Dawnilea shakes her head, "I do not believe my companion was thinking of it thus, so much as seeking a way to lead the boy to the adventure he clearly craves. I'd think the light of the reality of the situation may do well to burn away these dreams like the morning sun -- especially as I do not believe we will be passing this way again anytime soon."
"But I can return home with a trade caravan! And I promise not to cause trouble!" Aayef does everything but say pleeeeeeeeease?
”It could be a good experience. And the road to Oppara is not so dangerous as all that. Still, I don’t think any of us have any interest in interfering with a family matter,” Auguste says.
You spend a comfortable night at the estate and enjoy near-royal treatment from the grateful family and staff.
In the morning, your horses are saddled and ready to go.
Thaddeus enjoys the lavish meal, keeping his conversation to a minimum polite amount — he's too busy fueling up for the upcoming trip to spend much time talking.
Dawnilea says, "I'm thinking whichever of you want to bring him along as our new mascot should tell his mother it's on you. I've already got enough trouble without a wealthy foreigner carrying a grudge if he gets eaten by whatever we find in the tomb."
Emil coughs softly in dismay, covering it with another swig from his favorite mug.
"Yes. Well. I was merely trying to be encouraging. I certainly wasn't suggesting that we overrule his mother. That stare,..." The young cleric whispers to his companions.
In his normal voice, and with his usual smile in place, Emil addresses the mother's concerns.
"While I appreciate the lad's faith in us, I also respect your wishes milady. As,... somewhat of an expert in youthful follies and having more courage than wisdom at times, I completely understand your reluctance."
Emil turns to Aayef.
"Your courage and desire have already been proven lad. No one doubts your heart. You have nothing else to prove to yourself, or us. But I also think that everyone here wants you to succeed. Heaven knows that any family would be delighted to have a son bring honor and glory to the family name for generations to come! But may I suggest that instead of running off alone the next time the urge takes you, and it will,... you work WITH your mother? She wants you to succeed too. She also wishes you to live long enough to achieve said honor and glory. And she is in the enviable position to help you do so. I think that you will achieve great things. I think that working with your mother, you will find your start down that road a much easier burden to bear."
Emil blinks, as if in confusion,and glances at his mysteriously empty mug.
"My sincerest apologies. I seem to be rambling. I meant no offense milady. A most excellent meal. Thank you."
A short time later, when he is sure that 'mother' is not looking, he gives Aayef an encouraging nod and a wink.
"It may be for the best," Auguste concedes over a glass of wine, with a nod to Emiliano.
Aayef looks crestfallen at his heroes' willingness to bend to his mother's will, but concedes with a bow. He pulls Glory and her scabbard from his belt and presents her flat on his palms in a near ceremonial manner.
"Fare well, Soldier's Glory, and I will pray our paths join once more some day. I thank you for your trust... and your lessons."
"Farewell, Aayef the Noble. Be consoled; I have not found another worthy of speech since Honoria. I hope to hear of your brave deeds one day, but do not be foolish -- I value your life."
The sword falls silent and does not speak again.
Pity that Glory's a standard blade. Imagine the fun we could have together if she were a Cutlass..
Dawnilea smiles, "Given the number of heroes Glory has known, that is high praise indeed."
"Indeed." Echoes Emiliano.
"I admit I'm a tad jealous Aayef. I would give,... well, a lot, to be considered worthy enough by Glory to it speak to me. Just to hear it's tales would be a great honor. To be considered worthy of carrying and learning from her? Amazing."
He fills the lad's glass with a touch of his finger and a murmured prayer.
"To Aayef the Noble and Soldiers' Glory. May they find each other again in the future. AND have may both have new tales worthy of sharing to tell!"
Emil salutes the table, toasting the lad, and drains his cup in one long pull.
Rasoul examines your map and approves of your proposed route, making a couple of notes regarding the trail, good water, and safe places to camp if you do not fall in with a caravan. When you are ready to depart, your horses are brought to the front gate, groomed, fed, watered, and saddled. The saddlebags are well-provisioned, thanks to Lady Ghazali's gratitude. The family and gate guards gather to bid you a safe journey, and you are off!
The trip across the World's Edge mountains is through a good pass, and the journey - while beautiful and rugged - is uneventful. As you follow Remaio's map into the foothills on the Taldan side of the mountains, the rugged beauty fades into an uncanny desolation. You go for hours without seeing another living soul, casting a lonely pall over the trip.
Eventually, you glimpse a glimmer of white in the shadow of a low mountain. As you approach to investigate, it resolves into two composite columns supporting an entry roof and framing a tarnished silver door with cracked hinges.
In the place where a keyhole would be, there is a rain-streaked relief of a pegasus head. The damage to the hinges may have weakened them, as well.
"At the risk of stating the obvious, I believe we should be careful. There is no telling what wards may guard this tomb." Auguste begins inspecting the facade for markings, writing, or other symbols.
He also casts detect magic.
Dawnilea waits for Auguste to study the mechanism, trying to figure out how to use the blade, key, and holy water.
Emil studies the door as well, ...
"Hm, perhaps, Remaio did say that we would need this vial of holy water to enter,... and I dont see a keyhole, yet,... sooo,..."
Emil pulls out the aforementioned vial of blessed water, (not as good as his own blessed brews, but still, good is good.), pulls out the stopper, and pours a little on the pegasus head.
