Khel gives Beth a nervous nod, gripping a hammer tightly in each hand.
Hrarsk follows to the southeast door, ready to draw his sword in case of combat.
The southeast door is firmly shut and magically locked. There is a peephole in each door, and a large unique looking lock. Peeking through recevals a cove that heads back up to the surface.
"Not that I am a betting man, but I get the feeling that what ever is responsible for this unholy decor has the key out of here." Doug says as he follow the group.
"I'd lay a wager on it, but I doubt any of you would bet against me," replies the barkeep.
"I may be able to open that door, if you prefer to have it unlocked behind us," Fortuna offers.
Other than the sounds of your conversation and boots on the icy stone there is an eerie science that fills these vaulted chambers.
Opening the west door...
Columns depicting fierce, gigantic figures line the walls of this elongated hall, which opens to a slightly smaller chamber to the west. At the eastern end of the hall, bas-reliefs of additional figures adorn the walls between the columns.
In the western chamber, a five-foot-high ledge runs along the three walls. Statues depicting giants lying in state stretch on the ledge between the columns.
This chamber is clearly of newer construction than the rest of the tomb.
Chained in the middle of the chamber is a huge mammoth, armored in plates of ice, its eyes shining with a cold blue light.
It does not seem to be moving or making any sound.
Bethany eyes the mammoth thoughtfully, trying to determine why its eyes are open but it isn't moving.
Khel ponders the massive, frozen mammoth in alarm, quietly grateful that it's not moving. When Bethany begins to move toward the passage, he nods and moves with her, moving as silently as he's able, in order to not disturb the frozen mammoth.
Hrarsk follows out of the room, equally unsure of what danger the mammoth might pose.
moving into the large chamber...
Two lines of columns, paralleling the east and west walls, support the vaulted ceiling of this enormous, darkened hall. Heavy stone double doors lead north and west, while single doors offer access to the east and south.
Opening the small door to the south reveals two sleeping pallets, two footlockers, and a small rack for weapons and armor. Two torch sconces are mounted to the wall.
Bethany helps herself to a torch, shrugging as if to say Well, we might as well have one. Yeah, I know your little devil companion can make light, but let's just say we might want some uh... natural light down here. Someone want to check out those footlockers?
No other exits from the southern room. Checking out the footlockers reveals large mundane and uninteresting gear.
There are four other exits from the large room. Two double doors to the west. A double door to the north and a single door to the easy.
Hrarsk follows to the east.
Khel follows Beth's lead, glad someone else is deciding which way they'll go, so he won't feel bad when he leads them into trouble.
"It's almost too quite here" Doug says as he follows the others to the east.
It is eerily quiet in here, almost deathly quiet...
Opening the door to the east reveals a series of low pedestals that line the walls of this room.
Perched atop each is a humanoid skull. A small plaque has been chiseled in stone beneath each skull, like a memorial. Antiquated, sometimes broken, weapons lean against several of the pedestals. None of the skulls or weapons are giant-sized.
"Well, this is a touching tribute," Fortuna mutters, "Nice motif." She makes no move to approach the pedestals.
"Huh," remarks the orcish bartender eloquently. "Wonder what these're doing here."
She approaches the nearest pedestal and squints down at the plaque, trying to make it out through the years of dust atop.
As Nethany enters the room to examine the skulls the one on the southern pedestal bursts into a corona of blue fire and animates and speaks.
“Akargrim was my name in life,”
moans the skull in a sepulchral voice.
“I and those with me fought the savage giant Hhurrun Springbane, who challenged me to single combat. We had nearly defeated the giants, but many of my companions were injured, and so I agreed to face Springbane alone. I had all but slain the brute when Springbane called to his giants, who leapt to his aid and cut me down before my clan could rally to my rescue. With my murder, the tide of battle turned, and Springbane returned to his people to lie about his courage and strength at arms. I charge you, go north from this monument to ignominy, then turn east. Do not veer west. My killer has been made perversely immortal for his so-called courage. Take my axe and bring me Hhurrun Springbane’s head, so that I, and these others with me, might remember justice, and find our way peacefully to judgment. If you return, I shall grant you a boon. I can do no more.”
You all the the call of Free Me! in your minds.
A brokenfine greataxe leans against the base of the pedestal.
"Whoa." replies the barkeep, snatching her hand back from brushing off the pedestal before her.
Startled by the skull's charge, Hrarsk listens carefully until charged to bring the axe. He lifts it up, trying to figure out its qualities relative to the sword he had previously been using.
"A worthy cause indeed." Doug says as he steps closer to Hrarsk and sheathes his sword. "I'm a bit of a sucker for righting wrongs and redeeming those unable to stand up for themselves. I wouldn't mind using that instead of my banged up sword as a symbol of justice. Also want to see Hhurrun's face when I hold it up and tell him why we came."
Khel startles as the blue fire erupts and the voice begins speaking, but calms himself as he realizes it presents no threat. He nods along as Doug speaks, remarking, "Sounds like a worthy cause to me. I just hope it's not too dangerous."
"I'm sure it will be a breeze," the wizard grumbles, "Are any more of these guys going to chat with us?" She looks around at the other skulls and plaques.
The skulls do not appear to have anything else to say.
You do all feel a bit of a tug in your mind to go right this wrong though.
"I would like to help the poor skull," Hrarsk says. "Shall we go north then?"
With a sigh, Khel replies to Hrarsk, "Guess so. What could go wrong?"
"Let us head North, then East as the talking skull suggests!" Doug says as he starts looking for a way northward.
Bethany nods and hefts her scimitar, sensing a fight brewing.
Retruning to the large room you are ambushed by a pair of frost giants from southeast. You are easily able to dispatch them and later searching will reveal a pair of secret doors in the entrance chamber that concealed the guards until now.
Heading north reveals an empty room followed by aspacious chamber, tiled in black stone, with a large sunken area in the middle.
Four columns of white marble, each carved with the faces of giants along its length, stand in the corners of the room, supporting the vaulted ceiling overhead.
Double stone doors are set in all but the north wall. A short flight of steps leads up to a raised platform to the west where doors of black stone stand in the wall.
In the depression is the corpse of an unusually large frost giant. It appears as though some sort of worm like creature burst out of its chest some time in the past.
An eerie silence pervades the room, no fight has yet steeped.
Hrarsk points out the secret doors. "Should we go there?"
The secret doors just open into small watch posts. You've clearly been observed for awhile.
The Giant shows no signs of being dragged here and does not appear tied down or otherwise restrained. Has a strangely peaceful look on his face.
opening the small door to the south reveals two sleeping pallets, two footlockers, and a small rack for weapons and armor. Two torch sconces are mounted to the wall. No other exits from the southern room. Checking out the footlockers reveals large mundane and uninteresting gear.
At the moment you feel somewhat compelled to listen to the flaming skull that recently spoke to you.
"Well, who'd like the honors?" asks Bethany, eying the peaceful-looking giant suspiciously.
Poking it reveals nothing. Hrarsk gets the sinking feeling that some sort of worm-like undead burst from its chest...
What exactly, is unknown for now.
"Do we need to use the broken axe to do this job right?" Khellirin wonders aloud as the adventurers all look at each, wondering who's actually going to do the chopping.
You feel a compulsion to go further east from this room, no amount of mucking with this body will get you anywhere.