Tales from the Underdepths!

[sparkletwist]

TALES FROM THE UNDERDEPTHS

[ic=Starring]
Areza Baenafin (played by Xathan) A social climber who aspires to become noble. Drow Summoner.

Malagaun (played by Ghostman) A graceful roguish duelist with a touch of the demonic. Tiefling Magus.

Morwen of the House of Unghûl (played by Steerpike) A rebellious noble more concerned with tombs than palaces. Drow Witch.

Ulrynn Ironheart (played by Kindling) An austere priestess of the Hungering Cold. Drow Cleric.

Zzlang'kor of House Tzrilmok (played by Tangential) A rakish young nobleman with some odd tendencies. Drow Arcanist.
[/ic]

[sparkletwist]

[ic=Chapter 1]The group (or what would become it) is gathered for a meeting of the Cabal. They have gathered at the Sable Web, a posh inn and pleasure house on the edge of the noble neighborhood of Torizzod-- quite intentionally nothing like the Gibbering Mouther, the Hungry Human, or other such places, this is a high-class inn for a high-class clientele, or at least one that aspires to be. Seats are arranged around a fine wooden table, upon which are laid out all of the finest offerings of drow cuisine: fragrant mushroom stew, pickled spiceroot, crispy fried rot grubs, stuffed beetle, roasted squid from the Undersea, and of course glasses full of lichen wine aged no less than 50 years. Also present at the gathering is Tthrevinia Zarrzul, a recent new member of the club. She is a drow of some means who wishes to climb even higher in society, and thus seems a good fit-- although she is often not particularly motivated to do anything. She might be a potential rival for Areza, on some level, but she also has a laziness about her that makes her not really threatening.

Brazilith makes the rounds, offering people drinks. His appearance is in many ways, drow-like - dark skin and pointed ears - but his hair and eyes are the color of dried blood. Areza lounges in a large, comfortable chair, admiring her petty domain.

Tthrevinia raises her glass. "To our hostess," she toasts, only a little tiny hint of passive aggression in her voice.

Morwen sips from her cup of lichen-wine, the vessel held in the leathery hands of one of her shambolic servitors. The spicy scent of its preservatives can be smelled several seats away, masking the soft smell of rot. She joins Tthrevinia in the toast.

Malagaun samples the foodstuffs and drinks, idly enjoying the exquisite aromas. He nods at Tthrevinia and toasts.

Ulrynn reaches out a bony hand to raise her glass little more than an inch. Her lips move to acknowledge the toast, but any words are too quiet to be heard. She sets the drink back down without sipping.

Areza smiles at her warmly and raises her glass in recognition of the complement. "My thanks. And welcome to all, I'm pleased to see you all here."

Tthrevinia asks, "So, what shall it be tonight, ladies and lords of Torizzod? A game of bonesticks, perhaps? I bet 10 tzal, who's in?"

Ulrynn gives an almost impreceptible shake of her head.

Zzlangkor, a scion of House Tzrilmok divides this evenings attention between the ever intruiging Brazilith and 'lady' Zarrzul, until the later makes an offer. "Ten? Fine."

Areza says, "Perhaps. Or perhaps something more...profitable." She smiles slightly.

"Bonesticks can be very profitable as long as you win, dear," Tthrevinia counters with a smirk, as ten gold coins clink onto the table.

Morwen looks langorously down the table, petting another of her zombies, this one a stocky thing made from the remains of a duergar and a goblin sewn rather hapzhardly together, on its bald and pallid pate. "Very well, I'll wager as well."

Ulrynn speaks in a dry whisper, "My darling Areza I do hope you have invited me here for something more engaging than common gambling."

Zzlangkor adds his coins, giving Areza a subtle glance.

Areza gives a return smirk, and places down ten herself. "Of course. Why, with such a bet, one may win almost a hundred tzal. It's not thousands, of course, and has much less promise than some other ventures..."

Zzlangkor says, "So droll Ulrynn, I'll give you my - ahem winnings to be, to change your tune?"

Morwen gestures and her cup-bearer throws down the tzal.

Tthrevinia looks at Areza. "Whatever are you talking about?" She takes the bonesticks-- narrow shards of goblin bone, with runes painted on the side that is currently face down-- and starts mixing them rapidly on the table.

Malagaun says, "Bonesticks are better played for the thrill than profits, for they are fickle. It's good for killing time, true, but I would rather seek profits by other means." He caresses the elaborately decorated scabbard of his dueling blade.

Ulrynn fixes Zzlangkor with a dead-eyed stare. "I have no tune."

Morwen does not seem to be concentrating on the game, but for a woman of her intellect, she doesn't really have to.

Zzlangkor looks away from the table as the dice fall, and away from Ulrynn, evaluating...

Tthrevinia flips two bonesticks to each player, and then looks at her own. "Bah. Double skull. I lose." She makes a dismissive gesture and sighs.

Areza watches her. "I'm sure you have all heard of rumors of possibilities for profit that exist beyond the walls of our fair city. Bounties and empty ruins that could contain hells only know what kind of tomes and lore. I propose that we should have a bit of an...outing."

Zzlangkor says, "Tsk."

Malagaun passes on gambling, but observes the others' game with a slightly bored expression while he sips from his glass of wine.

Morwen looks over at Areza. "What did you have in mind?"

Zzlangkor remains distracted from the results of the game, extra-long ears perking, physically up at the word tome.

Morwen scratches her head, her hair rustling. Several spiders creep out from the twisted white locks beneath her fingertips, running over her arm and shoulders and back to her scalp.

Areza says, "The Crypt of Phantoms." She states, pausing for a moment for theatrics. "I have heard rumors that the great wealth of on o the long-extict Eye Tyrants is left within."

"If you aren't going to finish the game then I'm taking my wager back," Tthrevinia interjects, petty as ever.

Ulrynn says, "The spirits of those uncosecrated half-dead are blasphemous Voices disturbing the blessed tranquility of the Boundless Silence. They are an abomination unto the Hungering Cold."

Morwen scowls at Tthrevinia and continues playing.

Areza idly flips her bones. "My apologies, Tthrevinia. And Ulrynn, this would pose an excellent opprotuntiy to lay some of them rest."

Malagaun says, "Rumors. Sometimes there's truth to them, but that wealth might well have been plundered ages ago."

Meanwhile, Morwen continues to speak to Areza. "I have heard such rumours of this Eye Tyrant as well. Likely idle talk... but the Crypt interests me nonetheless. Even if there is little plunder, there may be bodies remaining, as Ulrynn here suggests."

Ulrynn inclines her head. "Physical destruction would help to quiet their Voices, it is true."

Tthrevinia is much more interested in the game than any of this idle talk. "Ha! You lose Areza! Zzlangkor's got you all beat!"

Malagaun considers this. "Those restless beings might possess some knowledge of value, though. Perhaps it would be worthwhile to interrogate some of them?"

Zzlangkor waves his winnings to Ulrynn, a drow of his word.

Morwen seems unperturbed by the loss of coinage.

Areza nods to Morwen, fixing her gaze on Malagaun. "Precisely. I'm sure a gathering as clever as this can find value in there, regardless of what previous dolts may ahve done."

Tthrevinia remarks, "If you're going delving into some abandoned place, count me out. I just had my nails manicured and I don't intend to have it spoiled by getting all sorts of grime underneath them."

Areza turns to Tthrevinia. "You are correct. Such are the whims of fate. And of course, dear - no one expects anyone to go against their wishes to such a place."

Malagaun says, "In any case, a trip of that nature would surely banish this dreary boredom quicker than any game of chance."

Ulrynn takes the money. "This gift is your choice. I will not argue. I remain tuneless."

Morwen absently strokes the gruesome poppet dangling round her neck. "What would you prefer, Tthrevinia? Losing more money to Zzlangkor here? Sitting about and getting drunk? Surrendering to the black, intoxicating whims of lichen-wine and seeing what hidden desires they unleash?" She muses. "Actually that doesn't sound so bad."

Zzlangkor says, "My dear Tthrevinia, as you may know, my vow of silence has only ended this last morning and I am dying to gossip, but confess my imagination is seized by the glorious and appaling...

She grins in what could be described as a lecherous fashion. "Morwen, you seem as though you are long overdue for a bath. Won't you abandon this silly quest and let me give you one?"

"...the Crypt surely has delightful basins," Zzlangkor chimes in.

Malagaun says, "Odd indeed that you chose to take on such a bizzarre vow, Zzlangkor. Even for you."

Morwen gestures and her squat, dwarf-goblin servitor begins braiding her hair. "I do not enjoy being clean," she says, sucking the greese of a fried rot grub from her fingers.

Areza lets out a small laugh at Zzlangkor's comment. "I"m sure that it does. Perhaps we will be able to find some use for them, if nothing else comes of this."

Tthrevinia makes a dismissive gesture and huffs with a sigh. "Were I so fortunate to be of House Unghul I would have made entirely different choices in my life," she mumbles to Areza.

Areza gives Tthrevinia a nod. "Wouldn't we have all?" she mutters, half quietly."

Morwen instructs her embalmed cup-bearer to begin feeding her roasted squid, sitting back with her lips open to admit the crisped tentacles. She chews with a certain indecliate savour.

Ulrynn turns to Malagaun. "With his vow, Zzlangkor may have taken his first steps on the path to the tranquility of sacred oblivion."

Malagaun says, "Really, it was a cruel act. To deny the sound of his glorious voice and his wisdom to Torizzod."

Ulrynn asks, "His.... wisdom?"

Tthrevinia can't help but shake her head at all this.

Ulrynn arches an eyebrow.

Malagaun answers, "His is a wisdom unlike any other's. Completely unique in the whole world."

"Unique is one word for it," Tthrevinia remarks.

Malagaun grins suavely.

Morwen looks over at Areza. "This jaunt to the Crypts. To wander amidst the ancient catafalques and touch the desiccated skin of the unknown dead. To breathe in the bone-dust and drape ourselves in funereal shrouds. When do you wish to leave?"

Zzlangkor affords himself a vainglorious facial twitch at mentions of wisdom, but surprisingly, seems aloof.

Areza smiles. "I propose we gather what supplies we may leave, and depart with all due haste."

Morwen nods and drains her glass, a tendril of her hair grasping it by the stem.

Malagaun says, "Nothing's keeping me here for the time being, so I have no objections to that plan."

Zzlangkor gives Tthrevinia an imploring stare. "Come at least to the edge of the city with us? Tie on your favor, like those silly surface princesses on your chosen knight."

"Oh, very well." She smirks.

Zzlangkor stagewhispers, "Everyone knows you are only mad we're depriving you of Morwen."

Tthrevinia glowers, but does not respond.

Ulrynn says, "I will return to my appartments to arm myself. I can then depart as soon as is necessary."

Areza says, "Excellent. I propose then we meet back here within the hour, once we are prepared."

