I.......can't be party to this.
Noonan unfortunately does not comprehend such matters and glares at anyone trying to do such a horrible thing.
Let me have a moment…this is not my strong suit. “
Although many traps exist that are magical in nature, traps such as these is Osiriani legend are usually ingenious mechanical contraptions, designed to release when a fluid of the appropriate weight fills a container recessed within the sacrificial altar.
A skilled trapsmith or alchemist could create a liquid that mimics blood and pour it onto the sigil of the balor, releasing the block.
”Tariq, what do you or Noonan have that would replicate blood. At least without our hammer happy friend generating blood from a proverbial turnip. “
Tariq will attempt to create a suitable liquid from a mixture of rust and copper powder combined with some rotgut he pilfered from Dwalindor when the dwarf was unconscious a few weeks ago.
”Ok, a bit of this and a dash of that…Lets try this… “
”DWALINDOR!!!“
I can create water and by Sarenrae, Tariq is going to kill us all.
After rest and prayer, I can attempt to summon a genie that can hopefully create what we need. Although it will require payment in return.
Tariq shrugs
”I suppose that would work too. As long as our dwarf does not sabotage your spell. “
The block descends revealing the room beyond. A stony isle sits in the center of this crushingly hot chamber, surrounded by a lake of lava that bubbles and hisses malevolently. A domed ceiling arches overhead. Narrow halls exit the chamber to the east and west. Broader paths lie to the north and south, though there is a gap in each of these walkways.
Shad shakes his head
”We do not know what was just unlocked but you can rest assured we will not receive a warm welcome. “
Noonan casts Resist Energy-Communal(Fire) on everyone so 30 points of Fire Resistance for 30 minutes
Get hopping Dwal, you are the strong one. Maybe Tariq can jump off your shoulders.
Tariq and Baset will jump across too.
Will save our flying magic boots for real flight!
Tariq
Baset
Shad does not believe in manual jumping when magic can suffice.
No use risking injury.
Noonan suddenly remembers he has Boots of Flying and flaps over.
Let us go west. Good as any
Sounds good, ancient one.
You head down the corridor to find a square pool of fuming lava lies directly west of this chamber’s only entrance, and a recumbent jackal is painted in shades of blue on the floor near the western wall. Painted on the floor in the north and south areas of the chamber are images of large,
extended hands holding workers.
Black stone statues of jackal-headed humanoids stand at attention against the walls, holding staves topped with cobra heads. At the foot of each statue lies an emaciated human clad in only a loincloth and head cloth. Burns and marks from a whip’s lash scar their abused flesh. Each person’s left ankle is caught in a manacle whose chain is secured around the statue’s waist like a belt.
Shad ignores the surly dwarf and tries
Noonan is very very impressed with Shad's knowledge and let's the whippersnapper have a go.
Shad realizes that the the jackal is associated with Anubis, the ancient Osirian god of burial, mummification, and tombs. paintings of recumbent jackals on floors often indicate the close proximity of hidden crypts.
Dwalindor, you notice the wall to the west is unusually thin.
Excellent work Shad. You are quite the scholar.
Ozy detects a significant amount of magic from the surrounding statues but the wall itself appears to be of simple stone.
A determined effort would break through it.
After being told this. I suspect these statues are going to do something if we break the wall.
”Oh great… “ Shad moves back
”This never goes well. “ Tariq pulls Baset away and keeps blade at ready.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Dwalindor's hammer smashes the wall down in a rain of ancient stone fragments. Past the hole he created is a that crypt contains a gilded sarcophagus sitting atop a stone platform. The sarcophagus lid depicts a humanoid clad in a long robe and black funerary mask, a battleaxe clutched across its chest. A gold-and-ivory cartouche is set in the stone of the lid.
”STOP! Dwalindor don’t touch anything yet. We need to check it first. “
the ranger rogue scouts the area around for traps.