"Don't dilly dally. We will quickly look in this side passage."
Phedre quickly catches up and peers down both tunnels.
"See anything?" she quietly asks Warren.
Looking quickly down the side passage, the two birds give out quiet chirps of alarm while Warren and Phedre both sense movement about thirty feet beyond the entrance. Multiple small purple lights appear in the darkness. They seem to be grouped in pairs, about head height for a dwarf.
Andrei starts down the corridor drawing his sword "Maybe what is left of the miner's. Nothing we can't deal with, let go." Andrei says and his word seem to magically reassure everyone.
Warren points to the enemies with his hand.
He begins changing into an eagle from the neck up.
Moving towards the front, Phedre falls into a reactive stance and prepares to strike out at any foes who attempt to get around her. Light on her feet, she's ready to dodge the first enemy that attempts to strike out at her. "Here they come!" she warns her allies.
Anwel, stuck behind the others in the narrow entrance to the side passage and in no position to fire a bow considering the low ceiling, readies a spell. It will have to be good enough to let the others finish things quickly; it is the only one he has that might make a difference against a group of revenants.
Kallista prepares to throw a bomb as soon as these creatures move into range.
As expected the glowing lights quickly resolve into the undying remains of what appear to be a half dozen dwarven miners. They slowly shamble forward in two columns that easily fill the narrow corridor. Brandishing picks and shovels as weapons the first pair strike out at Phedre only to have their blows easily parried by the paladin whose counter strikes send bits of bone and rotted flesh flying from both creatures.
Warren attacks the front shambler and cuts him deeply.
This far underground, the puddle Anwel conjures is dark brown and pungent with ages of decay, but no less slippery for all that. "There, Kallista. That should burn nicely," he says, glancing at the lightly smoking vial the alchemist has cupped in her hand.
Phedre shakes her head a moment to clear the vision from her head. Did I truly see nothing? she wonders.
"Friends, I don't believe what we are seeing is true." She swings her blade in a very slow arc to see if there is any reaction to her attack. "Hold your fire for a moment, Kallista."
Warren catches one of the undead in the groin and then continues slicing upward with a massive cutting blow that disembowels the creature and adds to the slippery pool caused by Anwel's spell.
With Phedre's warning, Kallista just manages to check her throw.
Andrei blinks and shakes his head slightly. "You saw it too?" He says as the remaining zombies strike back, but again have little affect against either Warren or Phedre.
Lacking anything better to do, Anwel re-wards himself and blinks hard at the shambling crowd of dead dwarves. How embarrassing it would be if an illusion had taken him in! Fortunately, everything about them seems real.
"Whoaa. Not real??"
"It appears so. It's one powerful illusion though. I felt a strange kind of presence in my head leave when I saw through it. Shall we continue down this way?" She asks Warren, preparing to take point again with him again.
"Is there a reason to stay?" huffs Anwel, determinedly ignoring the persistent images of the restless dead. He knows he has no reason to be upset at being taken in, but he is despite that. Illusions were supposed to be his bailiwick, numb it!
The undead illusions suddenly disappear followed by a soft echoing laughter that drifts through the tunnels. Turning away from the alcove the party moves further down the main corridor.
After another fifty paces the corridor opens into a large oval chamber with two other exits to the east and south. A fight took place here as several black robed bodies lie dead in the room. Scattered among the bodies are additional skeletal remains wearing armor and equipped more like warriors or knights.
"Great now we have doubt everything we see. I'll be glad when this is over. Everyone stay close to each other, let's not get separated by some illusion."
As they come in to view of the bodies. "Looks like a trap. No Anwel don't go running off to trigger it on yourself. Or its another illusion. Anyone see anything to identify who they were?"
"Do they not look familiar, Andrei?" Anwel holds up one hand and lets his cuff fall to his elbow, and with his magic pulls the fresher bodies' robes aside (). The patterns are not exactly the same, but the scars of knife scorings and whip lashes are unmistakable. "These may be the men and women I was meant to meet." Anwel frowns, disappointed he never got the chance.
"A scan of the room may reveal what killed them," he says flatly. "Unfortunately, that ability has fled me for the day. Would you mind?"
While you investigate the bodies, tendrils of green mist begin to flow up from the cavern floor. At first the tendrils seem to drift aimlessly, but then they begin to move toward and coalesce around the three armored skeletal remains.
