The Mouth of Doom: Session 37

General Summary

Transgressors

As the mist started to slowly seep through the stone walls and gather at the edges of the Mouth of Doom, the Wrenjers talked about who would attempt the chaos statue. Artem was adamant that he would attempt first but two more could tempt fate. Vadim asked how would they write a song about it without actually feeling the process. The wizard was also rather keen on experiencing it firsthand, for science of course. Both Zetwuzadi and Leofric preached caution and if they wanted to attempt this room they needed to do what Ansible had done. The warlock had embraced the magic that washed over them when they had entered the room.
With the three chosen for the day’s attempt, Artem walked in first. It had been determined that they would each enter the room separately and only after the previous Wrenjer had attempted. As the tabaxi entered, the familiar mist washed over him. Last time they had resisted the magic but this time they let it settle on their fur as they embraced the chaotic magic. From the hallway the others could see Artem starting to fumble with his clothing as he was undressing in the room which was rather surprising to the others. Te’Leyuura giggled and yelled into the room that they should go into the side chamber. Some wondered why the rogue was undressing when Ansible had only donned the robe and boots over their clothing. Meanwhile, Artem stumbled to the side chamber obviously intoxicated by the mist the statue had shot toward him as he entered.
Using the wall as guidance and support, Artem moved to the second statue after removing the rest of his clothing and wearing one of the many provided robes. As the door opened the booming voice telepathically entered his mind. “What do you wish, experience or reawakening?” From the doorway Artem announced “Experience!” but as they were not in the circle nothing happened. After a moment the rogue moved into the room to repeat his wish in the proper area. He feels and sees things from his past, things that he had once experienced but not understood. The memories shift and grant him what once was denied. As quickly as the rogue became intoxicated after his experience he was instantly sober and rather embarrassed about the lack of clothing. When the rogue joined them out in the hall they asked him what it felt like and he explained that some of his memories were clarified and details he had once missed or not understood became explained.
The wizard stowed her notebook and stepped into the room. She let the mist settle over her and the Wrenjers lost track of her as the mist turned her invisible. At this point she moved to the side chamber and donned one of the robes and stepped into one of the pairs of shoes. Te’Leyuura was excited not only for the potential outcome but for the thrill of the unknown. She strode into the room with a skip in her step that could only be seen as the shoes and robe were the only things visible. The same voice reverberated through her and as she stepped onto the raised circle in front of the artifact, things went terrible. It felt like the air was sucked out of her and she was instantly enclosed in a tight area. From the hallway, the others could see the mouth of the statue open and the robe and shoes be sucked in.
Artem quickly moved into the room and only stopped when the statue was only an arms length away. The first statue hadn’t breathed on him and he thought it could because it already had done so for the day. Standing near the statue they could see that it had become animated like a construct. Currently the statue was slowly chewing on something and after telling the others what they saw they brought out their magical shortsword and stabbed the construct that had taken the wizard. With the aggressive action taken the telepathic voice echoed in his mind “transgressor your wishes will no longer be granted.” Artem then took a step back and asked the others if they should stay or leave? Zetwuzadi voiced her concern for leaving Te’Leyuura in the statue and with the matter settled, Vadim stepped in the room letting the mist wash over him. Instantly the bard became intoxicated. They were singing a rather vulgar and wonderfully fun sea shanty when they entered the room with the animated statue. As they turned to help Artem the same voice telepathically joined the inner dialogue the drunk bard was having. Unfortunately they had also lost the ability to gain anything from the statue.
It was becoming clear that the statue had enough sentience to understand what the Wrenjers were doing and as Jarvis entered the room to place himself between Artem and the construct he made sure he wielded no weapon. He placed his hands up to the statue and the rogue, making sure he was placed between the two but that he wasn’t showing any visible aggression to the construct. Jarvis yelled back to Zetwuzadi and Leofric that if they wanted to attempt anything they should remain there. However, both of them moved into the main room. The paladin not taking any hostile actions but close enough that if they needed to they would be ready. Meanwhile, Leofric had moved to the door where the action was happening and brought out his spiritual weapon, hitting the stone and joining the ranks of the transgressors.
The little air that was left in the mouth had already escaped and Te’Leyuura was going to suffocate rather soon. She could also feel the stone teeth trying to chew her. Sighing, she brought her waterskin to her mouth and her Vedalken ancestry allowed her to breathe the water. It was tight but she was able to grab the scroll at her waist and unraveled it enough for her to read the words inscribed upon it. The wizard was rather disappointed that the scroll was already being used but as it was either get out magically or find out what was at the end of the darkness that looked like it could be the statue’s throat. Instantly she teleported to the hallway, right where she had instructed Sindragosa to remain. With their captive released, the mouth opened and tried to suck Artem into it’s gullet.