Zzlangkor shifts his hips to make the cloth-of-silver extradimensional bag more accesible to his hands, which rummage through it, while his teeth and tongue shread and slurp at the beetles and stew. "I'll leave from here."

Ulrynn does not feel it necessary at this time to share her knowledge with the group.

Morwen collects her zombies, gathering their leashes. One of them picks her up to carry her around. She returns briefly to her macabre home to gather her equipment.

Malagaun visits his home to gather any traveling gear and don his armor.

Ulrynn makes her way home, and rejoins the group armed and armoured.

You have departed from the main gate of Torizzod, which faces southward, the city's great walls looming behind you. The path opens into the vast caverns of the Underdepths-- although the surface-dwellers fear and dismiss this place, you know better. While the surface-dwellers' poor vision sees only a bleak and black cavern, your darkvision sees the Underdepths in their full majesty. Those who only see blackness cannot appreciate the magnitude of this place, a great, sprawling cavern, so vast it is sometimes easy to forget that you are underground at all. It is also far from dark, for those with the right eyes; an iridescent realm of bright blues and greens, interspersed with bright spots of nearly every other color imaginable. Creatures of all types chitter, bark, and screech in the distance. Paths lead off to the south, to the Great Jungle, and to the west, into various caverns, but your destination is to the east, toward the coast of the Undersea; the gigantic yellow-green conical tower known as the Crypt of Phantoms. Around the city, the paths are busy, full of patrols, travelers, peddlers, and wanderers-- but the less-traveled paths rapidly thin out, as the Underdepths grow more dangerous.

Morwen is accompanied by her retinue of zombies - eight in all. They move rather slowly, possibly annoying the rest of the party.

A great formation of bats flies by overhead, chittering as if to greet the group. Or just making bat noises. Anyone want to cast any fireballs?

Malagaun frowns and walks a little distance away from the zombies, finding their foul stench unpleasant.

Ulrynn takes out her bow and moves silently a little way ahead of the group, eyes and ears alert to her surroundings

Morwen notes Malagaun's distaste. "You don't enjoy the sweet perfume of putrescent flesh, Malagaun?"

Zzlangkor pats a zombie affectionately, becoming a conduit for negative energy with a harsh, quiet word.

Areza is accompanied by two of her Archons. The souls of damned drow pulled out of the uderworld, with small horns and red eyes, covered in half-healed scars from their home realm. It seems she left Brazilith to tend to the Web - or is waiting to summon him when the moment is right.

Morwen shivers slightly, sensing the influx of negative energy. She ignores the bats, though.

Malagaun says, "Now that were's actually going to do this, I recall a little rumor I've heard myself, regarding the crypt. What was it again? Ah yes, an eye tyrant given to undeath, supposedly making it's lair there."

Zzlangkor complains as the chiropteric nuisances fly above. "But where is Brazilith?"

Areza gives the bats a mocking salute of greeting. "I have heard that as well, Malagaun. If such a thing is there, slaying it would be wise - and its body would be useful." She turns to Zzlangkor. "Brazilith is tending to the Web for now, since our poor manager has the rot. When recovered, he will join us."

You proceed to the northeast, traveling a busy road... at least initially. The roads near Torizzod are busy, but the main road splits off southward. Your direction is instead northward, along the coast of the Undersea, towards the Crypt of Phantoms. Even with the benefit of darkvision, the waters of the Undersea are a cold black, and this road is far less travelled.

Areza subtly moves to keep the Undersea a bit further from herself.

Ulrynn is occasionally glimpsed by the others in the gloom ahead of them as they travel

Morwen inhales the briny smell of the Undersea and examines Areza's Archons with some interest.

Ulrynn emerges from the shadows next to Areza. "Goblins ahead."

The goblins Ulrynn saw draw closer, and you can now quite clearly make them out. It's a group of eight, most of them appearing rather typical for their race, wearing tattered clothes or beat-up leather armor. Two are armed with poor-quality swords, two with cheaply made bows, and one near the front with an axe that seems almost too large for him. Also near the front is a rather fat goblin carrying a sword. He seems like he could be their leader. Or perhaps their leader is the elderly goblin in the back, who is also the one talking the loudest. Or perhaps it's the one furthest back, wearing an oversized yellow hat that just about covers his eyes, and carrying what looks like a wand.

Malagaun spits. "Goblins. Filth."

Areza sighs at the interruption. The beasts didn't seem to have seen them yet. "This could be an amusing diversion, I suppose."

The fat one is speaking loudly. "Chaakk-runa-chee-yi, naukt ti-yi an chaakk-runa-re-tchoy kikt!" (I'm going to be rich! Listen to me and you can be rich too!)

Zzlangkor says, "Tkroka-yark ti-tchoyrk." (Greetings.)

They jump and turn with surprise. "Ay drow! Kkovlin bat-re-tchoy-un?!" the fat one exclaims. (Hey drow! You can speak Goblin?)

Morwen addresses the leader in the Goblin tongue. In Undercommon, her guttural words can be rendered thus: "Yes, I speak your delightfully uncouth tongue. What are these riches you speak of?"

Zzlangkor flicks in Drow Sign language, "I'm going to be rich! Listen to me and you can be rich too!" as a translation of the first thing said by the goblins.

The goblins look at each other, getting alarmed, some of them starting to back away, and they all start chattering in unison.

"Bree-yark!" (We surrender!) one of them yells, throwing down his sword, but the others glare at him and he slowly picks it back up.

Areza signs back to Zzlangkor, "Are you certain? It seems they are becoming quite irritated."

Ulrynn subtly moves to take up a good firing position.

Zzlangkor signs, "They seemed surprised we overheard that, and then queried that we could understand.'

Zzlangkor indicates Morwen and says, "Bat-krach-ee kka-tchoyrk-ha-bryal. Gratch bey nagtz." (She deigns to speak your filth. Explain or die.)

Morwen continues, "Bat-nin-tchoyrk chaakk-veez. Bat-uchka-bat." (You speak of riches. Elaborate.)

Areza mentally signals the Archons to move forward slightly.

Zzlangkor can be assumed to keep translating Goblin to Drow Sign Language for the others.

"No rich! You mishear!" the old one yells in a broken attempt at the common tongue of the Underdepths.

Malagaun has sielntly drawn his sword and is resting the dull side of the blade across his shoulder. Now he is just slowly pacing around, seemingly paying little attention to anything, but in truth watching and listening sharply.

The goblins are beginning to back away.

Morwen considers the creatures. She says in Goblin, "Ikkvuchk kka-tchoyrk-ha-nuchokk bey nagtz hauy." (Reveal your secrets or perish.)

The fat one talks fast, nervously. The translation would be, "We're just talking about a deal to sell some goblin ale. Nothing that would interest noble creatures like you, I'm sure."

Zzlangkor gestures with middle and fourth finger crossing, queerly, near his temple, and a visual warping effect follows. The arcanist looks a trifle madder than usual.

Four of the goblins screech and take off running in different directions. The ones that keep their wits about them stick together, but they attempt a hasty withdrawl as well.

Zzlangkor chuckles. "Oops."

Morwen sends her zombies to try and capture at least one of the creatures.

Ulrynn is content to let them go unless anyone seems to care... they're just goblins, after all.

Malagaun shrugs and sheathes his sword. He obviously has no interest whatsoever to chase goblins around.

The goblins manage to outrun the zombies. Unless someone wants to fight, they get away.

Morwen sighs in irritation but lets them go.

Areza seems content to let the goblins leave, but with Morwen's Zombies beginning to move, she dispatches her archons to attempt to capture one.

Zzlangkor to Morwen "Goblinoid zygomatic ridges arrre to some the best."

Areza signs in irritation as well and lets the goblins withdraw, her archons returning to her.

The goblins are gone, their chattering cries joining the incoherent echoing cacophony of the Underdepths.

Ulrynn asks, "Shall we resume our journey?"

Morwen draws her zombies back to her and continues on her way. "Yes, let us continue," she says to Areza.

Ulrynn resumes her scouting role.

Zzlangkor cracks his jaw, gazing after Ulrynn.

Areza nods. "A minor distraction. Agreed, we will continue."

Malagaun says, "At least we didn't have to waste more time than that."

You continue the long walk to the Crypt. There is no day or night here, but if there were, it would definitely be getting late in the day by now. The good news is that you've nearly arrived, the Crypt growing ever-larger in the distance. Built by some forgotten ancient empire on the surface, it has since sunk beneath the ground and become part of the Underdepths. It seems to reach high enough it punctures the roof of the cavern. Its exterior is a curious yellow-green color, perhaps due to age, though it is not entirely clear what caused the discoloration. Massive blocks are interspersed with huge caryatids, forming a vaguely conical structure that tapers slowly as it climbs. Back down here, its entrance is a large archway, sealed with a thick metal door.

Morwen sends several of her cadaverous servitors to try and open the door.

Zzlangkor waits for the undead to do their job. "Malagaun, my dear fellow. I've been meaning to mention, for when we do reach real trouble, I've perfected a spell of rejuvenation for you. I do so hope you'll let me try it?"

Malagaun says, "If it'll become necessary to do so."

The zombies easily lift the massive door. A fetid and stale scent emerges from the Crypt.

Morwen inhales eagerly.

Areza wrinkles her nose slightly at the stench. You knew it was going to have to get disgusting at some point she thinks to herself.

Malagaun hisses. "Not only is it grave-stench, it's got a hint of the accursed surface to it."

Areza shakes her head, looking at Malagaun. "It does reek of both, you are correct. It also smells of untold riches. Onwards?"

Ulrynn says, "Wait." She approaches the doorway and moves her hands over it in in intricate arcane pattern, casting detect magic. She then turns and nods to the others. "We may proceed."

The Crypt's interior would be as shrouded in darkness as the rest of this place, but, of course, darkvision pierces that quite well. It has a large anteroom, in the same yellow-green color as the exterior. The bones of some unfortunates who apparently met their end in this gloomy place litter the floor, interspersed with the decaying remains of their provisions. Exits go to the left (northward) or right (southward), but the southern passage seems to have suffered some sort of disaster and is now quite blocked off with debris.

Zzlangkor nods curtly but seems shy of taking point.

Ulrynn casts her eyes about the antechamber in an attempt to divine what exactly caused the deaths of those whose remains they find.

Several of the bones seem broken and crushed. It's quite likely they were badly wounded and died from their wounds.

Morwen gestures to her zombies. "It may be useful to send one of them ahead, in case there are any devious traps laid by the Crypt's architects. Better to have one of my little lovelies eviscerated than one of us."

Malagaun says, "That much goes without saying."

Ulrynn frowns at Morwen's comments. "They are not lovely."

Areza smiles. "I appreciate their sacrifice, Morwen."

Morwen smiles. "I can always sew them back together. Much can be salvaged." She looks to Ulrynn. "My pets do not delight you, servant of the Hungering Cold?"

Zzlangkor says, "With a few moment of study, I could prepare a spell of excavation for the southron pass...while they go forward. And Morwen, remember, I can fix them up freely, if not rendered unto dust, they are."

