#4 The Right Fork; the Path to Pazar?

Zacklun looked around at the sea of sand, "What is there to curse? There's nothing here." He said in an aggravated tone and then continued as he now pondered the statue. "Sure, I can see why they wouldn't want anyone to nab that statue. It's a pretty sweet looking.. umm.. thing?" Zacklun suddenly sounded dejected, "Oh, it's got a book." He knew wizards got excited about books, but he couldn't figure out why. Heavy, boring, no pictures.. well.. that one book that that barbarian had showed him had pictures but when he tried to show them to Saskia she got all mad and threw it at him.

In his reverie about how dull books were, a sizable chunk of the party started to wander up. The next instant they were gone and only a plume of dust could be seen. Zacklun didn't think twice, he jumped from the camel and ran up the dune. As he neared the gaping hole from which the dust was rising, he looked over his shoulder and gave the others a slight grin before jumping in after the others.

(Zacklun will use the dust as cover so that he doesn't have to turn invisible before polymorphing. He will switch the form of an owl, glide down, land, and quickly shift back using darkness and dust to mask his transition. After that he will check on his fallen comrades.)

"I know you guys are in a hurry, but it's usually a good idea if I go first. You guys went first at the tower and we know how well that went..", he said in a half admonishing tone.

Saskia picked herself up off the ground none too gracefully. "This desert begins to try my patience," she grumbled. She looked around at the chamber they'd spilled into. "Too dark," she said. From one of her belt pouches, she produced a short glassy rod. "Luz Continua," she intoned and suddenly the darkness was banished, replaced by blinding light emanating from the center of the chamber.

"How curious," Saskia said once she had a clear view of the scene before them. "The others will need to see this." She trudged up the sand pile until she could see the stars through the hole they'd fallen down. Weaving a spell of arcane magic, she projected an illusionary replica of the scene in the chamber into the night sky up above.


((Use Wand of Illumination to cast Continual Light in the chamber and then use Improved Phantasmal Force to create the illusion.))

The spell projected a view of the underground to those above. This trick had been employed before by Saskia, so none but the new dwarf were surprised by it's appearance. It was getting bright fast up above and the animals would need to be tethered and possibly a few tents raised. And maybe a guard left if the others considered also going below to explore.

The new Dwarf, Osric, did not recognise the statue. In fact, he didn't even recall being in a desert. He had been surprised an indeterminate amount of time before by being eaten by a giant worm. He prayed to Istar for many days to heal his wounds and to sent some one to save him. And now he found himself here, surrounded by camels and strangers.



[X is where the underground party stands, G1 is where the hole in the ceiling is. G2 is the platform area.]

The subterranean part of the party could see a raised platform supported by columns leading up to what looked to be a pair of bronze double doors. Zacklun could be seen tumbling down to join them, and being more prepared, did not seem to have taken injury at his arrival.

"Let's see if those doors can even be opened before we make plans to enter here," Alfbern said to his sister in their tongue. "We'll want the beasts afterwards whatever we do here."

He moved forward and examined the doors without touching them.

Osric plants two feet into the sand: "This afterlife must be for these camels...." takes a glance to see if their still breathing, and sighs: "By Ishtar's creamy, hairy thighs, I hoped I was right".

Getting up and checking himself and gear, he calls after the human: "if there are injured, I may be of some assistance" Muttering under his breath "I can still be somewhat useful, even if I can't remember the whom, what, where..." looking up into the sky "or why I am here".

"May her vice-like-grip give me strength"

Taliesin had no issue rappelling down. In fact, it was quite fun. He could see the others moving towards the door when the first...

HUGE HAIRY SPIDER DROPPED DOWN ON ALFBERN!!!

It's bite broke skin on the back on his neck. A surge of venom entered his blood, but he easily fought off the numbing that started to course through his body.

[Surprise, 19 Rolled to hit, 1 damage, Save vs. poison successful. Consider it grappling Alfbern.]

Four more six foot tall spiders dropped from their hiding places from the ceiling behind various columns. It was on.

[Intentions & we'll continue in the Combat Folder]