Ch. 4: Onward and Downward

[Zhym]

Xale the dwarf, already skeptical about the party's "victory," is the first to notice it. The stones falling from the ceiling—they're totally the wrong type of rock for this area! And sedimentary stones don't break apart like that. They crumble. What the heck is going on here? He shakes his head, clears his eyes, and recognizes that the cave-in is merely an illusion.

Malibran also recognizes the illusion and clears it from his head. He tells the others that the cave-in is another of Acererak's tricks.

"ARE YOU MAD?" answers Worren as he dodges imaginary falling debris. "We're going to die if we don't escape!"

Elsa and fair lady Mason also continue to believe the illusion at first, but are quickly convinced by Xale and Malibran that they don't see what they think they see.

It's only a matter of time before everyone, even Worren, is able to see beyond the phantasm.

You stand in the chapel, facing a simple question: what to do next?

Status: Abrex (R9/MU11): 103/103; Eduardo (F10): 84/84; Mason (Mk10): 40/56; Elsa (F10): 58/58; Malibran (C10): 64/68; Zoster (F9/D12): 75/76; Xale (F8/C8): 54/54; Worren (C9/MU11): 53/53
Spells in effect: Protection from Evil (Abrex, on Mason): 17 rounds

[Grognardsw]

Elsa the fighter breathes a sigh of relief.

"Perhaps the lich chamber is still intact. We should check."

[ravenn4544]

"Acererack is a diabolical and cunning evil to waylay us with such traps. I agree we should double back and check. I am also reminded in the serenity of my prayers of the tale that was told to us in the twisted tiles upon the entrance floor... we have yet to discover any keys or throne as was bespoke. Is that a clue that we have yet to truly uncover the lich's lair or just another trick to waylay those that would penetrate into it's lair? I think we have yet to discover the true evil in this accursed place..."

[Cwreando]

Abrex says, "I'd rest better knowing for sure what we just dealt with." Abrex disbelieves any rock in his way to get back to the room.

[ybn1197]

Eyes still nervously darting about looking at the ceiling, Worren manages a shiver before saying, "I agree. Based on the madness we have seen so far I find it impossible that the lich was defeated so easily. His traps have done us more harm than that direct confrontation. And it only makes sense that he would leave a duplicate in his place as a trap for us to spring."

[Cwreando]

If Ula has not shown up Abrex howls again hoping he hears her call back.

[Zhym]

Abrex howls, hoping to hear a response from Ula. His heart falls when all he hears are the echos of his own voice. He can only hope that his wolf managed to escape the tomb and run somewhere safer.

You make your way back to the burial chamber, Worren still looking warily at the ceiling. The chamber is as it was before, less one "Acererak" and mace. Among the detritus of this room are the lich's bejeweled golden crown, a jade coffer, a fine leather bag, and the solid gold couch.

Status: Abrex (R9/MU11): 103/103; Eduardo (F10): 84/84; Mason (Mk10): 40/56; Elsa (F10): 58/58; Malibran (C10): 64/68; Zoster (F9/D12): 75/76; Xale (F8/C8): 54/54; Worren (C9/MU11): 53/53
Spells in effect: Protection from Evil (Abrex, on Mason): 15 rounds

[Cwreando]

"Let's rest and regain our strength and spells friends, says abrex. We can search this room thoroughly as we rest a bit. I don't think we have the time to identify any of these items so I would caution there use until we do so. If anyone can shrink that couch it might help move it and we are ready to leave this dungeon and we are alive to do it."

OOC-I'll update my list once we are sure we are resting.

[Grognardsw]

Elsa, fighting-woman

"Aye, this seems as good a place as any to rest," agrees Elsa.

She sets out several candles of everlasting light while the thief types search the chamber for secret doors, traps on the coffer and such. She cautiously flips open the leather bag using the end of her trident, then flips it over to empty it using the trident prongs.

[Nuke66]

"Yeah, I agree, a good lace to stop." Mason indicates. "Can anyone by chance try a spell on me? I have lost my skills since I went through the archway. I do not know what the cause was, but I am lost."

[ravenn4544]

Malibran clutching his holy symbol whispers a silent prayer...

Casts remove curse on Mason

[ChubbyPixie]

Eduardo arranges himself to get some rest. Then realizes he'll never sleep right away. "I'll take first watch if you like." he says. He has a hard time shaking the feeling of embarrassment that he totally bought the illusion of the falling blocks. He supposes the mace was a big of flim-flammery as well. It felt so good to destroy even an illusory Acererack, though, that he almost doesn't care. Just feels a bit ripped-off.

[ybn1197]

Worren simply finds a quite corner and hunkers down in it, still quite shaken by the illusion of the crumbling ceiling.

[Zhym]

You prepare to settle down for a nice rest in what you're now sure is a false burial chamber.

