps to nearest shadow harrying one of his companions and swings his sword at it.

---

Dax Moonblade rolled 16, hitting AC 2 for 6 Damage.

I'm making the old-school decision that Dax will simply attack the closest enemy to his position, that is attacking one of the party.

06:28, Today: Dilemma rolled 14 using 1d20 ((14)).
Phantasmal force spiders attacking shadows.

 With more magical efforts, Dilemma guides her spiders to attack the shadows... If possible, she begins to back away to the entrance she came from, as if desiring an exit.  Still, she does not flee, just stands her ground and readies for a tactical retreat if need be.  Charley, for his part, remains in her bag, only watching intently as any familiar incapable of penetrating shadows with flesh and keratin and dentin ought to do.

Gripping the shield with both hands, Ynes turns her attention to the shadow that Dax attacked, swinging the black steel with all of the strength she can muster. The shield slams into the undead creature with a heavy thud.

09:21, Today: Ynes rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  Attack.

Forgot to account for Bless with that roll, so it should properly be a 23.

09:22, Today: Ynes rolled 9 using 1d6+3.  Damage.

Clenching his jaw, Caine strives to stay close to the melee, trying to keep all of the shadows within the light issuing from his dagger.

09:25, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 4 using 1d4.  Damage - Phantasmal Force.

The shadow beset by illusory spiders shrieks as the arachnids swarm its trunk. An instant later, Ishmael’s blade slices through it, its dark form beginning to waver.

Barnabus strikes his undead opponent a second time, the blow seeming to stagger the apparition. Before it can respond, another of  Malivoire’s arcane bolts spears its chest. The shadow gives out a dying howl as it fades from sight.

The twin blows from Dax and Ynes, landing in quick succession, cause the targeted shadow to seemingly crumple beneath their force, its form dissipating into smoky tendrils that rapidly vanish as they scatter across the floor.

09:24, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 14 using 2d6+3.  Morale.

Thrashing about to free itself from the swarm of tiny attackers, the last of the shadows shrieks in apparent fury, then moves with surprising speed toward the southern wall, passing through the stone like a ghost as it flees the adventurers, leaving the crypt abruptly silent with its retreat.

OOC: Combat over.

Exultant, Barnabus hisses more loudly than any of the shadows had when the last of them flees from the crypt with its proverbial tail between its legs. He has special words of praise for Ynes's combat initiative and ingenuity.

He then tends to his own stricken flesh and then Caine's -- not so much because either of them had been perilously injured but more so to be properly prudent should something be of a mind to do so.

As for the chamber itself, two more boxes remain to be opened. After everybody's breathing has slowed, he asks Ishmael and Dax to open them in a properly prudent fashion.

He wasn't sure about what to do with the two armor-clad mummies (let alone the two on their way). Strip and leave them? That could well lead to another extraplanar lecture about how this chaos knight really needed his leathers to attend to his extraplanar business in the Happy Hissy Playfields of the Abyss. Tote them, armor and all, back to Helix, for proper disrobing and disposal? Probably.

While he's considering this, he studies the murals for the first time.

15:38, Today: Barnabus rolled 6 using 1d6+1.  CLW Caine.
15:24, Today: Barnabus rolled 5 using 1d6+1.  CLW Barn.

As the shadows dissipate or flee, leaving the tomb, quiet as it should be, Dax sheathes his sword and catches his breath. "Well done, everyone!" Clapping Ynes on the shoulder, he adds, "Never have I seen a shield wielded so formidably!"

Dax nods in response to Barnabus' request to open the last two sarcophagi.

"Barnabus, this tomb is dedicated to those of chaos, based on the mural. So I have no qualms about looting their goods."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:15, Fri 23 Dec 2022.

Ynes smiles at Barnabus’ and Dax’s praise. ”It was so light, it seemed more than an ordinary shield,” she explains, offering it for inspection to any who are curious.

OOC: The shield retrieved from the sarcophagus is a +1 shield. Ynes, with her preference for her two handed battle axe, will not claim it.

