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As Cizish picks up the first horn, he sees a vision as if memories from the past. Cizish senses that he is disembodied (perhaps not completely foreign to him), like a floating being. You are in the presence of a woman dressed in Ancient Osiriani garb. But any distinguishing features of the woman blur and shift, as if either magically obscured or remembered poorly. When she speaks—he recognizes the same voice he heard when you first entered the tomb and he recognizes that she is speaking Ancient Osiriani although you can somehow understand what she is saying. The woman stands surrounded by the aftermath of a great battle in the desert. She examines the wounded and dying with interest, ignoring their cries for help. She kneels by a dying man, places her hand on his forehead, and says, “Were you one of ours? One of theirs? It matters not. The Plague loves all of you the same. Do you feel it? As your body dies, does your mind cling to life? Yes—I sense it. Wonderful! I must try again. Soon even the Lady of Graves will have no hold over my fate.”
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Barboo's curiosity gets the most of her and she grabs the second horn.
Much like Cizish, she sees a woman with a familiar voice. In her vision, screams echo around the dark halls as the woman snarls. “They die too quickly! There is no time. I need healthier subjects.” She looks up, but her features remain obscured. “Go to the training grounds. Tell the captain I require another full squad of his most able-bodied guards for the Dungeons of the Ever-Dying. Perhaps they can survive long enough to further my studies. No—not one squad. A dozen fresh recruits each week.”
And then assuming someone picks up the third horn, another vision. Feelings of intense pain and desperation accompany this memory. The woman mockingly waves one of the horns into view. “What better material to preserve a memory than the horn of a creature fundamentally obsessed with knowledge? Perhaps I shall find others like you, take their essence, and perfect my magic. Pain? Yes. There will always be pain for you. I will leave you those memories. A suiting gift for a traitor.”
The memories can be revisited each time the horn is laid down and then picked back up. You search a little more in the room and you find nothing.
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Cizish looks wide-eyed back and forth from the horns to Barboo as they both repeatedly pick up and then lay down the horns. After a few times of experiencing the visions, Cizish beams a smile at Barboo and twists his head to look at Ulric and Olli, who are likely standing with a look of confusion mixed with disapproval.
Can you believe it!?! We are reliving some horrible woman's life as she murders people and Divs to conduct some tortuous experiment. How terrible and disgusting and wonderfully amazing!! Can you believe we get to see these things?? I mean of course it's appalling what happened and we must do what we can to stop this person, if she is still around, but I guess all those people are already dead, so there isn't much that we can do for them now, is there? So why not be fascinated!!?! Do you think she learned how to live forever? How old do you think she is? She is speaking Ancient Osiriani, so she must be OLD! Wait! I speak Ancient Osiriani! Or at least I understood it! Did you understand it Barboo? Are we linguists now.....
Cizish rattles on long after anyone (even Barboo) is listening. He is curious if this woman was trying to create a way for her to live forever or even a way to live via undeath (eg lich/phylactery). He can't figure how a Div would tie in to this woman's story, but is curious why she can use its horns to preserve memories.
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Cizish laughs as Ulric strains at the old, decrepit chest. Mr Ulric, you certainly look very capable to open such a flimsy, old chest. Now move aside and I will lift that lid!
With that, Cizish flows over to the chest and with all of the (tiny) muscles in his lithe body straining, he pulls at the lock to break it open.
After a few moments of futile straining, the chest doesn't move at all. You're not even sure if Cizish could lift the lid if it were unlocked! Well! He says, dusting off his hands, That's not going to budge. Can anyone pick this lock?
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Barboo studies the stones wondering if something will happen like with the horn. As she studies them she becomes convinced that stones were once flawless gemstones and that they were likely used as components in the creation of a spell or magical effect. In fact, she feels these stones represent failed attempts at necromancy of some kind. Might have even been early attempts early experiments on trapping memories?
Among the dead stones, Barboo finds four nice looking onyx gemstones.
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Cizish hops anxiously from foot to foot as the team inspects the stones. He seems to have little to no interest in dull rocks.
