Rest it is then boys. I will offer my services to take the first watch.
"Maybe we should go pick up a couple of those everburning torches, so that those of us who can't see in the dark can do a better job during our watch."
The rest is uneventful, though Darren does occasionally hear sounds coming from the series of rooms they just came through. The only other noteworthy event is that after thinking about the dungeon thus far, Darren realizes that his idea of taking fire to whatever was in the cold crypt would only have made the matter worse, as it would have simply caused the brown mold to spread.
Ok gentlemen, any ideas on the ice crypt, or do we move onto the basement?
Before anyone else rises, Solomon is up, sitting in a corner, silently praying. After nearly a solid hour of not moving or speaking aloud, he stands and stretches before donning his armor and grabbing something from his pack to munch on while the others prepare themselves for their continued excursion in the dark.
"Darren, Petvar, do you two not find it unsettling to be down here in the constant dark? If I couldn' see in it myself, I think Id find it very scary." Solomon offers, making conversation.
When Filios asks about the direction they go next, Solomon takes up his shield and spear, "Makes no difference to me which way we go first."
Glancing at Solomon, Petvar gives him a hearty smile, "I've been combing the depths of Kaer Maga for a few years now. It can get unnerving, but just to be a part of the Deepwardens you have to go through some pretty excruciating training. Let's just say if you're claustrophobic or afraid of the dark, you won't make it."
Petvar gives Solomon and Morthos time to prepare their spells for the day and spends his time honing the blades of his longsword and shortsword.
Pokes the thread :-)
Can we not just attack the mold through the ice? You know, sort of chip away at it?
The feather is a feather token (bird).
Darren finishes strapping on his armor, and picks up his shield. "That's a feather token, too? I'm still thinking there should be another feather somewhere behind the 2nd door."
"Oh, and let's go through those reflection rooms on our way to the lower level, just for good measure."
Those who wish to can go back to the mirror rooms and re-reverse themselves back to normal. After that the party has the option of the stairs to the basement, the elevator room to the basement, or the narrow hallway filled with strange odors.
After discussing the previous days events with the group, Petvar is unsure how we may fight the brown mold. "Maybe if we make a torch or two we could beat it down with them? I've got a flask of oil left, but I'm not sure how much damage that will do and whether or not it will be enough." Petvar mulls over the decisions laying before the group a little while longer. "I'm not too sure we want to go into the next sub-level yet. I think we should clear out all the nooks and crannies and then go after the necromancer. He needs to be destroyed. No one like that should be left to live!" Petvar finishes with a flourish of one of his swords.
Filios will return briefly to the room with any others who wish to acompany him to right himself.
"Fire will just make the brown mold stronger. It lives off the heat."
"Fire will just make the brown mold stronger. It lives off the heat."
The hallway with the odors would be where you suspect the ex-priest to be.
Morthos turns to the others.
"Well then, it sounds like at present, there is nothing we can do about the contents of that final crypt. Before we head down-stairs, shall we go back to that final side-passage on this level first...?"
As you turn the corner of the narrow hallway, you see another circular staircase going up similar to the one you came down, and a decent sized room up ahead that from here appears to be a combination lab/operating room of some kind.
Filios draws both swords and progresses slowly on the heels of Darren.
Once the lab is spotted in the distance, Morthos quietly casts Shield, and then, gripping his axe tightly, follows Darren and Filios...
Petvar nods at the staircase in front of the group and draws both his longsword and a light hammer.
Solomon casts his light spell on Petvar's longsword before the group goes down the staircase, then takes up his customary position, spear and shield in hand.
This staircase actually goes up. After 60 ft, you come to the top that opens up onto a landing with a door. Petvar and the dwarves think they must be close to the level of the current ossuary.
Falling back to his training Petvar gives orders. Petvar points to the two dwarves and Filios, spreads his fingers out and points to the side of the room/hallway. Then pointing to Darren and back down the new room/hall, in a whisper, "You and me, we got light down the center."
Petvar intends for the dwarves and Filios to take to the sides in the dark as much as possible, giving them some concealment and also keeping the group out of an area effect.
Filios nods, and takes a position to Darren's Left, intending to spread out as wide as possible, but even with Darren.
Solomon watches Filios go to one side of the room, and Morthos to the other . He looks back nd forth between them for a moment before shrugging and moving over to join Filios.
As you close on the lab, you realize that no one is in there, except for a zombie standing in the corner, who seems to be in inactive mode. The acrid stench of chemicals and reagents fills this chamber, and the walls are marred by strange stains and scorch marks. Several tables are scattered about the room, covered in a bewildering plethora of glassware, alembics, retorts, tubes, simmering cauldrons, and smoking beakers full of brightly colored liquids. Scattered pages of written notes in a crabbed hand lie strewn about the chamber. A large alcove in the northwest corner contains a bookshelf groaning under the weight of heavy, dusty tomes and scrolls. Three large glass vats stand against the eastern wall, filled with bubbling green fluid. Floating within the vats are three grotesque objects—putrescent corpses, tubes and wires embedded in their rotting flesh, their skin discolored with decay and chemical stains.
Filios makes a sweep of the room searching for secret doors, and of course any traps he comes within 10 feet of.
Perception:
Anyone else going into the lab?
Petvar follows into the lab, senses on the ready. He glances at the zombie, giving a pause in his cursory sweep of the lab, seeing if he can identify anything special about it.
Be careful in this area on the north wall. There is an illusory wall that leads to a 10 foot pit dropping down to where we were earlier.
"You mean this one right here?" Petvar points to the illusory wall. Then, pointing to the zombie, "Doesn't seem anything special. But it isn't attacking. Best be on your guard. You guys okay with destroying it? Pharasma doesn't allow the undead to exist."
"Aye, better to destroy it now than to give it a chance to destroy us later."
Morthos shrugs.
"Oddly enough, I have no objection to the destruction of undead..."
He then conducts his standard Detect Magic-enhanced search of the room...
Morthos frowns, and then stage-whispers to his companions:
"Gentlemen, there is an illusionary section of wall to the north of the pit that appears to lead somewhere else, in addition to which, there is also a secret door in the Western wall..."