The handsome Shelynite guitarist pulls out a small mirror from his backpack with barely any hesitation and holds the reflection in the indication direction. "What?" He shrugs in an I-can't-help-it sort of way. "To look good in a performance is to enhance it. To not have a mirror is against the teaching of the Eternal Rose, I say."
Darygs listens to Olivert's comments and tries not to smile, but can't help but quip "Of course, it is not unusual for one to reflect on religious matters."
A brief golden glow fills in the reversed inscription upon the door before, with the groan of ancient stone, it slides down into the mastaba base of the palace. A thin plume of dust escapes like an exhalation from the now-revealed interior.
You step into the main court and find it to be two stories tall, raising to a corbel arch at its peak. Balconies running along the upper floor look down upon the main court hall. Three-foot-high steps line both the north and south sides of the court, leading up to raised platforms.
The north platform is lined with ten 15 ft. tall columns, carved into the alternating likenesses of giant men and women. The south platform is half as wide and has no columns, but there are five archways at the back of the platform leading to other rooms. A sixth archway seems to have collapsed.
Towards the rear of this chamber is an open, square pit in the floor and, a short distance behind the pit stands a 10 ft. tall clay statue of a bestial, naked man who appears to be half-monkey.
"I really need to start memorizing dancing lights cantrip to cast ahead for the rest of you" He describes what he sees with his dark vision, well, as far as it goes.
Sargon examines the statues with interest.
"How old would these be, i wonder.
But that odd monkey man, could that be one of those spirits?"
The immense statues of forgotten hero-gods are carved from single slabs of the same quarried stone that was likely hewn upriver and floated downriver by barge in ancient times to construct this palace. They are integral to supporting the upper level of the structure, so damaging them could be catastrophic.
The statue of the strange monkey god at the far end of the hall, on the other hand, is sculpted from terracotta. A quick examination suggests that it may be at least partially hollow.
The pit opening before the terracotta statue descends about 20 feet, but rather than ending in some bed of spikes, it instead opens onto a larger chamber within the next level down. From the light filtering down into the shaft, you can see heaped piles of bones upon the floor below.
The wizard looks over the monkey god statye, "Strangely hollow? Is anyone good at finding hidden caches?"
He looks over it
I can have a look, though I wouldn't say I am, uh a treasure hunter or the like. Mia says in response to Dargys. She will move over and help with inspecting the statue.
"Aye, step back, step back." Varr said. "If there's anything valuable hidden in there then I'd like a look." The dwarf approached with a critical eye...
You give the statue a thorough examination, but you find no signs of hatches, hinges, or seams on the massive figure.
Through a combination of your knowledge, crafts, and professions, you piece together a hypothesis that this statue is an example of a ritual tradition where a sacrificial animal - or even a person - is sealed inside of a statue or structure as an offering. Material offerings or grave goods may have been interred inside the statue with this sacrifice, but there is no guarantee what you might find should you decide to break it open.
...
Furthermore, besides the pit shaft leading down to the lower level, the columned arcade along the western edge of the great hall leads to a corbel arch with a hallway running towards the back half of this level of the palace.
"OH well, was idea." He says "We should go on I suppose."
"Aye. But let's break it open first. Anything organic inside would have long ago decomposed, and there may be something valuable within. So, stand back..." The dwarf said, as he raised his weapon.
The passage of uncounted centuries, accompanied by the creeping moisture of the surrounding swamp and forest, has taken its toll upon the terracotta statue. Hence, it only takes a couple whacks from Varr's waraxe to split asunder a large cleft in the statue.
Stale air wafts out. Peering inside, you find the mummified remains of a monkey interred within the statue for ceremonial purposes, the meaning of which have been lost to time. Several pieces of electrum jewelry - bracelets, a necklace, and a small tiara - have been placed upon the mummified animal as part of the ritual.
"Well, now we know they held monkeys in high regard. Or this one was a particularly loved animal in the least.", Sargon muses.
"Here is to hoping all mummified corpses stay dead."
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The wizard sees if there is magic on the items. "I am with the dragon. The dead should stay dead. Is better all around that way."
wait, you think... you think that they might not all stay so... natural? Mia stutters a bit at the mention of the possible dead arising.
Mia will follow behind the others though, ready to be in and out before something proves her fears right.
"Is always a possibility . Where magic and corpses meet, sometimes necromancy arises"
"Eh. The dead are just full of magic, aye? A few good swings of an axe or hammer makes them re-dead." He said, as he collected the jewelry. "Now, I'd never...well, usually wouldn't, rob the dead of me own people, ye know? Is it hypocritical. Aye. I know it is. But that's just emotional attachment. For something like this? These pretties don't do anyone good down here, and the people who'd really care are long gone. 'aint nobody going to be crying about their ancestors when they be gone too. So let's put it to good use to make sure that our own people don't starve." He finished, rationalizing his actions to himself as much as he was to the others.
"Indeed. Sentimentality has it's place, but we must work for the good of the living, not the dead. Besdies, you are only dwarf here. Better you gather any dwarven relics we find than a non dwarf, even by dwarven beliefs, no?"
Varr laughed ”Haha! I like ye. But case by case basis, aye? Like with all things. Important relics should be treated as such. Gold, gems, jewel encrusted loin cloths? We can divide those out on a fair basis.” He said with a grin.
A grin back, tusky though it is, "True. And for myself, and I am not alone in this, but knowledge we could find on this is also a treasure." He admits more soberly, "The engineering alone we've seen is amazing."
