Ch. 2: Finally Inside the Tomb

[saalaria]

Was any thiefy type going to go and look round the corner in the other tunnel first?

[Stirling]

Is Tix ok?

McCloud will 'bring him round' and make sure he is fine. He'll give one more check to 'Bigby the gargoyle' and his '+3 backscratcher arm' and then follow the boys into the chapel tunnel at the rear.

[Alethan]

Shall I assume you all have agreed to brave the temple room?

I think that is the plan.

Quinn makes his way back through the tunnel and into the temple. Once inside he follows the path on the floor using the butt of his spear to check for any pit traps.

Skiiratch follows Quinn through the tunnel. When he gets to the new room, he begins shining light into the darkness with his magelite, wielding his wand in his right hand.

[tkrexx]

Urdak will continue being the rope anchor for any who wiggle thru the small passage.

[saalaria]

Skarlos will follow down the passage

[Bhart]

Is Tix ok?

McCloud will 'bring him round' and make sure he is fine. He'll give one more check to 'Bigby the gargoyle' and his '+3 backscratcher arm' and then follow the boys into the chapel tunnel at the rear.

Yes the halfling just seems to be distracted and not very focused on where he is.

[Bhart]

Urdak will continue being the rope anchor for any who wiggle thru the small passage.

One by one the others crawl into the tunnel. You left with Razluki and Tix. Both just stand there slack jawed and staring into space.

[Bhart]

Quinn, Skiiratch, Skarlos, and McCloud arrive at the end of the tunnel. You crawl out of the passage into what looks like a chapel. There are scenes of normal life painted on the walls, but the people have rotting flesh, skeletal hands, worms eating them, etc. Yet there are also depicted various religious symbols of good alignment. In the darkness to the south you can see a soft blue glow.

When Quinn takes a few steps down the mosaic path a pair of candelabras at the far end of the room suddenly flare to life. Their light reveals the rest of the room...

There is a mosaic path leading to an altar, and to either side great wooden pews face the worship area. A wooden railing divides the room, and south of it is the altar, a tiered dais with a wooden chair, 2 large brass candelabra holding 5 white candles each, and in each corner a large white pottery urn stoppered with a brass and wood plug. The altar is a block of strange opalescent blue material that glows with an inner light.

A human skeleton in black chain mail (badly rusted and torn) points to an archway on the west wall. The arch is filled with swirling orange mist.

[saalaria]

"Do we risk leaving the path? I think we must." Skarlos looks around with scholarly interest despite the offence he could be taking from the various evil scenes.
Can he tell anything from the scenes such as who this place is dedicated to etc?

[Alethan]

Skiiratch, ever cautious, looks up to examine the ceiling and determine it's structure, as well as make sure nothing is up there that could drop down on the party.

[Stirling]

McCloud will begin by expressing concern for the two we left behind...just staring into space and all out of it. Having checked them would McCloud have determined that they were under some effect, illusion, compulsion or just temporarily OOC and away from the game?

"Perhaps the effect of this place has begun to get to them and they need a pace to rest..." pointing at the pews, "this chapel could be a safe little haven if we can make the place secure?" says McCloud trying to sound convincing that some evil inspired chapel is going to promote sweet dreams.

"Best for us all to be in one place and not split up, I'll bring them here." So McCloud will dump his pack on the last pew bench (claiming it for his bed..) and go play shepherd to any lost sheep.

[saalaria]

Sounds very much to me as the players are MIA, the characterss are in limbo, Stir

[Alethan]

Sounds very much to me as the players are MIA, the characterss are in limbo, Stir

This.

[tkrexx]

The Dwarf eyes the small tunnel intently and grunts to himself. Mighty tight squeeze fr me, he thinks aloud. Mayhap just stay heern n wait fr Humon Raz n Halfnling Tex. Mayhap d'uddas be needn me t'pull'em out ifn zey gits n trouble. He will continue this self-debate until given instructions or until he can think of a proper course of action. Of course, instructions will likely come first.

[Mondego]

Quinn slowly makes his way into the room following the tile path. Before each step he tests the area in front of him using the butt of his spear. When he reaches the glowing alter he will visually inspect it, looking for any evidence that it is trapped.

[Stirling]

McCloud will usher the 'dazed duo' along from their positions into the hallway.

"Hey Urdak, I've found a couple of willing guards to stand watch over us", pointing to Tic and Raz, "I say we go into this tunnel of love and find the gold, unicorns and lovely rotund bearded dwarf maidens that yonder treasure hall beckons..?".

(McClouds preference would be to bring them into the chapel area but don't want to just herd them around if we can press on safely(?) with or without them).


Then with the last splutterings of his torch, McCloud will squeeze his way through the crawlspace and back to the chapel.

[Alethan]

McCloud will usher the 'dazed duo' along from their positions into the hallway.

"Hey Urdak, I've found a couple of willing guards to stand watch over us", pointing to Tic and Raz, "I say we go into this tunnel of love and find the gold, unicorns and lovely rotund bearded dwarf maidens that yonder treasure hall beckons..?".

(McClouds preference would be to bring them into the chapel area but don't want to just herd them around if we can press on safely(?) with or without them).


Then with the last splutterings of his torch, McCloud will squeeze his way through the crawlspace and back to the chapel.

I believe the DM's whole point behind leaving them behind is that the players haven't actively participated in the game for some time, so they are effectively out of the game. Sparkles, for example, hasn't logged onto the Unseen Servant since April 27th.

I don't think he means for us to try and continue to drag them along...

Well, I won't be bothered to, in any case.

[saalaria]

Are you roping in any fresh meat for the grinder from the waiting list yet DM?

[Bhart]

"Do we risk leaving the path? I think we must." Skarlos looks around with scholarly interest despite the offence he could be taking from the various evil scenes.
Can he tell anything from the scenes such as who this place is dedicated to etc?

You can see no evidence that the chapel is dedicated to any one god. There a symbols of all the known gods, plus a few you don't recognize.

[Bhart]

Skiiratch, ever cautious, looks up to examine the ceiling and determine it's structure, as well as make sure nothing is up there that could drop down on the party.

The ceiling is 20' high, vaulted and plastered. There are no signs of traps or critters lurking in wait to pounce on you.