A13. Glorious Sleep no More

We continue north past the sand trap, turning west to a door that opens into a room full of stench and refuse. Ghostly lights skitter across the floor in and out of the trash. But something else glints within the trash, drawing Daisee into the room to retrieve it.

That’s when we realize the lights are 3 foot long beetles that glow…and attack the kinder! Kevar casts ‘Fear’ that drives most away. Daisee swings her short blade (critical 20) cleaving both of the remaining light-bugs. Their phosphorescent guts now lighting the walks for a few brief moments before fading out. Digging within the trash she is soon rewarded with 3 turquoise stones and a rusty dagger (magical).

Now south then west coming to a heavy bronze door. What looks like perfectly preserved bodies (male and female) lie on stone divans. Two crystal goblets and a silvery flask, all containing dry powder, sit upon a stone table between the divans. Kevar casts ‘Detect Magic’ finding nothing. Noticing glyphs on the far wall, Kevar casts ‘Comprehend Languages’, “Beware many-eyed god will bring down fiery death.”

Daisee is already at the flask dipping her licked finger into the dust; a faint tingle tickles the fingertip (magical). Sudieman comes forward to touch the man; both figures jump to life, “Fool! You have broken our glorious sleep. You must pay…500 gold minimum for your stupidity.” The cleric raises his hammer as another form of offering to this obvious evil. Both figures pummel Sudieman before any of the rest of us can act. Our cleric down before his first swing! Even Daisee backhanded, momentarily stunning her. Enough distractions for her invisible fairy dragon Flit to fly in and steal the amulet hanging from the man’s neck.

Kevar and Diero cast as they move to attack these monk-like humanoids dealing flurry of blows. The monks attacking Kevar who barely survives the assault. Diero about to take a beating when Daisee regains her senses enough to heal the cleric. As Kevar kills the male, Sudieman stands to swing his hammer. The female taunting as she attacks, “Stay down fool.” The cleric down again, the kinder healing again. Diero moving to flank only to see Kevar ‘Msytic Step’ away. The druid now exposed. But magic missiles thud into the monk as Sudieman rises again to pound with his hammer. The last monk dead, allowing Daisee to collect treasure: a platinum bracelet, an ivory wand (opens to become a fan).

A secure room enough for a short rest despite the ever-present amber mist that slowly poisons us. With her monster book open in her lap, Daisee reveals, “I think those people were ‘Marshall Arts’ adepts.” During the time Daisee also had to time identify the magic bracelet she’d placed on her left forearm, “Rock magic. Once I attune to it, I’m immune to petrify and can also cast ‘Flesh to Stone.’ Cool.”

We continue thru the southern door…a long passage south, then west, and south again. 

But we pause as we spy human figures standing on ledges lining the passages. Too threatening. We turn back, thru the divan room, thru the northern door. We turn west down a passage that ends at an intersection obstructed by a huge sandstone block (10 by 10). Mere inches either side. Enough space for Kevar to shine a light revealing more long passages.

What looks like parallel logs on the northern passage suggest rollers that helped position this stone block. Daisee suggesting Diero transform into mouse to slip beside the block to then transform into an elephant to push it out of the way. “I thought about that; but, if the block doesn’t budge I’m stuck. I can only transform twice a day.” Sudieman slips his fingers into the crevice trying to tug the block…doesn’t move. Tries to chip it with blade but would take too long. 

About to give up and backtrack when Kevar suggest, “Maybe if we all try to pull it at once.” It moves. We push it up the slight northern rise where the log rollers ease the effort. No side alcove to open the way; so, we push it into the eastern bend to keep it from sliding back down. Allowing us to explore the southern passage that ends at another door.