Gärwin lights one of the braziers easily enough. The coal readily accepts the spark and lights up, helping illuminate the room. The mirror on the brazier reflects the light towards the pillar in the middle, focusing on the runes.
Meanwhile, Drot fiddles with one of the statues. A simple push moves the statue from its current upright position forward to a position where it looks supplicant to the ruler on the throne. The statue looks like it was designed to move back and forth, from upright to prostrate. When he pushes the statue all the way down, an audible click is heard.
Tess puts the ladder near the entry archway and climbs to the top. She studies the mural but shakes her head. "Doesn't look any different from over here," she calls down.
Charles was still a little worried as Tesswyn seemed to get some semblance of control back to herself but he figured that letting her keep busy at the moment was probably the best thing for her until he could have another chance to rest.
Looking around the room as the others tried various things he started to put some pieces together. "Maybe we don't need to see this thing from the different angles. The mirror is reflecting the light from the fire in brazier. There was also an audible click when you moved the statue. Let's try lighting the fires and moving the rest of the statues." as he spoke he moved around the room, it was half a question but also a suggestion.
Drot walks around the rooms peering here and there, his face twisting into different shapes of concentration.
"This going to be interesting indeed. Gar let's light the rest of these braziers, see what we see."
He moves over to Charles and Tess, frowning. He places a hand on Tesswyn's head and Charles shoulder but says nothing. He turns and points at the points of interest as he speaks.
"These runes, this ichor, the... art? And the throne are all enchanted to some degree. I doubt any of it is good, I'm most hesitant to sit on the throne. Yes, let's begin!"
"Okay, I'll help with the braziers." Tesswyn climbs down and retrieves her own tinderbox before going around the room to light them with Gar and Drot.
She looks up at Drot when he touches her head. "You okay, big guy?"
As you light the braziers, the light shines off the polished mirrors and is focused on the pillar. The light warms the runes, and as it does so the ichor starts to moves up channels in the pillar to fill the runes. Once a rune is filled, the ichor changes colors from the oily black it was to a golden sheen, which transforms the pillar into a thing of beauty.
After a few moments of watching it, it stops. It's as if there isn't enough light. Then Drot remembers the first two braziers bracketing the hall and lights those, which completes the process. These final two braziers focus light onto the throne itself, where more runes were hidden.
Once the pillar is shining golden from all the runes etched into it, the black ichor starts to flow from the center pool down channels to the throne. When it reaches the throne, it climbs up channels until it reaches the runes and then changes color. Once every rune is golden, the throne starts to leverage into the air, coming to a stop 7 yards up.
"Ah! The throne! I got it!" Without hesitation, Tesswyn dashes across the room and nimbly leaps upon the levitating chair!
Tesswyn rises up with the throne and stares into the painting. Her face is blank for several long moments, and several times she does not respond to Charles calling her name in concern. Then she shakes her head and smiles to herself. Finally. It all makes sense.
"Of course! It's so beautiful, once you have the right perspective." Tesswyn calls down, grinning. "Bring the ladder over. You guys have to see this for yourselves!"
Charles is hesitant for a moment longer as he judges Tesswyn's change of expression from what they'd seen before. But he also wanted to ensure she'd be alright.
"Okay Tesswyn. Once you come down I'll try looking at it..." he then went about setting up her ladder.
Sitting in the throne, Charles peered down hesitantly at the painting below. After a long pause he gasped. His hesitance was gone, his vision was unhindered as he saw it all within his minds eyes and beheld it within his own. It was indescribable.
"This... this is beyond words! Anything I say would pale in comparison. Were I to try and describe it to you, it would simply fail. Everyone here should see this! No, you need to see this!"
He took one long last look at it before he got up from the throne and climbed slowly down the ladder.
He came over to Tesswyn, his expression ecstatic. "Tess, I think I understand it better now. What we were talking about before."
