As the group decides that fleeing to regroup is the only real option left to them, Jhessa continues to move down the tunnel and into the previous chamber. Though it's all she can do to just keep moving as she's overwhelmed by another coughing fit, she shoots a worried look behind her at Felix.
"Go Felix! Run!"
Esgean pivots to draw the shadow's attention, which seems fixed on Felix and no other.
”Hurry up!” Kevan shouts as he clears out of the room trying to stay out of everyone’s way. ’I need to carry holy water.’ He thinks as he turns and waits for the others.
"Go Felix! Run!"
A vehement howl escapes Felix' lungs, not of rage or righteousness, but of shame as he briefly meets Esgean's eyes, stumbles backwards, and then turns around to run down the hallway.
Weakened as he is, he stumbles and plods down the hallway, trying to bear the weight of his own armor, past Aldmus and into the room beyond. He throws his back to the wall next to the doorway, ready to strike again should the shadow follow them.
"Iomedae...." He shuts his eyes and swallows his shame as he tries to pray again. "Iomedae, please let us survive to fight another day."
Felix withdraws and slowly makes his way to where the party is. Esgean is the final one in the room with the shadow.
Esgean moves, drawing the AoO and hits the druid. She feels her strength being zapped, but is able to move away.
The shadow positions itself between her and the exit and attacks out, hitting her. She is beginning to feel even weaker.
Esgean is the final one to leave the chamber with the shadow. She turns and looks behind her as she rounds the corner and sees the shadow slowly turn towards the charred body in the fire. She makes her way down the hallway and is able to shut the door behind her.
Esgean follows Felix out, not looking back. She just keeps running until she finds Rejke, then falls to her knees and holds the bobcat close against her.
As Esgean runs down the hall she urges her wizard friend to rush ahead of her as they go. Once everyone is clear of the door, they see that the shadow is not following them. Everyone is catching their breath, some laboring more than others.
Kevan retrieved a key in the room, it is a similar style and look as the one used to unlock the door in the statue hallway.
'I feel like I just mucked out all the stables. Man am I tired and I don't have a bed roll.' Kevan thinks as he lays on the floor. "I think we need to rest for a day, maybe more. When Dr McCaskill and I were attacked by the Scorpion of Schloss, the good Dr got poisoned. Luckily he pulled through by treating his wounds and resting. He taught me you can't save someone else if you can't save yourself. Does anyone have a poultice for a shadow monster touch?"
Felix uses one hand to push himself off the wall, but his hand stays on the wall to steady himself. He faces the others.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I'm not even sure what I'm sorry for, but... I'm sorry.
"Maybe Kevan is right. We could all use some time to recover, but I worry about what a day will mean for Dimira, Roldare's sister. Still, if we were to face another strong opponent in this condition..."
Esgean can't stay angry at Felix. She puts a hand on his shoulder. "You lead with your heart. That foe was too much for us. Let's find a safe place to rest now. I don't look forward to a few days of being holed up in this dungeon while that shadow lurks nearby, but we'll not find Dimira without you and Herskor at full strength. I'm also getting low on rations. Perhaps Rejke and I can go out to hunt during the days. A belly full of meat will do much to encourage future forays here."
She's not entirely sure that's likely, much less safe, but the thought of imprisoning herself in that small room for the next several days is not acceptable. She must see the sky and smell fresh air. It is as important to her as blood.
"Regarding Dimira, we're not even sure how long ago he took her. How long had the two guys in the front room been dead? If the talking skeleton has kept her captive thus far then he'll likely keep her longer or until it gets what it wants. We can't, or at least I can't face another creature of any significance like this. I can barely lift my arm. Besides, I need my strength back so I can sneak back in there and get my bedroll. That's a nice bedroll."
Felix wants to argue that if there's a chance that they can rescue Dimira now, then they have to take it. He wants to argue, but with every movement, he can feel the physical weight of his own armor on his shoulders and the other weight of his failure. He's never felt so weak before, and that weakness saps his desire to argue as much as it does his desire to stand up.