It seemed that any of those who had been deemed a “transgressor” would be potential food. With the sound of Te’Leyuura safe in the hallway they all moved away from the statue with Jarvis peacefully closing the door behind him. Leofric could hear their spiritual weapon being consumed. Artem asked what it felt like to be in the statue and Te’Leyuura recalled that it was rather tight, without air and there was indeed a throat that the statue was trying to move her toward.
They decided to rest back on the first level before continuing down to the third floor. It was the same room as they had rested before and their route brought them through the room with the magical pools. Unlike the Brume that had washed over them and quickly unraveled the magic that had caused the pestilence, the Brume that had been leaking through the stone walls was gentle. However, over time the magical pools would be unraveled and this troubled the wizard as they had wanted to research them. During their short-rest, Leofric talked about how they could cure hangovers before they could even drink, Vadim had been intoxicated for a little time after the wizard had rescued herself from the statue. They still had one more room on this level that they needed Ansible for but her blessing from her patron had been used for the day and they had been resummoned into their vessel on Vadim’s hip. This only left the Mender Ward. They hadn’t fully investigated the leering demon face portal or the set of stairs that led deeper into the earth. Te’Leyuura had spent her rest Identifying some of the magical items they had found. Enya had departed them as they had started their rest. She fell back to the castle to help with the garden and train.
Knowing they were not at full strength, they decided to try the stairs instead of the demonic face portal. Sindragosa had not found a way back and they wanted to make sure they returned to the castle that night. With the scouts barely out in front of the group, they moved slowly and stealthy down the staircase. The stairs opened to a room. Near the staircase they could see a similar mural of the Mender’s pantheon and the words: Welcome to the hospice of the Menders, enter kindly and you are welcome here. This was on the northern wall. Farther into the room they could hear the stomping of hooves on stone and as the scouts moved into the room they found a stable that contained four undead skeletal horses. Across from the stables on the eastern wall, were a set of double doors labeled “the Gut.” They had already discovered the map of the area in one of the rooms and knew that this road led to the Rappan Athuk. Assuming that the path did not twist and bend, the Gut had to be nearly 60 miles long.
With the area clear of dangers, the scouts motioned for the others to join them in the room. Leofric approached the skeletal horses. They were tied to the wall and upon the stable’s northern wall were more writing. It stated that the horses needed to be tended and those who forgot would be flogged. Fear threatened to overtake the cleric as they were afraid of horses and these skeletal ones were also undead. He moved to attack but Zetwuzadi calmed the pink mohawked Mender. The horses were trained warhorses, ready for riders and were wearing some type of underdark leather, potentially lizard hide. It was assumed that they would travel the Gut but to where they did not know. Behind the double doors they could see a perfectly carved stone hallway that disappeared from their eyesight. Te’Leyuura sent Sindragosa to accompany Leofric’s panther into the hallway and after some time they reported back that it just continued. Wanting to see it with their own eyes, the Wrenjers entered the Gut.
It continued for a while, more than they wanted to travel for the day. As they slowed they quieted their echoing footsteps, they could hear faint music. After some time they could tell it was different melodies but it didn’t seem to be traveling towards them as they had stopped to listen. Figuring that the travel down the Gut would take awhile they turned back. It was still their plan to return to the castle for the night. They climbed the staircase and turned their attention to the demon faced portal. The last time they had attempted to investigate the portal they had to rely on Sindragosa and although she is a rather brave familiar she wasn’t the smartest. Now they had Zetwuzadi’s paladin companion, Erukoesk. Zetwuzadi removed her companion’s armor as Te’Leyuura tried to explain what the schools of magic’s auras looked like as they had planned on enhancing the celestial bear with their magic. Before the bear touched the portal, they were given instructions on what they should do and look for. They were to look for an exit and if there wasn’t a return portal then they should continue their path and look for a way out. The bear was blessed, marked and booped with the detect magic wand.
Zetwuzadi instantly lost their connection to their companion. The bear must be more than a mile away. After a minute they send Soren in after the bear. Jarvis leaves their companion wherever the portal went for a few minutes before they resummoned them. Soren reported that they didn’t find Erukoesk; however the room contained two pedestals. One near where they teleported in. Both stood about three feet tall and looked similar to a sundial. To indicate the size of the room, the tressym flew around the dining room. The room radiated conjuration with conjuration also on the pedestals that looked to move. Each sundial looking pedestal had eight notches and a smooth center that looked well worn. Zetwuzadi unsummons Erukoesk then brings them back to them. Upon their return the Wrenjers learn that they got bored and had noticed that the pedestals moved. They played around with them and got teleported into a room full of webs. Spiders descended on them and had started to eat them alive.
They at least understood a little more about where the leering demon face sent those who touch it; but now they had more questions than answers. However, they had decided to return to Castle Calaelen for the night.

Report Date

26 Jun 2021