Examining the onyx hilted dagger, Ynes discovers that the stone in the weapon’s pommel can be removed, revealing a compartment within the hilt that appears to be intended to hold some manner of liquid. A faint, acrid scent can be detected from the hilt’s interior.

The black leather armor worn by the corpse that held the dagger appears to be completely without damage and still supple despite having been sealed within a sarcophagus for decades.

Opening the other two sarcophagi, the adventurers discover that one holds another mummified corpse clad in blackened chainmail. This interred warrior has no shield or weapon, but a dark leather satchel rests at his right side.

The other sarcophagus holds a simple black robe. At the openings of the garment, the adventurers can see collections of gray ash. No bones are present within the burial place. A bronze necklace, streaked with ash, rests near the opening in the garment where the wearer’s head would fit through. Hanging from the chain, also cast in bronze, is the symbol of a ram’s skull.

The mural is skillfully rendered, the artist having used the style favored by many nobles for the depiction of military victories. The central figures, many bearing the ram skull symbol of Orcus on their shields and armor, appear fierce and exultant. Outside of a lonely hill, with only a few barren trees in its vicinity, the mural does not offer any clues regarding the location it depicts, nor does it give any clear indication of the identity of the soldiers it pictures.

The only thing Barnabus offers after studying the mural is a wry question, "Brother on brother?"

With Ynes having refused the black shield, except under the most exigent of circumstances, the curate claims it. With him seeming to find his way to front as often as he did, it made sense, especially to himself.

It's clear to him the black leather belongs on Ishmael and he says exactly that: "Black leather becomes you, Ishmael. Why don't you try that on for size? Its suppleness should counter any tightness you might heel in your hips."

Naturally, the satchel catches his interest. Could a satchel have a life-ending needle trap ensconced within? Once again he addresses Ishmael, "I'm not sure I want to touch that. Can you handle it?"

As for the rest, he will ask Lampert and Searlait to transfer it all to the surface and store in their conveyance while the rest of them see about a couple of things very close to the entrance.
Dagger with poison well: stored in a pack.
The three mummies: to be removed from BM as they are.
Ash-filled black robe, along with bronze necklace: placed in a large sack and then stored in a pack.

Assuming there are no interruptions and nobody inhales too much chaos dust, Barnabus will speak to Ishmael for a third time, "Could you listen for hollowness behind these walls?" (East of 23; north of the corridor)

If he thinks there might be a chamber beyond, we'll search with the aid of the bone of silence.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:10, Sat 24 Dec 2022.

The dwarf eyes the dark cleric.  </blue>"Ya use a lot of big words, when small ones 'ould do."<blue> he says as he sets the leather aside for the moment.  He deals first with the satchel, using tools to expose it contents rather than his fingers, he spills it out onto the floor.

He then sees about the armor, and whether it will fit his frame, before checking the tales the living stone Barnabus asked about will tell.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:57, Sat 24 Dec 2022.

The satchel bears no traps. Opening it, Ishmael finds that it contains forty six gold pieces and a quartet of rubies worth twenty five gold apiece.

The leather armor is made for an average sized human, which renders it somewhat longer than Ishmael’s frame. It is well used, but free from any nicks or cuts from battle, leading Ismael to believe it is magical in construction. The spelunker suspects that Mazzahs might be able to modify its size.

OOC: The armor is +1 leather armor.

The party ventures out of the crypt where the shadows lurked, moving back to the corridor that ended at the Breldiln tomb. Coming to the section of wall where Barnabus suspects a hidden portal may be placed, Ishmael requires only a few moments of inspection before spotting a trio of tell tale, bloody fingerprints at the seam of one of the stones, which mark a concealed latch for a secret door.

As Ishmael goes about his business, Barnabus thinks about what they had found in the crypt of shadows. It was a curious collection for four bravehearts of Orcus. He had thought they would have been interred with their "weapons of valor." Instead they had only found an assassin's dagger. Had others claimed their weapons? And why did the one have a relatively paltry sum (at least in the priest's eye) in his satchel? What was the point of that? Had the four not secured riches? Maybe they had been no more than lieutenants in the god's service. That would make sense given the form (or lack of form) they had assumed after their first death.