Besides, he thinks about what Sir Dramott would tell him, after he stopped waxing grandiose about the glory of crusades past and he got down to practical matters: If any of them fell to an undead down here, there's a chance they could become undead themselves. Felix' failure could actually increase the amount of evil in the world!
During his recovery, Felix spends his time kneeling in prayer, asking Iomedae to help Jhessa with the group's recovery, Dimira's safety, and guidance for when he should stop worry about the former in favor of the latter.
Esgean spends as much time outside as possible, only resting the night and taking her watches. Every other second is spent in the open air. She will help drag out the corpses and tend to the dead however the group sees fit, but then she and Rejke walk and hunt, fining the end of the canyon to explore the nearby countryside.
Each night before rest she create her stash of Goodberries and adds them into her depleted supply.
Battered and beaten, but still alive, the group makes their way back to the chamber where the food once was. They might be thankful that the aroma of the meats fully vanished when the food went up in a flash. To allow for extra space and protection, the table can be moved and positioned on its side in front of the door. The chairs can be placed around the room’s exterior walls or extra space for those who lay down and seating.
This first day of recovering the group is anxious. About their own wounds, about what could have been with the shadow, and what might happen to Dimira and Roldare while they sit and recover.
Jhessa makes her rounds over the next 24 hours aiding others with her Heal abilities. During this period everyone rest besides Jhessa, having small talk throughout or just sleeping.
Felix, even in his extremely weakened state, dedicates his time to prayer. Falling asleep from exhaustion while doing so.
Sleep takes you over as the room darkens.
You see the sun raising on a strange land. You hear a whisper in your ear that tells you this is a savanna. In the distance you see a group of creatures heading in your direction. As they come closer you see that it is a pride of lions. You can make out 2 males, 7 females, and another half dozen or so cubs running, playing, and attempting to trip up the fully grown lions as they run between their legs.
You notice another odd thing. Something moving between the scarce grass and brush. It flashes quickly from plant to plant. Unable to fully make it out, until it strikes. First at two of the cubs. It is a lion, or something that looks like one. Its fur is as black as the deepest cave, and as it moves it whips off and back to itself as steam rises off meat.
A few of the lionesses notice and attack, but as quickly killed by this creature. One by one the pride falls leaving one single male. It rushes to fight, but as it does you can now see through its eyes. Feeling as the creature charges with the anger and passion for its fallen pride. Suddenly the creature is not rushing on all fours, but it is running up right. Something is in your hands you are unsure of what it is, but you know the one is used to swing, the other is used to block.
Swirling the heavy ball that is connected to the rod you hold by links, you are ready to strike. The creature jumps and you raise the… shield to block it. But it passes through the shield and you feel it grip deep in your being…
Your eyes shoot open, you are still in the room with your companions. They are all mostly resting besides Jhessa who is tending to Herskor’s physical wounds.
Shepherding the party back to safety, Jhessa can't help but keep checking over her shoulder for pursuit from their shadowy foe. Feeling somewhat sapped even without having felt the chill touch of undeath, she can't imagine how the others are feeling. Cold, shaken, weak - horrible. She exhales deeply. Come on then Jhess, time to do your bit.
Once they are all safely back in the secure room, she rolls her proverbial sleeves up and helps the others into a position where she they can sleep restfully. Offering up regular prayers to Shelyn, she starts her rounds with Felix, the most hurt member of the party. Despite his protestations that she should treat the others, and the constant stream of prayers he sends up to Iomedae, Jhessa reassures him that she has it all in hand and it's not long before he falls into an exhausted slumber. I hope I do, anyway. But we all got alive, which is the main thing. That was a very close-run thing and I don't know what we're going to do now. We could barely hurt it at all. She doesn't voice her fears yet though, wanting the others to focus purely on their recovery.
