The Dungeon of Graves: Session 11

General Summary

“Come and play…”

As Mogg’s magic faded above them, the group assessed their injuries. Three of the gargoyles had flown back to their perch above the grotesquely beautiful green stone mausoleum. But not before taunting the group. However, one of their own laid in pieces at the adventurers feet, the two jet black gems resting innocently in the dirt. Cresting the hill and heading down through the graves, Nam and Acacius rejoin their group. Jalter volunteered to watch over Fredd while the others went into the stone structure.
Nam, noticing the group’s many injuries, starts offering healing to his companions while Teava with some help examines the door. They notice that if they hadn’t discovered the key they would have never been able to open this lock as it was far above their current skills. Upon further investigation, they also notice that the doors look dwarven made but it looks like someone who is a devoted servant of The Master and not like the outside which was crafted very well; however, to an expert eye looked to be forced. Sinestra uses her three fingered clawed Mage Hand to twist the key in the lock and upon opening, the key disappears. Some of the more perceptive, could hear the small compartment at the base of the statue shake and shut.
At a quick glance, the inside of the mausoleum seemed to be lit by a bunch of black candles being held aloft by clawed hands; the flames atop the candles glowing sickly green. At the far side, the closest could see a sarcophagus resting on a raised platform. Before moving in, the group runs and grabs some necessary items off of their pack animal while Lothar casts Light on a rock and tosses the object in. The room had only been dimly lit before the rock and now they could see the walls seemed to lead up to a ceiling that looked to match the floor. Someone mentions that it’s a mirror but the rock is not reflected. They all patiently wait while Sinestra sits on the upper stair casting Detect Magic. She notices that the mausoleum radiates Necromancy with the outside radiating stronger than the inside; the walls seem to give off Abjuration magic, the candles Evocation, and some Transmutation thrown in.
With the magic known, Acacius moves in, quickly followed by their new companion Taeva. Between Keartas and Teava, they can tell that the work is from the same time and perfectly represents Tsar. Walking around the room, Taeva notes all the interesting things. She states that the lid of the sarcophagus isn’t part of the bottom and could be lifted, she continues to point out that there seems to be a secret door on the wall that looks like it’s a panel that pulls toward them. Keartas’ ears perk up at the mention of a secret door and starts to insist that the group opens it. At the mention of the outer wall having a secret door, Mogg ponders that it is weird since the outside didn’t seem to show this extra space.
After successfully investigating the inside of the mausoleum, they talk about what they should do. Mogg suggests that they rest, something that Tumeti had mentioned before moving into the structure earlier. Sinestra mentions that they had nothing else better to do so they should just move to the hidden door while Taeva casts Alarm around the door. After investigating the secret door, they open the panel and see a ladder heading down. Mogg notes that the outside of the mausoleum must be carved in such a way to not draw notice to the extra space. With the area open, a new horrific smell wafts up; a smell of decay and death.
Closing the secret door, they move to the coffin not wanting to have whatever horror that resides within to either follow them down or be trouble for them when they return through the area. Removing the lid, Teava and Nam release a cold mist from the sarcophagus. Within, there is a skeleton with two blades crossed over it’s chest, the bones pitch black and looking to be made of stone. Two glowing green eyes greet them as the creature leaps up with horrendous laughter and instantly the group is thrown into another battle. The skeleton moved with such alacrity and skill, like they were a battlemaster in their past. They all start wailing on the creature, some of them missing and some nailing the skeleton with mighty blows. Unfortunately, the skeleton is able to attack the Taeva draining some of her strength before eventually falling to Acacius.
They make sure the creature isn’t able to follow them by smashing their limbs. Thinking about the stories of Tsar and their army, this creature seemed to match the mighty warriors that were fearless and terrifying, always laughing in battle and syphoning vitality out of their victims. Mogg tries to use the magical bee honey on Taeva but is unable to restore her strength. Mogg and Tumeti finally push the mausoleum’s doors shut. As they shut, there is a whine. Nam takes everything off the skeleton; the weapons, chain shirt, and the black clothing it was wearing. Everything seemed to be painted, dyed or turned black.
Once again they talk about what they should do and once again they choose to push on. Mogg silently moves down the ladder that was hidden behind the panel. He informs Nam that he has a horn that would call them if he falls into trouble. The rogue descends quietly down the 100 foot long ladder noting the cave and the door at the far end with an iron door into some worked stone. The walls are not worked stone but the doorway is. He informs the group that it’s clear and they all travel down the ladder. The lower they descend the worse the decay and death smell is. Mogg unfortunately fails to fight the smell and gags as they all move through the iron door.