Ulrynn says, "They are toys stitched from the remains of the heathen dead. There is nothing of true tranquility to their essence."

Malagaun takes the time to place a protective spell on himself.

Morwen says, "Tranquility bores me, Ulrynn darling."

Ulrynn says, "One day you will have nothing but tranquility."

Zzlangkor demurs from the confrontation between the necromantrixes and instead rummages in his bag, brining forth a rune-traced yellow-leather tome.

This wide passageway extends deeper into the Crypt. It is lined with statues-- four on each side, eight in total-- of tall and shapely females, with an avian theme to them, feathers adorning their bodies and they have bird beaks instead of noses and mouths. They are made of the same yellowish stone as everything else here. At the end of the hall is a large stone door.

Morwen sends a zombie ahead down the northward passage.

A spear stabs out of an almost invisible hole in the floor, but the zombie's shambling gait is lucky enough to dodge it!

Morwen smiles. "Are any of you capable of disarming such devices?"

Areza shrugs. "I do not think so. To spare your pets, Morwen, I think perhaps mine should take their place - they are perhaps more resiliant to such harm."

Morwen mutters a series of syllables and begins climbing on the walls, hoping to avoid the floor altogether.

Ulrynn follows behind Areza.

Ulrynn is a little too slow, and the spear hits her on the leg as she tries to leap past it.

Morwen sends her zombies through, indicating that they should try to avoid the trap.

Malagaun glances at the trap, smiles, and suddenly makes a daring leap to get past it.

A few zombies get speared too, making a disgusting sound as their necrotic flesh is pierced. They don't seem too bothered by it-- they should all be still shambling, just some leaking embalming fluid.

Ulrynn scowls as her leg is pierced. She smoothly wrenches the wounded limb off the impaling spear and whispers a few puissant words, passing her bony fingers over the pulsing wound... which begins to close.

Areza gives Ulrynn a sympathetic look. "Are you alright?" She sounds genuinely concerned.

Ulrynn replies, "It is insignificant. The Hungering Cold will take me in good time, but not today."

Areza says, "Good. I'd hate to see you leave us so soon."

Ulrynn says, "I too would be disturbed, should I die before my preperations are finished."

Morwen drops down on the other side of the trapped corridor.

Zzlangkor sighs and shuts his book, tucking it back away before racing down the corridor with adroitness and arrives near Areza and Morwen's brood.

The passageway now makes a sharp right turn. From this direction is a faint clattering sound, as though something is shambling around in the darkness.

Areza cocks her head at the noise, turning towards the sounds.

The passageway widens and continues for a distance. There is also a smaller turn to the right, sooner.

Ulrynn says, "If you would wait here a moment, I shall investigate the source of that sound." She sneaks ahead to peer arond the turning.

Areza nods to Ulrynn. "If you wish, i can send the boys with you."

The nearby junction simply terminates in a large, heavily damaged stone door.

Ulrynn continues her reconnaisance to the second turning.

The sound of heavy footsteps and clattering bones are audible from what seems like all around-- you are not alone.

Morwen grins.

Ulrynn peers around the corner.

Zzlangkor draws in a startled breath. "Oh, Areza, this picnic was a lovely idea!"

Areza gives him a wild grin. "I thought you'd enjoy it, dear Zzlangkor."

Morwen begins brushing some of her hair with a bone comb. "If they are undead of an imbecilic sort, vacant of mind, I can assert control over them." Spiders chitter and vacate her hair where she combs, creeping into other of her white tresses.

Ulrynn turns to the others and whispers, "First turning, door, stone, damaged. Second turning, skeleton, animated, potentially anathema."

Zzlangkor makes eye contact with Ulrynn and then a fist, the sign for yes in many dialects.

Morwen saunters towards the corner where the skeleton should be.

Malagaun advances into the tunnel, his crossbow readied.

Areza moves forward, keeping the Archons in front of her.

Morwen moves further forward, attempting to assert control over the skeleton.

The skeleton resists Morwen's influence!

Morwen curses as she fails to dominate the skeleton. She throws a small tantrum, shaking her fists.

Zzlangkor keeps his face a studied neutral.

Malagaun steps to clear the corner and, seeing the skeleton apparently isn't under Morwen's control, takes a shot at it.

The crossbow bolt clatters harmlessly against the skeleton's bones!

Zzlangkor wills that the undead know him not and utters a whispering of incantation "D'elezz usstan z'hin areion l'wor'ge d'l'barra," casting hide from undead.

The skeleton charges forward to attack Morwen, but misses! One in the distance advances as well, and a third skeleton emerges from the near passage on the left.

Both of Areza's archons run up, leaping over Ulrynn and Morwen, slamming their fists into the skeletons. One is slashed as it passes through, and it opens a new cut that begins rapidly closing, while the other simply crushes its foe. Meanwhile, Areza wanders up and admires the destruction her boys wrought.

Zzlangkor slides along the rough walls, trusting his spell to keep him from the senses of the bone creatures. He evaluates them, squeezing past allies and enemies to glimpse the room beyond.

Ulrynn steps around the corner and lets fly an arrow at the more distant skeleton. The arrow pierces its skull, sending it clattering to the ground in bits.

Morwen beckons her zombies - they shamble forward en masse, while she once again tries to assert control over the nearest skeleton.

The skeleton bends to her will!

Morwen cackles with obscene pleasure as the skeleton comes under her control. "This one is mine!" she announces. Moving forward, she begins dancing with it.

Ulrynn sighs. "These profane toys..."

Malagaun puts away his crossbow and draws his sword while he advances into the corridor.

Morwen writhes lasciviously in the skeleton's bony hands.

Zzlangkor warns Malagaun, "There is another in the vault ahead."

Areza bites her lip as she enjoys the macabe show Morwen is putting on.

The other skeleton is going to attack, but it instead finds itself joining the odd dance, tripping over its own feet.

Zzlangkor's face betrays a slight frown when he catches Areza's expression.

Areza notices Zzlangkor's gaze and gives him a wink.

Like a resentful lover the skeleton under Morwen's control lashes out at its fellow. Apparently it's just as inept, though.

Loud clattering and thuds can be heard from the room to the south.

Zzlangkor gracefully turns his frown upside down. "If a herd of them get near, I want four for myself."

The archon closest to the attacking skeleton turns to slam it. The second archon moves up to attack it as well. The skeleton crumbles under the archon's blow, and Areza stays where she is, allowing room for Morwen's zombie horde to move by.

Zzlangkor signs in the drow's hand language, 'The skeletons are elven.' He then wanders south to better investigate the noise coming from there.

Two stone statues in the form of a tall and shapely female with an avian theme, like the ones before, lumbers about. What's not like before: the others didn't move. The eyes of these statues glow red, and each carries in her stone hand a sword with a design quite unlike anything typically seen in drow lands-- but it seems quite suited to its purpose. Joining them is a large metallic thing made of some tarnished yellow-green metal that rather resembles a scorpion, although it has sharp knives instead of claws, and its tail is equipped with a gem that glows a bright and piercing red, matching its eyes.

Zzlangkor hastily backs out of the room, drawing a wand. Breathlessly, he says, "Living statues, filled with malice! A massive metal scorpion in there as well - perhaps from the Arach Empire!"

Ulrynn slips in between the others and emerges from the crowding corridor to take a short-range shot at the last skeleton. Her aim is true, and she exclaims, "Return to the void!" as its bones are scattered.

All but two of the skeletons have been reduced to a pile of broken bones-- and one of those is under Morwen's control. Yet they seem to be but a sideshow for the main attration. A growing smell of emblaming fluid and preservatives clots the corridor as Morwen's zombie retinue presses close behind you.

Morwen speaks the elegant syllables of a spell, and the spiders in her hair rustle forth, rapidly spinning webs that gleam with an eldritch glow, covering her in a battle-dress of spider-silk.

Malagaun moves next to Zzlang'kor, placing a protective ward on himself.

The skeleton enters the room-- the inhabitants seem to sense that it is no longer on their side, and one of the walking statues smashes it almost effortlessly.

Zzlangkor winces at the sound of shattering bone.

Morwen shivers as the skeleton is destroyed.

Malagaun speaks to Zzlang'kor. "Steel your mind. Hesitation yields defeat - and death."

Zzlangkor replaces his look of concern with an incisor-showing battle-sneer, taking Malagaun's advice.

With loud plodding, the constructs advance, slowly but inexoriably, like death itself. The scorpion's tail swishes around, as though looking for a target for some sort of ranged attack, and not quite finding one.

Areza's archon moves up, focusing on beating down one of the statues.

The archons cannot seem to do anything against the statues' hard stone exterior.

Areza's brow furrows in worry. She moves up herself, and shoots acid at the one they attacked.

The acid sizzles on the statue. That at least seems to hurt it, a little.

Zzlangknor withdraws a small iron vial and splashes its contents upon Malagaun, uttering "Uoi'nota vlos o'gothe olt ehmtu," water and blood mingle in the spray which tingles where it touches and evaporates in a sizzle, casting infernal healing.

Ulrynn backs away into the northern chamber, running her long fingers over her bow and whispering mysic catechisms as a pallid iridescence begins to shimmer across the weapon, casting weapon of awe.

Malagaun utters an arcane incantation, causing his arms to elongate. He moves behind the archons, getting ready to attack the statues beyond them.

Morwen gathers her zombies behind her, then steps forth into the corridor, hands weaving another spell. The spiders in her hair once more rustle forth, spinning a glob of eldritch webbing that she then hurls towards the metal scorpion.

Zzlangkor ogles the casting.

The gigantic metal scorpion struggles free of the webbing, advancing next to its companions.

Morwen stamps her foot in frustration as the scorpion breaks through her webbing.

Its tail blazes red, and a red beam strikes Morwen in the chest, causing a great deal of pain, but little permanent harm.

Morwen shudders in what might be pleasure or pain.

Meanwhile, the two statues concentrate their attacks on the archon that shields Malagaun. Despite their formidable resilience, the statues' assault is relentless.

Areza calls up her power, summoning another archon directly in the scorpion's path. The other two attempt to smash the center statue.

Pieces begin to break off the center statue. It too has formidable resilience, but the archons are equally relentless.

"A spot of blood becomes you," offers the arcanist to Morwen before intoning the esoteric words to activate the charred femural-wand he grips. Zzlangkor says "Usstan wunlar l'gul rah" as a ghostly claw arises, casting spectral hand.

Ulrynn slinks back into the fray, loosing a finely-aimed puissant shaft at the scorpion-thing from her now-hexed bow.

The arrow bounces off its sturdy metal exterior.

Morwen speaks another incantation, the strange tattoos on her body suddenly seeping blood, a bone wand clutched in one hand.

