The group headed south into the previous room to check the unexplored door to the east. Culdat checked thoroughly for traps as his expert fingers moved over the rough wooden surface. Opening the door on squeeky hinges, he stood behind the door while peering into the darkness. Humus stepped forward with his flaming sword to light the way. The shadows played over a tall room measuring roughly 30’x30’ cut into the rock walls of the cave. Partially decayed corpses, more than a week old, lay scattered about the room. All have apparantly been used as a meal, as they had a lot of meat missing from the bones lying scattered near the bodies. Partial pieces of different armors lay strewn about as well as on the bodies, there were no whole pieces of armor however. The entrance door was apparantly the only entrance and exit. Culdat whispered, "Beast lair ?"
Before going into the next room, Belgrius wrapped the staff in cloth to hide any markings that might identify it and then strapped it to his back between his pack and his shirt. Upon entering the room Belgrius sighed in a mixture of sympathy and disgust at the cruelty of the evil in the caves. He breathed a prayer to his god asking for mercy on the souls of the departed. "So much needless death and cruelty !" He looked at each corpse to make sure there was nothing ‘irregular’ about them, such as their bodies becoming undead creatures, and then surveyed the room for any signs of evil demons, including marks on the walls or floor that needed to be destroyed in order to sanctify the area. He remained toward the middle of the group trying to make sure there were fighters before and after himself. Kethas looked around the room. "So many bodies. Such violence. These people deserve a proper burial. Perhaps later, when we are at a loss for a task, we will bury these dead." Seeing the mass carnage, Humus was immediately sickened. What a senseless waste of life. Seeing no obvious exits in the room than the main door, he spoke. "Unless there is a secret door around here, I think that we've reached a dead end. Shall we search for secrets in here, or shall we seal up this tomb and move on ? If we are to move on, I would like to move in the direction that small army Jardel blasted came from. I would think that the scepter would be well guarded. As Caladan entered the room, his face turned white "This is the most disgusting thing I've ever experienced, an entire room made for someone to eat in ... it is probably the fiend's room, where he ate. This room makes me sick, let’s move on."
"I shall help look for secret doors. Perhaps my elven half will provide me with some advantages in this gloomy atmosphere." Belgrius began making his way around the walls and then crossed the floor, tapping it lightly with his weapon. Kethas turned to Humus. "Humus, I fear the worst. If there comes to be any trouble, I should like to be able to cast one of the magic missiles off the scroll that Enchantra gave me. To do so, I will require adequate light. If it is possible, could you refrain from the fray for enough time for me to strike down some of our enemies ?" Watching as Belgrius searched the room, Humus answered Kethas, "Sure Kethas - as long as the situation has not turned most dire. We'll just have to see the situation."
Da Ghiri nodded, "It cooould just be a 'pantry' of sorts, thooough it probably bears checking ooout. If there are no hidden dooors the way the priest and knight came from does seeem like the way to go". While the others decided what to do, Da Ghiri began censing over the bodies and chanting, praying for them and attempting to bless them so they could not be used by the enemies. Belgrius completed his search and reported that he found nothing except the disgusting signs of death in the room. "Where to now ?" Seeing that Belgrius was done, Humus listened to the report sighing. "I guess this is a dead end after all. Da Ghiri, when you are finished blessing these poor souls, we will seal this room and be on our way. I think that we should now go in the direction that I mentioned earlier - the way that small army came from. If anyone else has a different opinion, please speak up now."
Jardel remained standing in the doorway, not entering the grizzly room of rotting corpses and decay. Easily he held the enchanted barrel in it’splace on his right shoulder as he scanned the room for marks or patterns of evil behaviour - not expecting any here, though.‘Caliburn’ warmed his face with the flickering flame, while he listened to the others check out the room. Waiting for a moment of silence, he spoke to Humus and the others. "Aye, let me speak now." Rubbing his scruffy beard in his open helmet. "I just wanted to say that I agree with you all in continuing on to the room north of this one, the room where the priests exited from. Since they came from that direction the chamber behind that door will not be a dead end - unless we meet more evil worshippers there ... then it will be a dead end for them ! I will take up the rear again and follow you through these most interesting rooms. I will not part with my barrel though - for now it has become my shield, for now at least. It probably has to be broken to release the contents from within anyway -releasing namely the Breath of Heimdall !"
