With a half-cry of triumph, Boland's searching hand closes on the bottle and he quickly rips it from the confines of the pack. His hand shaking slightly, he carefully unstoppers the bottle and, using his other hand to gently lift Strevlik's head from the ground, he begins to slowly pour the contents down his throat. The look of concern and worry is painted clearly on his face, as he waits to see if the potion has any effect on the ranger's gruesome wounds.
'I have another of the potions if its needed.' Brash includes Da'gret as well as Strev in this offer, as both companions look the worse for wear. 'How about you priest? Can't you use some of your magic to heal them?'
'I have another of the potions if its needed.' Brash includes Da'gret as well as Strev in this offer, as both companions look the worse for wear. 'How about you priest? Can't you use some of your magic to heal them?'
Andolphas kneels beside Strevlik, and looks from the ranger to his other wounded companions with a grim expression. "I regret having to inform you, Brashen, that adherents of the Dark-Eyed Lady are not particularly gifted in the healing arts... quite the contrary... we concentrate on aiding those souls who must make the long journey from this life into the next. That having been said, I do have one of the Seeker elixirs at my disposal, as well as a few scrolls, and a prayer that might heal the most superficial of wounds... Had I known sooner what kind of abomination we faced, I would have invoked the goddess' power to compell it to flee..."
Strevlik’s wound closes slightly, and his eyes flutter open as Boland pours the healing draught down his throat.
Da'gret is still holding the gaping wound on his thigh when the dead thing gives up the ghost. His leg is slowly stitching itself back together, but has a ways to go yet. Overcome with adrenaline and testosterone, he lifts the corpse from the water over his head hurls it from the water, before determinedly stalking back for his axe. The boy then circles the corpse fiercely hacking into it like firewood and taunting it in orcish. He is breathing heavily covered in blood with tears running down his face before he finally stops and looks around at his fellow tomb raiders with wild eyes.
"What?!?!"
Da'gret is still holding the gaping wound on his thigh when the dead thing gives up the ghost. His leg is slowly stitching itself back together, but has a ways to go yet. Overcome with adrenaline and testosterone, he lifts the corpse from the water over his head hurls it from the water, before determinedly stalking back for his axe. The boy then circles the corpse fiercely hacking into it like firewood and taunting it in orcish. He is breathing heavily covered in blood with tears running down his face before he finally stops and looks around at his fellow tomb raiders with wild eyes.
"What?!?!"
Brash replaces his axe and shield, and holds out his hands in a placating gesture to his companion. 'Calm down Da'gret, it got you and Strev pretty good, but we got it better.'
Da’gret’s handy work leaves little left of the corpse – smashed bones, pulped flesh and foul smelling gore are virtually all that remain on the floor (and drip from the walls) of the passage. Brashen does, however, find a gold ring on one still intact finger, a ring bearing an eight pointed star insignia.
Boland sags in relief as Strevlik's wounds begin to heal and his eyes crack open once more. Before he can say anything though, his attention is drawn towards Da'gret's onslaught on the corpse, and he hastily rises to his feet and back-tracks to avoid being spattered in gore.
When Brashen notices the ring he looks over with interest trying to cach a glimpse of the symbol on the ring.
He then looks around at the group, and when no further action looks forth-coming he asks. "Well, w-what now? What did you find down the sub-merged passage....apart from that of course" he nods in the direction of the now severely spattered corpse.
He then looks around at the group, and when no further action looks forth-coming he asks. "Well, w-what now? What did you find down the sub-merged passage....apart from that of course" he nods in the direction of the now severely spattered corpse.
"Yes, what indeed?" echoes Andolphas. "I'm not keen on going under water, and am not much of a swimmer... It would take something truly spectacular, or the Word of the Lady Herself, to convince me to go in there... I suspect that Boland will feel the same..."
