Suetonius gamely swings at the shadow.
"Your time is over; be at peace..."
Lesska stands ready and strikes the shadowy Kellid-lord...
Readied Action: Strike!
[+8 BAB, +2 Str, +1 weapon focus, + 1 enhancement, +1 close at hand, +1 bless, +4 flanking, +2 enlarge/bull's strength]
[2d6 large, +3 THF, + 1 enhancement, + 1 close at hand, +8 challenge, +3 enlarge/bull's strength]
Then, with the ensorcelling speed supplied by Ailis, stabs again three times in sucession:
Full Attack Action
[+8 BAB, +2 Str, +1 weapon focus, + 1 enhancement, +1 close at hand, +1 bless, +4 flanking, +2 enlarge/bull's strength, +1 haste]
[2d6 large, +3 THF, + 1 enhancement, + 1 close at hand, +8 challenge, +3 enlarge/bull's strength]
[+8 BAB, +2 Str, +1 weapon focus, + 1 enhancement, +1 close at hand, +1 bless, +4 flanking, +2 enlarge/bull's strength], +1 haste]
[2d6 large, +3 THF, + 1 enhancement, + 1 close at hand, +8 challenge, +3 enlarge/bull's strength]
[+8 BAB, +2 Str, +1 weapon focus, + 1 enhancement, +1 close at hand, +1 bless, +4 flanking, +2 enlarge/bull's strength], +1 haste]
[2d6 large, +3 THF, + 1 enhancement, + 1 close at hand, +8 challenge, +3 enlarge/bull's strength]
As Daehalya's entrapping spell ends, several of the ready warriors slash, pierce, and bludegeon the insubstantial shadow. Initially, it seems to withstand the blows, writhing as the magic weapons clearly damage it, but its eyes continue to bear down with intense hatred. The creature raises its shadowy lance as if to return the onslaught against one interloper at a time. But, as it starts to strike, even more attacks rain down on it...
"No! You cannot pass! I won't allow it! Your lives will be..."
Whatever remaining words the shadow sought to impart go unsaid. Lesska's last few spear thrusts carve Haramil apart, dividing his essence like dark smoke. First, his lance is broken and dissipates, then his body begins to dissolve, streaming fragments of shadow substance back into the alcove behind the statue. The last sight of the ancient horselord is the cold-blue pinpoints of his eyes. And then...
...all is silent, except for the labored breathing of everyone gathered around one another.
And, in that silence, there comes a muffled sound from the western door...the one seemingly sealed with a smudged clay-like substance around its edges. It's hard to tell if it was just a thump or an actual voice. Either way, it was distinct and heard by all...
Allowing himself only a heartbeat of relief at the defeat of the undead horselord, Bastian turns to face the sealed door.
What was that? Stand clear of the door, in case something tries to break through.
Breathing a giant-sized sigh, Lesska lumbers forward to support Bastian in case an elder beast of chaos spews forth...
The adrenaline still pumping through her veins, Lydia moves up behind Bastian, the glowing spiritual starknife following in her wake. She keeps a firm grip on her sword in anticipation of the arrival of more enemies.
Ailis freezes mid-swing. That was very easy! What a competent bunch of warriors she had found herself among!
"Good job, everyone," she remarks proudly.
Lesska gives her friend a wan smile, still eyeing the door.
"Aye. But I came not to Atteran to kill my own people, however malign, ancient or...insubstantial. I like this not."
Daehalya breathes a sigh of relief as her companions are able to so quickly dispatch the malignant shadow.
Her head snaps around at the noise from the other door as her companions take up positions in front of it. Feeling protected, she gets closer to look at the clay and see if she can tell exactly what it is, though she follows Master Garmont's lead and doesn't stand directly in front of it.
"Aye. But I came not to Atteran to kill my own people, however malign, ancient or...insubstantial. I like this not."
"Nevertheless," Aiyana responds, "I'm glad you were here to defend us from such a malign spirit. That goes for all of you. Gioret's recommendation to bring this band together was well-founded. I had no idea Haramil's tomb would be this dangerous."
Daehalya:
Unsure how else to respond to the caligni's estimation and support Lesska merely gives a curt nod.
"What does your magic tell you Daehalya?" the Kellid asks, looking about nervously.
"It looks like someone may have used magic to seal the door -- I would guess to try to keep Haramil out, though I don't know if that would have worked. It may have just been a lucky circumstance of timing for whoever did it, if it worked," she replies.
"We could perhaps try to unseal it -- it sounded like there was something still in there... Of course, whoever sealed it could have been trying to keep something in there, not get away from something out here. But even then, best to do it while everyone's magic remains active."
Lesska listens, then steps back and turns her enlarged longspear around a makes ready to bash the door in with the blunt end.
"Open it?" she asks, matter of factly.
Since the door appears to be sealed from this side, my guess is that it is meant to keep something in, not out. And unlike the spell, the seal won’t expire and leave us with a threat at our backs. Call out and see if anyone responds, but if we only hear the moans of the undead, I say we leave it and pursue the tracks we found.
Suetonius nods.
"An eminently sensible tactical decision, Bastian!"