Come on, come on, come on! Let's keep moving, there is nothing to see here and these steps seem to be going somewhere. I'm guessing down! Would anyone like to take the lead? I'm much more comfortable in the back with Barboo! Come on! Let's go! Wheee! Cizish finishes with a hop and twirl and seems to almost float back to the ground, rather than just fall back like you'd expect. Like gravity doesn't have the same effect, or perhaps Cizish just isn't that concerned about the laws of gravity.
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At Cizish urging Ulric leads the group, actually up a small flight of stairs and into a 15' by 15' room. Detritus litters this room, including bits of metal, broken furniture, crushed glass, leather strips, and shredded parchment. The walls, ceiling, and floor are covered in deep gouges forming words and phrases in multiple languages.
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Barboo casts Comprehend Languages and reveals the writings contain the same message repeated all over the room in several different languages, “I will seek the Dungeons, find the screams, remember your name, KILL
YOU!”
Furthermore, you are able to gather up scraps of parchment in the room. The pages contained Ancient Osiriani writing, arcane symbols, and sketches of gemstones and humanoid skulls. The writing surely date to the Age of Destiny, around seven millennia ago. The edges of the parchment are caked with a dried, crystallized substance that numbs the skin slightly on contact.
You also find a sturdy box that holds 8 flasks of alchemist’s fire.
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You go back and search for hidden or secret passages in places you've already been. Olli makes a particularly thorough search, but nothing is found. You move on to what appears to be the last room.
Over a dozen small alcoves line this hallway, each containing rusted shackles bolted to the walls and copious amounts of dust. Three of the alcoves contain brittle skeletons hanging from the shackles. Frantic whispers echo around the otherwise-silent chamber, seemingly originating from the skulls of the deceased.
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Well this room is very interesting, spooky to say the least. I keep wondering when we will come across the Doru Div. We heard a lot about this creature before our adventure began.
Barboo takes a look around always ready to burst into her song of courage, if needed. She looks, listens and is ready to touch anything that might help.
(+2 vs local art/music)
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Barboo's religious knowledge tells her that these appear to be unquiet spirits. Though they don't appear to be dangerous like a haunt. Nevertheless, some divine magic like a bless, consecrate, or a similar spell might let them rest; perhaps just by anointing the area with a vial of holy water. Barboo thinks these bones once belonged to adult humanoids who seem to have suffered from multiple horrific and fatal diseases. But pose no current danger.
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Blinking at the bright sun Cizish lets his eyes adjust briefly, but Obahar's excitement easily gets the Sylph spun up again.
What didn't we find!! Ms Barboo and I picked up some horns that were imbued with magical memories. We both understood ancient Osiriani!! We also found some old burnt out stones that were being used in some memory magic and some poor skeletons chained to the wall. There was a chest with some swirly runes all over it. Very exciting! Also, we were almost killed by monsters.
If Obahar can keep up, Cizish eventually describes some form of magical experimentation with memory storage and relates the content of the memories.
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Obahar listens intently, Oh how unique and absolutely fascinating! The Dungeons of the Ever-Dying! I've never heard about that..where do you suppose it could be?
Then reflecting on another part of the story he adds, Do you intend to visit the Thrice-Shrouded Necropolis as the Lady of Graves was mentioned?
While you follow your leads, I'll return to my study to do some research, on these findings, and see what I can find out! Come find me when are done so we try put the pieces together on this grand mystery.
The scholar seems completely energized by your story and is practically glowing.
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I'll knock on the door in hopes of getting his attention, trying to get a chance to come into the shop to discuss the supposed poisonings in private. On our way over we maybe discuss some strategies of how we might befriend him as he doesn't know us. If he's reluctant to talk Barboo can use her sweet talking to try and say something about how we're trying to help get his name cleared so he can open his business back up.
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Thank you for inviting us in. We all come into his shop and make introductions. We've been asked to help investigate the odd goings on in town that seem to be a part of the recent opening of an ancient complex of stone. We've recently explored it and feel their is an evil presence associated with an ancient osiriani creature using mind magic and memories and doru divs.Probably from the times of the Age of Destiny. We worry that this malevolent spirit may have corrupted innocent people, causing awful things to happen. In order to clear your name we need you to tell us what you remember about the events surrounding the supposed poisoning of your customers.