The Lost Mines - Chpt. 14: What secrets do these Ol' Mines hold?

General Summary

Tarsahk 27th, 1486; Evening
Once some of the smoke cleared, Anders and Bludgarm moved thru the fungi cavern and caught up with Bree and “Mister”. Moving northwards, the group entered a larger cavern; ceilings 30 or 40 feet tall. Minerals in the ceiling refracted light from the groups torches such that it looked like a sky of twinkling stars.   Inside this large cavern, they found two buildings, one being more northwards in the cavern, sitting on an escarpment 5ft higher than the building in the southern part of the room.   Both buildings, the group noticed, were more human sized as opposed to the dwarf sized rooms they had encountered this far.   Upon inspecting the southernmost building, the group noticed scorched stone doors and partially melted hinges. “Mister” tried opening them, to no avail. Bludgarm though was able, thru some unknown way, to wrench open both doors.   Inside the southern building, they were greeted by what appeared to be old living quarters, a desk, a chest, and some old, magically preserved tomes.   They were then greeted by a malevolent spectral creature; a Wraith. It threatened them, however the group was able to parlay with it. In exchange for only the gold and gems in the chest (not the pipe), the group was to kill the spectator in the northern building. The group tried asking questions of the Wraith about what a spectator is, however, he only pointed a foreboding dark hand northward.   Unknowing what a spectator was, the group left and headed up the escarpment, to find another building. Upon reaching the north building, the forge of spells, the group found the doors to this building even more scorched and the hinges melted. Bree came up with the idea of using mending to fix some of the hinges, which proved successful.   Upon opening the doors, the group was greeted by a green spherical creature, approximately 4 feet in diameter, hovering in the air. As it turned, they could see it had a central eye, along with 4 eye-stalks and it greeted them, telepathically. The group tried to talk with it, however that quickly proved unfruitful.   Battle broke out and while quite terrified, the group was able to slay the spectator. After doing so, they inspected the forge, finding that they could temporarily make their ordinary items magical, for a brief period. They also found a breastplate and a mace. The breastplate was Dragonguard, and the mace, Lightbringer, made for a cleric of the god Lathander.   After a short rest, the group went back to the southern building, the wizards quarters, at which the Wraith reiterated “only the gems and gold”, after which he sunk into the floor.   The group took the gold and gems, leaving the pipe. Bludgarm also found, hidden in one of the tomes, a map. Unsure where it led, all it had written on it was “The Stones Tooth” and a small riddle or poem in dwarvish.   Continuing on their way, the group confronted with either going west or north, they decided west, as it seemed that the pulsing boom in the caverns was coming from the north passage.   Heading west, the group found a dark cavern, with a large old furnace and huge bellows in it. They were greeted by a floating skull bathed in green flame, along with 8 zombies. Fighting immediately broke out, with “Mister” running in to attack the flameskull and the others sanding back in the hallway entrance to try and use ranged attacks. The zombies mostly focused on the larger group, leaving “Mister” alone with the flameskull and one or two zombies.   Even though it was quite difficult, the group took down the enemies, but not before the flameskull got off a Fireball, damaging the group.   Some quick recollection on Bludgarms part and he was able to remember that flameskulls are evil, undead bastards and likely to revive. With short work, he took the remains of the flameskull and put them in the stone closet in the wizards quarters and “Arcane Locked” the door. Once they were confident that it was secured away, the group headed back to the furnace and headed south. Here, they were greeted by a large hall, for which was so long that they could not see across it with the torches they had.   Not at all being stealthy, they made their way into the dining hall and were greeted by an onslaught of ghouls. The ghouls appeared to keep coming from the West end of the hall, out of sight. However, after nearly a dozen were feld, the onslaught ended. At this point, resources depleted and exhaustion taking hold, the group is on the lookout for somewhere to rest and recover.