Alagon relaxes at the camp in comfort. Serill has organised good care for him and ensured that he need not hunt on his own in this dangerous land.
Raden the little pseudosphinx sits on Serill's shoulder. He constantly casts detect magic and detect secret doors and alerts Serill if he finds anything.
They watch the front-liners clean up the skeletons, saving spells for the more challenging enemies. Serill is not useless however, he uses his vast knowledge to identify the creatures and warn the others of any dangerous abilities or defenses and the occasional crossbow bolt against enemies without damage reduction.
At the large sarcophagus, Serill scans it closely with detect magic. And using Mage Hand to retrieve the most valuable gems and items.
Serill also inspects the Tabards' strange metal trying to figure out what it is made of.
"Yes I can see what it says. But who exactly is Nazarac?"
Serill also looks at the massive door, wondering if he might have a spell that could open it. "If there are no traps here, I can try a Knock spell to see if it will open."
At the united reminder from the bickering couple, Old Snowbeard sights.
"Yarrrl-Yarrl, yer right.
But that green one would've been perfect raw material for one of Raikus statues.
Well, guess we'll find somethin' fittin' deep'r down, one that isn't cursed, ey?"
Niche walks along with the group casually. He looks a bit distracted and perhaps grumpy about not getting to fight a demi-god.
When they get to the tomb, he continues looking somewhat casual, a bit underwhelmed by the resistance they initially meet. He smashes any skeleton that comes close to him, usually with rather contemptible ease. He looks bored at one point before discovering that a skelli has actually managed to latch onto his arm with its teeth. Taking its skull in one oversized hand, he crushes the head to powder, causing the rest of the bones to fall to the ground in a clattering heap. Dusting his hand off on his breeches, he walks over to the open sarcophagus to see what has attracted the group's attention.
Looking at the gems and magic objects he asks. "The stuff is definitely cursed, maybe cursed, or possibly cursed? As curses go, coming back to life doesn't seem that bad. However, I'm already immortal, so something would have to manage to actually kill me before I ever found out what the down side might be..."
There are all sorts of magic upon the temple door. There is no apparent way of opening the door. It is trapped with all sorts of spells. You can also find spells riddled into the stone ground but for some reason are not going off, likely waiting for a certain condition to set them off.
At the mausoleums:
You know there is universal and divination magic upon the building.
There are no traps that you perceive.
There should be something you know of this tomb. Though knowing nearly nothing of the place besides what Valor has said of the place you know it likely to be from another parallel plane, another material plane.
With that understanding you go through your mind and look for places that might be similar to the one before you. A massive tomb, one that is likely to be a maze and a death trap. You know the Osirion pharaohs created such labyrinths.
The banner is very unique, you have not seen it among royalty or nobility.
The stonework is done very well, possibly dwarven or elven mastercraft quality.
Lidras, Rosa, Aukan, and Davian did not touch anything.
roll 25d6, each being 50 gp. Then with a perception check DC 20 you might find the nice ones, 9d4, each being 500 gp.
So a total of 5d6 small gems and 2d4 precious gems at each mausoleum. Also this requires about 10 minutes of searching and sifting through the coins.
Snowbeard finds five such triggers: A large plate that looks like a stone or glammered at least, two loose stones on pillars nearest to the door, and two hidden compartments which reveal switches.
There are chains and clasps that keep the door locked in place as well. The clasps are about 5 feet tall and wide and built into the door. Five clasps in total.
There is one tabard in each mausoleum, so a total of 5 tabards, they are made out of soul metal. Soul metal is forged at extremely high and low temperatures, similar to cold iron. Though Soul metal enhances undead's defenses if used for armor. It also can act as a ghost touch property for both armor and weapons. It costs the same as cold iron, so it is strange being made into a tabard, it would be probably worth between 5,000 to 8,000 gold. Each one likely weighs about 150 pounds as it is 3 feet wide and 5 feet tall.
It is very very strange that you know nothing of Nazarac. You should at least something!
[dice=Perception]1d20 + 8
The cleric notices his fellow explorers examining gems and gasps in horror!
" We muşţ noţ ţouch ţhe ţreâşureş! Ţhey âre curşed! Remember whâţ hâppened ţo Mâţţhew?!"
Looking at Davian with a sheepish smile he shrugs and says, "Oh okay." As Davian likely said it before he got the lid off much he stops and walks out without touching any loot.
Annwyn shrugs, "Most curses aren't that bad, and I'm immune to a fair amount already. And I doubt that any of us will go completely unscathed by the end of this."
