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Eadie doesn't see anything amiss and slowly opens the set of large stone double-doors to the east. A profound quiet has settled over this timeworn hall. Elegant stone columns line the passage, and hieroglyphics and colorful art depict scenes from a distant age. A small wooden door stands at the east end of the hallway, while a larger door leads south. The sound of steady splashing water is audible through an open passageway to the north. One of the pillars has collapsed, and a crushed human corpse lies pinned underneath. The distinctive shape of a wayfinder peers out from under the body’s hand.
Having a look over the corpse you see a broken wayfinder. Inside it is engraved Congratulations, Asha. -V.L..
The backpack that was on the body was mostly crushed by the stone. However there is a steel canister that was left unharmed. It contains a oil of greater magic weapon and a stone of alarm.
Art on the wall shows a royal barge sailing on the River Sphinx. You can identify the god-kings of Ancient Osirion each taking their turn captaining the barge, from Azghaad to the Song Pharaoh.
Each of the pharaohs (in the colorful art lining the room) bears three jewels on his or her head regalia: an emerald, topaz, and ruby.
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Eadie kneels to pick up the steel canister and broken Wayfinder.
This is getting to be a habit. The Prince of Augustana had one of these.
At Lore’s words she stands and moves to investigate what her friend has seen.
“Interesting … Sadly no amethysts though, Lore.”
She turns to Hadassah. “Emerald, topaz, and ruby princes maybe Dassah?? Do you think this means we might be on the right track to find the missing jewelled sages for Amenopheus?”
Eadie holds up the oil canister she took from the dead Pathfinder. “I’m expecting more trouble in the Folly and think it is worthwhile coating a weapon with this magic oil now.”
“Lhug or Dassah, do either of you want to use it? Otherwise I’ll apply it to my falchion.”
“So … which way?”
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“OK, Lhug. I’ll oil my enchanted blade now.” Eadie takes a moment to draw and lightly coat her magical falchion with the oil of greater magic weapon.
“Which way, guys? Our options are: open passageway to the north with the sound of splashing water, small wooden door to the east and larger southern door.”
“We went east before … maybe east again?” Whichever direction the party selects, Eadie will first check the portal/passageway for traps.
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Eadie head swivels from Lhug back to Dassah like a tennis umpire’s.
Those two are always squabbling. Why can’t they ever agree? You don’t see me bickering like that!
She looks beseechingly at the divine duo. “Uh, Woody? Lore? When in doubt, was it always left or always right?”
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Lore and Lhug argue for a few moments about the next path to take. Lhug argues for the obsessive compulsive exploration of the ruins while Lore wishes to continue with the current path. Eventually, more of the party start to head to the next Eastern room and Lhug follows along reluctantly.
The door opens easily once some muscle is put to it. Inside is a storage space that housed food and supplies for the fortress. The walls, floor, and ceiling are charred, and the burnt remnants of a few splintered boxes and barrels and a handful of corpses are scattered to the edges of the room.
Lhug just looks at Lore with that all-knowing 'I told you so smirk.'
The scorch marked are the remains of a Fireball spell.
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Lore stares and Fleetwood and Eadie as they went barging through the wrong door. Lhug's eyes grow wider with amazement during all of this.
Eadie heaves open the large double doors and reveals a cavern.
The ceiling of this natural cavern sparkles with thousands of tiny crystals, while the center of the cave is split by a chasm that wends deeper underground. A stone bridge stretches over the gap. At the center of the bridge rises a black granite obelisk, covered with gems and hieroglyphics. The obelisk is a masterpiece of sculpture, with flawless lines and beautifully rendered images of the past. An open archway to the south is covered with wall carvings and leads to a hallway.
You see a faint glow from down below bridge and into the cavern.
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Lore stares at Fleetwood and Eadie as they went barging through the wrong door. Lhug's eyes grow wider with amazement during all of this.
Eadie turns around sharply and holds up her left hand. “What? You said go right … and my right hand is the one I write with, right?”
With her blade raised and dripping oil onto the ground before her, Eadie waits to see if the others have any thoughts or ideas.
Once everyone is ready, she will tap the bridge with her falchion before advancing onto it towards the obelisk, keeping an eye open for traps and threats.
She whispers “Are there any magical auras about?”
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Looking over the edge, Lore sees that the cavern floor lies about 50' below them. The sides of the walls are rugged and irregular. It seems to be somewhat easy to climb if you wanted. From here all that you can see is a faint glow in the depths below. In order to see more, you will need to climb down in the depths below.
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Lore casts detect magic (range 60') and looks about down below and across the bridge to the obelisk, if it's close enough that is, and report her findings to the others.
"It looks like an easy climb down if you want to check out the light down below... Not saying that's the wisest course, just an option. What do you all want to do?"
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Lore's detect magic spells confuses her for a moment until she realizes that both the light at the bottom of the chasm and the obelisk are radiating magic. Even as he focuses her thought it is hard to determine what type of magic either is radiating.
