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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Shieldhaven" data-source="post: 2552471" data-attributes="member: 23427">I can say without reservation that this is the strangest place I have ever been; it may even stretch my definition of the word “place” in new and eye-crossing sorts of ways.  We have just finished killing a creature that enfolded Fel in its flesh and injured him badly.  Unsurprisingly we are beginning to run low on prepared spells and time, as Xilonen will be expecting us.To begin where I last left off: the fog is not the Phrenic Effluvium that I feared, but it is related somehow.  We experimented with the four levers, all of which had exactly the same effect – a force drew all metallic objects (including people encased in armor) to the ceiling at high speed.  Fel and Gerron were hurt a bit in learning this; strangely, they did not seem to note the comedic potential of the whole situation.  The levers had no other discernable effect.After much discussion and planning, Maeve stepped into the fog.  A rope was tied around her waist, and Gerron held the other end.  We had chosen the passage that the skeleton pointed to, for want of a better reason to choose any given passage.  This is where things get really confusing, and our skills of nonlinear cartography were tested.  I’m reasonably sure there’s no way to describe this place succinctly with the written word.  Segments of clear hallway are broken up by this fog, which dampens sight, sound, and the wits.  Maeve is having a slightly better time than I am of keeping it together while in the fog, but I think even she finds it difficult.  Much as we were advised in the Wayfinder Foundation’s Guide to Illogical Structures, Maeve left chalk blazes on the walls.  My mockery of Fel’s nigh-limitless supply of chalk is definitely coming to a middle.We eventually came to a doorway, which Fel opened.  The room had a broad, open floor, with a sort of ledge several feet up.  A man sat on the ledge – Yowen, one of the students we sought.  He told us of the splintering of his party, including the deaths of some.  They reached the temple and wandered into a large room.  One of the group was killed by a spear trap that filled the entire room.  He commented that the Dean went to some expense to get their team here.  Yowen has seen undead in the area, some cultists, and a sphinx – from his description, probably an androsphinx, the male of the species and the one best known for offering riddles to those it meets.  Supporting himself entirely with his spells, Yowen has been camped out on that ledge for several days now, I believe.  He is a cleric of some description – we didn’t ask too many questions on that account.There seem to be a series of similar rooms along what I have arbitrarily designated as the eastern side of this complex – it’s on the right-hand side of my map, anyway.  The one “north” of Yowen’s room had the spear-trap; we cut down the student and checked him for identifying marks or usable goods.  No such luck.  I am reminded of how fortunate I am that, while we occasionally argue amongst ourselves, I can count on the loyalty of Gerron, Maeve, and Fel to watch my back and get some of my remains home to my family, if death should take me.  Also, we keep our heads in bad situations better than some do, apparently.We were attacked by a pack of ghouls as we left this room.  Maeve annihilated them with a burst of holy energy.  How intensely satisfying that must be.The room to the “south” held the cloak-like creature that attacked Fel.  We eventually killed it, though not without doing some harm to Fel.  I threw a few more arcane bolts from my wand – need to be careful, though, since this is the only wand I’ve got at the moment.  This room and the spear-room also had ledges running around them.That brings me, I believe, to the present moment, in which time Maeve is healing Fel and we are getting a bite to eat.Some questions that remain:Will we really find Amun-Re’s symbols of office this way?  Will there be anything left of the other students once we’re out of here?  Does the sphinx guard the exit with a riddle, or is he just waiting for a snack?  And how does it happen that he gets enough to eat in here, anyway?  There can’t be that many lost adventurers.----------------Almost... seventh... level....I could use some advice on 4th level spells for a transmuter - but I'm not willing to really ruthlessly powergame Polymorph, since I don't want the GM to kick me to death.</blockquote>

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