Raaven snickered. "Yes, he'd be lost without me."
Jack eyed the little snake balefully. "Don't think you two are talkin' 'bout the same thing."
"I personally do not know or care what you do for fun, Jack" he chuckles inside his helm
For a snake, Raaven managed to look confused, and then embarrassed. "Oh. Yes, um, you're lost there as well, and helping with that is not in my contract."
Then she vanished from sight with a small indignant huff.
Mephistopheles winks as the wizard does indeed begin to study the auras....
Who knows, we might earn a good amount by offering 'exotic delights.
"We could offer a discount for clergy." she snickers.
The Horn - Level 3
The only aura that Meph can detect in Area 3-9 is the magic circle. If there is a psionic resonance here, your ability to detect magic appears to be unable to ascertain what that is.
However, there are spells that allow for the detection of such energy but you do not know them.
Nothing else in any other room in the west detects as magical, except you and your allies.
The focus now must be on opening that secret portal to access the rest of this level.
Shrugging at the false magicks being deployed here, the arcane Wizard turns his attention to the secret portal to access the rest of this level.
I suppose that you're waiting on me? No one here has ever toyed with Legos, I bet.
Frowning, the Wizard sighs
It may well be that the Victor collapsed the stairs heading up here to prevent entry to the eastern areas of the Horn ever again.
"So we just gotta haul some rocks? Annoying, but not a big deal."
"Stoneshape would be faster. Or summoning some earth elementals. Or one of those harps that build castles."
"Harps that... what? Those are a thing?"
Magic to tunnel through stone sounds like the best route unless we are all going to do hard labor
"Do we have such magic available? If not we may need to do it the old fashioned way." She cocks her head, "I don't think those lyres would help this particular case. They build, btu don't clear. In any case, I do recall that they need a skilled musician. Anybody here with such talent? I'm more about vocals than strings."
Mephistopheles' blue eyes look at the group. They look at the blockage. They crinkle.
Best I got is Unseen Servant dragging 100 pounds at a time onto a Floating Disk to cart away. Again. Not a Trasmuter.
He laughs.
Would using undead be possible? We may very well need to look into labor that can keep their mouths shut or are disposable.
"We'll cross that bridge when we get there, current obstacles first" as he looks around
The Horn - Level 3 - Area 3-5
The Party returns to the area where the magical door is located. You venture a bit closer to that space but not too close as to trigger the Fear effect as you discuss possible solutions to access those stairs.
Brian and Aurex still linger in the back waiting to be spoken to until speaking.
Clyde
Elliaria
Malleck
Raaven
Sir Balin/Grumble
Mephistopheles
Raaven believes that the area may contain more than just a magical door, there may be a hidden door there as well. However, it is likely that the bas relief is there to prevent anyone from approaching that area to double check whether the little demon is right...
"Well, if nobody else has any ideas, I'll come up and examine everything very closely."
She'll put a rope around her and hand this to grumble. "If I become incapacitated, pull me out."
Then she will go up and take 20 on perception.
Clyde waits
Jack took the rope and nodded.
The Horn - Level 3 - Area 3-5
Elliaria approaches the wall and does indeed find a secret door, incredibly well hidden, in the same area as the magical conjuration was discovered by Meph.
As she is about to attempt to open it, a incorporeal hand begins to reach through at her! Jack, on alert, yanks on the rope powerfully and Elliaria is yanked backwards hard. She manages to land 15' feet away still on her feet.
The figure steps through, he is dressed in Cleric's robes and a visage of pure hate fills his face, "More of you... more fuel for my soul!" he chuckles wickedly as three more figure emerge from the walls. These figures though are dressed differently, they all wear adventuring gear.
Clyde
Elliaria
Malleck
Mephistopheles
Sir Balin/Grumble
Wraiths
Round 1 - Clyde, Elliaria, Meph, Mal - GO!
Wraiths.
Sir Balin.
"It is rather sad to have to fight you, we could offer you food for your soul on much more regular basis if you prefer to instead work for us? Then we won't have to put you down like a rabid dogs"
The armored hulk snaps at the undead before him
what a start....
Noticing that Malleck is trying to cow the undead, Clyde steps up and belows.
STAND DOWN NOW!
Jack couldn't stand ghosts. There was nothin' to hit. Any other foe, he'd probably have thrown himself into the fight without a moment of hesitation, just for the fun of it. But ghosts? Ghosts made Jack have to think.
