Rapunzel moves over and opens the other door to reveal another small room. This room served at times as a smithy and at other times as a storage facility over the course of the fortress’s occupation. The chimney that rises from the small forge in the southwest corner is clogged with grit from centuries of storms, and the smith’s tools lie nearby under a thick layer of dust. The south door is cracked in places, and scattered crates are all that remain of a barricade erected by a few travelers to keep out the Emerald Sage’s evil.
Among the rubble, Rapunzel finds two intact vials containing some sort of salt crystals.
Izoki finds a door at the top of the stairs the leads to a sentry post. Opening the doors causes them to fall off their hinges with a loud crash!
A stone cabinet served as a weapons locker, while a tarnished bronze brazier dominates the center of the room. Within the stone locker, Izoki finds five very well-made crossbow bolts.
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The weakness from his mutagen does not encourage the same zeal and frenzy of exploration as his companions, and so Arovandeon sits on the steps and waits for the sound of discovery, or combat, to present itself. When Rapunzel returns with mysterious vials he is more than happy to examine them, holding them to the light, smelling the contents, and scanning his memory for useful knowledge.
Arovandeon recognizes the vials as ghost salt, the weapon blanch.
Marianne opens the double doors. A profound quiet has settled over this timeworn hall. Elegant stone columns line the passage, and hieroglyphics and colorful art depict scenes from a distant age. A small wooden door stands at the east end of the hallway, while a larger door leads south. The sound of steady splashing water is audible through an open passageway to the north, and large stone doors lead outside. One of the pillars has collapsed, and a crushed human corpse lies pinned underneath. The distinctive shape of a wayfinder peers out from under the body’s hand.
Izoki moves into the chamber and notices nothing much more than the art on the walls. The paintings are of fanciful depictions of a royal barge sailing on the River Sphinx. Three figures, each having a different gemstone, ruby, diamond, and topaz in their head regalia, take turns piloting the barge.
Loenor moves up and examines the corpse, that he determines was once a woman. The corpse holds a broken wayfinder, inside of which is engraved with a scarab and an inscription that reads “Congratulations, Asha. —V.L.” Most of her backpack is crushed, but a steel canister containing an oil of greater magic weapon (CL8) and what appears to be a stone of alarm have survived.
Rapunzel listens at the double doors to the south , but hears nothing.
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Loenor grabs the fallen Pathfinder's wayfinder and the steel canister before joining the others at the doors. He tightens his shield and draws his trident. No more sand means I can actually see something to throw this at...
-Posted with Wayfinder
Rapunzel finds no threats and opens the southern double doors to reveal what looks to be a natural cavern. The ceiling of this natural cavern sparkles with thousands of tiny crystals, while the center of the cave is split by a chasm that wends deeper underground. A stone bridge stretches over the gap. At the center of the bridge rises a black granite obelisk, covered with gems and hieroglyphics. The obelisk is a masterpiece of sculpture, with flawless lines and beautifully rendered images of the past. An open archway to the south is covered with wall carvings and leads to a hallway.
Izoki creeps into the room. as he approaches the obelisk, he, Loenor, and Rapunzel notice the statue's jeweled eyes turn to watch the tengu!
Izoki fires at the obelisk, sending a spray of shards flying. Everyone then sees spirits pour out of the obelisk, and a wave of desert heat washes over the area. The spirits dive at Izoki!
The nimble tengu is able to dodge the ghostly spirits! The swirl in a circle then return to the obelisk, as the room is quiet once more.
From the bridge, Izoki notices a faint glow at the bottom of the chasm.
Everyone readies for more attacks, but none are forth coming. Eventually, some realizes it must have been a haunt.
Arovandeon wagers that the obelisk is safe to pass at the moment. He cannot discern what is needed to lay the haunt to rest, but surmises the party has the day to finish your mission.
The obelisk details the history of Osirion as they knew it. The hieroglyphics are masterfully rendered, and the gems set in the figures’ eyes gleam in the light. Loenor gets the impression that studying the obelisk might grant him insight on the history of Osirion.
Arovandeon moves to the southern archway.
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"Check out this glowing object in the chasm. I am not sure what it is but I do not wish to check it out alone. Who else wants to investigate?" He stands closer pointing down in its general direction.
Then, Izoki removes his climber's kit and starts preparing for a descent into the chasm if the party wishes to wait.
Izoki ties off and rappels down into the chasm. At the bottom, he finds the crumpled remains of another Pathfinder, the glow coming from a fading wayfinder.
Her pack contains her broken, scarab-embossed wayfinder, a wand and a gem. She is also wearing a ring.