Annwyn shrugs, "Most curses aren't that bad, and I'm immune to a fair amount already. And I doubt that any of us will go completely unscathed by the end of this."
Davian tut-tuts, "Ît îș one țhîng ăbouț preşşîng your luck. Ţhâţ Î underșțănd. Îț îș ânoţher țhîng enţîrely when ţempţîng fâţe. Buț țhăț îș Phărășmă’ș domain, Î șuppoșe."
Steps back from the door.
Out of nowhere the little lizard is on Rosa’s shoulder, squeeking out in his little voice, ”The traps are only to stop you from opening the door or if they are tampered with. I have seen it.”
He walks over to the staircase, sits down and checks his equipment and weapons. Once satisfied he begins to descend. A light appears over his right shoulder.
Looking at the massive door and listening to Rosa and Sly he simply says, ”NOPE!” Then follows the guide down the stairs. He only wears a green cloth to cover his groin the rest of him is exposed to the elements. For the short forays into battle with the skeletons he was clad in a black suit of armor but as soon as it was over his armor unfolded back keeping him practically naked.
DC 15 - He loves watching people watch him especially those embaressed by how much skin he has exposed.
Rosa nods,
She says back.
Then follows Aukan, reaching down and slapping his tush.
If he turns she winks at him.
He was about to respond to the compliment but then Rosa opened the flood gates of what he really wanted to talk about, "Oh thank the gods above and below! Someone has finally asked, this horrible curse is so restrictive! Well not sure where to start but lets just focus on the CURSE. You see if I am not touched by a blessed or cursed one each day then I revert to my older state. If I get a kiss from any of you, preferably of the female persuasion, a touch from Lidras, or a zap from Sly then I can stay in my original form. Lidras is the unlucky one that can just touch me because he let the dreaded demon spirit out. The one who killed me in my first life after Lidras let it free. I was given the ability to possess the elder goliath's body to seek out my vengeance, he was also on his death bed when I came upon his body on the ethereal plane. Before his soul went upon the celestial dwarven mountains of our race, he gave me permission to use his body. He was a cleric of our race, not sure which god to be honest, though the god's vengeance apparently lined up with mine."
She chuckles to herself.
and more chuckling
"No certainty? Alright, what is life without risk?"
He places his bare foot against the lid of the sarcophagus, and shoves hard.
The lid flies off, crashing onto the floor with a thundering boom.
"Hmph, thought that would be heavier."
He rummages around with the contents inside, "Am I the only one that remembers that they used to put bodies in these things?"
He finds a pair of gold rimmed spectacles, with nice clear crystal lenses. Trying them on he looks at the tomb around himself, taking them off and looking around again, "Didnt even realize my eyes were that bad..." he says, leaving the specs in place.
Looking at the magic items pointed out by the others, he picks up a pair of slippers, of the style worn by monks in the Jade Court. When he compares the dainty things to his giant bare feet, they shift size to be appropriate for him.
"Ooh, silk!" he notes, slipping them on.
"Is no one else going to indulge? Speak up, or I may claim everything!"
He takes out a small bag, and starts filling it with small gems.
"Yaharrl, it was a gud idea to come here, my knowing it!"
Old Snowbeard is feverishly writing down the Aukans story and Rosas reaction into his notebook.
With a grimace, he turns to Niche as he 'opens' the sarcophagus and starts rumouring around in its inside.
He watches him curiously, like someone would watch a cooking pot, interested whether it will overflow or not.
If nothing happens, he does take several of the massive gems he identified earlier up with his hands covered in cloth.
From the magic items, he collects .
Niche begins to dissolve, literally he begins to melt before you.
Shaking your head you realize that is was merely an illusion, a horrible nightmarish illusion. Then Snowbeard proceeds to take the gems one magical item, and a spellbook Niche then has the horrible illusion seeing Snowbeard's clothes dissolve, then his hair, then his flesh...
A fog begins to roll in, looking around you notice it is coming from every direction. It comes as if a great white tidal wave and quickly coming to greet you. Within 10 rounds the fog will be upon you.
+16 Only 3 fails... Yay! you do feel off though.
Niche shakes off the illusion of Snowbeard's melting flesh, seeing that the dwarf is in reality unharmed.
"Everyone! There are giant skeletons coming in the fog! And I'm guessing the fog brings some sort of cold spell as well. Get ready!
Niche draws out a wand from his belt, and swishing it around, places some sort of enchantment upon himself.