Stupid f*%&ing ghosts.
His eyes flicked over the tattered regalia, and the shrines behind.
"Hold up. A priest? You serve the Horsemen? Vetra-Kali?"
Mephistopheles' blue eyes widen at the appearance of the Ghosts!
The Horn - Level 3 - Area 3-5
Meph is quire certain that these are Wraiths. These foes drain your very life force (CON) and once depleted, their victims rise as spawn. The one speaking is likely the original doomed soul and the other three his spawn.
The Wraith narrows its eyes at Grumble, "Vetra-Kali... yes, my Master, you shall all soon greet him!"
Elliaria calls out, "Then we are not enemies. We have come here to restore the Horn to greatness. Once more it will be a bastion of unholy might! From here we will cleanse the world of the followers of Mitra and any who stand in our way. Join us and you shall consume so many souls in our crusade."
The Horn - Level 3 - Area 3-5
The Wraith stops entirely, "You have come here to restore the Horn? The only way to do so is to break the Seal, the Mitrans have made that process quite challenging..."
He pauses and processes staring at each of in succession, what he is thinking or whether he is utilizing some sort of powers is not clear.
"Very well.
Swear on your lives that you will aid in restoring my Master to his former glory and I shall show you the way to find what you seek.
There was a group of doomed fools, most of whom now serve me, that had treasures that the living may find useful stored in the secret room. Beyond the veil, in the same space but yet not the same space are the treasures that the Mitrans were unable to locate.
Ware that I am not the last Guardian of the Sanctum but within the vault are the means to make those who do guard it, yours to command".
"Subjugation is always a good way to start. As long as those subjugated also respect you later. Never want a rebellion to brew" he nods knowingly to those around him
Swear on your lives that you will aid in restoring my Master to his former glory and I shall show you the way to find what you seek.
"Yeah, that was already our plan. One more oath ain't gonna change anything, so why not. Yeah. I swear I'm here to free to break the seal that banishes Vetra-Kali. I ain't got a contract or any of that fancy stuff, so the words'll have to do. Good enough?"
"Name's Jack. This is Mal, Meph, Clyde, and Elliaria. What do we call you?"
The Horn - Level 3 - Area 3-5
The Wraith nods affirmative in response to Grumble's Oath, "I am Ezra Thrice Damned, the last High Priest of my Master, Vetra-Kali.
I have tried in vain for decades to break the cursed seals that keep my Master bound out of time and space. Perhaps I was hasty in destroying your erstwhile allies of the Fourth Knot, but then, as I was able to destroy them all single-handedly it's likely they were not up to the task set before them.
To free my Master, you will need the Three Eyes of Vetra-Kali. The Eye of Vigilance, the Eye of Hatred, and the Eye of Withering.
Though I am loathe to hand over the Eye of Hatred, you have sworn an Oath Ogerkin and the power of the Horn shall ensure that you follow that Oath, and so it shall be yours as the freedom of my Master is at stake. Unfortunately, I do not know where the other two Eyes rest. If they are not present in the Horn you will need to find them.
There are two vaults, one contains little save remnants of the fake treasure that we stashed there and the three bodies I mentioned, perhaps they had something you could all use. It is opened easily enough". He describes the methodology to trigger the opening of the room, triggering all three of Vetra-Kali's eyes in unison.
"The pocket dimension holds the last of our treasure, to enter that room, you must once more trigger all three of Vetra-Kali's eyes while repeating the phrase, 'Hail Vetra-Kali', then and only then will the true treasure be revealed to you".
"Let's search the fake vault first," she says brightly, "That way we save the best for last."
"Do we have all the eyes?" he questions the group
Mephistopheles' hands begin to empty his pockets....
....after his self imposed search, the Wizard only shakes his horned head in the negative.
Perhaps a clue as to the current whereabouts of the other 2 eyes will present itself during our fortuitous findings...
The Tiefling laughs.
"The pocket dimension holds the last of our treasure, to enter that room, you must once more trigger all three of Vetra-Kali's eyes while repeating the phrase, 'Hail Vetra-Kali', then and only then will the true treasure be revealed to you".
"I f+@@in' knew it!" Jack said with a laugh. "So what do these eyes look like anyway?"
Probably like the one we already have.
"The whatnow? I don't remember finding any daemon prince eyes," Jack said, raising a confused eyebrow.
"They are not talking about literal eyes." Raaven explained aloud. "They are representational, like this statue. The large emerald we found with that tome, I believe."