Malagaun uses his unnaturally long arms to strike over the archons, the sleek blade of his dueling sword cutting down at the statue beyond

Malagaun cannot fight with his usual grace with such long arms, apparently. Meanwhile, the statues continue to mercilessly assail the weakened archon, while the scorpion attacks the one in front of it with its blades. So far, the line formed by the archons holds!

Areza casts acid splash again, seeing as it had some effect before, while the archons continue to fight, attacking the statues in front of them.

They're unable to damage the statues! One lands a solid hit, but the statue's hard stone harmlessly absorbs the blow.

Zzlangkor revels in the chaotic press of combat. Between the crush of bodies, he sends forth the ephemeral hand to caress the most wounded hunted petitioner's face, bearing with it a blossom of positive energy. Zzlangkor then slinks among the zombies, retreating west, as an ablative smoke suggestive of a death shroud forms in an egg around this arcanist.

Ulrynn sidesteps to get a better angle and launches another deliberately-aimed sizzling arrow at the arachnoid automaton.

This arrow hits its metal exterior and does the same amount of harm as the last-- none.

Morwen's zombies seethe around the metal scorpion, tearing at it with their dead fingers, a tide of undead flesh and spidersilk moaning and ripping. Meanwhile, Morwen stands the tip of the bone wand into the grisly poppet dangling round her neck, eyes fixed on the metal scorpion.

The zombies bash and bludgeon the creature, but it is surprisingly resilent as well. It's no real surprise that there are so many bones of would-be tomb raiders left behind. Her spell cannot seem to find the scorpion for the moment...

Malagaun draws some of his eldritch power to place behind the strike, and continues to slash and stab and the nearest statue.

Malagaun breaks off its ugly bird beak! The statues continue pounding away at the archons, trying to break through the line. This is quite a slugfest. Despite everyone's defensive best effort, the middle archon is eviscerated, and vanishes in a cloud. The scorpion slashes a zombie in two, and its other claw digs into the archon in front of it.

Morwen pouts as the zombie is torn in two.

Areza summons a new archon to take the place of the one that fell. The other archos attack their nearest foes.

Zzlangkor asks Morwen 'Kante tak, gorg abbalah-doon?', a Necril phrase.

Morwen says, "Xish-izich," she replies.

The archons continue to pummel the creatures before them, somewhat less than effectively.

Zzlangkor crouches into a run, dashing around the corner completely.

Ulrynn sighs softly and, with the patience of the grave, nocks and looses again.

Unfortunately, the arrow once again fails to find its mark.

Morwen's zombies continue to seethe round the metal scorpion, battering at it with their fists. Morwen herself thrusts her bone wand once more into the poppet, still staring at the scorpion.

The scorpion has a drow-like resilience to magic. The spell has no effect!

Morwen tears out a hank of her hair in pure frustration. Fortunately her bewitched hair regrows very swiftly.

Malagaun steps to the side, away from the statue's attacks, but well within the reach of his lenghtened arms, which once again strike at the stony foe.

The statue returns the attack, swinging its blade, but cannot seem to strike the graceful duelist! Meanwhile the scorpion eviscerates another archon!

Areza decides that this is dragging on for too damn long, and resolves to quicken things up! She casts haste on the archons, on Ulrynn, and on Malagaun.

The archons just attack as usual - but now double!

The archons don't seem to be any more effective despite their added speed.

Zzlangkor gives the door a vigorous shove...vigorous for a puny wielder of the arcane, anyway. After it opens, he slinks into the large room, positioning himself.

Ulrynn keeps firing, Areza's spell allowing her to increase her pace while maintaining the focussed precision of her aim... two more stinging arrows fly towards the scorpion.

One of them strikes a seam, embedding itself in the weak spot!

More of Morwen's zombies press forward to surround the metal scorpion. Meanwhile, Morwen herself flings herself forwards, her sickle flashing, clutched in a tendril of her white hair. It whips out towards the metal scorpion!

The zombies continue ripping pieces off the metal scorpion, exposing weird looking yellow-green innards of metal wire and strange clockwork.
[/ic]

[sparkletwist]

[ic=Chapter 2]Where we last left our group of intrepid adventurers of the Underdepths is where we find them now-- locked in combat with strange constructed things. Two stone statues in the form of tall and shapely females with an avian theme, and a large metallic thing made of some tarnished yellow-green metal that rather resembles a scorpion, although it has sharp knives instead of claws. Several skeletons have already been defeated, and the party seems to be faring well in this conflict as well, but the sound of further activity can be heard from the southeastern passage. Clearly the noise of combat seems to be attracting the attention of the Crypt's other denizens...

Malagaun slashes at the animate statue at sorcerously enchanced speed, the polished blade of his dueling sword flashing.

The blade cracks on the hard stone! The good news is the statue seems quite full of cracks as well; it then retaliates, but misses. Meanwhile, the other statue slides to the side and assaults the archon in front of it along the way. The scorpion, meanwhile, stabs forward, attempting to hit the archon in front of it, as well as Morwen who is right behind, but it misses as well.

Areza summons a new creature - similar in form to the archon, but not as heavily armored and possessing bony protusions on it's fist, dropping it behind the rear statue. The existing archons attack! The left attacks the badly battered statue, and the right attacks the scorpion.

The archons land many solid hits, but stone and metal turn them all away with no harm done.

Zzlangkor attempts to take command of the skeleton behind him, but the skeleton resists!

Ulrynn fires two arrows, both hitting the scorpion-thing solidly!

Morwen's zombies scrabble with undead tenacity at the scorpion-construct, wrenching and tearing with their claws, ignoring torn fingernails and shattered digits as they batter at its carapace. Morwen herself also lunges forward, swinging her sickle.

The attacks batter the metallic construct mercilessly. It holds up disturbingly well.

Morwen takes a step backwards, away from the conflict.

Malagaun curses his luck as he stares at the cracked edge of his blade. There being little he can do about it right now though, he continues to cut and stab, trusting on the excellency of his swordplay to prevail in spite of such setbacks.

The broken sword seems unable to do any damage, despite Malagaun's considerable skill.

The damaged statue now tries to push forward, but Malagaun is too quick. He avoids the attack. The second statue, meanwhile, turns to assail the new foe, and rips into it savagely. The scorpion attacks as well, its slashing blades failing to find their targets. Finally, the skeleton near Zzlangkor advances and swings, and Zzlangkor stumbles as he dodges.

Areza first attempts to finish off the weakened construct with a bolt of acid!

The acid sizzles, but seems to have no real effect. This thing is tenacious!

Areza's archons rip into their foes, with the newcomer going after the scorpion.

Unfortunately, they fail to do any real damage.

Zzlangkor steps away from the skeleton and tries to dominate it again.

Apparently it's as oblivious to domination attempts as it was to the combat going on.

Ulrynn moves next to Areza and attacks the weakened construct. Drawing a level breath, she fires two arrows. One hits the construct squarely, chipping off another piece of it, and exposing a crack that runs through the brute. Her second arrow strikes that crack precisely, shattering the statue.

Morwen's zombies meanwhile continue their relentless assault on the scorpion-thing, while Morwen herself uses her bone-wand again, invoking another spell to try and destroy the scorpion-construct.

The spell fizzles, but the zombies rip off more pieces of the metal scorpion. It is quite heavily damaged now.

Malagaun, seeing the first statue crumble into rubble, redirects his assault to the next one, his sorcerously lenghtened limbs reaching forth.

Malagaun's already broken sword shatters on the statue's hard exterior!

Malagaun hisses in frustration and discards his broken weapon. One of his lengthy arms makes to pick up the strange surfacer sword that had been carried by the smashed statue.

The remaining statue swings its blade at the zombie in front of it, while the scorpion-thing slashes at the zombie and the archon in front of it, as well. The zombies are slashed open, but remain standing. On the other side of the room, the skeleton dashes around and swings its blade at Zzlangkor, but misses.

Areza shouts "Malagaun!" and tosses the long-armed swordsman her rapier. As the magic from her haste fades, she renews it, adding to to Malagaun, the archon in front of the Scorpion, The Myrmidon, and Ulrynn.

Malagaun grabs the rapier and turns quickly to nod appreciatively to Areza, before facing again toward the battle raging ahead of him.

Areza's archons now attack, the hasted ones striking the scorpion and the one remaining attacking the statue.

Zzlangor begins to move toward the main battle, but also attempts to control the skeleton yet again.

This apparently rather badass skeleton manages to both resist the attempt and land a pretty solid hit as Zzlangkor moves away.

Ulrynn shoots at the remaining statue... and misses terribly.

Morwen's zombies gnash and rend at the construct. Others assail the remaining statue, reaching past allies, flailing embalmed limbs and dripping preservatives and putrid ichor.

The zombies tear huge pieces off the scorpion, exposing more strange wiring and clockwork. The thing seems on the verge of collapsing.

Morwen herself curses in frustration and continues weaving spells with her wand, her tattoos seeping blood as arcane puissance flowers through her body.

Her spells still fail to penetrate the creature's resistance!

Malagaun flourishes Areza's borrowed rapier and stabs at the scorpion, figuring that concentrating on this foe is the wise strategy when it is so clearly preoccupied by other assailants.

The swarm of zombies dig into the scorpion's inner workings, jamming up its clockwork with their rotting fingers as Malagaun moves in for the kill.

Malagaun thrusts right through the metallic scorpion's head, piercing whatever was contained within it. The unnatural fire in it's eyes dies.

The animated statues crumble to rubble, ripped apart by archons and zombies, while the scorpion clangs to the ground, metal and wires and clockwork flying everywhere. The red glow in its tail fades shortly after its eyes. And meanwhile, when Zzlangkor looks back again, the skeleton is mysteriously gone! Where did it go?

Areza lets out a satisified hiss as the archons and zombies rip the statue to pieces. She quickly has her archons and Myrmidon fan out to watch the rest of the room.

Morwen coos and clucks like a displeased mother. She sets about healing her shambolic retinue with her bone wand.

Malagaun stands amidst the carnage of maimed corpses and broken gears, frowning. "Wasted a good blade on these things. This is not a good day for me."

The construct statues both carried longswords. Ancient, but good quality.

Areza gives him a sympathetic look. "Those were far too resilient, yes." She walks in, and begins giving orders to her archons to begin scavaging through the peices of the construct, taking particular care with the scorpion's tail. The Myrmidon stays guard, watching the back door.

They have some vague idea of what looks valuable and collect various large chunks of metal plating, nicely made gears, and whatnot, and of course the tail.

Morwen strides to one of the skeletons and mutters a few words of power while poking it with another wand of bone, this one fashioned from a drow radius. Slowly, flesh begins to return to the bare bones...

The skeleton turns into a moderately decomposed corpse of a drow.

Morwen considers the corpse curiously. "Drow. A fellow tomb raider perhaps? Surely this crypt houses surface-dwellers..."

Malagaun inspects the longsword he picked up and attempts to detect magic on it.

No magic. It's just a nicely made masterwork blade.

Malagaun says, "You sword did serve me well in this battle. You have my gratitude, Areza." Malagaun hands Areza's rapier back to her.

