Realizing they've gotten the attention of the strangers and that they can't really stop you, one of the elders says indignantly, "This isn't to be discussed in front of strangers." They then extricate themselves from the crowd leaving you to your rescue/exploration mission.
"Well....that was odd." Dasim says to his companions as the elders disappear into the crowd. "Just as I was beginning to like the place, they had to go all creepy, sinister villagers on us."
He steps back up to the door next to Rrath. "I guess it's time for us to see what the old geezer is hiding down here before the whole town collapses."
He then pulls on the door to see if it is locked or if it'll still swing open after the cave in.
The door slides open smoothly. Beyond it is a passage of dressed stone that slopes downward. Sixty feet beyond the stone door, the tunnel levels out. Two stone reliefs of stern dwarves in chain mail and carrying battleaxes face each other across the tunnel. The carvings stand out from the passage walls, and they have gaps around them, so they could be doors. The passage continues into the darkness past the carvings into darkness.
Well then, shall we?
Rrath slowly approaches the statues, checking for traps as he advances.
Mags also slowly approaches the doors, her staff ready to attack or defend as needed.
Rrath doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary other than how immaculately clean the tunnel is in this section. A testament to the craftsmanship that made the tunnel. The party is faced with three routs. Through the open tunnel or try one of the doors on either side.
Dasim follows the others into the tunnel. Upon seeing the carvings the monk whistles softly. "That's some fine stonework." He says. "Looks like we may have found some of those dwarven ruins Ziyad's been on and on about."
Looking back and forth between the three dark passages, he eventually just shrugs and points to the right hand carving. "Well let's see what is behind here shall we." He says, walking up and pushing the door open.
Ziyad, searching your extensive memory you recognize some symbols on the doors. The markings on the stone dwarf indicate that the dwarves of Besilmer carved out this underground area.
Opening the door, you find another dark tunnel. You follow it along for fifty feet before it curves to the right. The tunnel abruptly ends twenty feet later in a pit covered by a stone bench with a hole in it.
"Hmmpff." Dasim grunts. "Well...it looks like natures call brought them down this tunnel." He adds with a chuckle. "Mighty fancy doors for a privy."
Returning to the intersection. "I guess we should see if the other door ends in a similar fashion." He says, opening the opposite door and following the tunnel.
Rrath stays on Dasim's heels.
Mags hangs back a bit to try and 'feel' if this new area has anything to do with the feelings of dread she has been feeling.
Tarandil plays a short tune to inspire Dasim in his efforts to explore.
The adventures creep along the passageway, ready for any danger. After eighty feet, the tunnel turns east. The smell of decay begins to hang in the air. The tunnel continues another eighty feet before opening into a small room. The stench gets stronger as you continue down the passage.
"Ack..[cough]...whatever is down here isn't going to be pretty." Dasim says, tying a cloth across his nose and mouth to try and lessen the smell then creeping forward to shine some light into the small room at the end of the tunnel.
The tunnel opens into a square room that reeks of decaying flesh. Three human corpses, reduced to little more than bloody bone and sinew, are sprawled in the room's center. Two oversized rats root among the bodies, stopping to chew flesh they've pulled free. Scuttling noises come from narrow crevices in the walls. The rats barely look up from their meal at the adventurers.
Sure, let's take a look, but get ready to be gnawed on too.
Rrath advances towards the bones.
"Perhaps I can talk to them first...save us from a fight if possible."
Magmoria slowly moves forward and, using motions and sounds, attempts to convey to the creatures they just want to look at the remains, and not take the food away from them.
Dasim stands back to let Magmoira try to converse with the rats, but readies his spear in case the creatures decide to turn on the druid anyway.
The rats turn and snarl as you approach but do not attack.
When there is any question whether you can calm down a domesticated animal, keep a mount from getting spooked, or intuit an animal’s intentions, the DM might call for a Wisdom (Animal Handling) check. You also make a Wisdom (Animal Handling) check to control your mount when you attempt a risky maneuver.
Animal Handling (Cha):
Animal Handling (Cha):
The rats back off but keep a careful eye to make sure you are keeping your word. Examining the bodies you find a symbol carved in the forehead of each victim. Even on victims that have no flesh left, the symbol is deep enough to score the bone.
Ziyad, you recall ancient texts that talked about a cult that worshipped the elemental earth. They used this as their symbol. As for cause of death, you have no clue.
"Hmmm...well I suppose it isn't too surprising that dwarves might've belonged to an earth cult." Dasim says thoughtfully after Ziyad's revelations. "But those bodies are way more recent than these dwarven tunnels. Either someone woke a restless spirit, or maybe whoever didn't want us going down here, is dabbling in something best left alone."
Seeing no other way forward the monk nods back toward the main intersection. "Doesn't seem like much more here. Shall we head back to the main tunnel and see where it leads?"
Magmoria makes a quick search of the bodies before turning to the rats. She gestures thanks and leaves a small offering of dried meat to show her gratitude.
Rrath turns to lead the way back with Dasim.
You don't find anything particularly interesting on the bodies. They appear to be travelers judging by the scraps of clothing still there. The tunnel to the north seems particularly inviting if only to get away from the stench.
The rats eye the new morsel of food with interest but make no move towards it for now.
The tunnel opens into a square room. In the center of it, a black rock about a foot across hovers three feet from ther floor.
Stepping into the room, Dasim notices the floating stone and immediately looks around for any sign of a nefarious worker of the magical arts...other than the red wizard standing near him of course.
"Looks like something right up your alley Ziyad." He says giving the floating stone a good look to see if there are any hidden ropes of spider silk, elven silk strings, or other material means of making the rock look like it is floating against the usual laws of nature.
Seeing the rock, Mags moves closer to examine it. Perhaps she can tell what type of rock it might be, or if it is natural or not.
Nature(?):
Rrath guards the means of exit from the room while the others examine the stone.
As Ziyad casts his spell, Dasim and Magmoira take a closer look at the stone. There are no nearly invisible strings thay you can find. It also looks to be a stone similar to what once might expect to find here. As the feather brushes against the rock, it begins to rotate in the direction it was touched.
If you drop your feather above the rock, it stays in place too.
Mags reaches forward and removes the rock from where it floatings and after looking it over, places it into her pack.
"Just something to remind me of this place...if that is ok?"
"Huh. Well some wizard must have had time on his hands to spend it creating floating rocks for no reason." Dasim says shaking his head in wonderment. "Guess it's time to see what odd little wonders we'll find further on."
He moves on down the only other opening out of the room. The monk tries to keep an eye out for signs of recent activity, loose rock, or even potential traps, but he too often has to spend time rubbing dust and grit from his eyes.
Rrath continues onward with Dasim again.
Tarandil will also help keep an eye out for anything dangerous or unusual as we travel down the passage.