Empty Tankards.
Ferrous curses in reaction to the lizard's attack. He grits his teeth through the pain and charges forward with his axe.
if it hits
Ferrous's axe fails to cut through the tough hide of the creature and invokes more dwarven curses.
Withered Beards
Zynazyr shakes his head in disbelief as the wounded dwarf charges the lizard.
"What is he thinking? He's going to get himself killed," he thinks to himself. "Fall back, Ferrous. Let someone else engage so you can be healed."
Concerned that Ferrous is in danger, Zynazyr sends a bolt of lightning at the lizard.
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Ferrous rushes forward to engage the large lizard, but despite it's size it is quicker than it looks, and it dodges his swing.
Zynazyr sends a bolt of lightning at the lizard.
The dart of lightning strikes the lizard in the forehead. It's eyes flash and it stiffens for a moment. Then it collapses to the floor, dead.
Combat Over.
The lizard is large and will satisfy the group for a little while.
"I would like to search that room."
After dealing with the lizard carcass, the party moves up the hallway and returns to the old chamber to the northwest.
This room is a ruined chapel of some kind. Tattered tapestries hang from the walls. A dusty altar along the north wall is covered with rotting altar cloth. The candlesticks, offering bowl, and holy symbol on the altar are carved out of wood. The holy symbol looks like an eye, with wavy rays coming out of it.
The party carefully searches the room. Behind the altar is the remains of a human, pale-skinned and white-haired like others you have met here so far. His body has been chewed on and thoroughly mangled (presumably by the lizard). The body is cold but still pretty fresh; this person probably died today.
The body has a mask depicting a ferret, inlaid with ivory and worth 20 gp. There is also a sack with 380 gp, and two emeralds worth 100 gp each. The two candlesticks, bowl, and symbol are made from rare teakwood and are worth 25 gp each. There is also the remains of a leather canteen, but it has been chewed on by the lizard and is punctured and empty, though the area around it is damp.
The body is located behind the altar. Upon examining the altar, Brathas notices there is a hidden compartment within the altar. He examines the panel and does not detect any traps.
Within is a small dusty cubbyhole that contains four small vials and
a stack of a dozen candles. Ana and Zynazyr conclude that three of the four vials are magical but are unable to identify them at the moment.
Walia looks around the chapel trying to get a good idea of the sect that probably operates in this chamber.
Wisdom
Walia walks over to Ferrous and says, "My son, lets let the gods show you their mercy."
He kneels in the center of the room, whispering in the old tongue, nodding his head quietly, taking his ring finger to the tip of his nose and his eyes glow with a golden-amber hue as he is charged with divine energy and then places them on Ferrous' temple.
Doing healing.
Afterwards Walia says, "We need to dress this beast for consumption. I would also suggest smoking the meat for later. We can also distill its blood for water if we have a cauldron, a pipe and a flask."
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Walia looks around the chapel trying to get a good idea of the sect that probably operates in this chamber.
Wisdom 1d20+3
Wallia looks around. He does not recognize the regalia here, but recalls speaking with Auriga:
"That abandoned chamber was once used by the Priests of Zargon. But they lost interest in this part of the pyramid before I was born."
When he sees the symbol on the altar (see post above) he also recalls this:
"His symbol is a mass of tentacles with an eye in the middle."
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1d6
Wallia destroys the idol, even though he cannot detect any evil coming from it.
But he does detect evil coming from the nonmagical vial - it is unholy water.
Ana and Wallia are able, after 10 minutes, to identify the three vials. They are potions of minor healing, which heal 1-4 hp when drunk.
"Well done Zynazyr! I believe you saved us all. Ferrous needs some healing back at camp. After that, I would suggest going up the main hallway. The sooner we reach those fountains below, the better."
Walia says, "Sorry, my son, Ferrous, the gods may be somewhat blocked by the pyramid and this altar of a dormant albeit evil deity of Zorgon or Zargan or Zargon or Zorgan, pweh." as he spits on the floor.
He continues, "I suggest we patch him up a bit and explore the tunnel we haven't yet."
"We should return at least a portion of what we have taken to the Magi," Ana states flatly.
"Agreed," Zynazyr chimes in. "Also, if we continue exploring, I am afraid I can only contribute minor spells."
"It has only been an hour or two since we talked to the Magi, so I don't see a reason to be hasty. We do have a bit more food of our own now, but not nearly as much as we took from them originally. If we could find another source, I'd be more comfortable returning the supplies, but I will agree with whatever you want to do.
