D&D 5E (IC) Fitz's Folly

[gnarlygninja]

To the nine hells with this Ghorrak thought as he turned, holding up three fingers and pointing down to whoever's eye he could catch before retreating down the hallway.

 

[Hades#2]

Yassah

"Yesss, we ssshould return to the large temple."
Seeing the signal down the corridor he calls out to Ghorrak
"What isss down there?"

 

[gnarlygninja]

Ghorrak did his best to adopt the posture, stride, and facial expressions of a Tomb Guardian while continuing to head down the hallway.

OOC: I know this isn't technically correct but it's as accurate as I could do with charades.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

With the tomb guardian thrown over the smaller of the balconies, and the moving statues down there not following Ghorrak (or at least, it seemed so), the group in the smaller-version hallway returned to Chrysagon and the others at the larger intersection.

OOC: But where to now? You have still not checked the hallway to the east (nor technically, the hallway to the south from the larger intersection, you only went north). Here. Have a reminder map. 1) East (arches upward); 2) South (arches upward, but might be part of that weird loop); 3) Back to the zombie door, or down the grand staircase; 4) An unexplored north hallway; 5) Back to level ONE.

Spoiler: Map

 

[Kobold Stew]

"There are further guardians one level down. We should continue our descent," suggests Miss Imogen.

 

[Prickly Pear]

Hmm, I don't know, Chrysagon comments as the light flicks out of his flail. My magic is exhausted and would require some rest before I can be effective again. He scratches his head a little and says, The laboratory on this level could possibly be suitable resting spot, or even the fountain room on the first level. You know, he clarifies, the room next to the magnetic statue that destroyed my shield.
But this time we destroy the statue, he adds with fervour.

 

[MetaVoid]

"Why would we return? I mean, that guardian required sssome ssserious firepower. But you are hardly ineffective without and the rest of uss iss not ssspent. Magically at leasssst. You adjusst your tacticss accordingly." Ussal looks at the Thayan
"Going down may not be a good idea. But we can invesstigate the zombiess...there are three...and maybe we find sssomething usssful. Or find a good spot for resting without going back."

OOC: Not sure about Myrral spells, I'm nearly full and not seriously hurt (and I don't believe in 5 minute adventure days ) we're on a time critical mission

 

[Neurotic]

OOC: I'm not spent, Myrral can be a scout, he is fast, stealthy and perceptive so I approve of MetaVoids idea.

Myrral looks at the paladin.
"I don't think there are many of these guardians around. Or others immune to attacks. That seems excessive. We can quickly scout through this level and decide how to deal with the guardian that has fallen. If Ussal can heat it up, we can simply wait for it to expire. Your flail is effective. And if you use this staff, you can deal with the guardians too. I can identify the details if we rest for a while. But we should find a safer place."
He offers the staff from the corpse to Crysagon

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Now that they had the general idea of the Tomb, the group began to discuss their options. First, they started by going over what they knew:

They were seeking an object(?) known as the Soulmonger - a thing of great power that was sucking the life out of anyone who had ever been returned from the dead. It quite possibly was also empowering undead, and may eventually turn its power against the living. They had no idea where it might be (or even, if they were honest with themselves, that it was really here, though all signs pointed to it.

The tomb was built by Acererak, a powerful immortal (undead?) wizard who enslaved the population of Omu, killed their "gods" (animal totem spirits) and entombed them here.

The Tomb of the Nine held many traps, hazards, and guardians. It appeared that Acererak liked to toy with his potential enemies. There were clues, riddles, and mazes. All seemed less like something you would build to keep people out, and more like something you'd build to test their metal.

It was likely to get more dangerous as they went downward, and downward seemed the most likely place to find the Soulmonger. But Acererak seemed to be leaving clues on how to find their way forward. Maddeningly cryptic clues.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Dellrak and Myrral carefully scouted the level (the second level down of the Tomb of the Nine Gods) and came back to the group with a good idea of the general layout of that level.

OOC: Okay, let's try this. Here's the whole level. 1) The hidden staircase you came down, the room is the forge where the undead dwarves were making a tomb guardian. 2) Withers' study. Withers is an undead architect who was 'gifted' with undeath for designing some of the dungeons more dangerous traps. He is still there, when last we looked. 3) The Font Room. A dangerous scrying pool. Between 2&3 there is a spiral staircase going down. 4) Three zombies chained to a door. Dellrak pushed one of them back and Myrral caught a glimpse through the hole. There appears to be a sarcophagus standing inside a golden chariot in the center of the room behind them. 5) The Loop. Where the party got caught up in a duplicate? dungeon. 6) A room with marble checkerboard floor tiles, a stone slab tomb in the center, and wine pouring into fountains from the walls. 7) A small room with a statue of one of those damn gape-mouthed devil faces. 8) The way down to L3. 9) The way up to L1. The "stars" in the middle of the grand staircase was where Ghorrak saw living statues in the smaller version (it's too far to see if they are there in this bigger version).

Spoiler: Map of Level 2