Areza takes it back with a smile of thanks. "I'm glad to have had it wielded by such a talented hand."

Morwen looks about the chamber for anything else of value, poking through the dust and bonemeal.

Areza begins searching as well, and has the archons do the same once they've finished with the statue. The Myrmidon remains watching the rear entrance.

In the center of the large room is what appears to be some sort of a fountain. Or at least, it was a fountain at one point. The water now no longer flows; instead, it is just brown and stagnant and just sits in the bottom. The statue where the water would flow out is cracked and broken, and seems like it was once adorned with finery that has now been looted. Four small sets of steps lead into the fountain, although entry might not

Morwen mounts the steps to get a better look at the inside of the fountain. Anything here?

The sound of other creatures stirring is evident to all who listen. The Crypt is no longer a dead place. Nothing seems to be -here-, at least, though.

Malagaun approaches the fountain, using his enchanted cloak to detect magic on it. He then says, "This fountain seems to be ensorcelled. There is some kind of transmutational spell upon it."

With the summons soon to be recalled to their home plane, Areza begins the ritual needed to summon Brazilith. She remarks, "I would advise caution, my friends. It took a great deal of effort to take down those three foes, and I am running low on allies we could call upon." She then walks over to the fountain with Brazilith in tow, looking interested. "Curious. I wonder what it does..." One of the archons, at the edge of his duration on this plane, moves over to touch it.

Nothing much happens. The fountain is magical, but the water is just nasty water.

Areza's archon takes a drink of the fetid waters.

It tastes bad. And would probably give some horrible disease to anyone who isn't a summoned creature...

Areza nods, and dismisses the archon, leaving her and Brazilith.

Morwen shrugs. "What about the other chamber?" She saunters over to the northward chamber, her hair trailing behind her, zombies shuffling to accompany her.

Ulrynn scouts around for danger as well.

Up north, there's the same mess of bones, rubble, and other junk lying around. Nothing of value-- this place seems to have been looted. Or it never had anything to begin with.

Areza casts detect magic herself on the fountain, hoping to be able to learn more of it.

Morwen starts arranging some of the bones in a complex pattern. She then directs her zombies to start playing some kind of hopping-game, jumping from space to space. They're... not very good at it. She tires of the game eventually and drifts back into the main chamber. "Anything interesting? Or should we press on?"

Areza says, "My friends, might a make a suggestion?" She says, eyeing the fountain with some trepidation.

Malagaun responds, "Do speak your mind."

Zzlangkor nods as well.

Areza says, "It is actually pressing on that I wish to ask about. Malagun's sword is shattered, and I am low on magics to call more creatures to our aid, and it has been a long trek here. Shall we make camp for the night, with Brazilith and your children, Morwen, to stand guard? And then I suggest we make effort to move this fountain, to find what lays beneath it."

"Camp? Here? Didn't you have some sort of ring?" Zzlangkor asks.

Areza nods. "I do. If you would prefer, we can leave Brazilith and the Zombies here, to make sure new creatures do not infest this room, and I can call us back to the Sable Web for a proper night's rest and resupply."

Malagaun says, "There's little camping will do about my blade - though, I could prepare new spells at least."

Morwen considers. "Hmm. Sounds like there are plenty of things moving around in here. If we camp, they might come to investigate. I doubt we'd be safe here. The room over there is a bit more defensible. Out of the way."

Morwen picks up the other statue's sword.

Areza picks up the end of the scorpion's tail carefully, quite interested in it. She muses, "I believe there is a scrap dealer back home. She may have some interest in this." She then adds, "And...the other parts."

Morwen directs her zombies to pick up hunks of scrap. They can always drop them if they need to fight again.

Malagaun remarks with a shrug, "Better than no loot, I guess."

Ulyrnn disdainfully picks up a few shiny gears, figuring that's about all the haul of loot is going to be for now.

Malagaun conjures a floating disc to help carry the heavy stuff.

Areza has Brazilth discard any obvious junk from the constructs, focusing on anything that seems like it would have some intrinsic value, as much as can be carried or loaded on the floating disc.

Morwen twirls about, obviously restless. After awhile she sits down in the dust and stares at a wall while one of her zombies rubs her shoulders.

Areza asks, "Have we gathered all we wish?"

Everyone finishes their gathering and gathers around Areza, save for Morwen's zombies and Brazilith, left behind to stand guard.

Areza offers her hands to everyone, and then mutters the activation word to call them back to town.

They seem to fall through the floor, landing gently in the common room of the Sable Web.

Areza stretches. "That was invigorating, I must say. Feel free to make use of the rooms to bathe while I have dinner prepared for us."

Malagaun says, "As always, your hospitality is paramount Areza. A bath would be a welcome refreshment indeed."

Zzlangkor nods his agreement.

Areza grins. "You're quite welcome, Malagaun. Please, enjoy."

Tthrevinia hears a noise and enters, eyebrow raised. "You seem like you've been... busy." She eyes the large collection of junk.

Malagaun comments, "It's good that we needn't walk all the way back there."

Areza gives Malagaun a sympathetic look. "My apologies for the confusion. The ring does not return us once again - we will need to walk back, but it saves us a trip still." She then turns to Tthrevinia, "And hello, Tthrevinia. You missed a rather thrilling time."

"What in the name of the Great Spider -is- all of this garbage?" Tthrevinia asks.

Areza looks back at Tthrevinia. "Parts of a dread construct we had to dispose of."

Morwen says, "That which is unclean, refuse, the abject, cast-off, detritus, effluvium, rejectamenta... these are the truest treasures."

Tthrevinia scoffs. "Collecting junk? I do believe I could go visit Jrol's if I found such a time thrill---" She trails off, just shaking her head.

Areza nods in thanks. "Jrol, of course. Once we've bathed, while we're waiting for dinner to be complete, shall we head to see what our fortunes have brought us?"

Malagaun says, "Well, there is one quite interesting gemstone stuck in this junk. Apparently enchanted with some kind of attack magic."

"Gemstones you say? Now you're speaking a bit more of my language. Shame there's no way to find the gemstones without all the... rest of it."

Morwen says, "Nail it to the walls. It'll make good decoration."

Malagaun says, "Your taste in decoration is quite odd, Morwen."

Areza says, "Ahh, Morwen, wouldn't it be better to at least sell it for gold, so that you could purchase new corpses for your experments?"

Zzlangkor sits. "I'm far too fatigued for shopping. I can trust you not to pocket too much of my share, can I, dear Areza?"

Areza nods. "Of course not, Zzlangkor."

Morwen casts around. "Does anyone have any corpses lying around? I am without my usual retainers." She looks to Areza. "If we can sell it, I suppose it's worthwhile."

Areza dispatches a slave to check the larder for any corpses. Llearning that the larder is empty of corpses, sends the slave to Chopper's Meats to pick up a couple humanoid corpses for Morwen if they have them.

Morwen will accompany the slave to ensure that they get a choice cadaver.

Tthrevinia goes to flirt with Zzlangkor.

Ulrynn sits around looking stern.

Malagaun goes to enjoy a dip in the baths.

Areza awaits in the Sable Webs sitting room after bathing, ready for everyone to gather so they can see what they earned. She lounges languidly, looking quite pleased with the results of their first excursion.

Carrion Way likely smells as intoxicating to Morwen as it smells foul to everyone else. Chopper stands behind the counter, cleaver in hand. "What?" he growls as they enter. The shop is dingy and dark, a building that was once a larger, more noble thing covered over in cheap wood paneling to make this butcher shop.

The bugbear slaves looms deferentially behind Morwen. It took awhile to teach the slave to loom deferentially, but Braxis was a quick study.

Morwen says, "I'm in need of a corpse. Mostly intact would be preferable. Race is unimportant."

Chopper grunts, "For eatin', fuckin', animatin', or what?"

Morwen says, "Animation. You make it sound so... mechanical."

"Weirdo," the huge orc grunts, as he chops the head clean off some sort of weird lizard-bird-thing in a single stroke. "I got a couple rotten ones out back you can have." About the only thing that smells worse than Chopper's shop is the garbage pit around the back of Chopper's shop. As promised, there are a pair of only-slightly-rotten goblin carcasses to be had.

Morwen instructs the slave to pull one of the Goblins out of the pit.

The bugbear pulls out one of the goblins, wrinkling its nose as it does so.

Morwen examines the corpse. "Hmm. A second one as well, I think."

Beneath the slave is a pile of bones, offal, filth, and half-rotten.... well, who knows what it is.

Morwen takes out the longsword she looted from the crypt and sets about hacking the goblins up slightly, so that one is missing its legs, the other its head and upper arms. "We'll take these back to the Sable Web," she says to the bugbear.

Chopper ambles out the back door of his shop, watching this whole display with a certain scowling interest.

Morwen pays the orc a couple of coppers and returns to the Web, where, after procuring needle and thread, she sets about stitching the goblins together.

Morwen produces a lovely extra-large goblin out of the carcasses of two.

Morwen then takes out her radius-wand and regenerates the grafted corpse-parts. Finally, she takes out a black onyx gem, wedges it into the creature's chest, and invokes fell powers, whispering and carressing the dead limbs.

The corpse rises!

Areza watches with facination as Braxis returns to his usual duties.

Morwen's retinue is once again back at full strength.

The newly-risen zombie is... unusual to behold. It's very top-heavy, with stunted legs and arms compared to its over-long torso.

Oddly enough, its head looks perfectly reasonable on its torso. Far better than a goblin's overly large head normally looks on their small bodies.

Areza says, "Well crafted, Morwen. It's beautiful, in a way."

Morwen says, "It will do as a cupbearer, anyway." She opens a bottle of wine and has the zombie pour a glass for her.

Areza says, "Wonderful. Now we merely need wait for Malagaun, and we can depart."

Malagaun returns shortly thereafter, decidedly disinterested in the zombie. "Shall we go already?"

Morwen nods. "Very well."

Areza says, "Let us depart." She calls upon an archon before they depart, feeling naked without a summon present.

They proceed through the streets of Torizzod, which are bustling for the hour, but, then again, they are bustling at all hours. The Underdepths does sleep... but it doesn't all sleep at the same time.

Morwen leads her newly-made servitor through the streets of Torizzod. She has carved her signature into her its skin with a dagger.

Jrol's Junk is on the edge of the city's thriving market. It isn't in the best neighborhood, but none of the good neighborhoods would want a yard full of gigantic heaps of what would seem to be garbage. It isn't, though, to Jrol-- and her customers-- it is treasure, and it is guarded accordingly; fenced in behind a tall reinforced fence with a trio of very nasty looking orc slaves holding spears or swords.

Areza gives the slaves a nod of greeting. "We have wares for your mistress, if she is in."