"Dax, if you would?" he says, eyeing the latch.

If we need to wait a few more minutes for our strength to return, we will.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:52, Sat 24 Dec 2022.

Dax laughs at the dwarf's comment. "I think priests like to show off their education to us lesser lights!"

The ranger waits patiently while Ishmael examines the stone.

"Well done," he exclaims when the hidden latch is found. "The blood is worrying, there may be someone waiting on us. Ishmael, if you can trigger the latch, I will open the door."

Finding no evidence of traps, Ishmael triggers the latch, causing a fixed portion of the stone wall to hinge forward, like a door which is suddenly ajar.

Pulling it open, Ynes standing by his side at the ready, Dax is confronted with a nondescript twenty by twenty foot room, the barren walls fashioned from the same cut stone as the adjoining corridor. Both the northern and western walls are stained dark with moisture and an unpleasant scent of damp corruption assails the adventurers’ nostrils.

A dark, rust colored smear marks the floor. The chamber only holds two items. A wooden table is centered against the eastern wall. Upon it are a trio of knives and a short sword with a dark colored hilt and a squared point. A few stained rags are piled at one corner. A couple of paces from the table, on the floor, is an iron pail.

The room is unoccupied.

Nothing about this hidden chamber says, "Come on in, pull up a pail, sit a while" -- except, maybe, for the pail itself. Who can resist a pail sit?

With a sly look, he hands Malivoire a length of rope with a grappling hook, just acquired, and then points at the table and the pail.

We'll deploy the bone of silence for this to avoid any unnecessary clattering.
I went with the highest dex from the table for this task.

Dax pulls at his nose, "It smells worse than death in there." As he looks about, he adds, "No sign of skeletons or shadows."

The ranger steps into the room, sword drawn, despite the lack of inhabitants and moves to examine the items on the table.

 Eyeing the table and dismissing it as some sort of an apprentice torturer or executioner's business, Dilemma shuffles the stained rags around with a white boot.

Barnabus calls out to the others as they move to enter the room, "It smells like SLIME. Let's use the grappling hook to bring the table to us."

[Assuming we go ahead with the grappling hook idea...]

Malivoire accepted the grappling hook and rope with a somewhat dubious look, but dutifully rocked the iron grapple back and forth a few times to try and get a sense of the heft.  After issuing a bit of a warning, "Maybe just stand back a bit?", he swung the hook in a circle twice and then cast it into the room, where it landed near the table and skittered across the floor until coming to rest just beyond a leg of the table.  Malivoire gently dragged on the rope and to his pleasant surprise the hook snagged firmly on the target.  Now they just had to drag the thing back toward the doorway.

The elven mage looked around at the others with surprise on his face, as if to say "Who knew?".

OOC:
10:47, Today: Malivoire rolled 21 using 1d20+2.  Grappling hook throw.  If Bless still active, increase to 22.  If short range bonus applies, increase to 23.  Pretty lucky throw, all around!  :)

The table does not prove to be particularly heavy. With a few careful tugs, Malivoire is able to pull it over to the doorway without disturbing its contents. The wood appears slightly warped by age and moisture, but the piece of furniture is otherwise nondescript.

The knives and sword each show signs of heavy use, the blades somewhat dulled and bloodstained. Carved on the upper left corner of the table is the crude representation of a ram’s skull.

Entering the chamber, neither Dax nor Dilemma prompt any reaction from anything unseen within. The chamber is as it initially appeared: unoccupied. Dilemma observes that the collection of rags have been used to absorb blood. Dax notices that the pail is filled with what appear to be scalps, most of them human.

Relieved, Barnabus gathers the knives and short sword off of the top of the table for later presentation to their patron -- along with the table itself, he decides, the mark of Orcus catching his attention. It was as they had thought: this room was a preparation chamber and was intimately connected with the funereal practices of the cultists of a god of death. Why it was kept secret when the room next door was not, he does not know.