"Can anyone by chance try a spell on me?" asks lady Mason. "I have lost my skills since I went through the archway. I do not know what the cause was, but I am lost."

Malibran clutches his holy symbol and whispers a silent prayer to remove the curse from Mason. The magic that is on him is too powerful, however. His sex and skillset remain in their changed states. Perhaps the solution lies in the same thing that changed him?

Elsa tries to flip open a leather bag using her trident. The bag is tied shut, and a trident is not a fine instrument, but the surprisingly nimble half-orc warrior unties and opens the bag after only a few moments of knocking it about. Platinum pieces and gems fall out of the bag and scatter across the floor. Two scroll cases also fall out: one made of bone, the other constructed of wood inlaid in silver.

If you're settling in for the night, please post any spell list changes in the OOC thread. If I don't get a spell list for your character, I'll assume you want the same spells you have now.

Status: Abrex (R9/MU11): 103/103; Eduardo (F10): 84/84; Mason (Mk10): 40/56; Elsa (F10): 58/58; Malibran (C10): 64/68; Zoster (F9/D12): 75/76; Xale (F8/C8): 54/54; Worren (C9/MU11): 53/53
Spells in effect: Protection from Evil (Abrex, on Mason): 13 rounds

[Cwreando]

Prior to resting Abrex cast detect magic and examines the room and loot. He then asks, "Lady Elsa may I examine the scrolls before we rest? Mason can you examine them for traps if Elsa doesn't mind. Depending on their school of magic or divinity those that can use them can decide how best to utilize them."

Once they are as sure as they can be they are not trapped he will cast read magic and examine the contents of the scroll cases.

He will do this in such a way that he shields the others in case of a mishap in some way and he alone takes the brunt of any traps or spell cast.

If anyone else wishes to do this he will yield to them as he is not concerned with dividing the loot so much as learning if there is anything that might help them make it out of the cursed place alive and intact.

[max_vale]

Xale is not surpised to see that his suspicions were correct and it was all an elaborate trick; they had NOT truly found and defeated Accerack. Of course; he ruefully thought; that also means that the fiendish Foe was still out there; waiting for them....

hearing his companions suggest that they should rest here for the night; Xale does his best to shake off his dark thoughts and keep his focus on the situation at hand. He turned to the now-female and wounded Mason and decided to employ his divinely given magic to attempt to aide his companion.

First he laid his hands upon the Monk and cast a Cure Serious Wounds dweamor...; after that; he attempted a Remove Curse prayer as well; and if that doesn't work; perhaps a Dispel Magic dweamor might suffice....

OOC: Cure Serious Wounds Spell (2d8+1 hps restored): [2d8+1] = 14+1 = 15

Remove Curse Spell &/or Dispel Magic spell per DMs call

[Grognardsw]

Elsa the female

"Quit bitching Mason, the female of the species is more deadly," Elsa says with a grin revealing her fanged orcish teeth. "I'm sure your skills remain intact. That gold coffer there is awaiting your search and lock opening."

The fighter gives the scrolls from the leather bag to the wizards. She examines the gems to admire their cut, size, and look in them for any captured souls, unsettling sights or other epiphanies of the eye.

[Nuke66]

"Some of them anyway. I will give it a shot." Mason says while she sets about looking over the coffer.

[Zhym]

Abrex speaks the words apprehensio hocus-pocus. He senses magic from the scrolls and from whatever is in the jade coffer. Examining the scrolls, he finds that one contains arcane spells.

Affect Normal Fires
Comprehend Languages
Nystul’s Magic Aura
Levitate
Scare
Strength
Wizard Lock

Inside the other scroll case is a map. Alas, it is not a map of the Tomb, but of the Fenrock Mountains 200 leagues away. An "X" marks a spot in the mountains, and writing at the bottom of the scroll identifies the spot as the location of "Acererak's Treasure Hoard."

Xale relieves Mason of nearly all of her physical wounds. Then he tries both removing curses and dispelling magic. Neither has any effect on her.

Elsa examines the gems for captured souls or other unsettling sights. The gems appear to be ordinary stones suitable for barter or setting in jewelry.

Mason looks over the coffer. She sees no traps. Will she open it?

Status: Abrex (R9/MU11): 103/103; Eduardo (F10): 84/84; Mason (Mk10): 55/56; Elsa (F10): 58/58; Malibran (C10): 64/68; Zoster (F9/D12): 75/76; Xale (F8/C8): 54/54; Worren (C9/MU11): 53/53
Spells in effect: None

[ybn1197]

Prior to going to sleep, Worren casts Cure Critical Wounds on Malibran.
Cure Critical Wounds: [2d8+1] = 7+1 = 8

He then casts Cure Light Wounds on Mason.
Mason only needs 1 so I don't think a roll is necessary.