Tesswyn reaches out and takes Charles's hands, smiling wryly. "You got but a glimpse at the strands of Fate that guide us. Now, imagine that a hundredfold, every time I look for the signs. That's my life. That's what I deal with every day."
Drot reaches for Tess as she rushes by but she is too fast for the orc. As he watched the interaction she had with the flesh canvas and Charles' sudden change in demeanor, he was even more concerned with true nature of the magics that infested their surroundings.
"Kahtia, this is not how Tesswyn and Charles act. There is something amiss here. Perhaps a charm or compulsion magic?"
"Perhaps it is similar, but it's still different. I wonder if my prayers are just a guided version of your signs. You see signs and have to arrive at an answer, instead I ask for one and am granted it." he said, nodding.
Charles looked over to Drot'ook, seeing him speak quietly to Kahtia. He smiled and gestured his head to the ladder. "Drot'ook, you should go next. Trust me, this is something you have to see to understand. Honestly, it will probably help you more than it did me."
Kahtia pales as she watches her companions succumb to what is surely dark sorcery. She'd been too preoccupied with exploring to prevent her friends from lighting the braziers, and now some of them from climbing to the throne. Shaking her head at Drot, she kneels and takes off her pack, from which she fetches the Book of Night. It's a long shot, but there is a chance it may contain some hint as to what was going on here -- and how to stop it.
"I see that, Drot'ook," she answers the big orc quietly, "and I had the same suspicion myself. Do not view the mural from the throne, and don't let Gar view it either." Her voice is low as she concentrates on the vile book, on flipping it's delicate, worn pages. "Keep them busy, I might be able to find something here to break the glamour."
Gärwin was incensed with burning the painting, but when he grabbed on of the flaming coals, the pain and heat returned him to his senses. Quickly patting out the flames, Gärwin aids the others in lighting the braziers, but makes no attempts to view the painting further for himself.
Watching the strange reactions of the others, Gärwin makes his way to the entrance of the room. The grotesque sculpture looms overhead, but the dwarf pays it no mind, instead reaching for his cigars. The dwarf moves slowly, purposefully with his actions and his arm never seems to stray far from his blade.
Charles smile faded as the others showed hesitance after Lemuel came down.
"Okay, I think I get what's going on here. Drot'ook, Kahtia, please believe me, there is nothing wrong with viewing the mural from above on the throne. No one is going to force anyone to do something they don't want. I will only say that you may never get a chance to see something so breathtaking in your life again."
Even reading it now, you can feel the pull. The promises that whisper in your mind.
You slam the book shut, but that promise of power is still lingering in your head.
Refocusing on the task at hand, you recall that the magic in this room was focused on the runes, the ichor, and the throne - which all makes sense in light of everything you've seen. Additionally. The art was magical. It stands to reason that if it was imparting some sort of magical influence, you should be able to see it with a Sense Magic.
"Yeah, it's your loss if you decide not to," Tess says with a shrug.
As the others continue to mill about the room, Tess moves to the archway on the left and stealthily scouts what lies beyond.
"Do not wander off! Danger still lurks here, and your minds are clouded with the sorceries of this place," Kahtia says as she packs the book away and stands, moving to the center of the room, where she has a good view of everything. There, she gestures and casts a spell that she hopes will reveal more about what's going on with her companions...
Combined with your previous Intellect Challenge Roll success, you can conclude there is no glamour or other mind altering magic on Charles, Tesswyn, or Lemuel.
Drot hears Gärwin's pained exclamation and looks at him, puzzled.
"I don't know what's going on, but I plan on finding out..."
He briskly walks to Charles and begins questioning him!
"And what of the demon's we've fought together, were they not breath taking? Wouldn't you have rather gone your entire life without witnessing such things?"
He firmly grabs the burly priest by the shoulders and bends down, peering into his eyes.
He can't remember the last time he had gotten this close to someone on purpose. It was uncomfortable but he had to see what was lurking in the mind of his friend.
