”Lysander!” Uilisfuen calls in shock as the half-elf falls due to his burning wounds. The archer moves back for a more direct shot, then fires again.
Akmenos sees the rest of the group scramble as the doorway between the others and him is sealed with the body of the ooze. Cursing his luck Akmenos concentrates and focuses his arcane energy to damage the Ooze further.
Uilisfuen's arrow buries itself deeply into the creature and Akmenos continues to channel lightning into it! After another moment, the thing shudders and the whole cube begins to collapse in on itself is it melts into a viscous puddle on the floor!
Garnult casts Spare the Dying on the fallen Lysander Ain't yer time yet Elf! then Garnult grabs the elf and slings him over his shoulders in a fireman's carry.
We'd best be gettin topside yeah? I dun think this one would like to be ooze food just yet.
Thats actually not a bad idea - if only for a bit. I am sure if we should rest for a while.
Akmenos grabs the stuff that was floating inside it as a keepsake before rejoining the group on its far side.
It couldn't hurt, and we are at least making progress.
"Uhh...." Lysander flops one arm weakly.
”Very well,” Uilisfuen says as he uses the toe of his boot to probe the formless ooze for his arrows. ”I could use a break to quench my thirst.”
Carefully picking through the acidic remains of the cube, you notice that there are a few metallic objects left behind: a chain shirt, a spearhead, five arrowheads, 40 gp, and a three gems stones (opaque white, transparent deep purple, and transparent red). The wood in the arrows and javelin used to fight the creature have already started to corrode, but may be recoverable. 5 of the 6 arrows fired are still serviceable, but Lysander's javelin is already beyond use.
About a mile from the Mouth of Doom entrance is a ruined cottage, though it has no roof thatching left, the walls are still sturdy enough to provide some shelter from the elements and cover from ranged attacks. Between the two wild elves you could also set an effective camp virtually anywhere near the entrance you'd like.
Akmenos burns some ritualistic herbs and conjures a small lizard familiar to aid in the dungeon below.
I will name you... Diego!
During the evening you manage to rest, setting watches though nothing eventful disturbs your evening rest. Akmenos uses his arcane power to summon forth Diego the lizard!
The walls of this room are made of mortared stones, but fossilized human skeletons poke out from it to varying degrees. In one place, a skeletal stone hand pokes out from the wall, in another place the skull and ribcage of a stone skeleton protrudes from the wall along with one arm holding a sword in its hand, and in a third place the entire left side of the fossilized skeleton is visible, with the right side embedded in the wall.
There are also doors to the south and one to the east.
What's this then.. Garnult says, inspecting the mortar work to see if its man made or magical.
Garnult studies the stonework and is able to determine that the stonework itself is man-made, of passing quality, certainly not even up to the standards of drunken dwarves, but likely something under forced labor conditions. However all of the fossilized remains probably would have to have gotten there via magical means.
Akmenos is going to root around for traps, secret doors, and examine the remains for what magic caused them to be embedded in the walls. Feels just like home, doesn't it? Someone had a true flair for the dramatic...
Akmenos and Garnult begin sharing observations and it quickly becomes obvious to the wizard that the fossilized skeletons are clearly the result of some kind of magical accident. Given the age and decomposition Akmenos estimates they have been here for between 5 and 10 years. There do not appear to be any traps or secret doors, but the southern door is locked.
Huh. Well, nothing more here then yeah? What about this way? and Garnult heads to the eastern door.
Heading east, the hallway opens and connects with the north-south hallway that runs up to the glue room. There is another eastern door which, while unopened, you know leads back to the main entry hall.
Akmenos attempts to unlock the door.
Lysander hangs behind for a moment, looking at the sword one skeleton is holding. If it seems like a perfectly normal weapon, he leaves it be, but if it looks particularly well-made or decorated, he takes it and straps it to his pack before hastening to rejoin the others.
Lysander spends some time examining the sword while Akmenos sets to work on the lock. The sword is not of particularly exceptional quality, it seems fairly run of the mill Chelish metalwork.
Akmenos is able to open the lock on the door, so far being unimpressed with the quality of the locks used. The door opens to a 10' wide hallway which continues south 40' before ending in another closed door. Wary of traps, Cererithil cautiously leads the party forward, checking the door and finding it safe the elf continues into an octagonal room.
