|
Kahwen looks around as everyone is getting prepared. He shrugs at Jahz's question. "Ask him. He may need both, though. That might be how he fights." He can't smile because of the structure of his mouth but his expression is the same.
When everyone has stowed everything, he heads down the trail past the campfire. He knows it's leading toward the edge but vaguely remembers there being a trail cutting back along that path.
|
|
As Ilsivinian still shows no sign of understanding you, when Jahz tries to communicate, the paladin seems very reluctant to give up either of his weapons...
Moving on, in the middle of the next clearing, you see a primitive yet gruesome skull-headed effigy made from wood, vines, and blood-stained bones. One path through the clearing continues east, one leads back NW to the stairs, and another dead ends to the south...
|
|
While Raelene keeps a close eye on the paladin, Kahwen studies the effigy and Arnold takes a look around the clearing. The tengu thinks the effigy appears to be no more than what it seems, a totem constructed by a primitive people.
Neither Kahwen nor Arnold see any signs of an ambush...
|
|
With Arnold and Mykel leading the way down the narrow path while Raelene continues to keep a wary eye on the paladin, you find it leads to a crack in the earth that splits the ground here, most of it covered by thick weeds and the roots of a huge strangler fig tree. Below the tangled roots is a deep shaft that descends into the gloom.
|
|
"And this is why you can't trust your memories," Kahwen says to Jahz, pulling out his journal.
He flips it to his previous excursion here. "Yes, yes, this is Sevenfinger's tomb. There's a drop and some...bottles on the side then, you're in," he says.
He snaps the journal closed. "Back this way then, in the spirit of exploration and completeness."
He turns toward the clearing to the north.
|
|
Moving north to the larger clearing, you see...
In the center of this clearing stands a large monolith, about five feet in diameter and twelve feet tall. Carved into the dark stone are the faces of dozens of one-eyed humanoid creatures, their mouths agape as if preparing to appease an unspeakable hunger.
|
|
Prudently deciding to ignore the gruesome monolith, with Kahwen's and Boftil's prior experience entering the tomb, you descend through the darkness and gloom into the tomb of Sempet Sevenfingers. Kahwen and Boftil find the first level much as they'd left it before, finding no new inhabitants...they quickly move the party to the door leading to the second level.
The heavy door to the second level has been chopped to pieces, though you can tell it once depicted an immense scowling face.
Through the door, spiral stairs descend 80 feet from the Hall of the Flesh eaters to an alcove with a single door...
|
|
Kahwen is less worried about new inhabitants than he is one that he left behind when last he visited. A certain
He's thus pleased to get down to the second level, though it occurs to him that if the first level was so troubling, the next one will be worse.
"Excuse me, Friend Arnold," he says, swapping places with the Wayang. He holds his Wayfinder up, tracing the brightest part of the light it sheds over the edges then the middle and floor nearby.
"You see, Student Raelene and Student Jahz, there are not traps everywhere but there are some places where traps are likely. A door is a perfect example. You always want to check a closed door for traps...or have someone with the proper skills check."
|
Kahwen need not worry - The Friz hurtles down the rope in an ungainly manner, mostly using her hands, but is fine. Arnold watches in amusement.
"Kahwen's right, sometimes the scariest things aren't the monsters in front of you. They could be whatever little thing your eyes passed over." The wayang is quicker to shut up than the tengu, as he joins in the search. He also feels like the advice he's giving is too basic even for this crew. They were allowed along, weren't they?
|
|
Kahwen nods at Jahz's revelation, looking at their befuddled paladin. "That might have been the only way he could get in...or out, for that matter."
"Nothing better than walking into a room where you can barely see in a complex you know is full of undead," Kahwen says, in a rare sardonic moment.
Yet that is just what he does. He is careful to avoid being seen and heard as much as anything that might be hiding in the mist.
He crosses the room to check the opening on the other side (or gets eaten by something in the middle while making the attempt...)
|
|
(or gets eaten by something in the middle while making the attempt...)
Raelene continues to keep an eye on the paladin and quietly cast detect magic ahead of the party at regular intervals. While she attempts to be inobtrusive she has no skills at sneaking being more used to singing Sarenrae's praises and providing healing services.
|
|
As Kahwen stealthily enters into the mist, he perceives several things. The mist is similar to that atop of the tomb but not quite as thick; visibility appears to be mostly limited to about 20' although the pockets of mist shift, sometimes allowing things to be seen a bit further. The tengu notices dried bloodstains on the floor; the opening he thought he was walking towards turns out to be a nondescript triangular alcove...
Raelene detects no magic but senses a general malevolence emanating from within the misty room...
|
|
Hearing the discussion behind him, Kahwen returns to the cramped stair chamber to get out of the way of the wind. "Nothing interesting yet, Friend Boftil," he answers the dwarf as he moves past, likely almost getting smashed himself if Boftil is on edge as he suddenly appears out of the mist and then disappears just as quickly on the other side.
"Very good thinking, Students. The proper tools can make things much easier and safer. Magic tools can be even better, if you have them," Kahwen says, waiting to see the results.
|
|
Raelene hands Jahz her wand and while he awaits Kahwen's return, Boftil goes to join him. Just as Mykel tosses a rock to get a reaction, and just before Kahwen returns to his students, Boftil sees a spear come out of the mist, point aimed at him...
...but the dwarf's armor barely turns the spear point away. Turning to see where it came from, Boftil sees the spear is held by a walking corpse with rotting and putrid flesh, its body skeletal in places with eye sockets glowing with red light. He also notices the 'mist' this creature strikes from is not the same as the mist filling the rest of the room as it appears to work in tandem with the creature and pulses sporadically with seeming voracity...
COMBAT! Round 1 - The bold may post!
Boftil
Mykel
Jahz
Undead Creature
Arnold
Malevolent Mist Creature
Raelene
Kahwen
|
”Whoops - there it goes!” Startled by the spear, Jahz releases a burst of wind from Raelene’s wand. ”And watch out for that fog - it’s hungry!” Hurriedly he draws his sword with a sweating hand.