The ceiling of the chamber is covered in what seems like real clouds, wispy and grey at the edges, but dark and rippling in the center...hovering over the wide top of the pyramid.
Tarn isn't bleeding, his blood is being forcefully yanked out of his veins. Next, once in the channel of the dais, it becomes transmuted into some sort of substance which is more energy than matter.
Tarn's eyes go a bit wide at the curious sensation, then he relaxes a bit, waiting to see if the spell intends to drain his life completely or just a portion.
"It tingles a bit. Almost as if something is pulling the blood out rather than letting it flow naturally." He says to Falko. "A most curious sensation really, and not wholly different from the time I was attacked by a pair of Desert Sandsuckers. Those nasty little beasts will drain a body of all its vital fluids in less than ten minutes." He looks around ears drooping in disappointment. "Of course there's nothing here to simply stab and then run away from..."
"Interesting." is all Szasa says as she watches the transfer.
"So, we've got a couple of things that we can do. We can watch our friend Tarn here be drained dry to have whatever is locked in above unlocked - that's what's going on up there" she said as she gesturing to the storm " - it's a rather interesting a primal version of the Knock spell. Right" she said, returning her attention to the altar "so this is going to fill all of these channels. Either he can fill it up himself, or we can all bleed a little. Either way, it's going to happen."
Spiderfin skitters down the wall as only a giant spider could. Since he doesn't want to get caught like Tarn (some irony there), he casts a web (so it detaches from his spider body before hitting) trying to target one of the other 12 channels with web fluid.
The same thing that happened to Tarn next happens with Finlogan, as soon as the web is launched, some force within the dais continues pulling strand after strand from his web sack...rooting him in place.
The many branched strands and their mercurial nature cover a good area and seem to fill 2 channels.
With a slice of the ol' barbarian finagling, Falko discovers that simply interposing the flat of a blade or shield is enough to break the beam and free the brave essence givers.
However, this of course counteracts any progress made to fill the offering bowl.
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"I don't think it's a offering. I believe it's the key to a lock."
The tingling sensation suddenly stops as Falko uses his blade to block the energy flow.
"Interesting...very interesting." The goblin mutters to himself. "But I'm afraid we're going to need whatever knowledge the ritual is meant to share at some point." He says to Falko, but then shrugs and kneels down to take a closer look at the metal box.
Tarn, investigating the box you find it once held leather cushions lining the inside, as if intended to safely transport delicate objects. Of course, the organic material has mostly turned to dust and scrap, making it rather useless.
As you stand back up from your investigations, the blood rushes to your head too fast and you feel a bit woozy. Your vision blurs a bit until its gone in a flash and...
You blink, and your vision clears. Nothing appears to be out of place, save for the heavy silence and the disturbing array of holy symbols.
"Ooooooh!" Tarn groans and gladly accepts Falko's offered hand as he rubs his eyes trying to clear away the vision.
"Thank you for your concern my friend." He says, slowly regaining his sense of balance. He starts to shake his head, but thinks better of it as his face turns a bit green...a more sickly green. "No. No I do not think it was poison."
He holds out the empty box. "Nothing in there but rotted padding."
With a puzzled look, he glances back toward the dais and its offering bowl. "I don't think it was the box at all. Instead, I believe it was linked to the offering. I received a vision." He says pondering what he saw as his tries to explain it to the others. He looks up at the inverted pyramid hanging over them. "I saw the tip of the pyramid hanging open, and old iron staircase leading inside. I tried to look within but the way was blocked by a giant oozing mass pushing through from the chambers beyond the entrance. Before I could do or see anything else, the ooze dropped down onto the dais. Where I could see it was a disgusting ball of green worms covered in some sort of slime and detritus." He shivers slightly remembering the squirming mass of worms.
"Not a particularly uplifting vision at all. And I've no idea if it was merely a possible future, a warning, or something we must prevent. Either way, I think we are going to need to get in there if we are to discover what happened to the Thayans." He says pointing toward the pyramid.
"Agreed. I also believe that we need to deal with whatever is in there in order to stop this rotting effect, which would seem to be spreading."
Getting a AHA! look on her face, Szasa asked one of the people with a helm of comprehend languages to find the date where the other scroll was signed.
The contract you found was from a few weeks ago, and the numbers match up with what the Zulkir told you -- 8 Red Wizards and their 16 Acolytes. You recall only two of them survived...if you call worm infested stasis surviving.
Once all channels have fresh water (the source of life) flowing through them, the contents rush towards the central bowl and immediately start to boil. The tip of the pyramid rumbles and shudders as it splays open, another crack of thunder from the outside chamber.
An ornate metal staircase descends from the structure above like a liquid metal waterfall, solidifying as it comes to rest on top of the dais.
A loud, mechanical voice echoes out "To ergastírio kleínei se déka, ennéa..."
Tarn moves toward the staircase, a look of satisfaction mixed with curiosity on his face. "Odd...it is like my vision, but the staircase is not bent and ruined..." It is then that the words translated by his trusty hat register within in mind.