Esgean seems to long for the sky above her head, something Jhessa can understand after the time they've spent inside the crypt. While it doesn't feel cramped because of its high ceilings, there are emotional scars from their time within too. A little jealous of the other girl, and longing for a bit of gossip and conversation with her, she pushes the thought down and concentrates on her duty. Everyone's depending on you here, and you're good at this. There will be all the time in the world to chat later, once we're out of here for good.
You all awaken, unsure of what time it is, but you feel as if you have had the greatest nights rest. The floor isn’t the most comfortable, but it suited itself enough. Herskor, Kevan, and Felix still feel under the weather, while Esgean and Aldmus are feeling like their old selves once again.
With the group hungry and running low on rations Esgean and Rejke make their way out of the tomb to hunt.
As the door closes behind you, so does the light of that room. With only a moment or two in complete darkness, you bring forth light from a spell. Using this spell seemed so frivolous before. But now in this tomb you see the comfort and great value of what some call a simple cantrip.
Making your way out through the hall of statues and by the pool, you see an opportunity to refill you waterskin or even wash off if need be. But you continue. Making your way down the stairs into the opening chamber of this tomb, the smell of festering wounds and rotting flesh continue to grow stronger here with the two corpse.
As you exit this chamber there is a cool refreshing wave of fresh air that takes you over. The feel of it through your red hair pulls the musty closed off smell of the tomb from your body. This is where you are called to be. In the natural world.
You spend quite some time this day hunting and gathering. You are able to collect enough game and scavenge enough winter berries for 5 of the 6 of you. Luckily, some of your companions have rations and you have Goodberries. Making this stretch will work.
Esgean and Rejke are gone for several hours. During this time Felix must still be fully taken care of. But Herskor, and Kevan would be back to normal by the next day.
Eventually Esgean and Rejke make their way back with freshly cooked meat and winter berries. With the use of one ration (spread out among everyone) the group is all able to get their fill of freshly cooked food and berries with only a small portion of a ration.
Eventually night comes and Jhessa and those who are still not fully themselves need to rest. Felix prays to Iomedae once again before being taken by sleep.
Sleep takes you over as the room darkens.
You see the sun raising on a strange land. You hear a whisper in your ear that tells you this is a savanna. Something is familiar here… but what? In the distance you see a group of creatures heading in your direction. As they come closer you see that it is a pride of lions. You can make out 2 males, 7 females, and another half dozen or so cubs running, playing, and attempting to trip up the fully grown lions as they run between their legs. Freedom in these lands.
You notice another odd thing. Something moving between the scarce grass and brush. It flashes quickly from plant to plant. Unable to fully make it out, until it strikes. No… not.. again? First at two of the cubs. It is a lion, or something that looks like one. Its fur is as black as the deepest cave, and as it moves its fur whips off and back to itself as steam rises off meat. A few of the lionesses notice and attack, but as quickly killed by this creature.
Flee! Is what you are thinking, but a roar rips from your mouth. The pride looks to you. Flee You roar again and they rush to follow. The strange beast still flashes from one plant to another, and is able to pick off a couple more cubs. I could have saved them.
You make your way to safety; the creature is gone along with some of your pride…
You don’t brush off what happened, but you also don’t allow it to take over your emotions. You remember the face of what did this, the pride will hunt.
Your eyes open to the familiar room that you have been laying in for the past two days.
After producing a small batched of goodberries for the evening, Esgean takes her watch and then gets a full night's rest, feeling modestly better physically but no better spiritually. She feels badly for Jhessa, who must bare a burden of tending to Felix and Herskor throughout the day, but it is in her nature. Esgean needs to be outdoors. The damage this past week inside the tomb has done goes far beyond flesh.
After memorizing her spells for the day (Goodberry x2) she wishes her comrades well and then departs from the safe room. The simple cantrip cuts through the dark, but not her fear, and the smell of rotting bodies only intensifies her growing sense of dread.
But then she and Rejke throw open the doors and step into the barren valley. Immediately the crisp cold tickles her skin. She breathes deeply and tears of joy stream down her cheeks and she smiles at the sky. Rejke purrs and curls her tail around Esgean's legs.
