Again, the priest quietly prays for the success of the rogue. As he does so, he looks to see if there is anywhere else to go past this room; doors or any other chambers.
Tekumbray continues to hold the blue-scaled lizard at bay with a combination of a steely gaze and ample amounts of jerky.
Still standing on the alter, the lizard takes a more relaxed pose and ceases its angry hiss.
Myev will keep her maul at the ready, waiting to see what Tek's grand plan is in regards to this lizard.
The gnome tosses another bit of jerky and carefully starts to slip the lasso of rope around the lizard's neck, just like ole Feathertree.
"That's right....easy ole boy...just a bit of rope...nothing to worry about."
The lizard hisses. Tek stares back and swallows hard. You do remember that old nutter Feathertree had a hook for a hand and a wooden leg, right. That little warning voice suddenly took on the tone of his mother or older sister. You didn't forget that important bit of info before setting off down this completely foolhardy path now did you?
Uhhhh.... Was his only response as Tymora's grace, fickle as ever, begins to fade.
"Still...in for a copper..." He mutters to himself slowly drawing the rope tight around the lizards neck.
This's the point when they might balk a bit boy'o, so ye best hang on tight and be quick on your feet." He recalls Feathertree saying as his knuckles go white around the rope. His eyes meet the lizards once again and this time he isn't sure who was catching who.
As Tek tightens the rope around the lizard's neck it quickly springs at him, the gnome only being saved vicious bite by a last second tug of the rope.
Seeing the lizard lurch at Tek, Myev swings her maul...
"I think I see legs behind the al-" Silas did not have a chance to finish his words as the lizard launched itself at Tek and Myev moved to crush it underneath her maul.
Baheera watches as things quickly go awry.
The lizard roars in pain and frustration as it remains restrained and now pummeled by Myev's maul.
Meebo takes Myev's heavy strike on the lizard's back as all of the cue she needs to let loose with a blast from her flamethrower, singeing the blue scaled beast.
The lizard for its part, bites again at its captor, and again Tek is able to pull the bite astray at the last second with the rope secured around the lizard's neck.
Myev swings her hammer down again, finally finding some semblance of rhythm with the weapon and slamming into the lizard.
With the creature restrained as it was, Baheera holds back watching the group's warriors attack, and smiling as Myev's run of bad luck seems to shift.
Utsuri lands two strikes, staggering the lizard, just before Myev brings her maul down on the unfortunate creature's skull.
With a loud crack, the lizard slumps to the floor dead.
"Alas...poor Ruffles, we hardly knew ye." Tek says with a sad sigh as the lizard falls to the unrelenting assault of maul and monk. His visions of gliding gracefully across the great chasms of the underdark shattered along with the reptile's skull.
Gathering his rope, he works his way around the back of the altar to see what is, or isn't, attached to the legs spotted by Silas.
Looking behind the altar you see what is left of a Cynidicean man. What he was doing, it is hard to say. Could have been looting, could have been trying to make his way out - could have word of the sands uncovering the pyramid spread already.
Regardless, you find on the remains a full waterskin, a sack containing 400 gp and two brown tourmaline gems (each worth 100 gp).
Tekumbray gathers up the loot to add with what they've already found and then looks for any more hidden exits. But he's much too distraught over the loss of the lizard and he only gives the area a cursory glance before quietly suggesting they go back to the swiveling hall to try a different direction to find these elusive Maidens.
Myev claps Tek on the back, perhaps a bit too hard, and looks down at the gnome apologetically as they make their way back and to another hallway. "Sorry about the lizard, man. It attacked, and I didn't want you to get too hurt."
Tek offers a weak smile and nod of understanding as he walks alongside Myev. "Not your fault. It just seemed like...like we had a connection for a moment there." He says shaking his head sadly. "It must have been something in my technique or body language. Made me lack sincerity." His gaze takes on a distant, thoughtful look and a bit of determination that might make one more than a bit nervous that he could try the stunt again. "Old Feathertree used to say a critter like than can pick up on any little twitch or other lapse and suddenly they'll know you mean to bind them to you. Next time I'll just have to be even more calm and sincere. Then I'm sure it'll work."