To the surprise of those assembled, he leaves the pail of scalps be.

Gathering the others around him, the dark priest explains that there is one "last thing" to do before they hasten back to Helix.

"Dax and Ynes," he asks, turning to them, "please try to bring the demonic statue out of the Barrowmaze. If it starts to burn with unholy fire, turn around and bring it back to the crypt. We can always figure something out later."

As part of the plan, he will retrieve the "bone of silence" (from wherever he had left it) so that the scraping of the statue along the stonework won't draw wanderers.

Then back to Helix.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:24, Fri 30 Dec 2022.

Dax visibly gags at the sight of the scalps in the pail. "The level of depravity...is beyond words!

Barnabus, are you sure you don't want to take these to be interred by the priest of St. Ygg?"

Regardless of the answer, Dax does not pick up the pail.

"You think the statue might suit Mazzahs garden?

If it starts to burn you can be sure we will drop it and leave it where it lies!"

Only silence accompanies the adventure as they cross the corridor back to the necromancer’s crypt. The dark chamber is just as it was when they exited it a short time ago.

The statue remains in its place, the faint crimson illumination still casting a faint glow around the hideous figure. Approaching it once more, the explorers can feel warmth emerging from the demonic sculpture, the shift in temperature readily perceptible in the midst of the prevailing cold of the catacombs. Touching the statue, however, does not elicit discomfort. The sensation is more akin to picking up a stone which has sat under the sun’s warmth for a number of hours.

The curate reconsiders, "No, but we should burn them and then bury the ashes."

Contemplating the seemingly sun-warmed statue, Barnabus remembers the four silken gloves, the ones embroidered with fangs, specifically that their special qualities might be called for in the transport of this statue. He gives one to Dax, two to Caine, and the last one to Ynes, advising her and Caine to bind the unprotected hands in wrappings.

Then, he steps a careful distance away from the movers.

Give pail to Lambert to carry out of the BM.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:07, Fri 30 Dec 2022.

Lampert carries the pail with grim resignation, refusing to look down at its contents, focusing instead on ensuring that his lantern his held aloft to provide adequate illumination as the party reenters the necromancer’s crypt.

[Posted by Labyrinth Lord]

Donning the gloves provided by Barnabus, Caine positions himself near where the statues center will be, once it is tipped over, readying himself to bear the weight and to assist as the stone figure is lowered.

Placing the single glove on her right hand, Ynes moves to the spot where she estimates the statue’s head will be. Looking to Dax, she nods, indicating that she is ready for the ranger to tip the horrid figure over.

Malivoire was not convinced bringing the statue back to Mazzahs was a smart idea, but he silently bowed to the will of the group.  Still, while those brawnier members of the group began tackling the challenge, he remained on edge and alert for the slightest sign of trouble.  With the statue, or otherwise.

Dax does his best to tip the statue in a controlled-manner, so that Caine and Ynes can get a comfortable grip on it. He then grabs the bottom of the plinth and heaves it up.

"Let's get moving."

Dax is able to lower the statue in a controlled manner, Caine taking hold of it first as the figure shifts to a horizontal position.

As it does, Dax’s gaze is drawn to the floor beneath the figure’s base. There, inscribed with great care upon the stone floor is what the ranger presumes is some manner of magical circle, its border and interior meticulously marked with numerous runes and sigils. As the circle becomes visible, it briefly flares with an unearthly crimson light that borders on blinding. In the same instant that it does so, the illumination emanating from the statue fades, as does the unnatural warmth that coursed through the monstrous creation.

The crimson light flares away from the circle, stretching to reach every portion of the necromancer’s crypt, the entire chamber briefly filled with a burning red glow. When it fades, the adventurers immediately see that they are not alone.