Perhaps tragically, none of the jewelry interred with the mummified animal register as magical to Dargys' attuned eyes. If there is a silver lining, besides of course the value of the ancient jewelry itself, it's the fact that the mummified mummy is entirely dead, and not just mostly dead. The creature does not come leaping and shrieking at you with claw-like fingers. Whatever ritual was performed during the interment has kept the body at peace.
"No magic, very sad. But, Mummy is not the rip your face off still animated sort, so I keep my face. Balance." A look over, "Let's check out the rear half of this level." He proposes.
"No magic? But its worth gold. And aye, lets check the back half. One level at a time. Do this thoroughly and organized."
You round a corner down the narrow side hallway and enter a cluster of ruined chambers that terribly show the torture of passing centuries.
The whole southwest corner of this room has collapsed, leaving a 2 ft tall heap of rubble all along that corner that slopes down into a hole roughly 10 ft wide broken into the floor. The rest of the room is littered with broken, rotten furniture in such shape that their original forms and functions are now unrecognizable.
There are piles of broken slate and moldy wood along the walls of this room and a char-filled fire pit in the center of the room. There is a also circular hole in the ceiling above the fire pit and a jagged scar of a hole in the ceiling over the debris. Dead vines dangle from the holes halfway to the floor.
Claudia had been quiet, taking in the scene.
"Fortunate that anything had remained, even if small in number thus far."
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With plague by his side, it helps, but the wizard doesn't claim to be the most perceptive.
But this time, he gets a GOOD look, it seems
In the room to the east , Dargys spots some wizened humanoid forms beginning to stir and rise in the dark, shadowy corners of the room.
Meanwhile, Claudia can hear some sort of insect-like skittering coming from the room around the corner to the west .
"Ah, remember when I was taking about how deadpeople shuffling about when they should stay dead?" He points "I think we are having that problem now."
Claudia reaches for her bow at Dargys' warning.
"Likewise, i am certain i heard something chittering over in the other room. What do you want to deal first, the walking dead, or vermin?"
”Hard. But I say the dead ones. Make them dead again and the bugs may eat them. Distract them with a good meal and they leave us alone, aye?” He shrugged. ”Worth a shot, I’d say.”
"Do what you like, I will be casting shield regardless." And he does.
Around the corner, you hear the zombies rise to their feet and, with creaking joints and groaning sinews, shamble closer. You will have a scant few seconds before they round the corner.
Varr gripped his axe with both hands in preparation for the fight to come. The blade glowed a soft blue, as it was filled with energy that would disrupt the necromatic power that imbued the walking corpses.
The wizard steps back to let more war like types take the lead against the undead, for he is a lowly wizard... who shoots fire, yes, but he is how they say in the great canal city ' fra giley'.
Claudia casts protection from evil on herself, raising her sword and shield.
Sargon lets electricity gather up at the back of his throat.
"Just give a sign, i can soften them up."
Five corpses come shambling out into the wide passageway. The bodies are incredibly desiccated, and an untrained eye might easily mistake them for mummies. Twitching and lurching, the come slowly within arms' length and reach for your necks.
"Sign is given" The wizard tells the dragon
But also lets loose burning hands to get as many oncoming undead as he can
Sargon breathes out, trying to catch multiple targets.
Mia takes the chance to assume her first wildshape of the day to assume the form of an earth elemental. Noticing the others are keeping at range, she stays near the front but produces a small burning flame in her palm before hurling it towards one of the shambling creatures.
vs touch
fire
Varr moved forward to the closest corpse. His axe glowed as he brought it back and around, decapitating the foe.
Varr pulverizes the cranium of the zombie accosting him, leaving it to crumple into a tangled heap of limbs at his feat.
Dargys incinerates three of the zombies in a surprisingly powerful conflagration.
Sargon grows frustrated as the last undead foe suddenly seems to be nimble only when lurching out of the way of his electric breath. At least he does manage to zap it, even if only slightly.
Likewise, Mia finds disappointment as she stumbles and lobs her ball of flame too high, causing it to explode harmlessly against the ancient brickwork behind the last target.
Olivert and Francoix finish off the last zombie, then move to guard the passage at your back, lest some other horror attempt to sneak up from behind.
You can still hear the chittering of the overlarge insects around the corner. The sound grows closer, more insistent as the creatures sense that there are now corpses to devour.
"Well then, time to feed the beasties." Varr said. "Let's back up. Let them eat, see if they leave. If so, it'll save us some effort."
"Practical..let's move out of their way so they find the corpses first."
"Must be some seriously big and disgusting vermin, for this putrid meal."
Claudia takes distance, alongside the others.
You take cover just in time to hear a sudden rush of the enormous centipedes stampeding across the hallway to descend upon the dispatched zombies. Based upon their haste, you can only imagine how long the monstrous insects have been waiting for the chance to feast upon those walking corpses, if only they would stop fighting back.
After a couple minutes, you are satisfied that all the centipedes have migrated and that the way is safe for you to progress.
The room the centipedes vacated appears to be a kitchen. There are piles of broken slate and moldy wood along the walls of this room and a char-filled fire pit in the center of the room. There is a also circular hole
in the ceiling above the fire pit and a jagged scar of a hole in the ceiling over the debris. Dead vines dangle from the holes halfway to the floor.
Adjacent to the kitchen is some manner of shrine. Wooden and stone debris is scattered on the floor of this room, around the smashed remains of a stone statue of a lion.
Finally, in the northeastern corner of this area, you find a room littered with furnishings rotted beyond recognition, save for a wooden chest.
Dargys is most curious as to the nature of the shrine moving to take a gander at it.
"A lion? Interesting."
”Any idea what they worshiped? Easier to put a price tag on what we find if we can do that.”
Wary of the chest, Varr searched for any dangers before opening it.