This was a week of achievement for the party. After weeks of wrecking balling their way through two levels of dungeon, they finally found themselves above ground! A true achievement, especially considering that they survived with numerous casualties but no fatalities. In fact, I think I may hear 4th level calling for our party, who now know what fighting above your weight really feels like.
It started out as peacefully as a session could- they slept in the relative comfort of the ancient, secret Tomb of Mitra. However, the lure of the grand copper coffin staring across at them was too much. Poundfoolish (or was it þordis?) opened the unlocked, unsealed coffin, sliding its lid to reveal (at least initially) a magical effect. A will save with a DC 17 was required for everyone within 10 feet of the coffin, which included almost the entire party. Those that failed wandered in a fugue state towards the double doors that led to a chamber beyond. That included the piton-minded Calvert, who began removing pitons from the tiles with the ease of a stone mason.
After the enchanted party members were subdued to avoid an unexpected entry into the unknown chamber beyond, Stacia nailed a spell check for Detect Evil that included most of the known universe. Or a 150′. Regardless, she detected no evil from the chamber beyond. And her teeth were telling her that the hip joint bone (let’s not get into the osteology of it all) that had been tossed out of the coffin had divine origins. It belonged to Mitra himself! And it belonged back at that copper coffin.
Once the remains were returned to their proper place, the party entered through the two doors that some of them were so feverish to leave from before. What they found beyond the doors was a floor covered in tiles with runes on them. In the center of the domed chamber was the statue of a Naga. Nicklaus cast Comprehend Languages with a roll high enough to be fluent in what they meant. He realized quickly they denoted different kinds of traps.
But before the party do anything rash or otherwise, the naga statue started talking. She recognized the divine connection that Stacia had with Mitra. Being a sentinel in league with Mitra herself, the naga offered the party two paths. They could journey deep into the Tower of Mitra or they could return back to the village. Since the Fang of Set was still possessed by Merth the Sheriff of Mitra’s Fist (and perhaps some dungeon fatigue) the party opted to head back to the village.
They passed the secret door to the Tower of Mitra and rounded a long curving hall to find themselves in a room that had what appeared to be a 6″, perfectly round diamond. It floated above the ground, spinning like it was on a carousel. At first Poundfoolish considered grabbing the gem. Ultimately it was Stacia, who soon found that gem embedded into her forehead like the Infinity Stone in the Visions head. At the same time, another will save for the party was required. For some, they saw only a flash. For others, a beautiful maiden appeared when Stacia touched the gem and kissed her on the forehead.
þordis found the secret door in the ceiling that led up a dark shaft. At the top was a trap door that had a black ooze on the other end of it. The party quickly dispatched it, and found themselves in a pit designed to dispose of bodies. Above that pit, they found something more disgusting- the guards bunk room.
Before we ended the evening, the party determined they were in the Manor of Avvakris, grandest building in the village. However, it was not the Constabulary which contained their prized swords. But now the party found themselves getting back to where this adventure began, and where things went sideways fast…