The somber cleric thinks for a moment, his gaze lingering on the ring with the eight-pointed star. "Hmmm... so it would appear that one of the Seekers met the unholy fate of a water ghoul... This suggests that the passage would have been submerged even before they began their explorations, and that other water ghouls already populated this part of the complex, or that some evil animated the corpse of this Seeker when he passed away... assuming, of course, that the ghoul didn't just take the ring from a Seeker victim..."
"So should someone go down and have a look down the other passage. Hopefully the only danger there has already been lured out. If Strevlik an Da'gret dont want to go back in I can do it, though may not be the best in water."
"So should someone go down and have a look down the other passage. Hopefully the only danger there has already been lured out. If Strevlik an Da'gret dont want to go back in I can do it, though may not be the best in water."
"If you want to tempt the Fates (or risk catching a whooping cough), then by all means, go ahead... I would imagine that, given the circumstances, if there remain unexplored chambers in this crypt, then they would lie beyond this submerged passage... but I have no desire to head down there -- as I mentioned before, I'm not much of a swimmer. But I will keep a firm grasp on the rope for you, my friend..." The somber cleric tugs on the rope for emphasis and attempts what can only be described as a feeble grin...
"No Brash. I go, I go. This time I use the rope. I pull twice, you get me out."
"No Brash. I go, I go. This time I use the rope. I pull twice, you get me out."
Boland eyes up Da'gret's condition, surprised since he thought he had seen the half-orc's guts half spilling out a moment earlier.
"Have you got one of the healing potions? If you are keen to head back in, perhaps it would be wise to take one along in case you counter another of these creatures."
Strevlik and Boland tie the rope around Da’gret’s waist, and, once it is secure, the young half-orc returns to the water, Boland doling out the double length of rope behind him.
Da’gret quickly swims to the far end of the large chamber, but a cursory search reveals nothing of interest, nor any other exits. The floor is covered with a thick layer of sludge and silt; it would take far longer than Da’gret can hold his breath to thoroughly search the whole thing, so instead he swims – cautiously – into the opening that he has not yet explored.
This flooded chamber is of similar small size to the other, where Da’gret fought the watery entity, and of similar bare appearance, though this one holds a few stone benches, and sports several shallow niches in the stone walls. It is in one of these that he finds something of interest; the niche is stuffed with tattered, torn and mouldy clothes, and some well-gnawed bones, but hidden beneath this refuse is a pile of coins – 2 of platinum, 38 gold and 55 silver pieces is the exact count when the half-orc gets back to his companions. Resting with the coins is an untarnished metal rod, about half an inch thick and almost a foot long.
With these treasures in hand, and nothing else to be seen in these flooded chambers, Da’gret swims back to his companions waiting above.
With these treasures in hand, and nothing else to be seen in these flooded chambers, Da’gret swims back to his companions waiting above.
Boland shows an interest in the rod brought back by Da'gret. "It may be magical, as may be the sword you retrieved, to have held its shine even under water. C-can I study them for a moment?" His stutter creeps back in when speaking directly to the druid, obviously still somewhat uncomfortable in his presence.
Assuming the half-orc hands over the rod and/or sword, Boland will take a closer examination, looking for any markings that may give a clue as to their functions.
He also questions Da'gret as to the source of the water. "Was there any inlet or cracks where the water may have leaked in from?"
Once the discussion on the flooded chambers is done, Boland addresses the group. "Well, what next? Should we head back up and try one of the other shafts - perhaps the one Brashen first ventured down?"
Once the discussion on the flooded chambers is done, Boland addresses the group. "Well, what next? Should we head back up and try one of the other shafts - perhaps the one Brashen first ventured down?"
'Yeah i think thats a good idea, pretty sure I did see some movement donw there though, so we need to be ready for some more action.' Brashen looks towards Da'gret, echoing Bolands concern over the half orcs health
Da'gret hands over the items for the runt of the pack to look at. As far as questions about the water's source, he shrugs and tries to shake and swipe the water off of himself before pulling on his filthy loose trousers. "Can't believe the water try to kill me. Bad sign." At the mention of moving on to another tunnel shaft, he nods enthusiastically, "Yes. From dead bodies looks like others here before. Maybe better finds in another tunnel."