They open the door for them to go inside. The inside of the shop is barely any better than the outside, poorly lit (although with drow darkvision, nobody much cares) with her disorganized wares stacked to the ceiling in terribly haphazard piles. They're sorted roughly by category-- weapons over here, hardware over there, building supplies over here.... but forget about any real scheme. Jrol herself is a tall, lanky drow woman with standards of hygiene perhaps better than Morwen's, although she is still rather dirty, her hair unkempt-- you might call it braided, but it's really more tied into scraggly knots. "Welcome, welcome!" she says as new visitors arrive. "Welcome to you, especially," she says to Malagaun in a husky tone.

Malagaun smiles slyly at Jrol and returns her greetings with a nod.

Morwen is quite content to let Malagaun do the talking.

Morwen wanders around the shop picking things up and examining them, then putting them down at random, exacerbating the mess further.

Malagaun says, "We have some freshly looted materials to sell."

"Looted you say? From where? This isn't going to lead any trouble back to me is it... the sort of trouble where I'll need a big strong man to protect me?"

Areza clears her throat to speak up, looking just a hair irritated. "No. It is from outside the city, and will be no problem for you."

Jrol glances at Areza and gives a little huff, then turns back to Malagaun, smiling warmly.

Malagaun says, "In this matter she speaks truth."

She picks up each piece of junk, scanning it carefully, with a trained eye. "Mmm... I'll give you 1000 tzal for the lot of it."

Morwen idly casts detect magic.

There is something magical at the bottom of one of the piles.

Morwen instructs her goblin-thing to go digging through one of the junk piles.

The junk pile collapses with a horrible clatter, sending it spilling all over the shop.

Malagaun says, "A fair enough sounding price- what the??!"

Areza winces as the clattering begins.

Malagaun facepalms.

Morwen says, "Don't mind me. I'll clear it up." She tells her zombie tell start stacking it back up. Morwen meanwhile looks for the magic-source at the bottom...

Jrol hisses. "As I said, I'll give you 900 tzal."

Malagaun says, "Uh, I do believe you said it was 1000."

Areza makes a frustrated noise at the drop in price.

Jrol answers, "Really? I think you misheard me given the amount of noise just now."

Malagaun says, "Perhaps I did. In that case I should apologise for being so careless - I should not have deemed it a fair price then. Perhaps we should look for another place to sell our hard-earned loot?"

"Oh, oh, oh. You would do that to me? I'm hurt, wounded even." She presses herself lightly against Malagaun. "Forgive me, perhaps we can come to an arrangement..."

Morwen picks up a dagger from the junk pile and fidgets with it.

She glances over to Morwen. "A fine blade, isn't it?" Then back to Malagaun. "Come now, don't be too hasty." She gives him cute pouty puppy dog eyes.

Malagaun laughs bemusedly. "Arrangement? After that borderline insulting offer of nine hundred? Unless, of course, it was meant merely as a test of our savvy...?"

"Oh, I'm so sorry, I was expecting you to make a counteroffer. A give and take. The thrill of the hunt." She licks her lips. "I would never insult you, my dear, never."

Morwen says, "Hmm, a bit rusty. I'll give you two tzal for it."

She reaches behind her, wiggling her fingers. "Bring it here. Let me see."

Malagaun casts a flirtatious look at Jrol. "Ah, I was suspecting that might be the case. And would surely be content to part with our materials for say - 1300 tzal?" He glances at Areza.

Areza gives Malagaun an almost imperceptable nod.

Morwen brings it over.

Jrol just about climbs on top of Malagaun. "Mmm, yes. That's it. 1300 you say? Oh, what about 1000?" She licks her lips, less than an inch from his ear.

Malagaun says, "I thought that was your initial offer? 1200."

"Oh, you drive a hard bargain. I do love it when men drive... hard."

Malagaun leans closer, playfully. "Enough to call it a deal?"

Areza speaks up. "That price does seem quite fair, given the hardship endured." She carefully keeps all notes of irritation or jealousy or other similar emotions out of her voice.

"Mmm, perhaps, perhaps my dear. But you'd consider it a favor, you'd have to. And you'd have to do me a favor now and then." She eyes him with a wicked grin.

Malagaun asks, "So are we settled at 1200?"

Jrol answers, "Yes, yes, 1200 it is."

Areza steps forward to take the money, since Malagaun seems to have his hands full.

Malagaun detaches from the shopkeeper. "A pleasant business. For a junk shop."

"Excellent, excellent. And now this? Mmm, seems well-made, I certainly wouldn't part with it for less than..." As she muses, she takes a small pendant she wears in hand, using it to 'scan' the dagger. "Oh, this one is special. I'm afraid two tzal is short by about three orders of magnitude."

Morwen tosses it back into the scrap-heap. "I just wanted something to pare my nails with."

"Oh, I have plenty of those... here, take this one, consider it part of our trade." Jrol reaches into another junk pile and hands Morwen a quite ordinary dagger.

Morwen takes the dagger. She plunges the dagger somewhere into her hair, where it stays.

"Mmm, anyway." Jrol walks over to the counter, pulling out a large thick card. She scribes on it in fancy calligraphy, and then arcane marks it and stamps it. She then hands Areza the bill of credit, for 1200 tzal, redeemable at the Bank of Torizzod.

Areza gives her an appreciative nod. "A pleasure doing buisness, Jrol. I'm sure we'll see you again."

Malagaun says, "Now that we've liberated ourselves of the scrap, I have some business over at Zatzo's."

Areza nods to him. "Of course. And I must be getting back to the Web."

Malagaun says, "I will accompany you later at dinnertime."

Morwen says, "Sounds good."

Malagaun nods in farewells and heads over to the armoury.

"I'll look forward to your company, Malagaun," Areza says, deliberately not looking at Jrol.
[/ic]

[sparkletwist]

[ic=Chapter 3]The group has once again reconvened at the Sable Web, where the fire is warm and the lichen-wine flows readily. Oh, and Tthrevinia is there too, providing her delightful company-- which might just make everyone want to leave. Some already have, even. Ulrynn had business at the temple, and Zzlang'kor is off doing... well, the kinds of things Zzlang'kor does.

Morwen fusses over her new zombie servitor, treating its skin with preservatives, removing organs and weaving minor spells into its flesh. She drinks from a bottle of dark wine, swigging as she stitches and sews.

Areza is up early, overseeing the slaves as they prepare for the day's business without their mistress. Her demeanor to them is oddly... soft. While they work hard, she treats them... decently. When the rest gather, she joins them. "All well rested?"

Malagaun inspects his new blade, a bored look on his face.

"Mmm, not really. I didn't get much sleep last night. I met a delightful young fellow at the baths..." Tthrevinia winks, and looks like she's quite ready to tell the whole story.

Morwen looks over at Areza and asks, "Have you considered replacing the help with undead? They don't require the same coddling."

Areza gives Tthrevinia a kind smile. "It pleases me that you find yourself well entertained." She looks back at Morwen and shakes her head. "I'd find myself hard pressed for buisness in some areas with the undead - the risk of parts falling into the food, and our more carnal services, would deter many customers."

Morwen shakes her head. "Some people are so fussy."

Tthrevinia counters, "I doubt if anyone would much want to feast on the pickled eyeballs if one knew there was a good chance they were embalmed."

Malagaun says, "Reanimated cadavers are best fit for toiling in mines and sweatshops, away from public eye."

Morwen says, "I find your squeamishness inexplicable."

Areza gives her a grin. "They are fussy, yes. But I must bow to public preferences." She gives Malagaun a wink.

Malagaun retorts, "'Tis not squamishness, dear Morwen. It's called having a fine sense of aesthetics."

Areza adds, "The undead would clash with the decor, this is true."

Morwen looks momentarily livid. She is nothing if not an aesthete. "I am ready to return to the crypts at your convenience," she says coolly.

Malagaun says, "Hopefully our next trip over there goes more smoothly than the previous one."

Morwen says, "I have a trifle of business in Torizzod, but shall be ready to return to the crypts presently."

Areza replies, "Agreed. When you return, Morwen, then we shall depart."

Morwen heads out from the Sable Web accompanied by her zombie, in search of a rickshaw to purchase.

Morwen steps out, on the edge of Torizzod's better neighborhoods. The Sable Web itself occupies the second floor of a high tower, accessible by a grand promenade that allows its customers to avoid the tangled den of hovels, industry, and other activity below-- still, the city is packed tightly enough one can often catch a faint whiff of the 'delights' of Carrion Way from up here. Approaching is an elegant, well-dressed female drow wearing a sleek dress of spider-silk with high slits up the sides, leaving very little of her shapely form to the imagination. Her silver-white hair is put up in an elaborate bouffant. She is on the petite side, like Morwen, but is slightly taller, and made even more so by the high-heeled boots she wears. She also smells of sweet perfume and the luxuries of the bath house-- quite unlike Morwen. She is flanked by three shirtless, muscular male drow retainers, and then, surrounding them in a square, a group of four goblin slaves, dressed quite nicely for goblins. The two goblins in the lead each carry the crimson and violet flag of House Unghul, prompting any passers-by to get quickly out of the way and bow in respect. One commoner who is a bit too slow to get out of the way is simply kicked aside by the large men without a word. Morwen would recognize the leader of the visiting retinue immediately; it's Draewen, her elder sister, Third Daughter of the House of Unghul.

Morwen rolls her eyes in exasperation at the sight of Draewen. This foolish pomp and ritual has never held the remotest appeal - as a child and adolescent Morwen was too busy exhuming the family pets and retainers to pay much attention to such niceties.

"Morrrrwen," she says, in her distinctive, nasal, slightly creaking inflection, a combination of her affectation and just the way she talks. "I thought I might find you at this hovel." She glances around, clearly looking rather disgusted at the whole situation. "I have been directed, by Mother and Father, to inform you that this petulant little game of yours has gone on for quite long enough." She adds, in a softer voice, "I personally think you're a lost cause, but I wasn't consulted." She makes a dismissive flick of her wrist. "Anyhow. There are larger matters at hand. All will be forgiven if you immediately abandon these strange and foul pursuits and return to the Unghul Manse at once." She adds, with a wrinkle of her nose, "And clean yourself up, of course."

Morwen puts a hank of her hair in her mouth and chews it. Several spiders skitter out and crawl across her cheek, away from her gnashing teeth.

For a brief instant, Draewen pales and seems like she might retch.

Morwen says, "You must have me mistaken with someone else. My name's not Morwen. I'm just some common slag." She is obviously aware that this 'ruse' is completely ridiculous.

Draewen replies, "You may act like one. But you know quite well that isn't true."

Morwen swigs from her wine-bottle to punctuate her 'lower-class performance.'

Draewen continues to speak. "You have obligations, Morwen. Cease being an embarrassment to all of us, most of all yourself."

Morwen twitches. Her hair encircles her neck, squeezing, as if she were trying to choke herself to death. She says, "Very well. Tell the family I'll meet them later. I have a few errands to attend to."

Draewen huffs, with a condescending, frustrated, theatrically exaggerated wave of her hand. "Fine, fine. Don't tarry too long... and clean yourself up before you come around."