There's no sign of any warning on the door or its frame, nor are there signs of a trap. The door radiates a faint transmutation around the pegasus head, which changes and seems to partially dissolve as Emil pours the holy water on it. When the changes is complete, a keyhole has appeared in the forehead.
"Ah, well done!" Auguste says. "Shall we try the key?"
Dawnilea nods, "Yes, let's...", she pauses, then says, "Unless Glory's got a better idea?"
Thaddeus stands by, waiting for whatever is about to happen. "It would be surprising if the family had neglected the tradition of requiring a family weapon for entry..." he muses.
Emil pulls out Glory and tugs the sword partway from its sheath.
"Any thoughts Glory?" He inquires politely.
Emil shakes his head, disappointed but not surprised at Glory's continued silence.
"Ah, worth a try at least." He sighs, putting the blade away.
"Yes, let us try the key. The keyhole may vanish once more when the water evaporates!"
The key fits perfectly, and the door creaks open. The light from the doorway illuminates a granite pillar just inside the opening, with darkness around it. There's a dressed stone wall some feet behind it.
You hear the wind through the vegetation and the rustling of your horses as they browse and shift. But there is no sound from beyond the doorway.
It's quiet as... well...
Dawnilea says, "Well, that worked. Anyone have a light?"
Auguste draws his rapier and casts light upon it. ”Always a handy trick, that,” he says with a grin. He moves through the doorway.
The tablet is engraved with a list of names and dates, presumably of those entombed within.
About halfway down the stone, the list ends with "Honoria Alcastii, 4049 AR - 4123 AR."
The corridor down the left has plaques on the walls, dimly seen at a distance in Auguste's light spell. A bashed wooden door stands ajar to the right.
Thaddeus raises his eyebrows in surprise at the damage within the sepulchre, glancing at the others to ensure they see it as well. Motioning silently to the right, he draws his sword and moves toward the ruined door.
Thaddeus can catch glimpses of a room beyond through the crack in the door, but nothing specific. He sees no hint of movement.
Tilting his head toward the broken door, the handsome young man mouths the words, "Shall we?"
Auguste nods in agreement.
Emil follows the others inside.
He nods at Auguste's 'trick.
"A Handy trick indeed." He agrees softly, unwilling to disturb the sanctity of the place.
Until they discover that the sanctity has already been disturbed.
As upset as the young cleric seems to be about the apparent disturbing of a holy resting place, he asks a simple, quiet, question.
"Now,... How did a tomb robber even enter this particular tomb, considering the security on the entrance. And if they can pass that, why destroy a door? He asks, gesturing pointedly at the damaged door with his own rapier.
Emil takes a swig from his mug.
"Sorry. Nervous habit."
”Somebody who knows the family secrets, I should think,” Auguste muses. ”A jealous distant relation? A disinherited heir? With families such as these, some melodrama is par for the course.”
By peeking through a crack, Thaddeus can see the remnants of a pool of water, the back wall, and a column. There seems to be some sort of carving at the back of the pool, but he can't see the whole thing.
Dawnilea nods, "Or a jealous servant."
"Well, we have been sent to investigate..." Auguste cautiously tries to open the battered door.
"Very true!" Emil declares, drawing his sword in what he probably thinks is a heroic gesture.
"And faint heart never won fair maiden!" he adds with a saucy wink at Dawn, and joins Auguste at the door, pushing it gently open,...
The light (or darkvision) reveals a statue of a soaring pegasus rising above a pool of water in the center of the room. The smell of stagnant, scummy water fills the air.
All is quiet.
Dawnilea crinkles her nose, "Unpleasant, but I expected worse, honestly.... The statue is pretty, though."
Thaddeus nods in agreement with the sentiment and moves over to the statue for a closer look. "It's quite nice, he opines thoughtfully.
The Pegasus continues its stony stare into nothingness as Thaddeus approaches. The pool remains still and quiet.
From his position near the pool, Thaddeus can see another corridor exiting from the northeast side of the room, with a door blocking further view.
Emil follows his companions, cautiously.
Nothing new is learned from Emil's survey of the room. All is quiet.
;P
Emil also pauses to admire the statue.
"Now riding one of THOSE would be an adventure! Ladies love a good horse story. Certainly the tale would be worth a few drinks on a good nights pub crawl at the very least. Um, shall we?" The dandy asks, pointing his blade at the door in the NE corner,...
Dawnilea shakes her head, "It seems you target a... different caliber... of ladies than I do." She shrugs, then nods, "Seems the best bet. Let's."
”I thought everyone had heard of the famous horse-wenches of Oppara,” Auguste says with his usual dry wit. He draws his rapier as he follows.
"Oh. I thought ALL ladies loved horses." Emil drawls innocently as he approaches the NE corner. His smile flashes briefly before he turns his full attention to the door,...
It is indeed a door. Nothing stirs beyond it, as far as Emil can tell.
Dawnilea asks, "Are we waiting for it to open itself, then?"
Thaddeus laughs deeply at Dawnilea's joke. "Ha! A door that opens itself! That's rich!"
He then moves to help the door with its assigned task.
Thaddeus pushes open the door, revealing a long hallway with somber statues in each niche. They are images of humans, but their hands are broken apart and lie at their feet. Amidst the shattered rubble strewn across the floor, Thaddeus can see beautiful spears and longswords.
Dawnilea looks at the broken hands and the weapons, "Someone smashed the hands -- looking for something, or just revenge?" She approaches the nearest statue to try to get a better look at what happened.