Standing a few paces away from the necromancer’s sarcophagus is a massive horned creature, which all within the room immediately recognize as being demonic in nature. It stands almost twelve feet in height, the long horns extending from each side of its head scraping the crypt’s ceiling. Bat-like wings extend from its back and its entire form is wreathed in flame, the heat instantly filling the chamber. In one hand, it grasps a sword with a serrated blade, in the other, a many tailed whip, the dark leather strands wound with spikes of metal and bone.

The demon appears to roar, its malevolent expression one of triumph, but its words are lost within the veil of silence called forth by Barnabus. The creature’s black eyes fix on the gathered adventurers and it shouts something else, its message once again swallowed by the unnatural quiet.

20:34, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 1 using 1d6.  Initiative - Party.

20:35, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 6 using 1d6.  Initiative - Balor.

Reacting with frightening speed, the demon whirls the whip over its head in a tight circle and snaps it forward, the tails ensnaring Caine, who clenches his jaw as the weapon’s spikes tear into him. With a single, hard yank, the demon pulls the adventurer toward him, drawing him into the unending flames which surround it. Caine only has time to briefly open his mouth in an unheard cry before the fire consumes him, his body reduced to powdery ash and blackened bones within a matter of moments.

20:39, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 2 using 1d6.  Target.

20:39, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 15 using 1d20.  Attack - Balor - Whip.

20:40, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 5 using 1d6.  Damage - Whip.

20:40, Today: Labyrinth Lord rolled 15 using 3d6.  Damage - Aura.

OOC: The Balor (or, if we were playing 1st edition AD&D/OSRIC, the Type VI Demon) has an armor class of -2. Those adventurers in the group that are divinely or magically trained would know that the demon can only be harmed by magical weapons. Those same adventurers would suspect that the creature possesses some spell-like abilities. As they are abilities, not spells, their use would not be impacted by Barnabus' silence spell.

For purposes of turning, the balor is treated as a 9 hit dice creature.

Dax and Ynes are still holding the statue. Caine is not. The statue may be dropped and weapons drawn or movement taken to flee within the same round. Dropping the statue may damage it.

It is the party’s turn to act.

Some mood music.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:39, Sun 01 Jan 2023.

With little regard for the rest of the party, and none at all for their daft kleptomaniac, the dwarf vacates the room with haste.  Undead lords, and now demons, he begins to wonder if the man has ulterior motives.  He casts down his torch and begins a silent but fleet trip down the hall back towards the entrance, only calling for rope to be lowered as he nears.


https://youtu.be/iIpfWORQWhU (in my head, it was Monty Python, but this is more my generation)

His face assuming the color of the bones secreted in his pack, Barnabus flees from the crypt for the exit to the Barrowmaze, his arms nearly flapping in his haste to do so.

 Dilemma looks at the demon, steels herself to cast a spell, but then swallows and says, "[REDACTED] this..."  Caine's demise solidifies this response.  She flees with the others.  Would that she could cast as she runs, like the strange heroes she'd heard of!  She'd lob a ball of darkness at the burning bastard's eyes.

 In agreement with his mage's decision, Charley, normally riding with at least his head or upper body out of her backpack, ducks into the leather bag, bracing himself against the crowbar and grappling hook tangled in there.

The statue slips from Dax's fingers as he watches in fascinated horror as the demon forms from the red flash of light.

The ranger is drawn from inaction by the instantaneous incineration of Caine.

Drawing his sword, and raising his shield, Dax interposes himself between the demon and the exit. "Mal! Ynes! Lampert! RUN!" he shouts as he slowly moves backward toward the corridor.

Once his comrades have left the room, the ranger drops all pretense of self-sacrificing bravery and turns and flees.

The horror that emerged from beneath the statue stole away Malivoire's breath and he gaped in fear as the thing stretched out its wings and snapped its whip around poor Caine.  This was a lord of the lower planes, and whatever powerful magics had been set to ensnare the fiend had now been rendered moot by their tampering.  They had unleashed another horror beyond measure within the catacombs!