Each part of the cave seems to be covered in detritus covering the floor fallen from the cave ceiling. Keartas takes notes while they travel the area making sure they don’t get lost. As they travel, the more perceptive of the group spot rats scurrying away. Mogg continues retching and Tumeti offers more honey. Lothar wants to rest, now being the third companion to do so they now agree with this line of thought. However, as they talk the skittering increases and other creatures, not rats, are seen on the outskirts of the light. Heading back to the ladder they ascend back into the mausoleum just to have Taeva note that it looks like the walls move or the floor rises.
They descend once again into the area between the iron door and the rope ladder making an early camp for the night. However, while they were up in the tomb above someone had carved in Gylidder common, “Come Play…” Throughout their extremely long rest, they can hear scratching at the doors from small creatures and much larger ones. Taeva was able to magically lock the door so no one but her companions could enter or leave. They do identify that nothing on the skeleton was magical in nature and that the items must have been improved by the wielder. The jet black gems seemed to have started to “grow” green stone on the backside and unless they are dealt with it is possible that the gargoyle would regrow within a few days. Sinestra says they should just give them to the rats but no one seems to think that is a great idea. They try to smash them but there seems to be evil baked into the magic and it’s beyond simple destruction. Tumeti thinks for a moment and states that if there is evil within them, then maybe radiant magic would help. Nam fires a Sacred Flame at them and it seems to at least reset the growing timer.
Over the night, they all get accustomed to the horrible smell. About five hours into their rest, there is shuffling at the other end of the door. The handle moves up and down and the wooden panels of the iron door push in but still hold against whatever was trying to break through the door. From the other side they hear “I can smell you. I can hear you breathe” Lothar yells back “We can smell you, it’s disgusting.” Even while sleeping, the adventurers are assaulted by scratching, skittering, and haunting. For no reason that they can tell, the smell grows stronger but eventually passes.
Even with the obnoxious smells and disturbances throughout their rest, they all wake on the 18th of Zhira refreshed and ready for days adventures. Over the morning’s preparations, Nam has discovered that the weapons and the chain shirt have disintegrated; finally being affected by the ravages of time. They all gather near the door. Nam goes to open it but it seems to be stuck. Pushing against the door didn’t seem to help the goliath either. The cleric takes a step back, letting Acacius try their strength. Meanwhile, a jelly substance moves through the door’s holes and swallows the fighter up. Nam attempts to help his companion but gets hurt in the process. A battle commences with the adventurers hitting the Ooze and the creature absorbing two more of their companions. Three of the group scurry up the ladder and attack from afar while Taeva finishes off the creature. Tumeti pulls Lothar out and heals the cleric who returns and heals his fellow jellied companions.
Ever the judging companion, Sinestra hands out their freshly conjured Goodberries and instructs them to use them only to help raise their companions. After fully checking the door, Mogg determines that it is safe to open and they proceed after a short rest for the injured members. Walking through the same cave system the night before, they can notice that wherever the ooze had traveled the area seems to smell and look cleaner. Following Mogg’s stealthy lead, they move around the area.. They all note the collapsed hallway where the ooze must have originated from and determine that it would be able to clear but it would require a large amount of time. Everywhere there seems to be rat tunnels and once in a while, the more perceptive of the group, notice the rats watching them.
They head back to the right fork of the cave system and proceed to move cautiously through the area, throwing a rock to trigger any traps they were unable to notice. This causes noise to travel but they continue the process until the druid steps through a false floor and into a foot trap. However, before this they move into what seems like a viewing room. Broken candelabras, worn carpeted floors in which a clear pathway lead around the table that held another empty coffin. Behind the table they see a staircase that all but Tumeti clear while she steps into a trap. Mogg moves back to their companion and helps her clear her foot from the trap, taking the unused poison tipped spikes with him.
The next room had a single skeleton sitting at a table with a deck of cards sitting in their lap, the Ace of Spears facing up. Crawling all over the body were poisonous ants while they could hear and see water dripping into an old ante bowl. Much like the previous rooms, the floor was covered with detritus but this seems to be smashed chairs. Before leaving this room, they finally have the experts looking for traps and stop relying on the throwing stone.

Report Date

27 Dec 2020