"Oh," Jack mumbled. "Yeah that makes more sense."
Mephistopheles' blue eyes look at Clyde.
Sweet! Only an Eye to find. Any clues as to its form?
Clyde is suddenly taken by a sudden dark urge.
The Horn - Level 3 - Area 3-6
Grumble activates the secret door to the non magical vault by pressing the eyes on the bas relief.
The fake vault is devoid of anything but three rotting corpses. Those corpses though, wear some items of great interest as former members of a Knot, they were no ordinary group.
Ezra gazes at you all with a sense of glee as you loot the bodies of his minions, you can all sense hatred from his minions but there is little they can do but seethe as you claim what was once theirs!
Inventory
1 set Chain Mail +2 - Balanced
1 +2 Mace - Menacing
1 Silver Holy Symbol of Asmodeus.
Periapt of Wound Closure
---
1 set Leather Armor +1 - Spellsink
1 +1 Longsword.
1 +1 Dagger.
Boots of Levitation
Trapspringer's Gloves
Small crossbow with 14 bolts.
---
1 Set Half Plate of the Dark Prince
1 Glaive Blood's Edge
1 Warhammer +2
Belt of Foraging
Unfettered Shirt
Longbow with quiver and 8 sheaf arrows.
---
6 Potions of Cure Light Wounds
2 Scrolls of Cure Moderate Wounds
A total of 97 Gold, 107 Silver, and 27 Copper.
Each had an adventurer's backpack with 5 torches, 1 flint and steel, 50' rope, a bedroll. 1 had a tent, the other a grappling hook, and the final one a mirror. 6 sets of adventurers outfits and three sets of boots designed for hard hiking.
----
After the looting and inventory is complete, you exit the room and close the door. Grumble approaches the bas relief and whispers Hail Vetra-Kali while he pushes the three eyes. The secret door slowly slides open.
This time, the door opens and a soft green glow emanates from within.
You have found quite the treasury indeed!
A ton (yes, 2000 lbs) of solid silver furnishings -- plates, silverware, goblets, candelabra, cirlets, jewelry and the like worth approximately 10,000 gp total.
600 lbs of similar golden items -- worth approximately 30,000 gp.
Six chests full of mixed coinage from dozens of nations though mainly local coinage - 5,500 or so total.
Two iron plates both carved in abyssal that read “Aticus” and “Andian”.
Ornate silver belt studded with obsidian (belt of giant’s strength +2).
A plain golden ring (ring of mind shielding).
An ornate teak wood box holding a glass lens (a lens of detection).
A walking stick of hard black wood adorned with silver fixtures and green semi-precious stones (rod of elemental metamagic [acid], lesser).
Three doses of stone salve.
A carefully packed crate holding a dozen potions of cure moderate wounds (labelled as such in abyssal).
In addition to all of this, there is at the center a small podium that rises like a claw. Between its talons it clutches a single dark radiant emerald. Quite similar to the one you found in the caves...
Mephistopheles' blue eyes look at Clyde.
Sweet! Only an Eye to find. Any clues as to its form?
As you enter the secret vault, Ezra points to the emerald, "It is similar to that. However, I am not certain where the last one is, assuming you did indeed retrieve the first.
Would you show me the one that you located in the caves?
The one located here, the Eye of Hatred, is inert, at least for now. Once activated in the Sanctum, the Horn of Abaddon is permeated with eldritch hate against Mitra and his followers. Anyone who casts a divine spell of Mitra in the Horn causes the jewel to glow. If the Eye of Vigilance is also present in the statue, it will reveal exactly where the offending spell was cast".
Mephistopheles' blue eyes widen at the Three doses of stone salve.
Per Gorgon perhaps.
The Wizard nods to Clyde, as he probably is holding the initial found Eye...
"Do we really need fancy eatware? We can get quite a monetary improvement if we get rid of everything. Some of the other things we can keep, like the magical belt for instance" as he waves his hand across the filled room
Would you show me the one that you located in the caves?
"Clyde's got it? I thought Meph had it." Jack said.
"Where's this Sanctum at?" he asked the wraith.
"Please do not tell me we have misplaced an enormous magical emerald," Raaven snarked as she floated around the treasure room.
"Sir Malleck, have you given any thought to how you intend to ward your captive against divination?" she asked idly. "I bring it up because this room would make an excellent prison. Nothing inside it can be found via magic, including people."