But these were realizations that would occur to Malivoire once (if?) they reached the relative safety of Helix.  In that moment, even before the last of his ashes crumbled to the floor, some of his companions were already fleeing and Malivoire did not need more than Dax's glance to spur his own feet into motion.  Hustling as fast as he could, he tried to keep Lampert and Ynes ahead of him.  Those two would need the light, so he urged them toward the entrance as fast as he could.

Ynes needs no encouragement to retreat, easily perceiving that this new threat entirely outmatches the company. Letting the statue fall, she grips her axe, hanging back alongside Dax until the others have cleared the chamber, then keeping pace with him as they flee.

The adventurers scramble out of the crypt, running as quickly as they are able for the entrance chamber. A tremor takes hold of the corridor as they traverse it, a quake that, if they did not know its origin, they would presume originated from somewhere deep within the earth. Those courageous enough to look back see stones and mortar erupt from the archway that leads into the necromancer’s resting place, the demon’s massive form destroying portions of the adjoining walls as it emerges into the passageway.

The balor sets after those that freed it, cracking its whip as it follows with a heavy tread, the flames that surround it filling the corridor with a terrible red illumination.

As the last in line of those fleeing, it is Dax and Ynes who most readily perceive what transpires next. As they pass the last of the doors that line the southern wall, it bursts open as if kicked. Tendrils of darkness emerge from the doorway, along with a terrible, flesh burning cold that washes into the corridor, pushing back the heat of the demon’s flames.

A moment later, his dark, armored form familiar to most of the company, Lord Varghoulis emerges into the corridor, his sword, coursing with pale blue energy, in hand. He points the tip of the weapon at the demon.

”You trespass, spawn of Orcus!” the death knight calls in his terrible, hollow voice, ”Flee or be destroyed!”

The demon roars as it launches itself at the undead warrior.

Searlait has already lowered the rope when the adventurers, led by Ishmael, reach the entrance chamber, having felt and heard the infernal monster’s pursuit. Kraomar is with her at the pulley. ”TAKE HOLD!” she yells, ”WE CAN BRING THREE UP AT A TIME!”

The catacombs shake with even greater violence as the battle is joined in the corridor beyond. Smoke, earth, and fragments of stone billow into the room.

With one motion (Okay, maybe two), Barnabus slips his cudgel into his belt and snatches one of his potions from his bandolier, before raising it to his lips (so, three, then) and draining its contents (fine four), after which a tingling sensation of weightless suffuses him (not counting that one). As he wills himself to rise, he wraps one arm around Dilemma and the other around Lampert, calling out, "Up! Away with me! I'll drop a rope for you, Mal. One minute!"

He trusts Ynes, Dax, and Ishmael to figure out the three spots in the lift belong to them, just as the Barrowmaze belongs to those other two ... figures ... for now.

He also trusts that Malivoire, this time, will seal off the eastern passage.

-1 Potion of Levitation
This message was last edited by the player at 13:29, Wed 04 Jan 2023.

"Silvanus, preserve us!" Dax mumbles in utter shock as he sees the undead knight clash with the demon.

Seeing Ishmael gesturing, the ranger tears his eyes from the epic battle that looks to begin and joins the dwarf and Ynes on the lift. "Pull us up! Quickly!" he shouts.

Even before the lift reaches the upper level, he shouts to Serlait, "We are leaving NOW! No time to pack up camp!"

 Once Dilemma is safe...r, she spills onto her feet from the priest's grasp, and then catches herself, making sure to keep getting the hell out of "there".

Searlait and Kraomar pull the rope with all of the strength they can muster, hauling Dax, Ishmael, and Ynes up to the surface with remarkable speed. Below, Malivoire has a moment to peer through the haze of dust and smoke into the eastern leading corridor before Barnabus’ promised rope arrives. The battle between the two fearsome opponents continues to rage and the elven mage is able to escape the catacombs without incident.


Neither Searlait nor Kraomar question Dax’s orders, both hirelings moving out alongside the band of adventurers, weapons in hand. Darkness still lingers over the fog shrouded moor, but even as the group move away from the tombs, they can still hear the noise of conflict, and see an unearthly light spilling out of the catacombs’ entrance.