Davian looks around confused. "Whâţ fog? Whâţ gîânţş?!!"
Rosa looks around, and holding her hand out her sword comes to her.
Serill picks up one of the magical items with Mage Hand and realises he has found a Pearl of Power(2nd). Other items he discovers are Gloves of Reconnaissance, a Chime of Opening and a Bag of Holding(Type I). He fills up the Bag of Holding with as much gold and gems as he can using Mage Hand and puts the Gloves and Chime in his Handy Haversack.
"There are many secret doors Raden has sniffed out. One I briefly inspected led to a cramped tunnel. If you wish to escape these things I can have Raden show you to one. The skeletons in the fog may be some of the powerful guardians Valor wants corpses preserved of."
He casts Mage Armour and Heightened Awareness on himself.
She bends down she shrinks in size and taking some kind of marker form her belt places and 'pentagon'on the floor.
"Run away? Again? Hey, if we wanted to not fight stuff, we could do that back at the camp. At least there's serving girls back there."
Now just 8' tall Rosa says back.
"You miss understand why I suggest this, We are running deeper into this trap, We need to know is the defences are set for a fixed area with in this structure. Or are they set to defend the whole structure. If the undead here follow us then that would suggest Defences are set for the whole building, Knowing this will dictate our tactics as we head deeper."
+++ Looting +++
The dwarf flinches as Niche seems to fall apart, but then again, it is just an illusion.
"Narrl, yer dead fools not stoopin' a old dwarf from findin' good use fer yer shiney stuff.
What a waste to let them go blank in this tomb, eh?
And waht about this? This' a shiny pearl Serill!
's there another one in there?
Yarll, gud boy, I gonna take one too.
And what's'this?
Ahhhh, who can say narll to an old tome in a even older tomb?
Wonder what spells tese lads knew...."
+++ Giants in the mist? +++
Upon Niches warning, he swings around, arcana symbols already forming by the old hands.
Ice covers the ground between the group and whatever-the-heck-is-coming before Rosa has proposed to just bypass the danger.
He turns to see what the others are doing.
Should Davian follow Rosa, he follows the heavy-tongued-cleric without much fuss.
The skeletal figures continue to move in the fog they seem 50 feet tall. The freezing and fog continue to get closer.
Matthew and Aukan have begun to descend down the main stairs as the others have kept near the large door. Rosa follows Serill with Lidras close behind. Finding a 4 foot by 3 foot stone that easily slides to the side you jump down and begin to squeeze down the tunnel.
Going down the tunnel you find that after 30 feet of cramped squeezing moist tunnel the first person falls into a pit. Either way you fall into the 40 foot drop to find spikes waiting just at the edge of where you fall into the 'cave'.
The fog continues getting closer now, four rounds have passed and it is near freezing,
Annwyn follows the others as they squeeze down the tunnel. Oddly, she doesn't seem to be having any difficulty fitting, [b]"If the temperature keeps dropping, I can provide everyone with protection from the cold.
Davian follows the group down the tunnel, keeping to the flank; placing himself and his holy symbol in between the group and the encroaching undead.
Niche eyes the small tunnel that the others use for retreat. While one of his tattoos would allow him to squeeze through the tunnel, the time it could be used was limited, and the idea of squishing himself into such a small space didn't exactly sound exciting either. Therefor, he chose to follow Matthew and Aukan down the main stairs.
Catching up with the Goliath he says, "You said something earlier about being in the body of a cleric? He wasn't a Green Cleric, was he?"
Rosa heads down 1st and seeing the pit, grows so that she can shimmy down it.
unencumbered by full armor, she makes it to the bottom
But the spikes are still there,
Once at the bottom, she pulls her blade and cuts the spikes.
”Why yes, my older form is known as a green cleric, why do you ask?” Aukan asks as they continue down the stairs. Also he quickly asks, ”Where is everyone else?!”
Rosa easily sees the pit and trips it with her sword. After analyzing the situation she kicks off the wall as she falls and lands clear of the spikes, taking minimal damage from the fall. After getting up she cuts the spikes down and clears the spot for the others to drop into.
Once down you find that it is a simple cave and no obvious way out besides the way you came into the cave.
Rosa uses her ability to chance size to shimmy down to the spikes.
She is cut by a couple of spikes, but they are light cuts.
She clears the space and waves the others down.
”Why yes, my older form is known as a green cleric, why do you ask?” Aukan asks as they continue down the stairs. Also he quickly asks, ”Where is everyone else?!”
