Loges directs his Unseen Servant to help.
Let's get back to camp.
"Dwarves eat these, right? How are you supposed to cook 'em, Bolgar?""Lots of ways," Bolgar says cheerily. "The best way is to boil 'em in a big pot still in the shell. But I don't think we have a pot big enough. But you can fry the meat in a skillet with a bit of oil, or cook 'em in a stew, or just roast the meat over a fire on skewers. We could smoke it too, if we have time."
"Don't worry... it tastes a lot like chicken. And I suppose I wouldn't mind a little lunch break."
Tollo looks doubtful.
"Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew; doesn't matter to me as long as I can't see what it was I guess."
Zuberi looks at Tollo "One way or another they're an acquired appetite. When we finish off those rations they'll look a lot more appealing, hunger is the best sauce."
Breaking down the beetles goes quickly enough, with the dwarf giving you advice about what parts to keep and what to throw away. You carefully keep the light glands from their foreheads, which continue to glow with the brightness of the large candles used in certain religious observances.
Once you have gathered everything, you once again climb up the ladders to the room above, and from there exit the pyramid. Abdul and Zaaid and clearly happy to see you and report that there has been no movement from the oasis or the surrounding desert since you left. They have only seen insects, lizards, and the occasional bird high overhead. They seem excited about the prospect of cooking the lizard, but much less enthusiastic about the beetles. With everyone helping, making lunch is a fairly quick process, and you are all full an hour or so later.
Loges directs his Unseen Servant to help where needed while the spell lasts.
The young mage devours his portion of lizard and beetle stew.
So, we want to explore any other paths, excluding those zealots for the remainder of today?
Tamru digs into both lizard and beetle with relish. Clearly not a picky eater. "Ah, yes. Let's leave the zealots alone, hmm? We will have to return to them once they are free to guide them out, yes?" Probably long shot, but the garundi man is ever the optimist.
"Now that the beetles are dead, we are free to open the doors they were blocking. We can explore the other side."
Zuberi nods at the dwarves words. "I agree, if the beetles occupied the area for a while it may mean it will only be a reasonably small area to explore... and if not it meams many more options."
Horek agrees with the others and gathers his gear when the others are ready to head out. Again, the half-orc guards the rear of the group as they explore.
Tollo doesn't so much eat his food as everyone else blinks and it's just... gone. Seeing there are no seconds to be had, he stows his mess kit with obvious annoyance and makes a show of tightening his belt.
"One way or another we gotta kill whatever that ooze thing is in our water source. But we can go back in the pyramid, I guess."
Timbur eats his food reluctantly. In the end, he can’t decide if his food actually tastes bad, or he just thinks it does because he’s eating lizard and beetle. Either way, his belly is full and hopefully will stay that way for a few hours. His guts do gurgle alarmingly.
Timbur is more than ready to return to the pyramid and explore the new options now available.
"One way or another we gotta kill whatever that ooze thing is in our water source. But we can go back in the pyramid, I guess."
"My dear man, the power granted to me by Galvagar Gemfingers allows me to call up water from the very aether. We will not die of thirst, I assure you."
"The only drawback is that any water I conjure with magic must be consumed within a day or it will evaporate. But there is no limit to how much I can call up, given time."
"But what happens if you die on us, Bolgar? We gotta have a backup."
Tamru holds up his hand. "Yes, yes. The Eternal Rose has granted me that power as well." Tamru's gentle smile is confident and serene. Just like a man who has the definitely blessing of his Goddess.
I remember what it was like to have to go find water. Oh how you spoil me, Lady.
The middle-aged garundi struggles slowly to his feet, his big belly making it look difficult and moves to join the others.
"A happy belly makes a happy man. Let us return!"
Loges enjoys his sparse, but nutritious meal. The young mage has an excited look about him.
Yes, let's go do more exploring!
"For now our explorations might get us some better equipment to tackle the creature but we will have to at some stage sooner or later."
Horek shrugs at Tollo's and Zuberi's concerns. "There is no sense in taking risks we don't need to. For the moment, both of our priests are safe and can conjure water as needed. If something happens... to change that, then we can see about dealing with the ooze. It is more important that we learn what happened to our caravan and then make our way back across this desert, if we can."
"We're stretching our food out further and there has to be more below the surface somewhere. Tamru and Bolgar can provide us with water thanks to their divine given gifts. We should take a moment to catch our breath, since that attack we haven't really had a chance to take a break without worrying about immediate problems."