"There seems to many around that wear black robes." then give a grudging nod "But few will have the scars I suspect. No problem I'll have a look." Casting detect magic he'll watch the green mist until its purpose is clear and he lets the spell drop as he readies his sword and shield.
"Every ready? This might be another illusion but better not to assume." then quietly "I really hope that everyone else can see what I can."
"Can someone cleanse these? Maybe a healing spell?"
The party watches as the mist continues to gather itself into the skeletal knights. After a few more moments the knights begin to rise. A total of three knights become animated. Outlined in a soft green glow one holds a great axe, another a sword, and the third a long spear. After rising they do not seem to acknowledge your presence directly but instead move to the southern exit where they turn and stand at guard. Clearly they do not intend to let anyone pass.
"I can try, my magic is no where near as powerful as that..." Andrei says "I suspect my sword will do more than my magic. We seem to have time to prepare. Andrei looks around his companions
"Must we?" Anwel points at the unblocked exit. "It seems they will not try to stop us to take that path." He lowers his voice. "And I am also far from confident in my remaining magic. These guards have survived shadowy attacks once already."
"I think if they are herding us in a direction that is bad, but who ever is controlling them might be using reverse psychology. Anyone else?" Andrei asks and then also lowers his voice "If your magic won't help save it and use your crossbow. Having the extra magic later may save our lives."
"No need to ask me twice." Phedre replies in a low growl. She makes a few warm up twirls with her longsword and begins chanting a brief prayer.
"Very well," says Anwel. "I will help however I can."
In lieu of something tangible he can do, Anwel examines the skeletal warriors from afar, wracking his brain to see if he can come up with any advantage for his comrades to use.
Andrei checks the other to make sure they are also getting ready before he starts his Inspiring speech.
The ancient knights stand guard as the party prepares. While the others prepare, Warren tests the waters a little and moves toward the undead guardians. As he steps within ten feet, all three snap to the ready, weapons raised and poised to strike. Quickly stepping back, the druid breathes a sigh of relief as the skeletons return to a more peaceful stance.
In addition, the dim green glow of the magical mist provides just enough light for you to make out an inscription over the archway being guarded. It appears to be an old form of Cheliaxian.
Anwel gestures to the sword and rose heraldry on the knights' breastplates. "These appear to be your comrades in arms, Phedre: knights of Ozem, Iomedae's order." He steps forward, hands raised placatingly.
"Please, sirs, dames," he says, "is it Pashtiel over whom you stand vigil? My friends and I would put an end to her, if you would but let us pass." He repeats the entreaty in Celestial, Draconic, and his own tongue.
Warren begins to summon as he opens a portal.
"We would pass. I serve Erastil's daughter."
Warren displays the holy symbol.
"If these guys are here to guard her then maybe we should just leave. Whoever put these guys here were much more powerful than us and if all they could do is imprison her..."
Phedre holds her advance to study the ancient knights.
"If what you are saying is true..." She pulls out her own holy symbol and speaks to the guardians. "If you recognize this symbol, could you let us pass?"
Erastil's sign has little effect on the guardian's as they again assume combative stances. When spoken to, the central guardian speaks in an raspy, ancient voice. "Nessuno può passare che non sono di ordine o immunitario tatto di demon."
He points to Anwel and continues speaking. "Che uno indossa la stessa macchia come altri violatori di recente. Egli non può passare.
He points to Anwel, "That one wears the same taint as other recent violators. He cannot pass."
Anwel seems to elicit an even stronger response as the knights. They actually take a few steps forward, weapons ready if he comes within fifteen feet.
When Phedre reveals her holy symbol, the guardian's posture becomes slightly less hostile, but remains wary as it speaks again. "È il simbolo è sconosciuto a me, ma mi sento di benedizione su Imodae su di esso. Tuttavia, non sono disposti a passare. Prima di cercare il passaggio, deve pronta per entrare in carcere di demon.
"Does anyone understand them, it sounds like Chelaxian, I speak half a dozen of the local languages but never had the need or desire to learn Chelaxian." Andrei says
"Why should you? Anwel says testily. "The Chelaxians themselves barely speak it, not since the Taldans first conquered the place. Which probably makes these ancient indeed." He bows at the waist, presenting the back of his neck to the guards, then backs away slowly. Whatever they are saying, it sounds hostile.