"I am ready to go with you." Belgrius breathed a quick prayer for his god to bring comfort to the souls of the corpses in the room. After listening to the others Caladan urged. "I agree with Humus, let’s go see if there are any priests left where the small army came from. I believe that we should be leaving here, and following the priests. As long as we are not deterred, we should keep moving. If we stay in one place for too long, it will be easier for those who got away to trace our whereabouts. It would also be wise for us to stop, however, and let the magic-users memorize some spells. I don't know how Belgrius is doing, but I have no offensive spells memorized. Perhaps in friendlier quarters, however. Kethas nudged Belgrius. "Belgrius, if I can get this scroll torn apart properly, I can give you a pair of magic missile spells. They're not much, but at least they're offensive, right ? This is a spell I can learn, but until know I have chose non-combative spell. However, this might be an advantage to the party and I will attempt to use the scroll at the proper time."
As Da Ghiri walked around the room censing and chanting over the torn bodies, a pall was felt lifting slightly from the room. It seemed these souls were able to rest now. Belgrius helped Da Ghiri and went around saying a prayer along the side. Kethas bent his scroll in half and carefully tore it at the fold. Neatly it came apart between the spells, causing a small shower of sparks to appear from the tearing, as if steel hitting steel. He handed half to Belgrius and returned his half to his pack. Seeing the scroll torn and the sparks coming from it, Belgrius winced, "I hope the sparks are not an indication the scroll is damaged now." He put the half in his pack, near the top for easy access. Consensus said to move back northward into the door where the priests, warrior, and undead came from. Heading back into the room, the carnage was here as well, but not as bad, as most of the villains died from Jardel's magical helm, more of internal than external damage. Opening the wooden door, Culdat inspected the area for traps and found none. He headed in slowly, feeling the walls and floor on the other side of the door. Beyond was a natural rock corridor, 10' in width, stretching 30' eastward before turning to the south. Torches hung in sconces every 10' on both sides, apparantly around the corner as well as light exuded from around the corner. Following Culdat to the turn, he peered around. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, he motioned the party forward. Looking around the corner, was a very long corridor, 120' in length running south with three wooden doors to each side, spanning 20' apart starting 40' down the hall, each door facing the other across the corridor in pairs. At the end of the hall, was a room, beyond vision. A soft blue light emanated from the room.
Seeing the blue light emanating from the door at the end of the hall, Humus motioned for everyone to stop. "I have a feeling that our goal may be in that room, but I don't trust those other doors. It feels like a trap. Does anyone have any way to bar the doors with magic ? Jardel, how many more of those fire walls do you have ? That might work if our mages do not have anything else." "That glow cannot be good, but on the other hand, perhaps it is just a large magical item. Best to be sure before we enter. Culdat,do you have any mirrors in your gear ? Perhaps we could slide one under a door enough to see part of the room ?" Belgrius nervously looked around the area to see if there were any spikes or stakes that might be driven in the ground in front of doors to prevent them from opening. "If we had some stakes we might be able to jam them under the doors or in front of the doors so they will not open." Staying back in the group, Belgrius hung his flail from his arm by a wrist strap and took out a hand full of darts. He also put his holy symbol on the outside of his clohing in case he had to grab it quickly. "Let's listen at the doors before we enter, shall we?"
"Unfortunately Belgrius, I do not carry a mirror." Culdat answered, "although my fair complexion may require a tending to after all this drubbing about down here." Culdat moved to the first pair of doors and inspected each in turn, listening ... but not touching, until the others had decided on a course of action. Kethas spoke up. "I have an improved phantasmal force that may be able to trigger any traps lying in wait in the blue room. If it were cast, I'm afraid that the only backup I have will be the pair of magic missiles on the scroll, and then a sleep spell. Many dangers lurk ahead, of that I'm sure and I'm sure that we don't want to be caught unaware." Speaking from the rear of the line, Jardel added his thoughts to the subject. "Personally, I would start opening each of these doors in turn, to prevent us from being ambushed should we have decided to enter the far room first - I mean the one lit with soft blue light. Kethas, Belgrius, just please don’t squabble over minor magic items presently, there will be plenty of time for that later. We need our efforts pooled to face the evil still ruling these premises until we have retrieved the so important sceptre. Of course we might die trying ..." Seeing that the complete hallway was lit with torches, the knight willed ‘Caliburn’ to stop flaming. He did look like an awkward pirate in shining armor standing there with a sword in one hand and a barrel on his shoulder. Any sweat and perspiration did not come from carrying the wooden item. More or less it was the fear from being beneath the ground, various light sources of fire robbing the immediate area of fresh breathable air. By now his previously from rain sogged undergarments had wrinkled his leathered skin. "Humus, the powers of my helm are limited, but there is sufficient magical energy within to torment our foes for many hours and days to come. Do not worry about numbers, rather let Culdat open the first door on the right side. From what my inner senses tell me we have made a turn of roughly 180 degrees and the rooms behind the doors on the right side should not be of any speakable size. On the other hand, it would be dangerous to ignorethe far room and any inhibitants at this time. Perhaps instead of opening the first door, Culdat could scurry down the hallway to inspect the far room and warn us of any danger. Yes ... let us agree on this plan. While Culdat is checking out the origin of the blue light let us position ourselves directly in front of the doors. That way we can block any potential assailants exiting from them." Jardel moved up to the third door farthest on the left side, blade drawn. He sensed for any evil intent behind the immediate doors within his range.