Biting into another chunk of beetle flesh he chews the meat in the corner of his mouth. "What was everyone hoping to do when we got further east, stick with the caravan or did people have plans in mind... and can the still be salvaged."
"For now our explorations might get us some better equipment to tackle the creature but we will have to at some stage sooner or later."
Bolgar shrugs. "If you must go after it, suit yourself. But I do not believe it is evil, just an effective natural predator. For myself I see no particular reason to hunt it if it poses no threat to us. Right now we don't even know how it can be fought."
Bolgar examines the bit of Beetle meat on its skewer before wolfing it down.
"A shame we don't have any black mushroom sauce..." he mutters as he chews.
"But as I was saying, we do know that there is some sort of evil here. The invisible guardian warned us about this and since it did not try to prevent us from entering, I believe it told the truth. And now we have heard of this Zargon, some kind of horned cyclops that holds this place in thrall."
"Don't you think it's strange that we seem to be the first people to disturb this place in centuries? Whether you think it's luck, or destiny, or divine providence... I think we were meant to find this place, and to cleanse it of evil if we can. That seems somehow more important than our caravan."
Bolgar nods at Zuberi's mention of the original destination.
"When I left on this journey, I hoped to see the world and perhaps earn a little profit on the way. I might have stayed with this caravan or joined another. Who knows? But that doesn't seem so important any more."
Horek shrugs at Zuberi's question, obviously uncomfortable, his head lowered as he stares at the ground. "I seek only a place to fit in. My parents kept me sheltered for most of my life from those that would do me harm because of my orc heritage. Their neighbors suffered often from the nearby tribes that would raid the lands, and during one such attack several of the men were killed when they tried to fight back, and many of their wives were..." The half-orc trails off, his fists clenched in anger and shame. "But they loved me, even though my mother was... She had no cause to feel anything but disgust on the day of my birth. But she accepted me. As did her husband, the human I would call my father. When they were killed by... the beasts whose blood I share - well after my experience I cannot say that I blame those that hate my kind. I share the blood of monsters, bloodthirsty and savage. I was captured and treated as a slave for nearly two years. I expected only death as freedom, but luck was with me one night," he casts a glance at the dwarven cleric, "or maybe it was the gods. I escaped either way, but my time among my own kind unlocked... something inside of me. I can call upon it in battle, but it... scares me." The half-orc chuckles. "I know that must sound strange. But I fear whether that rage will grow beyond my control. If I will become what I hate the most. For what they did to my parents. And to me."
The strangely gentle barbarian raises his eyes, meeting those of his companions and then his gaze settles on the pyramid. "I journeyed south when I escaped and eventually found myself in Qadira. At least the desert people did not drive me away as did the people I ran across in Taldor. I felt more welcomed in Katheer and by the Keleshites that hired me to protect their caravan than I have in a long time - though I know I am nothing more than a hired guard. Whether we were led here by the gods to destroy some terrible evil or not, I owe it to them to finish my task and rescue those that are still alive - and to avenge those that were killed. When that is done, I will help the survivors reach Kelesh with whatever goods can be salvaged. After that?" Again the shrug. "Maybe I will find what I'm looking for there. Or not."
The young mage listens intently as the others relate their tales.
I must admit that I have led a rather sheltered life. Parents were both gifted wizards who taught at the same prestigious University that I just only graduated from a mere month ago. I came here to find some lost city. I haven't run across this particular one in my reseach, but my search has led me here.
The party finishes their lunches and heads back into the mysterious pyramid. With the discovery of the Brotherhood of Gorm, and talk of an entire city located below the pyramid, it now seems less than an abandoned structure, and more like a hive of activity and controversy.
The entrance room with the three tubes is just as you left it, with no sign of anyone having traveled through it. You once again take your time descending to the "beetle room" below, with only one one person on the party at the same time.
You soon realize that the room might need a new title: all remnants of the beetles you killed have been removed.
"Which way first, lads? Left or right?"
"A good rule when explorin' a labyrinth is to always take one side o'er t'other, unless ye canna go that way, in which case double back the other way until ye can. In my case I prefer the left; lets me keep m' shield out front."
Zurberri looks at the area around the beetles. "Here, there are extremely small foot prints, does anyone have any skill at tracking?"
With the tracks pointed out to him, Timbur attempts to trace their path.