Zynazyr, even with just that metal star and your dagger, you were more formidable than any of us against the lizard. And we also value your knowledge even if your magic is depleted. I would suggest it is a bit on the early side to call it quits for the day."
"I still have two sleep spells available, and my axe is always ready to be bloodied. I still think that we should return the supplies. Better to have allies than more enemies, yes?"
I agree with Ana he says with a shrug, We have enough potential enemies. He smiles at her, Your axe, my sword... and of course Ferrous' when we fight the side of a barn he says with a laugh and wink at the dwarf.
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Now back at camp, the group once again assembles those remaining behind in camp into a labor group, and has them carry supplies while the more able members of the group stand guard.
The party is able to get the supplies back to the storeroom without incident.
After putting back the supplies, you return to the chamber of the Magi.
"Ah, hello my friends! How fares your 'quest'?"
The party brings Auriga to see that supplies have been returned.
"Oh, wonderful! That will save us some trouble." He turns and looks at the group. "Well, I suppose you would like some water? Give me some of your waterskins."
Once you return to the ritual chamber, he gives the waterskins to one of the other Magi. The Mage goes to the south door of the chamber and presses a small button; you can hear the wall with the statue rumble back into its original position. While you chat with Auriga, he goes through the door, and returns a few minutes later with skins full of water.
"Well then... good luck in your explorations. We may have some more water later on if you find anything else worth trading for it." He smiles.
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The party returns to the turntable and heads north. One you reach the unexplored area you begin moving slowly. Seventy feet north of the turntable the passage branches east and west. To the east, the passage only goes 5' and ends in a door. To the west the passage continues out of sight. You can see a door in the south wall that must lead to the mold-filled chamber you saw from the damp room.
Well we were supposed to take the stairs down after we came to the end of the main hall. grumbles.
Walia says, "We should go to the right."
"Right," Ana says, not much caring.
When the Mage returns, he gives the waterskins to Auriga, who turns them over to the party. Two waterskins are full; a third is half full.
"I'm afraid that's all we have on hand at the moment. But this should be plenty to tide you over until you get down to the fountains. If you need more water later on, we'd be happy to accept something else in trade."
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The party examines the door in the short alcove, but can hear no noise, and finds no evidence of traps. The door is not locked, and clearly has been broken down in the past. Opening the door reveals a large chamber.
This room looks like a ruined chapel. It has been looted and deliberately wrecked. The stone altar has been smashed, and no ceremonial equipment can be seen. The word "Zargon" has been scrawled on one wall in large letters.
The party searches the room carefully. Upon inspection of the ruined altar, Brathas notices a small hidden compartment in the base of the altar. Carefully opening it reveals a small niche with three clay tablets.
The party looks the tablets over. Wallia realizes they contain clerical spells. The first has purify food and water. The others he does not recognize; it will take some time for Wallia to decipher them.
The only exit aside from the one the players came in by is a narrow passage to the south. From the doorway it looks like a small storeroom; a few small crates are stacked against a wall in a corner opposite the entrance.
Walia will continue to concentrate on the tablets. "Methinks, I can yet decipher these."
"Well done you two. I'm sure those will come in handy." Zynazyr then looks down the short hallway. "Based on the looks of this room, I doubt there is anything down there but we might as well look. Fistep or Ferrous, do you mind leading the way? "
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Walia will continue to concentrate on the tablets. "Methinks, I can yet decipher these."
Wallia interrupts the party for some more time to examine the tablets. Sadly, he is unable to determine anything in the short time allowed.
When Wallia is done, Zynazyr suggests that the party investigate the south chamber. But before the party can discuss it, Ferrous, who is standing watch near the door, hears something from the other side of the door, like a high-pitched shriek echoing through the halls. Then he hears it again, a bit louder.
Ferrous notifies the party that there is noise coming from the hallway.
Walia says, "Let's check out the storage room because it is here. Could you please close the door?"
"What sort of noise, Ferrous? What do you suggest we do?"
"I think that we need to deal with whatever is coming up the hall," Ana says.
"Agreed, but let's stay in here. If it comes in, then we deal with it," he says as he moves into the corner of the room by the altar opposite the door. He takes out his Ustar, prepared to throw it at whatever opens the door if it moves to attack.
Ana takes up a position at the side of the door, her axe at the ready.
Walia shrugs and says, "So be it"
he then stands behind Anastoria and slides his shield onto his right arm and puts his mace in his left.
"What sort of noise, Ferrous? What do you suggest we do?"
Ferrous replies,
"Cave Bats. Coming this way."
Brathas will move to the far side of the room and ready his bow.