Drael takes the lead as they enter the church, carefully moving through the rubble with his axe in hand. As they approach the door, he bows his head and begins to channel his arcane energy. A few moments later, he begins to glow faintly with a white aura, and then grows to nearly twice his original height. He waves a giant hand towards the door, Rab-rab, would you do the honors?
Rab-rab follows the others nervously. "This place is spooky-scary-spooky!" When Drael asks her to use the key she quickly shakes her head and shoves the key into Razif's hand. "Key? What key? No key here! Oh, look! You should do it, Razif! I'll just hang out here at the back..."
Min looks around nervously and makes sure his sister is behind him. "Stay back, Rab-rab. I mean it this time."
"NO!" Min exclaims, almost panicking. "No, no, NO! Rab-rab's not opening the door! Get back, Rab-rab, it's dangerous."
Layaali walks in the middle of the group, keeping an eye out (as far as she can see) for trouble. She walks in silence, oddly uneasy.
She takes the key from Rab-rab and approaches the door. "Allow me."
Layaali uses the key.
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Layaali matches the ridges of Almah’s key with the glowing series of irregular etched lines on the barred door. The red glow of the runes fades as the key and the seal fuse together. Within moments, the key is no more, having been completely subsumed into the unremarkable surface of the mundane-appearing stone door to the crypt.
Layaali opens the door.
Drael peers over Layaali's shoulder as she opens the door, ready to rush in and face whatever awaits the group inside.
"Yikes! It's creepy in here! Be careful!" Rab-rab keeps going LAST.
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Drael moves ahead of Layaali, gripping the axe previously wielded by the jann ruler of Kelmarane in nervous hands as he looks into the murky darkness of the crypt. As his companions produce light sources, the bloodrager descends the steps of the crypt. The stairs lead into a rounded stone-walled chamber that extends into darkness towards the north. A ten-foot diameter circle of mortared stones at the centre of the room marks a well that descends even deeper into the earth. Next to the well, on a small pedestal to the right, is a large gong. A short stick capped with a round pad of mouldering leather dangles from a cord attached to the gong platform.
Razif moves with Drael, bow at the ready.
It's a bit dark here... could any of you light it up a little?"
Min casts dancing lights and sends them deep into the chamber.
"There you go."
Layaali activates her halo, releasing a brilliant light throughout the tomb.
Drael carefully approaches the gong, wondering at its purpose. I wonder if this is how we open the door, or summon something to eat us...
"I'm guessing the latter, myself. But that's what we're here to take care of, right? I say we do it."
"Good idea. You do ahead, Drael. Either something good with happen and you'll clear us a path or something horrible and you might die. Good luck."
Drael smirks as he picks up the leather-capped stick, Well, it sounds so tempting when you put it like that.
With all his might, he swings the stick into the center of the gong, before immediately dropping it and looking around for any sign of movement.
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The chime reverberates in the stereophonically-oriented room and a faint rumbling sound can be heard in two places: across the chamber, where the northern door slides into the ceiling, and from the base of the dark well, though it doesn't remain dark for long.
Seconds after the gong is rung, a gout of pinkish, swirling vapour rushes out of the well, coalescing into three man-sized shapes - roiling, blazing forms of beautiful, identical angels with fire for wings and hair. They hover above the stone of the crypt floor.
They all immediately project fiery scimitars within their grasp and attack!
Two of the fleet creatures zip forward to attack Drael and Layaali.
The malevolent creatures delight in scorching attacks on both the suli and the aasimar, successfully lighting their clothing and hair on fire!
Drael shrugs off the fiery attacks of their new foes, lifting his axe and swinging it through the semi-corporeal form of the nearest elemental.
Min moves to the side and rolls his hands over each other faster and faster. "Kskooo kskooo!" He mutters over and over. Getting louder and LOUDER! Then he thrusts his hands forward and a beam of ice shoots out of his hands!
"Ugh, figures they'd be on fire!" Razif mutters. He takes a few steps and shoots at the creature attacking Layaali.
Layaali rolls on the ground in an attempt to douse the flames.
Rab-rab gathers power, making a tornado swirl around her. Then she takes a step back and fires a blast of bunny wind at the yellow fire thing!
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Rab-rab's sirocco violently buffets the fire elemental attacking Min, blowing the creature back through the air.
The fire elemental facing down Drael attacks the suli but then hovers a space away (over the well), obviously galled by the bloodrager's elemental resistances. The fire elemental confronting the prone Layaali has no such compunction, but chooses to lash out at the ranger at her side instead.
The elemental on Drael successfully employs a burn and back-up strategy, placing its form hovering over the well. The cruel elemental toying with Razif lights the ranger's clothing on fire, horribly scorching the dunewalker.
The flames burning on Drael's clothing wink out as the bloodrager winds up to attack.
Min gets rolling his hands again! "Kskooo kskooo!" He mutters over and over. Getting louder and LOUDER! Then he thrusts his hands forward and a beam of ice shoots out of his hands at the yellow fire elemental.
Drael steps up behind the fire elemental going after Razif, and does his best to strike into its fiery body.
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Drael's swing slices through the air where the fire elemental battling Razif was, missing by inches. Min's icy blast, on the other hand, limns the elemental attacking him with frost, damaging it significantly. The elemental responds by advancing on the diminutive sorcerer.
The fire elemental singes Min's head, but the gnome twists out of the way, avoiding the worst of the damage and - by excellent luck - avoiding lighting on fire as well!
Rab-rab gathers power again, making a loud whirling tornado around her. Then she shoots a blast of bunnies at the yellow creature that attacked Min! "GET AWAY FROM MY BROTHER!"
Layaali releases a burst of healing energy, ensuring her goddess' sacrifice doesn't help her enemies.
Then she stands up.
With most of Razif's severe wounds healed by Layaali's channel, he pushes on through the flames, takes a step back and shoots at the elemental in front of him.
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Layaali lazes around on the ground.
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The oracle thinks about getting up, but wisely stays down as the fire elemental crackle and hiss above her.
Two fire elementals converge on the hulking suli!
The bloodrager takes a painful fiery rake to his back, but the other elemental, finding no reaction to either its attack or its flames, steps away from the suli. Drael avoids catching on fire.
Drael turns around to refocus on the one he had turned his back on, bringing his axe around with a massive two-handed chop.