"You did exceptional Tek, absolutely brilliant. I am sorry it didn't work out." Silas says as Utsuri moves around to check the dead man. The priest joins him, kneeling beside him and whispering a prayer for the man's spirit to carry on. With the monk muttering about looking for something, he tilts his head.
"What do you seek, my shining friend?"
Utsuri searches the body, looking for a mask in particular, but finds nothing of the sort.
Utsuri's question is a welcome distraction from the loss of the lizard. The gnome nods thoughtfully and the monk's supposition but adds his own into the mix. "Perhaps those who survived him removed the mask?" He ponders. "Maybe they think it retains his spirit and it now hangs upon a wall of fallen fellows advising those who still survive." A shrug of the shoulders. "Or maybe they just don't like to make new masks..."
His thoughts trail off as they return to the revolving hallway. For several seconds Tek stares at the various buttons. Another shrug and he reaches out to randomly press one of the ones they haven't tried yet.
"Well, next time you try to do that, Tek, I can always stand by and let you go for it, even if it attacks?" She suggests, hefting her maul from one shoulder to the other as they walk along to the next hallway, happy to follow the gnome who seemed to be falling into the role of leader.
Utsuri examines the body for the cause of death of this poor Cynideacian. It doesn't take much of an investigation to gather that cause was blood loss, caused by the fangs of the lizard that once called this chamber home.
Heading out the chamber and back to the swinging hallway, the party continues their exploration of this level of the pyramid. Pressing a button, the group find the exit of the hallway settling on the same hallway with the maiden statues that you had seen before, remembering the pressure plate in the floor and the door with the rather sturdy lock at the end of the hall.
Tek's shoulders sag as he recognizes the hallway with its maiden statues and tricky lock. The Dark Lady, most definitely watching through the eyes of one of those cursed statues, was just toying with him now. Was this the only hallway they'd ever encounter again? He wonders quickly. Unable to consider the implications of such folly, he follows Myev's advice and pushes the next unpressed button. As gears grind and the room spins he fervently hopes this will deposit them someplace other than the statue filled passage.
Pressing the next button, the hallway swings clockwise briefly before the doors open again revealing behind you the passage back to where you spoke to the Magi. Straight ahead is another short hallway ending in bronze door.
Tekumbray searches the door and does not find anything untoward. Opening the door reveals ten women seated around a table. They all wear bronze chainmail over green tunics. Each woman is wearing a bronze mask, depicting the face you previously saw on the spear carrying statues in the previous hallway.
When you open the door all ten women spring to their feet and draw their weapons. The woman and the head of the table, whose swords glows faintly blue, forcefully asks,
Myev stows her maul and holds up her hands, wearing what she believes is a friendly grin on her face. "We are travelers trapped in this place...and we seek to free Cynidicea from Zargon. I'm Myev Hellmark." She lets the others take care of introducing themselves and continues to hold up her hands.
"Greetings, brave warriors of Cynidicea!" Silas says from beside Myev, his optimistic grin spreading across his face. "I am Silas Asgaven, humble cleric of Lathander. Like my compatriot said, we stumbled across this place after a terrible storm. We do not mean you harm for we have heard you and others are fighting against a fiendish intruder called Zargon. We seek to aid you."
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"Ahhhh...greeting my ladies." Tek says sweeping his hat from his head and offering a deep bow to the gathered warrior women. "I am Tekumbray Cobblepot, humble traveler, and it is as my good companions say...." He pulls himself upright and returns his hat to its proper perch. "The entrance to your fine realm was uncovered by a storm and we were forced to seek refuge. In return for the hospitality of your fellow Cynidiceans we have agreed to join the fight in freeing your ancient city from Zargon and the scourge of his followers."
"Both the Magi and the Brotherhood have agreed to join this cause. But alas it was clear to all assembled that we could achieve true success without the might and courage of the Warrior Maidens? Only by uniting all the forces of proud Cynidicea can Zargon's evil be defeated, we said. As so we have come to ask you to join with us in this great cause. The gods have allowed the sun to shine again upon your city, it is a sign that now is the time to put aside past disagreements and free your city once and for all."
It was one of his better speeches, Tek couldn't help but think to himself and he gazed into the masked faces gathered round the long table. Eloquent. Polite. Some of it even true. Well, as far as anyone could know the minds of the gods, it was true. Teamed with Silas' holy presence and Myev's burly directness, surely success was only moments away. Tek thinks, smiling, as he waits for a response. But the smile slowly begins to fade as silence reigns for several seconds. The only sounds the shuffling of his feet and the constant soft hiss and hum of Meebo's flame tosser.