Boland shows an interest in the rod brought back by Da'gret. "It may be magical, as may be the sword you retrieved, to have held its shine even under water. C-can I study them for a moment?" His stutter creeps back in when speaking directly to the druid, obviously still somewhat uncomfortable in his presence.Assuming the half-orc hands over the rod and/or sword, Boland will take a closer examination, looking for any markings that may give a clue as to their functions.
He also questions Da'gret as to the source of the water. "Was there any inlet or cracks where the water may have leaked in from?"
Once the discussion on the flooded chambers is done, Boland addresses the group. "Well, what next? Should we head back up and try one of the other shafts - perhaps the one Brashen first ventured down?"
"Here, let me see," mutters Andolphas with irritation in his voice as he murmurs a prayer in some unfathomable words to the Dark-Eyed Lady and holds his hands out to the rod and sword that were retrieved by the half-orc.
He nods in a agreemen when the others speak of proceeding to investigating the tunnel that Brashen had ventured in previously. "I have a few scrolls with healing magic, and a few minor prayers I can invoke," adds the somber cleric quietly.
'Well then, lets go.' Brash turns and starts to stride towards the shaft room, and once there begins to climb the rope
Andolphas’ spell proves Boland’s suspicions correct; the short sword and the metal wand do indeed both radiate faint magic.
This task done, the group heads back to the shaft and all manage to climb back up to the main tomb chamber above, with the sarcophagus in the centre and the short tunnels radiating away from it.
Andolphas’ spell proves Boland’s suspicions correct; the short sword and the metal wand do indeed both radiate faint magic.
This task done, the group heads back to the shaft and all manage to climb back up to the main tomb chamber above, with the sarcophagus in the centre and the short tunnels radiating away from it.
As Andolphas casts his spell over the items, Boland begins to mumble "I was going to cast the spell myself but decided to wait in case we found any....", but his voice trails off as he realises no one really cares.
He does his best to aid Andolphas in identifying the type of magic of the items, though is a bit perturbed and not thinking properly.
When Brashen heads back towards the rope, he follows closely, climbing the rope slowly and deliberately
Arriving back up in the circular chamber, he says "So, shall we try the shaft? Let's move the sarcophagus around (clockwise) till it points to the correct tunnel." (I think it was the North-East (Yellow) tunnel?)
Once the group has all made it back up to the main chamber, the strongmen push the sarcophagus around clockwise until it points towards the north west passage. The now familiar rumbling sound begins, and a few moments later the metal cylinder emerges from the floor below the yellow lantern. The doors hiss open, spilling the cold white light that illuminates the column’s interior into the chamber.
The magical aura of the sword is of the transmutation school, whilst the wand radiates divination magic.
As the party climbs out of the bug shaft, Andolphas stands and dusts himself off. "I have confirmed that the sword is enchanted... would either one of you gentlemen care to wield it?" he asks Brashen, Da'gret and Strevlik. "I will hold onto the wand... for safe keeping," he adds, looking Boland square in the eyes.
'We can probably comfortably get 2 people in there to go down 2 at a time, especially with the light stone, rather than a tourch. I will go down. Who else?' Brash looks around at his companions.
As the party climbs out of the bug shaft, Andolphas stands and dusts himself off. "I have confirmed that the sword is enchanted... would either one of you gentlemen care to wield it?" he asks Brashen, Da'gret and Strevlik. "I will hold onto the wand... for safe keeping," he adds, looking Boland square in the eyes
Boland seems about to argue the point, but he cannot hold Andolphas' gaze and so gives in mumbling some half-incoherent agreement.
'We can probably comfortably get 2 people in there to go down 2 at a time, especially with the light stone, rather than a tourch. I will go down. Who else?' Brash looks around at his companions.
Boland looks around at the others, not willing to volunteer to be in the first tier to descend to the unexplored level.
'We can probably comfortably get 2 people in there to go down 2 at a time, especially with the light stone, rather than a tourch. I will go down. Who else?' Brash looks around at his companions.
