A15 -Crypt Keeper

Sudieman was already walking back to the wall cave-in that exposed this crypt, “Nothing here for us; I’m not touching that axe nor defiling a burial.” “But if Daizee were here, she'd…; if Kavar were here he’d want the magic he detected inside the sarcophagus, …if Dyxon were here…wait he is here.” [just Ian playing his character since Ian failed to bring his own Fakeem] And so it was the halfling monk talked the others into despoiling the crypt, “Now if you’ll only be so kind as to remove the stone cover.”

Inside the coffin etched with fair warnings, they found the decaying body. His face covered in a bejeweled mask with a large jade diadem in the forehead. Bracelets covering his arms; rings on his curled fingers. Kevar having detected 6 magical items (not counting the axe still embedded in the wall pinning the shadowy arm), “The bracers, those rings and something else in his pocket, the small statue at his feet, and the jug.” So like good-little-grave-robbers, Dyxon and Diero begin prying at the fingers to get at the rings. And that’s when the eyes open! And the dust within the coffin begins to bind about the bones as skin reforming. “Aaah, such pleasant sleep and timely re-awakening! Someone not afraid of warnings.”

The vampire spawn attacking Dyxon. Then the monk, druid, and cleric attacking. The vampire grappling Sudieman which gives Diero the opportunity to grab the mask (thinking it was magical)…all rewarded with the sight of the hideous vampire with a white onyx clenched in its mouth. Necrotic bites and fetid claws inflict damage among the group before they finally kill the undead. Now Sudieman willing to join in the looting collection of treasure. Diero takes the ring carved with a moon image, Dyxon claiming the ring with the panther image. The group treasure pouch now including: another magical ring, magical bracers, jug with a potion of Invisibility, hollow statue with an elixir of health. Plus the heavy items worth trade for gold (mask, pendant, jade earplugs, jade beads, onyx, and other gems.

We crawl out of the hole to continue our search around the corner only to find a cave-in. Stairs blocked. Thus a long backtrack to the glowing beetle room for the north door we’d passed up before.

 slowly rising passage

rolling stone

A long passage with steps rising every 10ft; we should be at ground level by now. Maybe we're finally under the ziggarut.  “Oops.” Dyxon failing to spot the pressure plate. The sandstone wall ahead cracking at the weight of a LARGE boulder tumbling out. Too quick for us as we are steamrolled in its path.  Sudieman crushed and in dire need of healing which Diero obliges.

The joining western room is a processional hall. Statues of baboons but also once living baboons dead at the statue's feet. Moss slowing consuming the corpses. It’s Sudieman who spots the floating Beholder in the far corner of the room.

Diero casts Poison Spray for no effect; Dyxon stumbles on a pouch along the way (clink). Sudieman offers, “Run for the far door as I keep it at bay.” A mighty Warhammer swing and an explosion of poisonous gas. A choking black cloud unlike the green poison cloud we’ve walked in for hours. Diero dashes for the western doorway; Dyxon dashes after striking the pouch toward the doorway with his quarterstaff (think hockey puck).

North, west, north, then east toward another door. Cat motif inside. A cat warrior holding a spear, a cat diorama carved into the southeastern wall, lion and tiger skins hang on other walls, and a stone calendar hung above a small table with a small cat statue and ceremonial dagger. Sudie checks the calendar while Diero checks the diorama: the mouth empty and a secret passage can be seen beyond. The mouth big enough for Dyxon to crawl thru. But instead, Diero lifts the monk to inspect the eyes. As expected, hollow. With a handle inside. Dyxon pulls it which drops the lower cat jaw revealing the passage. This corridor 15 ft before a 25ft drop for the next 15ft. “I can see a door at the other end but those are ‘Sling Bushes’; touch a branch and its like a porcupine attack.”

We retreat to the cat room where we find another secret door behind the stone calendar.  A short hall that opens mid-section of a north-south hall whose floor is slick as glass. A bronze double-door across from us with a golden seal complete with ancient glyphs (a magical ward?). Sudie goes for the north door removing the bar despite the image of a coiled serpent in the lintel over the door. Suddenly 3 arms spring from the lintel lifting the cleric while bear-hugging him. Dyxon pointing out the outline of a pitfall beneath Sudie. Diero ties a rope around the cleric’s waist in case he falls. And that’s when the arms let go, expecting their prey to crash thru the floor. We pull him to safety.

We turn for the south door whose lintel has the image of intertwined circles (infinity). Sudie puts a shoulder to it; nothing. Diero aids; the door gives. Sudie falls out of sight. The rope about his waist severed. A coin tossed to hear how deep. Nothing. Then realization it’s a magical portal. “I don’t know about you, but I’m joining the cleric.” Diero steps in. Long moments before Dyxon joins them.

A familiar hallway complete with murals either side; one bearing the image of a ziggarut where Diero found a secret door. Another LONG backtrack to the cat room. Thru the door to the right of the calendar.

Cat warriors either side holding long pikes. A jaguar head at the end of the passage. Dyxon steps forward; another pressure plate. The warriors swing inward, their blades touching and arcing with sparks and low hum. Enough room for the halfling monk to crawl underneath but Sudieman makes it easier. His Warhammer smashing the stone arms rendering the trap harmless. Thru the door under the jaguar. Musky/fetid air spoils the next room; human skins hung on the far wall. A cat-o-9-tails hung beside them. A 10x20ft Orge statue to the left over a basin of red-hot skulls with a jaguar at its feet staring at our entrance. But motionless; a deathly stare. To the right/east, a blacken mirror behind a well. 20ft above, a hole in the ceiling.

Diero drops a wooka nut (light) into the well. Light suddenly radiates upward thru the hole. A booming voice, “Who are you? What do you seek?” Diero ties his grapple hook to his silk rope and tosses it thru the hole above. But Sudie takes the lead…and is yanked skyward! Diero and Dyxon who’d been holding the rope in case the cleric fell are also yanked along for the ride.

A ghoulish looking monk (An Oni: Orge Mage) confronts them and attacks. Diero casts Thunderwave but his target already darting clear. Sudie and Dyxon attack as the Oni casts – the room turning dark. We attack air as it has moved. The Oni reappearing to cast Sleep on Diero. Sudie casts but fails before the Oni is invisible once more. But the monk hears its breathing and throws darts (9 damage). The Oni appearing again to cast Charm on the monk. But Sudie dispelling the charm. Invisible once more…and hit once more by darts. Sudie awakening Diero who casts Thornwhip on the visible Oni, pulling him 10ft closer and flanked by his allies. Inspirational? No? Sudie and Dyxon join attacks pummeling the Oni. Which attacks and drops Dyxon. Just before Diero closes with his Venom-Dagger to make the final kill (one HP remained).