As the sphinx's tail strikes, the hound archon disappears in a puff of scintillating motes. Melianthe heals Absinthe again as the fiend rears to pounce again. Jarha launches another stone, hitting the sphinx in the head with a loud *crack* and embedding itself deep in her skull. With a heavy death rattle, the dark sphinx collapses to the ground.
Chest heaving, Absinthe moves over to the darksphinx -- and brutally drives her rapier into its eyes, each in turn, turning her blade inside the creature's brain to make sure of its demise.
"Good shot," she rasps when she finally turns to the others. "Excellent. Your magics saved the day."
One of the tiefling's hocks wobbles, and she slowly sinks to one knee, blessed rapier held before her like a cane.
"Speaking of which," Abby continues, "if you have any more healing magic left, I... could use it. You both did splendidly."
"Very well done, Absinthe. That was some impressive swordplay. Of course, we will heal you. Let me just take a quick look to make sure there are no other immediate threats."
Jarha will search the rest of the room to look for further threats or traps.
Then he will turn to healing Absinthe:
Before we move on, Jarha will also make sure we have searched the body for useful or valuable items. Are the swords magical?
Melianthe examines Segang and the darksphinx.
"Let me see what it takes to awaken Segang, or if he'll just awaken on his own," says Melianthe. "We should try to get Seren back with us as well."
"May as well use up these potions as well", says Melianthe, uncorking a few vials. "Whew, not the most wonderful taste." .
"And thank you both, Jarha, Absinthe. That was impressive. We'll have to tell Segang all about it when he awakens," says the elf, giggling.
Any other potions lying around before I use a wand to heal myself? I agree CLW potions are too puny now for any melee fighters to use in combat.
"And, Melianthe, that was a great call summoning that Hound to fight with Absinthe. That was quite a distraction for the darksphinx."
Jarha will go ahead and heal himself with the wand:
Once Jarha is satisfied they have taken everything of value from the sphinx and checked for danger, he will sit in quiet meditation until Segang wakes up.
Segang remains comatose for several minutes after the combat ends, with no sign of waking up.
You search the dark sphinx's gear, finding several magical pieces: two wands, her leather armor, and both kukris.
Jarha does not see anything notable in this room, which is primarily bare stone. Peering through the open door (from which the sphinx emerged), he sees a similar room beyond, leading to a dark opening on the far side.
"Segang could be asleep for up to three hours," says Melianthe. "I would really like to regroup with Seren, but I think that requires manipulating this room."
Seren thinks, Not healing nor transmutation ... can't be good for me. Don't forget dungeon rule #2
He moves out of the room into the entrance room looking wonderingly at the pool through the doorway.
Melianthe spends a minute identifiying the magic items... two +1 kukris, +1 leather armor, a wand of magic missile , and a wand of dimension door .
"I agree we can't afford to wait to find Seren. He'll be happy with what we found on the sphinx."
"I suggest we pull the lever here in this room. I'm concerned if we move on and pull another lever it will take us further away from Seren. But that's just a guess!"
"Everyone back to back before you pull that thing, just in case," Abby counsels.
Jarha arranges himself as Absinthe suggests, makes sure Segang is comfortably arranged, turns invisible, and then pulls the lever telepathically.
Jarha pulls the lever and once again the floor jerks and grinds beneath your feet. The walls shift, hardly even slowed by the sphinx's body and scissoring it in half in horrifyingly gory fashion. After several moments of motion, the walls stop once again, but you are left facing a blank wall.
Seren watches as the murky pool disappears, only to be replaced by another room with another, nearly identical, pool at its center. The water in this one, however, is crystal clear.
"Again," Absinthe orders. "Let us reclaim Seren as quickly as possible, then cycle through again and seek ways onward."
"Wait! I can use the Dimension Door wand and go retrieve Seren," says Melianthe. "This way may expose us to more danger."
"I have no idea how that would work, but you're the expert." Jarha waits, ready to follow Absinthe's instruction or awaiting Melianthe's attempt at arcane retrieval.
After considering the risks of teleportation over turning the room again, you pull the lever. Once again, the room shudders and shifts, and a few seconds later you are back at the entrance. Seren waves a greeting.
Zzz
"Oh hai, Seren. We killed some sort of infernal sphynx," says Melianthe. "What have you been up to?"
"We hope you have not been taking your ease, sleeping by the pool," Absinthe adds with dry sarcasm, as she indicates Segang. "Like some."
Seren explains what he found when you rotated the room away. First nothing, then a small room with a pool of moldy water, then one nearly identical but with clear water.
Nearly an hour and a half later, Segang finally comes to.
"I wonder if the moldy water signified danger, and the clear water signaled a safe direction?"
Eventually Segang begins to stir. Who? What happened? he manages, stifling a yawn.
"You got hit by a Symbol of Sleep," says Melianthe. "You missed our big fight against a darksphynx, something from the Infernal realm. Feeling rested?" The elf grins at the Shoanti.
Looking embarrassed Segang climbs to his feet and picks up his weapon. A darksphynx? That sounds exciting...
"Yes," Absinthe drawls, "'twas, verily."
"Jarha and Absinthe were quite able combatants...we're glad to have you back, though, Segang."
She gestures at the lever. "Shall we give it another spin?"
Once everyone is "on board", you activate the lever and rotate the room again. You are back at this point.
Jarha will listen at the door and check for traps. If he hears nothing he will stand back and open it telepathically, while invisible.
Melianthe readies a Misfortune Hex.
Jarha finds no traps around the door and opens it. Beyond is a small rectangular room with another door to your right and an opening leading to a mural-painted corridor to your left.
Jarha will move forward invisibly, listen at the new door and check for traps. If he hears and sees nothing he will stand back and open it telepathically.
Melianthe scans ahead using Detect Magic.
Jarha finds no threats and opens up the door.
Three large wooden chests, their lids decorated with carvings of cavorting tigers, sit against one wall of this room. Some sort of message seems to be carved on each lid. Colorful frescoes on the wall opposite the chests depict hundreds of tigers marching in widening circles around a single green gem the size of a fist, set in the wall and carved to resemble a tiger’s head.
Melianthe detects magic emanating from the carved gem.
The scene very much reminds Jarha of his tomb raiding days, but he didn't lead those expeditions either... "Umm... Absinthe, you'll want to have a look at this. Let me know if you want me to try any lock picking or trap disabling from a distance. And what's with all the tigers?"