"I will," responds the cleric flatly before joining Brashen at the side of the cylinder.
Brashen and Andolphas squeeze into the cylinder (neither man probably enjoying the proximity over-much). A moment later, the doors hiss close and the cylinder descends, (a slight vibration and sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach) before landing with a slight bump in some lower level. The doors hiss open, and the light from the cylinder and the torch reveal a small chamber.
The walls here are covered with bas-relief images similar to the slender figure on the sarcophagus lid – a dozen androgynous, hairless humanoids stand in poses of deference. Hands are extended in adoration, faces awash in adulation. Several of the statues lack hands, arms, even heads – anything that could be easily hacked off by long-absent tomb robbers perhaps.
The cylinder rests in a niche in one wall of the chamber – call it the north wall, assuming you have not been too turned about. Adjacent to the open doors of the cylinder, just within the niche is a hand sized plate of stone that projects slightly from the rest of the wall.
About fifteen feet ahead of you (to the south), a dark passageway extends from the room from an elaborately carved archway. However, only a little of this passageway is visible, as a large stone block rests just in front of the archway, obscuring most of the passage and seemingly blocking the way out of the room, although there is a gap between the top of the arch and the top of the stone block.
Everything about the chamber appears just as Brashen left it the day before. The pair step out of the cylinder, and the doors whoosh shut.
Up above, the cylinder emerges from the floor again, empty, doors open.
Andolphas and Mothster
Brash will move to the stone blocking the exit of the room and try to peer over the top, holding the everburning tourch forward to try and see down the passage beyond. As he does so he calls to Andolphas 'See if you can get that lift back down'
"May as well wait for the others to come down, don't you think? If it has returned to the main chamber, they should be able to come down with it, just as we did..."
That having been said, Andolphas searches the area where the cylinder dropped them off for some obvious mechanisms, but finds nothing...
Brashen and Andolphas:
Andolphas and Mothster
Da'gret heads down to the lower level.
: Brashen hands the torch to Andolphas then attempts to heave himself up onto the slab. He manages to pull himself up, feet scrambling for purchase on the smooth sides of the stone block momentarily, before getting the upper half of his body up there. He lies, his chest and arms flat on the slab, his waist and legs dangling down.
The ceiling is only two feet above the top of the slab, but immediately above it (and Brashen) is a dark shaft in the ceiling, almost exactly the same dimensions as the stone block below it.
The stone block rests not against a blank wall, but in front of an archway to some corridor or chamber beyond this one. The opening is almost completely blocked, except for a gap about a foot high between the top of the stone slab and the bottom of the stone archway. It might be possible to squeeze through … just.
The space beyond the archway is dark, although Brashen may be able to make out more when Andolphas passes him up the torch.
---
Da’gret lumbers into the cylinder, and the doors whoosh shut behind him. He feels a sense of movement, a faint rumbling and a vibration along with it, a strange feeling in his stomach. Then, the doors open again, and he can see Brashen and Andolphas at the other end of a small stone chamber, the warrior climbing onto a large block of stone that appears to block another exit from the room.
Boland and Strevlik squeeze into the returned cylinder after Da’gret steps out below, which descends as it did before, leaving all the adventurers in the small, stone walled chamber below.
Brash places the torch at the gap between stone and arch and peers down the passage.
Brashen, you can make out a passage stretching away ahead of you beyond the archway, fading into darkness at the edge of the torchlight; some ten feet wide with alcoves marking its walls at regular intervals. The air is surprisingly fresh, a faint breeze plays against your face.
Brash relays this information to the rest of the group while lowering himself back down off the block.
The stone block is big; 10 feet wide, 2 feet deep, 8 feet tall. But it appears to be resting on the floor rather than fixed there, and you have several strongmen in the party; it may indeed by possible to push or swivel it aside, or even topple it.
'Lets try and topple it backwards, I dont fancy trying to squeeze through that little hole.' Brash will take up a position on the block, and ask Da'gret and Strevlik to do the same.