"Hurry! It's saying the portal will close in a count of ten!" He shouts to the others and hurries up the stairs.
Szasa doesn't even hesitate. The chance to examine a new mithal is too intriguing to pass up. She flies up, taking care not to touch the staircase.
Spiderfin scurries up the staircase with the rest of the Heroes.
He also uses Divine Sense to see if he detects anything fiendish about the place.
This time, as Daryl parts the curtain of reality, he sees his party with leathery black wings and a dark halo of shadow fire...fiends, one and all! But neutral...?
Inside the pyramid, everything detects as evil undead. The walls, the floors, the dais, the archway...everything.
The spiral stairs end abruptly inside the inverted pyramid, its upper railing collapsed onto an identical dais. Just as below, there are 12 channels carved into the surface. Once all have arrived, the stairs melt again into a arcane liquid form and seal the entrance shut.
However, unlike the holy symbols below in the small dome, here you see a variety of chalk graffiti. They appear to be names written in the Common language: Zan-ki, Luth, Thurston, Chorizo, Nimgit, and Zahp.
Lighting here drips from the ceiling like honey off a beehive, its little droplets evaporating before falling 3 ft or so and generating a bright light everywhere. The stonework here is as expertly cut as outside and styled in some exquisite pattern suggestive of an advanced culture. It feels very dry and humid, like a desert...but its comfortably cool.
There are 4 archways leading into darkness in the 4 cardinal directions. The darkness is very strange, seeming to wriggle and flutter in your peripheral vision when you look away. Not even your darkvision can penetrate that strange void.
The southern passage (if outside is a reliable reference) is marked with an arrow and some other mark...
In the same place on that archway, there is a quick sketch of the constellation known as the Tears of Selune.
"That one." Szasa said, pointing at the name Zahp "is the name of a Gnome wizard. Rather annoying, at that."
Szasa pulls out her portable Hole and tries to activate it.
Szasa, the hole works, but...fiddling around with a few items reveals they are in rapid decay. Even brand new wares provided by the Thayans now more resembles antique, covered in dust and rot...at this rate everything will be gone in an hour or two. Only magic items avoid this fate apparently.
Daryl gasps and turns to the others with a look of horror on his face. "I"m...I'm not sure we should go there. It's extremely fiendish, and I fear for all of our souls should we proceed".
Daryl takes a position towards the middle of the group. He must go with them to perhaps save their souls... as well as his own.
Tarn ponders the graffiti for a few moments and tries to remember the various names listed on the earlier Thayan contract they'd found. "Does anyone recall if these names match any of the names from that earlier contract?" He asks pointing toward the chalked names while doing his best not to look directly toward the disconcerting void beyond each of the other archways.
"Perhaps these are just markings to let others know they at least made it this far before succumbing to the worm infestation?"
Spiderfin nods at Szasa's comment about the gnome while he slowly scurries around the room. He tests if he can climb on the ceiling and wall.
Finlogan finds the smooth stone of the ancient masonry is actually rather soft, like soapstone or raw talc, and offers plenty of texture for the hairs on his spider legs.
Tarn, and others who might double check the contract, the names do not match. Zahp was a member of the Mulmaster Cloaks (the arcane watchmen's guild) not the Thayans...(as those who succeeded at the History check might also recall)
Getting closer to the southern passage, the darkness is unchanging even though you've brought your light nearer. It is almost as it if it a solid black mass instead of actual darkness.
Finding no connection between the names listed and the Thayan expedition, Tarn shrugs and joins Falko at the entrance marked with the orcish 'B.' Gazing into the darkness, the goblin squints for several seconds trying to see anything beyond, but then shakes his head.
"Looks like there's only one way to find out what is beyond." He says poking a finger into the darkness before eventually stepping through.
Poking the black mass is similar to poking a sleeping cow, it shudders and heaves as if tickled. Without a moo, it zips away from Tarn and the archway into the next chamber, hanging near the ceiling as far as it can get.
The newly revealed room to the south is apparently some kind of retention cells or jail. A number of tightly packed bars hold block cells lining the walls here, and it is meticulously clean in the area.
The bars are so tightly packed they almost resemble a woven basket, a hand could not even reach through yet there is still enough space for a peek. Each contains the bones of some poor sod who just seems to have put his back to the wall and died.
Except the southern most cell. There you see a figure dressed in the red robes of a wizard, head bowed and arms locked in a meditative pose. The robe is tattered with age, and while it resembles the Thayan garb, its hard to tell.
There is a control box of some sort for each of the cells here directly adjacent. Etched with silver or mithral, with a little playing the tiny crystals in the box can be removed and inserted in a certain way to open the cells. Its actually completely obvious once you figure it out, and you might wonder why all doors aren't operated in this way.
Spiderfin keeps climbing around looking at things from different perspectives.
Szasa moves through the hallway with the cells, looking in all the rooms. When she gets to the Thayan, she says "So, how's being a master of the arcane working out for you?" with a mocking tone in her voice and a smirk on her face.
"..."
The robed figure makes no response, and no movement at Szasa's taunt.