Nevertheless, Suetonius tightens his grip on his staff, just in case tapping the wall provokes a vigorous response.
Lesska nods to Bastian, a look of concentration knitting her brows. Seeing as she holds the door opening tool, she leaves the calling out to someone else, as if both jobs cannot be undertaken by the same personage.
"Hello?" Daehalya calls. "Is there someone in there?"
As Daehalya calls out in an attempt to communicate through the sealed barrier, there's a strained moment of silence and then a bunch of sudden gibberish. The voice is hard to make out, but Aiyana immediately moves forward, pressing her ear to the clay-like substance at the edges of the door.
"They're speaking caligni...the dark folk tongue of my people," she states for everyone's benefit. Then, she calls out loudly in the same language, trading fast snippets of conversation that prove difficult to follow. It involves a lot of shouting to be clearly heard. Finally, Aiyana withdraws and addresses the rest of you.
"He says his name is Zyler. He's trapped on the other side, and claims the Reborn put him there...though, he's not a member of their cult. He served as their guide on the surface, but when he discovered and objected to their true aims, they betrayed him and left him here to die. He desperately wants out, but has no means of breaching the door."
Lydia narrows her eyes. "If we can get the door open, I'll be able to determine if he is lying or not."
Daehalya nods.
"Let's do that then. Tell him to step back and then Master Garmont, would you do the honors on that door?"
The elven wizard steps back herself to stay clear of the destruction and what might be behind the wall.
Aye, I’ll get that door down without much trouble. Tell him to stand clear - and the rest of you, be ready for anything. Bastian says, and steps up hefting his oversized flail.
After a few moments, he sets to the task, flailing away at the door in a blur of motion until only rubble remains.
Bastian's powerful blows turn the clay-like substance at the edges of the stone door into powdery rubble, though it takes a few minutes to do so. The activity creates an alarming amount of noise, but no further threats emerge. With the western door now accessible, the party is able to open it and venture inside.
The northern part of this long chamber has crumbled away into ruin, with rubble spilling onto the stone floor. A trickle of water filters through the cracks in the ceiling, venturing south where a shallow rivulet has created a wide pool in the middle of the room. The walls, crisscrossed with dozens of glistening slime trails left by pale gray slugs, depict a number of etchings of mounted warriors charging across a wide battlefield against one another, but the markings all bear signs of ancient damage.
A rag-enwrapped figure stands near the pool with several strips of gray fabric criss-crossing his torso and face before eventually laying across the top of his head like the fronds of a jester's crown. He wears leather armor with a shortsword and hand crossbow belted at his waist. He also holds a forked, iron wand in his hand, seemingly as a precaution against your arrival in case things go any worse for him. Upon sighting Aiyana, however, he gives a short bow and greets her in the same dark folk language they used to converse through the door. Then, he blinks and smiles gratefully at the rest of you.
"Your arrival is most fortunate for Zyler, yes?" he states in the common tongue. Though his accent is unusual, it's clear he's mastered discourse with surface worlders pretty well. "Repay you, I must, for freeing me from this dark place." He presses his hands together in a prayerful fashion around the wand as he nods. "Though...I fear I have little to offer but my service until I can return to Lyrudrada..."
Suetonius listens carefully to the creature, trying to gauge the truth of his words.
"Why did they trap you here, rather than simply killing you? Doing so required more than minimal effort, suggesting that they were particularly annoyed...?"
"They didn't kill him because he's a dark dancer," Aiyana answers for Zyler. "His caste holds a unique position in caligni society, serving as intermediaries between factions and clans. No one restricts their comings and goings, and they're always welcome in any community for as long as they decide to stay."
"It's true," Zyler agrees, "We're storytellers, historians, entertainers, and messengers. Good luck to any community, and bad luck to those who harm or threaten us. That's why the Reborn didn't kill me." Zyler hangs his head for a moment with a heavy sigh. "Oh, they made it clear that they wanted to...but, I desperately reminded them of my protected status and the many instances of terrible things befalling those who take the life of a dark dancer. Lucky for me, I was sufficiently persuasive. And yet, unlucky for me, they threw me in this chamber instead and used magic to seal the door so I wouldn't interfere with their mission."
He gestures at the pool of water and the slimy slugs clinging to the chamber walls. "They said all this would be enough to sustain me...at least, long enough for them to accomplish their task without me and return to Lyrudrada. If I perished after that, they said it would be my own fault for failing to sustain myself and escape...and therefore, not by their direct hand. The duplicitous bastards! I wish I could lay a curse on the very air they breathe so they all choke on their hubris..."
"They would fit in well with Kellids. Paramount attention to detail when it comes to justifying just why one hasn't broken a vow or agreement. Impressive. I have some food if you are tired of...slug." Lesska finishes by rummaging in her pack for rations. She pauses, as if realising something.
"Also, wouldn't there be a dangerous explosion if they killed you?"
Lydia listens carefully to Zyler's story, calling upon her divine connection with Desna to verify its veracity.
Shrinking back to his normal size, Bastian also listens as Zyler tells the tale of his imprisonment. He pays particular attention to Lydia's reaction, remembering her statement about being able to know the truth of his words.