"Whatta ya say, big guy? Rats?", Tollo says while looking at the tracks.
"Boy. That will be a delicious addition to our robust diet...", he adds flatly.
Loges carries one of his light candles. Shrugging his shoulders, the young wizard smiles.
Too bad I didn't have enough supplies to scribe another Unseen Servant scroll.
Loges pronounces a short arcane phrase.
I can use Prestidigatation to color our path, so we can return.
Timbur follows the tiny humanoid tracks across the room. They lead to the southern wall where they enter a tiny crack in the masonry just above floor level. The split is small enough that even a plump rat might not fit through.
The tiny footprints are intriguing to the half-orc, but as they cannot follow the creatures into the small split in the wall he brushes the incident aside. "The left door is as good as any." Horek agrees, ready to take his spot at the rear of the party.
"Tiny creatures cleaned the room, yes? Perhaps they are friendly." Tamru's gentle smile matches his optimism well as he follows the others to the southwest door.
Tollo resumes his position as trap sweeper, examining the southwest door, shaking his head at Tamru's optimism.
Once Tollo has made very certain that the door to the southwest is safe, Horek carefully opens it, noticing that it is quite heavy and made of stone.
Beyond is a short corridor that turns left (to the south) after 30 feet. It then travels for another 20 feet and turns back to the left, revealing another door leading south.
The corridor looks empty and the pyramid seems utterly quiet.
Loges paints the wall on each side with bright green arrows every 10'...
Loges paints the wall on each side with bright green arrows every 10'...
Horek glances at Tollo to make certain is safe to approach, then takes up station to one side of the door as the halfling makes certain it isn't locked or trapped. When the others are ready, the half-orc throws open the door...
Horek throws the door open after Tollo and Loges carefully examine it for traps (and find none), only to reveal a circular staircase going down. Judging by the disturbance of the dirt of the floor, the stairway and the corridor leading east are heavily traveled.
"I'm glad to see it only goes down, I was getting worried this place was half in another plane, addled by fae magics." Zuberi looks down into the dark stairway.
Zuberi pokes his head to look down the circular staircase, but can't see too far due to the curve of the steps. At first it looks empty, but then he hears a single canine bark following by a bit of howling coming from below, not too far out of his sight line judging by the nearness of the sound.
"Oh... it is very dark down there. Here, Shelyn will grant us the power to view this place in a better light." The double meaning is made obvious by the garundi's wide grin.
Tamru chants a quick spell and the tip of his polearm beings to emit a soft pink glow.
"Guard dogs?" The half-orc whispers in an uncertain tone.
Loges relates his findings in a whisper.
Tollo looks at the others, is about to say something... until Loges' magical whisper says it first. He shrugs and motions for the party to stay put before creeping down the stairs.
"Perhaps a werewolf? Or some other hybrid of man and wolf?"
"Mind you, it might be that the locals use animal sounds as signals to one another. I've heard hunters do that with bird calls."
"Let's wait for a little bit to see if it is coming closer. If not, we can explore more of this level."
A few moments later, a strangely dressed humanoid figure wearing a jackal or wolf mask emerges from the darkness at the bottom of the staircase. He is dressed in multi-colored robes with no shoes and moves on all fours like an animal, sniffing the air from time to time. He does not fully move into the light you provide, staying in the shadows below, but seems quite curious.
Horek replies softly. "It could also be trying to scare us off." He watches Tollo creep toward the stairs, ready to move to help the halfling if he is attacked during his scouting. When the humanoid creature with the mask emerges from below, Horek tenses, but doesn't strike. It doesn't appear to be hostile. "Who are you? What are you?" Horek asks of it. The half-orc wonders if it has noticed Tollo, and figures it might be a good idea to direct its attention toward himself, so he takes a careful step into the room, standing just inside the door with his greatsword at the ready.
The masked creature () retreats a bit as Tollo moves forward, and her head swivels around as Horek asks the question.
"Arf?" she replies.
Zuberi calls out in Kellesh, trying to keep as close to the mysterious dialect they had used earlier "He wants to know who and what you are stranger." He shrugs at Horek, it was worth a shot.
The masked woman barks again in response to Zuberi's question and sits on the ground. She then tries to lift her foot up high enough to scratch behind her ear, but doesn't seem to be quite flexible enough. Giving up, she sits up again and stares at all of you, making panting noises beneath her head covering and cocking her head.