The assumed leader sheathes her glowing blade. When she does so, the others relax their weapons.
"What you say makes a certain amount of sense, but what proof do you have that you are who you say you are and have made the alliances you claim? I do not know you and you could just as easily be agents of the vile one." the leader questions.
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Tek breathes a mild sigh of relief when the fierce warrior woman sheathes her blade instead of using it to part his head from his shoulders. But when the leader...and he had to admit it was a wise and reasonable question...asked about verification of the alliance claims, he found himself at something of a loss.
"Uhhhh...." Is his initial blank-looked response. But then he snaps his fingers as a thought slowly begins to materialize in his mind.
"A fine question, my Lady." He says a smile returning to his lips. "And wise. For it seems the enemy that besieges you and your fellow Cynidiceans is clever as well as evil." He gestures toward the table, asking for all to return to their seats and meal. "And while it may be little at the moment to ease your concerns we have spoken with Brother Kanadius and Chief Magi Auriga. I doubt if we were agents of Zargon we would have walked away from those conversations so easily." He says rapping his knuckles on the table. "Alas, we have no written agreement, nor token to present at this time. To be honest, I do not think either side really believed we would succeed in convincing you or the others to speak and work together." He places his hand upon his heart. "But may the Sisters of Fate, whom I hold dear, forever spurn me if I don't speak true when I say both of those leaders have agreed to at least speak of such things. And neither truly believes success is possible without the support of all the factions including your Warrior Maidens."
Tek drops his hand back down and gazes at the stern woman across the table. "If you are willing, we shall arrange a meeting upon neutral ground, you may choose the location. Each faction will be represented by their leader and a chosen second. And should Fate smile upon us, all three powers of this ancient city can at last come together and begin to truly throw off the shackles of Zargon and once again walk free within your own realm."
Myev leans over to Baheera after Tek's speech and whispers quietly. "I don't know how anyone could follow that."
The leader silently stares at the gnome for seemingly an eternity before finally saying, "Very well. Set up your meeting...outside of the pyramid to test the validity of your claim of your point of origin."
Tek's cheeks start to ache as he continues to smile at the silent bronze covered face of the woman at the other end of the table. A bead of sweat trickles down his back like an ant dashing from a rained out picnic. Finally, he is able to breath a soft sigh of relief as the stern warrior grudgingly agrees to the meeting. Albeit the location takes him a bit by surprise. He does his best to cover his surprise by offering another bow and tilting his hat back upon his head.
"So it will be arranged, my Lady." He says. "It will be a pleasure to see the sun above, or perhaps the stars. To be honest it is difficult to track the cycles down here as you must surely know."
He stops to think for a moment or two. "I think gathering at the entrance where we arrived should suit your request just fine." A pause. A brief look of puzzlement. "How do you track the passage of time down here, if I may ask? Water clocks? Hourglass? I think it would be relevant for setting when the rendezvous with the Brotherhood and the Magi should take place. I would think gathering in the equivalent of a days time would be sufficient for all to be informed and arranged?"
Once the time and place of the gathering of the three factions is arranged, Tek looks to his companions to see if any have other questions of these warriors of Cynidicea.
Myev shakes her head at the question of having questions and shrugs. "I've got nothing. We can just wait to ask anything we want to know at the gathering, I hope..." She offers a friendly smile to the bronze-masked women, deciding it probably wouldn't be a good idea to ask them what they look like underneath the masks.
"By hourglass." the warrior-woman plainly states. "If the Brotherhood and the Magi are serious about this, we will meet in twelve full turns of glass. I will see you then...for your sake I hope this is not a disingenuous offer of a pact."
Returning to her seat she adds, "I believe you have a bit of work to do." clearly meaning to dismiss you all from the chamber.
"Well, sounds like we know what to do. Back to the others, convince them to meet up...and hopefully, handle this whole Zargon thing...and then maybe, we can get out of here." Myev says, setting the head of her maul on the ground and leaning against it casually as she speaks.
"Fantastically done, Tek. You are an excellent speaker," She says to the gnome, grinning her tusky grin.