Once Zyler is done talking, and Lesska extends her offer of food and drink, Bastian speaks up.
As soon as our new companion is refreshed, we should press on. We have already been delayed several times, and from the tale he's telling, it's even more apparent that we do not want the artifact to fall into the hands of the Reborn.
Addressing Zyler directly, he adds:
What can you tell us of the Reborn who came here with you? How many are there, how are they armed and who leads them? Are there any spellcasters or other specialized warriors we should be ware of when confronting them?
Daehalya is about to ask Zyler about his companions when Master Garmont beats her to it.
It certainly looks like they restricted his comings and going; they're adhering barely to the letter of their law. Maybe that'll help us somehow when and if we can find them?
"And while we think we know what they're planning, thanks to Aiyana, any other insight you can give us would be very helpful."
"...I have some food if you are tired of...slug." Lesska finishes by rummaging in her pack for rations. She pauses, as if realising something.
"Such generosity for Zyler! May you be blessed a thousand-fold! Yes, yes...food would be most welcome."
"...wouldn't there be a dangerous explosion if they killed you?"
"No," Aiyana offers, "Dark dancers are quite different from dark stalkers. A flash of blinding light is all they leave behind."
What can you tell us of the Reborn who came here with you? How many are there, how are they armed and who leads them? Are there any spellcasters or other specialized warriors we should be ware of when confronting them?
"There were ten aside from me," Zyler answers. "Some died though. In the fiery corridor. Others, too, maybe. Mostly dark stalkers, armed with blades, crossbows, and such. A dark caller named Shadriev led them. His magic preserved us. And then Nephenie. She sent us, of course. The Reborn caligni who reopened the Forsaken Fane. She wasn't here, but she had a way of communicating with Shadriev when he needed to consult with her."
Lydia:
"Dark callers are the spiritual leaders of the caligni," Aiyana adds, "We heard the Reborn had started recruiting some of them. Apparently, this Shadriev must be a devout follower of their philosophy. And, if he serves a higher authority, Nephenie must be, as well. What god do they follow?"
"I don't know," Zyler responds, "They never allowed me in the Forsaken Fane, but I do know there are owbs supporting them. I heard Nephenie tell Shadriev about one named Veilisendri. Whatever timetable we were following to retrieve the Cradle of Night came from the owb. It must want it for something, and Nephenie was adamant that we find it and bring it back to Lyrudrada."
"Nephenie is a dark caller too?" Daehalya asks.
"Do you know how long you were trapped? It sounds like we don't have much time if we want to stop them!" she continues urgently, already turning to continue their pursuit.
Lesska nods understanding to Aiyana, then asks a new question as she hands food and water to Zyler.
"If these vows they take are so potent, would we gain some advantage over...Shad...riev and his cronies were we to tell them they had inadvertently killed Zyler inside the door-magic or some similar accident?"
"Of course we might need Zyler to hide during such a ruse..."
Also:
"Ailis - what is an "owb""?
Suetonius chews his lip thoughtfully.
"In that case, it sounds like we might be making an extended trip down below, if we truly want to solve this rather unfortunate problem..."
"Ailis - what is an "owb""?
"More common allies of the Reborn are the owb...visitors from the Shadow Plane, often summoned by our dark callers to assist with the various rites and ceremonies of our people. They never speak audible words, but can project their voices into your mind. Our people have worshiped them for many years, and they aid us in many of our conflicts with other civilizations...as well as the in-fighting between different caste-clans or communities. The dark callers serving the Reborn have definitely begun calling upon these patrons more frequently, and its a definite source of power for them."
Suetonius chews his lip thoughtfully.
"In that case, it sounds like we might be making an extended trip down below, if we truly want to solve this rather unfortunate problem..."
Indeed. But first, we have to stop the Reborn from getting their hands on the Cradle to begin with. Let's go...
Lydia looks to the others with a slight nod, indicating that Zyler has told the truth. "There's not a moment to waste. I'm ready to confront the Reborn."
]
Lesska still isn't done with Zyler.
"Zyler. You travelled with these folk. Aiyana has to,d us of your various castes, and some of their capabilities, but what is Shadriev like? Most battles are won before they start, with proper praparation, arrangement of materiel etc - Bastian has questioned you on this, but I am interested in Shadriev's state of mind, his followers beliefs etc...Anything you might be able to give us to apply pressure against. An edge."
Ailis isn't sure what to think of this "Zyler", if that was his real name. However, it seemed that the others trusted him. That was enough for Ailis, and Lesska seemed to be able to wring some useful strategic information out of him. The tales that this man spun of the Reborn cult's fanaticism did not bode well for the success of their goal. If this cult had already managed to reach the Cradle of Night, then their mission suddenly would become a great deal more difficult. "I too wonder how long you've been in here. How many times did you sleep?"
"Nephenie is a dark caller too?" Daehalya asks.
"No. She's caligni like your friend there..." Zyler indicates Aiyana.
"Like me?" Aiyana seems surprised. "I must admit, I assumed she too would be a dark caller to have climbed so far within the Reborn's ranks...and to be associated with an owb. She must possess a powerful charisma to have brought so many together and reopened the Forsaken Fane."