Caladan nodded in agreement with Jardel and moved up to the second door on the left and positioned himself on the other side of the door,ready to move into the room. "We could just kick in the door and swarm into the room, it would be more of a surprise to the possible enemies in the room !" Caladan looked at Kethas. "I've got a few spells left too, a magic missile, a light, a web and a strength." Caladan grapped his sword in a two-handed grip and was ready in run into the room. "Just a thought, but if you kick in one door you may as well forget surprise at the other three ..." Culdat whispered to Caladan. Belgrius agreed and wordlessly moved, following Caladan. But, he did not go directly to the same door. He positioned himself to the door across from Caladan, with back to wall to try and watch all three doors on the opposite wal and still have an view of the door with the blue light. He was holding his holy symbol and flail not knowing whether to expect more undead or just a fight, but he felt something serious was about to happen. Having not gotten a response about stakes to block the doors. "Well, I guess we cannot block the doors so we should try to keep as many in view at one time as possible so we are not sneaked up on. As for the scroll, no squabble there. I just winced and commented so we will not be surprised if the scroll does not work when we try it." "So, shall we 'dance' ?" Seeing that most everyone's mind had been made up, Humus positioned himself against the right wall in front of the first door so that all 5 other doors were visible at once. Seeing Jardel command the flame from his sword to go out, Humus decided to turn off the light of his blade aswell - no need in making himself a target. "I think that our little 'finder' is correct. If we should knock down one door, anything behind the other doors will know that we are around. That also applies if we open one door quietly and find something hostile behind it. This is just the perfect setup for an ambush. This is starting to feel like a lose-lose situation. Jardel, do as you deem best - after Culdat has finished inspecting the doors. Those that do not rush the room with you initially, will be behind you guarding your rear. We have to find the scepter, and I guess that brute force is as good a way as any." Da Ghiri nodded quietly in agreement and moved in next to Humus, taking out his sling as he did so, waiting. Belgrius suggested. "There is ooone thing I might try. I do not know if this spell is strong enough to help us ooopen a door but if yooou wish me to attempt it tell me. The spell is called heat metal and if allowed to work for a moment, it might cause the latch and looock to become so hot they wooould either burn a hole in the door or they might melt away. I have not used this spell in this way befooore so I cannot promise what it will do. Shall I try it ? I will ooonly be able to cast it once so weee need to be sure which door to place it on." As Caladan listened to the rest of the groups concern about being ambushed, he said. "I should be able to divide my web spell into smaller webs and thereby block all the doors. The web can be burned away easily by a flame. Should I try this ?"
"That sounds good and anyone trying to come through the door might get stuck in the web if the door does open at all. Leave one door without a web and we can try to open it, quietly." Belgrius agreed as he watched, with a heat metal spell on his lips, to see which door the party wanted to open. "That sounds like an excellent plan", Da Ghiri said quietly, "thooough I think it might be best to web all of the dooors for now and investigate the ooone with the blue light without fear of being ambushed or alerting anyone behind the far dooor ..."
Hearing Caladan's intentions Humus smiled. "That is exactly the type of spell that I was wanting to hear that someone had ! That sounds likeour best option - to only face one door at a time. Caladan, proceed with your spell. Let us check out the far door first." "Please step back from the doors everybody, I don't want to catch any of you !" Caladan started to chant his web spell.
Culdat left the group and headed for the blue glow while Caladan chanted his web spell. Pointing to each door in unison, and throwing bits of odd web at them, the webs enlarged and engulfed the doors. Culdat returned stating that there was no door to the blue room, and there was no apparant sign of what was creating the blue glow. He stated that the room was around 30’ in diameter, and there was nothing in it at all, barren, even devoid of an object causing the blue light, it's was as if the room itself were glowing. He could find no traps at the entrance to the room, but he did not enter the room either. There were no noises beyond the doors, and there was no feeling of evil intent, as if it all awaited a move from someone ...
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