"What would your god say of the things you've seen in the flesh of your fellow man? Do you remember why you wanted to come here?"
Combined with your Intellect Challenge Roll success, you can conclude there is no charm or other mind altering magic on Charles, Tesswyn, or Lemuel.
Charles saw Drot'ook coming but he didn't know what to expect as he was grabbed by the Orc. "No! The Demon's were horrifying, Drot'ook. Yes, I would have preferred not to see them, but if not me then someone else surely would have and they might not have survived. So now I am glad it was me.
I honestly don't know what the New God would think. Even Astrid, who I have spoken with, had a strange mindset which in the moment when I had to choose between two extremely difficult choices seemed unfair, and only made sense after the fact. But if I had to guess, if what I saw was any indication of what they might see from their perspective then yes, there is a bigger picture Drot'ook. I haven't forgotten, we came here to find Lemuel and help him complete his quest. We aren't done here yet."
He waited for Drot to cast his spell before he grabbed the Orcs hand and wrenched him off.
"There, are you satisfied now!? No enchantments. Nothing is clouding my judgement. If anything, I am more clear minded now than I have ever been!
The sight from the throne is something otherworldly. I'm telling you, seeing only the individual pieces is the wrong way to look at this. Don't look if you don't want to, but I'll say it one last time, you should."
Drot stood silently, looking at Charles for a long time. He was searching for something but didn't know what. His next words we're spoken softly, so only Charles could hear.
"I'm sorry, brother. We're in a treacherous place and I had to be sure, you understand."
He glances back at their other to companions, then over in the direction Tesswyn went. One last hesitating look at Charles and the orc briskly walks to the throne...
DON'T TRUST FLYING CHAIR! WHY DO? Hush now, you don't understand. YOU DON'T KNOW EITHER! DON'T LIKE THIS! Too bad.
...climbs up, and peers into the void.
Listening to the conversation between Drot'ook and Charles, Kahtia watches Tess creep off. "Gärwin," she says in her lilting, accented common, "keep her safe. Though they are not compelled by dark magic, she and Charles do not seem themselves."
Pulling out her magestone from beneath her robes, the woman utters a few words of power and begins lightly tracing the ancient markings on the pillars with softly glowing fingertips. As she finishes her rune magic, Kahtia stands back to read what she suspects will be terrible passages. As she does, she raises her voice -- unaware that Drot'ook is climbing the ladder.
"Charles! Tell us, Charles. What did you see? What formed before you in that terrible flesh? What vision appeared? Your future? Your past? Your greatest desire?"
As Drot'ook finally listens to him, Charles let out a sigh of relief. "I suppose there was a better way to have handled that. But thank you for trusting me."
Charles was beginning to feel some exasperation at explaining himself again as Kahtia called out to him.
"Alright, I'm going to explain this one more time. It is something that can't be explained well with words. If I had to give it words, it is nothing specifically about me or what I wanted. It is simply understanding existence in a manner of speaking. But it's so much more than that!
Looking at it from down here before when it was dark and oozing and it seemed there was nothing but a piece of suffering, yes that was horrible. When we did everything to complete the image; light it up, make it bright and golden, from up there on the throne... it's something beyond mere description. A whole... my words can't do it justice. You just have to decide whether to take the risk and see it for yourself, Kahtia. That or remain blinded to an answer."
Gärwin nods to Khatia, "Aye, this place inn't safe. I'll watch 'er back." Cigar still lit in his mouth, the dwarf makes his way after Tesswyn, passing through the left archway. The sculptures were disgusting, but the dwarf had acclimated to them surprisingly quickly.
Unable to see where the rogue had gone, Gärwin speaks into the tunnel, hoping to catch her attention in the dead silence of the tomb. The knight hoped nothing more sinister could hear his words. "I'm here Tess, if yew get yourself in trouble. I'm makin' my way in."
