Three Gods Down, Six More To Go?

Recap of July the 2nd in the year of our Lord 2020 – The party doubles back to the Grand Hall where we last saw a humanoid wearing a devil mask. A giant stone skull with flames blazing in each eye lies to the east. The open jaws are large enough to walk into a room beyond containing a stone sarcophagus adorned with a carved serpent.

Leaving that for now, we explore a hallway leading north. It is blocked by a propeller that takes up the entire space. Searching, we find a pressure plate in the floor. The Monk taps it with his staff; nothing happens. A rope is tied to him and he walks onto the pressure plate. In about six seconds, the propeller reaches speed and begins sucking him in. As an experiment, he wedges a javelin in the blades that breaks when the pressure plate is activated.

There is just enough time that a person could rush between the blades. The Monk goes though and each of us safely follows his lead. The room contains a sarcophagus with a monkey-like creature on its lid. There are also three chests of onyx, iron and silver. Opening each chest reveals a keyhole inside with a golden key inserted. The Monk tries to turn the key in the onyx chest; it does not budge. He jumps in the chest, closes the lid and the key turns. Outside, a black button appears on the top of the sarcophagus. Problem – the Monk cannot open the lid or turn the key so he is stuck inside with air rapidly running out. The Druid jumps into the blue chest, turns the key and a blue button appears. The Paladin does the same in the iron chest and a final button appears. Desperately, the Warlock and Cleric push all three buttons simultaneously. The lids open and the Cleric heals some of the party that took damage and brings the Monk back to life. The Paladin is dismayed to discover his armor has turned to rust!

The sarcophagus transforms into a transparent crystal. Within, a su-monster mummy holds a mace. The Paladin, feeling salty because of his armor situation, shatters the crystal. The mummy comes to life and attacks. After a brief battle, we dispatch the mummy. The Cleric picks up the Mace of Terror and feels the spirit of Wongo inhabit her. Here, a long rest is taken.

The party heads back to the skull room with the serpent sarcophagus. The Warlock sends his cat familiar into the room; the flames in one eye blink out. The cat returns and the other eye blinks out. As the cat goes back a second time, the jaws close. Welp, he will be needing a new cat. The Monk teleports into the room and the eyes remain lit. A maze of passages extend from the room. Within, the menacing sounds of skittering creatures are heard.

Behind the sarcophagus floats a crystal box containing a humanoid skull. The voice of a young girl echoes in the Monk’s head asking, “Why can’t I see?” The Monk says, “Because you’re dead!” The skull explodes in rage and attacks. A little too late we remember Acererak’s First Warning, “Speak no truth to the doomed child.” Anyway, her name is Nepartak and she fireballs us, but the party blasts her into real dead death. As she dies, she screams and hundreds of spiders attack from the walls. The Cleric wanders into the spiders with her tiny deadly beer mugs floating around her, but because she is under Wongo’s influence, she also hurts her party members. Yeah, at least the spiders are dead! I can heal you guys later. Quickly, the Paladin opens the sarcophagus to find a Staff of the Python nestled in the jaculi’s bones. The Warlock takes it and is inhabited by Moa’s spirit.

The party heads downstairs to find two hallways. One leads north; one leads east and seems to branch off to the north and south as well. On the wall is a plaque that is Acererak’s Second Warning:

The ring is a path to another tomb.
The dead abhor sunlight.
Only a jewel can tame the frog.
Bow as the dead god intoned.
Into darkness descend.

The party remembers we skipped one skull that was over where Obo’laka was located; the skull that had a creepy humanoid shape within as in the First Warning, “In darkness, it hides.” We discuss whether the Ghost Lantern could be the light source to dispel the darkness. We speculate whether Gods are buried near their enemies since Moa and Wongo were situated close to one another. In which case, the skull might contain the spirit of I’jin the almiraj, the bunny with a unicorn horn. We decide to complete that before tackling the area of the second warning just in case there is something we will need later on.

Before we pause for the time being –

There is an extended discussion of mayonnaise.

Respectfully submitted,

Marigold Underbite, Cleric – May Pelor light your way!