He stops, however, before the inscription on the doorway dissolves into distant illegibility. "Iomedae may have yet been mortal when her name was inscribed on that door."
She lowers her stance as well, trying to lessen the hostility.
The middle guardian lowers his sword slightly. With a gesture of his hand, his sword begins to give off a soft golden light. The light illuminates his rather worse for wear body, but also reflects off his polished armor and the edge of his blade.
Turning to Phedre he nods and says in the same raspy voice, "मैं Mazrim नाइट कमांडर गोल्डन गुलाब का रहा हूँ। हम एक अपनी निष्ठा के लिए इस जीभ से बात करेंगे। तथापि, दागी एक भी इस भाषा से बात की। वह कैदी को रिहा करने की तलाश करना चाहिए, हम उसे मारने के लिए मजबूर किया जाएगा।"
He then turns his head to the Paladin, his empty eye sockets glowing with the soft green mist. As he speaks the bones of his hands tighten their grip on his sword.
"कृपया अपने मन का भक्षक बाहर की मांग के लिए कारण राज्य?"
"Please state your reason for seeking out the Eater of Minds?"
Though she dislikes the knight tightening it's grip, she sheathes her sword for the moment and quickly translates her conversation with the others.
"Whom do you think it is, Phedre?" Anwel rolls his eyes and kneels next to one of the fallen blackrobes. If the guards will not let him pass, then at least he can gather anything useful. "Who could it possibly be?"
"I don't see you as someone who is tainted. Besides, did you speak any Celestial in their presence?" Phedre rebuffs Anwel, glaring at him for a split second.
"Any taint within us can wait to later. It might well be the case that we are not able to deal with Pashtiel, lets learn what we can from these knights and then think about the next move."
"That could be true, Andrei."
Warren has no idea about the substance of the conversation, but the knights seem to impress him.
"Find out if we can be allowed to pass and end this evil. This Pashtiel has almost killed us, and is a danger to anyone who happened upon her. If she can talk in cold slumber and dreams, I would think she needs to be dealt with. Getting the knights to come along and help would be a bonus. Oh, and we have no enchanted weapons of note. Unless we can fix that, we are probably ill equipped and will have to post signs outside for now to warn others off and come back at a future time."
Secured to the box is a separate small scroll case.
The other items you find are more mundane in nature. The body that held the box also wore a robe and ring that both have minor magical auras. One of the other bodies wore a set of magical leather armor.
"कई कैदी को नष्ट करने की कोशिश की है। सभी में विफल रहा है। यह एक मास्टर मन, भ्रम, छाया, और चुपके में हेर-फेर की है।" Mazrim pauses a moment and then continues. "मेरी जानकारी के लिए कोई भी वास्तव में भी इस दुनिया में राक्षसों सच्चे आकृति देखा गया है।"
He gestures toward the other passage. "यदि आप पारित होने की तलाश है, तुम पहले पुजारी द्वारा तैयार रहना चाहिए और Iomedae का आशीर्वाद प्राप्त करते। अगर वह सही मायने में मोचन मांग रहा है शायद भी अपने दोस्त शुद्ध हो सकते हैं। "
"To my knowledge no one has actually even seen the demons true shape in this world."
"If you seek passage, you must first be prepared by the priest and receive the blessing of Iomedae. Perhaps even your friend can be cleansed if he is truly seeking redemption."
Anwel sets a black robe, a suit of leather armor, and a silver ring off to one side. "If it is magical equipment you want, Warren, there it is," he says, his voice shaking slightly. His mis—the Shadowcountess had been busy. "Andrei can tell you more about what it does. It should only take a moment. Then we can see the priest who resides down that path," he gestures toward the unguarded tunnel, "and receive her blessing so that we may face Pashtiel."
"जरूरत है कि हम सेल में दागी कुछ भी नहीं ले जाएगा , कहने के लिए।" he adds, turning his attention to the object most likely to be tainted—the darkwood box. He runs his fingers sympathetically over the figures of suffering bodies carved upon it, then around the unbudging seam around the edge of the lid.
Satisfied that he cannot open the thing accidentally, Anwel peers inside the attached tube, looking for a scroll or set of instructions.