The room itself, aside from the octagonal shape, is mostly empty except for some soiled straw in the northwest corner. There is a faint odor of straw and the lingering hint of a pungent, irritating scent. In the southern part of the room, there is a stairway leading down into the darkness, flanked on either side by iron statues of cobras. Both cobra statues are coiled, but with the head raised and the hood out, as if ready to bite. Each of the statues sits upon a short stone pedestal six inches in height.
Well its just the pessimist in me but I'm betting those snakes signal something unpleasant. Can you detect magic before I approach the statues for a closer look?
With pleasure. Let me begin the ritual. Akmenos begins to work, meditating and focusing his mind through his pendant and opening his senses to the ebb and flow of the weave.
Uilisfuen sniffs the air, noticing the soiled condition of the straw. ”It seems like a place to house animals. Maybe the rats slept here.” He is about to say something else when Akmenos begins his magic ritual and doesn’t want to disturb him. The elf looks at the iron statues of the cobras.
After deciding to leave the sword alone, Lysander rejoins the group. He doesn't comment on the smell, although it bothers him, and merely takes up position by Akmenos, sword at the ready in case anything sudden happens.
Akmenos take a few deeper whiffs of the strange smell, and is able to recognize it as a chemical known as chlorine though he is at a loss as to why it might be present, even faintly, in a place like this.
The elves hold back as the tiefling beings his ritual. Very shortly into the ritual, the tiefling feels the comforting surge of the presence of magical energy. As Akmenos completes his ritual and is able to more precisely focus in on the magical energy which seems to be coming from the eastern snake statue. Concentrating on this energy he recognizes it as a type of transmutation magic.
Akmenos tries to figure out what the magic's function is.
Ain't nothing good about this place...smells funky too Garnult says
As Akmenos tries to sort out what purpose this magic may server, the answer seems to reveal itself as the eastern statue begins to move! And quickly! The serpent glides forward off the pedestal and strikes at Garnult!
Initiative
Akmenos
Cererithil
Garnult
Lysander
Uilisfuen
Iron Cobra
Round 1
Iron Cobra
Lysander
Akmenos
Cererithil
Uilisfuen
Garnult
All PCs may act!
"By the General--" Lysander lets out an oath as he rushes at the statue, bringing his sword around in a mighty swing.
Lysander's sword connects with the snake statue, but it doesn't seem to do much damage.
Iron Cobra - 2 damage taken
Akmenos sprays poison from his hands at the machination!
The iron snake seems unconcerned by the poison cloud.
Knowing his arrows are very unlikely to damage the snake he draws his sword and attacks (sneak attack because others are attacking it).
for
By Torag's Beard! What's this!
Garnult lashes out at the Iron beast but his gets tangled up and nearly finds himself on the ground!
The metal snake proves too quick for Cererithil and Garnult as both their attacks miss the quick, small construct!
Uilisfuen is up for Round 1!
Uilisfuen slips between Lysander and Akmenos as he draws a short sword. He almost appears to be dancing with the snake as he attempts to stab it.
Uilisfuen's attack also comes up short against the slippery serpent!
The snake rears back it's metal head and quickly strikes at Garnult again, but is met only with a shield!
*miss*
Round 2
Iron Cobra - 4 damage taken
Lysander
Akmenos
Cererithil
Uilisfuen
Garnult
Lysander continues to harry the snake statue, using his shield to block it in while he thrusts and slashes with his sword.
The elven scout attacks the snake with a sneak attack.
for
A low growl rumbles from Uilisfuen’s throat as he slides his feet to the right and again thrusts with his short sword at the cobra.
While the others distract the metal snake, Cererithil is able to pierce its metal body with his shortsword!
Iron Cobra - 15 damage taken
Akmenos and Garnult may act for Round 2!
Garnult lashes out with his hammer
Akmenos curses his stupidity before changing to a different spell.
A lance of flame hits the cobra squarely as Akmenos puts some distance between them.
Garnult smashes the metal snake into the ground with his mighty hammer while Akmenos turns up the heat on it!
The snake tries to strike again at the dwarf, but doesn't even come close.
*miss*
Round 3
Iron Cobra - 27 damage taken
Lysander
Akmenos
Cererithil
Uilisfuen
Garnult
All PCs may act!
Aha! You aren't so tough!
"The holy strength of Ragathiel sees us through!"