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.