Eadie strides forward thinking more about chocolate pudding than any particular dangers that the obelisk might offer. As she steps adjacent to the large stone block, she notices that two of the jewels seem to be "looking" at her. Its at that instant she realizes that the jewels act as if animate and do indeed turn to look at her! A heartbeat later, spirits start to rush out of the ancient stone and a wave a desert heat washes out over the area.
Just one of the spirits lashes out at Eadie , but the agile fighter manages to avoid the jerky hand of the spirit.
The rest of the pathfinders see visions of the dead rising up from ancient tombs, armies of divs marching forth from a massive tructure of black stone, and a plague of locusts sweeping over the land. The visions fade after a few seconds.
The obelisk still radiates necromantic magic, but neither Eadie or any of the other Pathfinders can get it repeat its display.
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Eadie leaps back from the ghostly hand like she’s been shocked. “Hey! I’m a nice girl. Keep your hands to yourself.”
She looks back at the others once the vision is over. “Well that was certainly weird. Wierder than that phantom paladin that turned up in the God’s Market warehouse, remember?”
Eadie takes a hand off her falchion to scratch her helm. “Can we learn anything more from the obelisk? Otherwise I guess we have two choices: continue forward, go back to check the dripping water chambers or go down into the chasm.”
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Measure a chasm. Right. Hadassah pulls her rope,grapnel hook and ever burning torch out of her handy haversack, and securely ties the torch to one ena, attaches the hook to the most sturdy surface available, Oops, sorry Lhug, I will use this spot instead... then lowers the torch 50 feet or so into the chasm.
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Eadie begins to climb down the wall. However, the foot and hand holds aren't as easy as it seems. Until, Lhug-mor works the rope and is able to get down the wall without much of a problem (DC15 climb check is needed).
At the bottom of the chasam, Lhug sees that the light is coming from a wayfinder. It lies next to the crushed body of a human female. Her wayfinder also has a scarab carved on it, but this one is nearly exhausted of its magical abilities. Lhug pulls a pack with several items in it. He looks around, satisfied that nothing else is down here and is easily able to climb back up to the bridge.
The adventurer's bag contains the following items: wand of protection from evil (10 charges), a gem of brightness (12 charges). and a ring of truth (Ultimate Equipment 349).
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Dahhah does her best to id Lhug ...
Eadie moves over beside Dassah and points at her other three companions in turn.
“The fiery, purple haired one with the melodious voice is Lore. The fun-loving, silvery humanoid, who always has the perfect comment for every occasion is Fleetwood.”
As a confidential aside to the Dancer. “We call him ‘Woody.’ ”
“That leaves the big, grumpy-looking one with bad breath and bloodshot eyes – THAT'S Lhug-mor. You can easily spot … sorry, perceive him by those saddle-bags he carries.”
Eadie pauses for a minute, deep in thought before asking “What’s with those saddle-bags anyway, Lhug?”
♞♞♞♞
Eadie examines the corpse covered in glass to see if it can give her any clues about the challenges they have yet to face.
“I keep getting the feeling we’re being fed clues … but I can’t work out what it’s all about. There’s been a lot of charred things about – wizards with fire-based magic perhaps? Does anyone have any energy protection spells?”
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Seeing nothing and not recognizing the carvings in the stone, Eadie walks into the hall to examine the body. Clearly it was the wrong move.
Before anyone can put the pieces together, you hear some gears activate and what sounds like a ton of sand flooding in from the outside. Without warning a gush of flame ignites the sand and sends essentially molten glass over the pathfinders.
The body and whatever was on it is destroyed in the fire.
After the yelling and burning cesses, there is a quite in the hallway. Dazed and confused, you all can look into the next room...
This large columned chamber shows signs of past comforts, but an ancient battle scorched the walls and ceiling, and cracked and smashed the floor and columns. The remnants of furniture
are scattered against the walls, and piles of bodies are stacked in the sleeping alcoves along the south and west walls. A dais crowned with a great, round table rises from the floor in the south part of the room. Three corpses sit around the table as if in conference, each dressed in fine silk robes. A slight breeze whistles through with a sound like a distant, murmuring voice, but there is no sense or meaning in it. Stairs lead downward in the northeast corner of the room, but were buried in stone when the wall collapsed.
Listening, a few of the pathfinders hear another sound. This time its footsteps and voices coming from the north. There is the flicker of torches as well. Could it be the other party has caught up with you?!?
A quick glance at the table shows that there are ruby colored shards in front of the bodies.
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Anticipating the warrior's actions will lead to no good, but expecting a blast, Lhug steps between the fire priestess and his silvered friend hoping their faith is good for something.
Woody immediately channels healing.
"Torches mean live humans, at least thats an improvement." Lhug moves and throws a smokestick as far down the hall as possible. Anticipating Eadie's tactic of choice, he lines up to flank with her.
"Dancer, could you take a look around in case we need to flee or the is something there we require?"