The hall leads to a room about half the size of the throne room.
Something shifts in the middle of the room.
Tess gestures for Garwin to fall back to the other room. She gathers the others and describes what she saw, including the fact that something was moving.
Charles nodded at Tesswyn's explanation.
"Alright, anything moving down here is probably nothing good. We'll go in slow, Garwin and myself up first."
Drot began his session on the throne ridged and uneasy. As it floated up and the view of the this so called otherworldly sight. As the throne peaked his expression relaxed and then became intense with concentration. His eyes began to dart all around as if he was trying to take in and comprehend a lot of information at once. As the throne came back down he was deep in thought, staring a hole into the ground. As Charles was explaining himself for the last time and getting noticeably agitated, Drot stood up, walked over to the long winded priest and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Charles, allow me. You're perpetuating an abstract idea but you don't know if your definition of an abstract idea is the same as the other person's definition of an abstract idea, and then blaming that person for not understanding. You can't preach to someone who doesn't speak your language."
His words, though seemingly critical, were said very tenderly. He was unsure of his own definitions but hoped he could minimize the confounding nature of the conversation. The large orc walks to the mage but keeps a couple yards between them, he breaths deeps and sighs. Drot shakes his head and grunts, at first like he's agreeing with something and then like he found that thing to be amusing.
"They're right, technically, only in the most literal sense. They're right that they can't explain it. Truthfully, with all of my field notes; every descriptive word I've used to define the way the world around me looks, feels, smells, tastes, changes, acts, and reacts... I've never once used a word that can start the entry I would make in my notebook for what is witnessed when sitting on that throne, suspended in the air and looking toward that... thing. What I do know is that for all the things I've realized, I have even more questions. There is quite literally nothing more I can say about this except that... I.. don't think anything bad happened.."
Gärwin backs slowly out of the left hallway, then waits for Tesswyn to pass him. He stands ready with sword drawn and shield up. "Oi! We're not alone down 'ere. Best brace yerselves for whatever's lurkin' down thataway. I don't like the idea of gettin' flanked in unknown territory, someone check the other hallway. I got this 'un."
Kahtia holds Drot's gaze as the orc speaks to her, edging closer and closer to him as he explains. By the time he is finished they are less than a foot apart -- she is looking up at him intently when she nods.
"Alight," she says, finally. "I will see this spectacle for myself, if only to better understand what you have all experienced."
Saying that, the wizardess climbs the ladder, sits the throne, and sees what she sees, her hair and dark robes rustled by an unseen breeze. After a few moments, the woman smiles ever so slightly and descends.
"I understand now," she says with a look at Charles and Drot'ook. She then makes ready to join the others at the left hallway, where Gär is saying something is coming...
Everyone sets up and takes positions. Gärwin and Charles are by the left entryway. Drot a few yards behind them in the throne room. Kahtia is in the middle of the throne room, near the pillar with the runes. Tesswyn is by the right entryway.
At first, nothing seems to happen. Then a fly lands on Gärwin. And then one on Charles. And then another. And another. Soon, a swarm of flies comes out of the hallway, their wings creating a maddening drone. Beetles and scarabs come scuttering out, as well as worms and cicadas.
Insects are soon crawling and flying all over the throne room.
Three human-shaped shadows come out of the pitch black room, and as they get closer to the light, you can see two of them are the same type of undead warriors you fought earlier.
The third is much different. Dead like the others, but covered in tattered robes and crawling with insects all over its body. Its stench wafts out from it, making any who can smell it slightly nauseous. It's hands are emiting some sort of sickly green gas.
"Oh, shit!" Tesswyn curses as the bugs and undead appear. She takes a shot at the nearest one with her bow!
Kahtia stands strong and does not hesitate when the crawling horde comes. When the three undead fiends appear, she fairly shouts out her spell, moving and gesturing and swaying rhythmically as she casts it. It is not magic the others have seen or heard yet, and all are taken by surprise when one of the kopeshes wielded by the warriors in the front explodes, catching all three creatures in the deafening blast.