They hunt for hours, until nearly dark, then return to the tomb area and build a small fire. Having cleaned a couple rabbits in the woods to the east beyond the crevasse, she prepares it on a spit while night descends. It is still early, but she is aware of her friends inside. She returns to them with meals of cooked rabbit and winter berries.
Her soul is almost completely mended by the day out, and she looks forward to the next.
Kevan would normally milk bedrest and seek pity from others but seeing the state Felix is in he can't bring himself to do it. He's not feeling so bad after last night's rest and he is pretty sure he will be feeling topnotch after another good night's rest. Instead of looking to be served he even puts together his own meal.
"This is like the time my sister and I caught some sort of exotic fever. They put us, along with several of the other townsfolk, in a large building. Everyone was moaning and the crying was unbearable. Well, my sister can sing like anything. She belted out this amazing song, no idea where she got it from, and bam half of us were healed immediately. I really wish she had not gone to that convent. We could have made a fortune off her voice."
Felix doesn't talk much during his two days of recovery. He spends most of the time sleeping, recovering from his own exhaustion. When he is awake, he makes sure to thank Jhessa for her ministrations and Easgan and any others for supplying food. But other than that, he prays.
He prays to Iomedae to thank her for helping them all escape a fate worse than death, and to extend that help to Dimira. He prays that the dead villagers from Kassen they've found in this tomb will make their way to their final rest. Finally, he prays for guidance: Is he worthy of continuing to fight in The Inheritor's name? Was he in the right to avoid the chance of creating further evil when the chance to destroy the original evil was still present? His mind was plagued by all these doubts and more. He prayed for the guidance to purge them from his mind.
Fortunately, Iomedae answered. She granted him visions for him to ruminate on while he recovered. Threats to humanity are all around. It is a constant fight for survival, and innocent lives will be lost. Rather than take those events as a reason to give up, they must be remembered and used to harden the resolve to continue. Felix ran away, but he is still alive, and now he can continue the fight.
On the third day, after breakfast, Felix announces his intentions. "I am feeling much better. Assuming everyone else is, also, we should continue our search for Dimira."
Herskor dedicated himself to all the required menial tasks - his time spent with Arnama has taught him the value of the simple, but important chores. He made circuits of the explored areas inside the crypt, making sure they were secured, every once in a while dropping back to survey from afar the area where they fought the deadly shadow, and try to ensure it is not roaming.
He helps Jhessa with washing the bandages in the clear water of the pool they found before. He refills everyone's waterskins. He drags corpses out and away from the crypt, he brews the coffee, and he stands watch waiting for Esgean and Rejke whenever they are out. Always in silence, his thoughts his own.
Jhessa is very grateful for Herskor's work to keep the group safe and the operation running. She thanks him with warmth but the silent man merely nods in acknowledgement. Similarly, she's glad for Esgean to have found the freedom she had been craving as well as bringing in more food to keep everyone fed. However, there's a cloud hanging over the group at the moment. Unsurprising, given the physical and mental scars of the shadow, but its tentacles seem to have reached beyond what it clearly sees as its territory and pierced into the heart of the group. Everyone seems to have turned in on themselves to a degree, trying to deal with the defeat and repercussions in their own way.
With Felix's proclamation on the third morning that he is fit and well, Jhessa queries this. "Are you sure, Felix? You're definitely more yourself but I think there's still more work for me to do to get you back to full strength." She doesn't want an argument about it and she empathises with his situation - everyone else is back to full health, at least physically - and she suspects that he feels the retreat worst of all. She sincerely hopes that Iomedae heard his prayers and was able to spread her love and assuage his conscience somewhat. However, she also feels it's her duty of care to ensure that he has the information to make a decision and that the group are happy with it. Ultimately she's pretty sure it's a losing battle and she loves him a little for his selflessness, that he's willing to put his personal discomfort second to the need to find the missing girl.