Morwen scratches her scalp, and a small swarm of spiders courses down her forearm. She wrinkles her nose in distaste.

Draewen wrinkles her nose in just as much distaste and quickly turns her retinue around, shoving their way past any common folk who don't move.

"Being around relatives always makes me itch," Morwen says to her zombie. That concluded, she searches for a rickshaw. She will return in it, being pulled by the zombie.

Malagaun comments on Morwen's rickshaw. "I see you've secured a comfortable ride - now that is appropriate use for zombies."

Areza smiles at Morwen as she returns. "Welcome back. Are you ready to depart?"

Morwen nods. She seems even more irked than before, but a second bottle of wine is helping.

Malagaun stretches his limbs. He is clearly prepared to depart.

Areza stands up. "Tthrevinia, I don't suppose you would like to join us on this outing?"

Tthrevinia shakes her head. "No, no, but do let me know if you ever decide to explore a boutique rather than a tomb...."

Areza gives her a polite nod. "Of course, you will be the first to know."

Once again, our band of drow adventurers has set out from Torizzod, stepping into the great cavern bound for parts unknown. Or, at least, somewhat unknown. Their destination is presumably the same as it was last time, the Crypt of Phantoms, this time perhaps a bit wiser and a bit more prepared for the sorts of ancient perils that are buried deep in that timeless, dead place. The paths around the city are bustling-- drow merchants and travelers, slavers hauling their noisy goblin wares back to town, the occasional mercenary with blade slung across his back, kobolds pushing carts of this or that, and patrols of the Torizzod city guard to keep them all from causing any trouble.

Morwen has a nap in her rickshaw after finishing the bottle of wine.

Areza gives a polite smile and nod to the guards as they leave, and takes careful not of the buisness going on around her, just in case someone or something imporant is nearby.

Malagaun seems as uninterested as ever in the plain business near the city.

It's just the usual bustle around Torizzod. Nothing anyone hasn't seen before. So, once again, you turn east, toward the coast of the Undersea, its briny air immediately hitting your nostrils. As always, its waters are a cold black-- even with the benefit of darkvision, its depths cannot be pierced. Ahead is the Crypt of Phantoms, looming over the landscape as something that is both of this place and yet does not belong, being ultimately a relic of the surface. On this less-traveled path, you spot a single skeleton heading towards you. Oddly enough, it is dressed in a cloak with a hat, and a backpack slung across its back, like any other traveler. Except, you know, it's a skeleton.

Areza looks at the skeleton and, bemusedly, waves at it.

It waves back and gives a nod of greeting, as it continues on its way.

Morwen wakes up groggily and looks at the skeleton with interest. "Good sir! Greetings and salutations!" she says, addressing the skeleton as if it were a person.

The skeleton gives Morwen a wave as well.

Areza watches, her eyebrows arched in disbelief.

Malagaun eyes the creature with a good deal of suspicion. "No mere skeletal servitor nor roaming haunt, that one."

Morwen attempts to assert control over the skeleton, and succeeds.

The skeleton pauses, eyeing Morwen curiously. Or would, if it had eyes.

Areza says, "I do not think he can speak, dear Morwen, he has no lungs to form the sound."

Morwen frowns. "Lungs are not required for some modes of speech." She then beckons it over.

The skeleton approaches.

Malagaun comments, "Hm. Alright, maybe now it is a servitor."

"What is in your rucksack?" Morwen asks.

The skeleton obligingly offers to show her.

Morwen looks inside.

The rucksack contains rusty weapons, badly spoiled food, a moldy bedroll, and is in general a rotting parody of adventuring supplies.

Morwen roots through the items with some interest, her eyes glimmering. She casts detect magic.

There is magic at the bottom of the sack.

Morwen paws through the grubby objects to reach the bottom.

Morwen finds a small, rusty wand.

Areza looks on in strange facination. "I have never seen the like before. Morwen, what is it?"

Morwen says, "A mostly-depleted wand. It may have some minor uses. It can shift earth, create hungry pits to ensnare the unwary."

The skeleton stands around patiently.

Areza shakes her head. "Interesting, but I meant the skeleton."

Morwen sticks the wand in her hair and hops out of her rickshaw. She casts restore corpse on the skeleton.

The skeleton lurches around, clearly in some degree of distress, as flesh begins to regrow.

Morwen watches with a strange eagerness.

A badly decomposed drow now stands before you. It is waving its arms around and pawing at itself, seemingly rather upset.

Morwen pets it. "Why are you distressed, darling? You are far prettier this way!"

Malagaun observes all this with a look of curiosity.

Areza still seems utterly baffled. "I think it doesn't...like having flesh."

The former-skeleton nods quite eagerly, pointing at Areza.

Malagaun says, "Judging by the poor quality of flesh, no wonder if it prefers clean bleached bones."

Morwen pouts. "Well, you'll decompose eventually. If it bothers you I suppose I could see about returning you to your bony form eventually."

The former-skeleton facepalms and looks very frustrated.

Areza says, "I could call upon an elemental to free it from that flesh?"

Malagaun says, "Even if it lacks the gift of speech, perhaps it might know writing?"

Morwen nods.

Morwen offers the creature the rusty dagger she got from the shop and gestures to her goblin-zombie. "Write, if you wish."

The former-skeleton grabs the dagger and scrawls "NO FLESH" in the dirt.

Morwen asks, "Why?"

"FLESH DISGUSTING. BONE PURE," scrawls the once-skeleton.

Morwen rolls her eyes. "Wonderful. You wouldn't happen to be a follower of the Hungering Cold, would you?"

It shakes its head, scrawling "NO."

Morwen shrugs. "Very well. I'll return you to your bony form soon enough, but you'll have to come with me in the meantime. Do you have a name?"

It scrawls, "FORGOT IT."

Areza mutters to herself. "Fire could make the bone brittle, earth could crack the bones...water, perhaps? Would take some time... Acid, I suppose, but it could make the bone porous..."

Malagaun says, "Perhaps a swarm of flesh-eating bugs would be more practical, Areza?"

Morwen says, "I can skeletonize it magically, I merely need to study the appropriate spell." She then gestures for it to follow. "Come on, then, let's be on our way."

Areza nods. "Had I the spell, I would summon the insects, yes. A few firebeetles could shred it off, but it would take some time. Much quicker for Morwen to cleanse it in the morning."

The skeleton looks somewhat longingly in the other direction, pointing that way. It was originally headed in the opposite direction, after all.

Morwen asks, "Where were you going?"

It points the way it was headed.

Areza says, "Oh, the poor thing. Morwen, would you mind terribly if I summoned a beetle to give it a few cuts, and let it use those to tear the rest off itself?"

Morwen looks to Areza. "Oh, if you insist." Then she asks, "Why were you going?"

It scrawls, "BORED OF THIS."

Morwen hmphs and asks, "Impudent thing, isn't it?"

Malagaun sighs. "We should be on our way already. Morwen, rein in your new pet or leave it. Either way we've wasted enough time here."

Morwen dismisses the skeleton. Too irksome a servitor to bother with.

Areza says, "I think it meant, Morwen, it was bored of here." Areza shrugs and summons a beetle. It stays with the skeleton, helping gnaw off the flesh, and they depart.

The former-and-once-again-skeleton, with the aid of the beetle, is able to liberate itself of flesh, being restored to pure bone. It leaves behind a disgusting mess of half-eaten carrion, giving Areza a wave of thanks and what would certainly be a look of bewilderment to Morwen, if it still had a face.

Morwen blows it a kiss. "Till we meet again."

Areza returns the wave and let the skeleton go its way.

The skeleton picks up the pace, deciding to not stick around this group of weirdos in case they change their mind about peacefully letting it go.

The group proceeds on to the Crypt.

You have entered the Crypt once again. The anteroom is as you left it, with its stench of the grave slow to dissipate. Passages go off to the left and to the right, that is, northward and southward, but the southern passage is impassible, blocked off by rocks and rubble.

Areza muses, "If I recall correctly, I believe there seemed to be something beneath the fountain. Let us return there."

Morwen makes her way back towards her zombies, casting spider climb to circumvent the spear traps.

Malagaun dares the trap once again, confident in his abilities.

He leaps over it easily.

Areza tries as well.

Areza gets nicked. She's just slightly too slow! Meanwhile, Morwen's zombie blunders through and also gets hit.

Areza hisses in pain as the spear grazes her. "If we must depart and return again, I am bringing a damned hammer so we can destroy those annoyances."

Morwen casts inflict light wounds on her Goblin-zombie to heal it after it makes it through the spear-trapped corridor.

Areza's beetle skitters along the wall and avoids the trap.

Morwen makes her way back to her cadaverous puppets.

You have returned to the large room where you previously fought the statue guardians and the large scorpion-thing. A deep cut in one of the zombies suggests a skirmish-- perhaps there are a few more smashed bones here than there were previously, showing the victims on the other side of the fight-- but beyond that, everything is as it was. The room's exits are large arches in the northwest and southeast, and the fountain in the center of the room could also stand further investigation.

Morwen embraces her zombies, cooing greetings.

Brazilith bows to Areza. "Good day, ma'am. We had a spot of trouble while you were gone."

Areza looks at him. "What happened?"

"Skeletons. Two of them," he answers.

Morwen asks, "Areza, you believe there is something beneath the fountain?"

Areza says, "Yes. It was transmuted, perhaps to hide a passage."

Malagaun says, "Although the fountain is interesting, shouldn't we first investigate this floor? There might be more foes about."

Morwen shrugs. "That may be wise. One of my poor darlings seems to have injured itself. Though the gash is quite fetching, I must admit."

Areza says, "Hmm...true. We can come back to the fountain on our way out...or if need be, on our way back in."

Malagaun adds, "Who knows, you might even acquire some more 'darlings' Morwen."

Morwen nods. "Perhaps."

Malagaun enters the passage before the others, sneaking in the shadowy corners to try and avoid drawing any attention.

Morwen also heads to the southwest, zombies in tow.

Areza lets Malagaun scout ahead a bit.

The next room has the same general qualities as the rest of the Crypt, although the walls are engraved with sigils and odd signs that are not seen in the rest of the place. Bones and refuse litter the floor of this room, more than usual. One of those statues is at the far end of the room, while, to the east, an alcove contains a large stone box in it, with a softly glowing red gem on the front of it. The other object of interest in this room is a large black stone urn in the center, with a cover over the top. It seems to be sealed quite tightly. Aside from the wide archway you came in to the west, another extends off to the south, leading deeper into this place. Northward, a narrower passageway is blocked by a stone door.

Malagaun peeks beyond the corner to the south.

Areza follows Malagaun, giving him a good distance to be sneaky in.

Malagaun calls quietly to the others. "I see nothing here so far, but there's much I can't view from this spot." He then proceeds a bit to the south to take a better look.

Areza meanwhile casts detect magic on the urn.