At the center of the room, blood spills onto the ground as Kahtia winces and opens her palm deeply with her dagger...
Charles blanched momentarily but his will held against the Undead and the multitude of insects seem to pale in comparison to everything else he had to deal with up to this point.
"It doesn't matter. It's nothing new. This is not the worst I have seen today.
We will hold! The New God is with us against these horrors!"
At first, Gärwin didn't give a second thought to the insects buzzing all around him. But then one flew into his mouth. He could feel it squirming its way into his body, as hundreds more crawled all over his body, trying to find a way in, biting and clawing at his flesh. The dwarf tried to cry out but more of the insects gagged his screams. He stumbled backward, swatting at the bugs crawling all over him.
Drot'ook knew these bugs would not harm him, but the lumbering undead will. They were dispatched before with relative ease, it'll be the same this time.
Seeing the plague covered ghoul, Drot springs into action! The utterance of a incantation sends the orc hurling toward the monster, fast enough that its allies didn't have time to react. He shouts another spell and energy absorbs into his arms and weapon as he strikes at it!
"Velox!"
"Zerstöerisches Ziel!"
Kahtia Detonates a kopesh, causing an explosion to ring out in the hall. Thousands of insects are slaughtered. The explosion also harms the three undead, but not to a devastating effect.
The clearing of the bugs allows you to more clearly see the undead.
Charles casts Blessing on himself, Gärwin, and Drot. Kahtia and Tesswyn are too far away.
Tesswyn fires an Arrow of Slaying at the nearest warrior; the arrow sticks out of the creature.
Gärwin starts swatting at his body crying out that they're under his skin!
None.
Drot charges forward, past the two warriors to attack the Prophet, striking with his hammer in a devastating blow!
The two warriors turn to face the orc that rushed past them, one swinging a kopesh, the other a claw.
The sword misses deflecting off the arcane armor, but the claw leaves behind bleeding marks.
The undead in cloth swipes at Drot with a glowing green claw, and it burns. Drot's veins burn like he's been basking in the Desolation Sun for weeks.
•You are Diseased. All attacks and challenge rolls have one bane.
While diseased, you cannot heal damage.
At the end of every round for the next six rounds, you must make a Strength Challenge Roll or take 3d6 damage. Three total successes will remove this condition.
•You must make a strength challenge roll or be Impaired for six rounds. Remember the Bane from being diseased. If you are Impaired, if you become incapacitated, you do not make Fate rolls; instead you die.
Being next to the Prophet is painful. Drot, make a Strength Challenge Roll with one Bane or take 1d6 damage.
Total damage: Drot takes 13 damage.
Damage tracker:
Decay: -25
Warrior K: -18
Warrior C: -12
"Damn it, Drot!" Tesswyn curses. She shifts her aim to the prophet to help the beleaguered orc.
She swiftly sends a second arrow at the undead plague bringer!
Gärwin's mind raced, he needed to free himself of this monsoon of insects and the all of his thoughts kept returning to the same conclusion. The undead with the green hands, he must be responsible. The knight takes one step and another until his weight carries him into the undead abomination. Unfortunately, his slow and clumsy swing caught nothing but air.
As the melee is joined, Kahtia knows that she will have to hold fire on her more destructive spells, so she instead hikes her robes and scurries towards the battle, beginning the casting of her next spell even before she comes within range. More blood flows as she opens her skin again with her dagger, howling the last of the chant as pain wracks her body.
The Berserker rushes to the front of Drot's mind, set on killing this thing. For the first time the beast was stopped as a wall of logical self preservation formed and blocked his way.
That would kill us, there is no question, this is beyond your comprehension.
Drot dodges backwards and moves into a position adjacent to Tesswyn, he begins searching though his bag as the disease circulates through him.