"Assuming we are all ready to go," she continues, "do we have a plan? This place has been far harder than I was anticipating and it's taken its toll on us. There are things here we have been unable to deal with - through nobody's fault," she emphasises, making eye contact with everyone as she says this part, "so we need to be careful, and we need to be kind, to ourselves and each other."
"Well, I for one am feeling tip-top, thank you Jhessa. There is a damsel to be rescued so let us be rescuing. I still want to get that pack back but I'll wait until after we find and rescue our lady." Kevan replies he's been springing about the place all morning. Looking over Jhessa and Herskor's shoulders with a sage 'hmm-hmm' periodically to show he approves and telling stories from his time in the town usually trying to pick out instances involving the others and just making things up when he can't remember. As it turns out, he makes up a lot of stuff.
"Are you sure, Felix? You're definitely more yourself but I think there's still more work for me to do to get you back to full strength."
Felix meets Jhessa's eyes and nods.
"I am sure. It's time to continue."
Felix doesn't want an argument, either. Simple statements are best.
Her store of goodberries replenished, Esgean again returns her focus to rest, and by the morning she's feeling nearly herself again. The time outside yesterday rejuvenated her spirit and gave her the strength to press forward. The second day is a repeat of the first, with Felix in full recovery. Again Esgean and Rejke leave the tomb for a full day's hunt.
The game is even more plentiful this day, and she and the bobcat thoroughly enjoy the glory and bounty offered by nature.
As the day passes she once again cleans the kill and prepares it outside before bringing it in to the others. Before falling asleep she tops off her satchel with another two spells-worth of goodberries.
At the beginning of the next day she prepares Cure Light Wounds twice, just in case.
"Shall we try this key in the eastern door or the Northern door?" Kevan asks practicing his juggling with the key and a piece of bread.
Jhessa yawns - it's been a full-on couple of days and shrugs. "I guess we'll end up trying it in both so pick one and see, unless you have any intuition?" she asks Kevan. "Shall we say northern first as that's closer? Assuming I have my bearings, anyway."
"Sure," Kevan responds and jaunts off to the northern door. He does a quick listen, checks the door for traps, and then inserts the key to give it a go.
+1 to spot traps
Even though Felix is still not where he needs to be, he doesn’t believe that he can cause the group or the exploration of this tomb to delay any longer.
Kevan sets off to the room with the pool, where everyone can refill waterskins and refresh with the water as needed and checks the door for traps. No traps, just locked beyond his skill and ability.
Inserting the key, Kevan turns it and with a click the door opens.
A small stone bench sits in the center of this dusty chamber. On the far wall is a faded mural depicting the hero Kassen defeating the mercenaries at the entrance to this crypt, with hi blade piercing the chest of the mercenary leader. These figures stand alone in the center of a scene of carnage, with dead villagers and mercenaries all around them.
You notice that both Kassen and the mercenary leader are wearing golden necklaces, each made up of a simple golden chain, from which hangs an oddly shaped medallion. While not identical, the amulets look similar.
From this chamber extends a short hallway that has a door that leads east. The door does not seem to be locked or trapped.
Felix makes sure he does a better job of staying close behind Kevan as the halfling explores the complex. If so many people hadn't gone into the room with the shadow ahead of him, that encounter may have turned out very differently.
Kevan takes note of the mural and points, "Check it out, Kassen and the big bad guy had matching necklaces. I wonder if they bought them from the same guy?"
"this one's unlocked." he says and looks back at the group with his hand on the handle. "Everyone ready for an adventure?" he asks before opening the door.
Esgean sits on the bench to consider the mural. "It is said that history is written by the victors, but that's not true," she muses. "History is written by artists. So what are we to make of this? Kassen defeats his enemies en route to his own tomb? Perhaps I missed a lesson."
Jhessa's not sure if Esgean is speaking to the group or herself but she decides to offer suggestion anyway. "Maybe it's that we all meet the same fate, but we don't all have the chance to control that narrative and what we are remembered for?"
Kevan gives the door a double look, no traps detected and he pushes the door open. When pushing the door open there is a slight resistance to it as if it wants to shut itself.