The urn radiates no magic.

Morwen sends a zombie to shuffle forward and investigate the gemstone.

Malagaun, spotting two skeletons, backs off to report to his comrades.

Morwen stops her zombie as well.

Malagaun says, "There are two skeletons in the southern room. One to the left and the other to the right from the doorway. Possibly more deeper in."

Areza nods to Malagaun. "I do wish to know what is in that urn and box, once we've dealt with the undead." She turns south as well.

Morwen moves forwards towards the skeletons, waiting for them to enter her aura of desecration.

Malagaun says, "I will give you the chance to dominate them." He prepares his crossbow in case Morwen's attempts prove unsuccessful.

Morwen gleefully claps her hands she takes control of the skeletons. "Come here, my lovelies," she crows. She casts restore corpse on both of them, causing flesh to return to them. They now seem to be badly decomposed drow.

Malagaun, seeing the situation is under control, moves in to investigate the southern room further.

The other passageway proceeds westward some ways. Much like the one before, it is lined with statues-- four on each side, eight in total-- of tall and shapely females, with an avian theme to them, feathers adorning their bodies and they have bird beaks instead of noses and mouths. They are made of the same yellowish stone as everything else here. At the end of the passageway, it turns right again, going back north, but seems to be blocked off with fallen rocks and rubble.

Areza looks longingly at the chest and urn, waiting for Malagaun to return.

Malagaun returns and says, "It's a dead end in the southern passage."

Areza nods to Malagaun. "Perhaps some earlier mechanism opens a passage."

Morwen sends one of her minions to try the chest.

Inside the box is a metallic sphere, made out of the same tarnished yellow-green metal as the scorpion. It seems solid, except for the presence of an eyelid-like shutter in the front.

Morwen examines it carefully, using detect magic.

Strong magic. It's a construct of some sort, currently not active.

Malagaun says, "That might be something rather valuable. We should take it."

Morwen taps on the eyelid-like shutter. "Anyone in there?"

In response to the touch, the sphere floats up into the air, and its 'eyelid' opens, revealing an interior made of blackness-- it does not seem to be solid, but it definitely has substance, like a sort of black liquid that does not leak out. Within this blackness floats a small glowing spot of red, burning like a candle flame within.

Areza turns quickly to the construct.

The eye fires some sort of red ray at Morwen. Her natural drow resistance to magic causes it to have no effect.

Morwen sticks out her tongue at the eye-thing.

Areza growls in frustration. "More constructs? At least its guts will be valuable."

Malagaun levels his crossbow at the floating orb and lets loose a bolt with a sharp thunk of the string.

Areza advises, "Do try to keep that focusing lense intact."

The crossbow bolt gets stuck in one of the seams, starting to force the thing apart.

Morwen instructs two of her zombies to shuffle forwards, but does nothing herself apart from taking a few steps back.

Areza's beetle lunges forward to attack, but is promptly disintegrated by a red ray.

Areza's eyes narrow in anger and she moves to the corner before firing a ray of acid at the orb. Her Eidolon takes an open spot near the sphere.

The nimble floating sphere dodges the acid blast. The red eye now blazes white, illuminating the room in a cone of blinding white light. Morwen is caught in it; it's like being outside! She barely manages to avoid being left temporarily blinded.

Morwen blinks, rubbing her eyes.

Brazilith perhaps gets the worst of it-- caught in the cone of light, he simply flickers and vanishes.

Areza looks at where Brazilith was, looking shocked and confused.

Malagaun moves to get a better line of sight and shoots again.

This bolt gets stuck in a zombie's back instead. The zombie doesn't seem to notice or mind.

Morwen's zombies grasp for the eye-orb, tearing with their fingernails. Morwen whips her hair over the zombies as well, trying to strike the eye-thing.

The zombies manage to yank the 'cover' off the eye, as well as enlarge the seam already pushed open by Malagaun's first shot. Morwen herself does not manage to hit it.

Areza, not wanting to risk another summon when it could be dismissed so easily again, readies her crossbow. She takes aim and fires.

The crossbow bolt is a good shot, but clanks harmlessly off the side of the thing! The eye attempts to break out of being surrounded, but it must move past Morwen's zombies-- and the zombie that it tries to slip past grabs it and smashes it on the ground.

Morwen has her zombie pick the pieces up. "We can probably sell these to that junk-dealer." She also directs her zombies to pick the chest up, if they can.

Areza lets out a sigh of relief as Brazilith winks back into existance.

The zombies grab the two halves of the sphere, as well as the 'lid.' The chest it was in is rather heavy, but they can carry it as well.

Morwen has them put the pieces into the chest.

Areza sends Brazilith over to inspect that urn.

It is quite large, and has a heavy stone cover.

Brazilith attempts to lift the cover.

The urn contains a rather foul-smelling dark green liquid, almost black. It reeks of acrid rotting garbage. It's not exactly clear what it's for, but the liquid seems to be bubbling and moving around somewhat...

Morwen inhales with savour.

Areza makes a disgusted face at the smell. "Dark gods, what is that thing?"

It begins to rise out of the container...

Morwen cries, "Don't hurt it! It's beautiful!"

It lashes tendrils around, trying to envelop anyone nearby.

Areza replies, "I don't think it's going to give us that option!"

Malagaun agrees. "Whatever it is, it seems rather aggressive." He moves to get a clear shot at the disgusting thing, and fires his crossbow at it.

The crossbow bolt rips through the thing, sending it splattering everywhere! It would seem to be a one-shot kill... until it starts to reform... incompletely. Two of them now congeal from the splattered mess, where there was once only one.

Malagaun says, "We... have a problem now."

Morwen reluctantly directs her zombies to assail the jelly. Meanwhile, she mutters an incantation, and the spiders in her hair swarm forth, creeping along the ground to form an aggressive swarm.

As the zombies bash at the ooze, sending bits of it splattering everywhere, the swarm of spiders begins crawling inside of the ooze as well, so now it's ooze filled with spiders. Ew.

Morwen reminds herself to write down a recipe for spider pudding.

Areza lets Brazilith attempt to claw the creature while she calls upon a Myrmodon to join the fray.

Brazilith sighs. "Bother. This is going to be a mess to clean up." He suddenly snarls and drops his pretention of class as he begins slashing into the ooze, tearing away chunks of it until it is nothing more than a larger acidic puddle.

The remaining ooze oozes (ooze gonna ooze) southward, and attempts to grab a nearby zombie. The zombie is completely enveloped and digested!

Morwen hisses in annoyance.

Malagaun groans as the ooze slithers close to him. He grimaces in disgust and drops his crossbow, and in one fluid action draws his new dueling sword and slashes it at the monster.

Malagaun's blade slices cleanly through the ooze. Literally. In half. There are now once again two oozes.

Morwen yells, "STOP SLASHING IT." While Morwen's zombies shamble forwards, the spider-swarm chitters and launches itself towards the other oozes like a living carpet.

The spiders begin to crawl through this ooze again. Spider pudding! Some of them are digested by the acidic ooze. One of the oozes tries to grab another nearby zombie, the other goes for Malagaun. Both succeed; the zombie is pulled in and promptly digested, while Malagaun fares a bit better, but the ooze still has him. This could be bad.

Morwen curses and starts pulling at her hair.

Areza has Brazilith hang back as the Myrmidon runs in and leaps at one of the oozes, bringing its bony fist down in an overhand blow.

Nasty greenish-black slime splatters everywhere after the solid hit.

Malagaun shrieks as he is being swallowed by the ooze monster. He rather desperately and unelegantly tries to escape from this acidic hell.

The ooze maintains its grip! The acid is beginning to burn.

Morwen's zombies swarm around the oozes while her swarm continues its work.

Luckily for Malagaun, the zombies and the spiders manage to defeat both of the oozes. He's covered from head to toe in the vile gunk, but it has ceased trying to consume him.

The spiders chitter and return to their hairy lair.

Morwen looks around the chamber to the south. After seeing there is nothing else to be found, she wanders back to the main chamber.

Malagaun spits ooze and then vomits, thoroughly sickened by what he just went through. "By the Spider-Queen... I am glad that Tthrevinia didn't come along."

Areza laughs. "We never would have heard the end of it!" She asks, "Are you alright?"

Malagaun fires back, "Do I look like I'm alright?" Anger flares in his voice. "That thing burned me fiercely as the fires of hell." He glances at the remains of a digested zombie, shivering. "It would not have taken much longer for death to have claimed me."

Areza holds up a placating hand. "I wasn't certain of the extent of your injuries. Shall we get you back home to a healer?"

Morwen sighs and holds out a flask of liquid. "Drink this," she says.

Meanwhile, Areza checks into the urn, seeing if anything was beneath the ooze.

Beneath the ooze is... more ooze. It remains in the urn, though.

Areza has no desire to dip into the ooze to be certain.

Malagaun says, "There is yet some fight left in me, make no mistake. But I am... definitely less prepared to cross blades now than I was just a moment ago." He accepts the flask offered by Morwen, downing it's contents quickly. Malagaun's skin regenerates the burns caused by acid, returning to almost uninjured state - but remains smeared and tained by residual ooze.

Brazilith walks over and offers Malagaun a hankerchief. "Sir?"

Malagaun grabs the handkerchief and wipes his face, not that it helps his appearance a whole lot. He also says, "Ahh. I can feel the strength returning to my frame. My thanks, Morwen. With this I should be able to press on!"

Morwen flaps her hand vaguely. "Let's continue, then. With luck this tomb holds more than cruel machines and slime."

The zombie retinue falls into line, one of them carrying the large box.

Areza says, "We can hope, yes."

Malagaun agrees. "Indeed. Especially slime."

Before you lies a heavy stone door with no evident means of opening it.

Morwen casts detect magic.

The door is not magical.

Areza ponders. "Hmmm. A puzzle. Did you see anything to the south that could be a mechanism, Malagaun?"

Malagaun says, "No. There was rubble, though." Malagaun meanwhile flaps his soaked cloak, repeatedly casting prestidigitation to conceal the slime that's seeped all over his hair and clothes.

Morwen orders her zombies to tear the door down, if they can.

The zombies wrench the door open. Behind it, stairs lead upward.

Morwen sends one zombie up the stairs, following behind with the rest of her retinue.

Malagaun also ascends the stairs.

Areza follows, letting Brazilith and the Myrmidon take point.

You pause on the stairway. Above you is a large room, as big as the fountain room... and just as populated. It contains three ordinary skeletons, another of those scorpion-things, and another floating eye-thing, too. As if all that wasn't enough, it contains two additional skeletons that emit a strange light blue glow from their bones themselves. The denizens have not yet noticed you. Fortunately.

Morwen halts, recalling her zombies, and retreats part-way down the stairs.

Malagaun says, "Another scorpion! Ill fortune is upon us today." He too returns to the floor below, having little desire to engage the scorpion-thing without a plan.

Areza retreats backwards. "This is going to be... difficult."
[/ic]