Niche waves a dismissive hand, "They decided the giant skeletons weren't interesting enough to bother facing. They snuck into a hidden hole; might have been a passage to somewhere, though they didnt say, and I didnt feel like squeezing. As for Green Clerics, it was something Ptolemizneon, that skeletal warlord I faced said. If possible, he wanted his sword out in the hands of a Green Cleric. Apparently he died while on pilgrimage, so perhaps that was his own faith as well? I have the sword, if you'd like to take a look? I'm not much for swords myself, but this one felt weighty with enchantments."
Rosa looks at the others coming down.
"where are the rest? did they not follow or have the fallen?"
Turning round, the dwarf looks behind and around the corner.
"Narll. Yer shiny new boy-toy a' the old-not-old-maybe-giant a' the multi-dead are takin' the stairs.
How's'it goin' down 'ere?
Save for a old man to come down yet?"
(Assuming some kind of positive reply)
Old Snowbeards head can be seen looking down and shaking his head, sending the beard flying right and left.
"Narll, Narll!
We do not climb down that.
Wait'a'sec, will ya?"
With that, he rumours in his bag and produces a scroll.
Reading a spell from it, he soon comes gliding down the shaft slowly, carefully avoiding the hazards.
Annwyn glances at her companions, then jumps off the edge, her form shifting into a dark-skinned angel, wings controlling the descent until she's just a few feet off the ground. From there, she returns to her normal appearance, dropping lightly the last little way.
"Oh, well I am following the guide. Matthew should we wait for them? Ah yes that would be great, let me have a look." Aukan says casually though his eyes dart from side to side apparently being much more aware of the surroundings.
As the blade is pulled from the bag he smiles and waits. Once handed to him the blade erupts in green energy, he takes a step back with the sword in his hands, grinning as the energy erupts over him.
The sword did also affect Niche, a spell waves over him, a permanent absorb rune.
There are five spell runes upon the sword, the wielder cannot use any of them yet. With the absorb rune spell Niche will be able to switch out the spells once per day.
He stops and turns. He nods an affirmative. Though he rubs his arms some and continues to descend the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs the temperature is cold but not anywhere freezing as above. He puts his greatsword in front of him and sticks the point into the ground and resting his back on the wall. Waiting...
The cave appears to be simply that a dead end. With the dust being kicked up or whipped up with wings you can all smell the old stale fragrance of dust. Even though the walls are moist the floor is dry.
Below you find a chute straight down for the most part with natural cave walls. It is about 30 feet wide and over 120 feet deep.
If forced open all the floor breaks. Acid begins to drop from the ceiling.
Rosa, walks to the center of the room, flips her sword and slices the hidden door open.
"Best hurry, this floor looks like a trap"
Taking the half-fiends advice, Davian hurries the others into the hidden door before him.
Snowbeard follows Davian, babbling away, not addressing anyone specifically.
"Yarll, nothing ev'r was well at the bott'm of a trap.
Remind me of that island full of animals and people out fer eating me.
Evil trappers the 'hole lot of 'em.
Ya folk, knew that ya could survive from eatin' moss'a'srooms fer a week before yer friend finds ya?
Can't stand neither to this day, let me tell ya that much..."
Annwyn shrugs and follows along as well, figuring it was best to stick together as a group.
Rose shouts to any other.
"IF YOUR COMING COME NOW"
And ducks in ofter the others.
Many of the group get through the door but from the door being bashed the stones around it become loose and fall as well. The group falls either on their way to jump through the door way or following the floor collapse.
120 feet fall... and you find a pool of liquid, though it is at most a few feet deep so it does not decrease the impact of the fall: There are several spaces around the base of the vertical cave that have sand not in the water. On your way down there were 6 spots of tunnels branching off to the sides. At the base of the cave you can see two routes one is a dark tunnel that is likely viable for a small creature or a large tunnel that has chunks of flame either on the top of the liquid or on the wall.
He rushes up next to Aukan, Matthew, and Niche. The little green and yellow lizard has chunks of ice attached to him. He quickly climbs up Niche and snuggles in under a flap of his clothing. He looks up at the giant and smiles with his teeth showing. Shaking violently to regain heat and next to the giant's flesh.
Once finally getting enough heat to not shake any more, which is likely a few minutes giving you plenty of time to ask questions before he chirps up, "They went down a tunnel, to a cave, which turned into a shaft, a long shaft down. Your best bet is to enter and try to find them."