Pushing open the door reveals a large single pillar in the center of the room supports this wide, domed chamber. The pillar is surrounded by a pit, but a stone bridge crosses the pit on the south side. Dozens of arrows jut from holes in the pillar, facing every direction.
Initiative: Round 1
All of you
"That looks like a trap." Kevan says considering the thing from a distance. "I could try to break it."
”Can you do that safely? Do you know where the trigger is? It would be terrible if you tripped something and it shot you full of arrows before you could even get there.” Jhessa is concerned about Kevan endangering himself and scans the room for any signs of… well, she doesn’t quite know what, but she hopes that the halfling will have a better idea if she spots anything unusual.
Jhessa doen’t see anything out of ordinary. Kevan mentions that it looks like a trap. Traps are typically hidden, this pillar is visible and the only real feature in the room. This looks to be more of a defensive feature, or a feature to scare people off who would want to enter or pass through this chamber.
Initiative: Round 1
All of you
Curious about the door and its feel of pushing back, Kevan looks to Felix. "Would you hold this?" and then he starts to try and climb the door using Felix for footholds, he smiles sheepishly, "Do you mind?"
Assuming Felix does not shake him to the floor he climbs the door to look at the backside.
Esgean can't see around the corner but trusts Kevan is working something out. She waits patiently.
Felix wedges his booted foot against the door, keeping it open as far as it will allow. As he looks warily at the arrows aiming in every direction, he recalls that in one of his dreams he had, he wielded a shield, which might come in useful for a situation like this.
As he ponders this, he's interrupted when Kevan starts climbing up the young paladin as he looks for a way to disarm the room.
"Do you mind?"
"Hmm? No, not at all. Here." He uses one arm to boost Kevan up to the top of the door.
Herskor draws his bow and stands at the ready.
As Kevan moves to step out the door, Jhessa grants him a blessing to aid him in his investigation.
Before Kevan moves into the room, Jhessa moves to the corner to see him and grant him a blessing from Shelyn. Kevan then moves in and climbs up the back of the door, with the aid of Felix, to see if there is anything causing to push back. He does not see anything that is mechanically doing it.
Esgean waits to see what is going on from down the hall. Herskor draws his bow. Aldmus, behind at the end waits to see what everyone else is doing.
With a loud grinding crash, the group feels what could only be explained as an earthquake. The room physically shakes and you see dust and dirt fall from its resting spots in the hallway and the chamber with the pillar. The grinding sound starts slowly but starts to speed up and get faster.
With the grinding crash the four of you see the source of the sound. There are four distinct sections of this pillar and they begin to spin in opposite direction as the section above and below it. It is gaining speed.
Initiative: Round 2
All of you
"Wow, that's strange," Kevan says scrambling down Felix to set feet on the floor once more. "I'm thinking you should let that door close now." Kevan says standing just inside the hall.
Felix ushers anyone out in the hall into the room and lets the door close.
”I don’t like the sound of that at all,” Jhessa says nervously and as she speaks her fears aloud Kevan and Felix retreat from the room, the latter closing the door behind him.
Esgean waits, her anxiety level rising. She's not sure if the group is going in or coming out.
Kevan and Felix decide to move back into the hallway and allow the door to shut. Once shut, the group can still hear the grinding of the pillar shifting along with the floor and walls vibrating.
If no one pushes their way through to open the door, several minutes pass as the sound and vibrations begin to slow and eventually stop.
Pushing the door open you hear something sliding on the floor within the circular chamber. Looking on the floor the group of you sees hundreds of broken blunted arrows littering the floor.
There is still pushback on the door as is if it were to try to shut if you let go of it.
From where you stand, you see a door on the south side of the chamber.
Felix cautiously pushes the door open again to see the room littered with spent arrows.
"Looks like we made the right call to stay out here, but I think whatever is running this room is still active. But there's a door now open across the way. If we hustle, we might make it before something happens, but we should move as a group."
"Say when, and we will dash away, dash away all." Kevan says taking up a runners starting pose.